FLORENCE

The week before midterms week was CRAZY for me! So much to do! But as a result during midterms week itself I only had one research paper due on Monday and then a Psychology exam on Thursday, which left Tuesday and Wednesday pretty open. So when I found out that a dear friend of mine from high school was in Italy, I couldn't resist! I super last minute bought a train ticket for an all day trip to Florence to join his family vacation for a day! 

[Ponte Vecchio Bridge]

Low quality picture of a high quality statue. Honesty moment: I didn't get what all the hype was about one statue, people were lined down the block to get in and see it, but then I saw it in person and now I'm a true believer! It is so lifelike and nearly unfathomable that someone could carve that from a hunk of rock. 

Serious question: If you mess up while chiseling away at a sculpture, what do you do? start over?! 

we're so hip we take photos with garbage trucks in Italy..

I've traveled a bit around Italy but never anywhere in Tuscany and never Florence, so this actually was great family trip for me to tag along on! I have varying opinions of Italian cities that I've been to, but I really liked this day in Florence. Part of it might have been the great company, but I also enjoyed that Florence seemed to be a thriving city, as opposed to the cripple tourist traps that some cities have devolved into. Italy is definitely a unique place, but Florence has a rich history and it was fun to explore it with good friends!

these kids!! 

awkward family photo starring Jessica and the Berger family 

In the Santa Croce Basilica you can find the tombs of many famous figures including Galileo (pictured below) and Dante, pretty impressive how many history shaping figures came from Florence.

quote from Ben's mom: " 3 smart kids. Jessica, Ben, and Galileo" 

I love moms! haha

Santa Croce Basilica 

 there are some alright churches in Florence.. I guess.. ;)
jk. they are incredible. The duomo is astoundingly big and dominates the florence skyline! Truly awe inspiring and so incredible.

love these boys! didn't want to say goodbye at the train station! 

Here's to more adventures and friends across the world! 

xx 

VENICE

I am the world's worrrsssstttt blogger! I know, I know. I am over a month behind on posting, but you know what? #sorrynotsorry

I am not going to apologize for being too busy living life. But, that being said, this blog is my photo journal and I love documenting my crazy life in it. So let's take a quick step back into September. And a spontaneous daytrip to Venice!!

 I never imagined a point in my life when I would be able to casually say, "oh yeah, I'm just going to take a quick daytrip to Venice." I really am so thankful for the opportunities I have. As far as Venice goes, I just got lucky! I found super cheap last minute train tickets and I had a great friend who was willing to go too! So off we went early one Saturday morning!

The Grand Canal + my beautiful travel buddy Julie! She entertained me the whole train ride there with stories of her 7 months in Madagascar and Rwanda! 

One thing I loved about Venice is that even though there are a handful of great museums, the main thing to see in Venice is Venice itself! The city is just so unlike any other! There are no roadways, only canals for boats. The entire public transportation system is based on boats! Garbage pickup? Boats. Grocery shopping? Boats! It is hard to conceptualize, but so cool to see!

This series of photos (below) is what happens when I am trying to get a good picture.. I definitely missed out on the photogenic gene! The struggle is real everyone! 

 ^^ had to sneak a photo of the famous gondeliers, apparently it is a very strictly regulated profession and they only 425 in Venice and a guild controls their licensing.

Unlike most trips I take, we didn't have any kind of plan for the day. We just bought a daypass for the boats and spent the day wandering all the tiny streets and marveling at this city. It was the perfect strolling weather and a low key day.

As we took the boat back from Murano (one of the islands outside of venice we ate dinner at) there was the most spectacular sunset! I seriously did not edit these pictures at all, it was insanely gorgeous and probably due to all the industrial pollution from factories just inland of Venice, but there's gotta be some kind of silver lining to pollution! 

Good night venice!

xx