Day 41

Today Trysha and I woke up at 5:30 and got on a bus to the airport. Then, we got on our plane back to Rotterdam. We took the train to Leiden, went and got our bags that we left in our classroom, and made our way to our hostel in Amsterdam. Now we are getting ready to go see the I AMSTERDAM sign, and get some last minute things before we leave tomorrow. Our plane leaves at 10:25 for Denmark, and then we have a 3 and a half hour layover there, until we offically head back towards the states. We get in at 5:30, and that is that!

It has been an amazing time, and a great learning experience along the way!

Day 40

Today Trysha and I woke up and got on the bus to the Vatican. Sadly, the Vatican and Sistine Chapel were both locked and we could not even see them because it was Sunday..that was sad. BUT, we saw many many other things including the Pantheon, St. Peters Basilica, the Coluseum, and the ruins of the beginning of Rome, which was really really cool! The Coluseum was amazing and will remain my favorite part of Europe. After that, we went back to our hostel, and went to the swimming pool to listen to some live Blues music. Then, our hostel hosted a Toga Party where we all wore our bed sheets as our togas..it was the first Toga Party for the both of us, so it was a lot of fun!

Day 39

Today we got up, checked out of our hostel, and headed to Rome. We got into Rome around 1, and got to our very nice hostel around 2. We are really tired and worn out, so we are going to lay around at the pool and rest to go see all of Rome tomorrow. The only problem is, I just found out that since we arent going to go see Rome until tomorrow, which is a Sunday, we will not be able to go inside the Sistene Chapel because it is closed on Sundays...for that, I am really sad. Oh well though, I think I have seen many other things that are just as awesome. I am excited to see everything else Rome has. Monday morning, we are leaving on a shuttle for the airport at 6:45, and then landing in Rotterdam and going to Leiden to get the rest of our bags. Then we are heading to Amsterdam for the night to stay before we take off for home on Tuesday morning at 10! It has been an amazing trip, and I am sad to leave...yet very happy to see home again.

Also, these pictures are from Venice.

Day 38

Yesterday (Friday) we attempted to make our way to Florence. We got to the train station in Venice around 11, hoping to get to Florence by 1 or 2. Well, all of the machines in the train station were broken and there was only 1 window working to get tickets manually, so we waited in a line for over 2 hours to try and get tickets (while contemplating getting on the train without a ticket and just paying the fine) until I finally went to check a machine, and it somehow worked. Then a bunch of people came over because they saw I actually got a ticket. So we waited for another hour and a half to get onto our train, and it took almost 3 hours to get to Florence. Needless to say, we saw most of Florence in the dark. It was still really neat though. We saw the Duomo, which is amazing and the Basilica de Santa Maria Novella and many other Basilica's and David of course. It was cool.

Day 37

Today we got up and tried to make the 9 oclock bus to Venice..but we failed. ha. We got in line to buy tickets, and we missed it. So, we were early for the 10 oclock bus...that didnt show up until about 1020. Anyway, we got to Venice and went on a gondola ride...if thats how you spell it. We bargained for it of course. ha. It was really really neat. The water here is really clear. Then we went to see St. something basilica. I should know the name, but I forgot. We went inside also, and it was really cool. We walked around for another 3 hours and it was really neat. Then, we came back to the campsite and laid out by the pool! We are tired, but excited to go to Florence tomorrow. We about covered Venice today, except for going to a beach. We will see what tomorrow brings! Only 5 days left before we head home.....

Day 36

Yesterday we got up in London and went to Winsdor Castle, which is where the Queen lives...It was just huge! So so big. It was really really cool. Sorry to everyone for the lack of pictures (I have not been able to use my computer to get on the internet lately). After that, we went back to get our stuff and headed for the airport where we flew to Venice. They shut the lights off about 10 min before we landed and you could see a lot of Italy all lit up, and we also saw fireworks. It was really really cool! Then we made our way to our hostel, which is a campground. Our room (which actually has four real walls and is not a tent as others are) is about 8 by 8, but it will do. It is an interesting place but has a nice pool and hot tub along with a couple restaurants..it will do the job! Tomorrow we are going to Venice!

Day 35

Today Trysha and I got up and went to see many more sites. We first went to The Monument and then to Diagon Alley (from Harry Potter). Then we went to see St. Paul's Cathedral which was really cool. After that, we went to London Tower and the Tower Bridge which were both really really cool too. Then we went to see platform 9 and 3/4 (also from Harry Potter) and finally the London Eye. When we came back, we went with Kiley and the girls to the Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince premier. We got their early, but not quite early enough! We had an ok view of the stage they would walk on, but about a half hour before they arrived, it started POURING. It kept raining and raining....so we finally got a glimpse of them, but then it just kept on raining harder and harder and harder so we went to go back to the train station and saw all of the on the big screen being interviewed about 100 feet from us...it was soo cool!!!! Tomorrow we are going to Winsdor Castle where the Queen lives and then we leave for Venice, Italy!

Day 34

Today we slept in for a little while, and got up around 9:30. When we got ready, we went with Kiley to Pickadilly, which is a huge place to shop; it was really fun! Then, Kiley had to leave at 1 to go to her internship, and Trysha and I kept shopping. Then, we took the tube to Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and finally Buckingham Palace. After that, we came back to where Kiley lives and met them. We went out to eat for supper, and are now about ready to go to bed. Tomorrow Trysha and I are going to see Diagon Alley, platform 9 and 3/4, the London Tower, the London Eye, St. Mark's Cathedral, and some other things I probably forgot about for the moment. Then at 3, we are going to get in line for the red carpet premier of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince! We do not get to see the movie early, but we will get to see the cast and maybe get some autographs...hopefully we are there early enough to get a good spot in line!

Day 33

Today we got up and went with Kiley and everyone else to eat at Bagels and Beans. Then after that, we walked around for a little while, going into some stores, and looking at some stuff because there were a lot of things going on for the Leiden Festival. Then, we bought them train tickets to Amsterdam, and went back to pack the rest of our stuff. We left our house for the final time at 5 pm...it was really sad to turn in our keys! :(

We took the train to Rotterdam, and then a bus to the airport there....luckily we decided against trying to walk to the airport!

Our plane ride was fine, and we landed in London-Luton airport. Then we had to go through Border Patrol which took like an hour. Then we bought Coach tickets, and the charter took us to Victoria-London which is the main train stop there.

We waited there for Kiley and her friends to get back, and they took us to their house. When we got there, we got right to bed because we were all exhausted!

Day 32

Today was a crazy crazy day. When we first got up, we went up to our final market day...tear. We walked around and got some things and stopped at Bagels and Beans. Then on our way back, there were all of these men dressed up in 1800 outfits singing as they went down the street. One of them drug Kiley into the mix and she started walking with them, then they grabbed Megan too. It was pretty funny. When we left for the beach, we saw there was a parade, and those same men were in it...we wondered where they were going to! The beach was another wonderful day. Then, Cooper decided to go check out the Bungee Jump, and Cooper, Kiley, Trysha, Megan, and myself all ended up Bungee Jumping! I never in a million years ever thought I would do it, but it was sooooo much fun. I dont know how many people can say that they bungee jumped over the North Sea :) Then we just hung out there for awhile, and came back and ate some big pancakes...almost as big as the ones we ate the first night :) Tomorrow we leave for London! Goodbye Leiden! :(.