Hey all… so I guess I'll try this out - might be a better way to keep a passive update available for those of you who are interested:
I just got back from 38 days in Europe! Kate (who is wonderful) took care of all the planning and logistics for a tour that took the two of us to Florence (1o days), Siena (2 days), Assisi (1 day), Perugia (1 day), Rome (5 days), Pisa (1 day), London (5 days), Paris (8 days), Venice (3 days), and then back to Florence (2 more days).
Clearly, I could write pages and pages talking about the beautiful things we saw and the exciting things that we did… but that might be a little overwhelming for a first post - and I want you guys to feel invited to come back! =) So, for now, I'll leave you with a few highlights and call it a wrap, but I'd be happy to email you more details etc., if you want them.
1) Kate and I spent Christmas in Rome at the Vatican – and through sheer luck managed to stumble into the pope’s Christmas morning mass. It was really weird – one minute we’re confusedly standing in a small group, wondering what it’s for – and the next, a guard opens up a barrier and everyone starts rushing to the pews (one guy even takes a spill across the floor!). Kate and I sat down, still not sure what was going on – reading out guidebook to kill time – and then a procession starts and I look over and see a guy that REALLY looks like the pope coming down the aisle. But it can’t be… so I just kind of watch for a while. Midway through, I turn to Kate and ask, “Is that the pope?”
“Um… YES!”
Haha. So that was awesome. We sat three rows from the pope’s delivery of Christmas mass. And while I was, and still am, super stoked about that, I can’t help but think that someone else should have had my seat. Someone who, maybe, would have known definitely that the man in front of them was the pope… but what can you do? I guess I’ll just appreciate the experience.
2) I got to spend New Years in London, watching the fireworks explode behind Big Ben… this experience was made all the more exhilarating, I think, because the subway was really slow and when we got off, we were part of a mad dash to the upper ground (and then over to Big Ben, which is no short distance when you’re peeling out at full speed and a little tipsy) while subway attendants urged us out chanting “1 minute left!” Good times, though.
3) The Eiffel Tower lights up at night! It’s beautifully mesmerizing. Kate was in the midst of taking a picture of another couple of tourists when we first saw it. I was, for some reason, with my back to it, watching Kate take the picture – so I just saw her eyes light up as she stood up from her crouch and said “Whoa!” In a daze, we handed the camera back to the couple and watched the lights. After the lights died down and we made our way to go climb the tower Kate turns to me, sheepishly and says “I don’t think I took a very good picture… I was so distracted…”
I could go on (and perhaps maybe already have), but those were some big ones. Some other notables, quickly: 1) I loved the food almost everywhere we went. One of the dinners in France I ordered Salmon (kind of by mistake) and Kate got steak… but it ended up being, I think, the first time in my life I’ve liked a fish dish more than a red-meat one. Also tried Tartar in France (looks like raw ground beef… but not too bad if you get past that)… had a lot of great wine and pasta almost everywhere we went… discovered the delights of mulled wine and crepes… made time to check out a McDonalds and try a Royale with Cheese (thanks for the recommendation, Samuel Jackson)… and in general, the bread (always fresh) and the cheese (often aged) combined to make heavenly sandwiches… 2) The sun sets differently in Europe. I swear it. And boy were there some beautiful ones… 3) The subways come frequently and tell you how long you won’t have to wait! NY should try to be more like that… 4) Got to see working Parisian sewers… it was disgusting, but I will probably take that one with me to the grave, vividly… 5) The Louvre was amazing, granted, but I think that I would recommend the Musee d’Orsay more… 6) A walk through the garden at the Palace in Versailles, one of my favorite memories…
Siiiigh… I'm sad it's over, but I suppose I should be happy that at least it was.
I hope you all had a wonderful New Years… please stay in touch via this blog (you can comment!) or send me an email. Love you all!
I just got back from 38 days in Europe! Kate (who is wonderful) took care of all the planning and logistics for a tour that took the two of us to Florence (1o days), Siena (2 days), Assisi (1 day), Perugia (1 day), Rome (5 days), Pisa (1 day), London (5 days), Paris (8 days), Venice (3 days), and then back to Florence (2 more days).
Clearly, I could write pages and pages talking about the beautiful things we saw and the exciting things that we did… but that might be a little overwhelming for a first post - and I want you guys to feel invited to come back! =) So, for now, I'll leave you with a few highlights and call it a wrap, but I'd be happy to email you more details etc., if you want them.
1) Kate and I spent Christmas in Rome at the Vatican – and through sheer luck managed to stumble into the pope’s Christmas morning mass. It was really weird – one minute we’re confusedly standing in a small group, wondering what it’s for – and the next, a guard opens up a barrier and everyone starts rushing to the pews (one guy even takes a spill across the floor!). Kate and I sat down, still not sure what was going on – reading out guidebook to kill time – and then a procession starts and I look over and see a guy that REALLY looks like the pope coming down the aisle. But it can’t be… so I just kind of watch for a while. Midway through, I turn to Kate and ask, “Is that the pope?”
“Um… YES!”
Haha. So that was awesome. We sat three rows from the pope’s delivery of Christmas mass. And while I was, and still am, super stoked about that, I can’t help but think that someone else should have had my seat. Someone who, maybe, would have known definitely that the man in front of them was the pope… but what can you do? I guess I’ll just appreciate the experience.
2) I got to spend New Years in London, watching the fireworks explode behind Big Ben… this experience was made all the more exhilarating, I think, because the subway was really slow and when we got off, we were part of a mad dash to the upper ground (and then over to Big Ben, which is no short distance when you’re peeling out at full speed and a little tipsy) while subway attendants urged us out chanting “1 minute left!” Good times, though.
3) The Eiffel Tower lights up at night! It’s beautifully mesmerizing. Kate was in the midst of taking a picture of another couple of tourists when we first saw it. I was, for some reason, with my back to it, watching Kate take the picture – so I just saw her eyes light up as she stood up from her crouch and said “Whoa!” In a daze, we handed the camera back to the couple and watched the lights. After the lights died down and we made our way to go climb the tower Kate turns to me, sheepishly and says “I don’t think I took a very good picture… I was so distracted…”
I could go on (and perhaps maybe already have), but those were some big ones. Some other notables, quickly: 1) I loved the food almost everywhere we went. One of the dinners in France I ordered Salmon (kind of by mistake) and Kate got steak… but it ended up being, I think, the first time in my life I’ve liked a fish dish more than a red-meat one. Also tried Tartar in France (looks like raw ground beef… but not too bad if you get past that)… had a lot of great wine and pasta almost everywhere we went… discovered the delights of mulled wine and crepes… made time to check out a McDonalds and try a Royale with Cheese (thanks for the recommendation, Samuel Jackson)… and in general, the bread (always fresh) and the cheese (often aged) combined to make heavenly sandwiches… 2) The sun sets differently in Europe. I swear it. And boy were there some beautiful ones… 3) The subways come frequently and tell you how long you won’t have to wait! NY should try to be more like that… 4) Got to see working Parisian sewers… it was disgusting, but I will probably take that one with me to the grave, vividly… 5) The Louvre was amazing, granted, but I think that I would recommend the Musee d’Orsay more… 6) A walk through the garden at the Palace in Versailles, one of my favorite memories…
Siiiigh… I'm sad it's over, but I suppose I should be happy that at least it was.
I hope you all had a wonderful New Years… please stay in touch via this blog (you can comment!) or send me an email. Love you all!
Tartar! Yum! Although I have to admit that I felt a little bit like Hannibal Lecter.
The Coliseum!
Saying hello to my little friend.
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11 comments:
Yayy! You're the coolest uncle!
I just stumbled upon this. Sounds like a great trip -- congrats!
Those are EXCELLENT pictures!! They make me laugh and laugh just thinking about them. Thanks for sharing about your trip. I want to hear every single little detail about everything you saw and thought about while you were there and how different you feel now that you are back. Doesn't the world feel different after having been to Europe!?
Go Seahawks!
I still can't believe you ate raw meat. That is awful!!!
I agree...Europe has the best skies and the nicest sunsets. France has the best bakeries and the best sense of fashion. And that is a great story about seeing the Pope on Christmas!! What an unforgettable memory!!
Zach, that's awesome that you were representing the Seahawks in Europe! Too bad they didn't beat THE Bears. Anyway, I want to see more pictures here, especially the funny ones.
Did you guys take any of people making out in Paris? Any provocative art/statue photos? I'm really not a perv...just interested :)
Good to have you back!
hey zach, I like your profile and the picture on it. where's that picture taken? why do you have a sweatshirt that says E-Pole?
where's the bear. hahahaha. i remember when dad used to read you that book!!
Hey Adrianne! The picture was taken at Gramercy Diner in NY. I got the sweatshirt in Europe! I'm trying to be hip =). Thanks for all the comments!!!
Trying to be hip? You are hip remember? Shopping on the Champs Elysees in Paris (or London...:)). Now, be sure to keep this blog updated!
Congrats on entering the blogosphere! I'll add yours to the extensive list of blogs I read daily (Kate's is the other one). Love the pix.
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