London and Canterbury

London:

Okay, I'm in America now. Sadly. Anyway, going back to tell you about London and Canterbury. Well, Gabriela was amazing. It was like we never were apart. I think we bonded even more, like we should be flatmates. I love this girl and we are so alike. yas. yas. yas. Her room is a heat box, like from hell. But her bed was comfy af. She works at Starbucks super early every morning so I would explore London while she worked and then I'd meet her at Starbucks when she got off in the afternoon. She also gave me her old school Oyster card for me because I forgot mine in America. The first day, I went down to Borgouh market. Which was just starting to open up so I didn't eat there or stay. I then went to the Shard which was really expensive to go to the top. Thirty-one pounds or twenty-four online (24 hours in advance). So I didn't do that. Then I got Costa tea and a breakfast sandwich. Walked to London Bridge and through Tower of London. Went to St. Paul's Cathedral. Costs 13 pounds to go in, didn't go in. Walked across Millennium bridge to Tate Modern. Walked all over, laid on the ground for the current exhibition (Philippe Parreno, Anywhen). Really cool. Almost fell asleep. Then the second day was to Canterbury (below). So skipping to the day after we get back from Canterbury. The next full day in London I walked through the Lieschter Square and Trafalgar. China town. Covent Market. London Eye to Ben. A lot of things were in construction, obviously getting ready for tourist season. Piccadilly screens were off and the London eye wasn't working. After I picked up Gabriela, we went to the arch on Oxford. Then Camden. Oh we had Whetherspoons like three times. We went to a nice Italian place. She had henna to do my hand one night too. We watched Netflix almost every night. Lemony Snicket. The last full day in London I walked forty minutes to Parliament Hill (super muddy hike) then took the tube to Oxford to wait for Gabriela. We then went to Big Ben and after we went to Camden Town to window shop. Had Ben's cookies. Took the double decker bus to Big Ben. That was a first for me.

Canterbury:

Oh my. Canterbury is where I studied abroad for over five months. We both did (she did a year). It was equally fun and depressing. Everything felt different and it didn't feel like we belonged. The first day was a lot of fun, more fun than depressing. We got off the National Express bus that we ALMOST missed. We ran like two miles and was dripping sweat on the bus. the bus driver was about to pull out but he shook his head let us on. He wasn't happy but I was. Once in Canterbury, we went to Boots, Tesco (for Cadbury), Costa, and Primark. Back to the hotel to clean up our sweat. Had Whetherspoons (HALLOUMI CHEESE IS HEAVEN). Went to Cherry Tree Pub for Pig Fuckers (a drink I used to get). Met up with Callum, a guy from study abroad, for a drink. Then went back to the hotel to get ready ready for the night out. Met up with Callum at his place to pre-game and we all went to Cuban. The club we used to go to every Thursday or weekend nights to drink and party. It was amazing. We had Jagerbombs because I had those all the time two years ago. The next day, we went to Chocolate Cafe for like four hours to chill and have tea. Nando's fries later after visiting the cathedral. Then back to the bus to go back to London.

I'll probably update this once I think of more. Because there are more details. Trust me.

Budrio (Italy) to London

On the airplane from Bologna to London! Ryanair like always. Eating my only kinder bar. Felt like I just got to Italy. I only had two full days. Shoulda had three though. Alessandra and Fabio had plans to take me to thermal baths, like outdoor hot tubs. It would have been on our way to Roma too. Could have seen Roma again. Sucked that I was deathly sick in bed and that I missed my original flight to Italy. But looking at the situation, it's the best. To be sick with the family. She's my Italian mom. She takes care of me. As soon as I arrived three days ago, she checked my fever, my pulse, and to see how thick my coat is. When we got to the house I was fed and given tea. Hot shower. And laundry done. This is the third time visiting the family. I really wasn't expecting to do anything when I came anyway, I just wanted to talk and eat her delicious food. Which I definitely got. I had piadina the first night. Some experimental enchilada/burrito thing with chocolate salami (my favorite dolce/sweet or dessert). Last night we went out for pizza. I got bufala. Mmmmmmm. Went out this morning for bombalone. I brought stroopwafels for them and they LOVED it. Especially Steven, I think he is obsessed now. Which, OMG, the security in Belgium took away my stroopwafel spread. Threw it in the trash. I almost cried. Partly because, how rude, but also that morning I was miserable. So sick. I hate traveling sick. Last time it was this bad was on a National Express bus from Canterbury to London to Wales with Michaela for a day, almost two years ago. I woke up three days ago with a burning hot fever, like my whole face was red hot, I had chills over my body, headache, horrible cough, runny nose, and the worse aches. But my Italian mom took care of me the last three days. I'm better, for the most part. First night I had chills. Next night I couldn't fall asleep until 5am from coughing so hard. Third night (last night), nothing! I also got myself cough syrup that got through security with no questions asked because I didn't present the bottle to them, I forgot until I got to my gate. Thank god because the syrup is definitely working. Thank god I'm better because I'm going to London. The last place for this trip and my favorite place in Europe, meaning I'm going to be outside exploring a lot in the London wet cold. And I'm going to go out with friends. Especially Saturday. Gabriela and I have a ticket to Canterbury!!! And a place to crash. It's not going to be the same but still, it's going to be so great. Canterbury for those that don't know is where I studied abroad two years ago for over five months. Which, how ironic, I left to study abroad January 14th, 2015. Now we have a bus ticket on National Express to Canterbury on January 14th, 2017. Ahhhhh! Okay but I'll tel you later about it. Back to Italy! The family has four cats now! Patricia and Pina. Paco. And Pepe. Made me miss my cat Mona soooooo much. Only 8 more days until I see her. We kind of just laid back and ate pasta for lunch. And Italian tv. Talked. Planned on coming back next year, 2018 summer. Hopefully with either Johnny or G (my grandma), maybe both. It was a really nice visit. Just hanging out and resting and catching up. I love them, I appreciate them so much. Fabio is my Italian dad by the way. Hahahahaha. The very sweetest. They do so much for me. Thank you loves. See you 2018 and 2020!!

Antwerp to Antwerp (Belgium)

On the train from Antwerp to Brussels airport. The last four days were fun with Suzanne. Chill. Tea. Solden. Memories. Stroopwafels. The first day I got there I was kinda lost in this beautiful train station. No wifi. Looking for Suzanne and then I sat at a Starbucks and messaged her. Her place is perfect location. When we first reunited it was weird. It was like we were back at Canterbury, uni Kent. Flashbacks! But then we started talking and it was like we never left. She studied a lot. We got lunch that day and talked about boys. Went to the grocery store. Got bread (she freezes her bread), stroopwafels, white chocolate covered stroopwafel, stroopwafel spread, bear chips, cherry beer, oranges, hummus, cucumber, zucchini, red pepper, and cream cheese pasta sauce. We had pasta for dinner with pepper and zucchini. Tea. Chocolates. Always chocolate. Netflix. Blew up a mattress and I got in my cocoon sleeping bag and passed out. I woke that night shivering for over an hour, couldn't fall back to sleep. Woke up the next morning with chills and a runny nose, I'm sick. Of course I'm sick. That day we walked around, I downloaded Duolingo app to learn Dutch, learned about Nello and Pratreshe, saw the cathedral, the square, the. Christmas market, got food at a market (falafel sandwich and a cheese curd thing). Also I guess watermelon with feta cheese and jalapeño is a thing. Went to Bier Central by Antwerpen Central Station for a beer or two. I got Delirium Tremmons and fell in love with it, third favourite beer now (behind Heineken and Corina). That night we did more Netflix and I wore three sweaters and two yoga pants and three socks and a hat and two scarves to sweat it out that night. Suzanne doesn't believe in a heater at night, she says it's bad for your health. Ahhhhh. I still love her. Waking up was better than the morning before. We got ready to go to Breda, Netherlands. Her hometown for dinner with her parents. For breakfast every morning we had frozen toast with either butter and sprinkles or hummus and cucumber slices. The sprinkles thing is a Dutch thing. So delicious too though. Oh the first night we also had pudding from a carton for dessert. So weird!!! But so good, it's not as think as American pudding. Back to Breda. We took the train. Saw the Christmas market there and saw stroopwafel liquor. Had sandwiches and coffee at her old favourite coffee shop. So cute. I had a c-star, groot (large). En (and) enn (a) boterham (sandwich) met (with) goat kaas (cheese) and honey and spinach. So good. Dank u (thank you). Ik ben een vrouw (I am a woman). Hahahha. I tried learning. It's a hard language. The "g" makes a funny sound as well as other combinations. I bought a coat. Solden is like rebajas in Spain. It's just a really big after Christmas sales. People go crazy. It's like Christmas shopping the week before Christmas. Anyway I got a coat because I am freezing. I only brought a light jacket because stupid me was like, oh it's going to be twenty degrees warmer there than here in Wisconsin. Still cold. Went to a book store and it was cute. Got tiger balm for my nose. Ran into an alligator. Went into the cathedral. Saw a damn that has a story like Trojan horse. Dinner with her mom and dad was cute. Fries or frites. Main course. So instead of having a burger with fries on the side in America. In Netherlands, they have fries with some meat on the side. Also they eat fries with applesauce rather than ketchup, mainly for kids but still a thing. Watched some Dutch tv and then at a scheduled time we have coffee and tea with some apple pie. Yum. We left and went back to the city Center for a drink. I had wine. Then back on the train. Oh Antwerp is known for the hand from David the Goliath. The river that he threw the hand in is in Antwerp. They have a monument about it. Also Nello has a monument, a popular cartoon. Then the last full day, yesterday. We slept in. She studied. I went out to find shoes to replace the ones I have for going out. They're getting a little rough. So it was time throw them out and find some new ones. Then I found a Belgian waffle place and got a warm one with chocolate. It wasn't amazing but I'm not complaining. Oh. It snowed that morning. Like of course. Everyone was in awe because it doesn't really snow in Belgium but of course it would snow when this Wisconsin girl is there. Anyway. Later we went back to bier central and had like three beers. That place has 325 beers. It's like a magazine, the menu. But I always got delirium. We also had some nachos because dinner was just snacks. At the super market Albhert Heijn, I found Doritos with the flavour "cool American" hahahahha, Suzanne says it tastes like sour cream. One of those nights we had senor taco. Hahaha Mexican food. I got a pineapple and cheese quesadilla and she got a burrito and we also got nachos to share. The whole time was perfect. Got to chill and catch up. She was a perfect host. Already miss her. I invited her to Canterbury but those Belgian colleges go hard when it comes to studying. She says she'll come to America hopefully next year. Now I'm off to Italy. Bologna airport. Meeting up with Alessandra and Fabio. Can't wait for pasta and to talk about beautiful cities in Europe. Also I guess they planned a museum visit in Bologna to see Frida Kahlo's stuff. Like dresses and such. Yay!

*two hours later*

Not yay. I'm on the train from Brussels airport to Antwerp central now. I was at he wrong Brussels airport. We didn't notice I'm going to the south Brussels airport. So I had to stand in lines to find out the Brussels airport I'm in only goes to Rome, not Bologna. Except airline Brussels and the one for today to Bologna is 480£. Tomorrow like 300£. So yeah. I went back to Ryanair to ask about buying one for tomorrow and they said sure but it'll be like 100£. I went on my phone guys, went on Ryanair's website to buy a ticket. Same time and same plane. Just tomorrow. And only for 54£. Suzanne looked up trains to take to that airport for tomorrow and it's 21£. So that was a huge headache. I'm just really sad that I'm missing a day with Alessandra and Fabio. I guess they were saving to celebrate Stevens birthday until I came too. This sucks.

Oh houses in Belgium are cute. It's like they built one and then a year later added another house onto the side of an older one then a year later decided to add another house. A bunch of different brick or stone coloured house put together.

Granada to Antwerp

So I'm on a bus. Hahahhaha. Missy and I. We tried to sit by each other 5 times.  It this bus has seat numbers ahah ahah. Really? So we finally had to sit in our numbers. Window seats but still, really?  Five hour bus ride from Granada to Madrid. Just long and to be honest, drunk. We went out. This. Us leaving right now at 1:30am. So we went out for one more night. We went for tapas and shots at a erasmus bar (study abroad students) so cheap and fun. We had like five shots. Feeling it. Had some vegetarian tapas. Met Cassie's boyfriend, Nico. Made me miss my boy. So fun though. Today we went to La Alhambra. A monument slash castle like thing with stray cats. It was pretty but we were late with tickets so we couldn't go in to get the real thing. Made me miss my cat while seeing the stray cats. Fed some cats during some tapas and sangrias after. So wait, Granada. Beautiful. It's like a mix of cultures and religions. Jewish. Christian. And Muslim. Best suvenir shops. Beautiful tapestries and figurines and lamps. The first day we got in and went out to a Irish bar because Missy HAD to see this Packer American Football game at 2:30am. We met some guys from the U.K.  Super fun. The guy that is in a band had to try on Missy's Packer Jersey. She fought with him for a good amount of time before the game started because she was superstitious. The other guy, William, from Ireland is a chef and a tour guide in Granada. Super nice. Drank till like 3am that night after our flight. Next day was spent walking around and seeing the lookouts. Had some tapas. Hummus and tinto de summer (summer wine). Today I had falafel and sangria. But the second night we went to see a flamenico show with a mojito. Super cool. THEY GET SO PASSIONATE. The dancer and the singer and guitarist. It was in a small cozy little basement kind of thing. We  also had Paella that night. Not as good as I had back in Barcelona two years ago but still yummy. MISSY IS SUCH A BLONDE, today she asked us if in England what language they speak. That's just one example of her questions. Maybe it's because Cassie and I have traveled that it feels dumb to ask hut still, I don't know hahahahha. This bus is taking us to Madrid city center and then we take the metro to the airport. I leave to Brussels and she goes to Chicago. I still go to Belgium and then Italy and then England. But this trip made me realize my 2017 resolutions, something I won't tell you and then learn Spanish. I'm so good at Spanish already that maybe taking classes won't be a bad idea so I can get close to fluent. Also, I think I do plan on living in Europe for 2018 summer. June to August. Still brainstorming living arrangements. But the places I still want to go to on my bucket list is: Morocco, Budapest, Prague, Copenhagen, Berlin, and Norway (Northern lights). A week in each place, at the very least. This trip to Europe was to see friends and family and then 2018 is to travel solo around to new places. It'll be a good way to say adios to my younger years before I get a big girl job, a husband and a kid, and a house. But anyway. GRANADA. Was fun. It was very nice considering this trip has been a refresher with seeing Amsterdam for the second time and Paris for the third time and Madrid for the second time. Granada is a first. Seeing a new place or culture is exhilarating. I loved it. I'm jealous of Cassie living there. Cobblestone roads. Markets. Shopping. Baby Jesus Feliz Navidad flags. Etc. This trip to Europe made me realize how much Americans should appreciate American servers (waiters and waitresses). Because I'm a new server as of August and seeing that Europe makes the tips included in the bill, the server don't care on how they treat you or care about checking on you. If you want something you gotta hunt the servers down in Europe. Tonight we had hookah and Moroccan teas. Morraqui tea. And baklava. Slept in from last night going out. Went to a popular street for kids our age. Wall Street bar. And another. Wasn't pooping due to holidays. Holidays end around the 6th of January. Today is going to be the 4th. But anyway. Cassie's place is freezing at night. I slept in two sweaters and yogas and high socks and my blanket scarf with her little blanket. Missy and I slept almost on top of each other too hahahhahahahha. So cold last night and the night before. Tried Alhambra cerveza (beer). It's alright. Got a button from the bar tonight. Every one euro shot we got is two points. Ten points you get a button. Fourth a thong and I think 90 a sweatshirt. Things in between too. But Missy and I got a chupo (button or pin). Also, don't know who is reading this but I'm not getting anyone a present from Europe except my grandma. Not even my boyfriend. Nah. I want to do what Cassie is doing, live somewhere for a year to teach English. She was in Korea before and then Northern Spain and now southern Spain. I want to. But boyfriend and cat and grandma. Idk. That's why I'm thinking 2018 summer will be my last hooray. Saw a golden retriever and corgi mix today. I think I have drank every night since day one in Europe. 19 more days. When I get back to America, it's going to be school and work only. Fun. So living it up now. Okay I can't remember anything else so four hour nap now. Cafe (coffee con lecho o Americans) and zumo (juice, usually orange) and a crossiant or tostada in the morning. Tostadas are toast with tomato or jam on top. Oh in France we had the best waiter (aka best French guy ever because the French are assholes). He gave us free shots because we asked where is a good place to go for New Year's Eve. He also pinched our cheeks. Also we asked a question in the gay bar and got free beer so yeah. If they don't understand English we get free drinks. Okay, not complaining. Hamsa hands. Lemon and orange trees. Also just a shoutout to the friends in Europe who actually reach out to me to meet up. The ones that I know live in Europe and don't try and the continue to like my Europe photos can get bad karma. Also like the scammers who pretend they found a ring then give it to you and then come back and ask for money, the scammers in Granada do palm branches and palm readings then ask for money. Also I'm very sick. Tiger balm helps like vix. But anyway, buenos noches.

Paris to Malaga to Granada

Third time to Paris. The 29th to the 1st. On a plane to Malaga, Spain. Then a bus down to Granada. Cassie leaves there. Going to have some paella asap. Anyway, Paris was cool. I can't remember every detail but I'll type as I remember. Missy and I went to the top of the Effie's Tower (Tour Effiel). It was cheap and the line was short! It was great. Maybe it was that way because it was freezing and kinda foggy. Oh, the bottom or under the tour effiel is filled with security now. A lot has changed for safety since what happened with the bombs the other year. It's crazy. They didn't do anything at the tour effiel for New Years night either. No fireworks there or countdown because they don't feel safe to do so. The top of the tour effiel was beautiful and well worth it. It was freezing and the top had frost on it. We were the same height as the clouds. We also went to see the arc de triomphe and the louvre. Didn't pay to go inside and see Mona Lisa (although, Mona and I go way back). We hit up Notre Dame and went inside at night during a service. Lit a candle for Mom and Grandpa Lee. Bought a beret because I regretted it last time I visited. First night going out was lame. Bars closed super early and we didn't know where else to go. Metro closes super early as well so we couldn't stay out late. Bars closed at midnight and metro closed right before 1am on weekdays. 1:40 on weekends. Although New Year's Eve it was suppose to be open all night long but it wasn't and we got a stupid cab that charged us a lot. I had two macaroons (pistachio at a Christmas market by the tour effiel and just now at the airport, a cheesecake one). Got myself Camembert cheese and a baguette. At one restaurant we were at, we had an awesome waiter. Which waiters and waitresses in Europe don't care about how they treat us, the customers. Because the top is always included in the bill.  But our waiter was great and we asked him about places to go and he said "ah, oui" and came back with free rum shots. Uh, okay? Not complaining. Rhone red wine is great. La seine is cold. Missy and I the next night went to a street we found out about that has a lot of students and it was so fun. It was the night before New Years Eve (NYE). I had French Cafe which is like an Irish coffee but instead of whiskey it was cognac. So gross. Went to another bar and it was crazy fun. As soon as we walked in we were given free shirts and hats and party stuff, glow sticks and glasses and streamers. They were celebrating NYE that night because they're going to be closed on the actual night. Okay so NYE was so fun. Slept in. Bars open all night. We got WIGS. Fun wigs from Madrid. I got a white bob and they got long pink hair (hot pink and light pink). We looked awesome. Pregame with some wine. Bought some champagne at the Eiffel Tower. But okay here's where it gets scary. Our wigs drew a lot of unwanted attention. At first a person wanted a picture with us. Then more people. Then more kept asking and we were finally saying "no". They followed us around the Effie tower. Groups of men. I was legitimately scared for our well beings. Then they all like come at us for more "pictures" and they separate us. Started grabbing us and trying to kiss us. We pushed. Finally we got out and ran towards each other. Cassie got her wig torn off and she slapped them but the guy apparently tried to slap her back. What the hell. We booked it out of there. Also Cassie said that while she was slapping and saying "fuck you" the cops next to her didn't do anything, just looked away. Take in mind this is all within 15 minutes to the new year. We found a spot next to some normal couples and stayed there for the countdown. But the groups of guys were waiting around, watching us. So we planned to hold hands tight and run to the nearest metro when everyone leaves. We covered our wigs with scarves and hoods. I just couldn't believe what happened. After we found ourselves to RAIDD Club. A gay club. With a shower and naked gay men dancing and posing. It was fun. They loved us in our wigs too. At first we couldn't get in. The short security guy didn't like our wigs. But we sat outside at a table and talked to a bunch of men about it for a good hour. Later they started to close the patio and let us in. The short security guy was kinda pissed when the other security men allowed us. It was packed but so much fun. It was a really good decision to go to a gay club rather than clubs with more creepy guys. We danced till 4 or 5am. Tequila tonic. Dripping in beer. So NYE was interesting. We didn't even have a countdown, kinda sad. Anyway. Oh, missy  and I witnessed a proposal. It was actually super cool because we asked this couple to take a photo of us and then I asked them if they wanted us to take one of them, so I did. Then the guy gives me a video recorder and then as I started, he turned to her and started talking. That's when I knew and started to freak out. I looked back at Missy who was oblivious to what was about to happen. Then he got down on his knee, Missy knew then. She said yes. It was awesome. Oh, we stayed in an Air Bnb. It's like people will let you crash at their place while they're away. It was nice. A small studio to ourselves. With a kitchen and fridge and just very home-y. It belongs to a girl our age. The bed was big enough for us three. It had to have been a king size. Had hot chocolate at a Christmas market and it was just warm malted chocolate. No water. We took a ride on one of those bikes that people will drive you around like a taxi on a bike. 5€ each from arc to louvre. It was perfect. We should have went to the Arc de Triophme for NYE because they had projections and fireworks. Eiffel Tower didn't. I don't know when I'll be back in Paris but I know I will be. Granada next. Missy leaves after Granada for home, USA. Then I continue to Antwerp, Belgium with Suzanne. Then Italy with family. Lastly, London with Gabriela.