The dirty truth about Paris

Before I went to Paris, I pictured some whimsically romantic place full of happy people with love in their eyes, men in berets saying oh la la, clean sparkly streets to walk on while carrying a soft freshly baked french baguette, and the sweet smell of decadent pastries filling the air around me.  But I guess the movies got the best of me.

Van Gogh Self Portrait

Truth is:

Paris is dirty, very dirty.

Paris is crowded.

Paris is huge,

therefore making it impossible to walk anywhere without getting there a day later.

Parisians are friendly, at least the ones I came into contact with. Although when you walk onto the metro, it looks like they hate their life.

The Eiffel Tower is cool, but smaller than I could have ever imagined.

Paris smells more terrible than terrible.

Paris has long lines.

But Paris has incredible food, hence why there are no food pictures.
Sometimes I just can't be patient enough to take a picture of my crepe when it just wants to belong in my belly. Sometimes I just want to eat the chocolate creamy pastry the size of my head, all in one sitting. Sometimes I just want to eat 20 pieces of their addicting soft baked french bread that they give at restaurants before I get my meal, even if it does fill me up to no end. Sometimes I just want to walk into every bakery and gawk at their chocolates, éclairs, macaroons, and buttery croissants. And truth is, I did have the many pieces of bread, I did eat a pastry the size of my head for breakfast, and I did stop in every sweet smelling bakery along the way. And that in itself was worth the trip!

Au Revoir Paris, Buongiorno Firenze.

♥euniece

Cascais, Portugal

As nice as it is to go to the Picasso Museum, see the beautiful Sagrada Familia, meander around Parc Guel and other Barcelona tourist attractions, there is nothing like having a real vacation.  Just sitting down, sipping on wine, enjoying the view and exploring for fun, and not because you feel like you have to see something!

So that my friends, was my Portugal trip. R&R to the max, and I enjoyed every single second of it. So much that leaving was quite hard for me considering as much as I love going around, seeing things and being active, nothing beats sitting on the balcony and watching the ocean with your best friend!

You would think that with all of this traveling I would be tired, and you're right I am.  But spring break is here, and Paris and Italy are calling my name! 

Don't worry America, I'll see you soon : )

♥euniece

Home is Where your Heart is

While being abroad for the past three months has been one of the most incredible experiences ever, I'll admit that what I have come to realize is, that there is no place like home. But being the luckiest girl I am, home came to me this weekend, all the way from Pittsburgh.

So what do you when the one you love, travels thousands of miles to see you? Eat good food, talk, eat more good food, site see and drink wine of course!

Kisses for my sleepy world travelor!

While I am may have been biten by the homesick bug lately, his visit made me realize that when you're surrounded by the ones you love, home can be anywhere.

♥euniece

Tibidabo

Girl in class: "My friends tried to hike up to the top of Tibidabo, but they gave up because it was too difficult to make it to the top without taking the funicular!"

Me: "Challenge accepted. Let's go hiking."

Before my friends and I even began our voyage to the top of the mountain, where there lay a beautiful church and an old school amusement park, we were quite unsure how to actually get there..

That's when we ran into the cute man in the photo below.  At 66 years old he hikes this mountain every single day, shared his life story with us, gave tips on being healthy, and safely got us to the top. Sometimes you just have to trust that people are good and won't steer you in the wrong direction...I mean what is there not to trust about an old man who is open enough to share "that even though his son is married to a Brazilian, she still has a flat butt"! <--Oh spanish people!

 Being away from the hustle and bustle of the city of Barcelona was much needed and was so nice for the day. It made me appreciate being able to venture through a dirt path for miles without the stop and go of the streets lights, it made me appreciate being able to enjoy the views that come along with each step to the top, it made me appreciate being able to take a deep inhale and not feel like my lungs are being poisoned with city pollution, but most of all it made me appreciate my home in the United States, and how lucky I am to have grown up surrounded by such beautiful nature.

♥euniece