Going home

As I write this I am sitting in the Frankfurt international airport. It is an unreal feeling going home. I am so happy to see my family, friends, and familiar surrounding again. At the same time I know I am going to miss traveling and going wherever the wind takes me. I have had the most amazing five months of my life. I cannot thank my parents enough for the opportunity they gave me. I am so lucky. These experiences will change and shape my life forever and I know that everyone will be sick of hearing my stories eventually! But right now I can't wait to get on this ten hour flight and touch down in good old Boston, USA!!

Munich, Germany

Oldest church in Munich 

Two towers on church, not destroyed during the war because the pilots used them as reference points

Beer hall!!!

Salzburg

Court and I decided to take a stop in Salzburg, Austria for a day. Court was very excited to do the sound of music tour so we hopped over the Salzburg and warmed up our vocal cords. 

Our hostel showed the sound of music movie every night at 7 so we settled down and watched it our night before the  tour. The next morning we arrived at the bus and began the tour. We went to many of the locations major scenes took place. We saw the gazebo that "16 going on 17" is sung, the house, where Maria and the kids fall into the lake, the church Maria and the captain are married in, and many of the mountain scenes. It was so neat to see these places in real life. The town and surrounding parts of Salzburg and breathtaking. It was such a fun stop for a day!

Prague part II

I went to the Czech Republic a second time with court and we stayed there for the days. It was so great to get to go back so soon. I really love the city of Praha. Cobblestone streets and old trams all over to streets. We got to hang out with Lubor again. I realized he is the last face from SAS I will see in Europe. 

Court and I at the Lennon wall

Vienna, Austria

Reunited

Last night I picked up COURTNEY CARROLL from the airport!! So happy to see my first face from home in five months. Now we take on Vienna, Prague (again :)) and Munich. 

Berlin

I realized at this point that I say every place I visit is amazing...but the problem is that they all are. Each place is different and has its own way of beauty. For the last couple of days I have been flying through countries, mostly because I met up with my friends Nate, Spencer, Ethan, and Yue. They have done all of the travel planing, I am just joining up with them for a week where I get to relax and just follow them. So These cities like Budapest and Berlin are places that with out them I would have never gone. But I am so happy that I did. 


Berlin was a mix of old and new. The buildings would have old structure resembling ancient cities, then there were modern elements mixed in. The Parliament building, called the Reichstag building,is a massive stone structure with a glass dome on the top. 

Just as I did in Paris with Emily, we did the Fat Tire City Bike Tour in Berlin. We biked around for four  hours and got to see most of the city and historical sites we wanted to. On the tour we stopped at Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, Hitler's Bunker  Luftwaffe Ministry, Brandenburg Gate, Victory Column, and more. Easily my favorite times in these cities is when we get to bike or walk around and take in all the sights. 

Yesterday I left my group to take a train to Vienna to meet my friend from home Courtney. She was studding in France for the Semester so we decided long ago to meet up after both our semesters abroad ended. Now I can't believe I get to see her again! I am going to the airport to pick her up, I may bring a sign and wear a drivers hat....

Berlin Wall

Prague

Wow. I am loving Prague. I just got here yesterday and luckily got to meet up with my friend Maddie from the ship and my friend Lubor who lives in Prague. It was a mini semester at sea reunion. Yesterday Lubor showed us around a part of the city. We visited the oldest bridge in Prague, which gave us amazing views of the city. We also visited the old town square and clock tower. Our last stop was the John Lennon wall (then the

 John Lennon pub of course!)

I guess I did not know too much about Prague before visiting, but it has exceeded my expectations! I suggest anyone who can to take a vacation here some day in their life. 

Poland

Yesterday we took the night train to 

Auschwitz concentration camps. It was a very eerie and moving experience. We toured where the prisoners slept, worked, the gas chambers, and memorials to the perished prisoners. 

Sleeping on the night trains is always a funny and uncomfortable experience: 

Switzerland - Austria - Hungary - Czech Republic

Over the last three days I have traveled through a lot of countries. I left France and headed on my quest to get to Austria. I "had" to stay the night in Switzerland (huge hassle!). I arrived in Austria the next day after a scenic train ride all around the Swiss mountains. From Austria I went to Budapest Hungary. This is somewhere that was not even on my radar but it is incredible! One of the most beautiful cities I have had the privilege of visiting. The city is so old that there are ruins from the Roman Empire. I met up with some of my SAS friends here and we have been wandering around the city, which is all lit up at night.

Tonight we plan to travel to Poland and see a concentration camp tomorrow. Then tomorrow night we get to go and visit my friend Lubor, who lives in Prague.  I am the most excited to see him again. I have been having an amazing travel experience and don't know what I will do with myself when I come back to the good old USA....maybe catch up on ally sleep. 

WWOOF

My friend Claire and I decided back on SAS that we wanted to WWOOF in France. Well we did near Montpelier and it was a great experience. Our jobs consisted of helping build and rock wall, weeding, and taking care of two adorable 16 month old twins. All in all I am so happy we did it. Now on to Austria!

Ciao

Bye Paris

More Paris

Emily and I had such adventures in Paris. We saw all the major sights; Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the louvre, and the arc. We like to think mastered the metro and blended in (even though our fashion was not up to Paris standards, they were having none of my large sweatshirt and spandex).

The wine and cheese was to die for, I think we are Brie every night. But alas we parted ways. I am off to start WWOOFing in southern France with my friend Claire. Emily is off to Dublin to meet up with her sister.

I have had the most amazing time as I know it will continue.

Ohh and dad the picture of the chocolate almond croissant looks as good as it tasted :)