May 1, 2012

For All You People Cooler Than Me (So... Everyone)

It's hard to believe that in only six weeks, we'll be jetting off to Europe. In my mind, I say that with casualty, when in actuality I am freaking out. 
Chin and I have been lots of places as a couple, but never Europe. And chances are that we won't be there again soon, so I'm excited to live it up while we're there.
 
Maybe like this:

Or this:

Or this:

Or none of those since I look nothing like Audrey Hepburn and only in my dreams would I be a princess turned commoner for a Roman holiday. 
But a girl can dream right?

Anyways,
The whole point of this post is to say that I'm lost when it comes to this whole traipsing around Europe thing.
I've only ever been to Spain but that was four years ago, and I certainly wasn't allowed to do as I pleased and march around Madrid like I knew what I was doing.

So since I'm not cultured, like at ALL, I'm asking for some advice.
It doesn't matter if we don't know each other, or if we only know each other a little bit, or if we're best friends.

For all of you who have been to Europe (and I'll get more specific in a second), where are the best places to eat/shop/sightsee/sunbathe in these places? :

Rome (We'll be here for about 4 days)
Sicily
Athens, Greece
Ephesus, Turkey
Rhodes, Greece
Santorini, Greece
Mykonos, Greece
Naples (Capri), Italy

We're going on a cruise, so besides Rome, we'll only be in these places for one day each, which means I want do and see the best of the best to make each day count!

And let's be clear for a second. When I write this, I certainly don't mean to sound like, "look at all these places I'm going!" Because I don't mean that at all. Honestly, I'm not sure when we'll have a trip like this again (probably never), so the only reason I ask for your advice is so that we can truly make it count.

So please please please comment/email me (hayley.dickens@gmail.com)/facebook message me/call me/beep me/tweet me and let me know if you have any advice at all for any of those places!

You have no idea how much I'd really appreciate it.
Or you can just email me and say hi. Or not contact me at all.
Whatever works.

10 comments:

Jordy said...

Sounds like so much fun! I I've never been to Europe, but my experience in Asia has been to go to the non-tourism areas, unless there is a specific thing in that location you want to see. And if it's anything like Asia, get water from trusted sources or bottled water, or bring your own from the ship with you.

Taryn said...

Definitely go to the acropolis!! It's so cool and pretty interesting. Lots of good picture taking opp's too :)

Andrea Lystrup said...

Hey Hayley! I haven't been to any of the places on your list, but the biggest thing I remember when I went to Europe was being so thirsty. It seemed like everyone charged an arm and a leg for any kind of drink (even water) so I'd recommend carrying a water bottle around with you. Have fun!

Alycia Grayce (Crowley Party) said...

Never been to Greece, it is on my wish list for me and Trevor to make a trip next year! If I went though I would hit Athens for history's sake... but Santorini is where it is at from all my research.
Italy is one of THE most amazing places. Rome is pretty cool, but I would def try to see Capri, or MY FAVORITE place I have ever been in the whole world to date... Cinca Terra Italy... if you could go there, it would SO BE WORTH it!

Alycia Grayce (Crowley Party) said...

p.s. supposedly naples has the best pizza in the world, so look up online where to get that!

Unknown said...

Oh this sounds divine! I wish I could give you advice, but my passport has had zero action! Please take a ton of photos!

sschwieger said...

Hello Hayley!

My advice is: follow the locals when it's lunchtime. no matter where you're at, they will be going to their favorite place... and it'll probably be a place that they would NEVER tell tourists about---because it's' THAT good. :)

Ali Kirk said...

I've never gone east of Utah and I've only been to Canada outside of the US. I win for least cultured person ever!

Amanda said...

I went to Rome for 2 days while I was on a study abroad in London and I have never been more tired in my whole life! You will love Rome, but you will be exhausted if you try to see absolutely everything! You can buy something called a Roma pass at the train stations--you get access to a bunch of museums and historical sights--the Colosseum, the Vatican, everything you have to see. You guys should definitely get it! You can plan your whole trip off of that. The Vatican is cool, but not that cool. Don't feel bad if you don't see everything there, it's kind of all the same after a while. Something that isn't included (I think) in the Roma pass is the Borghese gallery. I hear it's amazing but we didn't get to go because we didn't know you needed to make reservations 2 days in advance!

amlymarie said...

Rome/ Italy- Go to the churches ..even though you are not Catholic they have some of the best art and are just incredible to see in presence. Especially the Vatican City it is just dripping with opulence. Plus you can see a couple mummified Popes on display in the cathedral. Not to mention the Sistine Chapel will leave you awestruck.

Naples definitely has some great pizza so check that out.

Athens is amazing. I spent a month there last summer. Definitely find a Fro Yo place (Frozen Greek Yogurt, so delicious and a somewhat healthy dessert) my favorite topping. Try an authentic gyro ...they are different than what you will find over here but are absolutely delicious. Syntagma Square is a must-see. The rioters are generally pretty calm and won't bother tourist. Plus Syntagma is close to some of the best shopping in Athens (Zara, Pull and Bear, etc.).

Santorini is so beautiful. The best part is renting an ATV and riding all over the island. Especially be sure you make it to the red sand beach.

Greece in general is ridiculously expensive, especially the major tourist areas (Athens, Santorini, Mykonos).

Traveling from island to island is generally very expensive. They also have slow and fast ferries; definitely take a fast ferry if you can. The slow ferry takes as much time as a flight from Europe to NY.

Lastly, watch out for pick pocketers, scam artists, and shady characters. Tourists are seen as majorly vulnerable and easy targets.