Budapest, Hungary

So one thing that I have become very used to is adjusting my plans regardless of what they have to do with. For instance, right now we have not had hot water or heat since Sunday. This means that I have had to shower at friends houses, and wear jackets, pants, shoes, and scarves in our apartment. Also, today my roommate Joe was searching for places to traveling to this semester and came across a flight to Budapest, Hungary!

Budapest had been on my list of places to go, but because I thought it was too expensive to travel there I had just written it off as a place I wasn't going to be able to go to. However, when Joe was searching today he found a flight to Budapest for 20 Euros round trip! YES!!! We are now going to travel to Budapest for 20 Euros!!!

Heores Square in Budapest

The Chain Bridge in Budapest

The Parliament Building in Budapest

I am really excited because Budapest is an absolutely amazing city! It is built around history, art, and great architecture. Because Marcus, Erica, Sara, Ellie, and Cierra are all going to Amsterdam to meet up with some of Ellie's friends for her birthday, I will be going with Joe and Sage! I am excited because it should be a fun (and cheap) trip.

On a side note, I am headed to Venice this weekend for Carnivale. Going right now to buy a pair of awesome RED PANTS as well as a red mask so we can look absolutely AWESOME!! I will keep you all updated as much as I can on what else is going on here in Torino.

Not so smart when you are trying to hide from bullets, but for a fashion statement in Europe.... YES!!

PS - Bachelor night tonight!!! Emily better figure it out or she is going to be going home tonight!

Traveling Part III: Where I Want To Go Next Semester

As I just received my schedule for next semester, I have tried to plan out my traveling plans. There are a few places that I am going to, and there are a couple other places that are on my list of interest as of now.

Where I am going;

February 11th-13th: Venezia (Carnevale)

February 21st; Ivrea Mardi Gras Carnevale

March 9th - 18th; Spring Break in Greece

6th-9th April: Easter Break in Istanbul, Turkey

April 27th - May 1st: St. Petersburg, Russia

After this my family will be coming over for 2+ weeks to travel around Italy, and this actually might be my favorite part of my whole study abroad experience. The more that I travel, and the more that I am here in Italy, the more that I become excited to show my family what it is that I have been living in for what will be 9 months before they get here.

Traveling Part II; My Christmas Plans

This year for Christmas I will be staying here in Italy. At first I was very worried about this, as this will be the first time I have not been home for Christmas. Even more so, I was worried that I would be here in Italy alone because most of the students are going home before Christmas, and I would be staying here. However, I am lucky to have a professor who is a great guy and has an amazing wife and they invited me to their home for Christmas. I give her a lot of respect because they have three sons, and they are inviting me in to make four!

After Christmas I am excited to say that my best friend from back home; Luke, and also Lucie, are coming over for two weeks. As of now we are not 100% sure of where we are going to go, but this is the plan so far:

Luke and I at our Senior Prom

30th - 7:00 am arrive in Roma
30th - 2:00 pm leave for Firenze
31st - Firenze (new years)
1st - 1:00 pm leave for Pisa (day trip)
2nd - Siena (day trip)
3rd - San Gimignano (day trip)
4th - 6:00am take the train to Roma (stay up.. no hostel)
4th - 9:30am take the train to Napoli (sleep time)
4th - stay in Napoli for the night
5th - Pompei
6th - The Temples
7th - Capri (stay the night in Napoli)
8th - 7:15am take the train to Roma (Nate's birthday)
9th - Roma
10th - Roma
11th - Vatican
12th - Back to school

I am extremely excited to have Lucie and Luke come to Italy and visit me. I am also looking forward to traveling to the places on the schedule. I have not been to any of these locations yet, and I am excited to travel with my closest friends.

When we have finalized a schedule I will be sure to post it here and let you take a look at it.

Traveling Part I; Where I Have Been

As I just received my schedule for next semester, I wanted to take some time and reflect on the traveling I have done so far. Ironically enough, I have traveled less than most of the students here, but if you look at this list, we have traveled a lot! I feel blessed to be here in Europe, and experiencing a part of the world that I would have never appreciated as much.

Paris, France

 Versailles, France

 Aosta, Italy

Milan, Italy

Genova, Italy

 Santa Margherita

 Cinque Terre

 Lake Como

 Gran Paradiso

 

 

Alba

 

 Palermo

Agrigento

 Brussels, Belgium

Stockholm, Sweden

 Dublin, Ireland

This is part one of a three piece series I am going to put together. I find it refreshing to stop and smell the roses, look back on your past, and really reflect on the opportunities that God has put in front of you! Check back tomorrow for a heads up on my winter break travels, and then by the end of the weekend because I am going to post about the places I am going to do next semester as well!