Spring Break!

Hola!! Hands down one of the best weeks of my life!

We started spring break off with a bang in MOROCCO. We stayed in Tangier, Morocco in a 5 star hotel..felt like heaven compared to all the hostels we've been staying in. The first town we went to visit was Tetouan that was a great eye opening experience. It was fascinating to see how the people in this town make do with everything they have (or don't have for that matter). We walked through the meat and fish market where they were killing chickens and selling them right in front of you..thought for a second I was going to pass out. Next we saw the tanning house me being naive thought it would be people laying outside..nope it was where they skinned the animals and made fur and leather. While walking through the market I was volunteered to get dressed up like a Moroccan women in a haik, gave everyone a good laugh i'm sure you can tell.

 My roommate, Jenna, about to also pass out from the smell of all the dead animals

Thought I was going to turn into couscous by the end of the trip since that was about all we ate while in Morocco. I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed the meals. 

After exploring the town we headed back to the water where we went inside The caves of Hercules! Such an incredible view. Also the point where the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean meet! Only downfall of visiting the caves was that I had to pay 50 euro cents to use the bathroom there. Usually wouldn't care but what they consider the "bathroom" was literally a hole in the ground outside. oh well you win some you lose some

Best part of the trip comes next...GOT TO RIDE CAMELS ALONG THE BEACH! Was perfect riding along the ocean watching the sun set with best friends. 

Sunday we visited Chefchaouen another village in Morocco that is located in the Mountains. All the houses in the village are painted blue to help keep the homes cooler in the dead heat of summer. We ate lunch at a Lebanese restaurant called Casa Aladdin, looked exactly like something out of the movie. After lunch we went to a factory and saw all the famous Moroccan oils and spices.

 

Next stop: SEVILLE, SPAIN. I feel in love with Seville, the city was so clean and gave off such a happy vibe. I wish we spent more than just two days in Seville but I am already looking forward to going back. 

 Excellent Spanish Piaya! yummm

 Had a picnic along the river

 Can't go to spain without trying Churros.

Plaza de Espana! 

Rented a row boat and rowed down the Guadalquivir river!

Lastly Barcelona!!

Sagrada Familia, Church designed to make you feel like you are in a Forrest:

 At Park Guell:

 

St Joseph market best fresh fruit:

 Olympic Stadium from 1992!

 Rented bikes for the day and cruised up to the top of Barcelona

 Last day relaxing on the beach

 

Last year for spring break I had trouble packing for 7 days in a bag under 50 pounds. How things have changed, its safe to say I got use out of everything I packed in my backpack for 10 days. Made some memories I will never forget this past week. Our next trip is to Greece for Easter weekend! Feel like I have to be setting some kind of record for most vacations in 4 months. Also while updating this blog I finished my second jar of peanut butter. Now back to reading The hunger games, bummer that the movie didn't come out this weekend here in Rome. Until next time!

Ciao!

The world fascinates me

I was fortunate enough to have my mom and her friend, Deb join me on my adventures the last two weeks! After living two months in a different country then my parents it was nice to have two “moms” around. Along with my mom came oatmeal and 4 jars of peanut butter (1.5 are now empty..)

The bad luck they experienced with traveling continued once arriving to Rome, after a 7 hour layover in NJ. Just so happened to have a transportation strike last Thursday the day they arrived (pretty common happens every couple weeks, were the train/trams/busses stop running for a couple hours) Once the strike ended we hoped on the first train to Naples..another downfall of the strike is that once its over every train and bus is extremely crowded. To start off the 2.5 train ride we were sitting in the middle section on the floor..not ideal. Once in Naples we had to take another train to Sorenton, after getting on the wrong train multiple times we finally ended up in the correct destination. The first day we took a ferry to the island of Capri. We did a long two hour hike around the coast, all the stairs we hiked up were worth the view. After the hike we took a chairlift up the highest point on the island. Pictures don’t do justice for the views we saw on top, was incredible! Saturday we took a long windy bus ride along the coast down to Amalfi. For most of the bus ride I was on the edge of my seat thinking the bus was going to fall over the side of the cliff. Once in Amalfi we yet again engaged in another hike called “The hike of god.” The hike started a town over in Agerola and we ended in Positano. The trail was amazing, hiked through acres and acres of Lemon Trees and along a stream with multiple waterfalls.

Even though I’ve been in Rome for two months this last week was one of the best. Tuesday: Went on a (VERY early) 5 mile run along the Tibber River with my roommate Karlee, Deb and my mom. Then ventured to Vatican City for the day to explore. Later that night we had to pleasure to be shown Rome “at night” with a Priest that my moms friend knows from back home. He showed us every little niche and secret that you would only know after living in Rome most of your life. He showed us the famous “keyhole of Rome” which is a keyhole in a door through which the dome of St. Pere’s Basilica can be seen perfectly centered (several miles away). We were also able to see the “Mouth of Truth” legends say that it eats the hands of liars. To end the night Father took us out to an amazing restaurant and when I say amazing I mean I’ve been back three times now since last week…eeek!

 Wednesday: FINALLY went inside the Coliseum, saw the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain! (Typical day in the life of a tourist in rome)

Thursday: Started the day off with Father Coffele giving us a private mass in the basement of St. Peter’s Basilica where most of the past Popes caskets are located. He showed us all the back rooms in the Basilica that is mainly only open to Priest. After mass we had an exclusive tour of the Vatican Gardens, the train station, the government building (was lucky enough talk to the secretary of the Bishop), went to a convent even talked with a nun who told us about her life before she decided to be a nun (a lot different than what I expected), went into the Vatican Museum, inside the Sistine Chapel and climbed to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica! Spent almost 12 incredible hours with Father in Vatican city! That evening my mom took my friends and I out to dinner then ending the night drinking wine at the top of the Gianicolo Hill that over looks all of Rome!

For the last days they were here we head up to Florence for the weekend. The last time I went to Florence it was 0 degrees out and snowing, the city gave off a whole different vibe this time around. We did an 18 mile bike ride through Tuscany to a wine vineyard. We were able to see where and how they make the Wine and Olive Oil. After we ate lunch and were able to taste what they make at the Vineyard.

Now only 50 days until I see my mom again! Seems like I’ve been on Spring Break ever since fall semester ended last year but my actual spring break started today!! Tomorrow I head to Seville, Spain then Morocco, AFRICA and ending in Barcelona, Spain! Interested to see how living out of a backpack for the next 10 days will be.

The more parts of the world I see the more I realize I still have so much to learn.