praha.

Pragua. Praha. Prague. 

We spent this past weekend in darling little Prague. It has become one of my favorite cities in Europe. I mean I have only been to two.... so that probably doesn't mean a lot but I think it does! I mean we plan to travel a lot during our time here so by the end of these wonderful four months, I can actually say of all the cities I've been to in Europe...(insert name) was my favorite. But we'll talk about my other travels when they come, but for now Prague has center stage. 

Picture from bus window. Czech out that view.

First off, let's just throw it out there that there may or may not be a lot of Czech/Check puns in this and for that... I apologize ahead of time. Okay now lets get stared! First we took a bus from Rome to Prague. We picked more kids in Florence and had a 45 minute stop somewhere at the top of Italy. Someone said we were in Verona... but I don't think so. It was like midnight so I couldn't really look around and see where I was at. Sorry bout it! But we left Rome at 6:00 pm and made it to Prague at 10:00 am the next morning. So you can say I got quite the nights rest. Nope, very much much the opposite. I barely spent at all. I don't know why, I usually can sleep in any moving vehicle! Heck I have already fallen asleep on the train here! But this bus wasn't doing it for me. I don't know what it was but my brain wouldn't shut up. I think it was just as excited as I was and wanted to know where we were at every second. I mean wherever we were for the most of the night, it was snowing! Like a lot! So I wanted to know if it was Italy, Germany, Austria, somewhere! But no clue... So that was a waste of non-sleeping. But I would sleep for like a half hour ever 2 hours so I mean I got some rest, I wasn't like a walking zombie the next day. I finished a book, and watched some movies that they company had put on for us. So it wasn't a complete waste of time either. But anyway, we got to our hostel which was literally a giant pun in itself. It was so cute! It's called Czech Inn.. Hahaha. If you are ever in Prague, stay there! It is really convenient with the trams and buses, and the staff there is was nice! So we got to the inn at like 10:00 and our tour was at 10:45. We had 45 minutes to get changed and get the smell of travel and bus off of us. So you can already guess that we looked suuuper good for that tour. Oh! And we still had to eat breakfast! But somehow we and 30 other 20 year olds managed to get ready, eat, shower, and be down in the lobby close to 11. It's not 10:45, but I mean with 30+ 20 year olds, that seemed like a record! So we had a great tour kid his name was Isaac, and he was hilarious! I wish I kept a list of funny things he said because I was dying! But he was super cool, he knew all his stuff and had traveled a lot so I mean that's what you want in a tour guide so it fit like a glove. We saw the town square, the museum, and a ton of other places! I don't remember a lot of their names because the Czech language is crazy. 

We also had the privilege of having a lovely lunch at a place called Lokal. It was super good, and very traditional Czech food. I got like 3 sausages with mustard and horseradish. It was super good! In Prague, the beer is basically on tap so you can have it with ease at any restaurant! But Chan and I don't drink, so whenever we asked for just still water the waiters looked at us like we had just cursed their families. They were not pleased with us, but hey sorry I don't drink. Anyway after the water incident the waiter suddenly was really nice and had to suggest something for dessert. Of course we had to get the traditional Czech biscut! A sugary cookie with whipped cream on it! *PSA--- In Europe whipped cream has no sugar. I repeat, just plain whipped cream. Thank you, that is all* After that we were full and very satisfied, but so so cold. Prague is crazy cold right now! Windy and frigid. So we made for the hostel, to shower and possibly nap if there was time.

On our first night the group we were with went out to an 80's club and danced it up! But Chan and I still frozen and being the "Resident Grannies" that we are, we stayed in. But we went out and got dinner and walked around for a little bit, so we weren't totally agoraphobes. So the first day was a success, we navigated around Prague, we found a great place for dinner, and we saw lots around Prague! 

Day Two

feed the birds

We got to see lots today!! We saw the Charles Bridge, the Lennon Wall, the Prague Castle and Old Town Square! Okay first the bridge. Wow. It's amazing. 

This bridge is seriously the most amazing bridge! It is beautiful, with the view of the river and of the towns- Old and New. We tried to be all artsy and get candid pics of each other, I say that we did a pretty great job of it! After the bridge we got to see some weird giant brass babies. They are some famous Czech artist. He is a very... strange artist. He has statues all around the city that are just as equally strange. There is a giant silver pregnant woman and two bronze men peeing in a lake. Each has it's own meaning specific to the Czech people. The babies looks like they have been punched in a face with a scanner... Weird huh?? The meaning behind it the artist is conveying is to not raise your children with TV and other electronics. He wouldn't like the way the generation are being raised now would he??? 

Kinda weird huh?? Chan had the hardest time climbing onto the babies! Slippery little buggers. After we got to take lots of picture and such before we went to the Lennon Wall.

The Lennon Wall. Amazing! 

The teenagers in the late 80's hated the communist regime, cause like who didn't, so to protest they painted a wall with Lennon's face and lyrics to his songs. Because they loved what he stood for, peace and love. But the police didn't think that was as great as the teens so they would paint over it, but the kids would come back and paint it again. Over and over again this happened until the police gave up and graffiti became legal. There is stands still with his face and lyrics to the music! Of course all the generations paint over it and start again because everyone has something to say. But it will always be the Lennon Wall. So we got to take place in history, a small place but hey it's something, Chan and I wrote our names on the wall. There was a guy who was singing Beatles music and it was amazing. It made me want to watch Across the Universe. For all the Beatles lovers you need to, after read this of course, go and watch the movie. It's amazing. 

We then got a traditional Czech lunch, full of beer and lots of meat! But wait... we don't drink. Oh boy the look on the waiters face when we refused  the beer (nicely of course cause we're not heathens). He looked as if we were about to steal his first born, in simpler terms... he was not pleased. But he got over it and it was a delightful meal. 3 courses- soup, a meat dish, and dessert. Chan got  beef & cream and I got roasted pork, and for dessert apple strudel. Yummy doesn't describe! 

After lunch we went on the Prague castle tour. I'm going got be completely honest, lay it all on the table, I don't remember a single thing our guide said... Sorry Pavel. The sun had started going down and it was starting to get a wee bit chilly! Lie... It felt like an arctic tundra. It got dark and windy really fast. So like here are some pictures. Pretend I had a lot of cool information about them.

We made it through the ice tour, feeling as though our toes had frozen and broken off. We went to a little Mexican restaurant. People in our group had been telling us to go to it. It seriously was so worth the walk down a freezing alley! And I'm not going to lie... a little tear formed in my eye because I was so pleased for the food and not to mention the warmth! We checked and all our toes were still there.

Best guac ever

It was delicious and well worth the wait! We chatted about everything under the sun (moon and stars) from our favorite Avenger to the meaning of life. It was nice to warm ourselves with amazing food! It was also nice to chat with Channy, I love when we have our deep chats. Love that chick, she seriously keeps me going here. We walked around for a little bit longer and went back to the hostel. We had the best time here and would easy return in an instant! We got a good night sleep before the 16 hour drive the next day. Prague left a little going away present too!

SNOW!

Somewhere in Germany

It was a great weekend away! I recommend everyone go to Prague, if you have the chance. Our bus ride home was a rough one... cause it was so looong. But we made the time pass, we read books, watched movies and slept. Thanks Prague for the memories and adventures. You'll be seeing me again. 

Until next time, 

-O

What's life without a hideous picture?

one.

We have been here for exactly one week. Seven days. I realize new after typing all of that, it makes it sound like a survival post. "Day 5... Somehow I've survived...."  But a small part of me, actually feels that way. Remember last post how we got lost the second day?? Yep so that happened... again.... and again..... and again.... and again. Four times. EVERY DAY! We didn't get lost Sunday on our way to church so like that was swell! (that's a sign isn't it.... #thechurchistrue) Anyway, even though we got lost everyday, that didn't stop us from having an amazing time!

The Colosseum.... It's stunning. Beyond words. 

On one of our Rome adventures Sarah, Crystal, Chan and I were trying to get o Eatly. It's like IKEA but for food. It is kind of far away, but people kept telling us we had to go there cause it is amazing. So we decided to spend our Friday night and go to this hopping place and eat delicious Italian food. It took us an hour to get there.... mostly because we got lost and wandered the city forever... FOR-EH-VER..... FOR-EH-VER. But enough of that. After walking around trying to get Google Maps to cooperate with us and give us simple instructions we ended up ditching that idea and decided to ask a local.... Only problem with that is none of us speak fluent Italian... so next goal--find someone who speaks English. But who can you tell if they speak English? You can awkwardly stand near them and see if they start speaking English, but then you look like 4 nosey teens trying to eaves drop on their conversation. UGH! Finally luck was on our side, we found a very kind lady and she gave us simple instructions to Eatly and off we were! Now.... once inside the restaurant was another struggle... I mean none of us are fluent, we tried to pick it up on the 10 minute train ride over, but sadly we couldn't retain everything. Shocking isn't it?! But imagine, an IKEA... but for food. Mind boggling, right?!  Every floor was something different. Fish, Meat, Cheese & Bread, Gelato, and Pasta! Everything. But we found the pasta and pizza restaurant and it was perfect! (I really regret not taking a picture, but next time I go... Just wait.) We made fools of ourselves as we ordered the food just like classic tourists trying to say the Italian words and gesture to our menus. The waitress thought we were idiots... No doubt we felt like idiots too. So we can agree with her on that. We ordered our gelato after paying for our dinner and we off like a dirty shirt. Now getting home.... If you can't tell by now... Technology wasn't on our side. But we finally got it to work for about 10 minutes. We found our bus stop and waited for what seems like forever. What do three American girls do to make time pass while waiting for a bus that seemed like it was never going to show... sing Broadway showtunes! Duh. No brainer! We sang Wicked and Legally Blonde, and we wouldn't have it any other way! It was quite the entertaining evening.

This week was filled with the whole shabang. Stress, saddness, beauty, and love. I continue to fall more and more in love with the city. I miss my family and friends but having the ability to talk to them whenever I have wifi is the best, I don't know what I would do without them! Shout out to my faves, you know who you are! #blessed. On Monday, Chan and I were also able to go see the one and only... ED SHEERAN. He is one of the best performers I have ever seen live. Like.... perfection. Also his opener was Ryan Keen! If you have a chance go look him up! Amazing too. Ed knows how to pick 'em.

After the concert Chan and I assumed there would be taxis waiting outside the arena like in the States... Nope! There are none! So with no phones, no wifi (our hotspot wasn't working... shocking isn't it?!) and no clue how to get home. Panic began to settle in... How on earth are we supposed to get home!? We wandered around and in some broken Italian that I remember from last semester I asked about taxis-- everyone's answer was to call them! Well poo, we don't have a phone, but thanks though. But wonder of wonder and miracle of miracles, there was a bus that was taking us to Piazza Venezia. We did it. We made it home to our warm beds and all was well. All in all this week was good, challenging but good! School has started and is going to be... different! Here's to getting back into routines and for making it one week abroad. Yay!   

Dang it feels good to be a gansta

Chillin out, maxin, ralaxin all cool

Until next time,

-O

TELL MA I MADE IT.

"OY WHAT A DAY I HAD TODAY!"- Fanny Brice, Funny Girl

Hello from beautiful Rome!

I am here safe and sound, and living the Lizzie McGuire dream. Hopefully I find my Paolo and become an international pop star! Probs not. Just the average American girl living the long time dream of hers to live in Rome. But getting here was serious stuff guys, I'm talking paperwork up to your eyeballs and lots and lots of emails but so incredibly worth it. I've been here for two days and already I'm in love with the city. I am sad to be away from my beloved family and very treasured friends, but I came to grow and learn more about the history of Italy and eat more than my fair share of gelato and pizza. So here's to the good eats of Italy! Huzzah!

Day uno:

We can fly, we can fly, we flew! Holy canoli kids. Waking up at 5:00 am is not an easy task, I don't know how people can be fully awake at such a silly time. I frankly don't like it! I couldn't even function, let alone think, so the airport was a bit of a struggle. But I managed to force a smile and get pumped cause I was about to be in Rome in a short 15 hours. Nah the flying wasn't that bad though! After 2 movies, 3 hours of How to Get Away With Murder, 2 hours of The Big Bang Theory, 2 hour layover in Atlanta (peach smoothie, cause #georgiapeach ✔️) and 2 hours of unsuccessful attempts at sleeping, we made it. But like flying into Rome was perfect! We could see the ocean and all the little houses and it made me giddy, like the city was awaiting my arrival and I couldn't wait to see what it had in store. I'm so lucky to be on this study abroad with Chan. She is such an example of positivity and light that I find myself lacking sometimes. After a very fast paced and traffic jammed ride from the airport to our lovely apartment Chan and I were ready to die. I mean jet lag definitely got the best of us. Different times during the day we were either slap happy and laughing at the literally everything or we were just so quiet and desperate for a nap. BUT to my demise people advised me not to take a nap on the first day and all would be well... uh nooooo! I saw nay! I need my sleep. We did everything to take our minds off of napping. We showered cause like nasty plane feeling, walked around our little neighborhood, talked with the new roomies, unpacked, everything. We couldn't do it, my body started to lose it and I was started to get all shakes and weird!! But it's okay cause I napped anyway and I felt just fine! So HA to those who told me other wise. ISA, the company in charge, took us to the most amazing dinner! It was beautiful and so delicious!! Pasta, veal with prosciutto, roasted potatoes, and tiramisu! Bliss.

We came home and crashed cause we haven't slept in 42 hours since waking up from the airport the day before... All in all I know this is going to be the most amazing trip in all my years.It was all so perfect. Not to mention all the wonderful sights we saw whilst riding the tram to dinner.

Day due:

Lost. I'm telling you straight up lost, in a foreign country barely speaking the language... Scary as going a month with no Netflix. Terrifying right?? But you wanna know a secret, that's where I feel like I found some cool treasures!

Rome in the rain= perfection

We had orientation this morning and we found the directions and had the perfect amount of time to get there on time with no stress. Nope not at all! Hahaha. We accidentally took the tram instead of the bus. So we took a crazy long way to get there but I feel like I learned more about myself than I wold have by sitting in an orientation. Although the orientation would have helped greatly! But the Program directors are so kind and they helped us along. The first night they told us they wanted us to get lost because that makes us learn faster and that makes sense! They were smart for that! Anyway after all the boring things like getting school ids and making sure we had the correct documents, we went to got lunch.

Suppli. Deep Fried. Rice, Tomato Mozzarella. PERFECTION!

Suppli=delicious!!!! Totally recommended! You gotta try it. Then we had a walking tour of Rome We saw all types of historical monuments, from the Pantheon to the Trevi Fountain.

Roomies- Me, Megan, Chan, Crystal, and Sarah (missing MJ)

The Pantheon

GELATO

I was robbed my Lizzie McGuire moment because it is under construction! But we got gelato and continued to walk aimlessly around until we found a bus and continued home. Yes the number of selfies is.... well a lot. But I can't help it! Plus I mean #selfie. I thoroughly enjoyed my past two days and I cannot wait to see what the next two months have in store for me. I'm so thankful for this opportunity and I hope you who want to follow along with me in la bella Rome!

Dear Rome,

I love you. 

Until next time,

-O