My first time in Italy/What I'm doing differently

The first time I went to Italy was in June of 2008. I was on a drunk fest, I mean contiki tour with a bunch of silly drunk Australians and my friend BobbyeJo. We basically had a road trip trhough Europe hitting France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Holland, Belguim, and England. It was wonderful for what it was, a sampler for all of the countries I've always dreamed about.

By the time we arrived in Rome, I was exhaused. In fact, I remember falling in and out of sleep right around here...

Once this was over, I saw the usual tourist spots like the Trevi fountain, the Pantheon, and ate a yummy panini with eggplant and fresh mozarella. Two. Ok! I ate two. But they were fresh, hot, delicious and just what I needed with my esspresso.

We did get the chance to see the Vatician which I loved. I am Catholic and I do beleive in God, but it's not something I think about every day. When I stepped foot into Vatician city, I couldn't help but think "How do you deny this? How do you deny a God when things like this were built out of faith?" Truly incredible.

I don't feel as if I really learned as much as I'd like to due to being well, hung over and very tired. This time though, I've planned a tour as well as a very cool tour of under ground the Vatician to see St. Peter's tomb. I'm really excited because I love learning new things about places I love! It's almost as if you're let in to a secret that no one else knows about.

I definatly plan on eating a lot more than a few sandwiches this time. I want to eat pasta, pastry, bread, sip esspresso, snack on fresh fruit and cheese. This is making me way too hungry!

Ryan and I plan on 4 days in Rome, one in Pompeii, one in Florence, one in Venice before heading off to Barcelona. I have addresses for the best delis and pizza places marked on a few of my several maps. We of course, have some walking and biking tours planned as well since we will be 17 days with out the gym!

Perfection

This is of course, exactly how I picture my stroll down the Champs Elysees.

Maybe during our high tea in London. Cheerio!

Excuse me while I sip my esspresso in the Piazza Navona.

No words...

Date night

Freezing my arse in Dublin.

What I'm reading today

I woke up a few hours before my boyfriend, brewed coffee, made some eggs, and nestled into the couch. The spot on the couch I like the most allows just enough light from the kitchen to peak in, not fully being able to brighten the room due to the hallway wall, completely the prefect amount of light to not let me full wake up. Secretly this is my favorite part of the week, I love having the feeling of being completely alone but also knowing that Ryan is not too far away. It's comforting and freeing all at the same time.

The book I'm currently swallowed up by is "The Sweet Life in Paris" by David Lebovitz.

This book on the outside promises to tell a story about David who struggles to find a good job at a restaurant in Northern California, he wants to shadow some of the chefs he's come to admire. After a tragic loss of his partner, he quits everything and packs up to move to the city of lights, measuring cups in tow. I am only 3 chapters in but I am hazy with the romance of this book. Not romance between two people, but between a man and his hunger for culture. Each sentence is dripping with intoxicating descriptions from the way his lazy French painter takes his sweet time finishing his living room, his desire to find the perfect baguette, and the major difference between Americans and Parisians...Americans want everything when they want it instead of taking our time through life enjoying all of the little pieces that surprise you.

This book is lovely. If you want a little Paris you can have on your couch, I highly recommend it!

Fresh faced and fancy free

I'm not a cute traveler. I usually fall asleep with my head tilted forward, sweating so my hair goes flat, and some how seem to always pick the most uncomfortable outfit for a long flight. It's like not being a cute cryier, some women just don't have that skill. I do love the excitement I feel on a plane ride almost (almost!) keeping me awake the whole time. Since I hate the way my face and skin feel after a flight due to recycled air, and just the fact of running around gate to gate all day I always end up with a nice shiny face and the wish for a shower. So, I came up with the best most simple airplane facial.

If you're like me, you love the typical "Yeah here we go" picture at the beginning of the trip so make up is a total must. While on a long or international flight, I take a ponds/neutrogena/almay make-up remover and moisturizer wipe to cleanse and refresh my skin. I take an aerosol (travel size) can of evian water , spray lightly to gentle wash away any sweat or dirt and then an hour before the plane lands, after apply your favorite moisturizer and allow to sink in for a few minutes. When you're ready you can reapply your make up to look refreshed and ready for the day. You can keep all of these in your carry on and the whole process only takes a couple of minutes. Hope this helps!

These can be found at Sephora, 2 for 12 dollars.

Try Target or any local drug store for the moisturizing wipes, usually about 4-5 dollars and worth every penny. Any infused with cucumber gives the best refreshment.

What to wear, what to bring

From Oct 18th-Nov 5th I will be embarking on my second European vacation. I plan on traveling through France, Italy, Spain, England and Ireland. This trip will be a first for me for Spain and Ireland and a second for the rest. Since I am an extreme over planner, I've been coming up with day by day itineraries and places to see and eat for a couple of months now. I think I mostly do it as motivation to make more money at work in order to afford all of these things. Along with planning things to do, I also want to plan what to wear. My frist time in Europe I was thirty five pounds heavier and without the help of a curling iron. I'd like to get some nice pictures this time, ones I can actually display and hopefully blow up to frame.

My favorite pictures I took the last time:

Now looking back my favorite one has to be the mime in Rome. There's something about his expression and the fact that I caught him and he looked right at me. This picture was actually taken very far away while standing by the Pantheon. I love it.

Back to planning my outfits, I'll let you know how it goes...

London...what I love about you (day 1)

London, you are dear to my heart. The first time I went to London was June of 2008. After a very long and sweaty plane ride, is it just me or do they not air condition planes enough? I stepped a ballet flat out to a muggy and over cast city. All of a sudden I'm overcome with my "London soundtrack" playing in my head with out any hesitation (or ipod for that matter). As "London Calling" blasts and I sing along in my head, I hope on the tube ("mind the gap") and get off at King's Cross Station.

Now, having been a few places with subways I have the expirence to say London is the idiot's survival guide for getting places. It could not be easier. That said, even my jet lagged behind could find my hostel. After checking in to the Ashley House hostel, not too bad but have you people ever heard of an elevator bigger than a litter box? thanks. The only logical solution was to find a real English pub...

Are you thinking perhaps we stormed in to find Prince Harry and his rugby team? Wrong. What did happen though was the soundtrack to Grease. The whole soundtrack. Every hair slicking lyric. After I was through standing on a chair and pumping my arm a la John Travolta we ordered what the bartender reccommended. A lovely, delicate, lady like drink - "snake bites." Hello, I'm drunk.

After the snake bites wore off, we showered, completly broke the hair straightener, we decided to do a little night walking to see the sights. Those of you who have been to London understand when I say, London has a "feel". It has a way of wisking you off your feet, to this day I still remember the way I felt the first time I saw Big Ben.

This picture is in fact false. Yes I took it but that was not the first time I saw Ben. The first time was by mistake, at night, remember how I said the tube was idiot proof? I'm the idiot who got off on the wrong stop and landed with my nose against ...

So here you go, my first night and my first real view of Big Ben. I almost think I see peter pan flying around somewhere. That night truley was incredible (minus the scent of burnt hair). After walking around Parlament, we walked all the way to Buckingham Palace (Kate Middleton, who?) to get our private view of the place. Just as magical as I imagined. Looking back, I wish I had been more prepared. Why, you ask? I wish I had thought to research a decent adaptor for all things electric. Unfortuantly, I did not. And this mess is the result of it.

Also, if you'll notice this is front of Buckingham Palace. Class all the way.
Since we landed late afternoon this is pretty much all we had time for the first night. There is more to come, much more, but for now I leave you with some thoughts. Do NOT let a guy named "Sam" who works at the corner liquor store cut off your hair curler cord in attemps to make it fit into the outlet. Do NOT tell him "sure" when he asks to come pick you back up from your hostel to hang out. This is how horror movies are made. 

How it all began (the obsession)

“You may say I’m a dreamer”…for as long as I can remember I have always wanted to travel. As a teenager you learn what it’s like to covet things other girls had. I didn’t want things, I wanted places. Trips my friends had taken. If I could do anything, it would be to see new places. I don’t really know where my obsession with travel started but for some weird reason I can remember it starting with the tv show “Friends.” I remember being in 4^th grade or so and seeing the sky line in between funny scenes or commercial breaks. How how how do I GET THERE? When will I be old enough to see this amazing city? My time finally came. I was swimming in the U.S. Open for Synchronized Swimming in New Haven, CT. The parents on the team made a huge announcement: “We think it would be a good idea if we sent you all to the city for the day” The city. New York City? MY CITY? How could this be? Did I actually manifest this happening with my mind? Sadly I did not, it was just a matter of us all getting our money’s worth for the trip. Whatever. More than ten years later, I can remember every step from getting off of Grand Central Station to calling my mom back at the hotel. Since then I have been to NYC a few times but nothing was as magical as that first trip. The first time I could crane my neck to try to see the tops of buildings, the hussle and bussle, the different way of life, just the feel of the big apple. I remember telling my mom every small detail of my day from shopping to eating to almost getting hit by a taxi, sigh. I was hooked; am hooked to seeing new places.

Since then I've been lucky enough to take some amazing trips, and hope to take quite a few more in the future. Stay tuned.