Amalfi Coast

My weekend on the Amalfi Coast was probably one of my favorite trips of the semester. The sea and sunshine made it feel like summer, and it was so relaxing. We didn't get to explore a whole lot of Sorrento, where we stayed, but our dinners were always delicious.

We spent the first day on the black sand beach in Positano. We had great weather, so I laid out for a good portion of the afternoon. Italian beach towns definitely feel different from the touristy ones I'm used to back home. There was no real boardwalk, but there were tons of cute shops lined up on the mountainside.

The next day, we hit Capri, where all the ridiculously rich people (like the Gerber family, of Gerber baby fame) go. Starting with a boat tour was great because it gave us a chance to see all the cool cliffs and rock formations, like the ones used in Dolce & Gabbana ads a few years ago. Our tour also made a stop at the Blue Grotto, which is a cave lit with what looks like must be artificial lights but is actually naturally that bright blue from the sun. In general, the water was the clearest, bluest sea I've seen in my life. I couldn't stop staring down at it, hardly believing something that breathtaking could be real.

Since a couple of my other friends and I had already been to the archaeological site at Pompeii, we spent that afternoon taking in the town. There's not much in the area, but we chatted up a local for recommendations on where to get cheap food and his favorite drinks, then we chilled outside sipping some beers. Sticking with the vibe of the whole weekend, it was such a relaxing way and a great end to a great trip.

Morocco

Morocco was by far the most unique of the places I've visited while studying abroad, which I guess makes sense considering it was the only country I went to outside of Europe. It's a predominantly Muslim country, so girls (and guys, I suppose) have to dress modestly, with knees and shoulders covered.

The hotel we stayed at was kind of in the middle of nowhere, but that meant our bus rides took us past some gorgeous countrysides. Chefchaouen was by far my favorite of the places we went. It's known for the vivid sky blue on a lot of its buildings. Whereas a lot of cities have their one typical landmark that you see in every single picture, all of Chefchaoouen was spectacular, and it was hard to resist taking another picture after every single turn. Plus, the city was built on a mountain, so there was an awesome view of the land below.


Asilah was a really cute beachside town. We didn't spend much time there, but we got to stroll around the area for a bit. A lot of the walls have street art, so it almost felt like we were walking around an outdoor museum. Later that day, we headed to another area of the Tangier region for some short camel rides on the beach. Even though camels are kind of spitty and weird, the ride was a lot of fun and I couldn't stop laughing.


To get to Morocco, we flew into Seville to take a bus to the ferry, so we got to spend a little time in the city. It was so nice that I wish I'd gotten to spend more than an afternoon there. Maybe it was just because it was such a generally beautiful day, but seeing palm trees and so much green space made me feel like it was summer.

Assisi

I hadn't even heard of Assisi before my school planned a day trip there, but turns out it's something of a hidden gem of Italy. It's a medieval city in the mountains in the Umbria region and has the most beautiful views of the countryside below. Thank goodness we went on a clear day, when the views were absolutely breathtaking. I'm a sucker for stone buildings even in modern suburban America, so I found the buildings in Assisi super charming.


The town is best known for the Church of St. Francis because it's where the saint used to live. Inside the church are lots of really awesome frescoes of Jesus and of St. Francis. I didn't know much about the saint before the visit, but he's known for obtaining stigmata — the same wounds as Jesus did when crucified — after an angel appeared to him.

Aside from St. Francis' cathedral and all the other churches in Assisi, there's also a military castle overlooking the town. We made the trek up and spent some time inside, where we got to shoot bows and arrows, and climb a narrow spiral staircase to the top tower, where we got an even better view of the gorgeous green landscape below.

Pompeii

Obviously the big draw of Pompeii is how well preserved the lost city still is. So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised at how huge it was. When my brother and I took a day trip there, I went in picturing it like any other historical site, figuring it'd be just a bit bigger than, say, the Roman Forum. But it's the same as a day trip to any other city, considering how beautifully preserved it is and how most areas are open to the public. There was so much to see, and I couldn't believe how intact everything was.

Seeing Pompeii with my brother was definitely a good choice because he's apparently thought it was super cool since learning about it for the first time in elementary school, and I loved seeing his reactions to everything. And he was absolutely right: the place was awesome, and every turn had something new. The mosaics were fun to see, along with the columns, pottery, and general structure that's miraculously intact.


We were lucky that the beginning of our stay had clear skies and warm temperatures. Eventually, the skies started to darken and we could hear thunder in the distance. But even though I hate rain, I couldn't find it in my heart to get mad about the eventual rain that started. Something about dark skies and ominous weather seemed fitting at a place known for a natural disaster. A volcanic eruption is a bit different from a rain shower, but the idea was there.

Time for a cheesy life lesson from Pompeii. Walking around the city, I kept finding myself staring at my feet because I didn't want to trip on the cobblestone, so I needed to remind myself to keep my eyes up and look side to side at the ruins of rooms and courtyards all around me. I guess it goes to show that if you keep tunnel vision for too long, you can miss out on some pretty cool things in life. And that staring at rocks when you could look at mosaic floors and ancient rooms of a lost city makes no sense.

(Finally) The Colosseum and Roman Forum

After a full two months of living in Rome, I've finally seen the inside of the Colosseum. My excuse is that I was waiting for my brother to visit, and it was worth the wait. The outside is so impressive, and I find it amazing that the ancient Romans had the technology and knowledge to build it. The inside is a cool sight too, and picturing the gladiator games taking place inside has a way of making history feel so real.


Even though the Colosseum is the poster child for Rome, I thought the Forum was way cooler. Walking around what used to be the center of Roman public life was unreal. My poor brother had to listen to me geeking out in the main square as I gazed at ruin after ruin. And being able to see the Colosseum, the Capital Building and all kinds of other monuments all from one place made me so giddy.


Seeing other cities in spring break had sort of left me jaded to Rome, but sightseeing reminded me how much I love it. We got some great views of the city and its warm colors and beautiful architecture, and I adore how accessible all the ancient monuments are. Plus, my main complaint about Rome is its spotty transportation, and even that came through for us without a hitch. I really couldn't have asked for a better city for the ultimate study abroad experience.

Spring Break: Barcelona

I knew Barcelona would be cool based on the number of people I know who love it, but I really didn't know much about it. What I didn't expect was that it would end up having some of my favorite spots in the world.

I didn't know anything about Antonio Gaudí before my trip, but he's now my favorite architect by far. Parc Güell and La Sagrada Família, both of which he designed, were two of the coolest places I've ever seen. Parc Güell had such cool features and felt nothing like your typical park. The mosaic gardens inside were well worth the visit too, though I honestly thought the parts around them were even cooler.

In La Sagrada Família, I had to remind myself to keep my mouth closed after my jaw dropped. The outside, which is still under construction after 100 years, looks like a sort of creepy castle. But when you step inside, you're met with stained glass reflecting on white pillar-like structures that reach up to an incredibly high ceiling. It's designed to feel like a forest inside, and pictures can't do justice to the unreal design.


One thing I was surprised I enjoyed as much as I did was the "magic fountain," Font màgica de Montjuïc. At night, it features a light show set to music. Normally I can only watch things like that for so long before getting bored, but the varied music selection, which ranged from Destiny's Child to choral hymns, kept it interesting, and I couldn't keep my eyes off the changing colors.

At least among the college crowd, Barcelona is probably best known for its nightlife, and it was everything I'd hoped for. The clubs don't start filling up until 2 a.m., meaning rolling home after sunrise is pretty common. We went to a club called Opium, which is located on the beach, giving my friends and I the chance to escape the club scene for a bit and chill by the water.

Spring Break: Paris

Among all the cities I visited this break, Paris still has my heart. It was just as beautiful, romantic, and simple to get around as I'd remembered.

My only hesitation about hitting Paris over spring break was that I'd already gone just a month before. Turns out there was no need to worry though: I ended up doing way different things from the last time. For instance, even though I'd been to the Louvre before, I hadn't had time to see the Mona Lisa. Everyone says it's hardly worth seeing, but it was still something I wanted to cross off my bucket list. Maybe it was just my low expectations, but I was not at all disappointed by it. Sure, it's probably fifty times smaller than the painting across from it, but I still managed to take a decent selfie, and that's all that matters, right?

Another new experience was seeing the Eiffel Tower in the daylight. It's still cool and all, but I have to admit I much prefer it at night. There's a certain romance in looking at it lit up that even single ol' me is a sucker for.

Eiffel Tower in daylight: cool but industrial-looking.

Eiffel Tower at night: industrial-looking but gorgeous.

I also got to walk through the Versailles gardens for the first time this trip. It wasn't freezing out, but it was still sort of dreary and probably would have looked better on a sunny day, but it still made for a really cool walking spot. My friend and I wandered around for a couple hours having a life chat, and I can't think of a more perfect spot.

The greenery of Versailles made it feel more like spring.

Daffodils brought some needed cheer to a dreary day.

From my experience, the stereotypes about the French being rude aren't totally accurate. During lunch at a restaurant off the beaten track in Versailles, the waiter was very patient and didn't mind explaining what each of the dishes were. After our meal, he even gave us complimentary coffee, probably because we looked like we needed. Plus, during the meal, a man at a nearby table heard my friend and I speaking English and came over to tell us other places in France we should visit. We ended up having a long, eye-opening talk about French policies in terms of immigration and religion.

In that restaurant, I also got to try some actual "French" fries. Not that those are the most authentic of French foods, but I made sure to also try French onion soup and a blackcurrant violet macaron from the Ladurée near Champs Elysée.

I swear matching my macaron to my nails was an accident.

Spring Break: Brussels

On the way from Amsterdam to Paris, we stopped in Brussels for an afternoon. I knew nothing about Belgium besides its waffles, but it was so much cooler than I expected.

Seeing as it was my stop between the two cities, it's fitting that the architecture felt like a mix between Amsterdam and Paris. Most of the buildings looked like more elegant versions of Dutch architecture — minus the leaning walls and floors — and they all had a style reminiscent of Paris, though I can't put my finger on how. A lot of the buildings had gold accents, and there were some surprisingly extravagent ones the main square.


My group spent a fair amount of time at Delirium Cafe, which boasts the most beers of any bar in the world. The menu looks more like a textbook, but luckily the bartender was more than willing to help figure out which of the 2,000-some beers would fit each person's tastes. If you weren't totally sure which sounded good, he'd let you sample a couple before deciding.

Of course when in Belgium, you have to get a Belgian waffle (or two). Not a huge shocker, but they're nothing like the ones you'd get in the States, and the best way to describe them is probably "life-changing." They've got crystalized sugar and taste almost more like a big, fluffy churro. I highly recommend getting one covered in speculoos. As a nod toward recreating its deliciousness, I'll probably have to start drizzling cookie butter on my Eggos in the future.

Spring Break: Amsterdam

Fun fact: contrary to popular belief, weed isn't actually legal in Amsterdam, it's just decriminalized. But that doesn't mean coffee houses can't overtly sell it or people can't smoke conspicuously in the streets, because in general, officials don't care what people do as long as it's not harming lives or business. There have been high amounts of deaths from illegal drugs lately, so signs around the city warn people not to buy hard drugs off the street because "coke" dealers often sell white heroin. If you visit the site provided on the signs, one of the safety tips listed is to let one person try the drug first to make sure it's safe. Quite the opposite of any official advice you'd hear in the U.S.

The canals in Amsterdam are so pretty, and a boat cruise is the perfect chance to admire all the adorable homes.

In the words of the tour guide, "It's not that you're way too high right now, the buildings really are leaning."

The Red Light District live up to its reputation of tons of prostitutes. They stand behind glass doors but are very nonchalant, some playing on their phones or having a snack while waiting for customers. It's very casual and doesn't feel nearly as seedy and dangerous as people make it out to be. In a way, it's like any other business district.

The Anne Frank House was an obvious site I wanted to see while in Amsterdam. Seeing the small, dark place where her family and the WHO?? had to hide was incredibly moving. There's still a bookcase set up so you can walk through feeling the same as they would have in the 1940s, which made it feel all the more real. It's one thing to see a Holocaust memorial in Berlin, but it's another thing to put a face to a victim and learn so much about her thoughts and feelings. I'll confess I never actually read the diary, but it's next on my list of things to read.

For obvious reasons, the Anne Frank House blends in with other homes in the
area. It looks like the inconspicuous flat-roofed one reflected in its window.

One thing I didn't expect to love as much as I did was the Heineken factory, fittingly called the "Heineken Experience." Before the tour I wasn't even that big a fan of the beer, but as soon as I stepped through the door I got excited. It was really interactive and fun, almost reminding me of an adult version of the Discovery Center.

The Heineken Experience was just that — quite the experience. We got to taste
the beer before alcohol was added and stir some of the grains as they cooked.

Spring Break: Berlin

My original plan was to cover spring break here in one fell swoop. But trying to explain five cities in one post would probably be a bit much, so I'll start with Berlin.

I'll be honest: Berlin is not my favorite city by any means. But I guess that means it's good my spring break tour started there before moving on to Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris and Barcelona. None of that is to say I didn't have an amazing time though.

In general, the city seemed weird compared to most European cities because it had such a range of architecture. Most cities have the same sort of "feel" with most of their buildings, but not so with Berlin. It's known for being one of the more modern German cities, and that definitely comes through. A lot of the main buildings have the type of cool old-looking architecture that I'm a sucker for, but others are plain and boring.


One of the coolest things about Berlin is the way the city deals with the Holocaust and acknowledges its past mistakes. The creator of the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe left the design up to interpretation, but I can say that walking through it, I felt an eerie claustrophobia that I don't think was an accident. Other interpretations say the different-sized blocks are meant to show how people from all walks of life were murdered, or that they represent stacked coffins and the increasing number of murders toward the end of the war.

Since I'm not a huge meat person, a lot of traditional German food doesn't appeal to me too much, but I still ended up having one of my all-time favorite meals in Berlin. I ate at the restaurant that served the first döner kebabs in Berlin, and it was absolutely phenomenal.

Under the Tuscan Sun

Tuscany for the weekend was beautiful. Our trip started in Pisa, which is a really quaint city. Obviously the big draw is the Leaning Tower, which is in Piazza dei Miracoli with the less-famous but equally cool Pisa Cathedral and Pisa Baptistry. The tower makes for fun pictures and something to check off your bucket list, but other than that there's not a ton to do in the town. It's still a really cute town to grab lunch and gelato in though. Walking down the streets is so peaceful because there are hardly any cars and the rest of the city isn't packed with tourists like Piazza dei Miracoli is.

Piazza dei Miracoli has not only the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but also an equally impressive cathedral and baptistry.

The streets of Pisa are really quiet, which is a change of pace from Roman drivers who don't seem to have any traffic rules.

Florence was our next stop. I was not prepared for how jaw-dropping the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore would be. Because it's the city's main landmark, I'd seen plenty of pictures of the Duomo on top of it beforehand, but I hadn't realized how intricate the entire building was. It was equally cool to see from Piazzale Michelangelo, which was 100% worth climbing 441 stairs for an incredible view of the city. Especially because it helped burn off the gelato and two lunches we ended up eating. Even though we'd had a sit-down lunch, we wanted to stop at All'Antico Vinaio, which brags Florence's best sandwiches. General consensus from my friends was that it was a bit overrated and Santi Brothers near our campus in Rome is better, but the sausage, sheep's cheese, truffle oil and eggplant panini I got was well worth waiting the line that ran out the door. La Carraia also had probably the best gelato I've had in Italy.

The Duomo is the most recognizable part of the cathedral and Florence as a whole, but the entire building is incredible.

Visiting Piazzale Michelangelo for a breathtaking view was probably the coolest part of Florence.

Florence's best panini? Yum.

Florence's best gelato? Double yum.

Spending the next day iin Trequanda was a more relaxed Italian experience. After learning to make pasta (as in the noodles themselves, not boiling water) and going on a tour of the vineyard, we sat down for a wine tasting. Until then, I didn't know much about how to judge wine other than "yum, this tastes good," so it was definitely an informative session, and I'll be using that information in the future. The view of the Tuscan landscape was also beautiful, especially seeing the sun streaming through the clouds.

Even on a somewhat cloudy day, the rolling hills of the Tuscan landscape are beautiful.

Learning about wine makes drinking it all the more enjoyable.