Roma Part 1

Saturday we made our way to Rome. Our hostel was really close to the train station, granted none of us were leaving Rome via train, but oh well. We just so happened to be in Rome during cultural week so most everything in the city was going to be free! 

We decided to make our way to the Trevi Fountain. We of course threw coins into the fountain to ensure our return. Whitney and Dawn threw 2 more in each in hopes of getting an Italian Romance and a marriage to that Italian romance. 

 Next we made our way around the corner to the Spanish steps. We walked up to the top where there are annoying merchants stuffing roses into your hands then demanding money. Oh, Italy.

 For dinner we found a nice little restaurant where I tried gnocci for the first time. It's really delicious. It's a potato dumpling dish. This had a zucchini cream sauce. Oh, it was really good!

 
The next day we got up and went to the colosseum. We had to wait in line for a long time and there were about 8 million tourists. Get up and be there at 8am if you're going to go to beat the rush. We were there by 8 and it was a mad house. It was cool though. Our ticket to the colosseum also got us into the Roman forum which was pretty cool too.

Florence

We arrived in Florence Friday the 13th. We managed to find our hostel pretty easily. It turned out to be really nice. It was a private room. The weather was rather warm when we arrived so I shed some layers. That turned out to be a mistake.

We began walking towards the Basilica and it became really cold really fast. We waited in line for 20-30 minutes to get inside the basilica. It was really pretty.

Then of course we had to stop for more gelato. Yogurt and berries this time. SO. GOOD.

We made our way to the Academia building where Michelangelo's David is house. Oh my. It was the most stunning thing I have ever seen. I literally gasped when I saw it. So, so spectacular. He is so tall. I didn't except him to be so tall. And so detailed. Truly amazing. I would return to Florence just to see David again. Photos are, of course, strictly forbidden. (There's a sneaky iPhone photo on my Facebook, don't tell.)

 (this is not the real David in the background, merely a replica)

Then we just walked along the river a bit. Florence is beautiful. I wish the weather would have been nicer. 

The next morning before getting on our train to Rome, we hiked (with all our belongings) to the top of the Piazzale di Michelangelo which holds on of the most fantastic views of Florence. It was breathtaking despite the rain.

Venice, Italy

Wednesday morning Whitney and I got up and headed to Venice, leaving Larissa and Loviisa in Nice to see their respective parents.

The trip to Venice was pretty long, but I had Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince on audiobook, so it gave me something to listen to. When we finally arrived in Venice around 5pm we got on a water bus service to the island where our hostel was located. Water transportation was something I had to get used to. We made it to our hostel, a really big place with loads of people, but it really wasn't very nice. There was never any hot water which made for a fun 2 nights. But it was the cheapest option

We met up with Whitney's friend Dawn there who would be accompanying us throughout our trip in Italy.  For dinner that night we went to a pizza place down the street where we got a slice of pizza for 3 euro.

We had one full day to see Venice and we decided to just walk around. In Venice on the island of Murano there is a glass blowing factory. We watched them blow glass for a bit and of course couldnt resist getting some souvenirs!

Then we went to the main island and just wondered. It is a really beautiful city, despite the dirtiness that is Italy.

I had my first gelato. Delicious. Cookies and chocolate chop. A delicious combination.

For dinner we stopped in at a little restaurant that we found. I got spaghetti and tiramisu for dessert. Really, really good. The serving was just my size too since it was technically a first course. Chris would have wondered where the rest of it was, but I was satisfied. :)

Over all a really great day in Venice. I loved it and thought it was beautiful. I don't know if it would be top on my list to go back to if I returned to Italy, but it was really great!

Nice

We arrived in Nice Tuesday night around 5pm. Nice was not very nice, unfortunately. It was raining, but I only had that night there so I went to the beach in the rain. How many opportunities does one have to see the Mediterranean Sea? Not many.

 Unfortunately it wasn't a very eventful time in Nice due to the rain. But it was still fun just hanging out. We braided hair and talked. Loviisa gives great advice because she's Finnish and the Fins are remarkably smart people. She makes me laugh quite a lot. Some of the best memories from the holiday aren't spent at the remarkable sights but rather just being giggley girls in a hotel room.

Marseilles

Monday morning we got up and took an hour and half long train into Marseilles. Our hostel was a little bizarre, but nice. We walked in and began speaking French (because, well, it's France) and a British guy (who held an uncanny resemblance to my friend Casey) said, "oh, I don't speak French. You speak English right?" Bienvenu à Marseilles.

We walked around the old port which was pretty close to our  hotel and took a 7 euro train tour of the city which led us up to the top of Notre Dame de la Garde which holds one of the most amazing views of the city.

Around dinner time we walked along the pier and shopped at some street vendors. Listen, I couldn't resist. I ended up with quite a lot of souvenirs including a really cute baby sailor themed beret. For what baby you ask? I haven't a clue, but when you see a tiny cute beret in France it's hard to pass up.

For dinner we found an American restaurant the featured buffalo burgers, buffalo meat imported straight from the USA and Canada. How do you say no to that? Listen, you're in France- say no to that. It wasn't terrible by any means, but it wasn't spectacular either. But oh well

Marseilles was really great. We had heard that it was a sketchy, dirty city but I really didn't think so. It's really quite pretty and I'd return again if I ever have the chance.

Nîmes, Southern France

I stared my two week holiday by getting on a train with Larissa, Loviisa and Whitney at 7am to go to Nimes. It's a small Roman city in southern France. The train ride in and of itself was enough excitement for the whole 2 weeks. For starters, the train was only 1 car long with no assigned seats. It was a 5 hour train ride to Nimes and there were people standing the whole time. Luckily, we managed to find seats. Then about halfway through the train ride some lady passed out. Her family starts freaking out and they sprawl her out on the floor of the train and yell for the conductor to stop. Apparently, she had been smoking weed and drinking beer prior to the train ride. Anyway, we were delayed for about an hour while waiting for the paramedics to arrive and haul the lady out of there. She was breathing and everything, but it was a semi scary and bizarre situation.

We finally made it to Nimes though. We stayed in a little hotel with a TV and a bathtub, so that was a great start to the holiday!

We saw a colosseum in Nimes that was built in 2AD. It is better preserved than the colosseum in Rome and it is still used today for bull fights.

We also just walked around the city and found a really pretty garden!

 This church was right outside our hotel! How pretty!

We spent Easter Sunday in Nîmes so we went to Easter Mass. It was really cool! It was all in French, bien sûr, but I know enough French and enough Bible to know what was going on.

Nimes was really a great city! I'd definitely recommend going! 

Bon Anniversaire!

Bonjour! I just returned from my 2 week holiday!

I'll start my holiday blogs with the end of the trip because it ended today, on my 20th birthday!

Last night Larissa, Loviisa, Whitney and I met up with my friend Alexandre in Paris for dinner. We had a lovely evening talking about the French presidential election (which it taking place tomorrow). Then we went out for drinks. By the time we got home it was just before midnight. My friends and I popped open a bottle of champagne at midnight and toasted to my birthday!

This morning we got up and went to the Eiffel Tower and had nutella, banana crepes for breakfast. Perfect, perfect morning.

It has been such a great birthday! I am so lucky!

Les Vacances d'Avril

Tomorrow starts my 2 week holiday!! Larissa, Loviisa, Whitney and I are spending 2 days in Nimes, a day in Marseilles, and a day in Nice. Then Whitney and I are going to Venice for 2 days, Florence for a day and Rome for 3 days. Then I'm going to Paris for 4 days and meeting with Larissa and Loviisa. I'll even get to spend part of my birthday in Paris!

There are only 8 weeks left in my study abroad. I can't believe how fast it's going!

How time flies.

Last night, Loviisa, Larissa and I were sitting in Larissa's room chit-chatting and listening to music when "I'm not a girl, not yet a woman" by Britney Spears came on. Larissa and I just start laughing.

On our 3rd or 4th night in Clermont, we had no internet access, we didn't know where anything was, it was after 8 so everything was closed anyway, and we were just feeling really homesick. Suddenly, Larissa remembers she has the movie Crossroads featuring Britney Spears on her iTunes. We sit together and watch this movie, crying silently to ourselves, and bond.

So when this song comes on last night (it was written for the movie) we can't help but recall that pathetic night when our friendship blossomed. Despite knowing each other for 5 days, we were best friends after that movie.

It seems so long ago that we arrived in the foreign city and were so lost, and homesick and unfamiliar to each other even. Now we can navigate the tram system, people at the grocery stores recognize us, we know exactly how much un sandwich au jambon et fromage and a macaroon costs for lunch, know to get your grocery shopping done on Saturday because everything is closed on Sunday. We've made a new little family here in Clermont and we only have 2 months left together.

Time flies here. Make the most of everyday.