I am (yes, you guessed it) back from Europe!  It was a wonderful trip and I have taken lots and lots of photos... and I even brought a journal along, mostly to practice my cursive of course.

Picture quality isn't great since I couldn't take my Alpha 200 with me.

It was a tearful goodbye (on my mom's part) at the airport. Once we checked in, it finally hit us: WE'RE GOING TO EUROPE!

We flew from Toronto to Montreal, and then Montreal to Zurich.  On the Montreal to Zurich flight, we were upgraded to business class. It was wonderful, you know, because we actually had some leg room.  What I'm reading there is my own dinner and breakfast menu; economy class was just "chicken or beef?"


Our final destination was Nice, France.  We stayed in Nick's great aunt's flat in Antibes, which is 20 minutes away from Nice. We were also only 10 minutes away from the beach!



We took a day trip to Nice, it was pretty nice! :P  We climbed the Colline du Chateau, and this is the amazing view from the top:


There was also a waterfall!  ... but no castle (it was destroyed). Uhh... don't mind the muffin top.


Back in Antibes for a rest day: we bought the coolest desserts. This is orange sorbet in a real orange peel:


We were originally planning on going to Marseilles, but... it would have cost us around 100 Euros. Impromptu trip to Monaco it is!


Hi seagull.


Then we spent a week in Italy.  Of course, this being a trip that I'm on, things couldn't just go smoothly.  Our train to Ventimiglia was delayed an hour because someone had committed suicide on the tracks. :(  We arrived in Venice (Ventimiglia -- Milan -- Venice) in the evening. It is a beautiful city.

Waiting in line to go up the bell tower in Piazza San Marco.


*Drools*


à la Audrey, except the opposite hand and with a breadstick instead...


Us with our amazing gondolier!  I imagine his name is Marco or Pietro.


The Bridge of Sighs. *sigh* Stupid advertisements... Marco/Pietro told us that they've been up for 3 years now.


I'm on a boat taking pictures of other boats.


Next stop: Rome!  First was the Spanish Steps.


Hi Trevi Fountain!


I interrupt all these beautiful things now with a pictures of Nick wearing the Casillas jersey he bought in Venice:


Playing peekaboo in the Colosseum because I can.


He found me.


We had to go back to the hostel in the afternoon because it was extremely hot.  That night, we walked to the pantheon. I think it's important to note that Nick is holding Nutella gelato:


Hint for those of you who are planning to go to the Vatican: covered shoulders and covered legs if you want to go into the museums!  We didn't know this, so we didn't bring our jeans along (it was 40 degrees outside). Oh well.  Anyway, we just took pictures of St. Peter's Basilica:


Best sign ever:


I also found out that my boyfriend is Justin Bieber...


Nutella on the go?! (If you haven't figured this out already, Nutella = Nick's heroin)


First night in Paris: Ben and Jerry's profiteroles mmmm


We then visited the Arc du Triomphe, where I was promptly photobombed:


Who visits Paris without seeing the Eiffel tower?!


Who visits Paris without walking up the Eiffel tower?!  (Lots of people, apparently)  My thighs hated me that day.


We didn't go inside, but the Louvre was beautiful from the outside as well:


*sputters* I AM WORTH SO MUCH MORE THAN 11 EUROS! HMPH


From Paris, we took a train to Mannheim to visit Nick's aunt and uncle.


They took us to Heidelberg castle, which was beautiful and full of Asian tourists.


Hehe, Nick's uncle is silly


Heidelberg + the river Neckar


This, ladies and gents, is spaghetti ice cream:


Our next destination was Prague.  We arrived at the train station at midnight but couldn't get a taxi because our VISA cards weren't working and we didn't have any Czech crowns on us.  So guess who got to spend a night at the train station?

We were kicked out from 1am to 3am because they were doing maintenance work.   It was kind of cold.  And Nick needed to shave.


It was cold.


On the Charles Bridge


Next stop, Munich!  Marienplatz.


English gardens:


There was a sign that said "do not feed the animals."


Back in Paris!  Waiting in the metro station, how attractive:


Last day in Europe! We're back in Antibes, and hitting the beach.


All in all, it was an amazing vacation that I won't ever forget. What did you do this July? 

In 16 hours, I will be on a plane flying to Nice, France, via Montreal and Zurich.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Actually, I don't think it's fully hit me yet. I would not be surprised if tomorrow on the plane, I all of a sudden yell out "AHHHHH I'M GOING TO EUROPE!"

So, yes, Nick and I will be in Europe for the next month, with little time for updates and stuff, but I swear this blog will get massively picture-spammed when I get back!

Things I'm hoping for:

• FUN FUN FUN IN THE SUN
• Not getting burnt (though, I don't get burnt that easily so that should be fine)
• Having enough cash for places that won't accept visa
• Not getting mugged/having anything stolen from me (especially the passport)
• Bringing back more than I took.
• Lots of pictures

Wish me luck!

What are your summer plans?

No worries, I wasn't butthurt as a result of internet dramaz. My butt was, however, quite sore from falling so much last week.

But Regina, why would you choose to fall when you can NOT fall?

Well, because I was trying to ski. And I was ultimate FAILSAUCE.

Nick's family graciously invited me to go skiing with them last weekend, and it was really fun! (Except for the falling bit, obviously). Last Saturday was also Earth Hour day, so we ended up sitting around the kitchen table playing Apples To Apples, which is a really fun game.

Here are some pictures. Fortunately, there aren't any embarrassing ones of me in skiing gear.