New Blog

Heh, guess I forgot to actually post about this, but in December I created a new post-Prague blog. You can find it at alex-life.blogspot.com. See you there!

More Prague Photos

Here are some pictures from the weekend after Rome. It was the first snow in Prague.

Budapest Photos

My computer has issues and is now being taken care of by Apple (this is my excuse for not updating in the last few weeks). In the meantime, I've recovered the rest of my photos. Here are my Budapest photos.

More Rome Photos

Text to come later...I'm currently in the middle of papers and finals craziness. Here are my Rome photos from Sunday and Monday.

Rome - Friday, 11 November

I arrived in Rome on a warm and sunny November afternoon. No, that's not a typo. It was a beautiful day.

It began with the weather and only got better. On the airport bus, I met a friendly Czech woman who works in Italy at a spa, where she teaches dance and yoga. She gave me a brochure and her name - I think she might have been offering to give me a friendly discount. Too bad I didn't have time to stop in Tropea.

After I finally arrived and checked in at my hostel, I headed off to the Pope's neighborhood to visit my Berkeley friends who live nearby. I spent some time catching up with Lauren and Marisa, then went out for a walk by myself before dinner. I got confused by signs pointing in various directions and ended up walking the wrong way to St Peter's, eventually circling the entire Vatican City. It was already dark and the buildings were closed, but everything was lit up beautifully.

My introduction to Italy proceeded with a dinner of gnocchi at a restaurant near Lauren and Marisa's apartment. They told me helpful hints about Rome, such as the fact that tips are always included and that the strange fountains that seem to pour water into the street for no reason are actually drinking fountains with tasty water.

When I had been sociable long enough, I took my leave and discovered the Metro - which I'd taken to get there - was already closed at 11 pm. I got out my trusty borrowed guidebook (thanks a million, Bess!) and figured how to take the bus. I ended up on a 1 euro guideless tour of Rome's center, majestically lit up. It was like seeing an amazing preview for the coming attraction of My Weekend in Rome, starring me!

Photos are already online. Yay me for efficiency!

Shtetl Photos

We took a day trip from Warsaw to visit a few shtetls. Here are the photos.

Photos of Warsaw

Here's the biggest album yet.

Photos of Auschwitz

Photos of Auschwitz. Post to come later.

Photos of Krakow

I will write on Krakow later. For now, enjoy my photos!

Photos with Misha

I have now posted photos of Misha's visit to Prague.