I finally made it to Europe!! After months of planning I'm finally here with my backpack and Kenzie. Where in the world is Erica Bailey you may ask? Well after a 9 hour layover in MN, and a couple of good friends later, I stumbled into Paris, France where i had a must anticipated, emotional reunion with Kenzie. We then headed off to the train station where we were informed that the train had decided to leave an hour early- so there we were stuck in the city for a night. We got a hostel, a crab and asparagus soup bowl, and passed out for the night. After a 7 hour train ride the next morning we arrived in Torino, Italy. We then walked around, with our 100 pound backpacks looking for out hotel for the night. We got great pizza that night and experienced the wonders of Italian Gellato-I got pistachio.
The next day Gary and Sandy came and met us and then took us to Europes largest outdoor market. Kenzie went crazy and i bought the most awesome pair of pants- best 12 euros i ever spent. We had fabulous cafe (hot chocolate for me which tasted like melted fudge) and then 3 amazing meals which i have no idea what they are called, but they all involved seafood.
A couple of things to note about this city/country
- NO ONE speaks English
- Best food i ever put between my tongue and palate
- People are EXTREMELY nice
- Italians tell where you are from by the shoes you wear
- Chocolate was invented in Torino
- Black people are not liked here at all, and even the dogs bark at them when they walk by (which i think is really sad)
- Italians buy shirts that have english sayings on them but they dont know what they mean "Make Love Not Babies"
- I never want to leave
