Post 12: Barcelona

After all of the hard work and stress of finals, we decided to treat ourselves to a beach holiday in Spain! Eric, Alex and I flew to Barcelona, a beautiful port city with a number of tourist attractions.
Say hello to the sun!


To be honest, we spent the majority of our time relaxing on the beach instead of checking out the intellectually stimulating events and locations... but we wanted the beach, and that's what we got!

Our hostel was in the PERFECT location. We were just two streets down from the beach coast! We ran into a little trouble at first because the taxi driver dropped us off at the hostel office, which was the next street over from the actual hostel building. There was no sign for the hostel anywhere. Once we wandered down the street and around the corner, we managed to find the unmarked entrance and got settled into our room. It was a suite style apartment, with a shared bathroom and kitchen and four different bedrooms.

We spent the first two days on the beach and exploring the restaurants along the coast. There were a good number of people walking up and down the beach selling drinks, scarves, snacks, sun dresses and, of course, massages. Eric bought two mojitos at an exorbitant price and a ten-minute massage from an Asian lady... such a typical Eric move.

On the third day, we explored the city streets and went souvenir and window shopping. Eric and I were particularly taken by the hand-painted decanters and dispensers sold in the last shop we visited. Eric noticed the price tag, immediately shook his head, and put it back on the shelf. But I wasn't ready to abandon the mission yet. Although I struggled a bit to navigate the language and the vendor's accent, I successfully haggled with him to sell us two decanters at half price. I have to say that I was proud of myself for being able to communicate effectively in another country.

Over all, it was a great trip... and I finally got a tan. But now there's only a few days left before we head back to the states. I'm going to take advantage of all the time I have because although I miss home, I know I'll probably never get an opportunity like this again.

Cheers!

Post 11: Amsterdam

Amsterdam was incredible! My friends and I had such a great time, even better than I anticipated. It might be my favorite city so far. I really hope to go back some day.

First of all, there were bicycles EVERYWHERE. The ratio of bikes to people was probably 2:1, in all seriousness. And they were whipping around too, weaving in and out between cars and people. It didn't take very long to figure out that if you walked in the bike lane, you would be run over, no questions asked.



The first day, we got settled into the hostel and checked out the area. The hostel we went to, the Flying Pig Uptown Hostel, was absolutely fantastic. Although it was a little more expensive than others, I would recommend it to anyone. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, and I felt really comfortable. It had its' own lounge area, bar, and smoking room, as well as complimentary breakfast every morning. The rooms were not bad either, although we stayed in a 12-person room. We made some friends with fellow England-ers that were also staying with us.



Later, we visited the Heineken factory where they taught us how to pour and drink beer... sounds pretty good right? But we also learned a lot about the history of the founding family, their brewing recipe and traditions, and how it grew to be the international success it is today. I had no idea that 94% of the beer is just water...

We also went to the Anne Frank house, which was truly awe-inspiring. I learned so much about her and her family, as well as the people who helped protect them. Just like when we went to Auschwitz, I was overcome with emotion. These people were just like us. They WERE us. The Holocaust is, without a doubt, one of the darkest events in human history - a pockmark on the chronicle of our race. I stared at the photos of Anne, and I found myself thinking that she looked like the face of innocence. She always wanted to become a writer... well, Anne, you did it. Millions of people have read your writing and still are moved by your plight every day.

Later, we went on a cruise down the canal. It was absolutely gorgeous. When we boarded the boat, the sun shone down on the houses and shops lining the canal. The essence of picturesque. But that was nothing compared to the view once the sun set. The city simply lit up. The lights reflected on the water and cast colored shadows over the buildings. We floated under lighted bridges in pure peace. I am so glad we decided to take the cruise because it was worth every moment.

Of course, we had to go to the "I am Amsterdam" structure. We were lucky enough to have a BEAUTIFUL day. It took a little bit of time to take over the sign for a group picture because it was super crowded. How am I so lucky to have such amazing experiences like this? It all feels so surreal. Until next time readers...

Post 10: Auschwitz

Emily, Jenna and I flew to Krakow, Poland to visit the infamous Auschwitz camp. First, we checked out the city center, ate a number of perogi dishes, savored one of the best cups of coffee I've ever had, and did some shopping. Leave it to Emily to find a three-story mall in Poland! Later, we went out in the heart of Poland's nightlife.

The following day, we took a bus tour of Auschwitz. We visited both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II, the latter being known as Birkenau. In fact, there were three locations under the one title of "Auschwitz," allowing it to become the most devastating mass killing center ever created. We walked the same streets that millions of innocent people did before going off to their death. Every step I took felt heavy with the weight of that realization.

Our tour guide gave us head-sets so we could wander but still hear her narration. We walked right under the infamous sign saying "Arbeit macht frei," or "work makes you free." Cue immediate chills.

I found myself staring at the electric fences - structures of oppression that surrounded this compound and served as a death sentence for many desperate souls. When the pain and grief became too much, some threw themselves into the electrically charged barbed wire to take their own lives.

On the tour, we were able to enter three of the barracks that had converted some rooms into exhibits. One room displayed a mountain of human hair behind a glass pane with a sign saying 7,000 kilos of human hair was found upon liberation. Likewise, there was a room filled with eyeglasses - just a sea of glasses taken from those poor people. That was overwhelming for me. It's the little things that really hit home.

We were able to walk inside the crematorium, too. The feeling I had when walking through there... it was beyond eerie. This stale, heavy smell hung in the air. It was almost as if I could feel the memories locked in that awful room. There was only one thing running through my mind: I'm standing right where they murdered millions of innocent people with Zyklon-B. How did this even happen? And why?

We got back on the bus and drove three miles away to Birkenau. This is the camp that you would typically picture as a death camp. There were huge gates and train tracks leading directly inside the enclosure. In... and not out. There was snow on the ground covering the mud and crunching underneath our feet. I could just imagine all the people I'd seen in the pictures - confused and ushered off the train into the selection line or, worse, straight to the crematorium.

It was something I will never forget. Although I cried numerous times, I am so glad I went. I bought a book in the giftshop entitled, "I Survived Auschwitz" by Krystyna Zuwulska. The author was able to get forged papers with a new name before getting arrested by the SS. It's a fantastic read given that it's an insider look at how the women, in particular, were treated. There is so much that history teaches us.

Anyways, signing off for now...

Cheers

Post 9: Ireland

Wow. I've fallen in love with Ireland. It was honestly the best trip I've ever taken and one of the best experiences I've had. A huge thank you has to go out to my friend Alicia Cummings, as she let us stay with her while we visited.

Our flight was at 7 in the morning and unfortunately, that meant having to leave our dorm at 3 a.m.! It felt ridiculous to call a cab and leave my dorm at that time. We arrived in Dublin Airport safely around 8:30 the morning of the 15th. From there, we took a three hour bus ride to Cork, where we met Alicia and her friend Maria at the bus station.




During the day, we saw a little of Alicia's college, University College of Cork. The buildings reminded me of Hogwarts! Entirely made of stone and very castle-like, I really enjoyed walking through campus. It was actually very good weather too, especially for Ireland. We even got some sun!






That night, we went to one of Alicia's favorite pubs and I tried a pint of Murphy's for the first time. Although I wasn't in love with its' bitterness, it was a good experience to have. Now I can say that I've had both Guinness and Murphy's!


On Friday, we went on a Paddywagon Tour which made a bunch of stops on its way to the main event, the Cliffs of Moher. First, we drove through Limerick and I really enjoyed seeing the true and beautiful sights of Ireland. As was expected, we encountered a few quick rain showers, but it didn't damper my spirits in the slightest.




We pulled over to see King John's Castle on the banks of the River Shannon. It's an amazing piece of history constructed in the late 1100's. Maria, who happens to be an amazing photographer, took this picture to the right through the bus window.





Next, we traveled to Poulnabrone Dolmen, a tabletop tomb dating back to 3000 B.C. Known as "the hole of sorrows," this site is a reminder of how the early Irish lived and died. I didn't really know much about this location but it was interesting to see the more unique features of Ireland.

The Burren was next, a limestone and fossil rock formation. There I am below, cheesing as usual.





We stopped for lunch in Doolin, a quaint fishing village. We walked around and took pictures of the unique buildings and fields. A nice stretch was definitely in order after being on the bus for hours at this point. The picture to the right shows how most of the signs use both English and the original Celtic language. Don't call it Celtic to the Irish though! They prefer simply calling it the Irish language.




I also noticed that some of the buildings had interesting thatched roofs. Our tour guide mentioned that the government gives grants to those who use roofing as such, in an effort to be more environmentally conscience.


Finally, after hours of traveling on the bus, we reached the main attraction. The Cliffs are 214 meters high at the tallest peak and range for over 8 kilometers over the Atlantic Ocean. It was absolutely beautiful. It's the most visited natural attraction in Ireland!

We walked for 40 minutes all around the edge and there was still miles more of the path. Luckily, it didn't rain and it wasn't too cold. We also were lucky enough to spot a rainbow while we were there! I had to snap a picture... or ten. We spent so long exploring and taking pictures, we didn't have enough time to check out the gift shop. But I think we got the better end of the deal....

Saturday, we spent mostly checking out the center of town and going shopping. Here in London we have a store called Primark and in Ireland the same company owns a store called Penny's.

On Sunday, we woke up early to make it into town in time for the Saint Patrick's Day parade. It was really cool, with tons of different acts. That night, we went out and got a round of green beer in honor of the holiday.

We managed to make our way to the bus stop for a 1 a.m. bus ride direct to Dublin Airport. Let me tell you, taking any kind of transportation all through the night is quite the experience. Our flight was at 6:45 a.m. and we arrived back in London around 8:30.

I truly enjoyed every minute of this trip and everything we did! I want to go back the next chance I have.

Post 8: Hyde Park

Just the other day, my friends and I took a stroll through Hyde Park, one of the capital's eight Royal Parks. Covering 350 acres of land, Hyde Park is home to a number of famous landmarks including the Serpentine Lake, Speakers' Corner and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain. The park offers a number of recreational activities too like open water swimming, boating, cycling, tennis and horse riding.

This park is, by far, my favorite place in all of London. There were people enjoying themselves everywhere you looked, throwing a Frisbee or playing with their dog. There were a number of absolutely gorgeous fountains and statues that literally took my breath away. A sense of true peace came to me as we walked through, passing swans and geese in the ponds, dogs romping around in the grass, and children squealing nervously as pigeons landed just a little too near them. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the same peaceful state of mind and appreciated the beauty in both nature and in art.

Post 7: Paris!

This past weekend was amazing. I never thought I would be spending time in Paris, going to the Louvre and going to the top of the Eiffel Tower!

The first night we arrived in time for dinner so we checked into our hotel and almost immediately went out to see the Eiffel Tower lit up against the night sky. It was absolutely beautiful. We found the perfect viewing spot then waited about 20 minutes to see it sparkle, as it does every hour on the hour when it's dark.

Afterwards we went to a quaint little restaurant down the street and indulged in DELICIOUS Parisian food. I must say, it was quite the nice change from England, haha.




On Saturday, we got up early to go on a bus tour. Our tour guide was very friendly and informative, I learned a lot. We got off the bus at the Eiffel Tower for a while to take pictures and buy little souvenirs. We passed the Arc Du Triumphe, the Lock Bridge, as well as many famous statues and fountains. The bus dropped us off at the Louvre, where we were given entry tickets and maps. Among many other beautiful works of art, I saw the Mona Lisa! Even writing it now, it seems unreal.



After we left the Louvre, Jenna suggested we go to Sacre-Coeur, the highest point in Paris, located on the hill of Montmartr. This was the most amazing and surreal experience I've ever had. We climbed hundreds of steps to reach the top where an ancient Basilica stands. Looking down, you could see almost all of Paris. There were hundreds of people everywhere, speaking all different languages, all enjoying the beautiful weather and the beautiful view. I felt truly at peace and extraordinarily lucky to be there.



On Sunday, we took the ride up the Eiffel Tower all the way to the top! It was snowing and bitterly cold, especially with the wind whipping around us, but it was worth it. You could see absolutely EVERYTHING. It was like being on top of the world.


I am so incredibly thankful to have had this opportunity. I will never forget it.

Post 6: Beckhams

So... David Beckham and his family have decided to move back to London. And not just London, but Kensington. Not just Kensington, but TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM ME! He went to Builder's Arms, the pub on the corner of my street, just a couple days ago. That's where I got my first fish and chips meal! It's quite exciting haha, maybe I'll get to babysit his kids??

Victoria Beckham, previously known as Posh Spice, is going to open a fashion store just a couple of Tube stops over in Knightsbridge. (Funny, since now I know posh is actually a common term here!) I think her store is going to be right next to Harrod's... so here comes some competition.

That's all for now, cheers!