Copenhagen Adventure

Just a few short days after spring break, I was headed off to Copenhagen to visit one of my best friends.  Although I did not want to leave Florence’s 75 degree weather I was excited to explore Denmark.

I arrived Thursday night and cried when I saw Cara.  We stayed with her host family who lives outside the city.  It was so nice to have a home cooked meal and to be in an actually house!  On Friday we woke up and headed into the city where we headed to a pastry shop.  The Danish are know for their pastries and I was determined to have as many as I could.  My first was a cinnamon bun covered in chocolate.  TO DIE FOR.  I had three more throughout the day.

Copenhagen was a very cool city that was on the small side but still bigger than Florence.  It was very modern and the people there were gorgeous: tall, thin, and blonde.  I liked the nautical feel of the city too.  Bikes were everywhere and most people seemed to ride them…even if wearing heels!  Everyone was very nice but everything was very expensive.  One coffee might cost 8 dollars!

We spent the night in the city and headed out from brunch the next morning.  It was different than what you would expect to get in the US but still very good and very filling.  

We then decided to take a short day trip to Sweden.  Very similar to Copenhagen with a northern Europe feeling.  We found great ice cream and sat out enjoying the sun that I was told was very rare.  

Cara and I headed back to her host family where I enjoyed another delicious home cooked meal complete with roasted potatoes, meat, and green beans.  On Sunday I headed back to Florence and looked forward to seeing Cara in only two short weeks! 

Never Ending Night

A little something I wrote for travel writing:

I looked at my watch again. 2:17am. I moaned and tried to shift my legs but the back of the bench prevented me from turning.  The cold metal bars were digging into my body in multiple places, although my right hip was suffering the most.  My stomach was growling loudly.  Probably because all I had for ‘dinner’ was two king sized Kit-Kats.  My throat was feeling dry too but we had run out of water an hour ago.

Did sleeping in jail feel like this?  It had to be similar with a cold uncomfortable floor and bright neon lights.  Limited food and no blankets added to the illusion.  I could hear men talking near by that might have provided an entertaining ease drop if it hadn’t been in another language.  Their voices seemed to be growing louder, or was my exhaustion getting to me?  A baby was crying in the distance.  Louder and louder and louder.  Wait, there are no babies in jail.  But then I remembered I was not in jail.  I was spending the night in the Milan airport.

The plan had been to depart the plane and remain in the main airport through the security check point.  Then we could easily catch our flight out the next morning.  I confidently assured my boyfriend that there would be padded places to sleep and safe areas to put our stuff.  We could get dinner there too.  After a few days in Barcelona I was craving pasta carbonara.  Or maybe a huge pizza with mozzarella and fresh tomatoes.  Yes, the airport would be perfect.  Just like a hotel.   

What I was not expecting was to be bused to the baggage claim.  Before I knew it we found ourselves outside the airport, 40 miles outside of the city of Milan.  We made our way to terminal 2 where our plane was scheduled to depart the following morning.  I was surprised to find a majority of the benches already occupied with other travelers who had the same idea as us.  We found one of the last open benches, right in the middle and claimed it as our own.  This would be fine.

3:26. The air felt colder and I was shivering more than before.  I longed to be back in Nice strolling the beach promenade.  I tried closing my eyes and imagined the sun beating down on my face but this daydream was not enough to warm my body.  My hip was numb now and my neck was throbbing.   I would never be able to fall back asleep.

5:17 I was awake again.  There were more people in the terminal than before.  Was it time for us to check in yet?  Not for another hour and a half.  For the next thirty minutes I was in a half sleep trance.  Voices and shapes blurred together and I felt as if I was on a massive dose of pain medication.  At one point my boyfriend asked what I was smiling about because clearly there was nothing funny about the situation.

7:30 Standing in the security line felt like finding water after a long walk in the desert.  I held an average blueberry muffin in my hand but my exhaustion had taken a toll on my appetite.  The plane would be my safe haven and I smiled at the thought of sitting in a comfy cushioned chair.  Walking there would not be a problem.  I had just spent the night in an airport and survived.  I could do anything.

March Madness

March was busy. Not in a stressed work load way, but in a running around like a crazy headless chicken way. February ended with my 21st birthday that was spent sick in bed with the stomach bug. Definitely not a birthday I will forget and plenty of time to make it up.

My family came in the middle of march for an amazing trip. We explored Rome in two packed days with Joe as put travel guide. Then made our way to Florence where time was spent strolling the streets, climbing the duomo, hanging in wine bars, and pizzerias for lunch. Food food wine and more food were the themes of their stay.  

Having been in Italy for almost two months, I was growing used to and almost taking for granted the amazing dishes that surround me. Though my family I relived the initial pleasure that comes with tasting pasta, pizza, cheese, gelato, and of course wine here. Memorable meals included a great restaurant in Rome where the mozzarella was the best I've had and pizza and paninis in Florence at my favorite places.

Saying bye to my parents and Luke was hard but I had to quickly refocus my attention on my next adventure: spring break.

Joe and I set out and in seven days and 6 plane rides later, covered four different countries.

First was Nice along the French Riviera.  Even more beautiful than I remember from three years ago. The beach promenade was lovely and sunny and the gelato was to die for.  We spend our time walking along the rock beaches and finding great crepes.

Next was Geneva. A change in climate but absolutely gorgeous. We had the chance to meet up with Mary, a wonderful women who I know through a friend. She treated us to an amazing lunch complete with traditional cheese fondue!  We took a boat ride across the lake (Lake Lemon) and saw on of the biggest fountains in the world.

We then set off for Barcelona a lively city with a young feel and never a dull moment. The central outdoor market was my favorite along with the sandy beach. We visited the 1992 Olympic stadium and parks around the city. Tapas for dinner and a Spanish dance show completed our Spanish experience.

 

The last few days were spent on Malta, islands south of Sicily. The weather was in the 70s but the water was freezing! Took a ferry to a near by island and the blue lagoon for picturesque beaches. Also found out they don't sell over SPF 4 sunscreen so came back having a reddish glow to say the least.

Being back in Florence felt great. Tourist season has officially begun and restaurants are expanding onto the streets embracing the warm weather (70 degrees is average!).  I feel like a true resident the more and more tourists I see and want to embrace as much of this city as I can before heading back to the states.

I’ll be updating more frequently from now on!

Ciao!