Home, Sweet Home.

I made it into my bed at about 1:30AM last night (NC time). Lets just say I was a little weary after traveling for almost 22 hours. The flight from Madrid to Chicago alone was a little less than ten hours long. I am glad to be home, I am glad to rest and see my family. I know you are waiting for pictures to be posted, they are coming. I need to clear some room on my computer before I can even put them on here so... they will be here somewhat soon. Well, Venice was beautiful, but I did not enjoy the city as much as I thought I would. The whole "wait for a boat so that you can wait for another boat" thing was annoying. I liked that I could just walk wherever I wanted to in Florence. But the architecture was stunning in Venice. Pros and cons, pros and cons. Ok, I cant wait to tell all of you about it.

Well, its back to work tomorrow. Sigh. Heavy sigh. Love ya, Israel

For those of you who went on the trip with me: Love you, miss you already and I hope you are resting a bit! "Ziss wine, is red!"

Colleen: Sacks

Haley, Morgan and Marie (Mare): Hope you guys made it home safe and Im sorry your flight got cancelled!

Snap, Crackle, Pop: Love, love, love. And say hi to Tipper and my future bestie Fagle!

Alex Girl: Well hello there! And how are those meese be'havin today? They were just awful down here yesterday, don't cha know?

My boys T-hawk and Alex: I miss Butch and Shrek. Do you?

Tabor: Have fun in Washington!

Carly: It is now ok to lose your train/museum/plane tickets.

Alli and Allison: (I'm jk, I know your name Alyssa!) See you this fall!

Jessica: I hope that brown rolling bag made it home safe. It was having trouble.

Sky: Can we go see Miley sometime?

Shelby: Buddy! You made it!

Angela: I'm glad you and Shelb can eat what you want to now :)

Holli: Thanks for being my train/kayak buddy. Your awesome!

Kelsey: Hope you are enjoying being home as much as I am!

Grace and Julia: Hope you are having fun in London! Behave!

Bow club: bows up!

Love you guys and see you this fall! -Israel

Off to Venice!

Hey everybody!

Well, we are about to be on our way to Venice. This is the beginning of the end of the trip, and even though that makes me sad, I am also almost to the point that I am ready to come home as well. But I am super excited to see Venice! I'm glad its at the end because I don't think I would look forward to Rome like I am looking forward to Venice. My bags are all packed and so my camera and card reader are put away. But of course I have taken zillions of images. Yesterday we got to go to the Uffizi Museum and I found myself staring straight into the Birth of Venus. A-MA-ZING. I had to be dragged away. Ok, I will post later. We have a 4-5 hour bus ride ahead of us.

Love ya, Ciao! -Israel

Italian Shore? Anyone?

So, I know that most of you reading this will not care a smidge about this post, and a few of you might go bananas. So for the sake of you who go bananas, I'm posting it. Um, Mike "The Situation" invited us to eat in the pizzeria that the Jersey Shore cast is working at here in Florence. They are filming for their third season, and even though I do not watch that show, I at least know who they are. It was cool. The pizza was awful, but we didn't really go for the pizza...

A few of us waiting in line to get into the restaurant. We had to sign a waiver so that our faces wouldn't be blurred on camera if they choose a scene to go into the show (which they won't because there was no drama while we were there).

The Sitch, Pauly D and Vinny. Vinny took our oders and gave us our change, and Pauly D. made our pizzas today. I feel awful for what these poor people have to go through everyday, but then again, they asked for it. And btw, they were actually really nice guys for all you "haters."

We were not allowed to take pictures with them unfortunately. Oh well. So long, fellas!

Side note, I'm still lovin this trip. Love you all, and I haven't gone to the dark side for all you skeptics. If you were there you would have done it too. Ciao! -Israel

Howdy Yall!

Good morning. I hope neither of us had any snoring strangers in our rooms last night. Oh wait, I did. And its not like that for all you gutter balls. This is hostel life, its rough. Ok onto pics.Yesterday my new biff Katie and I climbed the chapel dome here in Florence. It was a lot of stairs. Tiny, claustrophobic, coma inducing stairs. But it was worth it!
The view of Florence from the top.
I think we might climb that tower today. Who knows...
Katie and I at the top! Woohoo!
Here is a view of the inside of the dome. It was gorgeous, and we had to walk around this tiny ledge on the inside to get to the top on the outside.
I finally got to be dressed up for dinner last night. Ok, dont judge. I bought that shirt in an Italian gypsy thrift store!
This is my buddy Alex. She is soooooo funny. I love this girl, she brightens my day. (so I just wrote that, and then I looked at the pic, and she looks sad in that pic, but she is just making a funny face. She is a very happy child. Scouts honor).

Here is all of us at dinner last night. We went to a dinner theatre and had 25 dish "buffet." The buffets here aint like western sizzlin. There are no lines. (Gasp!) So you kind of have to dig your way into the table to get the newest dish. Hey Mom, tell Nana that I was "younger and faster."
Ok, today we are going to the Michelangelo Mueseum to see the David in all his nudist glory. Really, what was old Mickey thinkin about when he carved that thing nudie? Didnt he know it would make those with less adequate bodies have image issues?

Okay, Love you. Gotta go brush teeth. Ciao! -Israel

Oh and thx Gretchen and Penny for following me. I always knew you would one day see the light. :)

More Images!!!

Hello everyone! Sorry about this underline mess, European computers are not exactly easy to navigate (especially since I am a Mac, and I have not seen a single Mac while I have been here). I woke up early today and since there was a stranger snoring ferociously beneath me, I decided to come downstairs and write to you all. Its 8am. So, here is a look at what I have been up to:

This is another view of the beach an Cinque Terre. I cant beleive that I have been there. Can you?
The water was absolutely wonderful. I think I must have about 100 images of just the blue water.
I have your pebble Aunt Peggy! It came right out of the sea!
More beach. I cant get enough.
Meet Hailey and Carly. This is how all these girls dress for dinner. I feel very out of place in my tshirts and ugly sandals. They are so much fun though!

Sample of one of the three courses we get at dinner. Plus there is an appetizer and dessert. Did I mention I was gaining weight?
Yesterday I knocked down the Leaning tower of Pisa. Whoopsies!

Okay, so I havent quite figured this boar thing out yet, but you see boars all over Italy. Sculptures, actual boar heads, blah, blah, blah. I guess its like the Bald Eagle in the USA. They say if you touch this particular boars snout that you will return again to Italy. Lets just say, that boars snout will never be the same after I was finished.

And finally: the view of Florence where we arrived yesterday afternoon. So gorgeous. Today I go to the famous cathedral of Florence. Dad, its the one from the snowglobe in Mary Poppins! So excited! Okay, love you all! Ciao! Israel

Oh, and Mom and Dad, I do beleive that we arrive in Raleigh at 9pmish on Wednesday, but I will double check and tell you again. But plan on that for now. Love you! Take care of Franklin!

Pics Finally!

This is me in Monterrossa, which is one of the five beaches in Cinque Terre (5 Villages). This is a very famous place, and apparently this is one of the "100 places to see before you die" kind of places. We took a train here today and "hiked" most of the way back. I really wouldn't consider it a hike though. I mean, I have been to Haiti. But, it was very beautiful and I loved seeing all the colorful buildings and stuff.

Here are a few of my new friends I met on the trip. From left to right: Holli, me, Julia, Alysa, and Alex. We have all become close on this trip and I like everyone here. Sometimes it does get hard with only three boys though.

This is taken in front of a colorful mosaic on just a side street here in Cinque Terre. All these pictures were taken today by the way, this is just a hint of what I'm doing. You can see more when I get back home. I just feel awful for not posting any images yet.

Here is a view of the beach where we are staying after it was closed this afternoon. There is only one (tiny) public beach here, the rest are private and you have to pay to walk, sit or swim at them. A few of our girls got yelled at for just taking a little stroll on another beach yesterday. I know its strange, but I kind of like it. It comes with your own little umbrella and you can leave and come back because there is someone payed to watch your stuff for you. The only trick here is that there is no sand, and you have to wear shoes in the water because there are sharp rocks that can cut your feet. But the water is a beautiful shade of blue, and crystal clear. I love the view in this image of the fog and rain against the cliffs this afternoon.

And here is what we had for dinner tonight. Pasta, pasta, pasta...bread, bread, bread. You know that I am in food heaven. A few things are different than home, but I enjoy them and I am learning new things everyday. Italians are very prideful in there cooking, and it definitely shows.

So there is a tiny glimpse of what is going on and I am so ready to show you all the rest of them!

I love you all and I can't wait to see you when I get back! Tomorrow we take the train to Florence, with a stop in Pisa along the way. Love you, Ciao! -Israel

I AM HAVING THE BEST TIME EVEEEEER!!!!!

I carried two girl's luggage (and mine) up and down some crazy train station stairs, up and down trains; I have a huge cut on the bottom of my foot; I haven't showered today; It's raining; My entire body is a little bit sore, and I LOVE THAT I AM HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't think many things would stop me from having the best time of my life right now. Um, we are in Cinque Terre (the beach on the Med. Sea) and yesterday after a crazy train switch up mess of a morning, I was face planted on a reclining chair on the most beautiful beach (well, it almost beats Haiti, Denise :) and staring into the cliffs that line the coast here. I went kayaking, cliff diving (yep! and actually I was the first one to jump! I know, right? what happened to me?) and we got to see a waterfall and walk under it. Last night we had an awesome dinner here, everyone got a little bit dressed up. I couldn't ask for more. I really feel like I am starting to finally wake up here in Italy. Look for a little zest of Italia when I get back there to the states! Love you guys ! Can't wait to show you pics! Ciao! -Israel

Denise and Dad -thx for "following" my blog. I feel special!

Mom: So good to here your voice last night, I love and miss you!

Jess: Love you and I hope I can take you some place as special as this one day.

Nana and here ladies in waiting: Love you and I miss you! I have so much to share!

Dan&Jenn (and Addie): Thanks for all your advice! Love you!

Full Moon Family: OMG....Do I have to come back? Paul, can I start a Full Moon chain here in Italy?

All My East Carolina Girls (and boys): Love you miss you want to tell you everything!

Kayleigh-Apparently, girl, you are on the upswing of a trend with the owl thing. They are everywhere here!

LOVE YOU! Bye! -Israel :)

Greetings from Certaldo, Italia!

Ciao! Hope you all are faring well. I am having so much fun its not real. I am not, however, doing such a great job keeping up with this blog. We start early and end late here, and we dont really have much internet access as it is. But I decided to come back to the beautiful hostel we are staying at here to check on my (hand done) laundry (proud, Mom?). And since it was still wet, I am now writing you. So, what have I been up to? Well, after we left Rome, we stopped in Orvietto, which is a quaint little town with a beautiful cathedral. Then we contiued on our way to Certaldo, where we are staying now. Certaldo is a beautiful quiet town; this is where our professor Linda has set up a small school for those who stay in Italy for a semester abroad. We however are leaving here on Monday to go to Chinqoutera (btw that spelling is tots butchered). That is where the "beach" is, the Med. Sea. So, everyday we get up and go to either a lesson in the classroom, or a new small town to see their cathedrals, art mueseums and try their gelato. (Jenn, I'm a gelato addict now. Do they have GA meetings?) Today we went to Siena by train. It was about a 45min train ride and its hard for all of us (25) to get on and off the busses and trains bc there are other people (tourists and locals) who need to do the same thing. We only left a professor behind today, and I haven't been left behind at all (yet). Ok, well there are people waiting to use this computer, so I will be courteous and get off. I cant upload pics yet bc it would take forever and this comp is really old and Im afraid it might crash. But you will see some eventually I hope! Love you all, Ciao! -Israel

Update: I can't figure out how to type in the body section of this blog from my iPad, but I'm doin great and I love all of you! I will write soon!

Im Alive!!!!!!!

Hello everyone! I know you have probably been worried about me. Im fine. Im more than fine, I am having a blast in Rome. I love my group that Im with. The two guys are awesome, and all the girls are so much fun. I havent posted yet because the internet has been down in our hostel. Sorry. Right now it is a little after eight am. I got up early just to let you know that I was ok! The public wifi here is reeeeeeaaaaaaallllllllyyyyyy slow, but I have one hour per day use of the internet via the computers in the hostel. which means unfortunately M&D, no skype for now (no cam on the hostel computers). I will try and let you know somehow, but I dont know when I will be able to. I love you, I am learning so much and seeing so much. The food is beyond excellent, I might gain 50 lbs while im here, so be prepared. Just to give you a hint of what we are doing, yesterday we saw the collisium (and we were up touring rome for over 12 hours) and today we are seeing the vatican and some other stuff. Ok, I have gotta go meet my group. Love you all, dont worry Mom. Im really doing super duper awesome with a cherry on top. Ciao! -Israel :)

I'm leaving my house! Bye OBX! BYE MOM!

Still Packing....

So, this didn't turn out exactly as I had planned... of course you pack light, but it is still too much. Oh my gawsh! It's almost 1 am. I gotta get up early! Ok. I'm mostly packed and I now have to clear off my camera cards. Italy here I come!

Clean

Clean shaven and ready to go. I've got lots to do today and I'm movin pretty slow.

Starting to Pack

Hey yall,

I'm starting to pack now. Got so much stuff to think about, my mind is swirling with what I need to take and what I want to take. I'm worried about what to wear, what shoes will be the best to travel with and to hike with. And I'm also a little worried about what I'm leaving behind. Do you think Franklin will survive in the hands of my parents?

Getting Prepped

Okay. So Now that I have set this thing up, I hope that all you guys will be able to keep up with me while I tour Italy. So here are some sad glimpses of my life in the last few months preparing for this little adventure:

Here is a collage of images of Italy on the wall by my bed in my apartment in Gville. I know, so lame, right? I'm a simple person, ok? It doesn't take that much to thrill me.

I finally found a red wine that works: Chianti. Whew, that was close. Wine is the water of Italy.

And I started reading this most helpful book: Italy- The Country and Its Cuisine. Perfect if your going to Italy. Like me :)

Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Meet me. Meet my camera. We are going to Italy. We still need to pack. We leave Saturday (today is Wednesday). And by "pack" we mean "buy all the stuff we are supposed to already have to go on this trip."