Eurotrip 2007... Jonathan Visits Europe

Somehow I managed to turn my two days off from school due to a Hungarian holiday into a week and a half vacation with Jonathan. We had an amazing time traveling around France and Italy, visiting a total of nine cities in ten days. Some thoughts about the trip:

1. New favorite European city: Torino (Turin), host of the 2006 Olympics. Beautiful. Cheaper than Rome and Milan. Great weather. Rome and Krakow are close behind.

2. Best meal consumed: our daily gelato beats out all other food. Italian gelato is simply amazing. I also introduced Jonathan to the amazingness that is San Benedetto ice tea. We also consumed large quantities of European Pringles, at 2-4 Euros a canister… ouch.

3. Favorite friends made along the way: we stayed with Hospitality Clubbers in Milan and had such a fabulous time that they invited us to visit them over the weekend in Genoa (Genova), where they are from. In Genoa we visited Christopher Columbus’ home. Cool.

4. Most interesting attraction: Monte Carlo’s public elevators take you fourteen stories from the top of the city to the bottom. I’ve never seen anything like it. The Shroud of Christ, in Torino, ranks a close second.

5. Favorite souvenir: Knock-off sunglasses bought outside the Colosseum in Rome. I am reminded of Rome each time I wear them, which is probably why I love them.

6. Best weather: probably Rome. Every time I go there the weather is fabulous and my pictures come out amazing. Something about that city...

7. Biggest disappointment: French Riviera. Nice reminds me of Miami, only more people, smellier, more expensive and less safe. A second close is the Sistine Chapel, Rome. Although the line outside to get in moved rather quickly, and we got the student discount, they make you walk through the entire museum just to see that Michelangelo’s proportions were way off.

8. Best trip "bonus": meeting Jonathan's aunt, uncle and four cousins in Nantes, where they have been living for the past four years. Spending time with his family was the absolute best way to end the trip.