Day 118: These are a Few of my Favorite Things

Going to Austria & Prague, it's only appropriate that I have this song start off my blog post...

Friday December 6th:

Friday morning after a 13.5 hour bus ride, we had arrived in Vienna, Austria. Our bus arrived by 7:30am so we got a quick nap in before we left for our city tour at 9am.

One of my favorite moments right off the bat was coming to the top of the escalator from the Metro, getting outside in front of the main cathedral and getting SNOWED ON. Winter was here for really reals. Here are some of my photos from our tour:

Window Display made completely of Sugar. 

After what seemed like a century long walking tour in the cold, our group decided on an Austrian restaurant for lunch where we warmed up with green tea and pumpkin soup of all things. From there we headed back to the hostel for another nap then met up for our Schnapps tour.

The Schnapps tour was one of the highlights of our trip for sure. Daniela, Danielle and I went and had a blast learning about Schnapps making and, yes, drinking it. This was our kind of tour: inside, warm, our tour lady was funny and to the point, and it ended in free alcohol. :)

We ended up going to dinner with our tour group at a traditional brewery type restaurant where Daniela and I shared Wiener Schnitzel and Pommes (french fries) and Beer.

Then....ROUND 1 of XMAS MARKETS

Saturday December 7th:

Saturday started with the morning tour of the Schobrunn Palace, where the parents of Marie Antoinette lived. We bucked up and paid the 8 Euros to go inside and really really enjoyed it. The palace is seen as the runner up to Versailles, and had beautiful gardens and Christmas Markets.

By noon we were back on the bus to go to Salzburg! We got to watch The Sound of Music on the way there which resulted in us getting the lyrics stuck up in our head for the next 10 days... 

But, it was a pretty surreal feeling to be watching Julie Andrews and the rest of the Sound of Music cast at all of the sites we would hit on our tour, while looking out the windows at the Austrian Alps. I have watched Sound of Music since I was a little kid and it was a very Disneyland experience to see it in real life in a way. 

We got there and checked in then made it to the XMAS MARKETS. These ones were my favorites. 

And the fun wasn't over yet... we went to the Augustiner Beer Hall for steins after the Christmas markets. We found it really by chance, we got separated from our group waiting for our other friends and thought we were totally lost. The only thing that marks the Augustiner is the oval sign outside the door of what looks like a residence building. Once you go inside, down the stairs and around the corner, you get to the beer hall which looks just like Oktoberfest. Such a hidden gem. You actually have to wash your stein in what looks like a baptismal font before you pay for it and get it filled up at the steins. And the best part? Only 6Euros. 

And we got to see this magic happen on the way home:

Sunday December 8th:

Sunday was the highly anticipated Sound of Music Tour.

Mirabell Gardens from the Doe-Ray-Mi Scene:

The Lake from the movie:

Von Trapp Family Palace

In between the stops, we listened to the soundtrack from the movie and the whole bus full of us girls sang along to the lyrics. I looked over at Daniela and Danielle and the rest of the girls and we all busted out giggling. That was one of my favorite moments. 

We polished off our time in Salzburg with some real Austrian Apple Strudel to-go and made it back to the bus for the 13.5 hour ride back to Rome. 

Monday December 9th:

We got in to Rome at 3am and back to our apartment by 3:30. Both Danielle and I crashed and slept in til 11:30 or so. Afterwards we went to the grocery store, and the ATM. Just after that I exchanged my last 91 euros for 2500ish czech crowns with a friend who had been visiting there the weekend before me. My flight to Prague was at 7:25 so I left my apartment around 3:30 because I wanted to take the bus to the train to the airport to save some extra cash.

Travel vent: take the bus all the way to Termini and realize that the kiosks that I usually use to buy a ticket take only debit cards and cash and I needed to use the credit card. So I had to take a number for the ticket desk line. #B753. They were currently calling #B712. I waited for an hour at least.... I thought for sure I was going to miss my flight. Finally I got up to the desk, bought my ticket and had to wait at the train platform for another 20 mins. Once I got to the airport, I busted my butt to get to the right terminal and check in desk. (Oh by the way, Smart Wingz as a desk doesn't exist. But is listed under czech airlines). Got my bording pass printed, buzzed through secuirty, and hustled all the way up the escalator to get to my gate on time just to find that I was only the 4th person there....ksjdfansdvnaifdjauhaijdfkjkfjahglkaunsdkj. Early. Better than late I guess. The trade off was that I got the whole row to myself on the flight and took a great nap.

Landed in Prague around 9pm and Porter was there waiting for me at my arrival gate. The first thing on the to do list was Mexican Food, which is surprisingly amazing in Prague.

Spinach Chicken Quesadilla, Chips and Salsa, Margarita on the rocks.

Tuesday December 10th:

Started off the day with AVOCADOS and scrambled eggs...probably my favorite breakfast ever...

Then Porter had a final, so I hung out, caught up on my TV shows (Scandal and Revenge) and read a book. When she got back we went exploring at the Prague "castle," the John Lennon wall, and the St. Charles Bridge.

That night we made the great choice of going to Noi for Thai food where we had the best spring rolls and curry/pad thai in a loooooong time. Later that night we stayed in and watched No Strings Attached and relaxed.

Wednesday December 11th:

More sight seeing and XMAS markets:

Frank Gehry Building

Hot Apple Cider

What I loved about Prague was how fairy tale like it was. Everything is super decked out for Christmas which made me even more excited to go home.

On the way back to her house, we stopped at a Restaurant called the Bake Shop which looked like it could have been in the middle of LA. I made, yet again, another great food choice:

Tomato and Goat Cheese Quiche

We went back, napped, then decided instead of going out to dinner we could eat leftovers in our pajamas and make cookies and drink wine. We had to get a little creative with the cookie making...but ended up using her roommates ingredients to make pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting and chocolate. We put on the John Mayer, baked, and talked about how excited we were to go home. I loved that.

Thursday December 12th: 

Thursday morning I headed back to Rome for the last time. Pretty surreal feeling, but I definitely won't miss budget airline flights. Got back to our house in Rome around 12:30 and Danielle and I went to Dar Poeta one more time. That pizza never gets old. Napped again. Packed more. My suitcase is absolutely over 50lbs. I'm betting on 67....I'll let you know when I get to the airport.

We cooked up more of our food, packed more, blogging obvi, and vegged out again.

Friday December 13th: LAST DAY IN ROME

So many good memories but blogging is the thorn in my side. I wish I had spent more time journaling or taking video or something but then again I've got it all in the noggin. I am really excited for Rachel and Ali to come home this evening and party with them one last night in Rome.

I really feel like I should be doing something grand and memorable for our last day but there isn't anything I can think of doing. Other than an all out night at the infamous GBar tonight, there are no plans on the agenda today, which is really nice.

Cin Cin Roma! We had a great run at it!

Devotissimo Suo,

M

Day 109: Paris is Always a Good Idea

Wednesday November 27th:

Wednesday morning all the roommates and I stayed in and got a good amount of homework done while we jammed out to all kinds of music.

Wednesday afternoon consisted of Italian class and being freezing cold at the bus stop.
The colder it gets out, the more I am looking forward to being in San Diego.

Thursday November 28th: THANKSGIVING IN PARIS

Thursday morning was another early wake up call to go to the airport for my flight to Paris. As soon as I got in to the city, Vini, Georgia and I went to their Art History field trip at the Rodin Museum:

Burghers of Calais

Gates of Hell

The Thinker and the Eiffel Tower

Rodin's the Thinker

From there we went to Laduree to get a world famous macaroon. I got a Rose Petal flavored one. 

After Laduree, we went grocery shopping and got our version of a european-study-abroad-thanksgiving dinner. I bought apples, Brie, a baguette, pasta, and for dessert, our little indulgence: Oreos.

After our mini feast, we went to The Mazet, an english bar across town where this guys plays acoustic versions of pop and rap songs which was super, super awesome. 

On the walk home, we got the best drunchies of all time: Savory Crepes. Mine had cheese, mexican cheese and 'samurai sauce.' Heaven. 

As I missed Thanksgiving with my family this year for the first time ever in my whole life, I do want to take the time to think of what I am thankful for:

Today I am thankful for....

...a family that is healthy, supportive, loving and kind

...friends that have showed me how to grow up and be a little kid all at the same time

...my experience abroad and all of the oppotunities my education has afforded me

...traveling abroad to countries I never imagined I would go to 

...Rome and its gentle push I needed to get me out of my comfort zone

...and San Diego, which to me means sunshine, my doggies, the ocean and my beloved mexican food.

There, I did it. 

Alright, alright I'll stop. 

Friday November 29th: BLACK FRIDAY

Friday morning we slept in and eventually made way to go shopping on Black Friday (which in essence doesn't really exist in Europe at all, but oh well).

Shopping? Check.
French Onion Soup in France? Check.
Another Macaroon? Check. Caramel flavor this time from Pierre Herme.

Panorama from the top of Galereies Lafayette

French Onion Soup! Which was actually horrible.

Friday afternoon Vini had to work so I stayed in and took a glorious nap. After that we made another makeshift dinner of apples and brie then made way to the Hunger Games movie at the movie theater near the Opera House. 

HUNGER GAMES WAS SO GOOD! Even with the annoying French subtitles. And, my entire family was seeing the movie at almost the exact same time in the States, which was a cool coincidence. 

Saturday November 30th:

Saturday morning Vini and I went to Cafe Angelina's for their world famous hot chocolate and a croissant. The half hour wait was well worth it. And the hot chocolate was so rich, it took us about an hour to finish one cup. Yum yum yum.

From there we went to the Orsay Museum which I absolutely loved. The Orsay is actually a converted train station and exhibits a ton of French expressionist painting and Neoclassical sculpture. I loved seeing the Van Goghs, Monets, and Talouse- Lautrec's.

From there, we made way to the Notre Dame (where my camera died). But not without stopping to take pictures at the Love Lock bridge and the Louvre.

Then Vini and I took a stroll through the Latin Quarter, where I got another savory crepe. This time cheese, onion and tomato that was SO STINKING GOOD. 

On our walk back to their apartment we totally had a moment. The sun was setting, and a live street performer was playing/singing Falling Slowly. Vini and I took a minute to listen and take it all in. I can only describe our experience as the epitome of study abroad... being in a foreign country, looking back the the Siene, the Notre Dame, Paris with your best friend as the sun sets. We both realized that the sun is figuratively setting on our experience abroad which is very, very sad. Like we could have cried at the drop of a hat...Not to mention that all of the couples around us were being sickening-ly romantic... Kill me. 

Saturday night we decided to live it up Paris style at a night club followed by, you guessed it, savory crepes. But not without a nighttime visit to the sparkling Eiffel Tower.

Sunday December 1st:

FIRST DAY OF DECEMBER!!

Sunday morning? Parisian Christmas markets.
Sunday day all the way til 9pm? travel back to Rome.
Metro to metro to train to plane to train to bus to home. yuck.

Monday December 2nd:

My only class was Italian at 4pm. The rest of the day consisted of studying for finals.

Tuesday December 3rd:

Art History final: 8 essays long. My hand felt broken after.

Food & Wine final: written test where I really should have just written this out instead of what I actually wrote on my test...

Tomorrow is the LAST DAY OF FINALS AND LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!!

 SO CRAZY.

I have both Italian and New Testament finals tomorrow so send me your positive thoughts. After that, its smooth sailing vacation time all the way until I return stateside!!! 

VIENNA and SALZBURG ON THURSDAY. PRAGUE ON MONDAY!

Devotissimo Suo,

M