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bring it, Europa!
OK so Leah has announced her four FABU choices for our European tour! Florence, Paris, Prague & Barcelona. Leah also described some of the things she’s looking forward to seeing and experiencing in these wonderful places. i know i don’t have to tell you what i’d like to do while in Paris – i wrote all about my dream trip there in my ‘Go with Oh’ entry.
BUT…aren’t you just the least bit curious what lola would do while tagging along with Leah in Florence, Prague & Barcelona? NO, i don’t have every detail worked out but i have started investigating and looking for some fun & different things i can do while there. you see, while i will be going to most of the typical tourist sites and must-dos with Leah, i’ve actually already been to all four cities and so i want to find some really fantastic stuff to do that i haven’t seen or done before. might even be must-don’ts!
here’s what i have cooked up so far and, YES, i’m still using some of my favorite movies as inspiration for ideas.
Prague
did you know that parts of Mission Impossible 4 were filmed in Prague? how about some action-packed fun in a spy-like form for lola & leah? you know, climbing the side of the Prague Castle with little more than our harnesses, ropes & carabiners – mine will be ALL pink! naw…this is my glam European tour, not my get injured doing stupid stunts tour! so let’s just do the Prague Segway Movie Tour instead. less dangerous…i think anyway!
zoom zoom to the boom boom
the company that offers the tour provides ‘behind-the-scenes’ information and trivia about Prague and the films made there like James Bond, Amadeus & Mission Impossible. every segway also has a built-in DVD screen showing clips of each movie. hope that won’t distract me too much from keeping my eyes on the sidewalk! the company trains you on how to operate the segway so there’s no prior experience needed. PHEW! besides seeing stunning movie locations, it’ll be an easy & fun way to see many of the city’s famous sights like the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, Wenceslas Square & Old Town Square.
marionette me!
Prague is theatrical in other ways as well. besides the traditional theatre and music that surrounds the city, puppetry & marionette shows are easily found in Prague. i don’t necessarily want to go to a marionette show (i think it might be a little freaky) BUT i do want to search out a place to get a customized lola marionette made! you know how i like little mini-lola clones. it just so happens that Czechs are also known for their marionette-making skills. AND what a fantastic souvenir that will make! i also think it’d be super fun to do a photo session of myself being a life-size marionette. i need to seek out a perfect location and photographer willing to put up with me with “no strings attached” HA!
let me be your puppet, baby!
AND, like leah referenced, we will be drinking loads of Czech beer. i’ll probably need a few cold ones after the segway tour and before my marionette photo shoot! did you know that the Czech Republic has the highest per-capita beer consumption in the world?! i think the best way to discover all the varieties offered is to book a beer tasting tour perhaps even in the form of a pub crawl.
Czech Budweiser is much tastier in Praha
Florence
you know that scene in Under The Tuscan Sun where the seductive yet nutty blonde actress reenacts the fountain scene from La Dolce Vita? yeah, i wanna do that in some random fountain in a quiet square in Florence. YES, i’ve already thought about how it’ll be getting colder in Florence and i’m sure i will not look nearly as glamorous doing it BUT i’m not letting silly temperatures and vanity stop me! it will be SO AWESOME.
la dolce vita goodness
i know i can be a bit wild at times but it’s usually egged on by a wee bit of alcohol so i may need to drink some vino before pulling off my splashy fountain scene. trying as many “cult wines” as i can find might be the ticket! doesn’t that sound like sexy trouble! although, it seems i will need a vecchio amante danaroso (aka sugar daddy) because these cult wines are considered high quality and therefore are quite pricey. good thing i just learned i have a connection in the wine industry who works with Italian vineyards! maybe he’ll be my vecchio amante danaroso! AND, hopefully, seeking out these harder-to-find vintages might cut down on our time spent drinking all day. Toscana wine is home to some of the world’s most notable wine regions such as Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino & Vino Nobile di Montepulciano so there will be lots and lots of choices!
my kind of “cult”
as you can see, between “cult wines” and fountain stunts, i wanna break some rules in Florence! leah already knows this…and i’m sorry, i just can’t help it. i wanna get my hands on the MOST HANDSOME MAN ever created. DAVID! well maybe just my boa for a quick pic. not sure how i’ll be able to pull this off but if i do, god it’ll be great. one for the lola history books!
mmm…i’m at a loss for words
Barcelona
i’d like to have an experience in Barcelona with a handsome Spanish artist akin to Javier Bardem in Vicki Cristina Barcelona but without the crazy ex-wife Penelope Cruz character. AND don’t get any ideas that leah & i will both be falling for the same dude! we are good friends but we don’t like to share that much! really i just want to hear this dashing Spaniard speak to me in Spanish while touring his art studio! ahhh romantic! hey we ARE visiting three of the ‘romance language’ countries after all. perhaps, i’ll throw in having him sketch a nude of lola. now that’s something i have never had done! HECK, i may have to find one of those cheap Barcelona hotels just for privacy sake. this kind of thing is definitely not a public matter!
desnudo lola
i will not be eating much leading up to this nude sketching session in order to look my svelte-best so i’ll be starving afterward. this would be a perfect time to go explore the Mercat Santa Caterina in el born. apparently, the mosaical structure looks more like an olympic stadium than a market but once inside you will find amazing sights and smells of an astonishing assortment of fruit, cured meats, cheeses and fresh fish from the Mediterranean among many other feasts for the senses. sounds food-gasmic! leah and i can pick up some items to make a few meals while in Barcelona and perhaps even have a dinner party with the ‘Go with Oh’ staff located there.
mercat santa caterina
goodness knows, we will need plenty of sustenance because i want us to take Flamenco dancing lessons while there too. BOY that doesn’t look easy! but it’ll be totally worth it, though, because we get to wear those cool frilly dresses (usually in leah’s favorite color – RED) and dance in a seductive way! i can’t wait to wave that fan all around and swing up my ruffles! totally a lola-approved experience, i must say!
ooo la-la sexy Spain!
so, there it is. i think these ideas sound SO fantastic but i’ll definitely need a few more in each place. if you have any fun and different must-do’s OR, better yet, must-don’ts (because they are a little naughty) please feel free to share with me!
XO – lola
I’m in for all of this except the nude sketch and the fountain swimming. Some things just need to be left for Lola to do.
Leah Travels recently posted…Lastly, I’m Going with Oh to…
gotcha! that’s cool and besides, i need someone to photograph me doing this crazy crap. you down with that?
As usual, a great plan to bring the Lola factor to glam places that need the extra bit of sauce!
If you need me to help the marionette photographer by shouting posing instructions, you know I am MOST excellent at the craft: “lift that arm”, “make it look like it’s floating”, “love the string”, “make the other marionette hate you”!
Raul (ilivetotravel in Twitter) recently posted…A Nice Discovery in Chicago: Its Architecture
GOD, you REALLY are good. i’m ready to strike my marionette pose right this very second! xo
Does Europe have any idea what’s coming? 😀
I love the idea of some fountain fun and a Lola marionette! And of course all the must don’ts!
And I can’t think of Florence without thinking of Assassins Creed, the video game. Think jumping on all the historic buildings in Florence and fighting evil. Something to consider for you two… 😉
Pola recently posted…Photo Focus: The Chicago River
how ever did i miss this?! pola…you would make a perfect addition to our traveling crimes 😉 LOVE your ideas!! xo
We’re Raul’s Angels after all. Or so the rumor has it in Chicago haha. 😉
Pola recently posted…Photo of the Week: Zócalo in Puebla, Mexico
Awesome! Thanks for the recs we head to Barcelona and Florence this Fall as part of a med cruise
Hilarye recently posted…Gray Line Tours Hop on Hop off New York City Bus Tour
that sounds exciting!! Leah & I are VERY excited about our European tour 🙂
LOVE LOVE LOVE!! Takes pictures… of EVERYTHING x
Scarlett recently posted…Smackheads And Turtles…
thanks Jen! we will be taking pictures and video and documenting all of our silly sassy stunts! are you on twitter?
OMG, you are going to have an amazing trip – and I shall follow it live! Feel very honoured that I will catch up with you and actually be part of a bit 🙂 Can’t wait!!
@mrsoaroundworld recently posted…Photos of the week – Street Vendors
i can’t wait for us to reunite too Mrs. O! yes, this will be a trip to remember.
Lots of great stuff on the list! You must must must go to Parc Guell in Barca, and of course, have a crepe for me in Paris:)
D.J. – The World of Deej recently posted…Check Out Time – The Week in Travel
i love your tips, D.J. thanks so much. especially the photo op at Parc Guell 😉
GAH! You two are going to have so much fun. We are super jealous but are excited to follow along on the ride. I like the crazy itinerary. There’s a lot of fun to be had!
Tawny- Captain and Clark recently posted…Things to know before climbing Kilimanjaro.
crazy is my middle name. 😉 i’m looking forward to returning to all these great cities but having a little fun while touring this go ’round!
Can’t wait for these four great European cities to be Leah and Lolafied.
Traveling Ted recently posted…Moonlight falls on Agnes Lake in Quetico Provincial Park
me too. me too, Ted. don’t know if i can carry enough boas around to supply all the friends i’ll be lolafying though 😉 they might have to settle for feathers.
Sounds like you have some pretty good ideas for your upcoming trip. For your boa on David stunt, try it at the statue overlooking the city, you might actually be able to pull it off there since you’ll likely be taken down if you did it at the Accademia or in the square.
John recently posted…Work and Vacation – How to Travel Beyond Your Allotted PTO
thanks John. great tip! now you are officially an accomplice to my traveling crimes 😉
Awww… Barcelona.. One of my top fave cities… Start the day with some churros con chocolate (sweeeeet) and enjoy sangria whenever the hell you feel like it. 🙂 The fat tire bike tour there is pretty cool too.
Gerard ~ GQ trippin recently posted…Sushi to Dai For
oooo fat tire bike tour sounds fun! i’m super excited to find the *best* sangria in Barcelona. i did read recently that the Catalans really like their gin & tonics too.
Ok, so, I’m insanely jealous of you and Leah and your fantabulous Go With Oh tour. Also, segways and merrionettes scare me. Lastly, flamenco dancing?! So awesome!!! Please take lots of pictures – maybe even video!
Francesca recently posted…Michigan’s Lakeshore Harvest Country
i will be honest with you, Francesca…segways & marionettes freak me out too. i just thought it would be good for a challenge 😉 yep the flamenco dancing does sound FAB. hope we can find a place to get a lesson!!
hahaha you ladies are going to be OUT of control (or at least 1/2 of you), and we can’t wait to follow along.
the lazy travelers recently posted…operation: explore astoria
yeah…Leah is the darer & i’m the doer. she’ll be photographing me doing all the class clown stuff while she looks like the class act! i can live with that arrangement 😉
I don’t think I even need to say, stay adventurous…. you have the covered. Fab itinerary…but now after reading this, I am not sure I will ever be able to get Leah, Lola, Barcelona – the sequel out of my head. Good Luck.
stay adventurous, Craig
Craig Zabransky recently posted…Sunset Sunday – Sunset on the Streets of Quebec City
haha – i LOVE it, Craig. this is the best comment yet. AND what a compliment to be told that i’m “stay adventurous” enough already 😉 XO