The lands of languages unknown

I'm finishing up the last leg of my pre-travels and finally almost to Brussels! I've done a lot since my last post, so I'll fill in some highlights. After the great time I had in Spain, I moved on to Italy. We started with an easy flight to Pisa, got checked into our hostel and then the next morning we went and saw the leaning tower of Pisa. I was pretty neat, a lot of stairs to get up top and you felt a little wobbly the whole way up because it does have quite a good lean. We then saw the oldest baptistery in Italy which is also in Pisa. All in all I was a fun, yet short trip to Pisa. We saw the tower, got some typical tourist pictures holding the tower and such and then we were on a train to Florence. We stayed a little longer in Florence, about 3 days and had a great time there as well. Italian is a really neat language, but one unfortunately none of us knew, so I am now vowing to learn it and go back sometime in the future! In Florence we saw the David, the main cathedral, and some other various art and culture that was pretty neat. We got some great dinner recommendations from our hostel workers and had a fun time exploring the city, and never managed to get too lost! Unfortunately, I can't say the same about our next destination. We went on to Venice after Florence, and that was quite an interesting city. It does not have any roads, all waterways. Which makes the city interesting right off the bat, the city taxis and busses and public transport is all boats on the water. Once we found our hostels and checked in, it was time to explore. In our broken Italian and their broken English we were able to find out where the local young/ college kids hung out at night. We found Campo Santa Margherita, and it was a lot of fun and we met some other travelers and young college students studying abroad and most importantly some good bars. Venice was a rather confusing city and we had quite a time navigating home that night, but we found our hostels eventually and all was well. Overall Italy was a great time, and great warm weather, and great food. 

After Venice, Christina and Angela had to fly back home, and I then became a solo traveler. I made my way up north to Prague, the flight was quick and easy, however the weather transition was not! When we landed it was about 30 degrees, after I had been used to Spain and Italy with temperatures around 85. That was quite a difference and of course I didn't bring a jacket to Europe with me, so quickly went and found one at H&M, and that was a great decision at that point, it was cold and rainy throughout Prague, but that didn't deter my fun and sightseeing. My first day in Prague I was a little unsure about traveling by myself and what to do exactly, so I signed up for an evening beer tour through a tour company. That was my 2nd great decision of Prague, I met some other traveling American college students and just a lot of other people in general, and got some great tips on what to see and do and how to do everything. I felt much more comfortable after that evening. So the next day was my day to sightsee, and I saw the Prague castle, and some churches, and the old town. They were all really neat and well preserved and you really felt taken back to the medieval period. Prague was just a short weekend trip but I had a great time nonetheless and had time to rest up and relax. 

Next stop, a train ride into Berlin. I was glad to not be traveling alone this time, as I headed to Berlin to stay with a friend for a week. It was nice to settle into an apartment for a little bit and not be so on the go. Here in Berlin I did a free walking tour through the same company as the beer tour and had a great time yet again. I learned an incredible amount of history and was so fascinated by Berlin and all the history that you could literally see right in front of you. The tour gave me a good feel of the city and how to get around, as well as what else was worth it to see and what is most interesting to check out. After museums and sight seeing throughout the week, my friend took me to the Berlin cultural festival which was pretty cool as well. It was a huge festival set up with tents and booths from different countries and cultures. Tons of different beer, drinks, food, desserts, rides, games. I got to try some really good food and foreign drinks. Berlin was a great week, I got to meet some locals and pick up a few German words. Maybe I'll learn German one day too (the languages are piling up!!). 

That about sums up my pre-Brussels travels. I am currently on my 4 hour train to Frankfurt, where I will be meeting and staying with some (hack side) relatives that have lived over here for a few years now. I will be in Frankfurt for a day and then tomorrow morning I will be off to Brussels via a long train day. Finally a place where I can understand and speak the language! Something that you don't think about much but can be difficult at times, to have that misunderstanding and language barrier. 

Some Brussels updates: 

I did get a host family! They're hosting me and 2 other American students. I don't know too much about them yet though. 

I also got the internship I was holding out for! I will be a marketing/communications intern for Serve the City Brussels during the 7 week program. 

A lot to read, but I think that's all. I try and update more often than I have been, but Internet has been a scarcity and being on the go has been crazy! 

Until later.