A/N Yeah, before I start letting you read chapter twenty, I have to make a
few corrections and let you know the title of stuff. Throughout the
chapters, the people have gone to a few museums and seen paintings and
stuff, and I left out some of the information that I feel you might like to
know. Not all are necessarily mistakes, so I will call them comments.
Comment # 1- the common name for the Louvre in Paris is actually "Musée du Louvre"
Comment # 2- I talked about a church type place that had a painting (German women yelling at Lucy) and I made a mistake. I didn't remember that that painting is actually in Toledo as opposed to Madrid, so please pretend that never happened or that they took a quick trip to Toledo that Lizzie forgot to mention. The painting, by the way is called "The Burial of Count Orgaz" and it is by El Greco (Which translates into "The Greek" in Spanish) and the place that it is located in is called San Tomé, which is in Toledo. If you ever get a chance to go to Toledo, this seriously is one of my favorite paintings, so check it out.
Comment # 3- Another really cool painting that was really cool that is in El Museo Del Prado in Madrid is by Diego de Silva y Valézquez. I am sure many have heard of it, but it is called "Las Meninas" I really wanted Lizzie to mention it, but it is really hard to describe this painting if you don't know what I am talking about. The history of the painting as well as the painting itself is amazing, so if you ever are interested, just research it.
Sorry, I just really like Spanish art.
Outside of that topic, I just remembered that Europe in 2002 would actually have Euros as opposed to Lire, Pesetas, or Francs, so please pretend that any past mentioning of money is what it would be in 2002.
Chapter Twenty: The Bus
19 June 2002
Okay, so like the day goes on and absolutely nothing happens. NOT! The day only gets better, which it is not hard to do considering we spent most of the day on the bus. Well, after we went to Pisa, we continued our journey to Rome. We passed Florence but never got out of the bus for more than a bathroom break. The bathrooms in Italy are really not cool. You have to stand and everything. At least this time we didn't have to PAY.
After we got back on the bus from our bathroom break, the "back of the bus" group started talking again. I guess at this point everyone was well rested and excited about getting to Rome. How do I feel about Rome? Well, to be honest with you, I have totally mixed feelings about Rome. Rome as a city is exciting, but as far as the other stuff, it's sort of depressing. I mean, it means this trip is almost over. I have had such a good time.
So anyway, Gordo and I once again ended up sitting next to each other. Everything was mice and happy-like when someone, and I think it was Anna, suggested we play a game. At first I was thinking, "Are we in second grade or something. Are we going to play duck-duck goose or something?" I should have known better.
Anna: Let's play truth or dare!
Oh please, let's don't.
Justin: I don't think that is such a good idea. I mean everyone can hear us and stuff.
Anna: Fine, then. Someone think of a game.
Sarah: Why do we have to play a game?
Anna: Well, we don't. I just figured we should play a game or do something.
Miranda: I don't know. I had my dose of games on the train.
Justin: What do you mean?
Anna nudged him. I personally don't see what the big deal is. Gordo and I are together now, so it isn't like that is a sensitive subject.
Anna: I will tell you later.
So there was no game. I mean, I would have been fine with a game, but I think it is better with no game. This gave Gordo and I an opportunity to talk. Everyone else eventually started doing his or her own thing. I looked back, and Justin and Anna were really close. Sarah was listening to Italian radio while David was reading a book. Miranda and Brian were looking at old pictures. And then there was Gordo and I. We talked. I know that sounds really boring, but Gordo and I's relationship is different form everyone else's. They aren't dating their best friend. I am. Plus, it feels really weird to kiss your best friend in front of everyone, so that option was out. I didn't have a radio, and Gordo didn't have a book, so that option was out. Gordo has seen all my pictures, and vice versa, so that option was also out. Talking seems like a nice alternative, though.
Gordo: So, um, which city did you like better, Paris or Madrid?
Lizzie: I would have to say Paris.
Gordo: Really? I actually knew you would say that, and I can't honestly say I disagree with you entirely.
Lizzie: I would have thought that you like Madrid better.
Gordo: Why? I mean, Paris was so much prettier and clean.
Lizzie: But you take Spanish and love swords?
Gordo laughed.
Gordo: So? We never saw any swords and what language I take has nothing to do with it.
Lizzie: Good point. I mean I guess Madrid seems more masculine.
Gordo: And Paris seems more feminine? Yeah, well that is stereotypical and I will tell you why. If you have never been to Paris, you usually think it is all romance, shopping, and flowers, which in most cases are associated with females. Madrid makes you think more bull fighting, swords, and the streets, which are more male oriented things. Madrid had plenty of Paris and Paris had plenty of Madrid. Does that make sense?
Lizzie: Yes, that is very observant. What do we associate Rome to be? Masculine or feminine?
Gordo: Well, my dear Lizzie, that is the beauty of Italy. Italy can very well be associated with both. There is plenty of fashion and romance, but on the other side, there are plenty of sports and fighting over there. Oh! And there is Pizza!
We laughed together. I am really looking forward to Rome because it will be more time alone to spend with Gordo. Maybe he will kiss me again. That hasn't happened very much this trip. That is not a complaint . . . just an observation.
Gordo and I talked for a long time about the trip so far and how fun it is. Then, somehow, we sort of drifted off topic.
Lizzie: Gordo, can I ask you a question?
Gordo: What kind of a question?
He looked at me quizzically. The way he looked at me made me laugh, and he started to laugh.
Lizzie: No, I am serious.
Gordo: Well, I am serious, too. What kind of question?
Lizzie: I don't know. A question that wants an answer.
Gordo: Sigh. Fine. Ask away.
Gordo seemed in an unusually good mood at this point of the trip.
Lizzie: Well, how long have you liked me?
Gordo: As more than a friend?
Lizzie: Yeah.
Gordo: That is hard to say. I have liked you for a long time.
Lizzie: Well, how long?
Gordo: I probably started to really like you the summer before sixth grade.
Lizzie: Oh.
What am I supposed to say?
Gordo: What about you? How long did you really like me?
Lizzie: Probably somewhere between fourth and fifth grade.
Gordo: Whoa. We liked each other for a long time. I wonder how come we never found out sooner.
Lizzie: Well, I never told anyone, not even Miranda.
Gordo: Really? Miranda figured out I liked you and promised me she would never tell.
Lizzie: Well, she never told me.
Gordo: I thought she did tell you. Miranda kept her promise though.
Lizzie: Yep.
Gordo put his arm around me and I leaned my head in closer and everything became silent. Eventually, I fell asleep. I have no idea what Gordo did. About an hour and a half later, Gordo woke me up and said that Lucy was about to make an announcement.
Lucy: All right, this is our last hotel we will stay in. This time, we will all be staying on the same level, so pay attention to you room assignments.
Gordo: (whispers to me) Please don't put me with Ethan or Larry. Give me someone new.
Lucy: Jeremy (remember him from the first night. . .Australian accent.) you will be rooming with Gordo.
Gordo: At least he is someone new and different.
Lucy continued to make announcements about who would be rooming with whom. Here are the ones of mass importance:
Miranda, Anna, Sarah.
Lizzie and Kate.
David, Justin, and Ethan.
Brian and Larry.
Lizzie and Kate? What is up with that? Oh well, we won't talk. She will certainly make that clear.
Lucy continued to make the announcements of behavior and stuff, and by the time she was finished, the bus pulled up to our hotel.
We all exited the bus and were given our key and we all headed up to our room. By now, it was about six in the evening. We were to be downstairs by eight.
As luck would have it, our room was across from Gordo and Jeremy's room. The hotel was about the same as it was in Spain.
This is what happened for the two hours we were in our hotel room: we got in; Kate claimed the bed near the window; Kate announced she was going to take a shower first; I watched TV while she took a shower; half an hour later, Kate exited the bathroom; I took a shower, and twenty minutes later, I was out of the bathroom. This gave us a little over an hour.
Gordo called right after I got out of the shower and asked if I wanted to come over to his room. I said fine and headed over there.
When I knocked on the door, Gordo answered.
Lizzie: Where is Jeremy?
Gordo: Oh, I don't know, over in someone else's room. I figured Kate would drive you insane, so I thought you could come over here and we could be together.
Lizzie: Cool.
Now I know under totally normal circumstances, Gordo and I being alone would make things temping or whatever, but you must remember that it is Gordo and I. We are friends, and we do this all the time back home.
Anyway, Gordo and I ended up watching TV for the next hour and making fun of Italian and the people on the TV. When it was time to go down, we went down together.
Lizzie: I wonder where we are doing tonight.
Gordo: I don't know, but it should be fun.
A/N Review!
Comment # 1- the common name for the Louvre in Paris is actually "Musée du Louvre"
Comment # 2- I talked about a church type place that had a painting (German women yelling at Lucy) and I made a mistake. I didn't remember that that painting is actually in Toledo as opposed to Madrid, so please pretend that never happened or that they took a quick trip to Toledo that Lizzie forgot to mention. The painting, by the way is called "The Burial of Count Orgaz" and it is by El Greco (Which translates into "The Greek" in Spanish) and the place that it is located in is called San Tomé, which is in Toledo. If you ever get a chance to go to Toledo, this seriously is one of my favorite paintings, so check it out.
Comment # 3- Another really cool painting that was really cool that is in El Museo Del Prado in Madrid is by Diego de Silva y Valézquez. I am sure many have heard of it, but it is called "Las Meninas" I really wanted Lizzie to mention it, but it is really hard to describe this painting if you don't know what I am talking about. The history of the painting as well as the painting itself is amazing, so if you ever are interested, just research it.
Sorry, I just really like Spanish art.
Outside of that topic, I just remembered that Europe in 2002 would actually have Euros as opposed to Lire, Pesetas, or Francs, so please pretend that any past mentioning of money is what it would be in 2002.
Chapter Twenty: The Bus
19 June 2002
Okay, so like the day goes on and absolutely nothing happens. NOT! The day only gets better, which it is not hard to do considering we spent most of the day on the bus. Well, after we went to Pisa, we continued our journey to Rome. We passed Florence but never got out of the bus for more than a bathroom break. The bathrooms in Italy are really not cool. You have to stand and everything. At least this time we didn't have to PAY.
After we got back on the bus from our bathroom break, the "back of the bus" group started talking again. I guess at this point everyone was well rested and excited about getting to Rome. How do I feel about Rome? Well, to be honest with you, I have totally mixed feelings about Rome. Rome as a city is exciting, but as far as the other stuff, it's sort of depressing. I mean, it means this trip is almost over. I have had such a good time.
So anyway, Gordo and I once again ended up sitting next to each other. Everything was mice and happy-like when someone, and I think it was Anna, suggested we play a game. At first I was thinking, "Are we in second grade or something. Are we going to play duck-duck goose or something?" I should have known better.
Anna: Let's play truth or dare!
Oh please, let's don't.
Justin: I don't think that is such a good idea. I mean everyone can hear us and stuff.
Anna: Fine, then. Someone think of a game.
Sarah: Why do we have to play a game?
Anna: Well, we don't. I just figured we should play a game or do something.
Miranda: I don't know. I had my dose of games on the train.
Justin: What do you mean?
Anna nudged him. I personally don't see what the big deal is. Gordo and I are together now, so it isn't like that is a sensitive subject.
Anna: I will tell you later.
So there was no game. I mean, I would have been fine with a game, but I think it is better with no game. This gave Gordo and I an opportunity to talk. Everyone else eventually started doing his or her own thing. I looked back, and Justin and Anna were really close. Sarah was listening to Italian radio while David was reading a book. Miranda and Brian were looking at old pictures. And then there was Gordo and I. We talked. I know that sounds really boring, but Gordo and I's relationship is different form everyone else's. They aren't dating their best friend. I am. Plus, it feels really weird to kiss your best friend in front of everyone, so that option was out. I didn't have a radio, and Gordo didn't have a book, so that option was out. Gordo has seen all my pictures, and vice versa, so that option was also out. Talking seems like a nice alternative, though.
Gordo: So, um, which city did you like better, Paris or Madrid?
Lizzie: I would have to say Paris.
Gordo: Really? I actually knew you would say that, and I can't honestly say I disagree with you entirely.
Lizzie: I would have thought that you like Madrid better.
Gordo: Why? I mean, Paris was so much prettier and clean.
Lizzie: But you take Spanish and love swords?
Gordo laughed.
Gordo: So? We never saw any swords and what language I take has nothing to do with it.
Lizzie: Good point. I mean I guess Madrid seems more masculine.
Gordo: And Paris seems more feminine? Yeah, well that is stereotypical and I will tell you why. If you have never been to Paris, you usually think it is all romance, shopping, and flowers, which in most cases are associated with females. Madrid makes you think more bull fighting, swords, and the streets, which are more male oriented things. Madrid had plenty of Paris and Paris had plenty of Madrid. Does that make sense?
Lizzie: Yes, that is very observant. What do we associate Rome to be? Masculine or feminine?
Gordo: Well, my dear Lizzie, that is the beauty of Italy. Italy can very well be associated with both. There is plenty of fashion and romance, but on the other side, there are plenty of sports and fighting over there. Oh! And there is Pizza!
We laughed together. I am really looking forward to Rome because it will be more time alone to spend with Gordo. Maybe he will kiss me again. That hasn't happened very much this trip. That is not a complaint . . . just an observation.
Gordo and I talked for a long time about the trip so far and how fun it is. Then, somehow, we sort of drifted off topic.
Lizzie: Gordo, can I ask you a question?
Gordo: What kind of a question?
He looked at me quizzically. The way he looked at me made me laugh, and he started to laugh.
Lizzie: No, I am serious.
Gordo: Well, I am serious, too. What kind of question?
Lizzie: I don't know. A question that wants an answer.
Gordo: Sigh. Fine. Ask away.
Gordo seemed in an unusually good mood at this point of the trip.
Lizzie: Well, how long have you liked me?
Gordo: As more than a friend?
Lizzie: Yeah.
Gordo: That is hard to say. I have liked you for a long time.
Lizzie: Well, how long?
Gordo: I probably started to really like you the summer before sixth grade.
Lizzie: Oh.
What am I supposed to say?
Gordo: What about you? How long did you really like me?
Lizzie: Probably somewhere between fourth and fifth grade.
Gordo: Whoa. We liked each other for a long time. I wonder how come we never found out sooner.
Lizzie: Well, I never told anyone, not even Miranda.
Gordo: Really? Miranda figured out I liked you and promised me she would never tell.
Lizzie: Well, she never told me.
Gordo: I thought she did tell you. Miranda kept her promise though.
Lizzie: Yep.
Gordo put his arm around me and I leaned my head in closer and everything became silent. Eventually, I fell asleep. I have no idea what Gordo did. About an hour and a half later, Gordo woke me up and said that Lucy was about to make an announcement.
Lucy: All right, this is our last hotel we will stay in. This time, we will all be staying on the same level, so pay attention to you room assignments.
Gordo: (whispers to me) Please don't put me with Ethan or Larry. Give me someone new.
Lucy: Jeremy (remember him from the first night. . .Australian accent.) you will be rooming with Gordo.
Gordo: At least he is someone new and different.
Lucy continued to make announcements about who would be rooming with whom. Here are the ones of mass importance:
Miranda, Anna, Sarah.
Lizzie and Kate.
David, Justin, and Ethan.
Brian and Larry.
Lizzie and Kate? What is up with that? Oh well, we won't talk. She will certainly make that clear.
Lucy continued to make the announcements of behavior and stuff, and by the time she was finished, the bus pulled up to our hotel.
We all exited the bus and were given our key and we all headed up to our room. By now, it was about six in the evening. We were to be downstairs by eight.
As luck would have it, our room was across from Gordo and Jeremy's room. The hotel was about the same as it was in Spain.
This is what happened for the two hours we were in our hotel room: we got in; Kate claimed the bed near the window; Kate announced she was going to take a shower first; I watched TV while she took a shower; half an hour later, Kate exited the bathroom; I took a shower, and twenty minutes later, I was out of the bathroom. This gave us a little over an hour.
Gordo called right after I got out of the shower and asked if I wanted to come over to his room. I said fine and headed over there.
When I knocked on the door, Gordo answered.
Lizzie: Where is Jeremy?
Gordo: Oh, I don't know, over in someone else's room. I figured Kate would drive you insane, so I thought you could come over here and we could be together.
Lizzie: Cool.
Now I know under totally normal circumstances, Gordo and I being alone would make things temping or whatever, but you must remember that it is Gordo and I. We are friends, and we do this all the time back home.
Anyway, Gordo and I ended up watching TV for the next hour and making fun of Italian and the people on the TV. When it was time to go down, we went down together.
Lizzie: I wonder where we are doing tonight.
Gordo: I don't know, but it should be fun.
A/N Review!