Sunday, April 4, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
The Cove and Beach- Sorrento
My favorite experience in Sorrento was going to Regina's Giovanna Baths, or as I like to call it, The Cove. It was accidentally discovered by Kyle while he was going on a run. It is unbelievable how he found it. He ran about a mile away from town and randomly turned down a cobblestone road that was maybe 6 feet wide and was walled on each side for about a half mile. I would have never kept going into such unfamiliar territory but I'm glad he had the nerve. I'm guessing it is one of Sorrento's low-key, hidden secrets.
The first time I went to The Cove was on a run with Rachel and Jamie. We soon realized Mike, Matt and Kyle weren't far behind. We all met up and explored the most beautiful scenery in Sorrento. The Cove is in the area known as the "Head of Sorrento" which is the furthest point on the coast that sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea. There is also Roman ruins of a villa that is right on the edge of the cliffs. The view from the top was absolutely breathtaking. The Cove has a natural arc that bridges over the sea and creates a waiting pool or bath in the middle. The water was a clear turquoise and the beach was covered in small pebbles.
On the opposite side of The Cove was large cliffs that dropped straight off to the sea. The boys, being absolutely crazy, jumped from the cliffs without even considering the depth of the water. Luckily it was deep enough and they were safe! A couple days later, 12 of us walked to The Cove to have our own exhilarating experience of cliff jumping in Italia. I was competely pumped about the whole idea until I got to the edge of the cliff. It was terrifying! But it was a once in a lifetime chance so I took the jump! And oh my gosh the water was freezing! We then cheered on every last person to take the leap and then we swam through The Cove and climbed out on the beach. This by far was my favorite experience in Sorrento... so invigorating!
One day I ran into the countryside and found a small fishing village with a beach. It was very picturesque and it perfectly portrayed how I imagined Italy. There were fishing boats on the shore and in the water, Italian restaurants at the base of the buildings with apartments on top, and clothes drying across every porch railing. The town was a little run down but absolutely exquisite at the same time. It is unbelievable how there can be so much beauty in one place.
The first time I went to The Cove was on a run with Rachel and Jamie. We soon realized Mike, Matt and Kyle weren't far behind. We all met up and explored the most beautiful scenery in Sorrento. The Cove is in the area known as the "Head of Sorrento" which is the furthest point on the coast that sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea. There is also Roman ruins of a villa that is right on the edge of the cliffs. The view from the top was absolutely breathtaking. The Cove has a natural arc that bridges over the sea and creates a waiting pool or bath in the middle. The water was a clear turquoise and the beach was covered in small pebbles.
On the opposite side of The Cove was large cliffs that dropped straight off to the sea. The boys, being absolutely crazy, jumped from the cliffs without even considering the depth of the water. Luckily it was deep enough and they were safe! A couple days later, 12 of us walked to The Cove to have our own exhilarating experience of cliff jumping in Italia. I was competely pumped about the whole idea until I got to the edge of the cliff. It was terrifying! But it was a once in a lifetime chance so I took the jump! And oh my gosh the water was freezing! We then cheered on every last person to take the leap and then we swam through The Cove and climbed out on the beach. This by far was my favorite experience in Sorrento... so invigorating!
One day I ran into the countryside and found a small fishing village with a beach. It was very picturesque and it perfectly portrayed how I imagined Italy. There were fishing boats on the shore and in the water, Italian restaurants at the base of the buildings with apartments on top, and clothes drying across every porch railing. The town was a little run down but absolutely exquisite at the same time. It is unbelievable how there can be so much beauty in one place.
Pompeii
During my week in Sorrento, Italia my friends and I made a day trip to Pompeii. We took the Circumvesuviana train which was about a 30 minute ride. This was our first train experience in Italy and let me tell ya... it was sketchy. Men stared us down the entire way, luckily we had a large group of guys with us. Gypsies also walked through the isles asking for money. I experienced an extremely awkward moment on the train when a young gypsy girl, probably around 14 years old, came through playing an accordion. At every bench she would stop and give each of us a mean glare. How random and weird is that? I felt so uncomfortable I just started laughing at her. Oops.
We arrived at the Pompeii train station along with another huge group of tourists. It is definitely a hot destination visited by more than 2.5 million people every year, so here is a little history. Pompeii is a Roman city that was buried in 79 A.D. by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. The people of the city never considered it to be an active volcano even though there had been earthquakes 12 years prior to its eruption. The earthquakes were ignored and the people rebuilt. Pompeii was taken by surprise when Vesuvius suddenly erupted and swallowed the city in ash and cinders. The population at the time was around 20,000 and some had time to evacuate while others decided to wait it out. The people had no experience with such a catastrophe so no one knew what to expect. Pompeii was sealed and preserved by the ashes and made it easily rediscovered by early archeologists. The beginning of its excavation began in 1748 and has been ongoing ever since. The preservation was so precise that voids in the ash were found to have human remains and the spaces left were of decomposed bodies. It was later discovered that pouring plaster into the open space would create the molds of Vesuvius's victims and could even portray their last moments of life including their final expression of terror. Creepy huh?
Pompeii has a rich history but I soon became lost in the endless roads of stone ruins. I know I have learned about Pompeii before, but I walked around aimlessly looking at the city without remembering much about it. There were signs posted that named a few of the areas but with very little descriptions. I wish we had a tour guide to help explain everything, it would have made the experience more enjoyable. But I can't complain too much, Pompeii was pretty cool to see. I saw the coliseum, a few gardens, painting remains on the walls, marble counters, huge columns, fountain remains, and a few grotesque human molds. I can only imagine how amazing the city had been in its prime. Pompeii is definitely an archeological goldmine.
We arrived at the Pompeii train station along with another huge group of tourists. It is definitely a hot destination visited by more than 2.5 million people every year, so here is a little history. Pompeii is a Roman city that was buried in 79 A.D. by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. The people of the city never considered it to be an active volcano even though there had been earthquakes 12 years prior to its eruption. The earthquakes were ignored and the people rebuilt. Pompeii was taken by surprise when Vesuvius suddenly erupted and swallowed the city in ash and cinders. The population at the time was around 20,000 and some had time to evacuate while others decided to wait it out. The people had no experience with such a catastrophe so no one knew what to expect. Pompeii was sealed and preserved by the ashes and made it easily rediscovered by early archeologists. The beginning of its excavation began in 1748 and has been ongoing ever since. The preservation was so precise that voids in the ash were found to have human remains and the spaces left were of decomposed bodies. It was later discovered that pouring plaster into the open space would create the molds of Vesuvius's victims and could even portray their last moments of life including their final expression of terror. Creepy huh?
Pompeii has a rich history but I soon became lost in the endless roads of stone ruins. I know I have learned about Pompeii before, but I walked around aimlessly looking at the city without remembering much about it. There were signs posted that named a few of the areas but with very little descriptions. I wish we had a tour guide to help explain everything, it would have made the experience more enjoyable. But I can't complain too much, Pompeii was pretty cool to see. I saw the coliseum, a few gardens, painting remains on the walls, marble counters, huge columns, fountain remains, and a few grotesque human molds. I can only imagine how amazing the city had been in its prime. Pompeii is definitely an archeological goldmine.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Sorrento Villa... Dolce Vita!
"Ciao Bella!" was the first words I heard as I dragged my luggage onto the dock in Sorrento, Hello Beautiful. No wonder people love Italy!
For my Easter break vacation a group of 13 people and I rented a villa in Sorrento for a week to relax and enjoy a small town- Italian experience. The people that went are all studying abroad at the University of Leeds and are from the United States. We had 7 girls and 7 guys;
Cat- NC State
Paul, Lauren, Laurel, Rachel, Natalie, Kyle, Kieven- University of Wisconsin-Madison
Mike, Adam- University of Illinois
Jamie, Matt, Ted- Penn State
We were met at the dock by Giuseppina, or housekeeper/mother for the week. When we arrived to our villa I was completely overwhelmed, it was not what I expected. We had a private entrance gate that led us to our 3 story home, 4 if you include the sun deck. There were 7 bedrooms, about 7 porches, 6 bathrooms, 2 kitchens, a huge garden, fire pit/pizza oven, and a gorgeous view of Sorrento. From our porches you could see the entire town, harbor, ocean, and Mt. Vesuvius. Every morning I woke up early just to sit in peace and take in the pure beauty of Italy. It was simply breathtaking, pictures could never do justice.
The villa had a great view yet we were still minutes from town, it was just a steep walk down a cobble stone road. My days were filled with relaxing in the villa and hanging out with everyone. I can distinguish the days by what we had for dinner and the few excursions we had. Let me note that everywhere we went, we went as a group. We stuck out like a sore thumb, we were 14 American college students and it was obvious to everyone.
Day 1- We arrived at the villa, unpacked a little then went into town. We ate lunch outside at a cute restaurant and I shared pizza with Cat and Laurel. After this we explored the town and then went to Conad, the local grocery store. I was convinced to buy my first jar of Nutella. Why have I not been introduced to this before?! I ate toast with Nutella everyday for breakfast, it's definitely my new obsession. Giuseppina made us a lemon/coconut tiramisu and some lemoncello that we had for an afternoon snack. I felt like royalty in this villa. For dinner the girls and guys cooked separately and Cat made a tomato based pasta sauce from scratch with bow-tie noodles and garlic bread. Hmm delicious. The guys ate pasta as well but their sauce was from a jar- we totally won that competition.
Day 2- We took a relaxing walk through town, went to an internet cafe, and ate some gelato. Then we went to the fish market and bought fresh shrimp for dinner. Later on that day I took a long run by myself through the Sorrento countryside. I went in the opposite direction of town in search of a cove that Kyle had found earlier, but I ended up running a couple miles past it. I was relieved to be in the sun and to get some exercise. For dinner, Paul made shrimp scampi with linguine that was covered in a butter sauce. I have reacquired my love for shrimp, it was amazing.
Day 3- I know I enjoyed the day, but I can't quite pinpoint what I did. Haha. For dinner Paul cooked steak in an unbelievable sauce. I helped make fried potatoes but one pan was dropped on the floor (sshh don't tell anyone), we scooped them off the floor and back into the pan. We acted like nothing happened so everyone still loved them! We also had green beans and I ate a whole serving! Can you believe it? My taste buds are maturing! Natalie and Cat made a delicious cheesecake with chocolate cookie crust for desert. We ate like kings and queens this week.
Day 4- The most beautiful day of my trip. It was warm enough to lay out on the rooftop and take in the sun. I sunbathed for hours and have a tan (and sun-poisoning on my hands) to prove it. Everyone chilled and listened to music for most of the day. In the afternoon I took a run with Rachel and Jamie and I finally got to see The Cove. But this experience deserves a post of its own. Then Kyle, Mike, and Matt tagged along to run to the beach that I found a couple days before. For dinner the girls all made individual pizzas... and nope I haven't gotten sick of it yet.
Day 5- Day trip to Pompeii- deserves a post of its own. For dinner Cat made a lemon based pasta with chicken. I made garlic bread with Parmesan to add!
Day 6- Everyone woke up early and walked two miles to the ferry in hopes of going to Capri. We soon realized it was quite expensive and the next ferry didn't leave for another couple of hours. We decided it would be best just to hang out in Sorrento and do a little more exploring. I did some souvenir shopping (so basically I bought a post card). Later on I ran to the cove with few people and the beach again with Rachel, this time to take pictures. Paul with the help of a few people made fried chicken with a potato chip breading and mashed potatoes. One thing I know now is that I need cooking lessons. Hmm I have been spoiled.
Day 7- Another warm, sunny day of laying out. 12 of us went to the cove once again and this time I got to cliff jump! It was my favorite experience in Sorrento-- more to be explained in The Cove post. This was our final night so we went out to eat and I ordered cannelloni, pasta filled with meat and covered in tomato sauce and cheese. I could never get enough of genuine Italian food.
Guiseppina also known as Juicy (not to her face) came to clean our villa every morning. I can only imagine how frustrating is would be to clean up after 14 college students. She made our beds, cleaned the kitchen and everything else that was in our path of destruction. Thanks Juicy!
My week in the villa would not have been as fun and enjoyable had it not been for the awesome people with me! Everyone got along perfectly which is lucky for a group our size. Sorrento is definitely a week I will never forget! Arrivederci!
http://www.villeinitalia.com/houses/IlGioiello.jsp- Check out the villa website :)
For my Easter break vacation a group of 13 people and I rented a villa in Sorrento for a week to relax and enjoy a small town- Italian experience. The people that went are all studying abroad at the University of Leeds and are from the United States. We had 7 girls and 7 guys;
Cat- NC State
Paul, Lauren, Laurel, Rachel, Natalie, Kyle, Kieven- University of Wisconsin-Madison
Mike, Adam- University of Illinois
Jamie, Matt, Ted- Penn State
We were met at the dock by Giuseppina, or housekeeper/mother for the week. When we arrived to our villa I was completely overwhelmed, it was not what I expected. We had a private entrance gate that led us to our 3 story home, 4 if you include the sun deck. There were 7 bedrooms, about 7 porches, 6 bathrooms, 2 kitchens, a huge garden, fire pit/pizza oven, and a gorgeous view of Sorrento. From our porches you could see the entire town, harbor, ocean, and Mt. Vesuvius. Every morning I woke up early just to sit in peace and take in the pure beauty of Italy. It was simply breathtaking, pictures could never do justice.
The villa had a great view yet we were still minutes from town, it was just a steep walk down a cobble stone road. My days were filled with relaxing in the villa and hanging out with everyone. I can distinguish the days by what we had for dinner and the few excursions we had. Let me note that everywhere we went, we went as a group. We stuck out like a sore thumb, we were 14 American college students and it was obvious to everyone.
Day 1- We arrived at the villa, unpacked a little then went into town. We ate lunch outside at a cute restaurant and I shared pizza with Cat and Laurel. After this we explored the town and then went to Conad, the local grocery store. I was convinced to buy my first jar of Nutella. Why have I not been introduced to this before?! I ate toast with Nutella everyday for breakfast, it's definitely my new obsession. Giuseppina made us a lemon/coconut tiramisu and some lemoncello that we had for an afternoon snack. I felt like royalty in this villa. For dinner the girls and guys cooked separately and Cat made a tomato based pasta sauce from scratch with bow-tie noodles and garlic bread. Hmm delicious. The guys ate pasta as well but their sauce was from a jar- we totally won that competition.
Day 2- We took a relaxing walk through town, went to an internet cafe, and ate some gelato. Then we went to the fish market and bought fresh shrimp for dinner. Later on that day I took a long run by myself through the Sorrento countryside. I went in the opposite direction of town in search of a cove that Kyle had found earlier, but I ended up running a couple miles past it. I was relieved to be in the sun and to get some exercise. For dinner, Paul made shrimp scampi with linguine that was covered in a butter sauce. I have reacquired my love for shrimp, it was amazing.
Day 3- I know I enjoyed the day, but I can't quite pinpoint what I did. Haha. For dinner Paul cooked steak in an unbelievable sauce. I helped make fried potatoes but one pan was dropped on the floor (sshh don't tell anyone), we scooped them off the floor and back into the pan. We acted like nothing happened so everyone still loved them! We also had green beans and I ate a whole serving! Can you believe it? My taste buds are maturing! Natalie and Cat made a delicious cheesecake with chocolate cookie crust for desert. We ate like kings and queens this week.
Day 4- The most beautiful day of my trip. It was warm enough to lay out on the rooftop and take in the sun. I sunbathed for hours and have a tan (and sun-poisoning on my hands) to prove it. Everyone chilled and listened to music for most of the day. In the afternoon I took a run with Rachel and Jamie and I finally got to see The Cove. But this experience deserves a post of its own. Then Kyle, Mike, and Matt tagged along to run to the beach that I found a couple days before. For dinner the girls all made individual pizzas... and nope I haven't gotten sick of it yet.
Day 5- Day trip to Pompeii- deserves a post of its own. For dinner Cat made a lemon based pasta with chicken. I made garlic bread with Parmesan to add!
Day 6- Everyone woke up early and walked two miles to the ferry in hopes of going to Capri. We soon realized it was quite expensive and the next ferry didn't leave for another couple of hours. We decided it would be best just to hang out in Sorrento and do a little more exploring. I did some souvenir shopping (so basically I bought a post card). Later on I ran to the cove with few people and the beach again with Rachel, this time to take pictures. Paul with the help of a few people made fried chicken with a potato chip breading and mashed potatoes. One thing I know now is that I need cooking lessons. Hmm I have been spoiled.
Day 7- Another warm, sunny day of laying out. 12 of us went to the cove once again and this time I got to cliff jump! It was my favorite experience in Sorrento-- more to be explained in The Cove post. This was our final night so we went out to eat and I ordered cannelloni, pasta filled with meat and covered in tomato sauce and cheese. I could never get enough of genuine Italian food.
Guiseppina also known as Juicy (not to her face) came to clean our villa every morning. I can only imagine how frustrating is would be to clean up after 14 college students. She made our beds, cleaned the kitchen and everything else that was in our path of destruction. Thanks Juicy!
My week in the villa would not have been as fun and enjoyable had it not been for the awesome people with me! Everyone got along perfectly which is lucky for a group our size. Sorrento is definitely a week I will never forget! Arrivederci!
http://www.villeinitalia.com/houses/IlGioiello.jsp- Check out the villa website :)
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Beginning of Spring Break- Naples, Italy
Wow, it is APRIL already. Where has the semester gone?! I'm not sure but one thing I do know is that it is SPRING BREAK! The time has come! I am already two weeks into my vacation so I shall start from the beginning...
Two weeks ago I left Leeds and took a bus to Liverpool where I met up with 5 other girls that were going to Italy with me. We spent the night in a Holiday Inn Express and woke up bright and early for an 8:25 am flight to Naples. We arrived in Italy around noon and set off for our hostel on a bus that was a good 15 passengers too full. And of course we were the last ones on the bus so I was forced to stand uncomfortably with my 40 pound bag strapped to my shoulders for what seemed like a never ending ride. But who am I to complain, I was in ITALY!
Soon after we settled into the Hostel Bella Capri we set off on a journey to find the best pizza in Naples. If you do not already know, Naples is the birthplace of pizza so we were bound to find an amazing meal. The book "Eat Pray Love" suggested a restaurant called Antica Pizzeria Da Michele, so that is where we went. Outside of the restaurant was a crowd of about 30 people waiting to get a seat at this infamous pizzeria. It was going on 3:00 pm and we were starving but we waited an hour or so to be seated. The secret recipe of Michele has been passed down five generations and they only serve two types of pizza, "Marinara" and "Margherita". Surprisingly it was mostly locals at the restaurant and those that we talked to raved about the place, some refer to it as "the sacred temple of pizza." All of us ordered the Margherita pizza with extra cheese. Mmmm I get hungry just thinking about it. It wasn't like any pizza I have ever had. It was soft and mushy in the middle, you have to use a fork and knife to pick it up and then it just melts in your mouth. We each ordered our own pizza and devoured the whole the thing, and for only 5 euros it was more than worth it.
Seriously, check it out. http://www.damichele.net/
We had less than one day in Naples so after the most amazing pizza in the world, we needed to walk it off. The other 5 girls, Cat, Laurel, Rachel, Lauren, and Natalie and I went walking through the city and came across the Castle dell'Ovo that was on the harbor and had a beautiful view. We took our time and just admired the city from the top of the castle until dusk. Though we felt very relaxed, Naples is all about hustle and bustle. Everyone was in a hurry and the traffic was chaotic. Do they even have traffic laws in Italia? We were almost ran over several times, and we were on the side walk! The vespa drivers were nuts! The owner of our hostel warned us about them. It is often that purses are snatched when there are two guys on a vespa, the one on the back can grab your purse then they speed off! After we heard that we strapped our bags to ourselves tight and under our jackets. Also we soon realized how forward Italian men can be. We would be walking down the street and get whistled and yelled at, we definitely felt a little out of place!
After a good nights sleep I woke up early and went back to the Castle dell'Ovo with Matt, Ted, and Kyle. They had arrived around midnight the night before and didn't get to see it so I posed as their tour guide. Did I mention we could see Mount Vesuvius from anywhere in Naples?! It is the most famous volcano in the world and possibly the most dangerous! For those that don't know, it buried Pompeii in 79 AD and it is the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted within the last one hundred years. Also it is the most densely populated volcanic region in the world with close to 3 million people in its path! Luckily we escaped Naples before any eruptions, wheew... close call.
Later that day all 14 of us Americans hopped on a ferry from Naples to Sorrento, our destination for the next week. The sun was shining, the temperature was warm, the view was beautiful, we were in good company, and we were in ITALIA! Wow, a dream come true!
Napoli should play "That's Amore" on repeat throughout the streets. It was certainly playing in my head the entire time...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtmsIq0-T54&feature=related
Two weeks ago I left Leeds and took a bus to Liverpool where I met up with 5 other girls that were going to Italy with me. We spent the night in a Holiday Inn Express and woke up bright and early for an 8:25 am flight to Naples. We arrived in Italy around noon and set off for our hostel on a bus that was a good 15 passengers too full. And of course we were the last ones on the bus so I was forced to stand uncomfortably with my 40 pound bag strapped to my shoulders for what seemed like a never ending ride. But who am I to complain, I was in ITALY!
Soon after we settled into the Hostel Bella Capri we set off on a journey to find the best pizza in Naples. If you do not already know, Naples is the birthplace of pizza so we were bound to find an amazing meal. The book "Eat Pray Love" suggested a restaurant called Antica Pizzeria Da Michele, so that is where we went. Outside of the restaurant was a crowd of about 30 people waiting to get a seat at this infamous pizzeria. It was going on 3:00 pm and we were starving but we waited an hour or so to be seated. The secret recipe of Michele has been passed down five generations and they only serve two types of pizza, "Marinara" and "Margherita". Surprisingly it was mostly locals at the restaurant and those that we talked to raved about the place, some refer to it as "the sacred temple of pizza." All of us ordered the Margherita pizza with extra cheese. Mmmm I get hungry just thinking about it. It wasn't like any pizza I have ever had. It was soft and mushy in the middle, you have to use a fork and knife to pick it up and then it just melts in your mouth. We each ordered our own pizza and devoured the whole the thing, and for only 5 euros it was more than worth it.
Seriously, check it out. http://www.damichele.net/
We had less than one day in Naples so after the most amazing pizza in the world, we needed to walk it off. The other 5 girls, Cat, Laurel, Rachel, Lauren, and Natalie and I went walking through the city and came across the Castle dell'Ovo that was on the harbor and had a beautiful view. We took our time and just admired the city from the top of the castle until dusk. Though we felt very relaxed, Naples is all about hustle and bustle. Everyone was in a hurry and the traffic was chaotic. Do they even have traffic laws in Italia? We were almost ran over several times, and we were on the side walk! The vespa drivers were nuts! The owner of our hostel warned us about them. It is often that purses are snatched when there are two guys on a vespa, the one on the back can grab your purse then they speed off! After we heard that we strapped our bags to ourselves tight and under our jackets. Also we soon realized how forward Italian men can be. We would be walking down the street and get whistled and yelled at, we definitely felt a little out of place!
After a good nights sleep I woke up early and went back to the Castle dell'Ovo with Matt, Ted, and Kyle. They had arrived around midnight the night before and didn't get to see it so I posed as their tour guide. Did I mention we could see Mount Vesuvius from anywhere in Naples?! It is the most famous volcano in the world and possibly the most dangerous! For those that don't know, it buried Pompeii in 79 AD and it is the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted within the last one hundred years. Also it is the most densely populated volcanic region in the world with close to 3 million people in its path! Luckily we escaped Naples before any eruptions, wheew... close call.
Later that day all 14 of us Americans hopped on a ferry from Naples to Sorrento, our destination for the next week. The sun was shining, the temperature was warm, the view was beautiful, we were in good company, and we were in ITALIA! Wow, a dream come true!
Napoli should play "That's Amore" on repeat throughout the streets. It was certainly playing in my head the entire time...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtmsIq0-T54&feature=related
"In Napoli where love is king
When boy meets girl here's what they say
When the moon hits you eye like a big pizza pie
That's amore
When the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine
That's amore
Bells will ring ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling
And you'll sing "Vita bella"
Hearts will play tippy-tippy-tay, tippy-tippy-tay
Like a gay tarantella
When the stars make you drool just like a pasta fazool
That's amore
When you dance down the street with a cloud at your feet
You're in love
When you walk down in a dream but you know you're not
Dreaming signore
Scuzza me, but you see, back in old Napoli
That's amore"
Monday, March 8, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland
This weekend I went on a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland! It was my first trip to another country since I have been in England and my first over-nighter! I went with a student touring company called Don't Be a Tourist and a group of my friends went from Leeds as well. We left bright and early from the Leeds Rail Station and set off on our 5 hour coach ride to Edinburgh. I slept most of the way, as expected, but I was occasionally woken up by our touring guide, Big Kev. He is from Edinburgh and is extremely knowledgeable about everything Scottish. Our first stop in Edinburgh was our hostel, called the Castle Rock Hostel, which was full of adorable Scottish decorations. As the name suggests, we were right beside the Edinburgh Castle. It sits on a huge hill right in front of our hostel so we were in the perfect location.
Soon after we arrived at the hostel, Big Kev took us on a 2 hour tour of Edinburgh. At every place we stopped he had a gruesome story to tell about death, whether it be by war, prosecution, or some kind of tragic event. The Scottish seem to be very superstitious people and there were also tons of ghost stories. It's hard to say what was true or not but Big Kev definitely brought the city to life. A highlight of the tour was visiting Greyfriars cemetery where supposedly some of the names from Harry Potter were inspired. J.K. Rolling also used to sit at a cafe called "The Elephant House" (we ate there!) and wrote a good amount of the first book.
The main road in Edinburgh is called The Royal Mile which stretches from the Castle to the Holyrood Palace (the official residences of the Queen). It is filled with shops and restaurants and a whole lot of history. In the backdrop of the Holyrood Palace is Arthur's Seat, the peak of an extinct volcano. We got to hike to the very top! It had panoramic views of the entire city, and was possibly my favorite part of Edinburgh.
The trip was short but I definitely saw the necessities such as a Scottish bagpiper, men in kilts, haggis, Scottish pub, castle, volcano, and an unimaginable amount of plaid. What more could I ask for?
Soon after we arrived at the hostel, Big Kev took us on a 2 hour tour of Edinburgh. At every place we stopped he had a gruesome story to tell about death, whether it be by war, prosecution, or some kind of tragic event. The Scottish seem to be very superstitious people and there were also tons of ghost stories. It's hard to say what was true or not but Big Kev definitely brought the city to life. A highlight of the tour was visiting Greyfriars cemetery where supposedly some of the names from Harry Potter were inspired. J.K. Rolling also used to sit at a cafe called "The Elephant House" (we ate there!) and wrote a good amount of the first book.
The main road in Edinburgh is called The Royal Mile which stretches from the Castle to the Holyrood Palace (the official residences of the Queen). It is filled with shops and restaurants and a whole lot of history. In the backdrop of the Holyrood Palace is Arthur's Seat, the peak of an extinct volcano. We got to hike to the very top! It had panoramic views of the entire city, and was possibly my favorite part of Edinburgh.
The trip was short but I definitely saw the necessities such as a Scottish bagpiper, men in kilts, haggis, Scottish pub, castle, volcano, and an unimaginable amount of plaid. What more could I ask for?
Saturday, February 27, 2010
The Days Fly By!
It has been quite a while since I posted my last blog, but it's time to change that! I need to step up my game- it will be worth I'm sure. Now the hard part, where to begin?
I have been in Leeds for over a month, can you believe it? And I have finished 5 weeks of classes out of 11! I am settled in now and my life is becoming routine during the week but the weekends I spend traveling and exploring. A couple weekends ago I went to York with a group of my friends. I LOVED it! There was so much to do and see, I hope to go back in the near future. We went to the York Castle Museum which was amazing and filled with random things from England (including toilets, washing machines, carriages, clothes, etc). We ended up spending hours there! It was freezing that day so we made a few pit stops at small cafes. The first cafe we went to was for breakfast and I ordered a bacon roll. I had no idea what it was going to be but I was pleasantly surprised. It was simply bacon on a long baguette. English bacon is different than American, it is thick and more like ham. Pretty delicious I must add. At the second cafe (several hours later) I had the BEST hot chocolate of my LIFE... need I say more?
The city centre of York was all hustle and bustle... full of shoppers! We stopped to listen to a band in the main square, then we watched a crazy comedian that juggled and ate fire, then we ate lunch at a sausage stand! I have never heard people rave about English food but it is fantastic! Also on our trip we visited The Shambles, Newgate Market, and passed by York Minister. My trip was about 5 hours shorter than everyone else because I took the bus to York while the others road the train. With my student bus pass I was able to go to York for free instead of paying 10 pounds!
I am in England to "study" so I supposed I should talk about that! School is going great and I enjoy all of my classes except for Differential Equations. Its just not my thing, I prefer Algebra. One class that I surprisingly enjoy is Logic. NC State students say they HATE logic and it is hard class (it must be the teacher). It does get confusing but I find it quite interesting. Every week I have some sort of math homework due, a logic worksheet due, and sometimes an assignment in poetry. I turned in a 1500 word essay (which is a lot for me) this week and I am relieved to know it's only 1 of 2 I have to write this semester. I basically have NO work compared to the load I would have at State.
It's pretty nice having a lot of free time on my hands. Lately I've been going to the gym (conveniently placed in my dorm) and researching my traveling plans for Easter break! The first week of break I will be spending in a villa in Sorrento, Italy. Possibly followed by more traveling in Italy up through Rome and Florence. Then at the beginning of April MEGAN IS COMING! We are spending 3 nights in Leeds, 3 nights in London, and then 3 in Paris!!! That's a pretty sweet package, eh? I don't have any other plans set in stone thus far but hopefully I will make it to Spain!
I have been in Leeds for over a month, can you believe it? And I have finished 5 weeks of classes out of 11! I am settled in now and my life is becoming routine during the week but the weekends I spend traveling and exploring. A couple weekends ago I went to York with a group of my friends. I LOVED it! There was so much to do and see, I hope to go back in the near future. We went to the York Castle Museum which was amazing and filled with random things from England (including toilets, washing machines, carriages, clothes, etc). We ended up spending hours there! It was freezing that day so we made a few pit stops at small cafes. The first cafe we went to was for breakfast and I ordered a bacon roll. I had no idea what it was going to be but I was pleasantly surprised. It was simply bacon on a long baguette. English bacon is different than American, it is thick and more like ham. Pretty delicious I must add. At the second cafe (several hours later) I had the BEST hot chocolate of my LIFE... need I say more?
The city centre of York was all hustle and bustle... full of shoppers! We stopped to listen to a band in the main square, then we watched a crazy comedian that juggled and ate fire, then we ate lunch at a sausage stand! I have never heard people rave about English food but it is fantastic! Also on our trip we visited The Shambles, Newgate Market, and passed by York Minister. My trip was about 5 hours shorter than everyone else because I took the bus to York while the others road the train. With my student bus pass I was able to go to York for free instead of paying 10 pounds!
I am in England to "study" so I supposed I should talk about that! School is going great and I enjoy all of my classes except for Differential Equations. Its just not my thing, I prefer Algebra. One class that I surprisingly enjoy is Logic. NC State students say they HATE logic and it is hard class (it must be the teacher). It does get confusing but I find it quite interesting. Every week I have some sort of math homework due, a logic worksheet due, and sometimes an assignment in poetry. I turned in a 1500 word essay (which is a lot for me) this week and I am relieved to know it's only 1 of 2 I have to write this semester. I basically have NO work compared to the load I would have at State.
It's pretty nice having a lot of free time on my hands. Lately I've been going to the gym (conveniently placed in my dorm) and researching my traveling plans for Easter break! The first week of break I will be spending in a villa in Sorrento, Italy. Possibly followed by more traveling in Italy up through Rome and Florence. Then at the beginning of April MEGAN IS COMING! We are spending 3 nights in Leeds, 3 nights in London, and then 3 in Paris!!! That's a pretty sweet package, eh? I don't have any other plans set in stone thus far but hopefully I will make it to Spain!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Liverpool Trip
Last Saturday, January 30, I went on a day trip to Liverpool. The trip was organized by the International Centre at my school. There were six buses that held about 45 students each, that's around 270+ international students! It took about 2 hours to get to Liverpool from Leeds, so what I did I do on the bus ride there? SLEEP of course!
When we first arrived (Cat, Courtney, and I) to the Albert Docks we scattered around to find our friends amongst the couple hundred students. It wasn't hard because Americans seem to travel in packs and are easily spotted. On the bus we were given a booklet that listed touristy sites in Liverpool and a map. Our first stop was the Liverpool Cathedral. This Church had amazing architecture and detail and it is the largest Cathedral in England. When you go inside you would assume the entire structure was ages old but it took from year 1901-1978 to finish it. So most of it is only 30 years old. We could have gone up in the Cathedral's tower but it cost 3 pounds. Nathan, a guy from New York, was the only one to go to the top so I let him take my camera (the pictures came out great!).
After our tour of the Liverpool Cathedral we went on a search for food. It is always difficult to agree on a place to eat with a group of 10 college students. We ended up going to an Irish pub that was pretty delicious. Speaking of pubs, it is ridiculous how many pubs are in England, it seems like every other restaurant is a bar!
Once our tummies were full we headed to the main attraction of the day... the Beatles Story Museum! To tell you the truth, I wasn't too thrilled about paying 7.50 pounds to learn about a band I had very little interest in. Luckily I came to my senses and went for the experience... honestly what is Liverpool without the Beatles? I was definitely impressed by the museum. Each person had a headset and a MP3 player that guided them through the Beatles Story. I thought it was a great concept because you could listen, look, and read at the same time!
Soon after the Beatles, we walked around the Albert Docks and went to the Tate Art Museum. It was full of modern art and therefore pretty strange. Eh, it was just another learning experience to add to my list.
It was great to venture outside of Leeds but I don't plan on going back to Liverpool anytime soon. Been there, done that.
When we first arrived (Cat, Courtney, and I) to the Albert Docks we scattered around to find our friends amongst the couple hundred students. It wasn't hard because Americans seem to travel in packs and are easily spotted. On the bus we were given a booklet that listed touristy sites in Liverpool and a map. Our first stop was the Liverpool Cathedral. This Church had amazing architecture and detail and it is the largest Cathedral in England. When you go inside you would assume the entire structure was ages old but it took from year 1901-1978 to finish it. So most of it is only 30 years old. We could have gone up in the Cathedral's tower but it cost 3 pounds. Nathan, a guy from New York, was the only one to go to the top so I let him take my camera (the pictures came out great!).
After our tour of the Liverpool Cathedral we went on a search for food. It is always difficult to agree on a place to eat with a group of 10 college students. We ended up going to an Irish pub that was pretty delicious. Speaking of pubs, it is ridiculous how many pubs are in England, it seems like every other restaurant is a bar!
Once our tummies were full we headed to the main attraction of the day... the Beatles Story Museum! To tell you the truth, I wasn't too thrilled about paying 7.50 pounds to learn about a band I had very little interest in. Luckily I came to my senses and went for the experience... honestly what is Liverpool without the Beatles? I was definitely impressed by the museum. Each person had a headset and a MP3 player that guided them through the Beatles Story. I thought it was a great concept because you could listen, look, and read at the same time!
Soon after the Beatles, we walked around the Albert Docks and went to the Tate Art Museum. It was full of modern art and therefore pretty strange. Eh, it was just another learning experience to add to my list.
It was great to venture outside of Leeds but I don't plan on going back to Liverpool anytime soon. Been there, done that.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
First Week of Classes
I have been in Leeds for almost 2 weeks and it already feels like home! My first week of modules went smoothly and I couldn't ask for a better schedule. This week I only had lecture style classes but next week I start to have seminars, tutorials, and workshops. The classes I am taking include: Linear Algebra, Logic, Differential Equations, Reading Poetry, and The Best of Broadway. Yes, a class about Broadway! Plus I don't have Friday classes! Yay!
I'm pretty much a pro at taking the bus by now, though the bus system does not always live up to its schedule. It was quite frustrating when Cat and I tried to see Avatar and we did not make it because the buses took forever! Ah don't get me started on that issue. Other than the buses I love the city and there are so many great places to go. The City Centre (that is how they spell it) is a shopping queen's dream and there are also museums, galleries, restaurants, bars, and clubs. You might think, "that sounds like the typical city," but you are wrong, it's LEEDS! I suppose I don't have much city experience but compared to Raleigh it's incredible!
Since the day I got to Leeds, socializing has taken up most of my time. I have been very impressed with the Study Abroad office and all the activities planned for us international students. My activities have included a tour of campus, a few orientation meetings, a meet-and-greet night, Global Cafe, International night at The Eldon Pub and at The Terrace, and of course other outings with my friends. Speaking of my friends- I have met some great people while I've been here! My flatmates are all outgoing and eager to help me with anything. I have met a few people in class but it has only been a week. For the majority of my time I hang out with Cat and Courtney along with a group of students from the US... most of them are from Wisconsin (must read with a Wiscaaansin accent).
Let me please rave about the Leeds University Union. It is like no student union you have ever seen! There are several convenient stores, a number of take out places, a hair salon, an eye-glass place, a beauty store, 3 gift shops, a bookstore, clubs and society rooms, and 2 or 3 bars plus several night clubs- all in one building. It's insane!
As it might sound, I am having the best time ever!
I'm pretty much a pro at taking the bus by now, though the bus system does not always live up to its schedule. It was quite frustrating when Cat and I tried to see Avatar and we did not make it because the buses took forever! Ah don't get me started on that issue. Other than the buses I love the city and there are so many great places to go. The City Centre (that is how they spell it) is a shopping queen's dream and there are also museums, galleries, restaurants, bars, and clubs. You might think, "that sounds like the typical city," but you are wrong, it's LEEDS! I suppose I don't have much city experience but compared to Raleigh it's incredible!
Since the day I got to Leeds, socializing has taken up most of my time. I have been very impressed with the Study Abroad office and all the activities planned for us international students. My activities have included a tour of campus, a few orientation meetings, a meet-and-greet night, Global Cafe, International night at The Eldon Pub and at The Terrace, and of course other outings with my friends. Speaking of my friends- I have met some great people while I've been here! My flatmates are all outgoing and eager to help me with anything. I have met a few people in class but it has only been a week. For the majority of my time I hang out with Cat and Courtney along with a group of students from the US... most of them are from Wisconsin (must read with a Wiscaaansin accent).
Let me please rave about the Leeds University Union. It is like no student union you have ever seen! There are several convenient stores, a number of take out places, a hair salon, an eye-glass place, a beauty store, 3 gift shops, a bookstore, clubs and society rooms, and 2 or 3 bars plus several night clubs- all in one building. It's insane!
As it might sound, I am having the best time ever!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
LEEDS!
After 14 hours of travel consisting of 2 flights, 1 train, and 1 taxi I can now say I have made it safely to LEEDS, UK! I left Charlotte Douglas Airport on Tuesday and had a transfer flight at the Chicago O'Hare Airport. From there was an 8 hour flight to Manchester. I absolutely loved the flight, as strange as it may be. The landscape from Charlotte to Chicago was breathtaking. It's crazy how you can go from 65 degree weather to freezing temperatures and snow in such a short amount of time.
To fill you in, I didn't begin this adventure all on my own. There are two other girls, Cat and Courtney from NC State that traveled with me and are also going to the University of Leeds. We met each other before we left and I know this experience will make us very close. It's comforting to have someone from home near by.
Everyone at Leeds has been extremely helpful and I was welcomed with open arms. I now live in a dorm called Oxley House and in a flat with 13 girls. I have my own room and sink and we all share a bathroom and kitchen. My kitchen last year with 3 other girls was a disaster... can you even imagine sharing with 13? Haha. Hopefully I stay healthy! I love my dorm because the architecture is gorgeous and the people are brilliant (yes... I'm picking up the new lingo). One downside to my new home is that it is about 3.5 miles away from campus so I have to take a bus everyday. But hey... I can meet some pretty interesting people on a city bus :)
There is so much to talk about but so little time!
To fill you in, I didn't begin this adventure all on my own. There are two other girls, Cat and Courtney from NC State that traveled with me and are also going to the University of Leeds. We met each other before we left and I know this experience will make us very close. It's comforting to have someone from home near by.
Everyone at Leeds has been extremely helpful and I was welcomed with open arms. I now live in a dorm called Oxley House and in a flat with 13 girls. I have my own room and sink and we all share a bathroom and kitchen. My kitchen last year with 3 other girls was a disaster... can you even imagine sharing with 13? Haha. Hopefully I stay healthy! I love my dorm because the architecture is gorgeous and the people are brilliant (yes... I'm picking up the new lingo). One downside to my new home is that it is about 3.5 miles away from campus so I have to take a bus everyday. But hey... I can meet some pretty interesting people on a city bus :)
There is so much to talk about but so little time!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
5 Days To Go!
Over the past week and a half I have completed my winter vacation goal of accomplishing as little as possible. I have watched hours of TV, eaten entirely to much food, and have slept enough to last me a couple months. But hey... I'm in college, that's what I do best :)
Truthfully, I may not be as lazy as I make myself out to be. I have actually made my way through much of North Carolina. Last week my family and I went to a UNC Charlotte basketball game and we had a blast (even though they lost to Georgia Tech). It's rare that we find time to go places as a family so I try to cherish it while I can.
Last Wednesday, Meredith, my dad and I went to Boone and went skiing at Sugar Mountain. It was snowing and around 15 degrees! Ouch! But it turned out to be the perfect day. I had not been skiing in years but I still picked it up like a charm. At first Meredith was frightened to death from her former experience of falling off the mountain (so she claims) but this time around she was fearless! Thanks Dad for taking us and showing us how to do the pizza pie and french fry!
This past weekend I went to Raleigh, my beloved home away from home. I spent time with Megan, enjoyed her delicious cooking, and we attempted to look for an apartment for next year. I also got to hang out with some of my friends (cough.. Davis) and have some fun around State.
The past couple days at home I have been packing and picking up last minute items for Leeds. It is so hard to decide what to bring and what to leave. Decision making is not my best quality. It's a good thing that I'm not hard to please, I could settle with bringing two pairs of clothes but I doubt my Mom would approve.
Only 5 days to go until I leave for LEEDS! Whahoo!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
My First Blog
Hello everyone! This is my first blog for my semester studying abroad! In 15 days (January 18) I will be on a plane headed to Leeds, UK and I will be there for 5 months. I have been looking forward to this trip for a long time now and it is finally becoming a reality. After much preparation, all the details are final and I will soon be on my way.
You may be asking, "Why England? Why the University of Leeds?"
Well, long story short... I have changed my destination several times but when least comes to least I now know I have chosen the best place for me.
1. Leeds was HIGHLY recommended by my international friends
2. I was awarded an EXCHANGE slot (I pay in-state, NC State tuition)
3. They speak ENGLISH (needed for my math courses)
4. It is in EUROPE -- makes for easy travel to amazing places :)
5. Leeds is a large city with a lot to offer!
I hope this gives you a little insight to my choice and more details are to come.
And so the packing begins....
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