Spring Break France: Paris & Loire Valley

Emily and I arrived in Paris late on the night of April 14, and after an eventful taxi ride that included great views of the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, we made it to Amandine's apartment, our home for the next five days. We were meeting her mom, my mom, and a friend Mrs. Rutter to spend a few days in Paris and the Loire Valley. Here are some highlights from our trip...


Dinner Cruise on the Seine: we saw the Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, and other famous sites all lit up

Notre Dame: so, so impressive and breathtaking

The Lourve: I did not go inside until later in the week, but walking around the outside and the nearby Tuileries was beautiful 

The Loire Valley Castles: we went on a drive through the region and saw three of the hundreds 

Amboise 

Château of Chenonceau 

Château of Chambord

Greek Restaurant: breaking dishes and dancing on tables in the Latin district 

Flowers: this was the perfect time to visit, everything was in bloom. I have many pictures like the following

It was great to spend time with so many great ladies! After they had to say goodbye, I met up with my friends from Copenhagen to continue the adventure...

Spring Break Italy: Florence & Siena

Spring break aka travel break to all of us Copenhageners, was a two week, amazing, educational, inspirational and exhausting time to enjoy other parts of Europe. I decided to spend my two weeks in two places, allowing me to really enjoy and immerse myself in each culture. The trip was absolutely amazing and I came back with over 800 pictures documenting my trip. Wow thats a lot, but I had to make sure to capture every moment. Ill start with Florence....

Italy: April 9-14

My friend Kayleigh and I took a flight from Copenhagen to Bologna, Italy in order to save money. Flying directly to Florence is extremely expensive, for future reference. So after a short flight, we touched down in sunny Italy and then boarded a train for Florence. Once we checked into Hotel Rivoli, which was excellent and I would highly recommend, we met Emily and a few of her friends for dinner at Dante's. They have excellent pasta and free wine for students. Yes you read that correctly. I could already tell Italy and I were going to be friends.

On Sunday morning we went to Mass at the Duomo. In true Lauren and Kayleigh fashion, we stumbled upon the San Lorenzo Basilica and thought it was the Duomo. Now, to be fair, it is connected to the Duomo and seems like it may be one and the same. We did figure out our mistake in time to make it to the next mass at the real Duomo, and then spent the rest of the trip feeling really dumb for making the hardest mistake to make in Florence.

NOT the Duomo 

YES the Duomo

We spent most of the days walking around, shopping in the open markets, eating, shopping in the open markets, and just absorbing the Italian culture (read: drinking coffee or wine at a cafe and people watching). Here are some highlights from the trip:

The Academia

We bought our tickets in advance and online, and this was one of the best travel decisions I have ever made. It was cultural week in Italy and the entrance was free, which was good for everyone's wallet but not good for everyone's time: the line snaked around many corners and there is no way I would have had the patience to wait in line. Thankfully we breezed right to the front. Once we were inside, we spent a long time perusing the gallery, and it was amazing. There were so many beautiful religious icons and paintings, and of course Michelangelo's David. After learning all about it in art history, I was able to really appreciate the beauty of this amazing sculpture. His hands were so large and actually had veins running through them. They seemed to be pulsing and alive. 

The Food

This is slightly embarrassing, but we had gelato twice a day, everyday, while we were in Florence. Lemon cookie and fondente is where it's at. The wine, the pasta, the olive oil, the fish, it was all amazing. 

Looks gross, tastes delicious

San Lorenzo Markets
I spent way too much time and money here, but these markets are truly amazing and one of a kind, and the stuff they are selling is (mostly) good quality and very unique items. I bought a few gifts as well as a purse for myself.

Siena
We spent a few hours in Siena one day, a beautiful, almost sleepy town about an hour outside of Florence. After getting directions from an old lady who only spoke Italian (interesting) we ended up outside the city instead of inside (surprise, surprise) and it took us awhile to actually find the town. In the process we managed to eat lunch at a restaurant that was practically in a parking lots. You live, you learn.


Once we actually made it into the city it was beautiful. and I especially loved all of the winding, hilly streets. It was fun to get lost in the city.

Walking around at night
Florence has great nightlife in the sense that people are out and about even at 10 or 11pm, which I love. We always went to dinner on the later side and then enjoyed walking along the water or over the Ponte Vecchio. 

Emily was a great tour guide, and it was so fun to explore the city with her. She loved Florence, and it was sad for us to leave, but boarding a train for Paris doesn't quite sounds like a sob story to me! I'll be back with our trip to Paris!

Host mom's kitchen

Adorable porch + kitty. 

Ciao, Firenze!

Side note: I finished my last final on Friday, and I have been enjoying life and Copenhagen ever since. I intend to enjoy every minute of it, these are going to be a busy last few days!

What I Love about CPH: Part II

1. Really unique fashion. I expected the Danes to be fashionable (we are in Europe after all), but Copenhagen seems to be the most fashionable city I have been to yet. Everyone looks chic and cool . Not an exaggeration. Two key elements: boots & scarves. 

2. The fruit man. Mango (pronounced like a Rastafarian saying "man") and papaya all the way.

3. These people.

4. Football. When you think of good football, you might not immediately think of F.C. Copenhagen or Denmark, but I can assure you they are awesome. Especially the fans. I love living around the corner from the stadium.

5. Flower shops are everywhere. Even in the dead of winter, the flowers somehow thrive.

6. The taxi's are all Mercedes. Back in the day when we couldn't understand how to use the night buses (hello 83N & 85N), we enjoyed the sweet ride. 

7. Nutella. I don't think this needs and explanation. 

Evidence Louisa & I have an obsession with Nutella. 

8. Walking down Strøget, or sitting in a cafe, and listening to people speak Danish. Its nice background noise, and really peaceful.

9. Haribo gummies. Not only are there just the regular ole bears (although those are my favorite), but so, so many others. I'm pretty sure I went through a pack every two days when I first got here. 

10. Visitors. I love having people visit. Lana was the first, and then my mom. It was so fun having a little bit of home here, and showing them around.

Lana says skål!

Mom & me outside Rosenborg Palace

The Royal Wedding

I, like many, spent the day watching the Royal Wedding and all of the coverage that followed. Although I am slightly embarrassed to admit it, I have been fascinated with all things Prince William and Kate Middleton ever since reading through a Hello! magazine at my grandmother's house this past year. Once they got engaged, all hope was lost. Now I have a postcard of their engagement photo on my wall. Ill stop before I embarrass myself more.


Anyways, I just wanted to share how much I enjoyed watching the wedding. It made my homework a little more bearable, and was a great excuse to drink champagne at 12pm on a Friday afternoon. I thought that Kate's dress was beautiful and the whole event was so classy.

Sunny in Scandinavia

I'm back in Copenhagen after a whirlwind of a spring break, and I have to say it is so nice to be back, especially when the weather is 70 and sunny. Thank you Denmark, I knew you couldn't be cold forever.


I'll be back with a recap of spring break, but for now I'm off to go make a dent in the mountain of schoolwork that I seem to have magically forgotten about until now. Ignorance is bliss, people. I'll leave you with a few pictures from the trip...

Ciao, Bella!

I'm leaving for Spring Break 2011 tomorrow afternoon...here we come Florence and Paris! We have a two week "travel break" and everyone has been anxiously anticipating their respective trips. My friend Kayleigh and I will be meeting my friend Emily in Florence from Saturday through Thursday, with a day trip to Siena thrown in, and the Emily and I will take the train to Paris where we will meet her mom, my mom and Amandine. It is going to be the trip of a lifetime and I am so excited I get to travel with so many of my friends.


Hopefully there will be a lot of this 

and this 

and this

Beautiful views only Europe can offer

and this

Just kidding...kind of...

So long North Face jacket and leather boots. I won't miss you

Momma Skibs in Copenhagen

This past week my mom came to visit, and it was so nice having her here. I showed her around my favorite sports of the city and we also saw and did many things that I have yet to do. 


But first, we had to stop for lunch at my favorite places in the city, Paludan Bøger. I think she liked it almost as much as I do, good thing considering we went two more times! 


Luckily, she brought the sun for a few days. On Saturday we were able to rent bicycles from her hotel, and see the city the way the Danes see it. We spent all day riding around the city and just enjoying the weather. 

We stopped at a few places along the way, including the Black Diamond Library and Rosenborg Slot. I had been here before, but never inside. We toured the rooms of the castle, which was built by Christian IV as a summer castle. It was extremely ornate and dark, and while not my idea of the perfect summer home, was still beautiful.

On Sunday we went to Malmö, Sweden. It is a short train ride away from Copenhagen Central Station, and looked very similar to Copenhagen. It was a dreary day (surprise), but we still had fun walking through the old part of town and city gardens. While the gardens were nowhere near full-bloom, it was obvious that in the summer they would be beautiful. We sat in a greenhouse under the rain, and enjoyed a latte for mom, tea for me, and as scone to share. 

While walking around Copenhagen, we came across Royal Copenhagen, a luxury porcelain company. My mom instantly recognized china in the window display as being the exact china that belonged to her mother, who is part Danish. What a coincidence! The shop was beautiful and fittingly was attached to a beautiful flower shop. I could not stop taking pictures of the flowers

The china on display 

Mom went to Frederiksborg Palace in Hillerød, which was built as a residence for Christian IV, one of the most well-liked kings of Denmark. She said it was amazing, and took many pictures. 


We packed a lot of activity into 6 days including a dinner with my friends, a trip to the little mermaid (mom: "that's it? she's so small!"), a canal tour, a fancy dinner at the world's best restaurant Noma, and many walks along Strøget (with some shopping thrown in).
I am so glad that she came to visit me, and in about a week I will see her in Paris!

Dad, we missed you, but we found you located in Copenhagen Cathedral:

Andreas!

What I Love About CPH: Part I

1. The fact that 50 degrees feels so warm. I am so appreciative of the sun now.

Kids (and adults!) playing in the park in Vesterbro

2. Walking into Netto (the grocery store) and only kinda sorta knowing what everything is.

3. Getting creative in the kitchen, and then sitting on the floor to eat. Like a family. Here are a few of our eats

Birthday cake for Kristen's 21st. Or you could call it rice cakes and Nutella with m&m's.

4. The fact that everyone bikes.

Me trying to be Danish. It's actually really fun

5. My PicCell. I do love my Blackberry, but sometimes its nice to have a phone from circa 1998.

Note the military time

6. The airport. Come visit me and you will understand.

The only picture I have, since I am afraid of getting tackled by airport security. 

7. Somersby cider. Digestive crackers. Schwarma, especially at 3am.

Lana & me enjoying said cider. At the bus stop.  

8. Nyhavn.

Lana loves this place too!

9. Paludan Bøger. My favorite place to study. My idea of heaven: a bookstore and cafe all in one.

10. Candles. They are everywhere, including my classrooms and on the sidewalks.

Our lovely windowsill