Holidays!

It is the most wonderful time of the year! And although my house isn't decorated with christmas lights and a tree I can sure feel the holiday spirit all around. The Champs-Elysees is just absolutely beautiful right now, with the big christmas markets and tents everywhere, the ferris wheel at the end of the street and all the lights on the trees and buildings its so amazing! I seriously am in love with everything. My life has been busy lately and especially with finals coming up next week AND my family coming to visit in exactly 7 days :) so excited!!! I got a job babysitting the CUTEST french children, I'm kind of obsessed. The boy can sort of understand my english but the little girl has no idea what I am saying most of the time, so they are helping me really learn how to speak french. I usually babysit in the evenings for a few hours a day so they keep me busy which I really like, especially since I am moving into my own apartment in a month! It will give me something to keep me busy and get paid for it! Hello Louboutin's!! :) I am beyond excited to spend see my family, words can't describe it. And traveling to Nice, Rome and Venice! It is going to be the best time of my whole year abroad! Well, here is a picture of the ferris wheel :)  

Florence

Ohhh Firenze, made famous by the Jersey Shore. Renee had a friend living there so we decided to go and visit her. Took the train from Rome, which was an absolute joke considering we almost missed it, asked the police where our train was they didn't speak english and did not want to help us at all. Quite frustrating, but we made it haha. Our hostel was pretty cool, and really clean. So that was a good experience. We saw the Duomo which was gorgeous, especially at night. All light up, it was pretty neat. Also saw David, what a marvelous statue. I have never seen a more perfect person in my life. All the detail that was put into that statue, is just insane. You could see the veins on his arms and feet I mean ridiculous detail. He was gorgeous. I think we stared at him for a good 20 minutes haha. Other than that we shopped, and ate food. The shopping was so amazing, I spent way too much money. But I will probably never go back there ever again, so I mean its okay :) I bought the most amazing Italian leather jacket. Oh my gosh I am so in love with it. Thanks mom ;) I also ate the best pizza pictured above hah, it was so delish. I nearly ate the whole thing. And we got gelato for 1 euro after! SO cheap!! Overall Florence broke the bank but it was a damn good time.

Roma

I can't even begin to describe how much I love Italy. Seriously fell in love there with everything, the food, the people and the sights. Rome was amazing! I don't even know where to begin, Renee and I were just beyond excited to be in Italy it was so much fun. And her mom was with us as well so it was nice to have a parent figure around for a change. We were only in Rome for two days and then were off the Florence but we managed to see pretty much everything. Walking into the St. Peter's Basilica was absolutely breathtaking. I have never seen anything like it, it put Versailles to shame and I was astonished when I went there. We decided to walk up to the top of the dome and boy was that insane, I think it was something around 800 stairs. At one point you could fit your body through the corridors walking up the stairs, it was so claustrophobic. Some people were having panic attacks and couldn't keep walking up it. But the view was absolutely amazing once you got to the top. You could see all of Rome, it was so cool. After that we went to see the Sistine Chapel, it was beautiful so was the rest of the Vatican Museum. I can't even believe that it has been there for so long and Michelangelo's paintings were beautiful. It was just this crazy feeling to be stand there look up and see the famous painting with God and Adam barely touching fingers. Beyond words. No pictures were allowed to be taken which stinks but still it was amazing. After we made our way to the Spanish steps and then the Trevi Fountain. Both were really cool to see in person, after I have seen so many movies with them in it. It was just a surreal experience for sure. The next day we made the very long walk from our hotel to the Coliseum, which was another great experience. It has been standing there for centuries, just absolutely crazy to think that people killed each other and animals in that place as a sport. Alright the food, holy crap. The best pizza and pasta I have ever eaten and probably will ever eat in my life. I became obsessed with pasta bolognese and hot salami pizza. SO GOOD. The pasta was homemade, I mean does it get better than home made pasta? I don't think so. Its a good thing I don't live in Italy, I would be so fat. I can't not eat everything on my plate because it was just so good I felt like I was doing myself a disservice by not eating all of it haha. Overall Rome was beautiful and I wanted to eat everything and buy everything but I didn't because I knew I would be going back soon! Seriously can't wait to go back to Rome in three weeks with the family :) I'm counting down the days until I eat pasta bolognese again.

Versailles

the chapel

ceiling in the hall of mirrors

the kings bed

the queens bed!!

the gardens

marie's house.

marie antoinette's bed :)

This past week we had a break from school. Who knows why, but I am definitely not complaining! It gave me the chance to see more of Paris, because lets face it. This city is hugeeeee. And to get around to all the wonderful sights and interesting areas its going to take a while. On monday I went to the Seine with a friend and drank wine. Tuesday we tried going to a famous cemetery but it was closed so I tried Thai food for the first time. It was delish. Wednesday we went to the Lourve, after 6pm it is free for students in the European Union! Thursday we went to Versailles. Which amazingly enough was free if you are a student in the EU. And let me tell you, that was one of the most breathtaking places I have ever been in my life. If you ever go to Paris and have a few hours to spare, go to Versailles. I don't think I have ever been that impressed by the lavishness of something before. The chateau was absolutely gorgeous, and massive. There were so many rooms and so much history complied into it, I just couldn't believe it. One of those out of body experiences for sure. Last semester I had to do a history paper on whatever subject that I wanted and of course I chose the French Revolution, its one of my favorite events in history. And to get to walk around in that palace and know that Marie & Louis slept here, walked here, ate here I just couldn't wrap my mind around it. The place was amazing, and the audio tour is free as well, so it gives you a lot of background on the paintings and rooms that you walk through. You can even see the door that Marie escaped through when the people were storming the Palace during the revolution. It truly was amazing, and I will probably go back at some point because it is free and it really is not a far ride from the city. It probably takes about 45-50 minutes from my house to get there. I am still looking at pictures and am amazed by the history that is there and here in Paris in general. It's everywhere you look!