"I'm a tourist!"- Spring Break 2012

Hello everybody!!

Sorry that it has taken me so long to post about my two week adventures of Spring Break. To be honest, I have just been a bit lazy and had a test this week that I was studying for so this post just kind of fell to the wayside.

But don't worry! It's Spring Break post time!!!!!!

So, my Spring break was from April 6th-22nd. Lots of things planned. A few mishaps but overall just an awesome time.

My break started with missing our flight on Friday night to Barcelona. Not a happy feeling. I had to pay an extra 60 euros to switch my ticket to the next day and Lukas and I (my travel buddy) decided to take separate flights the next day. This was because we were supposed to meet my sorority sister Alejandra (Ale) and I felt bad for making her wait for us. So I was to leave around 11am and Lukas wasn't gonna leave until after 4pm and we would just meet up later.

We probably sat in the airport terminal trying to figure out where we gonna spend the night. Calling or texting anybody we knew who could help us or let us crash for the night. Unsuccessful, we ended up finding a cheap hotel where we only had to pay a little over 25 euros each. A quick stop at McDonald's and then a trek to the hotel and we crashed. I woke up early the next day and off to Barcelona I went!

 Barrrrrrrceeelllooooonnnaaaa!

 Las Ramblas: This big street that has so much activity with things from street vendors to living statues like this one keeping things interesting.

 I am so amazed with the architecture of all of Europe.

First stop for Ale and I: Park Güell. The most wonderful park that Gaudí has ever created in my opinion. This picture doesn't show the entrance, but the buildings look kind of like gingerbread houses that I really just wanted to eat them.

 Rocking out in the park!

 Why hello there! What a gorgeous view :)

 Next stop: Sagrada Familia. This is a church that Guadí began building in the 1880s and it isn't expected to be finished until about 2030. There is no good way to describe the experience. It is just massive with so much detail from the 1000 person choir loft to the stained glass windows to the outside of one wall looking like tree roots. I will probably never experience something as grand like this in my life ever again.

 The Lord's Prayer in different languages from around the world.

 Just look at the detail people!!!!

 Me outside. You can kind of get the sense of just how massive it really is.

 MY FIRST STARBUCKS SINCE JANUARY. Yes, I had to document this moment.

 Day Two was spent at the beach, looking at stores, roaming Las Ramblas and eating delicious gelato. 

Barcelona was absolutely amazing. So much to do that I wish we could've stayed there much longer. And it was sooooooo nice seeing a face from home. Spending time with Ale was perfect for sure. But we had to catch our plane to Cologne (Köln), Germany. 

We didn't get into Germany until after 11pm and then we had to get ourselves from the airport to Lukas' friend Mirko's apartment. An adventure in itself that is for sure. But once there (after 1am!!) and finding out we will be living with no wifi (sad day), we passed out! 

Here is a small photo recap of our week in Cologne. There is a lot you can do in a week and I think this is a good highlight of it all.

 There is a chocolate museum. We didn't go in unfortunately but I want this big bunny!

 I found Noah's Ark!

 Some of the streets of Cologne.

 Meet the Dom. This cathedral is HUGE. Like you can see a tip of it at any point you are in the city. Out of all the cathedral I have seen here in Europe, the Dom is just crazy because it is this huge structure in a somewhat small place. 

But a random thing about the Dom, it is next to a Starbucks. So with free wifi there, you best believe we were here a few times. Haha.

 So. Much. Detail.

 This stained glass window is actually pretty famous for not being the typical stained glass that ones sees.

 Finding things like graffiti or stickers were a common occurrence. It was quite fun to see what craziness and uniqueness we could find each day. 

 The gray monstrosity we lived in for a week.

 Yummmmmmmm. Mirko's masterpiece that we had one day for dinner: mustard chicken with cheese, tomatoes, coconut rice and a salad with craisins and nuts with vinaigrette. Eat with wine and voilà!

 It is a mini library in a box in a park! So cool!

A side note about my time in Cologne, I got sick. Coughing and stuffed up nose equals for an unpleasant few days for Anastasia. But even being sick, I enjoyed my time. 

 And ahh the Berlin airport. Word of advice: never, EVER schedule an 8 hour layover in Berlin. Especially if it is from like 10pm-6am the next day. Hated life for those few hours.

And time to go home!!!! I literally danced in the Paris-Orly airport when we landed. I was so happy to be back in place where I could read the signs and understand what people were saying.

I was back in Angers the Tuesday of the second week. So here is how my week went after I was home:

Tuesday- Get coffee and madelines in Montparnase train station. Train home. Get sandwich and credit for my phone. Get home just before it starts to pour. Find letters from Theo. Read those letters. Catch up on life. Shower. Sleep and throw my sleeping schedule in for a loop. Get to see Theo's face and talk to him!

Wednesday- Practically be a hermit in my room.

Thursday- All my friends come home :) Meet Samantha's boyfriend Austin. Go with them to Emily's parents hotel room for cocktails before dinner. Eat dinner. Take her parents to our frequent bar K'lypso. See everyone. Drink. And end the night burning the palm on my right hand when the flaming cointreau shot suctions to my hand in the wrong spot.

Friday- Sleep. Watch is pour. Run to the store nearby for groceries when it seems like it won't rain for a bit. Read...a lot. Deal with my blister that is beginning to form.

Saturday- Go on a day trip to Tours, France with Ashley. I have pictures, but I haven't uploaded them to my computer yet. They are pretty much of the town, the yummy food we ate, the chateau, the cathedral and this really cool bridge. I might post the pictures here if I get the chance. Yet, I might not...

Sunday- The typical try and do homework day.

And that ends my Spring Break and me being a tourist. Only four more weeks of class! And then finals. And my mommy and little brother are coming out here on May 24th!!! I can't wait to have a taste of home here in France with me. 

And then before I know it I will be heading home! Yikes! Where has the time gone?!? Well, I guess I need to make this last month one to remember :)

J'adore Paris

Bonjour everybody who cares to read this blog!

So things have been pretty hellish this week, but with it being the week before our two week Spring Break, you kind of expect it. I had 4 tests on three different days, had registration problems for the first time at ISU (like who creates a new pre-req and then require you to turn in forms that you did it but you can't because you are thousands of miles away and ughhh...), bought last minute train tickets and a friend's early birthday celebration, I haven't had much to time just breathe. But it is all worth it because I leave for Barcelona tomorrow to see one of my sorority sisters and then off to Cologne, Germany for a week. Oh and a day trip down to Tours, France in two weeks. Relaxation will finally be granted! Woohoo :)

But anyway, the point of this post: to tell you about my amazing weekend trip to Paris!!! From Friday night to Sunday night, we got to finally lose our Paris virginities and explore the city that a girl like me has been dreaming of wanting to visit ever since I first watched "Anastasia" (I can sing every word of "Paris Holds the Key to Your Heart."). So here is a peek at what I did in the city of love and lights.

So after an hour and a half train ride, a 45 minute metro ride, being harassed by some old woman and having to run across the highway, we finally made it to our hotel.

First stop, La Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower). I am proud to say I squealed for joy when it first came into sight.

So, so pretty.

And it sparkles!!!

Emily, Samantha and I can't contain our happiness.

∑∑∑ love in Paris.

Day 2 began by getting off at the metro at Place du Concorde.

Such a cool view. Too bad it was foggy on Saturday.

After walking all the way down the Champs Élysées, we made it to L'Arc du Triomphe...

...and then climb all the way up to the top!

Me and the Eiffel Tower.

Me, Emily and Sam.

Definitely had a girly moment wanting to take a picture on the stairs of the Swarovski boutique.

"Ohhh, Champs Élysées..."

Next stop, Notre Dame where we cut a long line waiting to get inside. Nobody noticed ;)

View from the entrance. A service was going on inside while we were there.

A love lock bridge. Not to self: must add lock to it when I am in Paris again with my mom and little brother.

Eeep!

The Latin Quartier: where I had the tastiest drink at one of the bars.

Sunday, Day 3. Such a nice day.

Moi.

This picture of the line getting into the Louvre just doesn't do it justice.

The Louvre: Where we spent about 3 hours of our day.

Had to post my picture of the "Mona Lisa." So tiny.

Who would have thought that we would accidentally find the house that Voltaire died in.

Jardin du Luxembourg.

So many people on such a wonderful spring day!

And that is how we did Paris. Cannot wait to go again at the end of the semester when my mom and brochik come out! It'll be great to do everything else that the four of us couldn't fit into three days. But one thing is certain:

J'adore Paris <3