Amsterdam

Amsterdam

I guess I should begin with what I expected Amsterdam to be; a quaint little city with damns and rivers, houses with pointed roves, and people in wooden clogs- oh and legal drugs and prostitution. Welp, it was all that but more.

Amsterdam is a beautiful city with even more beautiful people living there. I swear every Dutch person I saw had this natural beautiful glow to them. Dutch people are also, as a whole, the friendliest, warmest, most hospitable culture I have ever encountered. They are so incredibly willing to help you out and to show them their city. In fact, at one point on our last day we had walked the 5k to a little bus stop that was supposed to be more direct than the usual bus that stopped right outside out hotel. So on a whim, we decided to check it out- maybe it would save us more time. We were wrong. The bus stop was in this charming little town and in the 25 or so minutes we waited, I think we saw A car pass by. Luckily, there was a little restaurant beside it so we popped in to see if anyone there new anything about this bus. The woman working quickly jumped out her seat to help us thinking we would be her, what seemed to be, only customer that day. When we began asking about the bus you couldn’t help but notice the disappointment in her eyes that we weren’t eating there. But, nevertheless, she was more than willing to help us. She told us to have a seat, offered us a drink, and began making phone calls to our hotel, a cab company, the bus company, etc. It was the kindest thing I have ever seen a perfect stranger do for me. After another 25 mintues or so had gone by, we decided it would be the most logical thing to just walk allllll the back to the original bus stop. The experience made this mishap all worth while.

All in all, the trip including a lot of walking around and bike riding! Amsterdam people are known for riding their bikes everywhere and tourists are encouraged to do the same. As a bike rider though, you must be prepared to follow strict trafficking rules so beware. Suze and Maggie claimed to not have ridden a bike in years so they were a bit skeptical but we pushed on through. It was a beautiful day when we walked into that bike shop and I swear, the second we walked out the sky opened up and it started to pour. Riding a bike amongst crowds of people for the first time in a while in the pouring rain proved to be difficult. More difficult for some however, but I won’t get into that (Maggie)

That night, Saturday, we walked around the infamous Red Light District. UM I don’t really know what to say about this. There are literally women in little closets with glass doors wearing hardly anything just waiting for someone to literally buy them. It was really the single most disturbing thing I have ever witnessed, especially as a woman. These poor women, and their poor mothers. But what’s even worse is the disgusting men who walk down these streets with shit-eating grins on their faces.

It almost makes me feel bad for the amazing, friendly natives of Holland who want tourists to see their beautiful country for way more than a place to buy women and drugs.

On a brighter note, earlier that day we went to the Van Gough museum and I fell in love with crazy ol’ Vincent. I absolutely loved every single one of his paintings they had there. The one that stood out the most that I hadn’t seen before was ‘the bedroom’. It’s just a simple little painting of neutral coloring of a bedroom- one bed, one window, not much else. Apparently it’s just supposed to make you feel relaxed and ready for sleep and it really really does calm you down somehow. I wanted to buy it! But I didn’t. Another interesting little ditty about Van Gogh has to do with the last painting he did before he died (actually, I may be misconstruing this but the I’ve got the basics of it) Anyway, it’s a really creepy looking landscape with dark black crows flying about. Rumor has it that he knew he was going to die and therefore painted a painting of death.

OH there was also this other one- that was done in the later in his life when Van Gogh was in the mental instution and he painted this pretty dreary looking landscape of right outside the hospital. He said however that the painting was an imagine of how the other patients in the hospital viewed life- Vincent though still was able to see the beauty in life and not the dreary view he painting even while in the institution.

Needless to say I love Van Gogh now.

We stayed in this pretty hilarious hotel too. It was basically a 1970’s bachelor pad. Our room had 2 HUGE king sized beds with an upstairs. HILLARIOUS. We called it ‘the lounge’

That’s about it on Amsterdam. I love dutch people.

Roughing it in the airport cerca 5am. Watch out for the guys on the rights debut album. Italian covers of Stevie Wonder songs.

Amsterdam! from one of the many bus rides that weekendSup canal

Dutch people really like riding bikes

This was pretty much the coolest thing i've ever seen. A life size airplane engine and wheel. AND you can climb it.

Represent

PACE

This was the inside of our hotel room. SOOOO hilarious
'the lounge'

"lousy food and warm beer"

"I AMsterdam"
how cleva?

Paris!

Paris

The city for lovers. Up to date, it was favorite city I’ve seen. You hear all the rumors about how French people hate Americans and that they are extremely unfriendly in every way- well I experienced nothing like that. Throw around Merci! Every once in a while, even when a ‘thank you’ isn’t even necessary, and you’re golden.

There is so much to see and do in Paris that it does become a bit overwhelming for a weekend trip. In fact, that point proved to be true for the rest of my travels this semester too. If I never have to pack a suitcase or spend excessive amounts of time waiting around in an airport ever again, I assure you I think I could be eternally happy.

Our flight from Rome to Paris on Vueling airlines- my favorite Airline up until then, on Friday morning at 11am. Which, on Italian timing- where nothings open late at night when you need it, including public transportation, means we had to catch the 5am bus to the train station that would get us to the airport around 8:30. So Maggie and I slept for a combined total of 3 hours (I think I got around 2 and Maggie didn’t even sleep for a whole hour)

We woke up atound 4 and had to walk the 20 minutes to the bus stop. IT was indeed tough but we prevailed. A caffe at the airport and we were ready to board.

We landed in Paris around 4 I think. I think I had a permanent smile on my face from the moment we landed. OH WAIT- the airline! VUeling was fantastic, the flight attendants were so friendly and they even gave us FREE drinks! Which if you have been on a plane in the last 3 years you know it is almost unheard of. Then right before we landed they handed out little itty bitty pieces of candy. I was blown away by even the smallest of accommodations.

So back to the Paris airport- they have these escalator type things without any steps but they incline. So it pulls you up and down these little hills and makes it so easy to get on and off with a rolling suitcase. I was impressed.

After finding our way to where we needed to be via public transportation- we came above ground to find Ibraheem and rain. We stayed with Maggie’s UT friend Ib, who is studying in Paris for the semester. We put our bags down in his dorm style apartment and headed right back out for dinner and the Lourve! Which is free on Friday nights for students.

At dinner I insisted that we try Escorgot!! Which just reminded me of Jenny because I know that she likes it- ew. Its not as chewy as I had imagined, and not fishy tasting at all- but not really all that great either. It’s also about 12euro for 6 or so snails. I didn’t mind the taste at first, but in retrospect is kind of makes me nauseous.

Ater stopping at a cute little French bar we made our way to the Lourve. It is SOOOOOO HUGE, I had no idea. I could have spent my entire weekend in this museum and still not have seen everything. In fact, I think I could go for free after 6pm every Friday for as long I am a student and still not have seen it all.

I’m not sure how proud I am of this fact, but I’m not really into old art. I mean, its cool and all but you’ve seen one picture of Jesus and Mary and you’ve seen them all. Not to say that I don’t appreciate it- I’m just not blown away by it.

The Mona Lisa was no big deal. But I still took a picture of it. I think the allure of the painting is that no one knows really who she is or where she is. But so we even know any of the information about any other painting? I guess.

So Friday night we went back to Ib’s apartment and met all of his international friends! We were in a room with about 10 kids from Sweden, Holland, Italy, England- you name it. We all spoke English though it was the mother language for Maggie, Ib, the English girl, and myself. These people were all fluent in at least 3 languages! I was amazed.

Saturday morning we woke up to a sunny beautiful day! We walked around all day, saw the Notre Dame, the Hunchbak, and Elsmeralda. Then we heads to ­­­­______ were this super cute Italian man was singing cheesey pop songs with her guitar. WE sat on the steps in the sun overlooking the entire city and listened to Yuri play ‘let it be’ while the whole crowd sang along. It was such a perfect moment.

That night, Maggie and I planned to go see DJ Shadow- even though it was sold out I had no doubts we could get in. Low and behold- scalping tickets from French people when you can’t speak French proved to be quite difficult. So instead we picked up a bottle of Champagne and headed to the Eiffel Towel. I was completely blown away at how beautiful and huge this thing was. We sat on benches in awe for a good while and agreed that we would both be proposed to here one day.

That night, we met back up with Ibraheem and his uuber cool French friends at this Canadian girls apartment. Seeing her stunning apartment confirmed the fact that I want to live in Paris. We were slightly pooped and decided to head back early- though not early enough for the trains to be running still! UGH Europe and their lack of all-night transportation really gets the best of me. So we had to take a 30 euro cab home- oh well.

Sunday was pouring rain and cold but we managed to make it to the Champs Elysees and saw the Arc de Triomphe. No big deal.

All in all- I fell in love with Paris. I can’t wait to go back

Mia Famiglia in Italia

The week after spring break my family came to visit!!! It was Daddio andMichael's first time in Italy but Mom's second. It was really great to be able to show them around my new little home here in Perugia. And of course, take Michael out!
We all had such a good time, eat great food, and drank wayyy to much wine (especially daddy and me!)

Unfortunately though, the week they were here was just about the worst weather we've seen. There was an actual blizzard! it was the first time it had snowed like that in 2 years! go figure.
They got to see Assisi, Florence, Rome, and Guibbio- and of course Perugia!
It was sad to see them leave, but only one more month til I'm home again!

For one of their days here, I set up a wine tasting at Chantina Chiorri Vineyards. It's the same winery we went to with school. My parents, well no, my mom, fell in love with the guy who runs the whole thing- Francesco, and apparently they are working together to get his wine in New York!! I hope it works out- and i hope the connection comes with a few perks! ie. free vinoo!

Anyway, Mom and Dad- thanks for everything! I wish you could have stayed the whole time! I hope you're booking Roma for next spring already!

These are just some of the pictures MIchael took here- Oh by the way, he totally admitted that I'm the cooler Wright.

Formaggio

Ha, sorry guys, couldnt help it!

Roma! that's just the Colosseum in the background. No big deal.

Mustache Thursday. Michael couldn't stop talking about how he can't wait to bring the stache to Greens. Typical

Mio fratello e me

Charming.

The Vatican!

spring breakk

Okay, sorry about the lack of posts in the last month buttt i think this will jump-start your kristen fix for a while.
Spring break was about a month ago now buttt the memories are still fresh in my mind!
I was back in Ireland for the week and got to visiting a little girl named Emily Sciandra!!!! She goes to school in Maynooth and is having the best time ever. We toured around her little town (which was new to her apparently!) annd I met all of her friends- all of whom are amazing!
There is one main road in Maynooth in which there are 4 bars, a bagel factory!! and a Tesco- Lily Allen lives there.
We went out, annd we proceeded to get kicked out because I was dancing on the table- who know that wasn't allowed? Standard procedure in the States, no?
I got to eat a real live bagel in Maynooth, something a New York like myself misses way too much. The bagel sucked but it got the job done- I was pretty pumped.

I also got to see Ryan again and met much of the O'Flaherty clan. His sister, Ciara, is my new best friend needless to say! I think they are all coming to the WHB this summer so hopefully everyone will be introduced.
Ryan had his last rugby game of the season that I got to watch- I'm practically fluent in rugby these days. Actually, that's such a lie, I don't think I'll ever understand the game, sorry.
It was actually pretty funny, I was watching the game with 2 other girls- one of which is a longtime girlfriend to a kid on the team and has been to almost all of his matches, and then other used to play on a girls rugby team. I simply followed suit when they started clapping and did a lot of smiling and nodding.
All in all, the trip was brilliant. 'Great craic' as they say in Ireland- meaning good fun!

Ps. stereotypes of Ireland proved to be right- beer and potatoes are consumed all day everyday.

Here's emily and I on our walk of shame home. The bouncer made us leave without our coats! so we had to walk home in the freezing cold without them.

Elizabeth, Emily, and myself. Elizabeth in an American girl who is studying with EMily in Maynooth. She's one of Emily's best friends there and she's awesome!

SCIANDRAA

More of EMily's friends! Kylea is the second from the left and another one of Emily's closest friends there-she is also fantastic!

Okay, while in Ireland, Maggie and Suzanne got to meet up with us! One of the days we were together we traveled to one of the richest areas in Ireland, so I was told, called Kilinney Hill. Guess who has a house here?? BONO! We tried to find it but lost interest. Apparently outside of his house is all of this grafitti of fans dedicating their utmost love.
Kilinney is right on the ocean and on top of a hill- so basically it was one of the most beautiful places ever. We went on a warm sunny day which makes everything better.
At the top of Kilinney Hill you can look over the whole town that consists of one pub, and hundreds and million-euro houses. It has a great quaint beach town feeling to it.
It was suuch a great day!

Here's one of those expensive houses. That railing is to a balcony off the roof. Some view to wake up to every morning no?

Maggie Bang walking through the trail of Kilinney Hill!

Just some cute old Irishman

An actual rainbow in Ireland!! I saw a real live leprecon with a pot of gold at the bottom of it too!

Brilliant

Top of the hill

Maggie's Pics from Pisa and Venice

Piazza Miracoli
I think this may be my happiest moment in life.

Loved these guys

Welcome to Venice boiiiii
Oh, in St. Marks Square, there are 1,000,000 pigeons and silly little tourists pay a euro for seeds to allow these pigeons to fly ALLLLLLLL over you and basically eat you. Its hillarious, and gross. I m not a pigeon fan

DADDY! these guys are exactly like your best friends in Times Square. SO hilarious, you would have loved them.

Ciao bella, you want a ride?

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