The special travel mini series “Euro trip through the eyes of a 17 year old” is back! A compilation of posts & photos from my 2005 travel journal, when I was only a recent graduate from a Puerto Rican high school, still learning English. This was my first major trip outside the island (if you don’t count my Disney World trip in 2nd grade and living in the Dominican Republic with my aunt for a month after elementary school graduation). Hope you enjoy the retrospective!
Want to start from the beginning?
Euro trip photo essay, PART 1: Germany (countryside)
Euro trip photo essay, PART 2: Germany (city)
Euro trip photo essay, PART 3: Austria
Note: Grammar, writing style have not been edited: That’s the whole point! 😉
Posted on 06/22/05, 3:55 AM on Kiwibox.com (cont.)
June.14th.2OO5
Weeee, Italy. I loved the guys, the buildings, the climate, everything, until we checked-in @ the hotel. First off, we got here @ like 8:3OPM last night so the hotel we were going to stay at (Hotel Vionello) didnt let us in cause its not permitted after 8PM, so we ended up staying in hotel Kennedy. Lol, some rooms, like Manuels, didnt even have a real shower! I mean, there was just a hole in the flor of the bathroom, a shower head in the ceiling, and that was it! lmao. I WILL show ya the pic Myriam took when she send it my way! Also, in the morning we had cereal and a bagel for breakfast. That was it. The thing as that after we finished, we entered again to look for something, and guess freakin WHAT!? The other uests of the hotel were having bacon, eggs, ham, cheese, many bread options, and cereals!!! I mean WTF!? Are we fucking HATED!? Italy def. lost some points by that. But still, Fefi, Laurie, Yari, and I have decided to move to Italy *nods*. Btw, the buildings and sp houses are SOOOO purdy, and some of them just *gorge*. Right now we are on our way to take the Aqua Taxi to go to Venize (we were @ Lido Di Jiolo)
From which Shell gas station will u have this kind of view? *only* in Italy (during our road trip Austria-Italy)
Whoa! Venize was *awesome*! Soooo many great things, soooo many HOTTIES! I mean arn, I was perturbated, in pure AWE! Lol. Oh and, here was the *climax* of my self-esteem boost *nods*. All those hotties looked @ me and let me tell ya, it felt sooo nice lol. We 1st went on a lil trip in *gondola* through the city for like half an hour. Darn, it was raining, so the day turned all crappy and REEALY cold! It was odd! Butt, @ the end of my lovely trip in gondola, this one guy, a gondolero (guy of a gondola), brought his hand to me to help me get out of the gondola, like one of those romantic moments of corny movies, lol. And his hand was sooo comfy, and he gave me this sexy, but totally sweet and respectful look *melts*. Not only that, but also I got a pic of us! *nods again* aaaand he grabbed me by my waist REEEALLY tight and very close to him (quickly I didnt even really touch him I just standed there at his side for the pic and then all of sudden he just grabbed my waist and brought me reeeally close to him! I didnt even had time to actually have the thought myself [:p]) soooo we also went to this palace called *Palazzo Ducale*, which was really gorge as well. There was also Plaza San Marco I believe and close to it we also went to a Murano glass demonstration @ the original store of Murano. That was outstanding, I mean the maker is *so* talented; now I know why Murano glass is SO expensive, and with REASON! After that we had some awesome lunch (I had a HUGE platter filled to TOP of paste penne in a tomato sauce and a generous slice of lasagna by the side, all topped with a lot of melted cheese AND parmesan cheese :D). THEEEN we went around the city for like 3-4 hours, all by ourselves 😀 I was with Laura, Yarielis, Fefi, and Myriam. It was soo funny, cause darn, all of these hot guys, and all of them turned back to look at me, and even one of them told me hooola, bon apetit in a very sexy voice, since I was licking a nice coffee gelato. Lol. Myriam and Laurie wanted to buy a bag to put it in my head they said. Lmao
Venize hilights, facts
–I had a MAJOR self-esteem boost here due to all of those hotties looking at me sexy and melting me + the cashiers/workers @ the Murano Glass place were talking about how amazingly beautiful I was (LM over-heard them and told everyone at the bus loud: María has caused sensation in Europe then N went sooo mad and replied ”she that actually BELIEVES it?” and then LM replied quickly saying “ay, but its soo true not only cause of all the guys that has been looking at her, but cause the ppl @ Murano were talking about her beauty and how they have never seen someone as gorgeous.” She went WHITE *Lmao*). SOOO, CALL ME CONCEITED, but darn I mean, u would feel *really* good if all those European and Italian guys were looking @ ya from head to toes and if like 1O persons were talking about how they find your natural beauty outstanding (while u were actually wearing no freakin make-up AT ALL!)! I honestly didnt know how to react; I have NEVER ever gotten so many BIG compliments like those in my entire life! :I
–Venize is NOT flooding; the SEA LEVEL is rising. Did u know? 🙂
–Ppl are overly VERY nice and polite, but that ol lady @ our hostile hotel Kennedy pissed me off with the whole breakfast thing and how we couldnt even GO OUT of the hotel if we werent wit our parents. None of us seniors were. WTF?! Plus, in Italy u are an adult @ 16, darn it
-THE BSB WERE FREAKIN THERE!!! They sang some songs at a festival in a place I actually VISITED THAT SAME DAY! Darn, I couldnt see them, cause I found out they were here when I was switching channels checking out Italian programming
-Gelatos are YUMMY
Venice arrival!
yay yay Venice!
Pics that could be taken at the Palazzo Ducale (only out of the windows or in stairs, since cameras inside were not permitted)
Palazzo Duccale balcony
Quick secret snap! Shaky tho =(
womp!
Palazzo Duccale plaza?
Me during and after our lil trip in gondola through Venice. I know, MY HAIR LOOKS LIKE CRAP. I mean it caught a lot of humidity and rain, then dried just like that. Eh.
me and Venice gondolas!
me with Venice gondolas again!
Venice gondola ride!
so happy!
Me and the gondolero I told ya about. Ignore me please I looked like crap. But look at him. And what its even more unbelievable is that he actually looks even better in person. Oi, and watch closely how he is holding me (watch my WAIST) 😉 haha =P
Me @ Plaza San Marco! Gorgeous, eh?
Me right before going back to the Aqua Taxi. See how crappy the weather was? 🙁 too bad
My thoughts after reading this travel journal entry, 7 years later: I can tell how damaged my self-esteem was back then. You can see how I have to reiterate, to remind myself constantly on my own journal about how the Italians found me pretty. I used to be the hated nerd in high school for being different. I also attended a private school my mom could barely pay for just so I could have a better education…which meant I was “the poor one.” My school years were quite tough and spent, mostly, in solitude. It wasn’t until my last year or two that I had — wait for it — three friends. But now, looking back, I know all the struggles truly made me stronger and gave me the drive and determination I currently have. They allow me to continue with my crazy plans, and actually succeed, no matter what others say. If you are bullied or ever feel less than what you’re worth, remember: The sun will shine brighter soon! 🙂 **Never give up**
Euro trip: Venice Doges Palace (Photo: Andrew Balet)
It’s funny I’m reading this now because my cousin just got back from her first ever trip abroad and part of it was in Venice – she’s 16 – and I can’t help but wonder if her experiences were the same as yours. I had the chance to do it too in high school but I chickened out (and I couldn’t afford it haha). All I could do the whole time she was away was wonder how it was going and what she was seeing… and be jealous!
Ha! Everyone sees all the sights with different eyes. I actually couldn’t afford the trip myself. It was a mix of sponsors and mom’s hard-earned money (this was her graduation gift to me) that made it all possible. I thank them all deeply for the opportunity. Now I know, however, that you can travel for much less and see it all…yikes, I wish I knew back then! Would have stayed longer. Couchsurfing is big on my list and have helped me travel all over the world on a little budget, You should check out the post I wrote about CS and budget travel!!