Adventure is Out There!

I know, I am splitting my Spring Break post into two parts, but can you honestly expect me to condense everything about Paris, Athens, and  Santorini to one post? I already have to leave things out! Part II: Greece As sad as it was to leave Paris (because it definitely was) I was headed for Athens. There, my friend and I were greeted with sunshine and warm weather, a relief after a previous chilly day in Paris. The day after our arrival, the adventures began. We made our way to the Acropolis, which I knew nothing about (well, except for the Pantheon). It was more than I could have ever imagined. So much is hidden in the hill's nooks and crannies, like the Caves of Zeus and Apollo, amphitheaters, ruins, and old churches. Next, we wandered over to Hadrian's Arch and the Temple of Zeus (or what remains of it anyway). Even though only a handful of columns remain, the pure awesomeness (in the true sense of the word) of the temple still lingers. Once we circled the ruins a ...

First, I just want to say how truly blessed my life is. Who would have thought, even a year ago, that I would spend my spring break in France and Greece?! I definitely would not have. I would have laughed in your face. That was my spring break though. Adventures in Paris, Athens, and Santorini. Part I: Paris I didn't think it was possible to love another city as I love Rome. Paris proved me wrong real fast. I knew I was in love as soon as I stepped into the Louvre. Let me tell you, that museum is chalk full of art. Chalk full . I could easily spend a week in there. I mean, I did spend four hours there without even realizing it. La Vierge à l'Enfant, sainte Elisabeth et saint Jean enfant dans un paysage Attribtued to Giulio Romano   in the Workshop of Raphael Psyché ranimée par le baiser de l’Amour by Antonio Canova Those are only two of the jaw-dropping pieces. And yes, I did see the Mona Lisa. And yes, of course I got a selfie! Once my friend and I l...

That was the question when I finally put aside the time to book my flight. It turns out that Turin and Torino are the same beautiful city. I found myself boarding my flight bright and early Friday morning to Torino for my 1-credit field trip. Financially, I should have never gone, but when it comes to Italy, I don't really think in financial terms. I either follow my heart or my belly.  When I travel by plane, the buzz of the engines puts me right to sleep. This time, however, my face was practically smushed against the unjustly small window. We flew over the ocean for the majority of the flight with a clear view of mountains after mountains after mountains. I mean, look at this view as we were descending. Once we landed, there was no time to rest. As soon as we found our professors, we boarded the bus to adventure to the vineyard, Fontana Freda. Looking back at the trip, Fontana Freda was definitely my favorite.  Our tour took us down through the cellars and...

"Your friend has something on her forehead." "You know you have a smudge or something on your head." "What's that on your face?" It's Ash Wednesday. At the inhuman hour of 6:45 a.m. my friend and I made our way to mass at Santa Sabina. We followed in the long line of priests, chuckling to ourselves that we were the only students there.  Once the service started, I was in spiritual bliss. The ancient columns, the fresco over the alter, and the rich voices of the choir felt unreal (a theme in most of my experiences). After Mass ended, our seminarian friend Andy led us to the church's hidden gem: the oldest crucifix ever made.  It's a tiny thing. Look at the top left box. If that didn't blow my mind (don't worry, it did), then the keyhole right next door did. I had heard rumors, but didn't know if it actually existed and if so, where. Well, it does. I'm talking about a keyhole, one small keyhole, through which ...

Pisa. Florence. Trequanda. Three beautiful cities in a beautiful place: Tuscany. Day 1: Pisa Before the sun stretched its arms awake, we were off to Pisa to see the famous leaning tower. At least, that was my impression. Little did I know that Pisa had so much more to offer. Within crumbling city walls, there is the famous tower, but also a beautiful Baptistry and Cathedral. Inside the Cathedral, like most churches here in Italy, I was at a loss for words. Beautiful paintings and stained glass adorned the walls. Of course, after basking in the glory of the Cathedral, I spent quite a long time getting the perfect leaning picture with the tower. The sun was out, shining through the rain-filled clouds, so how could I not? After the typical tourist shot, I wandered the streets with friends and came across a dessert that had my tummy singing the rest of the day: affogato. Affogato is a genius creation of gelato in coffee. My gelato  of choice was caramel and paired wit...

Chocolate. That's the beginning of my weekend. Early Friday morning, I was on a train heading to Perugia. Not many people would choose to spend their early morning anywhere outside their bed cacoon. However, when chocolate calls, I can't help but answer. At the factory, we were greeted with free chocolate and more free chocolate. Much of it found its way into my purse. Most people that have spent a day at Hershey are familiar with the famous Hershey Chocolate Tour. In the tour, when you're still a beautifully naive child, you believe everything you see. Once you grow up, the illusion is shattered. This is not the case at Casa del Cioccolato. You are taken up through a small passageway above the factory where you can gaze down on real chocolate Easter eggs being made and wrapped by a worker-machine partnership. Oh, the Easter eggs, let me tell you. They are GIANT. Holy gracious, I have never been so excited for Easter. After the tour of the factory and buying all the ch...

The day comes every year, just as it should. I'll be honest, I've never had a date for Valentine's Day. Now please don't think the typical ,  "Really??" or "Awwwwww, poor thing." Don't get like that. Over the past years, sure, it's been a wonderful reminder of my singleness. Not this year. There was no dread last Thursday night, no lonely Friday night with Netflix. Only anticipation.  At 6:40 a.m. (an inhumanely absurd hour) I was in the air on my way to Sardinia. It's an island off the coast of Italy (if you look at the boot on your mental map, it's on the left). My roommate Maria and  I flew into Alghero, a quaint town that I now dearly miss. Our adventure began with the search for the bus. You would think simple, right? But, of course the ticket machine is hidden in plain sight and the bus schedule? In hieroglyphics. After getting off, back on, questioning locals, wandering the streets, and a couple phone calls, we foun...