Marbella, Barcelona, Amsterdam: Three Cities, Nine Days

I am back from Spring Break....it actually happened, and now there is so little time left it scares me!

My Spring Break line up was a daunting task, but my fellow travelers and I accomplished everything we wanted to see, do, eat and more!

First stop-MARBELLA:

Arriving in the afternoon to Marbella the sky was covered with a humongous gray cloud, you could not even try and find where the sun was in the sky. Our mission in Marbella was to get tan (because if you haven't seen my pictures I have never been so pale in my life). The forecast had said cloudy and rainy before heading off to the beach city, but I just chose to ignore that, however it was sadly true. The first three days were cloudy and rainy, but we still made the most of it and explored the city. Marbella is such a cute town, right on the water, there is a huge beach filled with restaurants and beach bars, and a boardwalk. There are bikers and rollerbladers, tons of children and cute dogs of all kinds. We walked around the "old town", which is lined with older spanish buildings and shops, all white with bright brilliant colors and a plaza in the middle filled with amazing fresh smelling orange trees. The shops were adorable and the restaurants were small and there was all kinds of food to eat. We tried tapas, paella, sushi and kebab. And sangria! I loved the sangria, it is perfect to share with friends and eat the fruit after you finish the pitcher. Although the weather was not so hot, we made the most of our time and got to see the small town of Marbella and get the feel for the beachy relaxing life there. We also learned how to successfully play hearts, Jori taught us as an activity, and now I am pretty good. And I love cards. We played several rounds.

The last day in Marbella the sun finally came out and was shining all day! We woke up early and laid out all day on the beach. It was a successful day of sunbathing because we all left Marbella looking like lobsters. Mission accomplished. The beach was extremely relaxing and it really felt like Spring Break vacation lounging on the beach looking out at the blue endless water.

One story from Marbella: One night Rachael, Jori and I went out to dinner to experience some authentic tapas. We ordered several dishes and sangria of course, and enjoyed each small plate. I particularly enjoyed the crispy shrimp tortillas and patatas bravas. So here is the good part, mid meal a large group of men sat down right next to us. The one man closest to us stuck of conversation with the three of us, he was 31 and had studied in Rome years ago...ironic? He continued to talk to us for a little more. But at the end our meal as we were about to pay the bill, he smacked down a large bill and said "he had it covered and to enjoy our spring break" WOW, WHAT, WHY, WHEN, WHO, HOW? We had no idea what to say and became extremely flustered. We couldn't thank him enough and practically ran out of the restaurant, forgetting to even ask his name. But it seriously made our night and we were treated to a fabulous meal. Thanks mysterious man! We proceeded to go to a beach bar to have large fruity colorful drinks. Great way to end first stop of SB 2010.

We left Marbella late in the afternoon...off to Barcelona!


Second Stop-BARCELONA

Rachael, Jori and I landed in Barcelona around 11:00 pm, normally this is late and any where else in the world it is bed time on a monday night. Not in Barcelona, there the night is just beginning. I stayed with my friend Steve who lives with Rachael's boyfriend by coincidence. Jori stayed just down the street with another friendly badger. We literally arrived in Barcelona and went to straight into taking on the night life. Mondays are known as "locos lunes" and yes things got a bit loco. Our friends showed us a great time and definitely lived up to the crazy Barcelona night life, getting home around 5 am.
The next day it was gorgeous outside and really made the city look that much more beautiful. I had been to Barcelona 7 years ago (freshman year spring break, I cannot believe that was 7 years ago!) to visit my mom's uncle Don, my great uncle who is an artist. I remember really enjoying the city, and having my great uncle and his wife tour us around, but this second time the city seemed much different to me. I really think the weather made the city brighter and more energetic. We woke up around noon, which is on the early side in Barcelona and got lunch at a creperia around the corner. Steve and Jori's friend live on Las Ramblas, an amazing location! We strolled down Las Ramblas and saw all of the street performers and flower carts and pet carts (roosters, birds, bunnies, turtles and fish). We also headed into the Bocarilla, a large market filled with fresh fruit, dried fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, chocolate, and 1 euro smoothies (I had mango coconut mmm). Name it and its in the Bocarilla. Definitely one of my favorite places in Barcelona, if I lived there I would go everyday to grab a piece of fruit. Later in the day we went to the beach, which goes on forever and is gorgeous, and just vast amounts of sand lining the water. We checked out the clubs that line the beach during the day. They are incredible, lavish and huge, like no clubs I have ever had the chance to go to. Seeing them during the day was a fun experience, and we took a break for some sangria at one club. It was indian inspired decor and had big lounging couches outside where we sipped our glasses of sangria. Not bad at all. Afterwards we walked to the Gaudi church and saw it at night, which was beautiful because it was all lit up. Seven years ago I had the chance to see his work during the day, and now I got to experience it in a different light.
After a full day of sight seeing and walking and walking and walking, I think I sat down for about a minute and then it was time for dinner at a mexican restaurant, this was at 10 pm. The food was a delicious change up from italian and so were the margaritas. Afterwards we headed out to a few different bars, one being a shot bar where I'd say they have a variety of hundreds of different shots. One being a "boy scout" shot where they light the shot on fire and you roast a marshmallow over it....yea. The night ended going back to the beach and not getting back home until 7 in the morning. The boys we were with decided to sit down for an early breakfast around 5 am...I fell asleep at the table. I was done.
Waking up at noon, Jori and I continued to power through Barcelona and we were to determine to seet Park Guel before leaving the city. We made our way there, and I am so glad we did because it wad definitely my favorite part about our visit. Park Guel is unbelievable. The small buildings in the park are covered in tiles and gorgeous colorful mosaics. The architecture is flowing and curvy and the shapes are incredible. The park goes on forever and climbing up to the higher level of the park you get a view of the beach and the Gaudi church, it overlooks all of Barcelona. The garden alone is beautiful too with so many trees and flowers and trellises and caves. We had to cut the trip to the park a bit short to catch our flight, but had enough time to see as much as we could and take it all in. We had enough time to grab lunch to take on the bus to the airport from a very talked up shwarma place, and yes it was worthy of its praise. But I could only eat half of it, it was a humongous sandwich dripping with sauce and meat and veggies. We said goodbye to our friends and we were off already to the third and last destination of spring break, Amsterdam.
Overall, the trip to Barcelona was very quick and I would have loved to stay one more day to be in the city longer, but I'd say for the amount of time being in the colorful and alive city, we saw and did a lot. I really enjoyed walking around in the spanish city, which had an entirely different feel than Rome, but in a very good way. The spanish lifestyle is one that I personally could not adjust easily to, but for the short moment I was living it I enjoyed it very much and could definitely see myself returning to eat more tapas and stay out till sunrise. Leaving very tired, we knew there was so much more to come in Amsterdam and I was so excited to be in dutch land.

Third stop-AMSTERDAM

Jori and I were plopped in the middle of Amsterdam, after we parted ways with Todd, Lucas and Oliver to find our separate hostels. We were all staying at the Flying Pig Hostel, but Jori and I were at the Uptown, while the boys were at the Downtown. It was late at night and Jori and I managed to find our way to our hostel, which was a sight. Two girls in an unfamiliar city, we really have become very good at finding our way in new places. The Flying Pig Uptown has a bar in the basement and a lounging area and when you enter has a very relaxed and chilled out vibe. The two of us hiked up to the third floor where our 12 mixed bedroom was awaiting us. We settled mildly into our bunk beds and headed straight out to get some food and see the city at night. Having no idea where we were we found our way to Dam Square and had our first of many delicious and unordinary meals at Wok to Walk (stir fried noodles and veggies and meat in a to go container). We met up with the boys and stayed out a bit longer seeking out a bar to take a seat in, but we called it an early night eager to see the city in day light.
We woke up the next morning to a lucky gorgeous sunny day and headed straight to the Anne Frank house. Walking there, I saw the city differently than at night. Everyone in Amsterdam rides bikes and the city is so cute and happy and cheerful and bright. The buildings are all different, mostly made of brick with large window shutters and the streets are open and welcoming. Everyone is out and about walking with their dogs and children, riding their bikes, or driving. The canal that runs through the city is not barricaded off by any fences or poles, so basically you could just fall right in, but I liked it. There are so many small streets lined with unique stores, coffee shops, cafes, and restaurants. The city is so colorful and I said many times to Jori, I would absolutely would live here and could see myself buying my own bright colored bike with a basket and bell to ride through the streets to whatever job I may have one day. The city simply made me smile.
So the day began with the Anne Frank house. I am very happy I went to see it, it was not what I expected, but it is was such a strange feeling seeing where her house was located, right in the middle of Amsterdam. All of the books I have read and movies I have seen about her life happened right on the street I was on a few days ago. Entering the house, seeing the bookcase that hid her family, walking up the extremely steep stairs and standing in the rooms the Frank family lived in for two years was very surreal and definitely brought me back to reality for a few minutes. It was very worthwhile to see and I am glad I made it to Amsterdam to enter her home and live a bit of history.
Afterwards we walked back out into the sunny weather and grabbed some coffee, and decided to take a canal tour. But first we got bagels to go to keep us occupied on our canal tour (I got wheat with chive creams cheese, cucumbers and tomatoes). The canal tour was great and definitely a worthwhile activity, while not so informative we enjoyed gliding along the canal seeing several of the museums, buildings and boat houses from thew water. We hopped off the boat to go to the infamous Pancake Bakery. So this place had been talked about a great amount and my mouth was watering before ordering. Our group did an award winning job of ordering "lunch". We split a banana nutella pancake, a mushroom, bacon and cheese pancake, an apple, cinnamon, whip cream and ice cream pancake, and a tai pancake. YA. Traveling with boys who have big appetites is a task let me tell you. Being not such a big eater, usually ordering a salad and eating lots of fruits and vegetables, I give myself a pat on the back for keeping up. It was rough....really, very difficult to enjoy so much amazing food. So these pancakes....WOW. Really describing them in words does not do them justice, guess you will just have to buy a ticket to amsterdam and go experience the scrumptiousness yourself.
After the pancakes, which was an event in itself the day was filled with more touring around and enjoying the city, walking into coffee shops here and there and getting a grasp of the dutch lifestyle. That night we got a taste of tai food, which was spicy and tasty near Dam square and ventured over to the Red light district after. Seeing it at night is very interesting and that is all I have to say. The red light district definitely is what you would imagine it to be, and lots of people flock over there at night to yes, see the women standing in their windows. Definitely nothing we would have in good ol' Minnesota. The nightlife in Amsterdam is very different from any other country I have been to, most bars are very busy and there are lots of people walking through the streets and it is just very vibrant and bustling.
Jori and I set out the next day and walked into Vondell Park, which was conveniently located right in front of the doorsteps of our hostel. The park is humongous and so open and green. There were tons of runners and bikers, and kids who looked like they should have been in school, but were questionably not. After relaxing on a park bench for a bit, we walked to the Heineken museum, but ended up deciding to save a little cash and not go inside. Instead we went to find the popular I Amsterdam sign, which was cool, and of course we took pictures. We got lunch at a small cute cozy place called Bagels and Beans and had a very tasty tuna bagel sandwich, one of the best tuna salads I have ever had actually. The rest of the day we wandered around Amsterdam, went back to Dam square and the Red light district during the day and moseyed into few shops here and there. We shared an amazing, and just unfair, warm chocolate covered waffle with a pile of whip cream on top. It was perfect. We met up with the boys and just enjoyed what Amsterdam had to offer and took in more of the city and the life there. WE literally walked Amsterdam end to end. After not going back to our hostel at all that day (we left around 10 am), it was time for dinner and we went to a place called Burger Bar. This was my first burger in a very long time, I usually eat veggie burgers, but this one was well worth it. That night we had bought tickets for a Comedy Show at a comedy club call Boom Chicago in Leidseplein square near our hostel. The main act was Reggie Watts, who was hilarious and a very different comedian than what anyone is used to, but I highly recommend looking him up. The MC was embarrassingly bad, but the opener was a short skinny hairy greek guy who was so funny, I thoroughly enjoyed his jokes, he was very impressive for an opening act. The five of us were sitting front row and dead center in the audience, which was great but a bit nerve-racking. The show was perfect for our last night in Amsterdam and afterwards we headed across the way to a bar to view some March Madness.
The next morning Jori and I woke up and said farewell to the 10 strangers we had shared a room with, and the worry free cozy hippied out hostel. We took the tram to the airport, realizing Spring Break was truly coming to an end and we had just traveled to three very different cities in 9 quick days. Sitting in the airport I was excited to finally get back to my comfortable and familiar home in Rome, but still astonished by how much I had seen and experienced over a week.
The flight home was a breeze, after taking so many different types of transportation, any train, tram, cab, airplane is a piece of cake. Rolling my carryon suitcase back to my apartment and unpacking the clothes I had been re-wearing for the past few days made me think how unbelievable the trip I just experience was. Spring Break 2010 lived up to everything I thought it would be and more. Now it was time for a good sleep and warm shower, back to italian food, and calming my anxiousness for Nicole to come the next day!

How is it already Spring Break?

I would first like to apologize and say I am so sorry that I have not written in such a long time! I know the withdrawal from reading my entertaining and enthralling posts must be very difficult, and I can only imagine the disappointment I have caused you all whenever you go to check my blog, and there is never a new post! Well, today I will brighten your day with a fresh new and long overdue blogpost!

Today is Thursday March 18, meaning tomorrow is March 19, the day I leave for Spring Break. Can I just say, the day it turned March 1, I could not believe it as I wrote the date on the top of my notebook paper in class. When did this happen? How has the time flown so (too) quickly? These are questions I cannot understand. It seems like yesterday I was attempting to find the book store on Via del Corso and getting extremely frustrated and lost and more confused by where I was in relation to my apartment, and proceeded to hop into a cab, realizing I was not far at all. Now I know exactly how to WALK there and know this city I have been living in for two months pretty well, I must say. It has become almost too comfortable, after being here for one month straight without taking any major trips away from Rome. I love it.

Before I talk about my Spring Break plans, here is a small recap of the past few weeks:

Two weekends ago a few friends studying in Barcelona came to visit! It was a great time, and I loved showing them around Rome! And felt pretty confident explaining to them the historical sites of the city, with all I have learned in my history classes and onsite classes :) Mom and Dad, get ready, you will be happy to know that I am actually learning. It was as if I was vacationing in Rome for a weekend, doing all of the touristy things a tourist may do in one weekend, cramming it all in, into two short days. Oliver and I did our best to show them the ropes and must see attractions in Rome. Pantheon, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish steps, the works. Plus we had a few delicious meals! I think over anything the Barcelonians were impressed the most by the food. So much so, they made us take them back to the same restaurant twice. Guess we have it pretty good! It was a jam packed weekend, and I was exhausted from entertaining, but I think Oliver and I are gold star tour guides. We may start a business. Our visitors left Rome, tired, "romemania-ed" out with their bellies full.

In between weekends, the days are filled with going to class, walking around, enjoying the weather when it is nice out, and relaxing, trying to get sleep. I have been attempting to run outside along the Tiber River when I have time and when the weather is suitable for running. Also, the past few weeks, many of my friends parents have come to visit, meaning we get to go out to dinner! It is so great to have parents come and just a crazy thought in my mind, that our parents are coming to visit us in a foreign country that we have been living in. Needless to say, I love when my friends' parents come, and it makes me so happy to see them together, but I am counting down the days till I get to have mine her with me!

Last weekend, Jori and I had a field trip to Pompeii with our on-site class. First, when was the last time I went on a field trip? Middle school? And second, the trip left at 7 AM...grand. It was a friday, so thursday night we went to bed at 9 pm (just kidding) to wake up to darkness and watch the sun rise as we walked to meet our teacher at our bus. It took about two and half hours to get there, so I had plenty of time to sleep. The weather ended up being beautiful, which really made a difference! I had no idea what to expect going to Pompeii, I had been to Ostia Antica, an ancient port city, so I assumed it would be somewhat similar...but it wasn't. Pompeii is huge. It is an entire city, and yes, we walked from one edge to the other, covering everything. We were there for 6 hours. And yes, we used the entire time. Led by my on-site class teacher, Jens, who is German and pronounces all of his Vs as Ws and is the most friendly, kind, smiley man I have met, was the best tour guide we could've asked for. We saw Mount Vesuvius, the brothel, the huts, villas and the remains of the people's bodies that were found from the eruption. The story of Pompeii is incredible and hard to imagine what the Pompeians went through, but it is also extremely fascinating, and amazing that Pompeii was able to be excavated and we can still walk through it today. All and all it was an enjoyable field trip, and I am glad I went with my class and had a built in tour guide to show me around.

The rest of the weekend, we explored a new area called Prati, which is past the Vatican. I took the metro for the first time, which was a new experience and also way overdue. But the transportation system in Rome is not the best...I literally walk everywhere and find that and the tram that goes down Viale di Trastevere (my street) is the most practical form of transportation. The metro stops are very far away from my apartment, so it does not make sense to walk to the metro stop, but instead just walk to the location. However, I have recently discovered the bus system here, although very slow, there is no time schedule, is pretty convenient and easy to use. So, we walked around Prati and another area across Rome called San Giovani. And later that day we go a pretty amazing and satisfying sandwich (after not eating all day) from a place called "Frontonis". Mmmm. That weekend we also decided to go to a 60's themed party at a bar near the Roman Forum to try something new. It was fun, very Mod. I felt like I traveled back in time. We danced and grooved, it was a good time. And yes, I wrote "grooved".

So now after another week of classes, it is time for Spring Break! The itinerary is this: Marbella (south of Spain), Barcelona, then Amsterdam. I am really looking forward to all of these cities, it will be busy, but I have not traveled for awhile, so I am more then ready to get jet-setting! Do not worry, I will be blogging about my trip when I return.

And when I get back I will have a certain special visitor's arrival waiting for me....NICOCLE! She is coming the day after I get home and I am not sure what will happen when we are reunited, but let's just say I cannot stop thinking about her coming and being here with me for almost two full weeks! I know I have so much to look forward to in the next 10 days traveling, but I am incredibly antsy for her to be here!!!! And then after she leaves guess who else is coming to visit...yep, Mom and Dad!!!

So much to look forward to! And it is all going to fly by in no time. Promise I will blog again soon. I won't keep you waiting any more. I promise.

Mini vacation abroad

Soooooo, Tuesday afternoon I rolled over to the buzzing sound of my phone in the middle of a nap to see that I had received an email. In my hazy half asleep state, I read an email from one of the program coordinators saying my apartment, B-2, needed to temporarily move out THE NEXT DAY AT 5pm to the apartment down the hall. TERRIFIC. Apparently there was some sort of water leakage happening below us and they thought the origin was coming from our humble homey apartment. Therefore, move out!

The four of us picked up the next day and moved all of our stuff down the hall to a new apartment that was less familiar, closer quarters, and just different. But things could be worse! Jori and I moved into our new room...with beds close enough together that we could hold hands. Not a big deal for me, as this is how Nicole and my beds at home are situated. Soo, I am used to this, however Jori has never lived this close to me, so we got to know each other a little bit better, and has now accepted me for all of my weirdness and flaws. We are now officially bonded as roomies. The best parts about this new apartment situation were 2 things. First, the shower. We had our OWN shower in our OWN bathroom, this is new as we only have one shower in our real apartment. I kinda liked this shower better, don't tell the other apartment! The other new fabulous attribute to this temporary vacation apartment was...the balcony. Side note: apparently February is the rainy season, today is the first of March, so rumor has it the rainy season is over...cross your fingers please! Lately the weather has been scrumptiously sublime, sunny, super, and filled with sunshine! So back to this balcony, the sun shined directly upon it, meaning we were able to sit outside and attempt to "tan." If you do not know, my skin has not seen much sunlight since I have been here, therefore I am extremely pale and very unappealing. So this balcony was my only source of hope to attempt to achieve a slight bit of color. I have a few freckles, but that is it. Our temporary vacation in this apartment/hotel room was quite the adventure and definitely an added memory to my abroad experience. We moved into the apartment Wednesday evening and moved out Saturday night, so it was a quick trip, but I am more than ecstatic to be resettled and back in my own bed. Great vacation...might be rivaling Venice, Milan, Florence and Paris. Seriously...

During my stay in the temporary apartment, my weekend was filled with more of enjoying Roma and just wandering my new city.

Friday, a few friends and I went to the Edward Hopper museum that was traveling here and discovered the streets near Piazza Navona, with great vintage stores. I didn't buy anything, but I will be going back to hopefully discover a unique find.
Saturday Jori, Rachael and I set out to take the train to the Tivoli Gardens. We left on the sunny day around noon, not really knowing how to get there or where in Tivoli the gardens were located, but we managed to figure it out, and boy was it worth it! The Tivoli Gardens are gorgeous, filled with 100 fountains and words just cannot describe this place. I will be taking my parents there, done. Mom and dad get ready, although Dad you said you've been before. It was just like Lizzie McGuire, but better, yea, better! Sorry Paolo.

Sunday, a few of us decided to finally try "apertivo." Between 7-10 pm ish, bars in Italy have this deal where you buy a drink and then get an all you can eat buffet! Great deal Italians. We purchased a very delicious drink and proceeded to fully enjoy the several dishes arranged on the buffet and then took our small plates filled with food outside to eat in the Piazza Trilussa. Afterwards, Dad you will be proud, we went to the pub Scholars to watch the gold medal hockey game. GREAT GAME, but yes sad loss for USA. Congrats Canada, I am still happy for you. That was the first Olympic event I had yet to watch in Rome...no television access, so it was a very eventful evening. Quite the experience having USA and Canadian fans screaming and chanting in an Italian Irish Pub.
That is all for now, back to school, and looking forward to friends visiting this weekend, and being able to put my knowledge of the city of Rome to use as a tour guide.