For our final destination we will be stopping at Venice! Now this is a city you have to see if you get the opportunity! The water is gorgeous and there are canals which connect everything. It's truly unlike anything else. With winding streets it is easy to get lost but that's okay because you usually find the best places on the road less traveled.

The most interesting thing about Venice might be the high tides it encounters. Well check out the picture below it says everything!

They have special platforms for people to walk on and for tourists they even have special plastic bag to fit around peoples shoes they already have. It's a little funny looking but certainly does the trick!

 

Lastly, I will leave you with this short clip about Venice and The Top Ten Things to Do in Venice, enjoy! 

Our next stop on the Italy tour is Florence and Pisa! I never knew why people loved to study abroad in Florence so much, but after visiting I completely understand! It is unlike any other place I have been before! The culture is so different there, there would be some major adjusting. One thing I learned was it's actually unusual and not appreciated if one drinks without eating. So some places with have a fee but there is food there. I found this so interesting because it's so different from American culture. It just shows you how diverse different countries are. It was also interesting to see most Italians hang drying their clothing. I do not think I would ever want to permanently live in Italy but I would visit a lot!

One of the best investments I had in Italy was the bus tour. They may seem very touristy but they really are the best way to get around and it allows you to see as much as possible. The best part is you can hop off at any time if you want to explore that stop more and then just hop on another bus when you are ready! I used to think they weren't worth the time or the money but I was wrong! Sign up for those bus tours and you will not be disappointed. Though I was not too happy with my bus tour in Paris but that is another story, so you will just have to come back to hear that one!

The street art in Florence is amazing! The artists use chalk to create these masterpieces! People gather around watching and observing the spectacular scene. They must have so much patience and really love what they do. Such incredible talent you can't help but me mesmerized. 

Lastly, Pisa! There really is not much else there or to do than see the leaning tower of Pisa. If you plan on visiting you really just need an afternoon. I believe I was there for under five hours easy. You can climb the tower but it is a little pricy especially being on a study abroad student budget. Though it is a must to see and of course get the classic picture! The best part is everyone does it so you never feel out of place! I think it actually takes more time setting up the picture perfectly than being there. Well maybe that's an exaggeration but you get the idea!  

So I have been saying all of these places I have been to are my favorite but Rome is really one of my favorite places. It is so hard to say which one is my absolute favorite because they are all so different are beautiful in their own ways.

Rome is filled with so much history I was astonished to what my eyes had witnessed. I remember in high school and even in middle school you are taught about Rome and you see pictures in your text book and you think wow that pretty cool and don't think too much about it at the time. I took Latin in high school and of course we talked about about Rome a lot. So once I arrived in Rome and saw the Colosseum I was in awe. It was as if that picture from my text book from my Latin textbook came to life right in front of me. As corny as it may sound I almost felt a part of it and could imagine in my mind being there so many years ago. 

If there was just one place to recommend to someone to visit Rome would be it. The amount of visible history  is truly amazing. Everywhere you turn it almost feels unreal and everything is preserved so well. 

I was only in Rome for a short few days because I was doing a whole tour of Italy so I would definitely want to go back again. There is just so much to see and admire my time really was not enough. As beautiful as Rome is I think it was be a challenge to study abroad there. There would be so much culture shock but it was be an amazing experience for sure. I actually know of someone who is going to study abroad in Rome and I am hoping to visit her there! Traveling to Rome really made me see how beautiful life is and I could see first hand the gorgeous pieces of architecture that covers the city. 

Of course I had to make a stop at the Trevi Fountain and toss a coin in but after I shuffled my way through the crowds of people! Another amazing sight to see. If I lived in Rome I would probably be there everyday admiring the view and maybe even picking up a book to read. There is just so much to see from the Pantheon, Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Palatine Hill,Vatican City

and so much more!

As I was walking about Rome I was a little too picture happy. I took pictures of the same thing more than twice and then just snap shots of anything I could! But nothing compares to the feeling of being there in person just absorbing everything. It is so hard to describe in words but Rome truly may be my favorite place. It is unlike anything I have ever seen before and so different than the culture in America. I am truly so fortunate to have had this experience and wouldn't trade it for anything. So if you ever have the chance to travel anywhere in the world go to Rome, I promise you will not regret it! And remember when in rome do as the romans do!