We all went out to celebrate Mary Shannon's 21st!

Us when we went on a wine tour of the Tuscan region.

Us when we where in Venice.

My dad and brother compared to the cars they drive in Italy! haha

When we went to Fiesole to get a beautiful view overlooking Florence.

When we went to Rome in St. Peter's Square.

1st day of arrival

My Family Visits!!!

Kelsi: So after the Czech experience we were able to take a little breather from all the traveling. Mary Shannon's mom was coming the next weekend which was spring break and then that next weekend my family was going to come. We were really excited to see everyone. Mary Shannon's mom came first and they had a blast from what they told me. I went out to eat with them a couple of times and we ate good let me tell ya!! When parents come you can always count on a good meal. :) I just hung around at the apartment from a couple of days while Mary Shannon and her mom were traveling and doing their thing in Florence. Ok so I will say that everyone was gone from the apartment except me and so that was the first time that I had to stay the night by myself. Yea it was a little creepy I never really like staying by myself anyways because I usually always find a way to scare myself. Well so I walked around the apartment with my pocket knife in my hands at all time literally.... haha I told you I scare myself. At night well let's just say I didn't fall asleep really easy because our walls are so thin and so you can hear everything and I would hear someone on the stairs and think that they were in our kitchen so I would get up and go look and of course nothing was there!! I did that for awhile and then I just let it go and thought to myself that if anyone does break in I would probally be able to take them because Italian men aren't big men at all. haha so I figured I could handle anything that came my way! haha I thought the days couldn't go by any slower until my family got here. I was so anxious and exicted I didn't know what to do with myself to pass the time until they arrived. Finally Friday came and was I excited!! I got up early because I wanted to get to the airport an hour ahead of time just in case got dressed and was on my way. I got a taxi to the airport and waited and waited and waited.... their plane was suppose to land at 12:50 so I figured it would be about 1:15 or so until they came out because they would have to get their luggage and all so when it got to be that time I anxiously waited at the doors making sure that I was the first face they would see as soon as they opened the doors. I even was trying to figure out who I would hug first haha I couldn't choose so I settled with the first person that came out and sue enough it was Nick. I have never in my life been more excited to see my family. I mean don't get me wrong its absolutely amazing over here but your family is your family and I was bursting with excitement when I saw them come through those doors!! I ran up to them and gave them all the biggest hugs and crowded the exit way of course and so everyone was having to wait as we got all out emotions out and then once we did were were off to the hotel. I was so excited about them seeing their hotel because it was located in an amazing spot overlooking Piazza Republica. Now let me remind you that my family has never been out of the country so this was all a new experience for them. We got into the taxi and headed off. Ok so the taxi's over here drive like they have gone mad!! They honk they swurve in and out and around other vehicles with a heavy foot so it can kind of make you motion sickness or so me and Mary Shannon think. They were freaking once we got into the main part of Florence our driver was scaring them to death. They were also in just full astonishment at all the mopads and bicycles that were in Florence. It was so cool to witness all of this that I forget about seeing that I have been here for so long it was making me think of how that was exactly how I felt once I got here. We arrived at the hotel and got to our room and they were loving it but I will say I was loving it because I was going to get to stay with them all week and enjoy a hot shower and a big bed!!!! Yes mom was kind enough to let me enjoy the big bed one night while she slept in one of the twin beds. I love my mom!! Everyone was so tired once we got there so we kind of chilled out for a little bit. My parents brought me a bag full of summer clothes so I was going through those when my dad said hey open up that other bag and see what is in there. So I go to open up the other bad and what do I see a DREAM COME TRUE..... two 12 packs of Dr. Pepper!! Ok you don't understand me and Mary Shannon have said all along if we could have a Dr. Pepper we would be set. Europe only has coke and I am ok with that but Mary Shannon doesn't like coke and I prefer Dr. Pepper as well. So I quickly called Mary Shannon and told her to sit down and then I gave her the news haha you would have thought we just won the lottery!!! Needless to say 2 weeks later and they are all gone! After all that excitement we were ready to see the city. I took them to my apartment first and showed them all around and gave them all their presents that I got for them from when I traveled and they were really excited about that. We then went to Friends and got a glass of wine. I wanted to show them all the places I usually go to and Friends is definately one of them. Nick is 17 but over here he is legal to drink and he wanted so bad to buy something... Comon what teenager wouldn't want to be able to say that they were able to buy alcohol legally. So mom and dad let him buy our drinks and boy was he smiling from ear to ear. After that we went to eat now I am not going to go into all detail about where we ate and all that but let me say I told them when they got here that the culture is different so they need to prepare themselves. I told them that nothing is free and you don't tip and nobody says they are sorry over here which they don't and to not expect anything especially in restaurant. You see my dad has this thing for getting the waiters name and asking suggestions and all that stuff and I told him to not do that because their english is not that good they can only speak the basics. Ok so did I put my foot in my mouth or what.... everywhere we went they loved my dad. So I told you that Italian men were small and if you know my dad you would know that he is anything but small and he has a shaved head and usually wears black sunglasses and a black coat are you getting any hints..... Mafia look alike!! So when we would walk in the owners would come out and shake his hand and even bring us a free desert wine!! At Borgo Antico which is my favorite restaurant we went in and by the time the night was over we got a free bottle of wine, a free lemoncello for all of us, and I got offered a job!!!! Are you kidding me!! My dad had not only met the owners but the kitchen staff, the waiters, and bus boys I mean you name it and they were there crowded around him just loving him!!! They kept calling him grande (big) man and just in amazement of my dad and his accent and size. Me and mom and Nick just laughed and I sat there in shock thinking this has never happened to us!!! So everyone thought he was in the Mafia we definately got the hook up!! haha Well my family didn't really want to do the museum thing unless they needed to so I had them booked up solid for the week something different every day. We went to Rome on Sat. saw the Colosseum, Vatican City and went into the Vatican Museum. Oh yes and I can't forget to tell you about the train experience. So we got there early Sat. morning because I wanted to make sure everything was in order and we were on time!! At the train station they always have the destination up and the time however they usually never have the bin number up where the train will be. You usually have about 15 different bins so when it gets close to the time for departure you usually see everyone running in every direction trying to make it to their bin. So of course... my luck.... we got our tickets and were waiting patiently for the bin number to pop up. Mom and Nick went to McDonalds to get breakfast and they got me an orange juice which I was so excited about drinking because I hadn't drank one of those in awhile either and they came back. In the meantime I saw a bin number and started walking to the train. We got on the train and realized nobody was on this train!! OMG! Not again I thought!! Well then I hear Nick say they made a change and its on this track. Ok so now we have less than 2 minutes to get to that track. We take off in a dead sprint all of us even dad!!! We jumped onto the train and I promise 20 seconds later the train was moving!! Ok we made it I thought as I turn around to see dad sweating, mom panting, and Nick just laughing. Dad was without my orange juice too!!!! I hadn't even got to take a sip of it and he said I chunked it while I was running!!! Man oh man!!! oh well we got to our seats and we started laughing and Dad said what the heck was all that about and I said I didn't realize they made a change with the bin numbers. We shook it off and headed to Rome. We had so much fun in Rome although it was raining and we waited in line for 3 hours to see the Vatican Museum. Once we got in they said that it was closing in a hour and a half. We took off in a speed walk to the Sistine Chapel. We saw that and it was absolutely beautiful!! After doing the whole site seeing we got on the metro and headed back to the station to catch the train back. I was praying that our bin number would be up sooner then 2 minutes before departure. Well we waited and waited and this time it wasn't the bin number that got us off but the place of arrival that through us. I kept looking and looking and never saw anything that said to Florence. We just kept waiting and then about 15 minutes before we have to leave and it is still not up and I am thinking what in the world this isn't right it should at least have our arrival and departure place up. Dad asked what the train number was and I happened to look on the ticket and told him what the number was and then we still couldn't find the train. Well 5 minutes until our departure and then 2 minutes and I am freaking out once again!!! Something told me to look again at the train number and when I did I saw that it said to Bologna and it had our matching train number so I was like Let's Go!!!! And we are off again!!! This time the conductor was already on the train and the doors were closing and I threw my hand in between the doors and it opened back up and wow was that conductor yelling at me!! I was screaming at the rest of the bunch and dad jumped on and stood in front of the door as we waited for mom and Nick and haha that conductor couldn't say much to him!! He wasn't moving!!! After they got on she was all mad and asking for our tickets and I showed her and then there was these other 2 guys who were trying to jump on and she said no and locked the door shut and the train started moving. Now this time it was about 5 seconds and the train was gone!! Ok this has got to quit happening!!! haha My dad was like yall are killing me!! So for the Rome adventure the train part was probally the most exciting and memorable part!!! When we got back we went to eat and then went to bed after I took a long hot bath that was so amazing!!! Sunday I said we were just going to hang around Florence and then go visit Fiesole which is about 10 minutes from the city and overlooks all of Florence. Well the time thing was throwing everyone off so we slept until about 2 in the afternoon!! We got up and headed to Fiesole. Ok so we got on a bus and took off. Well I was told to get off at the Fiesole stop well I didn't realize that there was more than one stop and so we got off at the first stop. haha we got off a little to soon. We had to walk down the highway with no sidewalks literally just the highway up a couple of miles to get to the top to see the view of Florence. haha picture us me and mom with an umbrella, dad with a bright yellow umbrella that we made him carry because we didn't want to and Nick just getting soaked. We get to the top take a couple of pictures and then caught the bus back. Yes I know alot of walking to see the view but it was so worth it because it was absolutely beautiful. We got back to Florence and then went to church in the Duomo. Mass was in Italian and it was in the Duomo so I think everyone enjoyed that, it was pretty cool. Monday came and I had to go to class yuck!! I went to one class and then came back and went to sleep and then we got up and headed out again. This time we were looking for Armani because dad wanted to get a suit there. We found one and wow did he make one good investment. He got this black Armani suit this is absolutely amazing. It's sleek and elegant and just an awesome suit. He then went and bought himself some shoes and he also got this really cool leather jacket. haha it sounds like dad was the quite the shopper this trip!! Mom also got this beautiful jacket and they got me a white leather jacket made for me for my birthday!! We had an awesome time shopping let me tell ya!! :) Mom also got this really cute leather purse. Nick didn't think that they had very good shopping for his age guys which is kind of true because guy clothes over here are very metro and different from what the guys would wear in the states. But that was ok with him because he was loving the fact that he was legal and could buy!! That occupied him most of the time. We ate at Yellow Bar that night which is moms favorite place ever, talked all night and went to bed. This night was a great night because when we got the hotel dad turned on the tv and I was in heaven!!! I took another bath and when I got out what did hear??? Is that an english channel!!!!!! OMG it was the CNN in ENGLISH!!!! I was soooo excited we even had to sleep with it on!!! hehe The next day we were headed to Venice. I was so excited about this trip because I knew they would love it!! Our bin number was up and we made the train ON TIME!! Once we got to Venice we spent the day just walking around and enjoying the wonderful atmosphere. Once the day was over we were worn smooth out. We all fell asleep on the train. Wednesday came and it was Mary Shannon's 21st!! At midnight my family and I called her and sang her Happy Birthday and acted really cheezy of course but she got a kick out of it!! We were all going to go out and celebrate that night!! Her family got her flowers and I sat them on her bed so that when she got back from class she would see them. I then surprised my family with a wine tour that I had set up. They were so excited we went and toured the Chianti region and visited 2 castles at which the wine is produced. We got to go in the vineyards and get the low down on how wine is harvested and even got to taste the different wine at each place. It was an awesome day and they had so much fun. Once we got back we got ready and were headed to go out for Mary Shannon's birthday. Nick and I went and met Kellen and were off to the restaurant to meet Mary Shannon and Kate. Of course we get lost and end up having to go somewhere else to eat!! Yea me and Kellen aren't good with directions!!! We went and ate at Yellow Bar and had a fabulous time!! Her dad treated us to the wonderful dinner so we were very appreciative. We then headed to Astor to celebrate which is an American bar by the way. Once we got there my parents called and Mary Shannon said I want to see them so tell them to come! So they met up with us and bought us drinks and we hung out there all night. We had sooooo much fun!! MSD was having an awesome birthday and she never quit smiling which was exactly what I was hoping for!! We ended the night rather late and then all went back and went to sleep.... yea I know but we had class the next morning so we had to. Thursday came around and I was getting ready to leave for Sicily. You see my family wasn't leaving until Friday morning but me and MSD signed up for a field trip with the school to Sicily and the train was leaving at 8 that night. But it was ok because mom and dad had talked and they thought it would be easier for them to see me off rather me seeing them off seeing that I am so freaking emotional about everything! haha so I was kind of sad all day and they helped me pack and I was going through all my clothes and giving them the winter clothes to take home. Yes of course I cried every now and again which is no surprise but I was just having so much fun with them and eating such good meals I didn't want them to leave yet. However it came time and I learned to be ok with that. We had an amazing time and I enjoyed their company more than they will ever know!! They got to experience Europe for the first time and I was able to be apart of that which was so awesome. I was able to share with them the way I live and act over here along with pointing out the differences in living here and living in the states. They made it home safely and I made it to Sicily safe with the comforting thought that I will soon see them again in May.

Viva il Papa!

Mary Shannon : I'm doing these posts one after the other because I have put them off like a bad journalist. I cannot postpone telling you about Rome; why? because it is Rome and 'all roads lead to Rome.' :)
After a long week of nestling down into our crowd-free apartment, with a number of overly watched movies, overplayed ipod playlists, and an entire book, it was time to last-minute (as you can tell, its becoming part of our theme) buy our train ticket to Rome.
To prepare for our Holy travels on the Holy weekend of Easter, Kelsi and I went to Good Friday mass at the Duomo here in Florence. It was precided over by the bishop and was a beautiful two-HOUR mass. The gospel was sung in Italian accapello by three priests-the echos over their voices rang long in the stone fortress of the tall church.
Saturday we sluggishly packed for yet another train putting us in Rome an hour and half later in the afternoon. Here we checked into our 6-person room at the Yellow hostel. We unloaded our bags and discovered after a quick search around the hallways that our bathroom and shower were actually in our room! Two doors stood next to the front door, one was the toilet, the other was a door opening into a shower! Privacy? Ha! (not to mention a 10€ deposit for a towel)! So quickly we bought 2 peroni on the way out the door to find our way to the Colloseum. Kelsi had not yet seen the inside, so I went again - it was still just as magnificent, only better weather than when mom and I went. We again were picked up by a tourist group we promised to get us in quicker than if we waited in line (?)... However, we also discovered from someone that the souvenir shops set up in the street were not bothered by police bc they're protected by the Jewish MAFIA! Also, that they make TONS of money since they can drive up the prices. The tourist groups, like the one Kelsi and I were picked up by, are protected by the Italian MAFIA! woh.
After a few quick pictures, we headed to the Roman Forums. The weather was so pleasant, a slight breeze and setting sun, walking on the streets and around ruins where Caeser and others once strolled. Wisteria grew wild over the old stones and foundations. Trees included ones that look like the trees in Tuscany-tall with few branches, wavering as if struggling to find the sun, and then crowned with a full batch of green leaves stretching wide from left to right. Thick trunked palm trees, like those in Sicily, were also abudant; I found it an odd combination. We continued to walk in this ruin valley, and up and around other sites. We walked by the Marcus Aerillius statue (Russell Crow's character in Gladiator-and I thought it was fictional), down Michaelangelo's staircase, and by the church where supposedly Jesus' birth was prophesized to the emperor.
That evening we ventured over to the Church Santa Suzzana, suggested to us by Kelsi's family friend-a nun at the Vatican- for English mass. It was another amazing mass! All of the American nuns and priests of the Vatican came here to worship for the Easter Vigil. The lights were turned off as usual, but in this old, magnificently detailed church covered in paintings, vaulted ceilings, statues, and chapels. When it was my turn to light my candle, I was sharing the flame of nun! We also watched three baptisms and five confirmations. The gospel was read in the dark by candlelight among 4 people. Not sound cheesy, but there were moments that I was so comforted by the English hymns, and comprehendable readings, and then the beauty of the church, and the acknowledgement that I was in ROME blocks from the holiest and most prestige Catholic vicinities in the world-the Vatican, I caught myself somewhat 'spiritually overwhelmed' as Kelsi would say.
The next day, without a ticket to get into the square of St. Peter's Basillica, Kelsi and I found ourselves trying to get on a crowded metro at 8am! The closer we reached the Vatican, the more packed the metro became. When we finally were released from the constraints of the underground, we fell into the streets amongst hundreds of others. When we rounded the corner, we became part of a flocking mass of thousands. And when we made it through the metal detectors and found a seat near the front of the square, at mass we became two of almost one MILLION worshippers!
Odd note: In the midst of being awe-struck with a tinge of sensory overload, walking through crowds of travellers from every nation imaginable...I hear, 'Mary Shannon!'
I most admit it came as a real shock of confusion. I turned around to see a cute little girl with short dark hair. I immediately tried to think of who I'd met on one of my many travels that would be in Rome. Couldnt place her.
'Hey Mary Shannon! Dont you remember me? I go to your school...'
I tried to think of everyone I'd met in Florence at my small school. Couldnt place her.
'I'm in class with Brandon, I know who you are!'
That's right, I am in the holiest possible place to be in the WORLD on Easter, moments away from seeing the Pope in St. Peter's Basillica, and there is a girl from the University of Arkansas who knows me from facebook! small small small world huh?
I got to see my second different pope at the age of 21 (I saw Pope John Paul II in 7th grade in St. Louis). Though, still so far away that I could not make out his face without the big screens set up, it was again 'spiritually overwhelming.' The mass was also fairly long, with the first reading in Spanish, the second in English, and the gospel in six different languages. All the hymns were in Latin, and the Pope spoke mainly in Italian. For the Papal Address, Pope Benedict walked out of the main window of St. Peter's Basillica like in all the movies. He preceeded to give his speech in Italian, and then repeated 'Christ is Risen' in at least 15 or more different languages! Then he blessed us, and waved, the mass hailed him and yelled and waved. It was...amazing.
The next morning, we took a train home.

Things I noticed for a quick weekend: Other backpackers sure have interesting stories! I had felt like I had travelled SO much until I met other people who were travellers---I have still not scratched the surface on this world.
Roomed with a guy who has his own company as a travelling photographer, taking pictures of backpackers and students throughout hostels in Europe: photohype.com.
Roomed with students from Tulsa-small world again.
Roomed with a guy who had gotten sick of California, and decided with a friend a couple of weeks ago to take off 2 weeks, come to Europe, rent a car, and just drive...
Oh yeah-quick note: Kelsi and I got a ticket from the underground police for having an expired metro ticket and were fined 50€! This little rebel will be framing her document of misbehavior on arrival home :)
I miss mashed potatoes and thick juicy home-made burgers...

love you all, miss you all
Ciao

Sicilia

Beach on last day in Syracusa

Beach we 'escaped' to with our friends Ryan and Jackson

Catacombs in Syracusa

Seafood market in Syracusa

World's largest Greek ampitheatre in Syracusa

Kelsi and I after jumping in the Mediterreanean Sea!

On bus leaving Taoramina

Francesco!

In town square in Taoramina

Holy Cannoli!

Italian men surrounded by American students...classic :)

View from piazza in Taoramina

View from Taoramina

View up from piazza in Taoramina

Mary Shannon : Ok, must be honest that a certain feeling of fatigue has begun to set in against all wishes. The constant adventures of travel, the new flocks of tourists to Florence, warm weather, and then the dark silence of our apartment has begun to let the small light of driving, friends, family, and the new movies and music releasing in the USA seep into our minds... However, do not take this to mean we have admitted defeat! We are not quite ready to head home yet! We have just realized that we have four weekends left only-time has flown right by. (I'm just saying we will be ready to rest our high-flying, tough-travelling, backpacking-bodies on American soil on May 13...)
The last week in March, on the 28th, was my 21st birthday! Yes, I am an adult now with Kelsi! I was even lucky enough to have Kelsi's family here to take me out. It made my birthday so much more special to have the comfort of home in the midst of one of the greatest cities in the world on MY birthday!
The next day, Kelsi and I packed and waved goodbye to the Konecny family as we raced to the Santa Maria Novella train station in Florence. Here, we 'last minute' jumped on a train to the next station where we met up with my psychology teacher, Francesco Sominevera and about 60 other students from our program. Then we boarded our overnight train for SICILY!
Francesco is a short older Italian man with a look that could stop you in a stride. I have to admit that though there isnt much to him in stature, I am always intimidated to even ask him a question! If I know I need to tell him I was late, or didnt here my name called, I shudder -- he tilts his head to the side, looks me in the eye, remains silent, makes a sigh........THEN answers me... Its like when someone else's sweet old grandpa looks at you like he is very disappointed. And though you didnt do anything wrong, the point is you feel utterly guilty and defeated. However, the rumors spread about this man quickly on the trip: He speaks and writes seven languages (true), he is a part of the Italian mafia (?), he has lived in over 6 countries (true), he was the overall European sales manager for Fiat and is loaded (?), he once had 4 different 'lovers' in 4 different countries (?), he kept a 36-yr old bottle of scotch at a bar we went to in Sicily for ten years and just finished it off the weekend we were there (true)....and so they go on... Needless to say, he seems like one intelligent, accomplished dude.
I had no expectations or prior knowledge of Sicily before going; I was just so relieved to travel one weekend with someone else worrying about our itenerary... In the morning I crawled out of our three person cabin and opened the small door into the train hallway, covered in length by windows. The view caught me completely off guard. It was so sunny, and there right on the side of the train was ocean-vast ocean! The waves were coming straight towards us, but then would crash against the dark rocks and fall back. There were tall, strong palm trees with thick trunks. There were lemon and orange tree groves along every crevice of land. It was beautiful.
We got off the train still fairly early in the morning. Thinking we were going first to the hotel, Kelsi and I had not had showers or shaved our legs for a day planned with walking and beaches. To our dismay, we discovered checking in at the hotel was the LAST thing planned for the day. We hopped on two charter buses and headed straight up the mountains to a town called Taormina. With blue skies and a slight breeze, walking through these small cobblestone streets in flip flops and a tshirt was a treat. There were nice little stores that led to a large piazza overlooking the coast below. Here we also got to eat a famous cannoli with cream and chocolate chips!! mmm...
After catching the small buses down (that are specifically made to climb up the steepest part of the mountain instead of the charter buses) back to the charter buses, Kelsi and I had to RUN into the parking garage bathrooms with our big packs. We threw on our bathing suits and took turns speedily yanking out our razors to give a good rough leg shave, and then had to run back to the bus before being left!
At the beach, Kelsi and I were the only girls to ignore the newly arrived wind and overcast sky and dive head-first into the Mediterranean Sea!
The next morning, the warm weather and bright sunlight helped us convince ourselves that though the beach was not in the plan for our tours that day - the beach was a MUST. So throughout our tours before lunch that day we contemplated along with our newly made rebel friends, an escape! First, however, we did walk across the town of Syracusa. We walked through old caves and ruins. We sat in the world's largest Greek ampitheatre! We walked to an old church, and into its secret underground tunnels of catacombs (getting lost in the dark more than once)! It really was fascinating! We also got to eat some fresh Sicilian oranges, where I learned how to stick an orange seed between my fingers and shoot them at people :). We walked along the seafood markets, and finally sat down to eat lunch at a small trattoria.
When everyone met up after our lunch break, 1\3 of the students had disappeared! As we began to follow Francesco once again through this town-in the heat-with long jeans on-sunburned faces-no sign of beach-dehydrated, looking for a boat...we decided the time for escape had come! We snuck to the back of the group then grabbed a taxi with my friend from class Bria (who couldnt walk anymore since she had stepped on a sea urchin the day before!), Kellen, and Kelsi, and headed back to the hotel. We changed, met up with some fellow stragglers, and found a beautiful beach in the middle of some of most amazing countryside I have ever seen! We laid out all day until the wind harshly reminded us that summer isnt quite here yet...
That night we went back to Francesco's 'scotch bottle' bar and made more friends in our group. Back at the hotel everyone played music and joked-it was one of most fun and social weekends we have had since being here! (quick inside jokes so I'll remember when reading this years from now: OKKK,bald,bushes,chickenhead,jean skirt,package lady,knee pop,dirty laundry,Nick Lachey,pirates,good scrubbin',stick in the mud,polo,Holly,stalker photos,ipod speakers,peroni, BOO!)
The next day we took another bus to the town of Noto. Our group of 60 very American students walked into this town right behind a Palm Sunday procession through the streets! We stood out like soar thumbs. This wasnt really a 'tourist town' and it was definately recognized by both us, and the natives. Thankfully, we then headed to another new beach! We laid out for three hours here - with everyone. Kelsi and I put on our ipod plugged into a set of portable speakers for everyone to hear haha. (IJ: Kelsi-behind the toilette!)
After the beach, we drove to Cotonia to see the lava rocks below its volcano. This was also the location of the Greek myth of Eulyess and the Cyclopse! At the train station, our group of us followed Francesco to a place where he said were the 'best sandwiches ever'! (And remember, I do not question Francesco-if he said it was the best, than by god I'm sure it's the best)! So, Kelsi and I ordered and ate or sandwich made with what you ask?? HORSE MEAT! Thats right, Kelsi and I ate chewy, dark HORSE MEAT!!! O god, I am still cringing...
On the train back to Florence, Kelsi and I, and our new cabin roommates Ashley and Taylor decided we wanted to stay awake to see the train dock on the ferry to carry us across the Med. Sea to the mainland of Italy. On the ferry, we jumped off and ran up the stairs to the huge metal boat deck. It was dark out, with lights lit up all along harbor-it was thrilling to see! We went as high up on the boat we could, where we stumbled onto a ladder leading to the roof of the ferry. Scandelously looking around and at each other-we decided to climb! 'Hurry, hurry,' we whispered forcefully to each other! We were then on top! We felt like Charlie's Angels or 007, in complete darkness sneaking on top of boats! It was one of the most enchanting yet adrenaling rushed moments I have experienced. The ferry at that moment had begun turning to face the exit of the harbor, while I stood in the middle, in the dark, twirling... wow. Then! We heard Italian shouting and our small silent stolen moment was over and our small group split, laughing in every direction. Back down the ladder, Taylor and I ducked into a door as non-chalantly as possible...only to find we had ducked into the CREW's QUARTERS! A man walked up, 'What are doing here?? Where are you from?' and after standing there for a moment in fear, didn't answer and took off out the door again!

Things I noticed in Sicily: Lots of Italians with blue eyes! The sgragliest, dirtiest, most diseased looking pets I have ever seen! Again, a massive amount of orange and lemon trees-lots of green, not really kept up with though. Beaches not kept up that well either-very public, not many tourist resorts that I saw. A lot more families, older people, kids, babies, etc. Except for Taormina, there wasnt much to any city- alot of empty buildings. (Wouldnt have ever gone there on own or in small group). Every beach we were at, every day, IF there were Sicilians there, they were wearing scarves, jackets, gloves, and hats. They would play with their children on the beach, and the kids would be bundled up so tightly they could barely move their arms! Italians have said Sicilians are the 'rednecks' of Italy, the only observations I can clearly make regarding this are that yes, they definately have more of a farming economy-not as much money maybe as Rome, Florence, etc. Much more rocky, mountainous than Tuscany. Palm tree leaves folded in all different ways being sold on the street...guess for that Palm Sunday.

Czeck & SB

Mary Shannon: Ok, so mom told me to give you a quick 'play-by-play' before going into detailed storytelling! So here is Prague weekend in a few points...
----Kelsi, our friend Kellen. and I travelled on an overnight train to Vienna, where we then took train into Prague
----Friday night we showered in our very nice hostel then went out for supper, yummy beer (Pilsner), and to a bar called Harleys...where Czech motorcycle riders were partying it up trying to get us all to dance haha.
----Saturday we toured the Prague Castle, St. Nicholas Church, and ate an AMAZING lunch under the St. Charles Bridge at a place called Kampa Park...(yes, more yummy Pilsner). For dinner we ate at a beer hall, I had goulash mmm.
----Saturday night at 9pm we left our hostel to catch our train leaving at 10pm
----Get to train station-NO train. Told wrong time to be there by train agent. Told next train will leave at 1am from other Prague station, on the OTHER side of town. Buy ticket only to border from non-english-speaking unfriendly woman while surrounded by men with missing teeth. With three hours until train comes, begin to look for safe place to wait. Walk by guy smoking crack. Find place to sit with bugs in drinks, yum... Train station closes down. Kelsi and I hold knives in hand. Find stairwell to sit in. Train comes, sign says it is going to Bratislava (capitol of Slovenia and location of gory film Hostel). No one speaks English, other than to say, 'yes! this to vienna'! (Which is where we are trying to go). Get on train after argument with man who says he has no room.
----Sunday morning at 6am pull up at trains last stop: Bratislava. yes. Happen to find god-sent-english-speaking travellers who translate for us at the Bratislava train desk. Get ticket to Vienna. (Also find out that our train had dislodged one cart at the border to send to Vienna, we had been on wrong cart because no one decided to mention that small detail). Freak out because we think that train is leaving early and Kelsi is not on it-it doesnt leave. Get to Vienna finally! only to find the next train to Florence will not leave for another 12hrs. 15 minute panic attack. Collection of resources and calm. Kelsi finds smokey restaurant to study for mid-term (at Monday morning, 9am). Kellen and I go to museum to just sit and soak in the absence of Eastern Europe and the multitude of tourists.
Get on right train at right time.
----Back in Florence 6am Monday morning, Kelsi studies 2 more hours before going straight to class. I sleep. Traumatic experience complete.

Spring Break:
----Pick up mom at airport on Saturday, we walk around Florence and she enjoys her first gelato! We eat at Borgo Antico in Piazza Santo Spirito.
----Sunday we go to church in big duomo! For dinner we eat at Santo el Bevitore on Via Santo Spirito-Moms favorite place.
---Monday we take bus to Fiesole, a small Etruscan town about 10 minutes north. Here we look around the Roman ampitheatre from 1st century BC in the POURING rain and eat lunch. For dinner we eat at ZaZas with Kelsi near Mercato Centrale
---Tuesday we go on Tuscan Trails wine tour, going to two different wineries while its SNOWING! We eat lunch in the small family-owned restaurant, mmm. For dinner we eat at Il Latini, sat at a large table with two men on our left that only speak Italian, and two women on our right that only speak French. Oh yeah, and forgot to tell mom meat ordered comes on a large plate...alone, no sides. Needless to say, she looked a little nautious the whole time...
----Wednesday we went to the Palazzo Piti and Boboli Gardens. We ate dinner at Yellow Pizzeria on Via Proconsolo-I ate ALL of mine and mom too!
---Thursday Mom and I took a train to Rome for the afternoon. We rode around on one of those tour buses where you can get on and off all day. We stopped at the Colosseum and took a tour. Stopped at St. Peter's Basilica, drove past everything else because it was WINDY and FREEZING!
---Friday we went to Accademia and saw Michaelangelo's David. We climbed Brunellesci's tower by the Dome. We ate lunch at an outside cafe by the Uffizi becuase it was our first sunny day. We ate dinner at a place called Garga on Via Moro-SO CUTE and good! Mom gave me an heirloom ring for my 21st!! (thanks!)
--Packed up and back home for mom! I crawled in bed and didnt come out until today haha!

There is a quick, to the chase catch up! love you all, miss you all :)

To much Czech for me!!

Kelsi: Ok so you know how I said I had a way better story for you after the Paris one.... well I wasn’t lying except this one takes place in the Czech territory! Well here is the thing when we first got here I was so dead set on wanting to go somewhere around the Czech territory. You see I am like 95 percent Czechoslovakian and so I wanted to go somewhere where my ancestors had once been. But here is the thing. Czechoslovakia split and became the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Well I didn’t really know what area they were from and one of my family friends had went to Slovakia and actually saw a house that had our last name on the mailbox. I thought this was so cool but I didn’t get a chance to ask him where he went so anyways long story short we decided since we didn’t know what part to go to that we wouldn’t plan a trip there. Haha well what we didn’t know was we would be coming very familiar with this place in the future. Haha ok so on the weekend of March 8 is where it all began. You see we didn’t have anywhere to go that weekend and so we decided to go to Prague which is in the Czech Republic because we had wanted to go there originally but couldn’t because it didn’t fit into our schedule. So we were planning to go there when our friend more like brother Kellen said he wanted to go as well. So we were so excited since there was going to be 3 of and a guy which is safer and se we went and scheduled an overnight train cart. Ok so we got a train for a 6 sleeper that left at around 10 something that night. Oh I forgot to mention that ok I wanted to go really bad but I had a huge midterm that Monday. Ok now most of the classes over here are slacking classes but me Ms. Lucky get the hardest teacher for international management and its far from a basket weaving class my dad likes to call a slacking class. So after going back and forth and even calling the parents and asking what I should do I decided to go... I mean come on even if I did decide to stay in Florence I wouldn’t study I would find something to do to past the time so hey I mine as well travel I mean after all that is what I am here for. But I did say we have to make sure we can be back Sunday afternoon so I can pretty much cram that night for the exam that next morning at 9 a.m. Well the thing is that it takes about a day of traveling to get there and so like in Paris we got back Monday at 8 a.m. and so now we would have to cut the trip short and leave sat. night. Well after talking about it they said they wouldn’t mind and so we were off to Prague. Kellen haha let me just say is a little spaz!! He is full of energy and never sits still but he is our bestest bestest friend over here. We got on the train again with our hoodies and put the beds down ate our McDonalds that me and MSD make a ritual of doing before we go and travel anywhere. Cheeseburger happy meal with sprite is the ritualistic meal!! We slept through the night and when we woke up we were in Prague. We were so excited. Once we got there we knew we had to go ahead and buy our train ticket back for sat. evening and also get the Czech crowns money cuz they don’t use the euro over there. We had to wait to buy our ticket back because the Czech Republic is not covered by the Eurail Pass which is what we all 3 had. I had 3 countries being Italy, Spain, and Greece, MSD having all those plus Austria, and Kellen had global. This pass gets us through the borders and for really cheap!! So neways we went to the information desk and started to talk to this lady who was so nice. We were asking her about times to come back and the latest one that we could take sat. night so we could still hang out sat. Well we were there for awhile. Long enough for 4 people to leave, one to talk bad to us then walk away, and another to approach us and ask the lady in slovakian language something haha but the nice woman that was waiting on us said something mean to her and was taking up for us cuz that woman gave us a mean look and walked away!! It was awesome and I was loving my people... the first foreigner to ever take our side over one of their own. So after sitting there forever she told us a bunch of diff. times and we could of all sworn she said there was one that left at 10:06 p.m. sat night. Her english wasn’t very good by the way. But I asked her 2 times and so did Kellen and she confirmed that time, so we got out tickets and were on our way. When we were leaving the train station we saw a sign that said KONEC !!! crazy its my last name without the n and y. That part means last and well my name is never seen anywhere it was so cool to see that sign!! We walked to the hostel and checked in which oh yea MSD was really nervous because she picked it out and she was hoping that it would be good. Well she did better than good she did awesome :) She had talked to some people who told her to get a hostel in Old Town because it is safer and closer to everything. You see in Prague there is Old Town and New Town... Old Town safe, tourist area, close to everything part, New Town very bad, stay away, don’t go near!! So back to the story we got to the hostel and it was like staying at a church camp or something. There was a huge leaving room type thing with people in there just hanging out and then out room was a 5 bunk room. It was cool it was really clean and very safe feeling. We decided to take showers and get dressed for the evening since it was already like 5 something. The showers did not lock and so we made Kellen keep watch for us. It was mixed bathrooms kind of awkward I know. After we got dressed we walked around the beautiful city of Prague. It was gorgeous and so peaceful and clean and everyone was so nice. We went to eat at this place where I ordered something that my Pepaw use to make which is called beef stroganauf (not sure how to spell it). My Pepaw was the best cook ever and he always made the most amazing food ever!! He used to make these 2 dishes that the Czechs made. It was so good and it was almost as good as Pepaw’s but what can I say I’m bias!! We also had some of the best beer. Ok so they are known for their beer which is the Pilsner being the best and also the first beer that the Czechs ever made. We walked around for a little bit and then went back and went to sleep. The next morning we got up early and were off to see the sights. We went over the bridge St. Charles bridge maybe im not sure MSD will correct me if I get it wrong. Hehe We also went to the castle which was really cool. OMG we had to climb so many steps to get to the top it was nuts!! After that we went and had lunch at this awesome place MSD picked. It was right on the water and overlooked the bridge. Oh yea the bridge was in the movie Vin Diesel, Mission Impossible and some others. It is a cool bridge and it has these gothic, dark like statues lining the bridge. Oh while we were at the restaurant this really cute waiter waited on us. Haha I made a joke by saying he was my knight and shining armor and this other guy that I saw who was absolutely beautiful in Paris was called my Prince Charming. Haha I added a little character to it ;) After we did some sight seeing I had to shop well cuz since it was my ancestors I had to shop there!! I bought tons of stuff mainly for my family they would be happy to know! Haha we shopped for awhile and then we were off to go to the whole nightlife thing. Well Kellen told us that there was the pubcrawl thing at 10 p.m. so we walked back to the hostel to meet everyone for that and well hehe Kellen had gotten the time wrong. You see over here they go by military time so we are always confused. Haha so we were like oh well we can go somewhere else. So we talked to the guy at our hostel and he told us to go to this one place called Harley’s. We got there and haha wow it was like a Harley Davidson party!!! All these bikers wearing leather and some students were there. We decided to stay there anyways because we didn’t really know where else to go and we just spent the night people watching and wow was it not hilarious. These old mean and women just dancing around being absolutely crazy. Well there was this one guy who looked like our age who was pretty tipsy and kept trying to talk to us. Well as he was talking to Mary Shannon she had told him that we were "visiting my family" over here so we didn’t look like students. When she said my last name he started saying no thats my name and she was like no that is Kelsi’s last name and he was like no its mine. Well then she said spell it and his was actually Hornecny. Ok that is crazy!! He said he knew my last name and has heard it before!! I was freaking out and thought that was so cool!! Anyways the next day which was sat. we walked around and went out to eat to pass time before we had to leave. We saw this street sign that had that part of my last name on it again so I ran over there to get a picture by it and there was this homeless man digging in the trash right next to me and as MSD took the picture he stood straight up and was looking at me as I was looking at the camera. Haha it was so awkward. After the pic I started walking off and you know homeless people this guy starts following us and yelling stuff. Well Kellen starts getting behind me!! Haha we are suppose to get behind him!! Well the guy caught up with us and started talking this craziness and finally we got away from him. When we got the hostel we were packing our bags and Kellen and MSD were looking at the times on our tickets. Then there was a nice long pause followed by "the look". Ok I was like don’t look at me that way what happened. MSD says I think we might have missed our train. I was like what! No! There is no way its not til 10:06. But after looking at the ticket it said 20:06 which is 8:06!! Ok I was like lets just go there and see. Well when we got there to the station not a soul in sight and nobody there!! We walked up to the desk and this woman was not nice and she said yep you missed it. OK now im freaking out cuz I have a test Monday and needed to get to Florence on Sunday. She said there was a train at like 1 a.m. headed to Vienna, Austria which then we could change trains and get on one going to Florence. We were like ok can we get a ticket and she said no you have to go to the Central Station to do that. So we got directions, got on the metro and headed that way. Once we got there we had no idea where we were. We walked in and omg what a sight. The whole first floor was covered with bums sleeping. Keep in mind it is about 9:30 p.m. They are everywhere I mean it just looked like a looney ville. People talking to themselves and snoring on the floor. It was disgusting!! We walked immediately to the front desk another not nice woman who we talked to forever and finally got our train ticket for Vienna that left at 1a.m. OK so what in the world are we going to do until then. We first wanted to get off the first floor so headed up the stairs MSD ahead of me and she was waiting at the top when she gave me this weird look. These 2 guys were on the stairwell right beside me just hanging out well that is what I thought. When she gave me that look I thought they were eyeing me and at that point I wasn’t in the mood and so I turned to look at them and OMG they were smoking crack!!! literally had the foil and the lighter out and just was doing it like it was nothing!! Ok where the hell are we? Sorry for my language but that was what first came to my mind. I ran up the stairs and we sat at this little restaurant. We were freaking out a little bit and then we found out that we were in NEW TOWN!!! The part you weren’t suppose to be in yep we were in it... right in the middle of it!!! We ordered 2 sprites and a coke and well there were 2 bugs in mine and 3 in MSD’s. Yep pretty disgusting!! Kellen got up and was going to try and find somewhere else for us to sit because they were starting to turn off the lights and we were the only ones there and we needed to find people fast. It looked, felt, and smelt dangerous!! As MSD was talking to her dad I noticed this drunk guy just standing across the station staring at us and so I made eye contact to you know let him know I saw him and so maybe intimidate him I guess I dunno. Well then 2 other guys walked up and I was like ok stay calm and then 3 other guys came from the stairwell the crack people stairwell and I was like no eye contact freak out and where is Kellen. I asked calmly to MSD where he was and then she was like Idunno and then I started panicking and was like where is Kellen!!! Then MSD was like put on your hood. We couldn’t think of anything else to do so we put on our hoods and tried to become invisible. These guys just stood there and so me and MSD pulled out our pocket knives and held them in our hand under our hoody thinking we are protected, we will be ok. Then here comes Kellen and he says that he just got chased by a woman trying to sell herself. OK so we were like lets get out of here I mean go outside go anywhere just out of here!! We walk outside thinking we can go to a restaurant or something to sit at until we have to leave. I mean I was even saying like a hotel like just sitting in the lobby or something that is how desperate we were. We walked outside and absolutely nothing in sight!! Only huge industrial buildings and interstate for days! No anything in sight so we started walking a little bit and then I was like this isn’t any safer cuz we could get robbed on the streets because it was late and not a soul was out and then we were like ok let’s get a taxi but then we remembered that they told us not to take a taxi because they weren’t safe at all. So we were out of luck and by now we are scared and MSD is silent. That is how I know when she is scared her eyes get big and she speaks nothing! We couldn’t take the metro either cuz we don’t want to get robbed especially underground no one would be down there to help us. WOW it kept getting worse and I just kept talking it out all out loud which was prolly not to smart and was just scaring us. Well we decided to go back in the station and find a place to sit. We finally found this kind of well lit area to sit down in and took a seat. No one around except a guy with his dog and he was having a conversation with his dog! Yea crazies. Well Kellen opened up his wine tasting book and started to get MSD distracted so would think about something else. Well I spotted this one guy who walked towards us 2 times and then hid and so I just stood up thinking that I needed to be ready and if we were all sitting down we wouldn’t be able to fight back!! I mean my mind is racing with thoughts. I get my knife out and just stand up and then MSD looks at me and no words even had to be exchanged. She knew me and knew what I was thinking. We all got up and went to find somewhere else to sit and found this stairwell by the place where the employees worked and we took a seat. At this point we didn’t care in the least bit although it reminded us of a Nazi place or something it was freaky. We waited there and Kellen went and found a cop who said they were kicking out all the bums so we went down there and walked towards our train cuz it was getting closer to time and well we weren’t missing this one. We started to get on the cart and the guy looked at us and said all full. Ok my knees went weak and I thought I was going to be sick!! He said the sleeping carts were full and so we were like we have to get on I don’t care we need on this train. We started walking ahead a few carts and climbed on and found a 6 seater non sleeping cart but hey that is ok at least we were on. Kellen found these asians who were also heading to Vienna so we stayed by them. They were in the next room thing. We were getting really nervous cuz the train said it was heading to Bratislava which is the capital of Slovakia which is the place where HOSTEL was filmed. But theses asians reconfirmed over and over again that we were headed to Vienna and so did the conductor. It was a 5 hour train and we got on it and relaxed and took a nap. We would get into Vienna at 6 a.m. and we would need to catch the train to Florence at 6:30 a.m. putting us home at like 5 in the evening. So we were good and relaxed and MSD was going to run to the ticket place and buy our tickets and I was going to carry her stuff while she raced there. Well 6 a.m. came around and we jumped up and ran off the train to find MYSELF IN A NIGHTMARE!! We were in Bratislava!! OK so I talked to my mom earlier and was like haha I would never even get off the train if we ended there no way!! Ok well if we didn’t get off the train there we were headed to Hungary!!! OK Bratislava!!!! Are you kidding me!!! We lost it!!! We are freaking out when these 2 girls who are from there come up to us and are like what are you all doing here??? We were like help us we are suppose to be in Vienna, AUSTRIA!! There were 5 people to get off a 80 cart train and we were 3 of them. This girl was like no americans come here what in the world. OK we are like please help us we know we are trying to go home!!! She was so nice and translated for us to the woman working the desk and they told us that the one cart that was full that we could not get on was the one cart that we needed to be on because that one cart yes one cart was disconnected at the border and went to Vienna!!! We were not on that one cart and so we were in Slovakia!!! Bratislava might I add is the one place in Eastern Europe that you don’t go to!!!! It is so unsafe and well I felt like we were going to be sold into human trafficking or something!! Hello family heritage!!! It was awful and so this woman got us on a train to Vienna and so we got on the train and I had to get some money so as I was getting some money out of the ATM, MSD and Kellen were on the train well MSD tells the story better but the train started to move and Kellen opens the window and lets out this gut wrenching yell to say my name. Then he comes running in spazing out saying we have to go. Well now I’m mad cuz well I’m just mad so I take off running and jump on and the train wasn’t moving. It had just jolted!! Ok now I just want to kill Kellen for scaring the crap out of me!! Well we got a little laugh out and then we were in Vienna at 8 a.m. OK now we went to the train station lady and she informed us that we would have to take an overnight train at 7p.m. putting us in Florence at 6a.m. Monday morning. OK Test helloooO!!! Freaking out now yea I crying and freaking out. Well we all were. What in the world are we going to do for 12 hours? Well I found this little restaurant inside the station and I sat down and took out the books. In Austria the germans love to smoke and there is no such thing as non smoking anywhere. Smoke gives me a horrible headache however I did not have a choice! I tried to go in this one place that was all compfy but the sweet guy there told me it was for first class only!! OK are u kidding me I just need a place to study. I took a good 10 minutes away from Kellen and MSD and cried then I was good to go. Oh and then my dad called so I definitely had a breakdown with that. I mean when your daddy calls you just want to cry and freak out and of course he built me up and motivated me to study and said hey ur ok you weren’t burned at the stake or murdered so your good.haha This was very true considering the places we were just at. Haha So I sat down and studied for 12 hours never got up and kept ordering water cuz well you can’t sit if your not buying anything!! Finally 7 rolls around and we got on the train an hour early and me and MSD felt like homeless ppl. We washed our faces and teeth on the train. Ok that is so disgusting and considering the circumstances it was ok. Oh and we hadn’t washed our hair since Friday. Ok so im telling you all this because we would have but we figured would be home Sunday and well we were gross I know!! Hhaha we went to sleep fast and the overnight unsanitary, nasty, dirty, smelly, bed in the train has never felt to good!! Haha sorry if I’m grossing you all out but come on have you read what we went through. We were just glad to be alive. We made it back in Florence at 6a.m. and I seriously wanted to lay down on the street and just scream with rejoice!!! We got back and I TOOK A SHOWER and studied til my test and then went to class was the first one there and the last one to leave. I told my teacher the whole story and she thought I was nuts. This chick has been everywhere and she was like I can’t believe you were in Bratislava and I was like I KNOW YOUR TELLING ME!! And that is where my ancestors are from!! Haha I did ok on my test I think we won’t find out until next Monday but I’ll let you know how it goes!! Now that I have written a whole novel about this I think that is pretty much it!! Hey this trip deserves to have its very own blog on places to not go in Europe!!! After all this I think I have hung out with enough of my people and have had enough Czechs in my life to last me a lifetime!!!!! I love my people :)

MOM and I in the Tuscan hills while it is SNOWING