Update.

I thought I would give everyone a little update about how my trip is going since I have a bit of time to spare. So we got to Paris with no problem, I went with my friends Lisa (from Australia), Rob and Eric (from the UK). The hostel we stayed at the first three days was okay, the rooms were fine nothing special and the free breakfast was decent but it was really far away from everything (sometimes an hour on the metro) and was in kind of a sketchy area of Paris, we didn't really feel comfortable walking back from the metro stop late at night. On the second day we were there a huge storm started and lasted for 3 or 4 days which sucked. We didn't get out to see as much as we hoped because of this. Because of the storm our train to Rome was canceled and we wouldn't be able to get on another one for almost a week! So after a few hours debating what to do Lisa and I decided to spend three more nights in Paris and the boys went on to Amsterdam for those days and we decided to meet back up in Luxembourg on Christmas. Lisa and I ended up booking a budget hotel that was much closer to everything and was only 3 euro more then we were paying at the hostel! We ended up having such a great time!! The weather cleared up and we got to do everything we wanted and tons more! I really suggest going to Paris around Christmas the lights are unbelievable and everyone was so friendly and great! So we left Paris on the 23rd to Luxembourg which is only about a 2 hour train ride and stayed at a great hostel there! We met back up with Eric and Rob and another group of travelers and we all had a great time together. There isn't that many sight seeing things to do but Luxembourg is a beautiful country. We all went out on Christmas Eve for a big dinner and lots of beer! On the 25th Lisa and I went to Brussels, we got there late and only stayed two nights. I wasn't really a fan of Brussels to be honest we didn't get to see or do much because we were there for such a short amount of time but the city was covered in ice literally COVERED I think I fell down at least 5 times just trying to get around and we had some uncomfortable encounters with men there. So from Brussels Lisa went to Scotland were she is going to travel a bit more then head back to Australia and I came to Bruges! I love Bruges so much, its so tiny but everywhere you look is a photo op. I rented a bike and have been riding around eating 'frites' and drinking beer! Belgian beer is soo good! Pretty much all the museums here revolve around food haha today I went to the french fry museum and tomorrow I am going to the chocolate museum and a brewery! I have lots of pictures, but something happened to one of my memory cards and I think my pictures from Luxembourg and Brussels may be gone :S I bought a new one for the rest of my trip and am hoping I can fix the other one when I get home. Anyway thats somewhat of an update! I have so many stories and things to share and I have met tons of great people from all over! In a few days I will be heading to Amsterdam to meet up with my dad I cant wait! Then we are going to Berlin and London. I will update again when I get home I really hope everyone has had a great Christmas and has big New Years plans! :)

Family.

I live in a residence that is mostly full of first year students, so for a lot of them this is the first time they have been away from home, and over the past few days I have watched families from all over come to excitedly pick up their son or daughter and take them home for the holidays. I love hearing the happy chatter fill the hallways and see the loving embraces as family members reconnect, but it makes me a little sad. This is the first year in my life that I won't be spending Christmas with my family, and although I could not be more excited and grateful for the opportunity to spend the next 20+ days traipsing around Western Europe it's still a little heartbreaking to know I wont be there to watch christmas movies with them, and eat dads Christmas day breakfast and spend full days sitting around with Alex in our pajamas doing nothing but enjoying spending time together. I love my family and I am really going to miss them over the next few weeks.

Parlez-vous Anglais?!

Well I leave for Paris in two days so I thought I should brush up on my French maybe memorize a few important phrases..
So far I have learned:

La liste des vins, s'il vous plait = The wine list please.

and..

Vous etes tres beau = You're very attractive.

Thats all I could remember. Luckily they make handy little books for the language challenged like me.


Now I just have to figure out a way to use it without looking like a huge dork. I got the Italian version too, just to be prepared.

Dear John Krasinski

You are a dreamboat.

Where is my Mind?

Something I find myself asking more often then I care to admit, also a great song by the Pixies.

2010 in Photos.

Well guys since its almost the new year and I am going to be leaving very soon for my trip I thought I would do a post now filled with some of my favorite pictures from 2010. I did and saw so many amazing things this year and met some of the best people from all over the world, therefore I have alot of favorite pictures (just warning you). Also they are in no order what-so-ever so..enjoy!

Keep Calm and Travel On.

Paris in t-minus 5 days! I am so looking forward to days filled with museums and historic landmarks, delicious food and wine, all the christmas decorations and markets, celebrating Christmas in Italy and New Years in Amsterdam with my father, and of course nights out in some of Europe's most exciting cities. Life is so good.

Video Fun.

Hey guys! Sorry I haven't posted in forever, busy with school and everything as I am sure all of you fellow university students can understand. But I have officially handed in my last essay (till January anyway) so I have no more excuses not to write a new blog post. I was looking through some of my pictures from Africa and realized I have a few cool videos that most of you probably haven't seen! If you have please just disregard this post. Anyway here they are! :)






The last one is just a silly one of Bunny and I dancing..I wish I knew how to edit it so that you can see it better..anyone, anyone?! Well Hope everyones week is going fantastically!

Guess what came in the mail today..

Lots of awesome things actually! I got an adorable package from my family with lots of goodies..

Including some christmas cheer!


And a disco ball! Haha I adore my family more then anything.


And finally..


MY EURAIL PASS!

This is my train ticket to all over Europe over the Christmas break! I am getting so excited for this trip and feel so lucky to have an opportunity like this. So far here are my plans for the holidays. I will be flying to Scotland with my good friend Alex to visit our friend Jenni (for those of you who don't know these are two of my friends I met in Africa over the summer). We are going to spend the weekend exploring Scotland and celebrating the end of the semester! From there I am taking the train (and a ferry) down to Paris where I will meet up with some fellow international students. We are planning to spend 3 or 4 days exploring Paris then head down to Rome for Christmas! We will likely stay a week or so exploring Italy maybe even stay for New Years! Then I am going to Amsterdam on the 1st of January to meet up with my dad!! SO excited to see him! We are going to stay there a few days then head to Berlin on the 3rd! After a few days there we will fly back to London for a night or two before finally heading back to Exeter! So if I don't already have your address please send it to me so that I can mail everyone postcards :)

PS. It just started SNOWING! I don't know if today could possibly get any better!!

Blanket Forts.

This is what we do on Friday nights after the pub closes, but really, you're never too old for a blanket fort.

Glee.

Yeah, another post about glee, its just so good! It may be unhealthy how much I love this show..but if you didn't watch it this week, do it right now it was to good to miss.

Ps. Kurt transfers schools?! Sob!!

Exeter Christmas Parade + Harry Potter.

I had a great Saturday! We got up early and went into the City Center to do some window shopping and get good seats for the Christmas Parade, which was excellent by the way! Exeter seems to really go all out for Christmas, last week they had a huge ceremony in the City Center with fireworks and everything for the first lighting of the christmas lights and trees that have taken over the city. It was very exciting and the parade was so much fun, Santa was even pulled on a sleigh by real reindeer! After the parade we headed to the theatre for Harry Potter of course! Which was phenomenal, I have never been a huge fan of the movies because they just can't compare to the books but this one was so much better then I expected! Plus it was very cool to see it in the city J.K. Rowling first created Harry Potter in! Now I am anxiously awaiting the final part. Check back here in the next few days because I will be posting some pictures of campus and other exciting things! Heres a picture of Santa with one of his adorable reindeer, hope everyone is having a great Tuesday afternoon!

Gorillaz Live in London.

Tuesday night I took a coach to London with a few friends to see the Gorillaz in concert. For as long as I can remember I have always LOVED them and dreamt of seeing them live. Well it was definitely worth the wait! It was unlike any other concert I have ever been too!! They put on such an amazing visual show, everything about them is so unique. The concert was part of their new "Escape to Plastic Beach" tour, they will be heading to North America soon and I really encourage everyone to check out dates and see them if you can! SO worth it. I didn't take my camera along because I was in the standing section, but here are a couple pictures from the show a friend in seats took.



Sorry I know they aren't the greatest. And here is one of my favorite songs off their new album. Its a lot different then their older stuff but a nice change. Hope everyone is having a good Thursday! :)

"We need more guts."

I really like zombies, okay I kind of love them. While some people are into vampires and werewolves I have (and will) always love zombies. Which is why I am so incredibly happy someone finally created an awesome TV series about a zombie apocalypse. I have tried many times to watch True Blood or even The Vampire Diaries but I have never been able to get into them. Finally there is a solution for all you fellow zombie lovers out there The Walking Dead is an amazing new TV show based on an American comic book series and if you like zombies or even a good horror flick you need to check this show out. Well worth it.

Diana.

I got a new toy today!


A Diana F+ camera!!! I have been wanting one forever but always had more important things to use my very limited funds for! But I finally had enough wiggle room in my budget so I went for it! (Don't worry Dad they are actually pretty cheap haha) The reason they are so cheap is because they are actually considered a toy camera as they are plastic. They were invented in to 60's to take 'psychedelic, dream like photos'. Here are some very cool examples.






I can't wait to take it out for a spin :) Happy Monday!