Cape Cod

This past week, my dad had off from work, so we packed our bags and hopped in the car. We decided to go up to Cape Cod since it was a nice vacation spot close to Boston so we could pick up Mike along the way. Two of the friends that I made in Florence live in Cape Cod, but I unfortunately didn't see them due to the fact that I was with my family. The first couple of days were rainy, but the weather cleared up so we were able to walk around the storybook neighborhoods, look at the gingerbread houses on Martha's vineyard, and eat our weight in delicious home-made ice cream. The car ride up was cramped since it was the three of us stuck together in the back, but we made the best of it for the most part and had a relaxing week of sand and sun.

 

14th Arrondissement

Paris, Je T'aime - 14th Arrondissement

Passport To Paris

Hello Darlings,

With visions in my head of me flouncing through the side streets of Paris with baguettes and croissants, I went to the train station early in the morning, ready to begin my Parisian adventure. The one problem was that the train leaving to the airport that would get my there on time didn't leave because apparently the first train was at 5:00am instead of the 4:30am train I needed. And so, I missed my flight and had to pay for the next day flight. Instead of watching the Royal Wedding in my hostel, I watched back home in my apartment and moped about for the rest of the day. While I was super bummed and annoyed at the situation, I was so grateful to have friends come over for dinner and help cheer me up.

Macaroons

Peek-a-boo

Arc de Triumph

The Medici Fountain  in Luxembourg Gardens

Moulin Rouge

Outside the Louvre

The next morning, I made it to the airport as scheduled and was ready to head over to my most desired destination. What everyone says is true- the entire city is magical. I would turn a corner and catch my breath because I caught site of the tip of the Eiffel Tower. I continuously risked getting run over by cars while zig-zagging across the Champs-de-Elysee so I could snap the perfect picture of the  Arc de Triumph and I lost myself while wandering through the hills of Montmarte. Some highlights of the trip include seeing the sunset behind the Eiffel Tower while lounging on the grass, then watching the light show when it got dark. eating nutella crepes on the go, sitting at a cafe outside the Luxembourg Gardens and people watching, and browsing through souvenir shops.

Before I left the city to return to Florence, I was already planning my next trip back, preferably with a group of friends or a significant other as wandering through the magical city became quite lonesome at times. But no matter, as I fell ever so deep in love with the city.

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Thicker Than Water

Ciao Lovelies,

In front of my mom's old house in the Italian mountains

Over Easter weekend, I traveled to Emilia-Romagna to visit cousins I haven't seen since 2007 and relatives that I haven't seen since I was eight years old. I was most excited for this weekend and was planning it since February, using my mom to help me translate e-mails since my Italian is very broken and my cousin, who I am staying with, speaks broken English. Stepping off the train, I was excited and nervous. Two hours into the visit, I was exhausted; my brain literally hurt from trying to translate the Italian into English, comping up with a response and then translating it from English to Italian. I was also extremely overwhelmed knowing that even though I haven't seen or spoken to my relatives in years, I was a welcomed guest and treated like royalty. This weekend was one for the memory books.

The town where my relatives live

Only in Italy would you find fresh ravioli pasta in an ice cream freezer

I remember this from when I was eight year old!

Mom's house :)

The view outside my mom's old house

I'm sorry for all of the scenic pictures. The one above was the only picture that did not have family members in it.

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Croatian Craziness

Ciao Darlings,

This past weekend, the usual gang took a 12 hour bus ride through northern Italy, passed into Slovenia and arrived in the beautiful Split, Croatia! The weather was pretty chilly and not ideal for beach weather, but the city was filled with friendly locals, a brand new hostel, bustling markets and vendors (I bought so much fruit, some coral jewelery, and lavender satchels) and delicious seafood. The best part was that the kuno, the Croatian currency, was a lot cheaper than both the euro and the dollar so that everything was so much cheaper. I am both proud and ashamed to admit that myself and Christy were the only two champions who went to the evenings pub crawl and saw it through to the end.

Another fun part of any trip, especially this one, was the hostel. We stayed at Golly + Bossy which was a department store that was converted into a brand new hostel. It was so new that it was still being refurbished. The beds were not beds but pods, beds in the wall - I had a really difficult time climbing to the top bunk-pod. i met this cool kid who was literally backpacking through Europe through Help Exchange, a site where you can exchange work at farms, hostels, etc. in return for free accommodation. It's how kids these days are seeing the world.

Fish dish - including head and tail

Fresh strawberries and juicy kiwi

I bought some fresh smelling lavender fro myself and my mom

With a limited number of weeks left until I return home to New York, I'm starting to panic - I'm not ready to leave. I'm creating a bucket list of normal everyday things that I need to do while in Europe.  

Do you have any suggestions??

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Winning London

Ciao Darlings,

My last excursion that I went on was at my favorite city thus far: London. The beautiful weather was the cherry on the icing on the cake that was my amazing weekend. I was fortunate enough to stay with my good friend, Mary, and even got to spend a lot of quality time with Meg (my roommate from Binghamton.) The fact that they finally got to meet each other made was pretty cool too :) I got to spend four relaxing days in the city where I was able to explore the museums, wander through the various gardens, feast on a steak and ale pie, knock back pints of cider at British pubs, gaze in wonder at Big Ben, Parliament, and the Tower Bridge, buy tacky royal wedding souvenirs, and even catch a glimpse Mathew Fox as he was leaving the stage from his stint on the London stage (I was so starstruck, but managed to get his autograph!) The traveling was awful, but being on student budget, I found it necessary and worth it.

In Regents Park

In Hyde Park, among the tulips

Camden Market

Tower Bridge

Myself, Meg, and Mary bonding over pints of cider

Steak and Ale Pie with a side of Mashed Potatoes and Peas/Carrots

That's Mathew Fox!

While I traveled to London alone and did some sightseeing by myself, it was so nice to be welcomed by Mary and to hang out with Meg and Mary. I even made some new friends that attend Binghamton, so I might see them again in the fall!

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

A Grecian Spring Break

Cioa Darlings!

For me, spring break never meant crazy parties in Cancun or living it up at some balmy beach destination. Spring break meant sleeping in and eating cereal out of the box all day in front of the television. With stressful weeks during the normal semesters, I always looked forward to spring break as my chance to unwind and relax. This year, however, spring break saw me on a Grecian getaway on the beautiful island of Corfu and the historical mainland of Athens.

The island of Corfu

Corfu is a small island that is surrounded by an incredible view of the beaches and the mountains. Looking out from our hostel, the ocean literally spans out until it touches the horizon - you can only imagine how breathtaking the sunsets were. We stayed at the obnoxiously tacking, and so much fun hostel, The Pink Palace, where, I kid you not, everything was pink from the pepto bismal colored walls to the souveniers, to the cocktails specials. The first day was a travel day so we just settled into our rooms and walked along the beach after dinner. On the second day, I went on an ATV Safari where I got to drive around the mountains with the group on a four wheeler. The scenery looked like it was taken straight out of a children's storybook. That night was the famous Pink Palance Pink Toga party where everyone dressed up in pink togas. We saw traditional Greek dancing, got shots of the famous Greek drink, Ozoo, got plates smashed across our heads, and danced the night away. On the third and final day, I went into Corfu town and did some shopping and explored the quaint little town. We left for Athens after dinner was over.

A small part of the Pink Palace!

The ATV Safari Ride

Overlooking the island on a high mountian

Pink Toga Party!

The Greek Dancers

Smashed dish remains on the floor

 

In Corfu Town

We traveled throughout the night from Corfu to Athens and checked into our hostel early in the morning. I took a quick nap and woke up in time for the guided walking tour where we explored amazing sights such as the Parliament, the National Gardens, saw the National Guards, the 1894 orginal Olympic Stadium, The Temple of Zeus, and the stunning Acropolis where the Parthenon and the Temple of Athena once majestically stood until it was destroyed into barely there ruins. Little fact: every city has an acropolis as it is the highest point of any city, but the term is most associated with Athens, Greece. After the walking tour ended, we shopped around a bit in the markets, grabbed dinner, and called it an early night. The next day, the group set out for a small island off the coast of Athens, Agina, where we explored the small town, climbed the ruins, and walked along the beach. It was a full day event so by the time we got back to the hostel, we called it a night. The next morning was an extremely early one, because I wanted to see the 2004 Olympic Stadium and the Acropolis Museum. The Olympic Staidum was awesome but I was disappointed with how dirty it became with all of the grafetti and the garbage spilling over. The Acropolis Museum was quick and small, but filed with the amazing artifacts and statues that once decorated the Parthenon in the Acropolis.

Remains from The Temple of Zeus

The Temple of Athena - You can see some of Athens in the background

Atop the Acropolis

Approaching the town of Agina

Besides the painful, long, and extremely exhausting journey to and from Greece, (it was literally from bus to boat, to ferry, to bus for hours) the destinations were relaxing, fun, and informative. The food was absolutelt delicious and I made it a point to try all of the Greek delicacies including cheap 2 Euro lamb gyros, Greek salad with feta cheese, and lots of tzetzeki sauce.

Next up on the agenda is London, one of the cities that I have been most excited to see since I can remember!

Eternally yours,

Stephanie