I'M ALIVE! After enduring my longest plane ride ever in my life (8 1/2 hours) I realized I can do anything...kinda. FYI I really hate flying.

Started my journey off yesterday in the lovely Des Moines airport, from there went to Minneapolis for a long flight to Paris. Once in Paris, it took me a good 20 minutes to find the bus to get to the gate I needed to. After I got to my gate, I was immediately discouraged because when I went to get my ticket some French lady rudely yelled at me "There are no flights to Florence!" Okay? Clearly there were since I booked one. After the miscommunication and finding a NICE FRENCH woman, I was able to get my ticket and move on. Waiting for our next flight from Paris to Florence, I decided to take a nap because of the crazy time difference. (Iowa is 7 hours behind Italy) During my slumber, I was awoken by my brother dropping his laptop on my head. It's okay, I'm just suffering minor concusions.

FINALLY I GOT TO FLORENCE! I've always been extremely lucky when it comes to getting my luggage on flights. But what do ya know, my luggage got lost. We got everything figured out but my luggage was coming in 3 hours later. So we decided to hit up central Florence and I love it already. Everything is so unbelievable detailed and beautiful. 3 hours later we hit up the airport again when I finally got my luggage. What a relief! Then it was time to head to the train station to go to Rome! Rome was just a quick hour and a half train ride south of Florence. I had never been on a train before so that was pretty neat. ROME. IS. HUGE. The nice, cute, little old Italian taxi driver drove us to our hotel where we checked in. Last night we got to see the Pantheon plus a ton of other neat fountains, building, etc. Got our first authentic Italian meal at a restaurant and it was amazing. It took my love for cheese to a whole new level!

Today we're visiting so much more! Can't wait!! I miss everyone already and I'm SO proud of all the ISU dance marathoners, I wish I could've been there. CAIO!