Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Prague!

PRAGUE was beautiful! It was absolutely freezing, but I am so glad I got to see it with Cara who has been studying abroad there since September. She leaves on December 15th in just a few days, so it was really exciting to be able to spend her last weekend abroad with her in Prague. However, I have never had such bad luck travel-wise. I missed my flight from Florence and had to rebook so I didn't end up getting to her apartment in Prague until after midnight. When I finally arrived they had drinks waiting for me and we went out right away and I got to experience Prague with people who know what they're doing. Which is good, because I don't speak Czech...

We went sightseeing, drank Starbucks(!), climbed a small eiffel tower, saw the Lennon wall, walked Charles Bridge, and visited the Christmas markets. It was a beautiful and absolutely magical place, really.

Getting back was even more of a disaster than trying to get there. There was a huge snow storm so my flight from Prague to Munich was delayed, causing me to miss my flight back to Florence, and ended with me spending the night in a hotel and getting back to Florence the next afternoon. Other than missing class it wasn't all bad! I got free dinner and breakfast and I had time to shop in the Munich airport, and I love Germany so no complaining here!

That's life, eh? I've learned that while studying abroad. Things will not go as expected, and when they inevitably don't, you can allow yourself only five minutes to be upset, then pick yourself up and move on because, well, everything happens for a reason. Life is too unique and surprising to be planned out too well, and I've learned a lot more from the moments of struggle and confusion than when everything works out just as it should. No regrets!

Here are some photos of my weekend with my best:

View of Prague from the top of the tower

Cara!




Cara on Charles Bridge



Christmas Markets in Prague

Lennon Wall

Goodbye beautiful Prague, until next time!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

It's definitely Christmas time in the city! Sparkling lights illuminate the streets and although it's been quite rainy lately, I can't help but feel the Christmas spirit whenever I walk around this beautiful city. The Christmas markets are up in Santa Croce, and vendors sell warm red wine, spices, ornaments, organic beer and wine, fresh warm pastries, and plenty of other goodies.

School-wise, the semester is definitely winding down. I finally finished sewing, dying, and painting my dress for Italian Fashion Design! Now only three papers, one exhibition, a presentation, and a final exam lay between me and a plane ride home after nearly four months of la vita Italiana!

Here are some pictures from my recent jaunts around Florence, ciao for now!



One of my favorite streets



Santa Croce church, and Christmas market



My finished masterpiece (better photos to come...)