So Sweet, You Make My Mouth Water... I Want Chocoloate.

This weekend was chocolate HEAVEN... literally. It's midterms week this week so I took the weekend off from long distance travel, but still decided to take a day trip to Perugia for the Eurochocolate Festival. Man oh man was there ever chocolate. The trip to Perugia is pretty short, but boy was it eventful. It started out by me waking up late. I scrambled to get ready in the dark without waking up my roommate, and ran out th door at 7:40 for and 8:02 train. Good thing my pensione is just right up the block from the train station, but it doesn't help when the ticket machines are having mad issues. First the machine wouldn't take my credit card, then it wouldn't take my friends... then we had to switch to a machine that would take cash, had to wait in a line, finally bought our ticket with 0 (yes you read that right ZERO) minutes left on the clock. We sprinted to the train, hopped on, and it left. That was a CLOSE call. The train ended up being relaxing, even if we were accidently camped out in first class and had to move, and I slept for the next 2 hours. When we got off the train, we realized we had to take a bus to the actual center of the city. We were told we could hop on any bus, but that proved to be false and we got on the wrong bus... what a suprise for how our morning was going... When we figured it out, we hopped off the bus, and asked the first person we found for directions (in ITALIAN yeaa) and they told us it was just a 15 minute walk. We went for it and it was beautiful. Perugia has trees and FALL, something I crave in Florence... so the walk was AMAzing. We climbed the hill towards the top of Perugia and got to see the beautiful country side. It was a much needed walk!

The chocolate festival itself crazy... so many people and soooo much chocolate. We bought a 5 euro chocolate card so we could go raid 10 stands for free samples... YUMMMO. The samples were excellent... and it was kind of like a scavenger hunt to find them. We got to walk through the entire festival in search of the weirdest chocolate we could find... I ended the day with 3 chocolate bars, hot chocolate, a chocolate cell phone case, chocolate liquor, and chocolate bubble bath... successful day I guess haha. Those were all free (well 5 euros combined), but the best thing I had all day had to be the hot chocolate I bought for 3 euros at the beginning of the day. The hot chocolate at this festival was legit a melted candy bar... so thick. I had to get some after a long morning on the train and the chilly walk, so I got one with a cinnamon twist... omg it was maybe the best thing I have ever had... well I mean it was really good.. well worth the 3 euros..

We left pretty early after seeing the festival in about 3 hours, and got home at 6 ish. My friends had been lounging all day at the Pensione, so it was fabulous to come back to them wanting dinner... real food besides chocolate... So we went to our favorite bar in the bottom of our Pensione building... after hours of crayon drawings and amazing pizza... I was exhausted hahah... early bird special. The rest of the weekend was nice and lazy... filled with catching up on tv shows (YAY... ps GREYS is on top of its game.. I'm sure rin knows what I'm talking about...) and studying for midterms. This weekend was a success... maybe only because I came back from Perugia as a Seattle Catholic School graduate without killing my roommate... CIAO!

Music Guide: "I Want Candy" by Aaron Carter

And I Can't Hug You on the Phone, So Hurry Home

Ahh... this weekend is finally a chance to really stay around Florence... even if it is not that relaxing due to the amount of studying and work I have to do for midterms.. but it is nice to take a little break from all that constant travel. I was talking to friends this week about how excited we were to actually sleep in. It seems like once we came abroad we forgot how to sleep. I literally don't think I have slept more than 6 hours since I have been in Europe. We don't even sleep in on the weekend because we have so much ground to cover in the cities were in for a whopping 3 days. We were laughing about how in Spokaloo we would literally go to bed late, but not roll our of bed until 11/1130 to head to Cog Bruch... but as we were talking about it we all realized how much we miss Cog Brunch... and then we realized how much we miss Gonzaga's Gym... or Spokes for that matter. I for one have seemed to have a rough adjustment to the European lifestyle. I knew I was a homebody goign into this adventure... and through it, although it has been so fun, I have realized I can't wait to be home. There are so many things I miss about home... I thought I would share some of the randoms... (But don't get me wrong, Europe is this adventure that I need to take... when else will I get the chance to do this... I guess I can survive 6 more months without constant starbucks)

1) Chai Lattes: I never realized until I got to Italy where they dont believe in starbucks or coffee bigger than a shot for that matter that I was truly fueled by starbucks iced grande nonfat chai lattes. I basically lived off of them in the Spo and for those early morning shifts at the hotel. I am so sick of cola light as my form of caffine.. I just want chaiiii. Starbucks never tasted better than in Paris.. even thought that quite possibly was one of the worst Chai lattes I ever had... I literally can't wait till I can get in my car and drive through starbucks or caffe... and till i get back to the creepy baristas at the Gonzaga starbucks where they have memorized my order.

2) DRIVING: ahh Europe is not a place for driving. The people are out of control. I mean the roads were made when horses were the main form of transportation so obviously driving is not too fabulous... but i miss just hoping in my car with my sister and driving. We sometimes just need to get out of the house so we beeline to the car and head to anywhere... and drive... literally just vent... our favorite drives are bully runs (magnolia bolevard is so clutch) where we circle the drive till were mentally able to make it home... miss ya rinnnn

3) TARGET: hahah one of our favorite places to drive to and the best place ever to buy clothes.. cutttte clothes for fabulous prices... and nothing beats 5 dollar movies.

4) nikos: enough of this kebab crap and sketchy meat... i want a CHICKEN gyro meat salad asap.

5) the gym: get me to a place that understands why americans like to work out... i am a terrible runner... even more so when im getting stared at like I have a third head.

6) POODISE: my favorite family member (haha just kidding i gueeeeeessss) but no really who would not miss the cutest fur ball I know... i need my reggie fix asap. 

7) my cell phone: hehe i miss texting and calling people... on that note i really miss the same time zone situation...

8) stable internet: is that too much to ask... and my dvr asap... im need to get over technology.

but no really Europe is such a fabulous experience for me to push myself... its nice to get out of my comfort zone and have to live without some things... I know this is such a cool experience and I'm going to try and see as much as I can. Starting next weekend it is go go go till the ened of the semester.. where is time going... Its CROATIA, then BARCELONA, then ROME, then NICE/CANNES/AIXENPROVENCE, then LONDON, then MUNICH... and then the fam arrives... yay... my only request is that my favorite furball comes too.. i hear pets fly cheap...

Music Guide: "Hurry Home" by Jason Michael Carroll

I'm in Paris trick!

Central Perk... Our DREAM

MAGICAL UPCLOSE AND PERSONAL

sprinke sprinkle

oh rachhh... so much pain

struggle city rach

jump up jump up and get down... at the LOUVE!

Notre Dame

biker chick

like NO room on the subway. 

the moulin rouge!

oh hey paris... 

the louve.. gorge!

louveage.

the river seine!

biggest tapestry the worlds got.. way cooler than the mona lisa

rach... so happy with the bad louve tour

yesss. 

last rach moment... louis... so MAJOR

Like a Postcard from Paris, When I've seen the Real Thing

Oh Paris, you have a little piece of my heart now.  What a freaking fabulous city. It was just what I needed, although it made me a little Seattle sick. I LOVE those big cities. I absolutely have fallen in love with the city lifestyle. I have def. decided that its the lifestyle for me. Being in Italy and Florence has made me realize that I misssss the hustle and bustle of the city. I love the New York/ Paris/ London/ Chicago pace of life. I mean Italy is def. a new experience. The art is amazing and there is so much to explore, but it has taken a bit of adjusting. I missss the big city.

BUTTT onto Paris. Tayler and I had to head over to Pisaaaa to catch our flight which was eassssy, but our plane being delayed wassss annoying. The stupid riots in Paris and some dumb lady who was on the wrong flight, but never the less we made it to fabulous Paris. We went on a pretty terrible weekend for transportation because of the riots and terrorist threats, so we hopped in a cab to the hotel. That night after dinner, Tayler and I decided to walk to the Eiffel Tower which was a lot farther than we thought it would be, but the walk was a perfect way to see the city and all those lights! We walked for miles, in flats haha, and finally got to the BEAUUUUTIFUL eiffel tower. It was seriously more magnificent than I thought it would be. It was like breathtaking and something EVERYONE has to see in person. We waited until the top of the hour to see the tower "sprinkling" (thats what our guide called it... too cute!), which was when it flashed lights for the first 5 minutes of the hour... it was amazing. The walk back was freeeezing, but a stop at a local bar helped a bit. We even found CENTRAL PERK (hehe we were dying).

The next day was Rachel Zoe central. Tayler and I thought it was appropriate to impersonate Rach at all times, especially during the bike tour. That consisted of taking emo bike pics to show that we did not appreciate our coture getting rumpled, calling each other babe, and DYING over everything. We must have been a treat to cycle with. haha BUT the bike tour was seriously the coolest way of seeing the city. We got up close and personal with every thing. Cycling through the Louve, riding around the city, seeing the Notre Dame... Paris is seriously magical. Man were our butts sore after that excursion... Afttter the tour a bunch of us headed up to Montmarte to see the artist district. It was so cute up there and we got a fabulous view of the city. It was massive and sprawling.. ahhh the big city. After the artist area we made our way down the hill to the Moulin Rougue... not as cool in the day but I had to see it. It was fabulous. Two friends and I had to get starbucks across from there.. oh how divine it was to be reunited all weekend... yum. We might have pissed off our waiting group... but it was SOOO worth it. That night we had a tour... First was a cruise on the Seine... which was beautiful even though it rained... soo pretty! We got admission to the top of the eiffel tower... such a view... gahhh I love Paris. We then got in a bus to see the arch di triumph and some other sights... it was basically a laugh sesh in the top of the bus... we were deliriously tired!

The next day was another tour... which was lame but we got to see the Ritz... aka where Kimmie Kardash and Mama Kris were a month before... gah I was in love. That afternoon was Louve day... which was kinda lame because we got to only be there for like 45 minutes.. but I saw the essentials... Mona Lisa, Michaelangelo... ya get it.

That night was so typical French. I hung out with 5 new girl friends and went to a french three course dinner. French Onion Soup, Steak, and dessert for only 15 euro... it was heaven. After a walk and some crepes we were too tired to even make it to the bar. The next day Tayler and I shopped on the Chames de Elyse. We got starbucks and I literally never wanted to leave.

SOO PARIS as you can see won me over. LOVED every minute of it. I will for sure be back... just for starbucks alone. MISSS you all. CIAO.

Music Guide: "Postcard from Paris" by The Band Perry

I Think I Might Have Found Me My Own Kind of Paradise

Home Sweet Flo! This week we all walked up to Piazza Michaelangelo to take a group picture.. and BONUS it has beautiful views of my new home. Florence is beautiful and Italy is amazing. I totally miss the wierdest things about America... aka free water to name one, but this is a once in a lifetime oppurtunity that I am so lucky to have. And I mean... who wouldn't want to wake up next to this every morning??

Sure beats SPOKANE

Music Guide: "Knee Deep" by Zac Brown Band and Jimmy Buffett

I'm in Cinque Terre trick!

Hello Mediterranean

LOVER LOCKS

That's Amore!

TOO MANY TOURISTS IN MANOROLA

get me back to the water 

Getting pumped for the hike... of deathhhh

Ain't nothing like it (Vernazza)

What you see on the hike.. (Monerosso in the distance)

How I ended my day.. sand and rays along side the Mediterranean... my life is amazing

And So Began My Love Affair With Water...

This was a WIERD week for GIF.. we actually had class on Friday haha... what a concept I know! But that being said, it's hard to travel with only 1 full day so the majority of us stayed around Flo this weekend. It was totally day trip time. A ton of us decided to go to Cinque Terre, which proved to be just the right choice to make! Cinque Terre is BREATHTAKING. I am soo in love with it. It was such a purrrfect Italian/Indian Summer kind of day. The cities were just so special, they made waking up at 5 am worth it.

So... we left at 5 am... ouch.... hoped on a train to La Spezia... hoped on another train to Riomaggiore. There are 5 cities (aka CINQUE) that make up cinque terre and there is a hike between all 5 of them. Starting in Riomaggiore you hit the easiest part first. We didn't get to spend much time in Riomaggiore because we headed out right to the next city which was Manorola. The path between those two cities was adorable. It was the LOVERS LANE of the trail, complete with love lockets and adorable kissing statues. And it happened to be mostly flat... purfect for old married couples.

We realized that the trail was closed between the next two cities, so we hoped on a train, planning to just head over to the next city, but we actually just by passed that city (Corniglia), and headed straight to Vernazza. Vernazza was beautiful. It was nestled into a little corner that was just purfect. We took some water pics (my favorite... I get so artsy around water bahaha) and checked out an old, stone church. Vernazza was small, so it was time to head onto the hike...

The hike between Vernazza and the final city, Monterosso, is affectionately known as the Devils Hike. Man oh Man it was tough. You literally go up stone stair for days. You really don't even know if they will EVER end. BUTTT the view you get when you reach the top is amazing. There are so many beautiful views as you cascade the trail, through the vineyards and trees. It was truly something special. I mean, you want to die on some of those sets of stairs (and it doesn't help in 75 degree weather) but you're in for something special when you look over your shoulder into the MEDITERRANEAN sea. It is def. one of the most amazing things I have ever seen/experienced.

When we finally finished the hike and ended in Monterosso, we were greated by the Mediterranean Sea and so much pesto! Cinque Terre is the birth place of pesto and oh my god it was good. Plus you just hiked 4 miles... so satisfying. After lunch, we spent the afternoon swimming in the MEDITERRANEAN Sea. That is one thing to check off the bucket list. It was heaven. The sun was shining, it was a purrrfect 75 degrees, and to top it all off it was OCTOBER 9th. Sure beats the rain in Seattle. I spent the afternoon floating (literally floating... so much salt) in the Sea with some new good friends. My life doesn't suck.

SOO to summarize. Cinque freaking Terre is amazing.. and my life is amazing. CIAO!

Music Guide: "Water" by Brad Paisley

I'm at GEORGE CLOONEYS VILLA trick! (Como, Bellagio, & Varenna!)

Taking Europe in the palm of our hands... 

So romantic in Como.. 

So nature happy.

Bellagio

Oh My God good. 

Transportation nation. 

I feel so artsy in Vienna. I was so in love with the water. Bring me back to the Pacific Northwest vibe. 

America the Beautiful.. in Italy

I'm in Milan Trick!

The Duomo

Up on the rooftop!

The roof!

Just kickin' it up there ya dig. 

Oh just your average mall...

The Palace!

Michaelangelo... no biggie. 

My kind of stand. 

The most fashionable/fabulous street in the world!