Hi all: it has been a while since i last ...

Hi All:

Bern

It has been a while since I last updated everyone, so here is the lasted. Unfortionatly I am unable to send pictures, but I have them ready to send as soon as I get the chance. Traveling has been a great experience so far. It is very trying, and my money is going a little to fast. I have met many, many people. And have seen that the world is really quite small. I have finally done some drawing in the last week. So here we go with my travel update. After leaving Athens, I went to the island of Syros, and then went and spent two nights on the island of Mykonos. I stayed at in a bungalow at a place called Paradise Beach. I just laid on the beach and people watched. After that I jumped to the island of Naxos. I stayed in a private room with a bath for two nights. It only cost 8 Eros a night, which is about 7.50 U.S. dollars. There were many long sandy beaches. I ate at a Mexican Resturant. Wow, how I missed California's Mexican food. After feeling a little to relaxed, I began to get thee need to travel again. I said goodbye to my Australian travel mates David & Jules. It was then a 6 hour ferry ride back to Athens, then I needed to find my way to the main bus station, and taek a bus to Patra, and inorder to arrived at 11:00 P.M. I then found a 12:00 ferry that was going to Venice. It was not covered by my Railpass, but if I didn't take it then I would have to spend the night and wait till 4:00 the next afternoon. So, I jumped on the ferry and slept in the lounge area, the first night then in a airplane type seat the next night. I arrived 35 hours later in Venice. I rushed off the ferry and quickly took a train to Padova, a nearby city. I walled 10 blocks to the hostel and checked in. I then got back to the train and returned to Venice. I walked the city for 6 hours. It was a beautiful place, While there saw a Jackson Pollock exhibit. The next morning I took the train to Florence. The hostel was on the far side of the city, but very large. It was a villa in a wooded and garden park like setting. I checked in and returned to the city. I went to the Academy, to see Michelangelo's David , and many paintings. The second day I walked to Michelangelo's park and walked up the hill to see the view of the city. I then went to the Uffizi Gallery, which had many paints by artist like Botticelli (Birth of Venus), Lippi, Tintoretto, and my favorite Caravaggio. The next day I took a day trip to the city of Siena. It was very old world, but yet very touristy. In the morning, I head for Pisa for a quick visit, then went on to La Spezia, to hike and rest. I found a room in a hotel just down the stairs from the train station. Then I ate, and jumped on a train to the first town of Cinque Terre, which means the five lands. It is five villages along the coast, which are all part of a national park. I walked the coast line path thru the first four towns, which took me at a very quick paced 3 1/2 hours. I return by train to La Spezia very tried and in need of rest. So the next day I slept in and took the train to the 5th and last town, which has the only sandy beach. I laid on the beach all day and rested. Then in the morning I was off to Milan, via Genova, I found Milan to be a very Metropolitan type city. The Duomo was very impressive to see. After Milan I was off to Switzerland. Wow, I was very happy to be out of Italy. And the Mountains, fresh air and, clean water was surprisingly refreshing. I fell in love with Bern, fresh clean water, snowy mountains, and palaces. It is seems like a new city. Old buildings are completely clean and intact. There is a river which runs through the city, and you can jump in and let the current quickly take you down stream. There was a large swim center that is free to the public. I stayed for 4 nights and then headed for Zurich. Zurich is by a large lake and was very clean and you can see that there are many rich people. It was very nice to have the over 1030 fountains to drink from through out the city. I went to the Lint Chocolate factory, and the Art Museum. After two nights I then left for Austria. I am now in Salzburg, which I am reminded is where the Sound of Music was shot. Very morning they play the movie here at the hostel and you can take a guided tour of the sights. I walked the old part of town, the park, and castle. Then I left to Vienna, were I attended a music festival and walk the verz large city. Today I arrived in Budapest, and walked around and then rested and washed my over due colths. See you all later. Matthew

Canal

Canal b

Cinque Terra

Corfu

Duomo

Florence

Gate

Milan

Mykonos

Naxos

Parafise Beach

Pisa

Siena

Syros

Tower of Pisa

Vience

Zurich