Hey all!!
The past two weekends I spent in Perugia after an exhausting but exhilerating ten day vacation around Europe.
The weekend of the 5-8 I was lucky enough to have two of my close friends (and future apartment mates) join me in Perugia for the weekend: Kristen and Hannah. Hannah is studying in Budapest and Kristen is studying in London, I have visited them both so it was great to be able to host them in my city.
They arrived in Roma on Thursday night where I met them and we stayed with our 4th apt mate for back at SMC, Mary. We then hopped on a train back to Perugia early Friday morning in some of the most horrible weather I've had since arriving in Italy. Rain and cold and fog aside, we had a great train ride, arrived in Perugia where we dropped the bags and I took them on a tour of the city. After a great meal at the apartment that was a joint effort by all we went out with some friends for the night.
Again waking up early on Saturday we went down to the local farmers market that comes to Perugia every Saturday at the bottom of the mini-metro. Not only did we see fresh produce and meats and cheeses, but we saw shoes, and clothes as well as a travelling carnival (not unalike from the Marshvegas Fair.. . including the crazies that frequent it haha). Then we attempted to go to a local Rugby game but had gotten the dates messed up. Treking back up to the center (with a new *to us* one piece flourescent ski suit in tow) we went to one of our favorite pizza places in the center, Pizza Mediterranea for some great food and drink before returning to the apartment for a quick nap. That night we again went out with some friends walking around, in the rain, but still enjoying Perugia to the fullest.
Sunday morning, Kristen had a train to catch back to Roma for her flight so Hannah and I brought her to the train station only to find out that the trains had gone on strike for the day. Having never experienced this at a time where I had to get somewhere I didn't know where the bus station was, but luckily we located it and dropped her off in time for her to catch her flight, but not before getting caught in a hail storm. Hannah and I had plans to go to Assisi but between the train strike and the hail storm, we decided some indoor activities were in order.
Sunday night Hannah and I went to one of the only restaurants open on Sundays for a great meal and then met up with a few of my International friends for a quiet night before watching a movie and keeping warm inside. The following morning I brought Hannah to the train station, sad to see her go but happy to have shown her Perugia and looking forward to meeting her in Amsterdam in December!
This past weekend (Nov 13-15) I had a class day-trip to Spoleto on Friday. We woke up early and got on a bus (45 min) to the sleepy town of Spoleto home of many many Churches (appropriate since we were visitng for our Christianity class). Being led by our teacher and part-time tour guide he was in his element excited to tell as all about the history of this great city (which was very similar to the size and feel of Perugia but known for it's truffels *mushrooms not chocolate*). We went on a 3-4 hour tour of the city ending at the top of the enormous dam and ancient stone bridge that dated back thousands of years but was still in perfect condition, the views were unbelievable!
After our tour he set us lose on the city to find a place for lunch. We went to an amazing restaurant with a very lively waiter who loved entertaining us, his only customers on this rainy Friday. It was an unbelievable meal that had truffels in almost every dish! After filling ourselves up we all hopped back on the bus with one more church on the outskirts of the city to visit before returning to Perugia in the early afternoon.
This weekend the majority of the Umbra students were on another overnight fieldtrip so all of the kids in my class decided to meet up that night (Friday) for some fun with our Christianity class, it was a great night!
Getting to really sleep in for the first time in a while on Saturday was a welcome surprise, however I knew I had work to do for some papers coming up, and with the family joining me this coming weekend I knew I had to get some of it out of the way so I headed up to the school where I got a bunch of work done before joining a friend for dinner at his apartment before going out with him and his roomates and his friend from his college, who happened to be from Cambridge! It was great to see a fellow Bostonian :)
Sunday again was a work day followed by a great dinner of pasta with veggies and pesto had between my two friends and I and then a movie night again keeping warm out of the rainy weather!!
All in all it was a great two weekends in Peruiga and I'm sooo looking forward to Mom, Dad, Christine, Paul, and Thomas joining me in only a matter of days!! I'll keep you all posted of our family adventures! Peace and love to you all
xoxo aisling
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Fall Break Part IV: Vienna
After a nine hour train ride full of new Bavarian friends, naps, and crazy German children running around, I finally got off in Vienna to be met by Anne (one of my friends from elementary school) and her roomate from college who are both studying in Vienna for the semester. Getting in around 9 oclock we decided to do a little bit of night time sightseeing (everything lit up is always gorgeous) on our way to dinner. Anne brought me to all the places that I would be visiting in more depth the following day and then led the way to one of the most famous restaurants in Vienna where we had the specialty of Austria, wienerschnitzel with potatoe salad. It was awesome food!
After dinner we did some more walking and then took the train/tram to her apartment which was on the outskirts of the city. After talking and catching up and then skyping with her family, we went to bed as we both had early days ahead of us (me sightseeing before my night train back to Rome and Anne's overnight trip to Prague).
We woke up early showered and left to go to the trainstation where I reserved my couchette for that night and they bought their tickets to Prague. Also, I had a great croissant at an Austrian pastry chain before leaving them and heading back to the center for some sightseeing. I started at the main church where I realized mass was about to be said so I decided that it was an opportune time to have some cultural immersion. After mass I went and got a coffee and wandered around looking at the summer palace of the Hapsburg Empire and other various sites. Around lunch time I was not only hungry but cold (as the fall weather had taken a turn towards winter) and I found myself at a local bar that looked like it was full of locals, so the food must be good. I grabbed a bite and ate in the Italian fashion (taking my time reading a book and just realxing and warming up). After this I walked around some more getting some great photos as well as some postcards to send home to friends and family. As night set in (earlier and earlier after daylight savings) I made my way back to the international train station where I hopped on my overnight train to Roma and for the last two days of my fall break!
peace and love to you all
xoxo aisling
After dinner we did some more walking and then took the train/tram to her apartment which was on the outskirts of the city. After talking and catching up and then skyping with her family, we went to bed as we both had early days ahead of us (me sightseeing before my night train back to Rome and Anne's overnight trip to Prague).
We woke up early showered and left to go to the trainstation where I reserved my couchette for that night and they bought their tickets to Prague. Also, I had a great croissant at an Austrian pastry chain before leaving them and heading back to the center for some sightseeing. I started at the main church where I realized mass was about to be said so I decided that it was an opportune time to have some cultural immersion. After mass I went and got a coffee and wandered around looking at the summer palace of the Hapsburg Empire and other various sites. Around lunch time I was not only hungry but cold (as the fall weather had taken a turn towards winter) and I found myself at a local bar that looked like it was full of locals, so the food must be good. I grabbed a bite and ate in the Italian fashion (taking my time reading a book and just realxing and warming up). After this I walked around some more getting some great photos as well as some postcards to send home to friends and family. As night set in (earlier and earlier after daylight savings) I made my way back to the international train station where I hopped on my overnight train to Roma and for the last two days of my fall break!
peace and love to you all
xoxo aisling
Fall Break Part II: Frankfurt and Mainz
Wednesday morning early, I departed from the Paris international train terminal and started my journey to Frankfurt where I was going to be meeting up with family friends from my Dad's side (Katharina and her family). I got in around noon-time and Katharina was there waiting for me on the platform! We started to walk around the city and she had planned a little walking tour of Frankfurt which was a suprisingly small city. After seeing some of the major sites (churches, bridges etc.) we sat down to a light lunch of bratwurst and frenchfries. We did some more touring, making sure to see the opera house and then headed home to her hometown which was a small German "village" right outside of Frankfurt.
As we walked up from the car (her dad had picked us up from the train station) her mom and brother came out to greet us and the first thing she noticed was that I "had a Guinee face". It was great to be with some great friends again for a night of great food, conversation, and great people. Her mom made us a traditional German meal that is one of Katharina's favorites of: salmon, spinache, rice, and a really great garlic cream sauce. The food was awesome and the company even better. After a great meal Katharina and I just had a relaxed night leaving only to get some "kinder chocolate" to bring home for the family.
In the morning we woke up early because Katharina was going to be driving back to school so we ate breakfast together and then her parents took me to the historical city of Mainz, home of Gutenburg and the first printing press. Although it was not the greatest of weather we walked around seeing the various churches and other sites. Additionally we ended up going to the Gutenburg musem where I got to see some of the very first Gutenburg bibles as well as some handwritten Bibles from before the printing press. After a nice lunch the VanWickerens dropped me off at the train station in Mainz and saw me off as I left for Vienna. It was a great trip to Germany, although I wish I could have stayed longer. . . but just another reason to come back!!
peace and love to you all
xoxo aisling
As we walked up from the car (her dad had picked us up from the train station) her mom and brother came out to greet us and the first thing she noticed was that I "had a Guinee face". It was great to be with some great friends again for a night of great food, conversation, and great people. Her mom made us a traditional German meal that is one of Katharina's favorites of: salmon, spinache, rice, and a really great garlic cream sauce. The food was awesome and the company even better. After a great meal Katharina and I just had a relaxed night leaving only to get some "kinder chocolate" to bring home for the family.
In the morning we woke up early because Katharina was going to be driving back to school so we ate breakfast together and then her parents took me to the historical city of Mainz, home of Gutenburg and the first printing press. Although it was not the greatest of weather we walked around seeing the various churches and other sites. Additionally we ended up going to the Gutenburg musem where I got to see some of the very first Gutenburg bibles as well as some handwritten Bibles from before the printing press. After a nice lunch the VanWickerens dropped me off at the train station in Mainz and saw me off as I left for Vienna. It was a great trip to Germany, although I wish I could have stayed longer. . . but just another reason to come back!!
peace and love to you all
xoxo aisling
Fall Break Part II: Paris
Arriving late on Sunday afternoon into Paris Gare du Nord Station, I started the trek to my friend Virginia's apartment where I'd be meeting her after she arrived home from a trip to Barcelona. Virginia (a friend I've known since elementary school) has been studying in a full immersion program in Paris, living with a French family and taking classes in French so this was going to be another great experience.
I arrived at 8 and met her at the train station closest to her apartment. We walked home together excited to see each other after 2 months!! We arrived at her aparment which was set up awesome, especially for being right in the city. The house was in the shape of a "U" with a courtyard in the center. To the right as you walked in was the door to the main part of the house with a kitchen/living room on the first floor and bedrooms for all the family members on top (Mother, Father, three brothers aged 17, 22, 25). To the left as you entered was Virginia's little "flat". She has her own room with a little kitchenette and her own bathroom, it was an ideal set up while still keeping the "family vibe".
Her host mother, a wonderfully gracious frenchwoman had prepared a great meal for all of us and we sat down shortly after arriving. Only one son was home (one out and the other leaving for his own fall break) but dinner was awesome. Speaking a combination of english, italian, and french we had a lively discussion about everything possible, her host mother, father, and brother so kind to share their home and meal with me, it was a great first night in Paris.
Though it was great timing for me to visit (seeing as I was on break) Virginia was in the midst of mid-terms, so I had some great sightseeing days ahead of me but unfortunately Virginia had a lot of studying to do during the day. So she helped me figure out all the sites I wanted to see and set me up with a guidebook and a map and I was off.
Day one started at the Louvre. Though I had already been inside I still wanted to see the beautiful gardens and of course the glass pyramid. Walking down the road I went in search of Notre Dame. Walking along the Seine on a beautiful fall day I couldn't believe my luck as to the weather. Aside from the day in Brighton, this trip was shaping up to be full of beautiful weather, great sites, and great people. Walking along, I grabbed a traditional baguette sandwich from a local boulangerie and continued to walk in what I thought was the direction to Notre Dame. Finally realizing that I had walked slightly in the wrong direction I readjusted my path and found myself staring up at the beautiful example of Gothic Architexture known as Notre Dame.
Notre Dame was an unbelievably serene place despite the hundreds and hundreds of tourists. After Notre Dame, I went on my way to another well-known landmark in Paris, La Tour Eiffel. Taking many photos of the Tower itself and the other sites surrounding the area (all of which should be posted on my photobucket sometime this week) I just couldn't believe how beautiful everything was.
Finishing off my day before meeting up with Virginia for dinner, I made my way over to L'arc D'Triomphe and the Champs D'Elysees. Walking down the Camps D'Elysees towards the L'arc D'Triomphe as the last rays of fall sun fell, my first day in Paris was great, but not over yet. I met up with Virginia and we went and grabbed a bite to eat at a local Creperie and we ate and then went back to her apartment where she had some studying to get done so I thought I'd take advantage of the still beautiful fall weather and go see some of the sites lit up at night, most especially the light show at the Eiffel Tower. It was a beautiful end to a great day.
Tuesday I got to sleep a little bit later for the first time in my travels, attempted to register for classes, and the met with Virginia for lunch at Luxembourg Gardens. Despite the fall weather, the Gardens were still in full bloom, and with the warm mid-day sun we had great weather to walk and talk and eat, especially enjoying the Medici Fountain that is a famous fountain in the Luxembourg Gardens.
I then took again my trusty map and the Paris tour book Virginia had lent me I decided to do a self-guided tour of Montmartre including Sacre Coeur and Moulin Rouge. Virginia had just finished the last of her hard mid-terms so we met back at the apartment, cooked a nice little meal on her hot plate and then met up with some of her friends from school and two girls from my program back in Perugia who were also visitng Paris for a night out on the town Parisen style! Coming home, I packed my things up and got ready for the train ride to Frankfurt that I had to look forward to the next day.
Peace and love to you all!
xoxo aisling
I arrived at 8 and met her at the train station closest to her apartment. We walked home together excited to see each other after 2 months!! We arrived at her aparment which was set up awesome, especially for being right in the city. The house was in the shape of a "U" with a courtyard in the center. To the right as you walked in was the door to the main part of the house with a kitchen/living room on the first floor and bedrooms for all the family members on top (Mother, Father, three brothers aged 17, 22, 25). To the left as you entered was Virginia's little "flat". She has her own room with a little kitchenette and her own bathroom, it was an ideal set up while still keeping the "family vibe".
Her host mother, a wonderfully gracious frenchwoman had prepared a great meal for all of us and we sat down shortly after arriving. Only one son was home (one out and the other leaving for his own fall break) but dinner was awesome. Speaking a combination of english, italian, and french we had a lively discussion about everything possible, her host mother, father, and brother so kind to share their home and meal with me, it was a great first night in Paris.
Though it was great timing for me to visit (seeing as I was on break) Virginia was in the midst of mid-terms, so I had some great sightseeing days ahead of me but unfortunately Virginia had a lot of studying to do during the day. So she helped me figure out all the sites I wanted to see and set me up with a guidebook and a map and I was off.
Day one started at the Louvre. Though I had already been inside I still wanted to see the beautiful gardens and of course the glass pyramid. Walking down the road I went in search of Notre Dame. Walking along the Seine on a beautiful fall day I couldn't believe my luck as to the weather. Aside from the day in Brighton, this trip was shaping up to be full of beautiful weather, great sites, and great people. Walking along, I grabbed a traditional baguette sandwich from a local boulangerie and continued to walk in what I thought was the direction to Notre Dame. Finally realizing that I had walked slightly in the wrong direction I readjusted my path and found myself staring up at the beautiful example of Gothic Architexture known as Notre Dame.
Notre Dame was an unbelievably serene place despite the hundreds and hundreds of tourists. After Notre Dame, I went on my way to another well-known landmark in Paris, La Tour Eiffel. Taking many photos of the Tower itself and the other sites surrounding the area (all of which should be posted on my photobucket sometime this week) I just couldn't believe how beautiful everything was.
Finishing off my day before meeting up with Virginia for dinner, I made my way over to L'arc D'Triomphe and the Champs D'Elysees. Walking down the Camps D'Elysees towards the L'arc D'Triomphe as the last rays of fall sun fell, my first day in Paris was great, but not over yet. I met up with Virginia and we went and grabbed a bite to eat at a local Creperie and we ate and then went back to her apartment where she had some studying to get done so I thought I'd take advantage of the still beautiful fall weather and go see some of the sites lit up at night, most especially the light show at the Eiffel Tower. It was a beautiful end to a great day.
Tuesday I got to sleep a little bit later for the first time in my travels, attempted to register for classes, and the met with Virginia for lunch at Luxembourg Gardens. Despite the fall weather, the Gardens were still in full bloom, and with the warm mid-day sun we had great weather to walk and talk and eat, especially enjoying the Medici Fountain that is a famous fountain in the Luxembourg Gardens.
I then took again my trusty map and the Paris tour book Virginia had lent me I decided to do a self-guided tour of Montmartre including Sacre Coeur and Moulin Rouge. Virginia had just finished the last of her hard mid-terms so we met back at the apartment, cooked a nice little meal on her hot plate and then met up with some of her friends from school and two girls from my program back in Perugia who were also visitng Paris for a night out on the town Parisen style! Coming home, I packed my things up and got ready for the train ride to Frankfurt that I had to look forward to the next day.
Peace and love to you all!
xoxo aisling
Fall Break Part I: London/Brighton
HeyEveryone!!!
So I finally got my act together to write about my ten day Fall break. I started on Thursday afternoon the 22 of October taking the train to Rome and then to the Fiumicino Aeroporto where I got on my flight (easyjet) to England. Flying into London late Thursday night I was meeting my friend Kristen who also goes to SMC and is studying abroad in London for the semester. I met her at her tube stop (Olde Street) and we went back to her flat that she shares with other British students that attend her University. The following morning we got up early had breakfast and left to do some sightseeing. We started the day over near Notting Hill and the Portobello Road Market. Starting at one end and walking all the way to the opposite end, we walked up and down looking at the myriad of things being sold from old door knockers to tea sets to clothes and everything in between. After Portobello Market, we found a pub and sat down to a late lunch. Following lunch, we made our way over to Trafalgar Square. We both tried to climb onto the backs of the Lions in the center of Trafalgar Square but found that we weren't quite as limber as the little kids doing that, so we climbed up the front of the Lion (with some help from some nice British folk) and took a few pictures before climbing down in search of a coffee. Finding outselves at a starbucks, I had my first "American Size" coffee since arriving in Italy and it was great. Re-energized we did some more searching and found some nice Red Telephone Booths to take some pictures in, and then meandered over to Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace/Princess Diana Monument. After a long day of sightseeing we made dinner together at her flat and then went to Picadilly Circus on the tube for a night out in London.
After my first day in London, we had planned a day trip to Brighton (a small sea-side town a 2 hr bus ride away) leaving at 6:30 in the morning from the bus station that was 45 minutes from her flat. . . needless to say we slept the whole way to Brighton. Waking up in this sleepy village, we realized that the weather was working against us as it was extremely foggy and rainy and cold, but we were going to make the best of it! We grabbed breakfast at a local cafe which was an experience in and of itself. What we thought would be a nice breakfast sandwich and coffee (advertised as the 'breakfast sandwich deal') ended up being two pieces of bread with sausage in the middle. . . not my idea of a breakfast of champions, but still we ventured onwards. Going to the tourist office near the Palace, we looked around at all of the sites in the immediate area and then sought shelter from the rain in the free museum of Brighton. The museum had some great exhibits and was really interesting.
After the museum, we attempted to walk down to the waterfront just to see the old boardwalks, but the rain ended that plan and we went to the local Brighton Pub and grabbed a nice hot lunch and again sought shelter inside. After a filling lunch of fish and chips (perfect choice in the seaside town) we finally saw some sun peaking out from behind the clouds and we walked down towards the seaside and took some pictures with the stormy ocean (being careful not to get hit by the waves that threatened to soak us every 20 seconds!!) Finally we made our way back to the bus station and started our journey home.
My final day in London, I packed up my backpack (my sole piece of luggage for the ten day trip) and went to the London Bridge/Tower of London area on the River. A beautiful day we walked around before heading to King's Cross Station (site of Platform 9 3/4 for those Harry Potter fans out there) and I said my goodbyes as I went through customs to get on my train headed for Paris ! A great trip in the UK and I was on my way to the second leg of my trip!!
peace and love to you all
xoxo aisling
So I finally got my act together to write about my ten day Fall break. I started on Thursday afternoon the 22 of October taking the train to Rome and then to the Fiumicino Aeroporto where I got on my flight (easyjet) to England. Flying into London late Thursday night I was meeting my friend Kristen who also goes to SMC and is studying abroad in London for the semester. I met her at her tube stop (Olde Street) and we went back to her flat that she shares with other British students that attend her University. The following morning we got up early had breakfast and left to do some sightseeing. We started the day over near Notting Hill and the Portobello Road Market. Starting at one end and walking all the way to the opposite end, we walked up and down looking at the myriad of things being sold from old door knockers to tea sets to clothes and everything in between. After Portobello Market, we found a pub and sat down to a late lunch. Following lunch, we made our way over to Trafalgar Square. We both tried to climb onto the backs of the Lions in the center of Trafalgar Square but found that we weren't quite as limber as the little kids doing that, so we climbed up the front of the Lion (with some help from some nice British folk) and took a few pictures before climbing down in search of a coffee. Finding outselves at a starbucks, I had my first "American Size" coffee since arriving in Italy and it was great. Re-energized we did some more searching and found some nice Red Telephone Booths to take some pictures in, and then meandered over to Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace/Princess Diana Monument. After a long day of sightseeing we made dinner together at her flat and then went to Picadilly Circus on the tube for a night out in London.
After my first day in London, we had planned a day trip to Brighton (a small sea-side town a 2 hr bus ride away) leaving at 6:30 in the morning from the bus station that was 45 minutes from her flat. . . needless to say we slept the whole way to Brighton. Waking up in this sleepy village, we realized that the weather was working against us as it was extremely foggy and rainy and cold, but we were going to make the best of it! We grabbed breakfast at a local cafe which was an experience in and of itself. What we thought would be a nice breakfast sandwich and coffee (advertised as the 'breakfast sandwich deal') ended up being two pieces of bread with sausage in the middle. . . not my idea of a breakfast of champions, but still we ventured onwards. Going to the tourist office near the Palace, we looked around at all of the sites in the immediate area and then sought shelter from the rain in the free museum of Brighton. The museum had some great exhibits and was really interesting.
After the museum, we attempted to walk down to the waterfront just to see the old boardwalks, but the rain ended that plan and we went to the local Brighton Pub and grabbed a nice hot lunch and again sought shelter inside. After a filling lunch of fish and chips (perfect choice in the seaside town) we finally saw some sun peaking out from behind the clouds and we walked down towards the seaside and took some pictures with the stormy ocean (being careful not to get hit by the waves that threatened to soak us every 20 seconds!!) Finally we made our way back to the bus station and started our journey home.
My final day in London, I packed up my backpack (my sole piece of luggage for the ten day trip) and went to the London Bridge/Tower of London area on the River. A beautiful day we walked around before heading to King's Cross Station (site of Platform 9 3/4 for those Harry Potter fans out there) and I said my goodbyes as I went through customs to get on my train headed for Paris ! A great trip in the UK and I was on my way to the second leg of my trip!!
peace and love to you all
xoxo aisling
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Mid-terms/Fall Break
Hey Everyone!!!
Hope everyone is keeping warm in this frigid weather. This weekend was the start of the Eurochocolate festival and it's just been absolutely crazy. Not once in my whole time in Perugia have I seen this many people. . . however the chocolate makes it worth it. If you think you've had chocolate before. . . you haven't unti you've had some of this chocolate! It's been amazing, and having some SMC friends come in for Sat/Sun made the weekend even more special.
This week is mid-terms. I took Italian last week, but this week I've had the rest of my finals culminating with my last one tommorow. . . Christianity. Taking a break from studying to write this blog entry and to start thinking about packing for my ten-day backpacking trip that starts on Th afternoon, I'm starting to realize that it'll be weird to be away from Perugia for this long. Perugia has become my home away from home, and it'll be weird not to see the locals and just be in this beautiful city for longer than a few days.
The break will begin on Th afternoon when I take the train into Rome to then get myself over to the airport to hop on a flight to London, where my friend Kristen from school will meet me for a few days in London and a day trip to Brighton! Then I'll day trip to Brussels on Sunday before heading to Paris for a few days with my friend Virginia from Cohasset. After Paris, I'll head to Munich to visit some family friends (Katharina). Munich will lead into a quick stop in Salzburg for the day followed by two days in Vienna. The trip will end with Halloween in Rome with some friends from home! It'll be a great way to end such an amazing week of travelling :) Can't wait to share the pictures and more of my adventures upon my return!
Peace and Love to you all :)
xoxo Aisling
Hope everyone is keeping warm in this frigid weather. This weekend was the start of the Eurochocolate festival and it's just been absolutely crazy. Not once in my whole time in Perugia have I seen this many people. . . however the chocolate makes it worth it. If you think you've had chocolate before. . . you haven't unti you've had some of this chocolate! It's been amazing, and having some SMC friends come in for Sat/Sun made the weekend even more special.
This week is mid-terms. I took Italian last week, but this week I've had the rest of my finals culminating with my last one tommorow. . . Christianity. Taking a break from studying to write this blog entry and to start thinking about packing for my ten-day backpacking trip that starts on Th afternoon, I'm starting to realize that it'll be weird to be away from Perugia for this long. Perugia has become my home away from home, and it'll be weird not to see the locals and just be in this beautiful city for longer than a few days.
The break will begin on Th afternoon when I take the train into Rome to then get myself over to the airport to hop on a flight to London, where my friend Kristen from school will meet me for a few days in London and a day trip to Brighton! Then I'll day trip to Brussels on Sunday before heading to Paris for a few days with my friend Virginia from Cohasset. After Paris, I'll head to Munich to visit some family friends (Katharina). Munich will lead into a quick stop in Salzburg for the day followed by two days in Vienna. The trip will end with Halloween in Rome with some friends from home! It'll be a great way to end such an amazing week of travelling :) Can't wait to share the pictures and more of my adventures upon my return!
Peace and Love to you all :)
xoxo Aisling
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Eurochocolate!
Hey all!
This weekend eurochocolate hits Perugia! Starting on Friday and going for the following 10 days, there will be 100s of booths set up in the three main piazzas in Perugia selling some of the best chocolate not only from Italy but from all of Europe. Needless to say, with the stress of mid-terms coming this week, the chocolate festival is going to be a safehaven for almsot all the U mbra students!
For the start of the festival I have some friends from SMC who are studying in Rome joining me in celebrating chocolate, but also I hope to fit in a day trip to either Florence, Assisi, or Gubbio. We're thinking Florence because the weather lately has been frigid! Whoever said Italy didn't get that cold was clearly mistaken. The wind from Russia apprently has a straight shot down into Perugia making for some very cold afternoons, and some freezing slumbers seeing as the heat isn't allowed to be turned on in Italy until Nov 1st!!!! Here's to hoping that the weather gets a little nicer (although with forecasts of snow for the weekend it is doubtful!) Peace and love to you all
xoxo aisling
This weekend eurochocolate hits Perugia! Starting on Friday and going for the following 10 days, there will be 100s of booths set up in the three main piazzas in Perugia selling some of the best chocolate not only from Italy but from all of Europe. Needless to say, with the stress of mid-terms coming this week, the chocolate festival is going to be a safehaven for almsot all the U mbra students!
For the start of the festival I have some friends from SMC who are studying in Rome joining me in celebrating chocolate, but also I hope to fit in a day trip to either Florence, Assisi, or Gubbio. We're thinking Florence because the weather lately has been frigid! Whoever said Italy didn't get that cold was clearly mistaken. The wind from Russia apprently has a straight shot down into Perugia making for some very cold afternoons, and some freezing slumbers seeing as the heat isn't allowed to be turned on in Italy until Nov 1st!!!! Here's to hoping that the weather gets a little nicer (although with forecasts of snow for the weekend it is doubtful!) Peace and love to you all
xoxo aisling
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