Cologne

Cologne the start of our spring break! After landing in Dusseldorf, we took an hour bus ride, which landed us at a train station. While it was freezing and pouring rain, we tried to figure out how to get to the hostel. After 20-30 minutes, we finally asked some Germans for help. They were so nice; gave us directions on the correct metro to take, and even walked us back. Well, it took another really friendly German to get us to the hostel, but we finally made it around 2 am. 

Black Sheep Hostel

 The next day, we walked around town. 





Cologne Cathedral



Cologne Chocolate Factory!
 



free yummy Lindt chocolate dipped wafers 

Florence again?

Today we had yet another field trip to Florence; this time, to visit two museums and a building that was once home to many families. Ohh gosh, it was the most boring trip ever. I had to wake up at 6:30 to catch an early train, so I was just really tired and sleepy most of the time. Add that to walking around listening to a tour guide go on and on about paintings we’ve already seen 23047 times.

On another note, I went running for the first time on Monday! The weather has been so nice, so it felt really great. Other than watching out for cars on the narrow roads, the routes are pretty good, some hills, some flat parts. I’ve been really slacking off on the workouts, especially due to spring break, so it’s been good to get moving again! Who needs a gym when you’ve got P90x and Insanity videos?

Now it’s time to get started on my essay that’s due tomorrow. . bleck.

Pictures are coming soon, seriously.

Spring Break 2011

Welp, it’s official that I have the worse luck with cameras. I received one in the mail the day before we left for Venice, had it for exactly one week and a day, and somehow managed to lose it in London. Even more upsetting than losing the camera itself is losing all the pictures. Oh well, things could have been a lot worse, like losing my passport.

Other than losing my camera, London was definitely my favorite city. Even when we first arrived the first night and were wandering around at 2 in the morning trying to find a bus to get to our hostel, I was still feeling excitement.

More on the trip and pictures later!

Feels Like Spring

My camera came in today! Thanks mom & dad!

Today was a pretty typical Monday. Studio and watercolor. When I stepped outside to go to my watercolor class, I was shocked at how warm it was! Probably around high 50-60 degrees. Pretty exciting, but we are leaving for Venice tomorrow! We’ll be there for a total of 3 days. And then spring break starts Friday morning. We’ll be going to Germany first, hitting Dusseldorf, Cologne, and Berlin. Next up London from March 21-23, then head to Dublin for the remainder of the trip. I’ll be back in Castig. on March 26.

. . . and here is what will be holding all of my stuff for 13 days.

Back to Florence

This morning we caught the 8:30am train for a field trip to see the Synagogue of Florence as well as Boboli Gardens. This was my first time inside of a synagogue, and it was pretty cool. We’ve been going to a LOT of churches, so it was interesting to see something different. Afterwards, we had lunch, which is always a time consuming affair; always gotta find the cheapest place! I ended up getting an eggplant/mozzarella panini that was “cosi cosi”. The Boboli gardens were nice, but nothing compared to Versailles! I sketched a few things, and then it was on to more important things. . .shopping! Just kidding. But not really. Our first stop was at a pen store, where I bought a ball point pen! Hopefully this will improve my sketches. . Next, we stopped at H&M, where we realized that we would not be able to make the 5:13 train, so it was settled that we would catch the 6:13 train, which would put us in Castig., at 7:26pm. . 4 minutes before dinner. Anyway, we went to 2 Zaras and a few other stores afterward, then went back to the train station a bit earlier because we had to buy our tickets back. –_- As soon as we got back to Castiglion, we sped walk/jogged back to the center and ran downstairs to dinner, where they were still on the first course. Perfect! 

More pictures from Paris by Kelsey!

beautiful tulips outside a flower shop

waiting for the metro

Paris version of Dillard's cosmetics section

Moulin Rouge!

Hall of Mirrors

Oui Oui Paris

 

Assisi

 

Today’s field trip took us to Assissi, where we visited the church San Francesco. Afterward, we had a little bit of free time to walk around before lunch. There were plenty of shops, but most of them sold a lot of the same things, so there wasn’t much variety. There were definitely three gelato/pastry shops that had the exact same display in the window. I wish I had my camera to capture the drool-worthy treats. Thanks to Kate for these pictures! Seriously, you couldn’t not walk in after seeing the rows of desserts. We had an arranged lunch at a restaurant called La Rocca. It’s always nice when you don’t have to pay for lunch! Since it was Ash Wednesday, there were a lot more vegetarians than usual! The first course was pasta with marinara, then we got fried eggs, potato wedges, cheese, and salad, and fruit for dessert, Santa Chiara style. After lunch, we went back to the church to sketch for a little bit, then walked around some, and it was time to go back! We didn’t get back until 7pm, seriously LONG day when it seemed like we didn’t see many things. Yawn.

J'aime Paris

Ah, best trip ever! I don't have very many pictures right now. . . my wonderful roomie Rebecca let me borrow her camera for the trip, but a lot of them didn't turn out so well, so more pictures later after I steal some! 
Good news is, a camera is on the way from the U.S. for me! Hopefully it gets here before we leave for Venice Tuesday!
In 2 days, we visited Versailles, Pantheon, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, the Louvre, & the Eiffel Tower twice!

Walking down the Champs Elysees toward the Versailles palace on day one. 






I was really excited to see macaroons; didn't get one until the next day at a little sandwich shop though. . so good!

first crepe in Paris! cinnamon + sugar on a crepe . . doesn't taste as good as it sounds 

Dinner at Hard Rock. Best veggie burger ever?


I think so.

Siena

So I'm still not having any luck with getting a camera in this little town. :( My best options right now are wait for my parents to ship me one, which may or may not arrive on time for spring break, or try to get one this weekend in Paris. Oh yeah, I leave tomorrow for Paris! We are leaving after studio tomorrow for Pisa, spending the night, and catching an early morning flight Friday morning. 

More Rome pics. . .some stolen.

       

So today we went on a field trip to Siena. It was only about an hour away from Castig. We took a tour around the city for a few hours, visiting some churches. Quick lunch, and then shopping instead of sketching. Unfortunately, we had to be back on the bus by 3:30, so there wasn't much time for walking around. Thanks for the pictures Clint!
 
   


Oh, and the best part of Siena? Grom gelato. Seriously the best gelato I've had in Italy.

Be back Sunday!