Well hello everyone!
It's safe to say it has been a while since I updated this blog. Actually, the last time I updated it was back in TUSCANIA (!!) aka two months ago. I feel terrible that I haven't written here in a while, but I guess that just goes to show how busy I am and how much fun I'm having now. I'll briefly post about the numerous trips I've taken since I left Tuscania - and that'll be more than enough before I go to sleep.
First trip - Madrid, Spain:
Madrid was one of the most beautiful cities I've ever been to. One of my Rome roommates, Shannon, and I flew down to Madrid and met Michelle (hay gurl!) at the airport, before getting to her super cute apartment in the city. We did all the touristy stuff and Michelle was actually an amazing tour guide.
I felt really comfortable in Madrid, even after a month living in a town with like 8,000 residents. Being back in a big city felt so normal and second-nature to me. We did SO much shopping that weekend too. After Tuscania, where I actually don't think I bought one thing other than food, I went crazy with all those stores - Zara, Lefties, H&M, etc. My favorite part of the trip was renting a boat in Retiro Park with Michelle, Larisa, and Shannon one of the days. I love doing stuff like that, especially in a new city. We could not row the boat to save our lives (literally), but it was such a blast!
It's safe to say it has been a while since I updated this blog. Actually, the last time I updated it was back in TUSCANIA (!!) aka two months ago. I feel terrible that I haven't written here in a while, but I guess that just goes to show how busy I am and how much fun I'm having now. I'll briefly post about the numerous trips I've taken since I left Tuscania - and that'll be more than enough before I go to sleep.
First trip - Madrid, Spain:
Madrid was one of the most beautiful cities I've ever been to. One of my Rome roommates, Shannon, and I flew down to Madrid and met Michelle (hay gurl!) at the airport, before getting to her super cute apartment in the city. We did all the touristy stuff and Michelle was actually an amazing tour guide.
I felt really comfortable in Madrid, even after a month living in a town with like 8,000 residents. Being back in a big city felt so normal and second-nature to me. We did SO much shopping that weekend too. After Tuscania, where I actually don't think I bought one thing other than food, I went crazy with all those stores - Zara, Lefties, H&M, etc. My favorite part of the trip was renting a boat in Retiro Park with Michelle, Larisa, and Shannon one of the days. I love doing stuff like that, especially in a new city. We could not row the boat to save our lives (literally), but it was such a blast!
There's me and Michelle right by the lake. Seriously such an amazing weekend, and the perfect way to transition into my next adventure...moving to Rome!
Next trip & next living location - Rome, Italy:
How can I sum up living in probably my favorite city in the world in a few sentences? I could go on and on about the amazing sites, field trips, and experiences I had while living in Rome, but I think my pictures on Facebook spoke for the whole month. Ever since I knew I wanted to go abroad, I knew I wanted to study in Rome. While it didn't work (and I am so lucky that this program did!), a month there was the perfect amount of time.
I felt like a tourist/resident, which is a very interesting mix. Like I talked about in my last blog post about culture shock, Rome definitely was a shock for me at first. Tuscania was a tiny, quiet little town with honestly, not much going for it other than the authentic wine and beautiful nature. Rome, on the other hand, was hustling and bustling with people at all times. There was not one night that I didn't hear sirens or people screaming outside my window, and even though it got annoying at times, I couldn't imagine not living in such an amazing and lively city. It was also really nice having Karen, a friend and "my brother" in KAPI from Chapman, living in the same apartment building as me. She helped me grocery shop and told me the great places to go around our little neighborhood. Easily, March 2014 was one of the best months of my life because of the experiences I had in Rome. It is a magical city, full of young people, travelers, lovers, and people willing and ready to have a great time, no matter what. I ended each day with blisters on my feet (and a crazy toe infection from one) and a smile on my face.
Next trip & next living location - Rome, Italy:
How can I sum up living in probably my favorite city in the world in a few sentences? I could go on and on about the amazing sites, field trips, and experiences I had while living in Rome, but I think my pictures on Facebook spoke for the whole month. Ever since I knew I wanted to go abroad, I knew I wanted to study in Rome. While it didn't work (and I am so lucky that this program did!), a month there was the perfect amount of time.
I felt like a tourist/resident, which is a very interesting mix. Like I talked about in my last blog post about culture shock, Rome definitely was a shock for me at first. Tuscania was a tiny, quiet little town with honestly, not much going for it other than the authentic wine and beautiful nature. Rome, on the other hand, was hustling and bustling with people at all times. There was not one night that I didn't hear sirens or people screaming outside my window, and even though it got annoying at times, I couldn't imagine not living in such an amazing and lively city. It was also really nice having Karen, a friend and "my brother" in KAPI from Chapman, living in the same apartment building as me. She helped me grocery shop and told me the great places to go around our little neighborhood. Easily, March 2014 was one of the best months of my life because of the experiences I had in Rome. It is a magical city, full of young people, travelers, lovers, and people willing and ready to have a great time, no matter what. I ended each day with blisters on my feet (and a crazy toe infection from one) and a smile on my face.
That's me in the glorious Colosseum! I can't even begin to describe the luck and joy I felt last month, but what made living in Rome even better was my weekend getaway to Bruges and Brussels! And a big thank you, RyanAir, for the ridiculously cheap flights (65 euro roundtrip!!)
Next trip - Brussels, Belgium:
During one of my weekends in Rome, Louise, Moira, Steph, Cait, and I all took a trip to Brussels. We found such cheap flights and Louise and I found the cutest hotel/hostel right by the city center, so we decided to go. Why not?! It was such a fun weekend, full of so many unexpected joys and surprises.
If you haven't been to Brussels, I would say put that at the top of your bucket list right now. It's a magical city, with some of the most amazing architecture I have ever seen and 100% the best beer I have ever tried. One highlight for me was going to the Delirium Cafe, a bar that has over 2,000 types of beer, and spending an evening there talking to locals, students, and other tourists. It was packed to the brim, because it is so well-known, but it was definitely one of the coolest experiences I've had this whole semester. We did a lot of touring around in Brussels, which was super easy to maneuver. I enjoyed that it was a small town, but with plenty of places to go and tons of things to see. Right now (I think?) there is a huge festival of flowers in Brussels, and I really wish I could be there for that. I can't really imagine the city being any prettier, but I'm sure it is with all those flowers.
The best city I have been to so far, without a doubt, is Bruges. Bruges is a tiny town that lies north of Brussels, and it is LITERALLY a fairytale. There is a lake, called the Lake of Love, with swans and beautiful castles on the banks. Everyone is so kind, there was an amazing tea shop that we bought ooooooodles of tea from, and we honestly just spent the whole day smiling and taking pictures of everything around us. It was the coolest day trip I have ever done and I honestly believe that it was days like those that made this whole experience, away from my family, friends, loved ones, comforts, etc. worth it. I will remember that day forever and I know, 100%, I will be back in Bruges sometime in my life.
Next trip - Brussels, Belgium:
During one of my weekends in Rome, Louise, Moira, Steph, Cait, and I all took a trip to Brussels. We found such cheap flights and Louise and I found the cutest hotel/hostel right by the city center, so we decided to go. Why not?! It was such a fun weekend, full of so many unexpected joys and surprises.
If you haven't been to Brussels, I would say put that at the top of your bucket list right now. It's a magical city, with some of the most amazing architecture I have ever seen and 100% the best beer I have ever tried. One highlight for me was going to the Delirium Cafe, a bar that has over 2,000 types of beer, and spending an evening there talking to locals, students, and other tourists. It was packed to the brim, because it is so well-known, but it was definitely one of the coolest experiences I've had this whole semester. We did a lot of touring around in Brussels, which was super easy to maneuver. I enjoyed that it was a small town, but with plenty of places to go and tons of things to see. Right now (I think?) there is a huge festival of flowers in Brussels, and I really wish I could be there for that. I can't really imagine the city being any prettier, but I'm sure it is with all those flowers.
The best city I have been to so far, without a doubt, is Bruges. Bruges is a tiny town that lies north of Brussels, and it is LITERALLY a fairytale. There is a lake, called the Lake of Love, with swans and beautiful castles on the banks. Everyone is so kind, there was an amazing tea shop that we bought ooooooodles of tea from, and we honestly just spent the whole day smiling and taking pictures of everything around us. It was the coolest day trip I have ever done and I honestly believe that it was days like those that made this whole experience, away from my family, friends, loved ones, comforts, etc. worth it. I will remember that day forever and I know, 100%, I will be back in Bruges sometime in my life.
After Bruges, I only had about a week left in Rome before my next adventure to Venice/my spring break. Being able to share some of that time with Ladan made the experience THAT much better. I will write more (hopefully tomorrow!) about Spring Break and living in Venice.
Ciao amici & ciao blog! ARIvederci!
Ciao amici & ciao blog! ARIvederci!