I Think I'm Allergic to France

So clearly I'm not allergic to France as a whole, but just some of the trees in it.  Last weekend I made a day trip to Lyon, and had a very unpleasant, but minor, allergy attack.  I recovered on the train on the way back to Geneva, but would have liked to stay longer.  I left early on Saturday and the city seemed to be just waking up.  I wanted to see more (and eat more), since this town is known for the food. 

I'm not really sure what happened, but I ended up in a mall while trying to find a shortcut back to the train station.  

Lyon Opera House.

I fully intended to hike up the hill to this church until the whole allergy thing.

Just wanted to show you the trees that I am allergic to.

Houseboat!  This reminded me a little bit of London.

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This train was going to Evian...like the water.

My fabulous lunch!  The sandwich and pastry cost less than six Euros total.  So delicious.

Rome: Day II

After a good night's sleep we enjoyed our complimentary breakfast and checked out of the hotel.  We began to walk back into the heart of Rome. 

Our $80 hotel room, which included breakfast, but did have a shared bathroom.

At this point there were a few random rain drops falling, but over the course of an hour this progressed into huge fat rain drops.  The rain was still coming down when we boarded the train, and for all I know, it is still raining in Rome.  So this really put a damper on the day.  This is what we saw and did, in spite of the rain.

Though you can't tell from this picture there was rain coming in the building.

Jumping photos in the rain.

While we were temporarily lost a very nice Israeli guy stopped to help use.  After giving us directions he told us that "to trust is good, but not to trust is even better!"  He was referring to the crowds at the big sights.  I found it ironic though, because we were trusting his directions, which turned out to be legitimate.

Rome: Day I

So a few weeks ago I decided that I really needed to get out of Switzerland.  Don't get me wrong, I love the land of the Swiss, but there are many cool European cities that I need to visit.  Last weekend that city was Rome.  

    

We left Geneva on Friday night and boarded the overnight train.  We were both on the top bunk of a 6 bunk room.  It wasn't as bad as expected, until I realized that our "roommates" had moved the ladder in the middle of the night.  I was trapped, which was not as dramatic as it could of been.  I consumed just enough water to not die of thirst and just enough not to need to leave my bed.  

                                                          

Here is my friend on the right and our Canadian "roommate" on the left, sitting under my bunk.

After arriving at 9 a.m. the next day we located our hotel, dropped off our bags, and proceeded to walk around for the next 12 hours.  We stop for lunch, dinner, and many photo opportunities.  Here is what I saw and ate: 

  
     

 Making my wish at the fountain.
  

This is the view from the steps where we sat and enjoyed gelato.

   

 

The Basilica

  

 

   
Though this tortellini may not look that great, it was truly AMAZING.

RECAP

Food Consumed: Pizza, Tortellini, Gelato, Buffalo Mozzarella, and Bruschetta

Hours Walked: 11ish

Euros Spent: about 50