Back from Europe

Bonjour!

I hope you all are doing well! I just back from my trip to Europe and am recovering from some jet lag and leg soreness from the ga-jillion steps I must have climbed in the last two weeks alone, and I am not just talking about the Spanish type! (Did anyone catch that joke? No, no? Okay, yeah like I said a ga-zillion steps!) I went to the gym during one of my wake periods of my jet lag to keep all that was gained consistent from the all walking and climbing. So next time I go I won't be so out of shape! How do I know I will return? Because I threw that coin into the Trevi fountain of course! (Another lame joke!) lol.

Europe was lovely and I was able to visit London and Leicester in England; Bologna, Florence and Rome in Italy; and Paris, Lille and Arras in France. The weather in England and France was very much like our winters here and I enjoyed every bit of it! Italy was hot and humid but Florence was just beautiful and so wonderful. It's a big town with big tourist attractions and accommodations, but the low-key and friendly tone of Tuscan living is still very alive and not lost in the craziness of big city living such as in Rome.

Hostel life is also interesting to remark upon. I was surprised to find that many of the staff at hostels are not manned by locals, but rather by very multi-cultural and young people! I also ran across MANY travelers who were also on their own, embarking on their own adventures and with no reservation, some traveling weeks or months at a time! Many of them from Australia and I met people from England, Guatemala, Germany, Guatemala, The Netherlands and Spain. Lucky Spanish students, apparently the Spanish government gives them money to travel and gain credit hours at universities abroad! Nice government huh?

There is so much to remark and reflect on and I will work on a post with more insights on the art and culture of the places I visited. I will work on a new post soon but for now I wish everyone well and to those teachers reading, best of wishes with school preparations!