Note:  Due to issues with internet connections this blog was written and supposed to be posted on 24/2/12

Finally Milan seems to be moving away from winter and towards spring!  It was sweatshirt, two-layer, running with a light shirt weather yesterday as compared to the two scarf, heavy jacket, five-layer weather it was just one week ago.  Although it felt as though I had an unimaginable amount of work to do today, to remain inside was not an option.   So we decided to go for a walk.  We didn’t expect to do anything out of the ordinary.  We didn’t have any direct plans.  We simply wanted to wander around the city.  I have fallen in love with Milan’s way of always remaining entertaining, different and surreal.  Each day you could set out to do nothing and be surrounded by so much. 

We decided to walk toward the Castello and surrounding park (about 10 minutes away from my apartment).  It’s fashion week in Milan and, although the scenery in this area is typically anything but ordinary, today it was especially unique.  The area was bustling with models (fully dressed for the runway), reporters and buyers.  It seemed as though every corner was setting up for a unique event.  There was also a carnival occurring behind the Castello with rides (all sorts) and games (typical to what you would see in America only the prizes to be won were much better…video game councils, phones and even wine!).   The area was, in short, very alive with activity and excitement; movement and happiness.  Afterward we stopped for a “gelato fix” and went back home.  Before I knew it, it was dark.  It was time to sleep and get ready for another day. 

Time in Milan…or Europe in general moves so quickly.  Between classes and homework; exploring and activities, it seems like I haven’t had the chance to stop and take it all in.  I haven’t had the time to reflect on all that I’ve done (hence the reason I haven’t posted in a couple weeks).  This worries me beyond belief.  The fact that time-management is much more difficult here and the fact that each week moves by without notice makes me wonder if I am fully appreciating everything I am doing.  I’m hoping to plan better in the upcoming months and leave time to fully reflect on what I am doing and what I have done.  I need to take the time to “catch-up.”

Since I’ve last posted I have traveled to Amsterdam and Paris (with a weekend in Milan in between).  Amsterdam was beautiful and different but hard to fully enjoy due to the fact that it was unbearably cold.  The second morning of our trip we woke up, went to get breakfast and came out to see nothing but snow.  It snowed the entire day, creating difficulty with transportation and even greater difficulty staying warm whilst trudging through a foot of snow in boots that are not exactly waterproof.   We spent the majority of the trip attempting to remain indoors; jumping from museum to restaurant to bus and so forth.  We saw windmills and the Anne Frank house and many other areas which are “very unique” to Amsterdam. 

My trip to Paris went by much too quickly.  It was absolutely amazing and although I could not attempt to understand anything the French were saying, I know I want to return. We, of course, saw many of the famous areas such as the Mona Lisa in The Louve (which was a struggle, as you have to fight the crowd to get a glimpse), the Eiffel Tower (and the 669 steps that go with it), the Arc de Triomphe, etc.)   Although it was misting (technically not raining, but you got just as wet) the entire trip, it did not take away from where we were and what we were seeing in the least.  I was upset when Saturday turned to Sunday and we had to leave.  The transportation hassles returning to Milan only increased my disappointment.  To get back we had to leave at 5am, take a cab to a bus then take the plane to another bus to a tram to the metro.  From the metro I walked back to my apartment and immediately went to sleep. 

Right now I am in the airport awaiting my delayed flight to Budapest for the weekend.  I am anticipating this weekend to be very different than my previous trips.  For one thing everything is so much cheaper than any other place I have been thus far (because it isn’t on the Euro).  We are staying in a 5-star hotel for the same price as our below-average hostel in Paris for the same money.  Our hotel in Budapest has a pool, sauna and mini-bar; our hostel in Paris had bathrooms/ showers on only 2 of the five floors and bunk beds which sounded like they were about to collapse.   I’m excited to move away from the sacrifices a “backpacker student-traveler” must endure and embark on a trip which will (hopefully) actually feel like a vacation.

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands; Milan, Italy; Paris, France