ONE WEEEEEK!

Sigh. Last night I had A FIRE in my boot camp class, seriously. So now between scrambling to find places to take my clients and finish a paper for my class, all I can do is keep saying to myself "one week, one week, ONE WEEK"

I'm so excited but so terrified to leave my business and hope that everything is ok while I'm gone. I think because I'm feeling a little control freak-y today I decided to go ahead and buy a shuttle service to get us from the Barcelona airport to our hotel. I'mjust a little nervous about taking a huge suitcase on a bus, you know? *deep breaths*

Anyway! I'm so excited and my best friend Lauren sent me this link:http://www.camelsandchocolate.com/2010/07/whats-in-my-bag-packing-for-cool-climate-2/ to help with all of my cold climate packing needs. I feel ready to leave tomorrow! Here are some things I think all of your should be aware of when packing for a fall Euro trip:

- Rain boots are a must. Flats showing any skin will be a wet, sticky mess.

- Layers and layers AND layers. You don't necessarily have to buy a whole new wardrobe. You can pair summer shirts and skirts with tights and sweaters to complete a look and keep you warm. A trench coat is a good investment. Here's the find I got from target a few weeks ago:

- The best piece of advice: CARRY ON YOUR HEAVY COAT! I know Ryan and I will look insane carring on peacoats, but I'd rather save space and money buy doing that than packing it. Your carry on doesn't need to be a full on suitcase. I'm bringing a big purse and packing my book, a snack, a sleep mask, and a small make up bag; I know I'll either sleep or watch movies while on the plane. No need to bring so many distractions that I won't even use.

- Before you leave, go online and look around on google maps. Check out familiar landmarks so you can see where your hotel will be in relation to them. Why not get familiar with your surroundings before hand? I'm more visual of a person so if I can see where I'm going, I can get around without a map very easily. Try googling your hotel, restaurants, etc. I promise it will help!

Until tomorrow!

8 Days to go! Ben, here we come!

ALLO GAVNAH! Did you miss me, Ben? Cuz I sure have been missin you! When Bobbye Jo and I first arrived in London in 2008, the first thing besides showering was of course to get a few beers at a pub. After our naps, we decided to explore a little. Not really being familiar with the tube, we got off of what we thought was the wrong stop and walked smack dapped into this:

That dear old chap took my breath away! Since I haven't posted much about London, here are a few of my other favorite pics:

Abbey Road

Good ol Bobby!

London Bridge

Tea and cucumber sandwiches

I am obsessed with the movie "Hook" and I swear this took all day to find in Kensington Gardens but we were so happy when we did!

And with that very mature pic, I will leave you for today! I have loads of work to do plus some sorting of clothes to pack! More tomorrow for the ONE WEEK COUNTDOWN!

Day 9! Random things I'm bringing

If you haven't considered the price of bottled water in Europe, I highly suggest doing so before going. If you don't ask for tap water, you could get a bill for a 10 euro bottle of water like I did in Paris. So, to save some serious cash, I bought these:

The blue for Ryan, the green for me! Since we drink water like it's going out of style, the 18.99 two pack will defiantly pay for itself.

Along with extra locks, two adapters and converters, and about 10 books we also have clothes to pack and since I have so much to do this week, I need to get to packin! Hopefully I can fit all of this useful crap somewhere!

The 10 day countdown has begun!

Today is dedicated to the Coliseum, the largest built in Roman history. Completed in 80 AD, it can seat up to 50,000 people. If' you've seen "Gladiator" it looks just a little more dusty than the movie (haha) but is still so massive that it just tastes your breath away.

To take the tour it can be anywhere from 20-50 euro depending on which tour you chose. The dungeon tour seems the most worth it to me. Be sure to check out the ruins around it, you can see some pretty interesting carvings under the arches; a testament to the suppression of certain religions at that time.

I'm so excited this trip is only 10 days away that I am pretty much packed already. If packed means I have a huge lump of stuff by the door to pack, it's pretty.

Day 11 - Oh my, Versailles!

For an anniversary gift, I bought Ryan a day trip to Versailles with viator.com. The day that we leave is also the same day we need to check out of our hotel and catch our train to Rome at 6pm. The day tour only goes til 12, so we should manage just fine. I'm so excited and I heard it's just incredible.

I'm really excited to see the gardens and the hall of mirrors.

If you're planning a trip soon, I would highly recommend using Viator. They have just about every tour and activity you can think of and if you're going to a new place, it's a great way to get acquainted without feeling so intimidated. 

Day 12 - SHOT-SKI!

I am so excited to go out while in London! I think Halloween night we're planning on doing our own pub crawl to some really cool places. One of them being the Ice bar in London!

Located at 31-33 Heddon street, you can find a bar made completly of ice!

We can be Eskimos for Halloween!

Day 13 - coffee in Rome

If any of you know me well, you know I love my coffee. Noramlly, i don't really drink it for taste but for ritual. Unless of course, it's Christmas morning at my mom's and she has that french vanilla creamer I'm addicted to but won't ever let myself buy. When I went to Italy in 2008, I couldn't get over the hot and creamy cups they'd serve like it was just nothing out of the ordinary. They come in small white cups filled to the brim of the best coffee I have ever had. Bobbye Jo and I couldn't get enough. I think I still have some of the sweetener packages in a drawer to remember them by, just like a long lost friend...sigh.

The first thing that you should know is that the only thing Italy and Starbucks have in common is some of the names for the types or sizes of coffee. It ends there. Don't expect to get up to the counter and order a skinny vanilla soy latte. It won't happen. In fact, you'll be lucky to get a side of milk. That said, I urge you to just taste waht they have and enjoy it. Who wants fake sugar and nonfat milk on vacation anyway?

Here are the 5 most famous cafes in Rome:

- Caffe Grecco - Via Condotti 86
This is more historic over being the "best" in Rome, and if you sit down to order, you will be charged extra.

- Caffe S. Eustachio - Piazza S. Eustachio 82
The espresso and gran caffe speciale is known to be to die for! You will find this place by the Pantheon.

- Caffe della Pace - Piazza delle Pace 4
After you wander around the Piazza Navona, turn the corner and you'll find it!- Caffe Doney - Via V. Veneto 145
Cute little piano bar.

- Caffe Rosati - Piazza del Popolo 5A
Try a cappucino and one of their famous sandwiches!
(addresses taken from yourguidetoitaly.com)

(Dan Schneider)