I'm so happy to be home.
Yet I've been here for three days and I'm already planning my next trip! I definitely have been right all along: I love to travel. I can't wait to explore more and perhaps even return to places and people I've gotten to know!
For now I will settle for a while. My love of Portland is so fresh at the moment that I was able to enjoy myself on a rainy day (which doesn't often happen). I had forgotten how good Portland smells when it rains.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Nights of disaster...au revoir
So recently Alex and I have been staying in our worst hostel yet. I havent written about it because my personal living situation has been a disaster and it was to upsetting to write about it.
There are no co ed rooms so alex and i have had to sleep seperately. I was lucky enough to get a room with a toilet and shower where his just had a sink. However, he got good roomates. Mine not only didnt speak and smelled terrible but they also snored so hideously i cant even begin to describe it. After three nights of MAYBE two or three hours of sleep i switched rooms. This one, even though the bed is less comfortable, is much better because i can actually sleep the whole night through. The great news though, is that alexs friend whom we were supposed to be staying with has pulled through and we are staying with her now!! Cant wait to be out of that hostel (where our free breakfast consists of packaged croissants out of the vending machines) and be able to get advice on things to do from someone who lives here. We have found great things to do so far of course, but it will be nice also to have suggestions!!
last 2 days in paris..here we come!
love, B
There are no co ed rooms so alex and i have had to sleep seperately. I was lucky enough to get a room with a toilet and shower where his just had a sink. However, he got good roomates. Mine not only didnt speak and smelled terrible but they also snored so hideously i cant even begin to describe it. After three nights of MAYBE two or three hours of sleep i switched rooms. This one, even though the bed is less comfortable, is much better because i can actually sleep the whole night through. The great news though, is that alexs friend whom we were supposed to be staying with has pulled through and we are staying with her now!! Cant wait to be out of that hostel (where our free breakfast consists of packaged croissants out of the vending machines) and be able to get advice on things to do from someone who lives here. We have found great things to do so far of course, but it will be nice also to have suggestions!!
last 2 days in paris..here we come!
love, B
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Le Museé Du Louvre et Notre Dame
Bonjour, Paris!
Paris had a rough start but is definitely picking up splendidly! It was only a rough start because the first day here was new years day so nothing was open and our hostel sucks. However we did end up going to Notre Dame which was so incredible. I would like to try to go again even. The only problem is it is so crowded!
Today we went to the Louvre...amazing!! what was so awesome was that not only was the art work beyond explination..but the building it self was so breath taking. It is so huge though. We spent almost 5 hours there and still didnt cover everything. I absolutely loved it.
What is so great about paris, is that it is so easy to find a place with sandwiches, pastries and crépes. and they are all cheap and im always in the mood for at least one of those things. You can then just sit on a bench on a bridge and look at pretty things while eating delicious things.
The weather has been FREEZING. it keeps beginning to snow but nothing is sticking. today was sunny and beautiful though.
Hopefully it will be sunny tomorrow, making it the perfect day for a trip to the eiffel tower!!!
love, B
Paris had a rough start but is definitely picking up splendidly! It was only a rough start because the first day here was new years day so nothing was open and our hostel sucks. However we did end up going to Notre Dame which was so incredible. I would like to try to go again even. The only problem is it is so crowded!
Today we went to the Louvre...amazing!! what was so awesome was that not only was the art work beyond explination..but the building it self was so breath taking. It is so huge though. We spent almost 5 hours there and still didnt cover everything. I absolutely loved it.
What is so great about paris, is that it is so easy to find a place with sandwiches, pastries and crépes. and they are all cheap and im always in the mood for at least one of those things. You can then just sit on a bench on a bridge and look at pretty things while eating delicious things.
The weather has been FREEZING. it keeps beginning to snow but nothing is sticking. today was sunny and beautiful though.
Hopefully it will be sunny tomorrow, making it the perfect day for a trip to the eiffel tower!!!
love, B
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Bruge, Belgium
Im here and im still not sure if it is spelled bruge or brugge.
The keyboard at this internet cafe is very confusing but i am going to try my best to use it
This is the most wonderful place it is too bad that we are leaving it early tomorrow morning. I like it so much i want to come back and live here for a while. It is gorgeous, the people are nice, there are tons of little markets and everything is so cheap. Earlier today Alex and I went to a museum of an old palace and it only cost one euro. It was free entrance to the church of our lady which was amazing and we just got done at the chocolate museum which was only five euro. The history of chocolate is actually incredibly interesting and they gave us two free pieces of chocolate too. Oh also, this morning Alex and i got chocolate waffels freshly made in this independent little cafe we just stumbled upon. It was one of the most delicious things i have ever had to eat. No joke.
Tomorrow morning we leave for paris. I cant wait. I also wish I could figure out how to use the exclamation mark to express how excited I am.
I love and miss everyone and hope everyone has a happy new year -exclamation mark goes here-
love, B
The keyboard at this internet cafe is very confusing but i am going to try my best to use it
This is the most wonderful place it is too bad that we are leaving it early tomorrow morning. I like it so much i want to come back and live here for a while. It is gorgeous, the people are nice, there are tons of little markets and everything is so cheap. Earlier today Alex and I went to a museum of an old palace and it only cost one euro. It was free entrance to the church of our lady which was amazing and we just got done at the chocolate museum which was only five euro. The history of chocolate is actually incredibly interesting and they gave us two free pieces of chocolate too. Oh also, this morning Alex and i got chocolate waffels freshly made in this independent little cafe we just stumbled upon. It was one of the most delicious things i have ever had to eat. No joke.
Tomorrow morning we leave for paris. I cant wait. I also wish I could figure out how to use the exclamation mark to express how excited I am.
I love and miss everyone and hope everyone has a happy new year -exclamation mark goes here-
love, B
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is such a shock! I knew it would be pretty and relaxed, but i didn't know that it would be gorgeous and that there would be such a range of things to do! I really like this city because it's a modern environment, but it is historic, making it lovely. The ONLY problem i have found is that it is very dirty. Very dirty. The ground is COVERED in gum, cigarette butts..and poop. All over the sidewalk. You really have to watch where you are going.
Alex and I are having a great time regardless of the dirty ground. We have gone to a couple museums and gone out to eat a couple times. We spent our first day simply roaming the city and it was just as entertaining because it was so beautiful!
In a couple days we are leaving for Bruge, Belgium. I don't really know anything about it, but i've been hearing from many sources that it is a great city and the best place to visit in Belgium. I'll be sure to get some chocolate!
After that, it's Paris. It's getting so close I start to get tears in my eyes every time i think about it. A little pathetic, but i'm just that excited! Fireworks at the Eiffel Tower....wow.
Ange-- i forgot a long time ago i wanted to tell you that alex and i went to this pizza place and i thought of you the whole time because it was just like kens pizza! You would love it! I think it was some of the best pizza i've had...ever. It's interesting though, in Austria it's very traditional to put an egg on pizza...interesting, but delicious.
Alex and I are having a great time regardless of the dirty ground. We have gone to a couple museums and gone out to eat a couple times. We spent our first day simply roaming the city and it was just as entertaining because it was so beautiful!
In a couple days we are leaving for Bruge, Belgium. I don't really know anything about it, but i've been hearing from many sources that it is a great city and the best place to visit in Belgium. I'll be sure to get some chocolate!
After that, it's Paris. It's getting so close I start to get tears in my eyes every time i think about it. A little pathetic, but i'm just that excited! Fireworks at the Eiffel Tower....wow.
Ange-- i forgot a long time ago i wanted to tell you that alex and i went to this pizza place and i thought of you the whole time because it was just like kens pizza! You would love it! I think it was some of the best pizza i've had...ever. It's interesting though, in Austria it's very traditional to put an egg on pizza...interesting, but delicious.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Christmas Markets and Castles
Today we are again in Wien. We went to another christmas market..but this one was huge and located at a castle. it was so beautiful. i took lots of picutres.
tomorrow we are having dinner with alexs family which im very excited about. everyone is so nice and very helpful with getting me to learn german. i dont know too much but i feel like ive learned a lot considering how long ive been here.
today we bought our tickets to go to amersterdam! I know we were going to go to italy..but our place to stay fell through, and we now are going to amersterdam instead. after that we will go to paris and then back to pottenstien and then home! also, i thought i got back to portland on the 17th but i actually get back the 13th. i just read the itinerary incorrectly. who will still be in ptown?? i would love to see people before everyone goes back to school.
Adan - i'm getting my daily fill of OJ every morning with breakfast. i dont know if you would like the oj here though...its really sweet..i like it a lot. Also, the dogs here are really cute! I havent seen a single dog i dont like. surprising right? i have pictures i can show you!
antonio and naomi - alex and i went to a pizza restaurant the other day and they were playing american music ranging from coldplay to cher to many other interesting things. i got really excited when they started playing bad romance!!
brandon- my camera is working out so well!!! the pictures are turning out so well which is partly because everything here is just so beautiful but also because the camera is just so spectacular.
chris- austria is very bike friendly! it makes me think of you every time that i see bike signs. in vienna there are bike traffic lights like the one at the end of the broadway bridge. i got a really good picture of one of them!
there were so many things i wanted to write to people and now ive forgotten everything! hopefully i will remember everything later!
♥B
tomorrow we are having dinner with alexs family which im very excited about. everyone is so nice and very helpful with getting me to learn german. i dont know too much but i feel like ive learned a lot considering how long ive been here.
today we bought our tickets to go to amersterdam! I know we were going to go to italy..but our place to stay fell through, and we now are going to amersterdam instead. after that we will go to paris and then back to pottenstien and then home! also, i thought i got back to portland on the 17th but i actually get back the 13th. i just read the itinerary incorrectly. who will still be in ptown?? i would love to see people before everyone goes back to school.
Adan - i'm getting my daily fill of OJ every morning with breakfast. i dont know if you would like the oj here though...its really sweet..i like it a lot. Also, the dogs here are really cute! I havent seen a single dog i dont like. surprising right? i have pictures i can show you!
antonio and naomi - alex and i went to a pizza restaurant the other day and they were playing american music ranging from coldplay to cher to many other interesting things. i got really excited when they started playing bad romance!!
brandon- my camera is working out so well!!! the pictures are turning out so well which is partly because everything here is just so beautiful but also because the camera is just so spectacular.
chris- austria is very bike friendly! it makes me think of you every time that i see bike signs. in vienna there are bike traffic lights like the one at the end of the broadway bridge. i got a really good picture of one of them!
there were so many things i wanted to write to people and now ive forgotten everything! hopefully i will remember everything later!
♥B
Friday, December 18, 2009
Wien
"wien"= Vienna!
Alex and I are currently in Vienna, Austria. It is incredibly beautiful. The buildings are breathtaking. I've been stopping every few steps to take pictures. Earlier today, we went to a place kind of like saturday market called a winachts markt (i'm not postive on how to spell it). It was fun, we got punch and food. My first punch was a berry punch and the second was an apple-honey punch (so incredibly delicious). For lunch we split a brautwerst (sp?) and something that was flat bread with cheese and proscuitto-type meat. Everything tasted very good. We have now escaped to an internet cafe because it is SO COLD outside and we needed to warm up for a little bit. It has been snowing since we got here. Everything is beautiful. Pottenstein (which is where we are staying) is the most darling town. It is very small, and very pretty. The town is covered in mountains and trees and Alex's grandma's house has many windows to look out. Her house is so beautiful as well. I will definitely take pictures!
I so far have not yet had a meal without meat. It is quite the change. For lunch yesterday we had salad, bread, and chicken. For dinner we had soup with cow liver (i had a hard time eating that one). They looked like matza balls, but they didn't taste like them. For breakfast we had soft boiled eggs, break with homemade apricot marmalade and ham and cheese.
Another interesting thing, is that everywhere that I have gone, American music has been playing. As i'm writing this, U2 is playing in the background. Britney Spears was playing at H & M and Blondie was playing at Alex's gradmas house.
Something I didn't expect is that everyone is having a hard time saying my name. I told Alex he can start introducing me as Ana because the Bri part is hard for people to say.
i don't think gina will be reading this...but if someone could send the message-- Alex and I were thinking of her this morning when eating ham and cheese on our bread because we know she likes ham and cheese sandwiches!
Angela-- I saw a jacket at H & M this morning that I thought you would like. I didn't get it because it was too expensive just in case you didn't like it. But it was short and had tons of zippers and it was a really awesome blue color. It made me think of you.
Caitlin-- Alex's grandma's kitchen reminds me of yours. The counters are very similar. I think you would like it here. It's very cold, but so beautiful and walking around is just so lovely.
Dad-- I'm glad Russel won! I did want Jakob to win...but Russel was my very first favorite so i'm happy. What place did Ellenore come in? Her and Jakob were my favorites. love you!
Mom-- Did you watch so you think you can dance? I don't know if you read above but russel won. I like him so that's good.
My phone hasn't gotten service anywhere that i've gone. I'll read the manuel when we get back to his grandmas house, maybe i'm supposed to do something...you can call his grandmas house too though. She speaks some english, i'm sure she'll understand if you're asking for me though. You can say shplekn brianna bitta. I dont know if i typed that correctly..but that's how it sounds. It means speak brianna please. i don't know how to form a proper sentence.
There is so much to saz, but i'll leave it at that for now. It is very hard to type on these computers because things are placed differently. The y and z are switched and it is just funny.
i love and miss everyone!
I'm having so much fun and can't wait to continue to share all the adventures to come!
♥B
Alex and I are currently in Vienna, Austria. It is incredibly beautiful. The buildings are breathtaking. I've been stopping every few steps to take pictures. Earlier today, we went to a place kind of like saturday market called a winachts markt (i'm not postive on how to spell it). It was fun, we got punch and food. My first punch was a berry punch and the second was an apple-honey punch (so incredibly delicious). For lunch we split a brautwerst (sp?) and something that was flat bread with cheese and proscuitto-type meat. Everything tasted very good. We have now escaped to an internet cafe because it is SO COLD outside and we needed to warm up for a little bit. It has been snowing since we got here. Everything is beautiful. Pottenstein (which is where we are staying) is the most darling town. It is very small, and very pretty. The town is covered in mountains and trees and Alex's grandma's house has many windows to look out. Her house is so beautiful as well. I will definitely take pictures!
I so far have not yet had a meal without meat. It is quite the change. For lunch yesterday we had salad, bread, and chicken. For dinner we had soup with cow liver (i had a hard time eating that one). They looked like matza balls, but they didn't taste like them. For breakfast we had soft boiled eggs, break with homemade apricot marmalade and ham and cheese.
Another interesting thing, is that everywhere that I have gone, American music has been playing. As i'm writing this, U2 is playing in the background. Britney Spears was playing at H & M and Blondie was playing at Alex's gradmas house.
Something I didn't expect is that everyone is having a hard time saying my name. I told Alex he can start introducing me as Ana because the Bri part is hard for people to say.
i don't think gina will be reading this...but if someone could send the message-- Alex and I were thinking of her this morning when eating ham and cheese on our bread because we know she likes ham and cheese sandwiches!
Angela-- I saw a jacket at H & M this morning that I thought you would like. I didn't get it because it was too expensive just in case you didn't like it. But it was short and had tons of zippers and it was a really awesome blue color. It made me think of you.
Caitlin-- Alex's grandma's kitchen reminds me of yours. The counters are very similar. I think you would like it here. It's very cold, but so beautiful and walking around is just so lovely.
Dad-- I'm glad Russel won! I did want Jakob to win...but Russel was my very first favorite so i'm happy. What place did Ellenore come in? Her and Jakob were my favorites. love you!
Mom-- Did you watch so you think you can dance? I don't know if you read above but russel won. I like him so that's good.
My phone hasn't gotten service anywhere that i've gone. I'll read the manuel when we get back to his grandmas house, maybe i'm supposed to do something...you can call his grandmas house too though. She speaks some english, i'm sure she'll understand if you're asking for me though. You can say shplekn brianna bitta. I dont know if i typed that correctly..but that's how it sounds. It means speak brianna please. i don't know how to form a proper sentence.
There is so much to saz, but i'll leave it at that for now. It is very hard to type on these computers because things are placed differently. The y and z are switched and it is just funny.
i love and miss everyone!
I'm having so much fun and can't wait to continue to share all the adventures to come!
♥B
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