Well I just got back from Europe and I'm majorly jet lagged. 25 sleepless hours on planes with loud little children, an enormously long lay-over in Vienna and getting stressed because I almost lost my birth certificate... but that's not to say it wasn't the BEST TRIP EVER!!! 
Let's start with each place I went to, shall we?
Munich
I had a lay over in Germany so we took the train into town and it was beautiful! It was all old-meets-new, like Rome fused with Toronto or something. I really want to go back to Germany to get more of a taste. And, also, not to sound like some sort of chauvinistic pig or nuthin', but Germany has the most attractive women in existence... except for our female GameSpot forumers of course 
. At least every other woman in her twenties in Germany is a jaw-dropper. My brother had a blast! 
Rome
Unfortunately because of the lay-over and delays we only got two nights here but it was probably more walking combined than the rest of the trip. Aside from being a little dirty, Rome is amazing and beautiful. And seeing things like the Pantheon, Colosseum, etc. are actually all really amazing in person. I highly recommend this one. 
Pisa
We then took a train up to Pisa and it was lots of fun. If you want to see a real Italian town, just wander through the streets away from the tower and it's really neat. We stopped at a fruit market and grabbed some little paninis at a local store. It was really neat. Plus we got the necessary leaning up against the tower photos.
Florence
Beautiful. The best place in Europe that I saw to shop and eat. And everything is stunningly beautiful. PLUS I was there when Italy won the World Cup (what are the odds, eh?) and EVERYONE was screaming and cheering and drinking. Even the cops were honking their horns around in excitement! Seriously, not a person in the city was silent and it went on for hours! But it was fantastic. I have a video of it that I'll post later if I find out how.
Ama (Winery)
Next we stayed at a nice little winery. It was right in the heart of Tuscany, and me and my family stayed in a sixteenth century village of about twenty people that sat atop a hill surrounded by grape vines. That is Tuscany at its most beautiful. Just sitting on the porch with my parents drinking a glass of wine (which was apparently quite good since it was one of the winery's best... but then again I still can't seem to enjoy the taste of wine ) seeing the sun go down was amazing.
And I did I mention that it's hot in Tuscany. It got up to forty-one celcius one day!
Montpellier
Then we drove all the way to the other side of France. It was beautiful contryside. And there's only one thing I will say about France. The people were easily the nicest and friendliest. I was shocked! I've heard never-ending stories about their smugness and hatred towards Americans (which they, for the most part, assumed we were). But they were amazing! And I think part of this is because me and my family tried to communicate in French. Since you have to take French in Canada up 'till grade nine my whole family has some ability, and they really appreciate when you try and speak their language. They laugh and help you along, and all of a sudden they're a million times nicer to you. It was great!
Barcelona
Barcelona is amazing. It's also probably the most crowded city I've ever been to. Holy smokes, a Japanese tour bus let off every two or three square feet! 
But things like the Sagrada Familia and Gaudi Park are truly spectacular. Go now!
Nice
Finally, our bittersweet last stop where everyone in my family decided 'Screw culture, let's tan!' So we lay on the rooftop deck and pool and picked up some nice rays for our return home. 
It really was the trip of a lifetime and I won't hesitate for a second to go back. I really recommend that any of you who haven't seen Europe should try and go. Whether it be with family, friends, just as long as you're with good people and you're seeing and doing awesome things.
And finally I'd like to thank everyone for their posts in the last entry, but especially GGG. This is where the I Heart GGG Edition part comes in.
Your advice was awesome! We basically only stood up to get gelato and often our breakfasts and stuff were just picking up a few croissants at a bakery. I also persuaded my parents to let us go to Gaudi Park, and everyone loved it. It was beautiful!
Except I couldn't get to Assissi or the Barcelona Hard Rock Café in the end, but thank you so much anyways! You made my trip several notches better.
P.S. If I missed any big gaming news (I'm all caught up on international news though. Very sad about Lebanon and more earthquakes and tsunamis. 
) could you please inform me in your comments. Thanks a lot!
Comments
We didn't spend a lot of time there... it wasn't on our tour, but we managed to convince the tour guide to let us go. We were only there for about an hour, but seeing the Leaning Tower is definitely one of the most surreal things I've ever seen... I mean, it's a leaning building! Ah, Florence... It wasn't my favorite place (it's behind Asissi... I LOVE that town
), but I definitely had the most fun there. I went with a school teacher who was taking a group, but it wasn't just a group from our school. 11 students ended up going, 5 of who I was already really close to, and the others I got close to by the end of the trip, so the people I went with were just fantastic. We got a lot of free time in Florence, and there's nothing like exploring a European city with 5 of your best friends... that was a fantastic day I'll never forget! We almost got lost, though! We were trying to get to the square with the fake David after we went and saw the real David.... but we got back eventually. Did you climb the Dome at the Santa Maria del Fiore chuch? I bet it would have been AWESOME to be there when they won the world cup! Fun!!The winery sounds nice... If I ever get to go back to Europe (please, when, when when! Haha
), I'd love to check it out! I didn't like wine the first time I had it (going to Europe was absolutely the first time I had any alcohol... I'm a puritan! Hehe). I liked it better the second time, though... I think it's one of those acquired tastes. It sounds like you had a good time in France. While I never went to France, I did have a bad experience with French girls! In the hotel we stayed at in Florence (which I loved, btw ), there were a bunch of 12-14 year old French girls staying there, as well. They'd come up to us and say "Do you have a cigarette?" Then they'd "TEE HEEE HEE" and run away. They also toilet papered the INSIDE of the hotel. 
Crazy Frenchies. I'm glad you had such a great time!! Europe is wonderful.... hopefully someday I'll get the chance to go to France!
Anyhow, I'm off to bed now, so no more comments for you. See you around on GS again
GGG, it sounds like your trip to Europe was absolutely incredible! Mine was great and all but holy smokes!
How long were you there?Actually next summer I want to do a program we have here called MEI, which is where you go to Europe and do a semester of school. Two months of travelling around Europe with my friends, learning via going to museums instead of reading text books! How awesome would that be?
Unfortunately I never got to go to the Vatican.
We were only in Rome for a day because of the originally unplanned lay-over in Germany and missed out on a lot of time there. But there's always next time I suppose! Besides, we were there on a Sunday or some sort of special occasion when it was supposed to be absolutely packed! I don't think we would have gotten in. Unfortunately I didn't get to climb the Dome either in Florence, but I did see the real and the fake David!
Actually it was the weirdest thing. While right in front of the David I saw my best friend's parents at the museum! What are the odds of that!?! Half way around the world and I just happen to see the people that I see all the time back home! It was the craziest thing, but really cool and I'm glad I ran into them. I also highly recommend visiting a winery or small village when you return. There's nothing like leaving the hustle and bustle of Rome or Florence, only to go to a secluded villa in the middle of Tuscany. Oh, believe me it was heaven!
Unfortuntaley I don't think I'm ever going to like wine. My parents are wine buffs and they're always getting me to taste the lovely cabernets or chardonnays or whatever it is they're drinking.
The only alcohol I enjoy is a Corona with lime, or occasionally some fancy women's drinks (which I'm not allowed to get since they're "women's drinks" ). Sexism I tell you! Anyways I'm glad you had a blast, and thanks again for your advice.
Hopefully we can both return soon. *crosses fingers* And no I haven't forgotten you either Supreme, thanks to you too.
Yeah, I was in Rome on a Sunday as well... if you give me your email address, I'll send you a picture of the people in the square who were there to see the Pope. Quite crazy.
The MEI program sounds like fun. Our school had three exchange students this year; two from Germany and one from Denmark. They were all really awesome and seemed to be having a good time. I think that would be wonderful, and I'd love to do it. Hopefully I'll get the chance to study abroad while in college.
If I do it, I'd love to go to Scotland. Hmm, women's drinks.
Yeah, I heard it's a man's rule not to drink fruity alcohol. I had some of my friend's seabreeze at the Hard Rock in Barcelona, and it was very good. But I'm not much of an alcohol connessouir, either, since I've literally only had it while I was in Europe.
Anyway, Schaden, I'm glad you had a good time. I already mentioned this, but make sure post that video, dammit! I want to seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
We have a similar program over here called Erasmus, and I was interested in heading over the the US for a semester (I'm an USA buff. I like the spaciousness of it all), but then I got together with my girlfriend and figured I couldn't just leave her behind for half a year like that...I myself like whines a lot... Far, far superior to beers IMO
But allas, since I'm the only one here who seems to enjoy them it'd be quite meaningless to go on about what kinds I prefer to which...
If anyone else wants it too, feel free to ask and I'll gladly give it to you. Eh, you really should try to get to Europe at some point. But I guess for you it'd be like a twelve hour flight or something! That would suck majorly.
But seriously, Europe is awesome. And travelling all on one's onesies is a fantastic way to get around. It's actually surprisingly easy to meet people too. If you run into any tourist from an English speaking country, you automatically have a new friend.
And I'll try to post the video later. It's actually not that impressive, it's like five-ten seconds on a bridge over the Argo river with just a whole bunch of scooters and all that going by.... but I'll post it in my next entry anyway.
Supreme, there are like five different MEI trips and one goes to Belgium I think. GameSpot reunion!
It's too bad you couldn't come over the the States (well, we all know Canada's better, but the States are good all the same )I wish I liked wine, especially since we went right throgh Provence and Tuscany, which are apparently some of the best wine-growing regions in the world. Whatever, at least I got to see it all while unintoxicated.
In fact, after all this I've decided that I'll post some pictures from my trip in my next entry! Brace yourselves!!!
godsgroovygamer
Aww yay, I'm glad you had a good time!
Munich sounds great... I got to go to the airport there, but didn't make it farther than that! Our flight there was pretty bad.... Jackson, MS to Charlotte, NC to Munich to Rome. It took about a day and a half. Coming back was the same, except I had major jet lag and couldn't sleep... jet lag when you come home is the worst! I wish you a swift recovery.
In Rome, did you get to see St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel? I'll never forget seeing St. Peter's for the first time... it was deifinitely a feeling of awe... absolutely everything is covered in gold... crazy. And the Sistine Chapel... I never thought it looked that amazing in pictures, but once you see it in person it's a whole other story!