Italy and Switzerland...
After some time in Spain, I flew from Seville to Bergamo (just east of Milan) with RyanAir for only 26Euro which included all the taxes and fees. The flight itself was only 0.01Euro! I decided to spend the night in Bergamo and look around the city a bit, but I should've gone straight to Turin to visit my friend Carlotta, whom I met in Baoding the first semester I was teaching. It was great to see her again, and to finally meet her boyfriend who cooked up an amazing pasta dish (he's a chef at a restaurant). We spent time catching up, and going through photos and stories of China. The second day I was there she took me through the city, showing me the sites (including the church where the Shroud of Turin is) and taking me to the best gelato place in town. And all I can say is that the gelato was incredible! The best I've ever had anywhere. We also went out one evening for authentic Naples pizza which was also very good (though I should have tried it with the buffalo mozzarella cheese). Yummy Italian food!
Next stop was Geneva, to visit Conrad and Meghan. It was great to see both of them again and to enjoy Swiss chocolate and cheese. I've been to Geneva once or twice before, so I wasn't overly keen on running around and seeing all the sites, but I did wander around town and the lake for a day or two.

Bella Italia...
Well, this is it for Italy. I'm back off to Northern France.
After I was in Rome, I headed south to Naples for two nights. Everyone warned me about the city, but it wasn't so bad, once you got out of the tourist-trap (literally) square right outside of the train station. The sun came out, and the water was beautiful.
I spent a morning wandering around the ruins of Pompeii. It's incredible to think that the place was inhabited by Romans 2000 years ago. There are still amazing frescos on the walls. You could also see plaster castings of some of the victims, including a dog.
I also ate the worlds best pizza, no joking. I ate at the best pizza place in Naples (they only had two pizzas on the menu), which is the home to pizza. Let me tell you, and make you drool, that it was by far the best pizza that I've ever had. It's all downhill from here, lol!
Then I spent a day in Sienna, and I wish that I could've spent more time there. The city was so beautiful, and it was sunny! I went to see an exhibit of Duccio (13th Century) paintings.
I'm now about to head off for a fun 26 hour or so bus ride back (I just realised that the return journey is going to be longer than the one to come here)
Ciao

When in Rome...
...it hails, rains, thunders and lightnings. Oh well, I'm still in the "Eternal City", and the weather does break every once in a while. It snowed in Venice during the carnival (I wasn't there, but it was on the news, and I talked with some people who were there.)
I visited Pisa a few days ago, and yes I saw the leaning tower. The city is really beautiful, I think I've said that about Italy a lot, lol! But it's true. Pisa is full of beautiful orange and red houses. Even in the rain and clouds it's amazing.
Rome, well what can I say? There is soooo much amazing history here. I've been totally overwhelmed, and am exhausted from walking around all day. Yesterday I went to Trevi Fountain (and threw in a coin, as tradition says you should if you want to return), then I wandered past a lot of well known sites (the Spanish steps, Coliseum, etc.)
Today I went into St. Peters, as well as several "smaller" churches (they were huge and incredibly ornately decorated). Then I wandered around, and went into the Coliseum.
The pizza here is really amazing (isn't everything here??). They have so many types, that I would never think would taste good, but they do. Then there's the gelati. MMmmm....., that's really good too. I haven't had too much pasta, since I eat a lot of it back in Lille. When I go to Napoli, I'll eat pasta though, because it's supposed to be really good there.
Anyway, I should go and make the most of my evening in Rome. Profitez-en!
Ciao

Firenze...
Hello from Italy. (Once again I have to try to get used to the English keyboard. I don't know where the letters and punctuation are.)
Anyway, I made it to Italy, after over 24 hours on a bus (it arrived late), and three customs checks (the bus started in Amsterdam, so the French customs people went through everyones bags).
Florence is thoroughly beautiful. I can't begin to describe it. I went to the Uffizi museum today, where many great paintings are held. This place just oozes art.
It's a bit cold at the moment, but at least it's not snowing, as it was in Lille when I left.
I'm heading to Pisa tomorrow, then Rome the day after that.
Ciao

Happy Holidays...
It’s vacation time!!!!!! In case you can’t tell, I’m very excited to be on winter break now.
I’m going to Italy on Monday, by bus (only 24 hours one way). I’ll arrive in Florence on Tuesday, where I’ll spend a few days before going to Rome for three nights. I know that three nights in Rome isn’t a lot, but I’m only in Italy for 10 nights. I’m hoping to see enough that I want to come back. And, it’ll just be nice to get out of Lille for a while. Then I’m planning on going to Naples for a day or two, before heading up to Florence again to see some of the surrounding cities (Pisa, Sienna, etc.).
All in all, it should be a great vacation (it will at least be better than spending two weeks here). I’ve been saving up for a while, so I’m going to treat myself on good Italian gellato, coffee, and biscotti. Not to mention the pasta and pizza, or the olive oil and tomatoes.
To everyone else, I wish a happy holidays (if you have them), or happy continuation of school/work in hopes of happy holidays : )
Ciao

Going to Italy...
As you may or may not have noticed, I've changed the name of my blog from Going to France, to Going to Italy. As you may well imagine, I'm going to Italy for the winter vacation! Only two weeks to go.
I'm going to be spending 24 hours on a bus from Lille to Florence (via Brussels). I'm planning on spending a few nights there, and a few in Rome, with some side trips (i.e. Pisa).
Ciao