"Oh Europe..." was probably the most common phrase I have used while being abroad. I would use this statement when seeing or doing things I would ONLY do in Europe, such as pay a Euro to use the bathroom, going for days on end without showers and using facial pads to cleanse myself, city/country hopping is a regular event, and spending ridiculous amounts of money on the journey of a lifetime. I realize I am not home yet, but seeing as I am now under the 24hr mark, I feel that it is a fitting time to write this.
All of the things I will do in my first week I get home:
-Drink a gallon of milk...per day. Anyone who has talked to me knows this has slowly been killing me over here
-Snuggle with my puppy dog every night
-Take a shower and feel CLEAN on average of 3 times a day...not a week!
-Sprawl on a bed bigger than me/ enjoy my own room
-Eat a million veggies...well just a healthy diet for that matter as I feel my body detiorating
-PEDICURE! my feet...well let's just say I will not post a picture...so you know they are bad considering my tooth photo :)
-Call friends via iphone..and not google voice
- The dollar exchange rate is 100%..that will be good for the head (and bank account!)
- (Dare I say) bring on a normal lifestyle... and start my summer internship!
Things I will miss/cherish:
- Hopping a plane to a different country every weekend
- My friends I have made both in Sevilla and while exploring
- My roommate Lauren who I could not have survived this journey without
- My wonderful host family!!!
- ALL European food...namely gelato
- Adventure upon adventure
- Never knowing what comes next
This past semester has been an adventure of a lifetime. Although I have said it many times, my parents are my rock and I would not have been here if it weren't for them. Their continuing support for me to take on my dreams and letting me live a limitless life has allowed me to experience some things most kids will never get to do, and for that I will always be grateful. ACtually, I would like to thank ALL of my family who has been so great and been keeping up with my life (basically, you who are reading this right now :) ) It means the world to me that you have takes time from your day to see what crazy things I have been encountering over here. All my friends who have supported me and talked to me and been updating me on Janesville/WI/Purdue stories, I am so grateful. I have learned many things over here, and one of the most important things is that I have truly wonderful friends to come back to at home.
Another really important thing that I have learned is to take what life throws at you, and just roll with it. When telling my mom some of my horror stories from over here she just says "When life gives you lemons..." to which I replied half the time "Screw the lemons!" But honestly, without a sense of adventure and openness, a life abroad would be quite miserable. I learned to take on this attitude my first trip (solo!) and relearned it again each trip with different friends.
I just got to end this excursion with some best friends from home, Abby Geiger and Ashlea SAvona. We took on Barcelona (AND Molins de Rei... only they will appreciate that), Italy, and Greece. We had the time of our lives, took wayyy too many pictures and ate WAYY too much food, and loved every second of it! It was the perfect end to a truly incredible semester.
This is just a jist of all the things that have popped into my head and I know I am leaving out a lot, but these are my feelings going into my last day in Sevilla. I am about to finish packing and take a long walk through this city one last time. Am I ready to go home? AFter two weeks of nonstop traveling and very little sleep which has left me sick, yes, I am ready. I already had my last night with all of my Sevillana friends who are now home, and I can hear my bed calling my name all the way from Janesville. It has been the ride of a lifetime, and there is no better word to describe the emotion I am feeling right now as bittersweet. Goodbye to a journey which has changed me for the better, see you later to all of my best friends from Sevilla, and hello Summer, 2011.
For the last time,
Peace, Amor, Espana
Ana
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
London was Bloody Brilliant!
One of the thousand perks of studying abroad in Sevilla in the spring semester is the fact that we get two week-long spring breaks! The first one was spent with the fam (will blog about lateR) and this past week I was in London, baby!!!! I was there about 10 years ago and for some reason held it on the highest pedestal, and after spending the last week there it is confirmed, London is my most favorite city in the entire world (after ski towns that is!) The longest I have spent in one city until this past week was 2 days, and a week was not enough time for this city if that says anything at all. Like all of my travels there were mishaps but nothing keeps me from loving that crazy British town!!!
In order to catch a 6am flight on Friday morning, we had to leave on a 6pm bus from Sevilla and sleep in the airport... or scratch the sleeping part and play soccer in the airport using a ball of socks as a ball and trolleys for our goal posts. We played in our socks and we ALL charlie-browned it a few times but we definitely had an audience at 4am and a workout as well. Come 8am with a time change and no sleep the soccer game kind of bit us in the you know where, but after our bus ride into London we were completely revived with energy. Despite the fact it was only 9am or so, it was April 29, 2011, the ROYAL WEDDING! I would just like to state for the record that this trip was the FIRST trip I booked solely for the wedding -- I have always loved everything about it from Princess Di (did a research paper on her), the Camilla scandal, the makeups and breakups of Kate and Will, and OF COURSE Prince Harry. AGAIN ask my second family, the Geigers, just how obsessed I Was with him our first go-round in London, and my feelings have not dissipated in the slightest. So for me to be in the city where history was being made, well let's just say I had a sheepish grin on my face all day. I also felt like a tour guide leading our group and informing them of the wedding details ( I had done some research!)
We were debating whether or not to go to the hostel to drop our bags off or just go watch the wedding, and we decided to choose the later. So we trekked through the immensely crowded streets with our bags and we went to Trafalgar Square, advised by a nice couple on the street. Although it was already WAYYY crowded when we got there, we made it in time to hear cheers and shouts of joy as the rings/vows were exchanged!! I had goosebumps watching it and listening to everyone cheer -- a true sign of national pride and genuine happiness for the royal couple; finally some joyful news to celebrate about.
The flags we saw everywhere!
The crew celebrating the wedding
Trafalgar Square
Everyone went nuts for this!
So many random people/signs!
We met some people at the square and they wanted to try and get closer to the action, so we followed them. We were able to stand on a fence overlooking Green Park in front of Buckingham, but couldn't really see anything, so we went to Hyde Park ( kind of like NY Central Park) where we watched the wedding with 300,000 people. Like I said, everyone was celebrating the momentous occasion and was in a great mood -- it was like the world's largest picnic!! We met some great people next to us and even met the most adorable 8year old ever and everyone sang to her!! They gave us free pizza and cookies and after the wedding everyone sang the song "I don't want to miss a thing" by Armageddon and it was an absolute blast. We stayed there for the entire afternoon just taking it all in. The coolest part of the day was seeing "THE KISS" (COME ON WILL! act like you love her .. am I right?? You did just marry the most gorgeous girl to walk the planet!)
Before their first kiss
Only a small portion of people that were at the park
Abbey and I at the entrance to Hyde Park !
After that the airplanes flew over Buckingham to..you guessed it..Hyde Park! Everyone was silent and then erupted into applause and it was another spectacular event I'll never forget. The after party for their reception was so fun in the park and everyone was talking like they knew the happy couple, me included! But after pizza and a few drinks the fatigue began to set in so we had to go find our hostels and take a nap.
Once we were rejuvinated, we decided to walk down to Buckingham at night since we knew the Reception was taking place. It was so cool to stand literally feet away from the wedding of a century. We even saw them open the gates and let a car out -- I like to think it was the Beckhams leaving; hey, a girl can only dream!
Us outside of Buckingham during the reception
Due to the wedding the streets were closed off ... so naturally we had to do what only few people can say they've done!
Everyone was doing it...
We went to see Westminster Abbey while they were clearing out the church from the big day. After walking around downtown and taking it all in one last time, we went home for some much needed sleep.
We woke up, ate breakfast, just your ordinary day. Well, you blog readers tend to know how my vacations go -- always amazing, always a mishap. This trip took its turn for the worse rather early in the week when I was brushing my teeth. I looked up in the mirror (VIEWER DISCREITON ADVISED .. I realize I am posting the world's worst blackmail for myself BUT here .. enjoy yourself)..this is what I saw...
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? At least I was in an English speaking country, and to be entirely honest everyone, including the dentist, were so great. Although I did miss out on a few things later that day, at least I regained my smile. The worst part? I had to live with that embarrassing thing for 6 hours and YOU try to not smile in a ton of pictures .. not so easy. Anyways on with the more interesting things. First stop: Harrods! The largest most insanely awesome store I have ever been in! You name it, they have it, and everything is ridicusously expensive. I picked out a few things for my new house:
Harrods!
Glass pigs, only 75,000 pounds, but aren't they adorable? (my favorite animal=pig)
Every little girl in Harrods was in heaven!
Harrods bear (haha also the start of my nonsmiling pictures!)
They had a million cakes for the royal wedding..this was just one of them
After Harrods our whole group when on a walking tour around the city. We got fun facts about the royal family, the buildings, and tidbits about the city as well. Below are my favorite sites of the day (besides looking at all of the cute English men .. which I purposely did not take pictures of .. shoot, guess I will have to go back!) The thing I hope you can take from these pictures is the modern beauty of a city that was built so long ago. There is SO much to see and do in London, and I think the reason I thoroughly enjoyed seeing (almost) all of it was that the history in each building in park had sentimental value; it really makes me wish that the US had more day to day beauty in its cities like London (and jeesh, every city in Europe!)
Arch of Wellington : built for the duke of Wellington who apparently was known for his large nose and pretty much despised for everything he did
outside Prince Harry's house :)
crew at Trafalgar Square (where we watched first part of wedding)
Lauren (roomie) and I at beginning of promenade leading to Buckingham
After the tour it was only mandatory to get fish and chips. After that we parted ways: the gang to hit up the London Eye (big ferris wheel) and me to get 5 shots in my mouth and a new tooth .. which sounds better? Fortunately I have already ridden the London Eye but still, I could have imagined 1000 things cooler to do than the dentist..but hey, a cultural experience, right? Sure, an expensive one!
view from St. James park looking at the palace
Big Ben and Parliment
Harry Potter anyone?
AFter an eventful day and some Pimms (sangria), well we were forced to call it a night since the pub closed at 11:30pm and we were given plastic cups " to go" and dump the remainder of our drink in. OKAY London -- whatever!! We took it on the metro and we were off!
Next day: (lucky you, I was there so many days and have SO many great memories to share). We had a VERY busy day. First up, mass at Westminster! Very cool experience -- knowing Kate Middleton had walked down the very aisle that I was seated in front of two days prior (I know -- very reminiscant of me but like I have said I was in my own fantasy world in London) was just surreal. Took a few pictures (although AGAIN was yelled at .. come on, I couldn't resist!) Not only did we get to attend a mass but to listen to the choir (IN ENGLISH!) was also incredible.
Inside Westminster Abbey
Kate Middleton's wedding bouquet on top of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier inside the Abbey
St. James Garden
Next we went to visit the TRUE London Bridge, just your every day to day bridge!! It was FREEZING but we crossed it!! After that we saw Tower Bridge (what you picture the London Bridge to be) and after that the Tower of London where they keep the crown jewels.
Outside Tower of London
Later we visited the Palace again for changing of the guard -- boring but a must see I suppose! A band marches in with all those guys in the sweet hats and it is a huge process just to change the guard outside of the palace. Then we went walking around the parks again and they are just so spacious and gorgeous you really can't get enough (okay, that is a lie because literally the pollen was floating into my eyes, but that's managable).
Changing of the Guard
Me in front of Tower Bridge
That night we went to see The Lion King on Broadway and it was fabulous!!!
The next day we went to Cambridge University which has about 7 separate colleges, each of which are on the water, River Cam. How to see them all effectively? Do as the English do -- Punting! It is like a gondola but a guy has a big stick (called a Pole, I asked, how unoriginal huh?) and we got to go up and down the river to see the college which was beautiful! Prince Charles went there and had also donated several millions. It was a beautiful little town and we had a lot of fun exploring for the day!
Me overlooking the river Cam before punting
Punting!
Outside church at CAmbridge U
summersaults outside on the lawn that we definitely were not supposed to be on ... clearly we are unqualified candidates of this school, but we have sweatshirts to make people think otherwise!
Camden Market -- serious shopping and eating took place here. What an experience! This took flea markets to a whole new level. And the chinese/indian restuarants were practically shoveling free samples into your mouth. We would take some chicken and still be chewing while we were getting another -- and who says there is no such thing as a free lunch?! Clearly they had never visited Camden Markets before
Abbey Road -- The Beatles ring a bell? Almost got killed two times trying to cross this, we figured the locals most loathe this tourist trap!
Finally, our last night we saw All is Well that Ends Well -- a Shakespeare play in Globe Theater itself. Did we understand it all? No -- but itwas an experience and we had great seats to boot! The next day we had a big picnic in the park and it ended on a perfect note, well, almost.
I swear I have spent the most time blogging about travel mishaps but with me there is ALWAYS one. We get to the airport to find our plane is delayed 20min. No biggy except that we had a 6hr bus ride to catch. Super long story short, me and some friends had to sprint through Madrid airport at 11pm to catch metros to run to bus station to watch our bus drive away in front of us... to them this and the 20 extra euros and extra hour waited was devastating. Me? I WAS REJOICING! That was it? Come on ... I was half expecting the bus to roll over on the way home because that was just too simple! That was the worst of the 9 I traveled with that they endured...and you better believe I received all the blame... I have learned to take it with pride. All in all London still remains my #1 and I had a fabulous time. I can see myself living there and I hope to someday in the future. Dad -- you do not have to worry about me marrying a Spanish boy, not my type; but an English one, well, no promises :)
It is not goodbye London, it is Cheers for Now, as I have not had enough of you yet! This was my last trip during the regular school session. Now I have finals this week (to which I have deemed my work ethic less than pitiful) and then I am off on an epic 2 week adventure with two best friends from home -- they've been warned!!
Until my last blog entry once I am back in the states, and to which I thank you ALL for reading so intently, but please look for one or two more posts. So for the last time I must say (while I am still in Spain anyway)
Peace, Amor, Espana
Ana
PS- Happy Mother's Day to the best mother a girl could ask for. (Told you I would finish it :) )
In order to catch a 6am flight on Friday morning, we had to leave on a 6pm bus from Sevilla and sleep in the airport... or scratch the sleeping part and play soccer in the airport using a ball of socks as a ball and trolleys for our goal posts. We played in our socks and we ALL charlie-browned it a few times but we definitely had an audience at 4am and a workout as well. Come 8am with a time change and no sleep the soccer game kind of bit us in the you know where, but after our bus ride into London we were completely revived with energy. Despite the fact it was only 9am or so, it was April 29, 2011, the ROYAL WEDDING! I would just like to state for the record that this trip was the FIRST trip I booked solely for the wedding -- I have always loved everything about it from Princess Di (did a research paper on her), the Camilla scandal, the makeups and breakups of Kate and Will, and OF COURSE Prince Harry. AGAIN ask my second family, the Geigers, just how obsessed I Was with him our first go-round in London, and my feelings have not dissipated in the slightest. So for me to be in the city where history was being made, well let's just say I had a sheepish grin on my face all day. I also felt like a tour guide leading our group and informing them of the wedding details ( I had done some research!)
We were debating whether or not to go to the hostel to drop our bags off or just go watch the wedding, and we decided to choose the later. So we trekked through the immensely crowded streets with our bags and we went to Trafalgar Square, advised by a nice couple on the street. Although it was already WAYYY crowded when we got there, we made it in time to hear cheers and shouts of joy as the rings/vows were exchanged!! I had goosebumps watching it and listening to everyone cheer -- a true sign of national pride and genuine happiness for the royal couple; finally some joyful news to celebrate about.
The flags we saw everywhere!
The crew celebrating the wedding
Trafalgar Square
Everyone went nuts for this!
So many random people/signs!
We met some people at the square and they wanted to try and get closer to the action, so we followed them. We were able to stand on a fence overlooking Green Park in front of Buckingham, but couldn't really see anything, so we went to Hyde Park ( kind of like NY Central Park) where we watched the wedding with 300,000 people. Like I said, everyone was celebrating the momentous occasion and was in a great mood -- it was like the world's largest picnic!! We met some great people next to us and even met the most adorable 8year old ever and everyone sang to her!! They gave us free pizza and cookies and after the wedding everyone sang the song "I don't want to miss a thing" by Armageddon and it was an absolute blast. We stayed there for the entire afternoon just taking it all in. The coolest part of the day was seeing "THE KISS" (COME ON WILL! act like you love her .. am I right?? You did just marry the most gorgeous girl to walk the planet!)
Before their first kiss
Only a small portion of people that were at the park
Abbey and I at the entrance to Hyde Park !
After that the airplanes flew over Buckingham to..you guessed it..Hyde Park! Everyone was silent and then erupted into applause and it was another spectacular event I'll never forget. The after party for their reception was so fun in the park and everyone was talking like they knew the happy couple, me included! But after pizza and a few drinks the fatigue began to set in so we had to go find our hostels and take a nap.
Once we were rejuvinated, we decided to walk down to Buckingham at night since we knew the Reception was taking place. It was so cool to stand literally feet away from the wedding of a century. We even saw them open the gates and let a car out -- I like to think it was the Beckhams leaving; hey, a girl can only dream!
Us outside of Buckingham during the reception
Due to the wedding the streets were closed off ... so naturally we had to do what only few people can say they've done!
Everyone was doing it...
We went to see Westminster Abbey while they were clearing out the church from the big day. After walking around downtown and taking it all in one last time, we went home for some much needed sleep.
We woke up, ate breakfast, just your ordinary day. Well, you blog readers tend to know how my vacations go -- always amazing, always a mishap. This trip took its turn for the worse rather early in the week when I was brushing my teeth. I looked up in the mirror (VIEWER DISCREITON ADVISED .. I realize I am posting the world's worst blackmail for myself BUT here .. enjoy yourself)..this is what I saw...
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? At least I was in an English speaking country, and to be entirely honest everyone, including the dentist, were so great. Although I did miss out on a few things later that day, at least I regained my smile. The worst part? I had to live with that embarrassing thing for 6 hours and YOU try to not smile in a ton of pictures .. not so easy. Anyways on with the more interesting things. First stop: Harrods! The largest most insanely awesome store I have ever been in! You name it, they have it, and everything is ridicusously expensive. I picked out a few things for my new house:
Harrods!
Glass pigs, only 75,000 pounds, but aren't they adorable? (my favorite animal=pig)
Every little girl in Harrods was in heaven!
Harrods bear (haha also the start of my nonsmiling pictures!)
They had a million cakes for the royal wedding..this was just one of them
After Harrods our whole group when on a walking tour around the city. We got fun facts about the royal family, the buildings, and tidbits about the city as well. Below are my favorite sites of the day (besides looking at all of the cute English men .. which I purposely did not take pictures of .. shoot, guess I will have to go back!) The thing I hope you can take from these pictures is the modern beauty of a city that was built so long ago. There is SO much to see and do in London, and I think the reason I thoroughly enjoyed seeing (almost) all of it was that the history in each building in park had sentimental value; it really makes me wish that the US had more day to day beauty in its cities like London (and jeesh, every city in Europe!)
Arch of Wellington : built for the duke of Wellington who apparently was known for his large nose and pretty much despised for everything he did
outside Prince Harry's house :)
crew at Trafalgar Square (where we watched first part of wedding)
Lauren (roomie) and I at beginning of promenade leading to Buckingham
After the tour it was only mandatory to get fish and chips. After that we parted ways: the gang to hit up the London Eye (big ferris wheel) and me to get 5 shots in my mouth and a new tooth .. which sounds better? Fortunately I have already ridden the London Eye but still, I could have imagined 1000 things cooler to do than the dentist..but hey, a cultural experience, right? Sure, an expensive one!
view from St. James park looking at the palace
Big Ben and Parliment
Harry Potter anyone?
AFter an eventful day and some Pimms (sangria), well we were forced to call it a night since the pub closed at 11:30pm and we were given plastic cups " to go" and dump the remainder of our drink in. OKAY London -- whatever!! We took it on the metro and we were off!
Next day: (lucky you, I was there so many days and have SO many great memories to share). We had a VERY busy day. First up, mass at Westminster! Very cool experience -- knowing Kate Middleton had walked down the very aisle that I was seated in front of two days prior (I know -- very reminiscant of me but like I have said I was in my own fantasy world in London) was just surreal. Took a few pictures (although AGAIN was yelled at .. come on, I couldn't resist!) Not only did we get to attend a mass but to listen to the choir (IN ENGLISH!) was also incredible.
Inside Westminster Abbey
Kate Middleton's wedding bouquet on top of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier inside the Abbey
St. James Garden
Next we went to visit the TRUE London Bridge, just your every day to day bridge!! It was FREEZING but we crossed it!! After that we saw Tower Bridge (what you picture the London Bridge to be) and after that the Tower of London where they keep the crown jewels.
Outside Tower of London
Later we visited the Palace again for changing of the guard -- boring but a must see I suppose! A band marches in with all those guys in the sweet hats and it is a huge process just to change the guard outside of the palace. Then we went walking around the parks again and they are just so spacious and gorgeous you really can't get enough (okay, that is a lie because literally the pollen was floating into my eyes, but that's managable).
Changing of the Guard
Me in front of Tower Bridge
That night we went to see The Lion King on Broadway and it was fabulous!!!
The next day we went to Cambridge University which has about 7 separate colleges, each of which are on the water, River Cam. How to see them all effectively? Do as the English do -- Punting! It is like a gondola but a guy has a big stick (called a Pole, I asked, how unoriginal huh?) and we got to go up and down the river to see the college which was beautiful! Prince Charles went there and had also donated several millions. It was a beautiful little town and we had a lot of fun exploring for the day!
Me overlooking the river Cam before punting
Punting!
Outside church at CAmbridge U
summersaults outside on the lawn that we definitely were not supposed to be on ... clearly we are unqualified candidates of this school, but we have sweatshirts to make people think otherwise!
Camden Market -- serious shopping and eating took place here. What an experience! This took flea markets to a whole new level. And the chinese/indian restuarants were practically shoveling free samples into your mouth. We would take some chicken and still be chewing while we were getting another -- and who says there is no such thing as a free lunch?! Clearly they had never visited Camden Markets before
Abbey Road -- The Beatles ring a bell? Almost got killed two times trying to cross this, we figured the locals most loathe this tourist trap!
Finally, our last night we saw All is Well that Ends Well -- a Shakespeare play in Globe Theater itself. Did we understand it all? No -- but itwas an experience and we had great seats to boot! The next day we had a big picnic in the park and it ended on a perfect note, well, almost.
I swear I have spent the most time blogging about travel mishaps but with me there is ALWAYS one. We get to the airport to find our plane is delayed 20min. No biggy except that we had a 6hr bus ride to catch. Super long story short, me and some friends had to sprint through Madrid airport at 11pm to catch metros to run to bus station to watch our bus drive away in front of us... to them this and the 20 extra euros and extra hour waited was devastating. Me? I WAS REJOICING! That was it? Come on ... I was half expecting the bus to roll over on the way home because that was just too simple! That was the worst of the 9 I traveled with that they endured...and you better believe I received all the blame... I have learned to take it with pride. All in all London still remains my #1 and I had a fabulous time. I can see myself living there and I hope to someday in the future. Dad -- you do not have to worry about me marrying a Spanish boy, not my type; but an English one, well, no promises :)
It is not goodbye London, it is Cheers for Now, as I have not had enough of you yet! This was my last trip during the regular school session. Now I have finals this week (to which I have deemed my work ethic less than pitiful) and then I am off on an epic 2 week adventure with two best friends from home -- they've been warned!!
Until my last blog entry once I am back in the states, and to which I thank you ALL for reading so intently, but please look for one or two more posts. So for the last time I must say (while I am still in Spain anyway)
Peace, Amor, Espana
Ana
PS- Happy Mother's Day to the best mother a girl could ask for. (Told you I would finish it :) )
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