Brittany Garon Comes to Visit!

Everything in my life currently is delayed, my posts, my homework, my sleep, basically everything. I have been so tired that I haven't gotten a chance to catch up on all the little things that I have done. The days seem to pass faster and faster each week.

I can't even believe that my best friend from home has already come and gone. It was an amazing week to say the least. The week before she came was right after spring break and I was already so exhausted that I took it easy and just tried to catch up on my paper that was going to be due while she was here. I didn't want to be cooped up in the house writing a paper while she wanted to explore Florence. That week on relaxing didn't seem to help me though. When she arrived I was still so tired.

She came the morning of St. Patrick's Day and I had just had a field trip to Rome the day before (9 hours of walking on my feet). I woke up early though because I could barely sleep with the thought of her coming so soon. Everyone in my apartment had their parents visiting while they were abroad and since mine weren't it was nice to have a piece of home.

When she got her it was actually real, we both talked the whole way to my apartment in the taxi and I explained everything she needed to know about Florence. Everyone said she needed to try to stay up all day so she wouldn't get all messed up with her sleep schedule since were 6 hours ahead of the US. However, she looked so jet lagged when I was touring her around the city we had to go back and she took a three hour nap. When she woke up it was 5 pm and we went right to getting ready for the big night ahead. All my roommates that were in Florence that weekend along with the rest of the abroad students were doing a Bar Crawl to all the American Bars since Italians don't really celebrate St.Patrick's Day! It was a fun night but Brittany looked like she was going to fall asleep the whole time so I took her back. We both slept 12 hours and woke up at noon the next day. It felt good for me as well to get a good nights sleep.

The next day I took her to San Lorenzo's Market and through the main parts of Florence. She was in as much awe as I was when I first got here. She was lucky to have come on such a beautiful week. The weather was so beautiful! We went to this restaurant called Yellow Bar and had to most amazing bruschetta and spaghetti with calm sauce. I was in heaven.

The next day I only had one class at four so we went on an adventure to hike to the top of the Bell Tower. I had been dying to do that ever since I got here but once I found out she was coming I decided to wait for her. I'm glad I did so I had someone to enjoy it with. It was breathe taking to see all of Florence from eye level of the top of the duomo church. I got great pictures. Later that night we went out for my friend Francessca's birthday to the only Mexican Restaurant in Florence and got happy hour margaritas and some burritos. I was dying of happiness which some Mexican food because I miss it so much! Brittany probably wanted some Italian food but it wasn't my choice of restaurant but I sure was pleased.

Tuesday I had a full day of classes and Brittany was on her own. Every second I got I tired to meet up with her to entertain her but I didn't realize how hard it would be with classes. Some of my classes got out early that day and one got canceled for it worked out. I felt like a tour guide on speed, I was going so fast, talking a mile a minute to explain all Florence had to offer. That night Brittany joined us in our weekly family dinners. It was nice to show her what a great environment I was in and all my new friends here. We later all went out to Red Garter our favorite American bar and she got to meet all my other friends.

It was only Wednesday and I was already exhausted. Brit got to sleep in a bit while I had classes but I couldn't. I was slowly dying and getting sick all at the same time. I had the worst nights of sleep because we would try to share a tiny bed or I would get the couch. Both amounted to zero hours of good sleep all week. During my break we went to the Oil Shoppe which is a famous sandwich place. It was as good as everyone says and I wanted my sandwich to reappear as soon as I finished it. That night I was going to take Brit to my favorite place Club 21. We always seem to have an awesome time there and so did she. I was glad she got to do all the things I did on a usual week. However, that night I got a woomping total of four hours of sleep.. with class at 11 am.

The next day was a full day of classes but in each class it was an field trip. I went to a wine tasting for food class (at 11am wasn't such a good idea), a photo museum for photography and then a scavenger hunt around Florence for Italian. While I did all of that my roommate Taylor and my two friends Steve and Josh, toured Brit around and took her too lunch. She seemed to have a good day.

I then took her to Piazzale Michelangolo to see the sunset! I had never been at sunset only during the day so it was nice for me to see too. We had a great heart to heart conversation and watched to sun go down. The view was spectacular. Then it was off to the famous Gusta Pizza. It was quick in and out in thirty minutes but it sure was delicious pizza and cheap too. For the both of us it was 11 euros! Then I took her to my favorite Gelato place. All and all it was a great relaxing day and I needed some sleep. We were going to the beach in the morning. It was in a town called Vareggio which was only an hour and a half train ride but the train left at 8:40. We called it an early night so we could be up and on the beach early!

We ran through Florence, stopped at an ATM, barely bought tickets and flew onto the train in about twenty minutes. I felt like I was in a movie scene. I tried to sleep on the way there but that didn't work or even some sleep on the beach would of been nice but I just couldn't get myself to shut my eyes. The beach wasn't the cleanest ever but it was nice to wear a bathing suit and catch some color in March. They had a strip of restaurants and shops that we strolled along before heading home. It was a nice last day to spend with Brittany.

I promised I would take her to Acqua al Due which is my favorite restaurant in Florence so far. We got back changed and got there. The line was out the door like usual but we were seated by 8:30. We ordered a sampler of each course to share: One salad, one pasta, one steak and one dessert. It seems like not that much food when you get it but by the end I was stuffed like always. She said it was her best meal ever and I was happy not to have disappointed her. After we got a few drinks with the girls and all said our goodbyes.

Me and Brit got home at 3 am and had to pack all of her stuff. The cab was coming at 6 am so we just stayed up all night. I was so sad when I had to bring her to the airport but it's only 5 more weeks till I'm on a plan back to the US as well (crazy to think)! But I got back to the apartment at 9 am. I had been up for 25 hours straight and had the most exhausting week ever. I took some Tylenol pm for my sinuses and I was out like a light until 6:30 pm that night. I woke up sicker then ever and made some soup watched a movie and was back in bed by 10 pm. I was afraid I was going to wake up in the early morning but I slept all the way until 10:30 am the next morning. I slept almost 24 hours and felt much better but still exhausted. This whole semester is catching up to me and the worst has yet to come. April I will be traveling every weekend until I leave.

Ciao for now!

SPRING BREAK!

Half way through and it was time for a nice long ten day spring break to travel Europe. The agenda was Barcelona, Dublin and London. The roommates all split up for the first time. Two in Greece, Two with their boyfriends and the other four of us on a Europe adventure.

Started off with a nice alarm at 3:30am to catch Pisa bus to the airport and then the flight off at 8:25 from Pisa to Girona which then took us to another hour bus to the center city of Barcelona. On the flight we could see the coast and islands looking out of the window. The flight was packed with students from our program because everyone seemed to be going to Spain for spring break or at least starting out in Barcelona.

One of our friends Michelle, who lives in another apartment in Florence but goes to PSU, came with us on the trip. It was her first time traveling outside of Italy since she has been abroad. She came in handy on this trip because since she is anti hostel so found all our apartments and hotels for us. This one was 69 euro for four nights so around 17 a night and it had a kitchen, living room, bathroom with a nice shower and three bed rooms with two beds in each which were temperpedic beds. It was so awesome not to be in a shitty hostel and afraid of getting our stuff stolen. 

First day:
Once we unpacked and settled in it was only noon time so we walked around, got food at a tapas place and ventured to the beach. It was so nice to just lay there in the sand. On the way back to the apartment the first time we got lost and it took about one hour and a half to navigate the big city. But on the up side we found a churro place :) We all decided to take naps but I didn't want to because I felt like we had such little time. Little did I know I was exhausted and took a long three hour nap. I felt energized and ready when I awoke. Went to this "orange" place for dinner and wanted to be healthy so I got a caprese salad but tomatoes weren't good and it wasn't anything like a Italian Caprese salad. Then we went to chiptos which is a shot bar that everyone who went to Barcelona told u to go too. They had a 250+ list on the wall of the craziest shots. Christi and I took a boy scout where you had to roast marshmallow then dip in shot and eat it. 

Group Shot on the beach (Christi, Taylor, Brit, Me, Col and Michele)

Crazy boy scout shot from  Chupitos

Day two:
Everyone was taking forever to wake up so we decided to split up and Brit, Christi and I went to the beach and I got to lay out in a bathing suit even though I wasn't confident in my body it was nice, felt like real spring break! We took pictures on the jetty which had a beautiful view! Then we ran into nick and boys from out program on the beach and went out to lunch. They were really chill to hang out with. As we walked back from the beach we stumbled upon Las ramblas and the port and walked through some stores. Then it was time to head back to the apartment because we were going to the FC Barcelona game.

The general admission was originally 44 euro but well worth it to see a FC Barcelona game but when we got there it was sold out and we have to get 57 euro tickets which was annoying because it wasn't a good game and Messi (their best player) wasn't even playing because he was suspended for having too many cards. So Christi and I went to find scalpers. This old man who spoke only Spanish came up to us and said he was a member and could bring two friends as members since his other friends weren't there. The IDs we used were literally 60 year old men on the pictures but it worked and we only had to pay 30 euro so we got a deal and were in the same area as the other girls! The stadium was just breathe taking and amazing to actually watch. The teams had such good foot skills. It was nice to be in that atmosphere because in the US soccer isn't that big so they would never have crowds as big as the one that night. After we went to late dinner but couldn't eat had such bad stomach pains.

Amazing view of the Stadium 

FC Barcelona!

Then we met back up with our guy friends from Florence and they came to see our apartment and it was one of our friend Matt Demarcos 21st birthday! It was weird cause we didn't even leave until 1:30 and I was already tired! But that's what the night life in Barcelona is like I guess.. I could never survive the semester there. They had bought tickets to a rave that started at 3 am but Christi, Brit and I told them we'd just stay out till they went to that. We ended up not even going to a club but getting to see all the clubs on the beach and wall around until they left.

Day three:
We slept until like 10:30 and then went to passage di grassi and walked all the way down to the beach on las ramblas

nom nom nom taco salad!

Day four:
We went to the "poop church" aka the Sagrada Familia but only looked from outside cause was expensive to get into and the line looped around the whole thing. Being on a tight time schedule put a damper on some of our activities. However, Park Guell  was amazing! It was Gaudis place of all mosaics which was free to enter and beautiful, there were people everywhere. Basically it was a hike up a mountain with cool designs along the way, lots of bright colors. There was a view of all of Barcelona from the top which was cool. Unfortunately, my knee was bothering me all day. Side note: Tried seafood paella.

Then we went to a late dinner at Citrus which was highly recommended. I got beef bites with grilled veggies and it was so delicious but a really small portion. Then no one wanted to go out cause we had to wake up at 8 am and leave for Dublin but Christi who was going back to Florence tomorrow also wanted to experience the night life in Barcelona cause we heard ot was amazing. Our friend Max who was studying there told us a place to go before 1:30 and it was free so we went to McDonalds after dinner and got McFlurries and killed time and then got a taxi to this club. Since it was free we didn't care how long we stayed so we stayed till 2ish and took a cab home. We ran into more friends from Florence there it was so weird. Seems like everyone was in Barcelona or Spain for the break.


Overall Barcelona was a beautiful mix between city and beach. Also, it was very Americanized which was nice. I saw Starbucks, Dunkin, Subway, KFC, McDonald's and BK everywhere but I stayed away (except some American coffee was nice).

"poop church"

Park Guell

Citrus Restaurant

Day five: 
Once again up early and on a another plane to Dublin. Right off the bat everyone was beyond friendly, our cab driver was talking to us the whole way and telling us all the hot spots to go and where we would get ripped off. Our hotel was called the Maple Hotel which wasn't as nice as the Barcelona apartment but it was fine for two nights. We were only going to be in Dublin for less than 48 hours. As soon as we put our bags down we were off to the first place Derek (our cab driver) suggested.. O'Neill's (so Irish). He said to get the Irish stew which was lamb and a nice cold Guinness. Neither of which I liked much but I tried them both and I was pretty pleased. It was nice just to have the day to stroll in and out of stores and not be running site to site.

Carla, my friend studying abroad there, said to go to this bar called Quays. It was awesome and such a great atmosphere. There had live music by this guy Simon and he was loving on us and playing the best music. Such a cute voice with an Irish accent. He played the Script, Train, Oasis, and so much more acoustic music that was nice just to chill and listen to while we sipped some beers. Then the Sullivan brothers came on next and they were amazing as well and so into it. I loved the pub scene. We were still in our leggings and sweatshirts from the plane but we never went back because we only had little time there but I didn't feel out of place at all. Much more relaxed environment then Florence where everyone is dressed to the nine.

Irish Stew and some Guinness :)

Carla (friend from home) and I. So happy I got to meet up with her!

Out for Brit's 21st!

Day six:
Up and at em we go and starting off with some Starbucks (Dublin had a lot of Starbucks just like Barcelona guess it's only Italy that isn't Americanized). On the tourist list for the day was St. Patricks cathedral, Christ church and then right to the Guinness factory. We did it all within three hours, we were on a power hunt. Dublin is a very time city. We stayed at Guinness factory for two hours, it was so cool to see the process and how much pride and work goes into that beer. The building was a total of 7 floors in the shape of a pint glass each floor telling a step to the process. At the top there was a 360 degree bar where u got a pint of Guinness and saw a great overview of Dublin. I'm not Irish so I couldn't really appreciate the cultural aspect as much as my friend Col. She was in love with everything and bought every souvenirs she could get her hands on for her family who was visiting Florence when we return on Sunday.

Drinking a pint at the top of the factory at 360 degree bar.

I met up with my friend Carla Reynolds from home who is studying there and she showed me around and to a cute clothes shop that's cheap called penny's and for the first time since I've been in Europe I shopped for myself I got a dress two shirts, necklace, earring, headband and it was all for 25 euros it was a great deal. Then we went to souvenirs shop and a bought a few more things. I felt I knew more of how to get around Dublin though then she did because she is 20 minutes away from the center of town and she couldn't really tell me good directions.

However: my highlight was Col finally finding resses and eating them so fast!


Then we went back to hotel to get ready for Brittany 21st birthday celebration. Carla hung out for a while then she left cause she had a flight at 8 am to London which is weird cause were going there as well! We stumbled upon this place called The Arlington Hotel and it was a three course meal with Irish dancing and music for 30 euro and I split with Taylor so with a drink it was 20 very good deal. During the dinner they called up volunteers to dance and me being the person I am went up with Brit and we Irish danced in stage an got a certificate. At the end of the night we ended up at a bar called Fitzsimons (which was cool because it's Chris' last name). All the bars were really chill. At midnight we had the live music sing happy birthday to Brittany. Shortly after midnight it was back to bed because we were off on another plane.

Day seven: 
Up early one more time with once again Starbucks in hand. The night before we got an email from the landlord of the apartment we rented saying they over booked up and would accommodate us to another apartment but we just didn't know where to go when we got off the airplane. It through us through a loop but we finally figured it out. Come to know there would be more problems when we arrived. It was such a hassle with apartment and moved us three times didn't have a clean place or keys. Finally got settled and then got free bottles of champagne and went to dinner for Brits bday her parents paid then went to roadhouse bar was a lot of free drinks and met some cool people.

Col and I

Some good American food for Brit's birthday dinner!

Day eight: 
I woke up early and we went to the tube and saw all the main sights in one big loop: Big Ben, The Eye, Parliament, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abby. All so weird to see again because I recognized it all from last time I was there in 05' with my mom for a soccer tournament. Then I got chipotle for first time ever because Col and Taylor had been raving about it. Harrods was the next stop, it was the first time I had been there and it was amazing! It was so big like a mall but everything was ridiculously priced but I just wanted to just buy something cheap for the bag (that didn't work out). Instead, we got tea at Harrods Tea Room with scones.. it felt so proper. 

Afterwards I was meeting a soccer coach from CFC named, Charlie at Oxford circus so he could show us around. He took us to this place called the loop for some drinks. But it was weird drinking with coach. For dinner we went to a BBQ place, all the food I had been eating reminded me off America as well as all the people speaking English. Finally we got home later after being stuck on the tube and I was exhausted.

Coach Charlie. 

Day nine: 

The last day of spring break was approaching us. We had planned to sleep in a bit since tomorrow we would be back to Florence on a 6am plane. We then headed toward the center of town looking for a matinee of a play to watch. London was known for their plays and I am in love with Broadway and musicals so I was so excited. Col and I really wanted to see Wicked which I have been dying to see forever and never got a chance but it was one of the more expensive ones. Everyone else wanted to look for another one. Luckily we ended up all going together to see Wicked for about 50 pounds which is like 75 dollars but it was totally worth it!


I knew some of the songs because they were played in Glee. It was an amazing shoe and it was a packed house. There were people of all ages really enjoying the show. I was so happy we ended up seeing that show. Then we went on the London Eye at night. I had been on it before when I came in 05' that's why I was only planning on going if we went at night. It was a completely different view at night. All the lights were shining and you could see all the major landmarks. I felt in my own world up there that the 30 minute ride went by so fast. 

Col, Brit and I on the London Eye

Then we went to a quick dinner and it was back to the apartment to pack up all our stuff and go to bed. I had the best spring break ever but I was so exhausted after it all it was nice to head back to Florence. 


Overall my favorite place was London even though I had been there before. It was just so beautiful and modern, not to mention the cute English accents that I love :) Its nice to be able to say I accomplished all the things I did in one week. We were always on the go but in the end it was worth it.