After I was in Madrid we traveled to Barcelona. I had a great time in Spain and we got to see a lot of sites. We were in Barcelona for a couple of days and we saw Las Ramblas, the Mediterranean, the Olympic park( which was not exciting), a lot of Guadi buildings and the Sagrada Familia. The Sagrada familia was unbelievable. This church is absolutely massive and it is so intersting to me that they never finished it, they are still today working on it.
For this trip I was absolutely most excited about the second half because it is in Italy. We flew into Rome today and it is amazing. The city itself is dirtier than I expected and it is definitely chaotic, but it is unbelievable. There are so many things to see here, its so exciting. Today I got to see the Roman ruins, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and Trevi Fountain. My favorite was definitely the Colosseum. It is just so amazing to think about what went on there thousands of years ago.
For dinner I got to have traditional Italian pizza, very tasty and dessert of course was gelato. Oh my gosh real gelato is soooo good. I am definitely getting that a couple times tomorrow!
Tomorrow we are going to see the Vatican- which I am super excited for. Also, one of the girls I am with, her parents gave her money so we could go out for a fancy Italian dinner! That is happening tomorrow night and it will be so nice to not have to worry about price! Rome is expensive!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Espana!
Since leaving Ireland I have been to Madrid, Sagovia, and Barcelona. I am on my free travel with two other girls and we are here in Spain through Wednesday and then head to Italy on Thursday!!!
Madrid was interesting, it was really similar to a lot of big cities that we have seen so that was kind of a let down. We did go to their "central park" which is a massive beautiful park in the middle of the city. It had street vendors and you could rent boats to row around the river. It was a beautiful place to see. While we were there we also got to see the Guernica, which is one of Pablo Picasso's most famous works. We also traveled to Sagovia Spain to see what small town Spain looks like. That city is what I pictured Spain to look like. We got to see the Aquaducts, which a national monument and runs the length of the city. Sagovia is known for their chocolate and churros, so we of course had to try some of those. It was really greasy and the chocolate was not sweet, like it is at home, I cannot imagine having it for breakfast.
The whole schedule of Spain is something to get used to. Breakfast is around 10, lunch places open around 1, and dinner places don't open until 8 or 9. That was definitely an adjustment.
Now that I am Barcelona I have walked Las Ramblas, seen the Mediterranean, gone to the site of the Olymics, gone to the Picasso museum, and seen the Sagrada Familia. I was definitely a tourist today, but it was awesome. Las Ramblas is ridiculous because there are so many people everywhere and you can tell they are all tourists. It cities like this that are known for tourism it is so funny to see Mcdonald's (with 4 floors), KFC (with 3 floors) and a Starbucks basically on every corner. You can definitely still get a taste of home when you are abroad.
Tomorrow we are going to see more Gaudi landmarks and do a little shopping! Free travel has been great so far because we can make our own schedule and actually get some sleep! I hope you guys are doing well! I come home in 40 days!! That is ridiculous, this trip is flying by!
Madrid was interesting, it was really similar to a lot of big cities that we have seen so that was kind of a let down. We did go to their "central park" which is a massive beautiful park in the middle of the city. It had street vendors and you could rent boats to row around the river. It was a beautiful place to see. While we were there we also got to see the Guernica, which is one of Pablo Picasso's most famous works. We also traveled to Sagovia Spain to see what small town Spain looks like. That city is what I pictured Spain to look like. We got to see the Aquaducts, which a national monument and runs the length of the city. Sagovia is known for their chocolate and churros, so we of course had to try some of those. It was really greasy and the chocolate was not sweet, like it is at home, I cannot imagine having it for breakfast.
The whole schedule of Spain is something to get used to. Breakfast is around 10, lunch places open around 1, and dinner places don't open until 8 or 9. That was definitely an adjustment.
Now that I am Barcelona I have walked Las Ramblas, seen the Mediterranean, gone to the site of the Olymics, gone to the Picasso museum, and seen the Sagrada Familia. I was definitely a tourist today, but it was awesome. Las Ramblas is ridiculous because there are so many people everywhere and you can tell they are all tourists. It cities like this that are known for tourism it is so funny to see Mcdonald's (with 4 floors), KFC (with 3 floors) and a Starbucks basically on every corner. You can definitely still get a taste of home when you are abroad.
Tomorrow we are going to see more Gaudi landmarks and do a little shopping! Free travel has been great so far because we can make our own schedule and actually get some sleep! I hope you guys are doing well! I come home in 40 days!! That is ridiculous, this trip is flying by!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Ireland
So we flew into Ireland and stayed in a little town called Gallway. We stayed in this hostel, that was the worst place we had stayed in by far. We had 4 people jammed into an area meant for one. Besides that we took a day trip to the cliffs of Mohr, which were the most beautiful things I have ever seen. We got there and they were breath taking, but you couldn't get very close so we jumped this rock wall and walked along the edge. you definitely were not supposed to do it, but the view was phenomenal. I could have sat there all day and just stared at the sea and the waves crashing against the cliffs.
The food in Ireland is awesome. It is definitely hearty, but I had shepherds pie and beef and guiness stew. They were both really good and definitely something I want to try and make myself. We left on Wednesday morning to go to Dublin, but I didn't get to see much of the city because we had a test to take. The only thing I did do in Dublin was go on a tour of Guinness. The tour was sweet, the building is 7 levels and in the shape of a pint! and apparently Arthur Guinness the founder was so confident in Guinness that he signed a 9000 year lease- I thought that was pretty interesting. (this year is 250)
Then this afternoon I left with two other girls on my trip for Madrid Spain. We got here late tonight so I haven't seen anything, but tomorrow we are doing a little shopping and then Sagovia, Spain. It will be a great trip!
The food in Ireland is awesome. It is definitely hearty, but I had shepherds pie and beef and guiness stew. They were both really good and definitely something I want to try and make myself. We left on Wednesday morning to go to Dublin, but I didn't get to see much of the city because we had a test to take. The only thing I did do in Dublin was go on a tour of Guinness. The tour was sweet, the building is 7 levels and in the shape of a pint! and apparently Arthur Guinness the founder was so confident in Guinness that he signed a 9000 year lease- I thought that was pretty interesting. (this year is 250)
Then this afternoon I left with two other girls on my trip for Madrid Spain. We got here late tonight so I haven't seen anything, but tomorrow we are doing a little shopping and then Sagovia, Spain. It will be a great trip!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Gallway, Ireland
So today I traveled by taxi to the airport, flew to Dublin Ireland, took a bus to the train station and then rode the train to Galway, Ireland. We finally got here and I am really excited. It is a really cute city right next to the ocean. We had class for a couple hours this afternoon and then we all went out to dinner. I had traditional Irish stew with mashed pototoes and vegtables. Of course it was marinated in Guinness! Tomorrow we are visiting some cliffs on the coast so that will be awesome and then on wednesday we leave to go stay in Dublin. On Thursday I leave for Spain, its a busy week!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
London and Scotland!
Ok, so I said I was going to blog more often, but then we didn't internet for a week and a half.
London was absolutely amazing!! It was such a blur, I saw so many historic things and 2 shows! I got to see Wicked and Les Miserables. They were both phenomenol! The shows were definitely a highlight from that trip, but I also saw the changing of the gaurds at Buckingham palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Trafalagars Square, and a lot of other things. We did so many things in the five days that we were there that I barely slept. While I was there we definitely had to read the street so it could tell us what direction we needed to look before crossing the street and the Tube told us all the time to "mind the gap!" It is so fun to just wander around a city with no plan, but just experiencing as much as we can!
On Thursday we had a 9 hour bus ride to Edinburgh. It was a really long day, but this city is amazing too. I like London a lot more, but every city we go to is cool in a new way! Here we have wandered around seeing the sites and exploring the city. I went to my first rugby yesterday, which was intense. These guys were massive and not afraid to hurt some people. Rugby is huge over here, so that was a lot of fun. We also went to the beach and got to see the North Sea. Everywhere we go we don't have enough time! It feels like we just got here and we are leaving in the morning for Dublin. Ireland is going to be amazing so I am very excited!!
I hope you guys are doing well, I heard there was a small group for raking this weekend!
London was absolutely amazing!! It was such a blur, I saw so many historic things and 2 shows! I got to see Wicked and Les Miserables. They were both phenomenol! The shows were definitely a highlight from that trip, but I also saw the changing of the gaurds at Buckingham palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Trafalagars Square, and a lot of other things. We did so many things in the five days that we were there that I barely slept. While I was there we definitely had to read the street so it could tell us what direction we needed to look before crossing the street and the Tube told us all the time to "mind the gap!" It is so fun to just wander around a city with no plan, but just experiencing as much as we can!
On Thursday we had a 9 hour bus ride to Edinburgh. It was a really long day, but this city is amazing too. I like London a lot more, but every city we go to is cool in a new way! Here we have wandered around seeing the sites and exploring the city. I went to my first rugby yesterday, which was intense. These guys were massive and not afraid to hurt some people. Rugby is huge over here, so that was a lot of fun. We also went to the beach and got to see the North Sea. Everywhere we go we don't have enough time! It feels like we just got here and we are leaving in the morning for Dublin. Ireland is going to be amazing so I am very excited!!
I hope you guys are doing well, I heard there was a small group for raking this weekend!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
I'm going to London!
Today I leave the Schloss and head off to London!! I am so excited! When we leave today we are moving around for the next 6 weeks, so it is going to be a long but amazing time! A couple of days ago I went back to the doctor and got rid of my boot! I am wearing shoes and back to normal. My foot doesn't hurt the majority of the time, it is more the fact that my calf needs to catch up with my other leg. I am so happy to be back to normal, I can't imagine being on crutches for these next 6 weeks.
The past few days we have not done much except for hang out in the castle. Mittersill, the town we are in is really small and the walk down is ridiculous so we just hang out here. This castle is amazing and I am really excited that we get to come back here before we go home.
In the next few weeks we are traveling on Ryan air which has ridiculous weight requirements, so I took my one bag I have for 4 months and took almost 20 pounds out of it. I am a pro at packing now and I can say now that I will want to burn all of my clothing by the time I get home!
I will keep you guys updated, now that I am moving around I will definitely have a lot to tell!
Kay
The past few days we have not done much except for hang out in the castle. Mittersill, the town we are in is really small and the walk down is ridiculous so we just hang out here. This castle is amazing and I am really excited that we get to come back here before we go home.
In the next few weeks we are traveling on Ryan air which has ridiculous weight requirements, so I took my one bag I have for 4 months and took almost 20 pounds out of it. I am a pro at packing now and I can say now that I will want to burn all of my clothing by the time I get home!
I will keep you guys updated, now that I am moving around I will definitely have a lot to tell!
Kay
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Slovenia
This past weekend I went to Slovenia. Slovenia is a former part of Yugoslavia and we went to the capital Ljubijana. It was a lot of travel time and it was cool to see another country, but it looked a lot like all the other cities I have been to. It was great, but if we would have traveled a little farther, we could have gone to Venice, which would have been sweet. Now that we are back from our trip, we are back to class at the Schloss. We have our normal routine of class in the morning and then homework in the afternoon. Last night was a little different though because a lot of people got up to watch the Vikings/ Packer game. I was not one of them because it started at 3 a.m our time, but I watched the highlights and it was an awesome game! Today during class we had a speaker talk to us about the history of the castle where we are living. I found our that people like Bing Crosby, Henry Ford, and Billy Graham have all stayed here. It was really cool to learn all the history of this amazing place that we are living in.
On Thursday I go back to the doctor and if my xray looks good, I get the boot off and I can wear 2 shoes again! It seems like such a little thing, but I am very excited about it!
On Thursday I go back to the doctor and if my xray looks good, I get the boot off and I can wear 2 shoes again! It seems like such a little thing, but I am very excited about it!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
I am trying to stay more updated with this thing! I am still in Austria, in the schloss (castle). It is so much fun being here. We have class in the morning and a ton of homework to do, but everyone just hangs out together all the time. I have discovered a new game, which I love, Banana grams! It is basically speed scrabble and I am definitely purchasing it when I get back. We entertain ourselves playing random games because there are no TV's and I can't go down into town unless my leader wants to drive me down. That part is very annoying, but mountain driving is scary. The roads are so skinny and with so many sharp turns, it is not fun. Not to mention that you are in a 15 passenger stick shift van and to get out of the castle we have to bring the mirrors in just to fit through! It is literally 2 inches on each side and it is one of those things where you close your eyes and pray you make it through!
Sorry this post isn't very exciting, but I wanted to give you something! This weekend I am going to Slovenia. I really have no idea what we are doing there or why we are going, but we are so it will be sweet! I don't know what Slovenia has to offer but I will find out this weekend!
Sorry this post isn't very exciting, but I wanted to give you something! This weekend I am going to Slovenia. I really have no idea what we are doing there or why we are going, but we are so it will be sweet! I don't know what Slovenia has to offer but I will find out this weekend!
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