Not every Wanderer is lost......

Pinch me, let me awake from this extravagant dream.  Is it true that I have already been to three countries in a little over a month? How is this real? Why is this happening to me?  I NEVER want this to end. Goodbye reality forever. You know, not every wanderer is lost….

This weekend was  fantastic, chaotic, and classy.  London was indescribable and it was so refreshing to actually understand billboards, signs, menus, markings, and conversations between local Londoners.  To kick off the weekend, Kelsey, Taylor, and I went to Le Fate (which means the Fairy in Italian) on Thursday night which has a set student menu that included an antipasto, first course, dessert and wine for only 10 Euro a person.  The manager actually instructs cooking classes at AUR every Tuesday from 6-9.15 pm, which is one of the many things on my “to-do” lists.  After Le Fate, Taylor, Kelsey, and I headed home and packed up our suitcases, showered, and got ready for our 3:30 am wake-up call from Auto line Roma (which is a convenient taxi service recommended by AUR).  After customs, luggage, and visa checks, we were on our way to the Stansted Airport in London, England.  After we touched down in London, we immediately took an express Bus to the Victoria Coach station, which was approximately 2 hours away from the airport and for only 10 pounds, don’t mind if we did.  The ride was amazingly smooth and with comfortable and recliner chairs and foot rests, we felt like WE were the Queens of England.

 Once we arrived in Victoria, we got lost for about 20 min (standard) trying to find The White Ferry Hostel.  After asking at least 5 people, we finally found our 15 person co-ed hostel.  Now don’t get me wrong, on the outside it looks like a white wonderland with blue shutters.  But hey, it was a great experience to say the least.  We could not check into the hostel until 2 pm, so we decided to walk down Buckingham Palace Road and see THE Buckingham Palace.  We took pictures along the way and read every sign imaginable in our English accents.  We also toured Big Ben, saw the London Eye, and went through great lengths to find THE ONE AND ONLY Chipotle in London.  Let me tell you, it was AMAZING.  I don’t know why it was so good, but after our royal meal, we headed to the Royal and London Bridges extremely satisfied and loving on life.  We also met Shawne’s friends from Maryland who are studying abroad in London, England for the semester.  It was hilarious because they did not know where Big Ben was.  Are you kidding me?  I mean, what else is there? It is a LANDMARK, NOT A LANDFILL!  After we toured London and took the typical telephone pictures in the booths, and visited Millennium Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Riverside Walk, we decided to check into our hostel..the thing we have been dreading the entire trip.  However, it turned out a lot better than we expected when we saw that happy hour was from 4-7! Hollaaaaaa! Don’t mind if we did.  We went up to the bartender and asked for a pint of Stella.  He just shook his head and told us to get Staropramen, which is literally the best beer I have ever tasted.  After happy hour, we were DEAD and to our dismay, passed out cold at 10 pm in the hostel.  However, with a 15 person co-ed hostel comes a 10 minute timed light and with everyone entering and leaving at their pleasure, it was a little difficult to fall asleep before 2 am.

The next day was the best.  We woke up around 8 am, had our continental breakfast which included toast, cereal and the delicious tea and headed to Harrods (which was a 4 level department store in the heart of London.)  However, of course it is never that easy.  The double-decker bus only took coins and with 2 pounds and 20 pents per ride, we had to ask for change.  And why not go to The Ritz to ask for change?  It also was conveniently pouring, so when we checked into the lobby at one of the most fanciest hotels in the world, asking for the receptionist to split our 5 pounds into coins for a one-way bus ticket, of COURSE we got some stares and grins.  And to make it even worse, I had to pee REAL BAD.  I asked where the “powder room” was and spent at least 15 minutes taking pictures inside because it was so classy.  It made our White Ferry Hostel look like an abandon trailer stuck in the middle of 8 mile in Downtown Detroit.  Oh well. That’s life.

Once we all got enough coins, we headed to the bus station and jumped on a double-decker fire truck red bus (my dream come true.)  We asked were Harrods was, but decided to make the best out of our money and stay on for a ride (until it looped around again.)  However, that was NOT the case.  The bus did NOT loop but stopped at a station about 17 stops passed Harrods.  The route did not loop but rather went north to South.  When it came to an erupt stop, we were asked to immediately leave and started laughing hysterically.  Just our luck.  However, our luck dramatically changed when the number 9 started its engine and we jumped back on.  WHEW. So close.

When we finally went to Harrods, my heart pounded.  It was absolutely breathtaking.  So many stores, departments, levels, wings..Sara (my sister) would have pitched a tent and disappear forever.  However, the annoying ringing of price conversions kept buzzing around in my head and I realized (once again) that every 1 pound was equivalent to 1.50 U.S dollar. BUZZ KILL.  However, that did NOT stop Kelsey (who made such adorable purchases).  She got an awesome light brown pair of boots, pick tinted Ray Bans, a Ralph Lauren Sweater, a dress, and two H&M t-shirts.  SO CUTE. I also bought two shirts from H&M, which turned out to be the best one I have ever been to (eats the NY one for lunch!) After our shopping extravaganza, we wanted to be real Londoners and try their world famous Fish n’ Chips.  We stopped at an Irish pub called Bag O’Nails and indulged into their most “famous” cuisine which is nothing comparable to Italy.)  After our meal, we went back to the hostel, took a small cat nap, and headed out to the classiest, most luxurious 5-Star World- Famous Connaught Hotel where Arielle and Michael resided for the weekend, which was located in the heart of Mayfair.   She told us to “dress up” which consisted of a sweater and a 3 week old pair of jeans (LOVE ME!) for a drink at the hotel.  When we arrived at the glorious hotel, we were of course underdressed by a mile and an half.  I saw the fanciest humans ever, and I desperately wanted to go up and ask them what their majors were.  I NEED to live like that!! I ordered the BEST 20 pound mojito I have ever tasted and we all killed three rounds of olives and mixed nuts.  Michael, bless his heart, paid for everything, which was so sweet of him.  After we pretend to be royalty for an hour, Arielle and Michael had to leave for dinner reservations.  We then proceeded to go the door man and asked for our coats.  When he put them all on us, he was of course expecting a tip from us, but Taylor and Kelsey pulled away very quickly before I gave him a piece of my Orbit gum (hey at least it wasn’t ABC gum like in Home Alone!)

  After we left, we went to grab a bit to eat at a local restaurant and crashed at the hostel.  In the middle of the night, an Indian man came into ur room with a British Accent and yells at the top of his lungs:

 “Do you mind if I turn the lights on?” “The lights are ON. I AM SORRY THAT THE LIGHTS ARE ON. They should be going off any moment. The lights that is. Yes they are finally going off. THE LIGHTS ARE FINALLY OFF. GOODNIGHT EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 Taylor and I were peeing our pants with laughter, mostly because he slept 5 inches away from Taylor’s head.  It was a very successful weekend to say the least.  You have to live and try everything at least once in your life.  Goodbye London. It was real. It was fun, and it was DEFINATLY real fun!

   

Vatican/ BABEL: Walking on a DREAM.

I am so inspired. Today Preeya and I woke up at 9 in the morning and headed off to Vatican City, where we took a tour with a UK woman named Deborah.  At first I was a little skeptical about going on the “tourist tours” in and around the Sistine Chapel but I figured “hey I only live once!” So without further thinking, Preeya and I received an AUR student discount and began our 3 hour journey into the world’s richest country.  Throughout my lifetime, I have gone on multiple art history tours, guides and informational sessions, all of which bore the hell out of me.  However, being in Rome is slowly changing my views on language, culture, and life.  As I was listening intensely about the Sistine Chapel, I learned so much about Michelangelo’s life and the hidden gems he painted on the ceiling of the chapel.  For example, did you know that there is an enormous flaw in his most famous fresco between God and Man? Adam has a belly button.  In reality, it would not possible for “the first man ever created” to have a belly button because umbilical cords are connected to your mother, which would mean Adam was produced by his mother and not created by God himself.  Did you also know that Michelangelo trademarked his work by intertwining himself into his frescoes (and looking straight at you) because back then, one could not write their signatures under their masterpieces….amazing!!! I also learned fascinating facts about the Medici family and how the word actually translates into “orange tree.”  Since multiple popes were from the Medici family in Florence, Michelangelo had to incorporate the colors green and orange into his pieces (despite his views of the Catholic Church.) For those who have been in the Sistine Chapel, you will notice that each fresco gets bigger and bigger as Michelangelo gained more and more confidence in his work.  After he finished the Sistine Chapel in 4 years (which was said to take at least 10-15 years) he continued to work on an enormous “heaven and hell” fresco, free of charge.  After we learned all about the Sistine Chapel, Preeya and I gazed upon the brilliant masterpieces for hours on end, just analyzing, thinking, and pondering.  An overwhelming surge of emotions were suddenly engulfing my entire body, paralyzing my muscles and brain.  It was an inspiring and rewarding experience that hit me like a 100-ton semi truck going 70 mph.  I never wanted to go. But after awhile, we were forced into leaving because the guards said time was up.  Preeya and I were so exhilarated and content with our adventures, that we stopped to get café and chocolate gelato (which is God’s gift to me).

                The next day, I woke up exhausted.  I was moving at a glacial pace and finally found my way to the supermarket.  Although I adore my friends beyond belief, I still cherish my independency and was thrilled at the fact that I can do things on my own.  After grocery shopping, I skyped with my best friend Lindsay for a whopping 3 hours and before I knew it, it was time to get ready for BABEL round 2.  As you have probably already known, I have a mild obsession with a nightclub named Babel and desperately want my bachelorette party there.  So when I heard the news that my friends Shawne, Maria, Preeya, Taylor, and Yazman all wanted to check it out for the first time, I could NOT resist.  It was (once again) a BLAST.  We went over one of our friends, Ali, who goes to the University of Maryland and is in two of my classes at AUR.  On our way from Ali’s apartment to Babel, we decided it would be least costly if we all took the number 8 metro to Piazza Navona, where Scholars and the Drunken Ship are conveniently located (aka two American bars) and then take a quick taxi ride to Babel.  When we got on the metro, we immediately went to the far back of it and sat down.  My friend Maria found a bag filled with food that a homeless Italian man left of the tram.  Of course with my crew, anything can happen.  She opened up the bag and found fried game (bird) and rice balls stuck to the bottom of the bag, and proceed to smell it.  When the scent was in the clear, she was dared to taste it.  Of course she took the challenge and bit into it.  When I saw this, I almost threw up.  SHE FOUND A RANDOM HOMELESS ITALIAN MAN’S FOOD BAG FILLED WITH FRIED BIRD AND RICE BALLS AND ATE IT. I was so disgusted yet SO impressed with her.  I nearly died laughing and was scared I would pee my pants.  In order to stop this from happening, I walked to the front of the tram until it stopped at Piazza Navona.  When we finally got to Babel, we immediately got in.  I mean we did dress for the occasion (unlike the first time when Arielle and I resembled wet dogs, drenched from head to toe, and wrapped in a mango ultra vibrant raincoat that I got in Iowa) and we were looking FINE!  When we got the “OK!”  from the bouncers, Taylor and I made our way to the VIP section (of course) and started to rage.  I then saw our main man friend Romano (who claims that he is bouncer at Mood but is religiously at Babel 24/7) and danced with him for a hot second.  I was amazing.  Everyone was loving life and enjoying themselves to the fullest.  Before we knew it, it was 3:30 am and we had to leave before the tram stopped working at 4 am.  Needless to say, some of our crew stayed out until 7 am (when Babel actually closes), but some of us raged too hard in the beginning.  It was, once again, a memorable night to tell my grandchildren.

As I look back on my weekends here in Roma, I can NOT believe I have been in Italy for a month (it will be on Tuesday).  There is still SO much I want to experience, yet I have been busy 24/7 and constantly on adventures, while  exploring , learning, and embracing the Roman environment.  This week, Taylor is taking Arielle’s bed in the apartment because Michael is here for a week and they have a hotel for the two of them.  This also works out perfectly because I still do not have a phone or an alarm clock…oops! Oh well, life is simpler this way.  This upcoming weekend, Taylor, Kelsey, and I are all going to London to have tea with the Queen.  Words can’t describe how excited I am and what kind of adventures/trouble we will get ourselves into.  I have never been happier in my entire life.  

     

Winding down the week

I still can't believe I have been here for almost five weeks now.  However, I have been adapting to my new environment amazingly well and consider myself a part of the city.  Just like the typical Italian, every day I get up around 7:30 am with Arielle and start my morning trek from Via Livio Tempesta, 41 to The American University of Rome on la Via Pietro Roselli, 4.  Unlike Michigan State's campus, I actually enjoy walking the 40 minutes uphill to class, mostly because I listen and breathe in the Italian culture, which includes aromas of buttery croissants, pastries, cappuccinos, and coffee beans grinding and roasting in small cafes, the chaotic sounds of  buses and smart cars slamming on their breaks and laying on their horns, the small talk between the Italian workers starting their day by setting up shop, and the echoing sound of  feet stomping on the sidewalks by locals (such as myself) anxiously rushing to get to their destinations.  Although I am adapting to the atmosphere of the city, I still am not used to the atmosphere in the classroom, which hold a maximum of 30 students per class.  Coming from Michigan State, it is not common to be one out of 350 in a lecture hall in the Business College Complex.  However, I love the fact that all of my professors know my name, nationality, and background information and for once in life, I am not just another eight-digit number.  Now that I am confident in myself, I am also starting to branch out and establish relationships by making new friends from all over the United States (which includes states such as California, Boston, Minnesota, and Maryland.) Still, I treasure my independence and challenge myself every day.  I am always on an adventure. ALWAYS. Just last week I found the most beautiful park across from AUR and a view to die for.  There is a small pathway called Viale Paolo Narducci that is a steady uphill incline, but oh my god once you are up there, you never want to leave. I can't even describe to you the view, but let’s just say it stops my heart and chills cascade down my spine. It is my favorite place in the entire world.    

    This weekend I hope to go to Vatican City early tomorrow morning with Preeya and tour the Sistine Chapel and St. Peters. I am such a tourist, but I don't care. It surprises me that, after being here for almost a month now, I still haven't toured that sacred place...it just shows you how busy we all are in Italia (which I am NOT complaining one bit!)  Next weekend, Taylor, Kelsey, and I are going to London to have tea with the Queen.  I hope this upcoming trip will be as wild and crazy as our France excursion!

Aeroport??

I remember sitting in my 7^th grade French class at Hart Middle School dreaming about the day that I would be sitting near the Eiffel Tower engulfing in a buttery croissant in the heart of Paris.  I remember hearing all about Le Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Arc d’ Triomphe, and Champs Elysees as I dozed off into never never land.  However, who knew 8 years later that my dream would finally become a reality.  It wasn’t until I started strolling around the Bastille (where our hotel was located) and falling in love with the aromas of bakeries that all of it was real life.  It all was happening to ME.  Of course with my four other crazy friends who were infatuated with the city as much as I was , there was never a dull moment. When we first existed the bus that we took from the plane, a man chomping on the sickest dognut in the world looks me in the eye with a thick French accent and yells to us 'AEROPORT????'  i immediatly looked to my left at Arielle and practically rolled up into a ball and cried with laughter. I couldn't help it..the sensation of uncontrollable laughter overtook my whole body like an excorism.

Anyways...  the first restaurant we stopped at was right in the Bastille, where I had the best salad in my entire life.  I know, you may think “why did you order a salad in Paris?” but believe me there were no regrets. The wine tasted like water and with great friends by your side, we were just looking fine and drinking wine! After we got fuel in our systems, our first stop was Le Louvre, which is situated in the center of Paris between the river Seine and Rue de Rivoli to scope out the Mona Lisa (typical tourists!) and also to meet Paul and his friend Martin, later to be known as the moustache man.  We anxiously sat and had wine at Café Marley, which was a very classy restaurant right across from le Louvre.  Once we met up with them (the moustache man has an immediate attraction to Taylor), we headed to Shakespeare and Co. where Ernest Hemingway wrote some of his classic novels. The building was the cutest little bookstore I have ever seen, with shelves piled high on top of each other and vibrant book covers popping out in all directions…. no wonder it was a hotspot for tourists and Europeans alike!  After our little pit stop, we headed over to the supermarket to stock on some pre-game necessities (vino) to kick off our wild night.  Unfortunately,  I desperately needed a razor to shave my legs and since I could not take one on the flight there, I started strolling down random walkways by myself, hoping to run into a pharmacy.  When I finally discovered the pharmacy, I walked up to the lady at the desk who spoke a little English and asked her if she sold them.  She laughed and told me to try a supermarket because of their wider selection, so I proceeded to do so.  When I FINALLY found one, I walked into the “personal care” section and to my dismay, there were none in sight.  Frustrated, I asked the sales clerk where I could find a little razor and he laughed at me, smiled, and said “we don’t use those.”  So now it is a true fact: the French do not use such necessities. 

Anyways, after getting all dolled up and feeling good, we headed over to local restaurant where Taylor claimed she had the best cheeseburger of her entire life, while Paul had a pizza with a cracked egg on top.  Once we polished three bottles (child’s play) we went to a bar where I first tried Pastis (which tasted like black licorice and is Paul’s favorite.)  When the girls decided to head out toward the Bastille, Paul, Martin and I jumped on the metro and headed to see some of their French friends.  While there, I tried to talk a little French to these three men but the conversation ended with me giving out my e-mail address because I still do not have a phone…I may or may not have gave them my home phone number (mom if your reading this I greatly apologize haha).  We ended the night with a BANG and strolled into our hotel at around 3am (which is typical for the Italians but apparently not the French)

The next day, we headed to Le Louvre and actually toured a little of the museum where we saw famous pieces of art done by Rembrandt, Rubens, Fragonard and Titian.  Did you know that the Louvre is so enormous that it would take 9 months just to look at every piece of artwork?  That is AWEsome.  After our sophisticated analysis on various pieces if art, we headed toward the main strip of Champs Elysees to window shop.  As I was walking along the sidewalk, my heart sank when I saw the 6 story Louis Vuitton store in front of my eyes.  This was paradise in paradise! After we looked around and reality hit that my life savings could not even afford a wallet, we proceeded to go to Chanel.  To our surprise, it was a lot harder to find that you think…we had to stroll down random side streets in order to get to our destination.  On the way, we saw the most mesmerizing hotel in all of the land called Le Bristol…I am getting married in there. No excuses.  Once we found Chanel, Taylor bought these rocking flats that had white C’s on the toe…we must have missed something because when we came out of the store there were French arm guards with shields and bullet proof gear on.  It turned out there was an Israel protest of some sort and the Middle-Easterners were yelling and holding up signs in Arabic….when in France I guess!

After our adventures, we came back to the Bastille to get ready for another wild night out.  We ended up going to Chez Ferdiand, which was the best restaurant I have ever been to in my whole entire life (and I LOVE to eat).  The waiters were sexy and the owner was smoking for his age (he apparently is 65).  The men at the table next to us bought us free alcohol after our meals and proceed to invite us to a discothèque Mantra, which was right around the corner.  Without a second thought, we nodded our heads and left to do get our groove on.  While there, the men that came with us bought us countless free drinks....however, the French can’t dance for crap.  They just bounce up and down and throw their fingers in the air…Babel would be disgusted at their dance moves…After a while, Kelsey and Taylor really wanted to go pop champagne under the Eiffel Tower, so I had round up Arielle and my little Indian nugget Preeya.  While trying to get a cab to take us to the Eiffel Tower, Preeya was hammered and dropped the champagne bottle all over the side of the road.  It was hilarious at the time, but since Kelsey and Taylor were expecting us to be there (because they left before us) it was very frustrating.  Preeya then proceeded to buy a 25 Euro bottle of Wine from a random store and when we were SOL of finding any taxi at 3 am..we sat down on a bench and popped that bad boy open on the side of the street.  While we were laughing about the night, we met some friends and shared some wine with them…it was becoming overcrowded so I just got up and sat on some stairs right across from the bench.  When I was least expecting it, a woman came up to me and proceeded to hand me a Euro…SHE THOUGHT I WAS HOMELESS!! I declined the offer but almost peed my pants on how awkward the conversation and situation was…the people in France thought I was a bum. AWESOME. Finally, we found a taxi and since it was now roughly 5 am in Paris, we gave up meeting Kelsey and Taylor and went back to the Bastille for a good night’s sleep. 

The next day, we all woke up feeling like we got hit by a tram, run over by a bus and got blind- sided by a plane.  Of course that didn’t stop us.  Not ONE bit.  We quickly strolled to the Eiffel Tower which was occupied by weird Algerians dressed in gorilla costumes (who were loving Kelsey).  Unfortunately, before we knew it, it was time to pack up and leave the classy city of Paris.  We defiantly put a huge dent into that city…..  WHAT A WILD WILD WEEKEND.