Europe 2007 ~ Bern ~ Lucern ~ Vals ~ Lugano

hihi everyone.. sorry i took a month to update... i've been busy... now things are cooling down.. i can relax a bit...
finally have the time to post some pics from my europe travels after dsa... i will update the last days in bern .. and wrap up my swiss dsa blog...
so.. this is the starting blog/entry for my europe trip... its mostly pics of me.. at each city i visited... i will detail the architecture later... (i'm still workign through all the pics)

so.. this is bern... up on the gurten... lovely train isnt it... its for kids to ride... dun i look like a giant?.. hehe... so.. from bern.. i departed.. and started my trip... to lucern!!!
here's lucern on a quiet sunday morning... so peaceful.. unlike last time i was here during the carnival
this is on our way to vals...
and... lugano... on our way down to rome... this is the area in swiss called ticino.. its italian region... so beautiful.. its the south side of the mountains.. so warmer... and more tropical... borders with italy.. so speaks italian here.. lugano is land of mario botta!!!

from here.. we head to rome!!!!

Europe 2007 ~ Rome

rome... where to start... its just wow after wor....
first day... vatican!!!

st. peter's basilica.. and square....
eating lunch around the vatican.. actually best pizza ever
day 2... coliseum....
hehe... dun laugh
pantheon.. my favorite!!!
hehe...
i actually loved this plaza... i love how the corso in the middle divides rome into 2.. and on either side.. the two churches.. are mirrors of each other...
and.. day 3 dinner... in some plaza.. for got name... it has belini fountains.. very nice place for dinner

Europe 2007 ~ Pisa

on train from rome to florence.. then to pisa... it was early.. i was sleeping.. as usual....

lovely pisa... see the grass.. they dun let ppl on it... but.. after the police leaves... everyone jumps back in...
my favorite pic !!!!

Europe 2007 ~ Florence ~ Siena ~ San Gimignano

Florence!!! probably my favorite italian city during this trip!!! why?.. maybe less big ba... maybe cus of the lovely surrounding country side...

mailing postcard to all of u!!!
famous bridge and river... nice!!!
see the duomo in the distance!!!! very impressive dome... too bad.. closed during easter.. couldnt go up.. so sad
best gelato in florence!!! actually.. gelato is from florence!!! rice gelato.. have u tried that?

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from florence during one day.. we went to siena and san gimignano...very tight.. but we made it

siena famous shell shaped plaza... with tower...
here is me bored.. waiting for bus to san gimignano...
on top of a tower in san gimignano... its a medieval town... famous for the 92 towers it once had.. now there's 11 left i think..
haha. and the bell on top of the tower...

Europe 2007 ~ Venice

ah.. venice... here i am.. back again.. why?... (i dunno)


see the leaning tower of venice?!?.. haha um.. the best pasta dinner... it was a good day :P

Europe 2007 ~ Milan

ah.. milan... its not as wonderful as i imagined.. in terms of shopping.. but.. the duomo is probably one of my favorite... whats so special?.. the roof!!!!
outside the square in front of the duomo
under the flying buttresses on the roof
on the roof.. the main /famous pic spot
then.. subway.. i took the subway out to the new exhibition place.. by fukas.. its the very last stop.. so no one left on the subway.. :P
and here it is.... too bad no convention.. cannot go in

Europe 2007 ~ Monaco ~ Nice

from milan.. we took the train to nice... so long... but nice .. cuz its along the ocean... mediteranean... so.. from nice.. we visited monaco... it was much cheaper to stay in nice... visit monaco during the day...

monaco's coast.. look at all the expensive sail boats.. they are huge.. just like cruise ships...
cute sculpture outside monte carlo casino

monte carlo casino!!!
this is the train ride from milan to nice...
lovely dinner in nice... it was nice.. haha... (get it?)... anyways... the duck was really good
lovely beach/coast of nice...

Europe 2007 ~ Barcelona!!! (favorite)

the land of gaudi!!! first stop... sagrada familia... wowowoow... its amazing.. its totally worth the price.. it was one of the cheapest gaudi sites... and.. it provided me with 4 hours of entertainment.. haha...


inside the towers.. the spiral staircase...

guell park... another gaudi's works of art...

inside guell park...
another gaudi... the roof top terrace...

nice big fountain/public square.. etc... where barcelona pavillion is...
and. here.. barcelona pavillion.. by mies...
and.. camper of course... !!!!
inside another gaudi...casa mila..... love the glass affect...

inside casa mila... elevator.. designed by gaudi...

then.. off to torre agbar... by jean nouvel...



diagonal mer park... all with the tower on diagonal street... its the new district in barcelona... all new development/residential/commercial.. etc...
inside diagonal mer park.. a slide... weeee
and.. dinner.. paellas...