Well I just got back from Europe and I'm majorly jet lagged.  25 sleepless hours on planes with loud little children, an enormously long lay-over in Vienna and getting stressed because I almost lost my birth certificate... but that's not to say it wasn't the BEST TRIP EVER!!! :D

Let's start with each place I went to, shall we?

Munich

I had a lay over in Germany so we took the train into town and it was beautiful!  It was all old-meets-new, like Rome fused with Toronto or something.  I really want to go back to Germany to get more of a taste.  And, also, not to sound like some sort of chauvinistic pig or nuthin', but Germany has the most attractive women in existence... except for our female GameSpot forumers of course  :P.  At least every other woman in her twenties in Germany is a jaw-dropper.  :D   My brother had a blast!  :lol:

Rome

Unfortunately because of the lay-over and delays we only got two nights here but it was probably more walking combined than the rest of the trip.  Aside from being a little dirty, Rome is amazing and beautiful.  And seeing things like the Pantheon, Colosseum, etc. are actually all really amazing in person.  I highly recommend this one. :)

Pisa

We then took a train up to Pisa and it was lots of fun.  If you want to see a real Italian town, just wander through the streets away from the tower and it's really neat.  We stopped at a fruit market and grabbed some little paninis at a local store.  It was really neat.  Plus we got the necessary leaning up against the tower photos.  :P

Florence

Beautiful.  The best place in Europe that I saw to shop and eat.  And everything is stunningly beautiful.  PLUS I was there when Italy won the World Cup  (what are the odds, eh?) and EVERYONE was screaming and cheering and drinking.  Even the cops were honking their horns around in excitement!  Seriously, not a person in the city was silent and it went on for hours!  But it was fantastic.  I have a video of it that I'll post later if I find out how.

Ama (Winery)

Next we stayed at a nice little winery.  It was right in the heart of Tuscany, and me and my family stayed in a sixteenth century village of about twenty people that sat atop a hill surrounded by grape vines.  That is Tuscany at its most beautiful.  Just sitting on the porch with my parents drinking a glass of wine (which was apparently quite good since it was one of the winery's best... but then again I still can't seem to enjoy the taste of wine :P ) seeing the sun go down was amazing.

And I did I mention that it's hot in Tuscany.  It got up to forty-one celcius one day!

Montpellier

Then we drove all the way to the other side of France.  It was beautiful contryside.  And there's only one thing I will say about France.  The people were easily the nicest and friendliest.  I was shocked!  :P  I've heard never-ending stories about their smugness and hatred towards Americans (which they, for the most part, assumed we were).  But they were amazing!  And I think part of this is because me and my family tried to communicate in French.  Since you have to take French in Canada up 'till grade nine my whole family has some ability, and they really appreciate when you try and speak their language.  They laugh and help you along, and all of a sudden they're a million times nicer to you.  It was great!  :D

Barcelona

Barcelona is amazing.  It's also probably the most crowded city I've ever been to.  Holy smokes, a Japanese tour bus let off every two or three square feet!  :o :P

But things like the Sagrada Familia and Gaudi Park are truly spectacular.  Go now!

Nice

Finally, our bittersweet last stop where everyone in my family decided 'Screw culture, let's tan!'  :lol:  So we lay on the rooftop deck and pool and picked up some nice rays for our return home.  ;)

It really was the trip of a lifetime and I won't hesitate for a second to go back.  I really recommend that any of you who haven't seen Europe should try and go.  Whether it be with family, friends, just as long as you're with good people and you're seeing and doing awesome things.  :D

And finally I'd like to thank everyone for their posts in the last entry, but especially GGG.  This is where the I Heart GGG Edition part comes in.  ;)

Your advice was awesome!  We basically only stood up to get gelato and often our breakfasts and stuff were just picking up a few croissants at a bakery.  I also persuaded my parents to let us go to Gaudi Park, and everyone loved it.  It was beautiful!  :D

Except I couldn't get to Assissi or the Barcelona Hard Rock Café in the end, but thank you so much anyways!  You made my trip several notches better.  :)

P.S.  If I missed any big gaming news (I'm all caught up on international news though.  Very sad about Lebanon and more earthquakes and tsunamis.  :( ) could you please inform me in your comments.  :)  Thanks a lot!