The Black Abyss (New Zealand Day 2)

This morning we woke up early to make it to the car rental agency the minute they opened, figured out all the paperwork, then drove South to Waitomo for our Legendary Black Water Rafting tour! In the word Waitomo, “Wai” translates as water and “tomo” translates to entrance or hole, meaning the whole word translates to “steam which flows into the hole in the ground.” This area is one of New Zealand’s original tourist destinations, but is also rich in geological landscapes and cultural history. Perfect for natural born adventurers!

The Black Abyss

We embarked on the most extreme of tours, which included a variety activities with the Legendary Black Water Rafting Company. My friend and I joined six others, along with two tour guides, and geared up in jumpsuit/jacket/booties wetsuits, gum boots, a harness, and helmet.

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Tour group after gearing up

We drove about ten minutes down the road to an open field where they have a small training area set up, as well as the entrance to the cave. We had a short lesson on how to rappel, which is essentially using a rope to lower yourself down a cliff or slope that is too steep or dangerous to descend without gear. Also known as abseiling, this term comes from the German word “abseilen” meaning “to rope down.” The rope is threaded through a metal piece of equipment, and your thumb is used to push or release on the last small bar to control the speed. To stop, the bar is pushed all the way up, and your right hand is brought behind your back. The first challenge was abseiling down a 35 meter (115 feet) hole in the ground to the entrance of the cave system. The rock hole was shaped like an hourglass, so you enter with more space, pass through a smaller hole, then are lowered into the caverns as the space opens up a little more. We rappelled one by one until we all were at the cave’s entrance, then started are walk through the cave tunnels.

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Start of abseiling into the cave

Abseiling into the cave

Abseiling into the cave

The Subterranean World

We had a short brief about cave walking safety and were told not to touch the stalagmites and stalactites that were millions of years old and can be easily damaged. The guides also pointed out a few fossils, and mentioned there were also wale and other fossils throughout the caves, that were over 1.2 million years old from when the area was an ocean. We crossed a section of the caves where grates were placed over cracks in the rocks, where we also connected our cow tails (basically safety ropes) to a hand rail rope until we crossed through.

Our next challenge was called the “flying fox,” where we were sent zip lining through the pitch black, across a deep cavern in the cave. There was a rock mechanism to stop you above a large rock, and the other guide helped us down one by one. It was an incredible feeling flying the open space with no concept of what was where! The platform we were on looked out over an underground rock pool, where we dangled our feet over the edge and enjoyed a snack of hot chocolate and homemade granola bars before jumping into the icy water.

Rock pool inside the caves

Rock pool inside the caves

Next we grabbed inner tubes, put them around our waist, and jumped off a platform into a rock pool! The reason for the insulated wet suits is because, as you can probably imagine, the water in underground caves can get pretty chilly. We paddled our way to the wall to grab the rope and pulled ourselves along the wall, and walked through some of the more shallow areas. When we all got back in the inner tubes, we linked up in a chain as one of the guides pulled us along through the water giving us a lesson on glowworms.

With our helmet lights off, the pitch black allowed us to see a ceiling of glowworms that looked like a beautiful night sky full of stars. One major feature of the Waitomo caves is that they are home to glowworms, making it an incredible sight to see. If you would like more information on glowworms, refer to my previous blog post “Mt. Tamborine.” We also got an up close and personal look at some of the glowworms and their thread formations on the cave walls along the way. It was an incredibly peaceful, yet also eerie, moment to sit back and slowly make our way through the quiet and beautiful caves.

Up close look at the glowworms

Up close look at the glowworms

Sweet As!

We spent time wading through the cave waters, climbing over the uneven rock surfaces, and eventually where were challenged to jump off a ledge into another rock pool. Then we came to a passageway where they gave us a hot drink and chocolate to warm our bodies up, and took a few group photos. They took one using a long exposure method so you can see the cave and the people, then had us put our translucent drink cups over the light on our helmets and each motioned a backwards letter in the air to spell out “Sweet as!” It was very cute.

Our tour guides also let us know that at that point, we were as deep into the caves as we would be experiencing for the day, at 60 meters below ground. At that specific spot the caves did get too much deeper compared to where we entered, the ground just got higher, so we were passing through the center of the mountain. The caves only go about 5 more meters deep, but still crazy to be so far below ground level!

Jumping into an underground rock pool

Jumping into an underground rock pool

Tour group exploring the caves

Tour group exploring the caves

Caving is Sweet As!

Caving is Sweet As!

Underground Waterfalls

Next we slid down a small waterfall where they placed a slide to catch a photo op, and our next challenge was sliding headfirst through a small hole in the rock to get to the other cave room. I learned afterwards the larger part of the cave wrapped around if you didn’t want to attempt the crawl space method, but it was more fun that way! After exploring some more we caught a glimpse of an eel in some of the shallow water, where the guides explained that eels in the caves can grow up to two meters long and a hefty width (she motioned a size somewhere in between a football and soccer ball). We all agreed we were glad to not have known these little guys were swimming through the same water we were prior to jumping in!

Our last big challenge was rock climbing up two waterfalls. The guides instructed us step by step by pointing to rocks, until we reached a point where we were close enough to the top to just go for it. We got a short brief before the climb, but mainly it was either do it right because wrong will not end well! We climbed up one waterfall to a cave chamber where we waited for the group before walking through a short passageway, then climbing up the second waterfall.

Climbing through a small rock entrance from one room to the next

Climbing through a small rock entrance from one room to the next

Cave eel

Cave eel

Sliding down a mini waterfall

Sliding down a mini waterfall

Just a few meters straight, then another few left and you could see daylight, where the caves opened up into the same field that we entered down through. The cave exit was surrounded by a lovely little waterfall and pond area, with greenery all around.

Climbing out of the caves

Climbing out of the caves

At the conclusion of our tour, we changed out of our gear, showered off in fantastically hot water, then ate hot soup and a bagel as we watched our slideshow of pictures from the day of caving. It was a FANTASTIC tour that I would highly recommend to anyone traveling in New Zealand. Although you do need to be relatively fit and fearless, it was by far one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. After getting everything together, we jumped back in the car and made our way to Rotorua!

Tour group post caving adventure

Tour group post caving adventure

Free Falling: Auckland Edition (New Zealand Day 1)

*Disclaimer: Sorry this post is long (as the rest from the week will be), but it is worthwhile if you want to live vicariously through me exploring New Zealand. Enjoy! 🙂

“Studying” Abroad

Yesterday a friend and I embarked on yet another experience of a lifetime, a week Holiday in New Zealand! Our flight was delayed an hour, but luckily that bought me a little more time to finish all my assignments before departing and (hopefully) not having to actually study over study week. I am just going to take a moment to talk about one very large study abroad stereotype. Despite the assumption of many, I do study and work hard on academics abroad, because the classes here are demanding and locals take assignments VERY seriously. Additionally, I am not taking pass/fail classes (wasn’t allowed to) and therefore need to put in the effort to get acceptable grades abroad. Let me tell you, there is a major difference in stress levels between those study abroad students taking pass/fail. Regardless, I managed to get most of my work finished before leaving (literally at the airport), and could finally start getting excited.

Upon stepping off the plane at 2am New Zealand time, I finally was thinking, I’m actually in New Zealand! However, I will say that I do fit the aforementioned stereotype since I am spending “study week” on Holiday! However, this is a fantastic decision in my opinion, because I would not otherwise have been able to find time during this semester to visit New Zealand. We checked into Nomads Auckland hostel around 3am, and although the lobby and service was unimpressive, it was a perfectly fine hostel to stay at!

Thing’s They Teach You [Part of] in School

So my whole life, all my role models taught me lessons using the phrase, “if your friend told you to jump off a bridge, would you?” Well, today I learned that sometimes what they teach you in school is not always the entire truth. The more accurate phrase should be, “if your friend told you to jump off a bridge without safety equipment attached, would you?” (Also the answer should be yes). This morning our day started by climbing and bungee jumping off the Auckland Harbour Bridge! I did have fear, but I have no regrets.

For those who have not experienced this high-adrenaline activity, they say it is a step beyond skydiving. It’s definitely an activity well-fit for adrenaline junkies. Now, I’m a pretty grounded and level-headed person, but also always looking for once-in-a-lifetime experiences. My friend REALLY wanted to bungee jump, and despite my initial apprehension, I agreed to go. We geared up in a harness, walked to the middle of the bridge attached to the guardrail by a metal clip, and made our way up a short and steep flight of stairs to the jumping booth located under the bridge. At 40 meters above the water, all seven of us took turns one by one jumping off the platform. The youngest person to ever jump here was 10, the oldest 89, so despite my fear I told myself I would be okay. Luckily, since I was the lightest of the group, I got to go last and watch everyone else go first!

A Leap of Faith

So here’s how it happens. Essentially we have a hardness that wraps around the top of each leg and over our shoulders, joining at the waist, where another rope is connected to two brace-like wraps around your ankles. As you jump off head-first, the rope stays connected at your ankles, so that you are upside down at the bottom of the jump. Part of a rope is tucked in the left ankle wrap, which you pull out at the top of the second bounce, to flip you so that you are sitting upright with the harness just around your waist. You sit on a platform as the rest of your gear gets attached, then waddle out to the jumping point with your ankles pretty much tied together, until your toes are just over the edge of the platform. From there, the instructors make sure the surrounding area is all clear of boats that could interfere, and gives the okay by counting down from five.

On five, you HAVE to jump or you will literally be standing there anticipating it forever. My heart is still pounding just reliving it typing this! So, on five you literally dive straight out or down towards the water in a complete free fall. The first drop down is the most intense, with a feeling that I actually cannot describe in words. It sort of feels like a constant rush of wind with a terrifying but exciting feeling of flying through space. The feeling levels in the middle a little, and comes back not quite as strong on the second bounce. From there the rest is just riding out the swing and staying relaxed as the rope gets pulled back up to the platform.

Post bungee jumping off the Auckland Harbour Bridge

Post bungee jumping off the Auckland Harbour Bridge

The catch(es)

There’s always a catch, right? Well, I prepaid for a DVD, which they somehow messed up recording (apparently it happens sometimes), so they said I could jump again for free to re-record. My response was, “are you serious?!” I did jump again, and found out the second catch of the day. The feeling of having to force your mind to go blank and body to jump into a free fall, combined with the feeling of complete adrenaline on the first drop, does not go away. It’s definitely not one of those things where you do it the first time and then could easily do it a million times, it feels just the same! However, the second jump I got to enjoy a little more because I controlled it a little more and was able to tell where I was in space more easily.

If you let them know you want to, you can actually have your head touch the water during the jump. I opted out, but the second jump the instructor adjusted the equipment so that if I jumped more down verses out I could maybe touch. I was able to see and reach for the water, but wasn’t able to actually touch it. Regardless, it was an exhilarating experience that I would recommend for people who feel like they can handle it! As a follow up recommendation, take a go pro to record it yourself, or pay for a pre-paid DVD for the chance to maybe get to jump twice!

Waiheke Island

Does that name not just SOUND amazing. About a 40-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland, “the island of wine,” or Waiheke Island is a 92 square kilometer island known for its beaches, artists, vineyards, olives, and restaurants. They have 17 fully-operational and highly-appreciated vineyards, to be exact. There are also many outdoor activities to take part in, including zip lining, ocean kayaking, mountain biking, walking, or hiking. With our itinerary and bungee jumping in the morning, we didn’t have enough time to do a full wine tour of the island, but went on a self-guided tour. We first walked to Oneroa, the small downtown area, and spent some time shopping around the boutique stores.

Downtown village of Oneroa

Downtown village of Oneroa

Then we headed to the wineries near Matiatia, the ferry wharf we docked in. The walk was longer than anticipated due to a few mistakes with directions on our part, but we were able to take in some absolutely incredible views of the iconic New Zealand landscapes. Due to the late time of day, the three vineyards we walked to in the area were closed for tastings, but at least we got to experience a lovely coastal walk of Waiheke Island!

Vinyard on Waiheke Island at sunset

Vinyard on Waiheke Island

Landscape of Waiheke Island seen on the coastal walk

Landscape of Waiheke Island seen on the coastal walk

Ferry wharf at port Matiatia at sunset

Ferry wharf at port Matiatia at sunset

That evening, we made our way back to the ferry port, and headed back to downtown Auckland. After a dinner at our hostel’s restaurant (which was quite lovely), we headed in for the night to prepare for the next day ahead!

Mendoza: Argentina’s Wine Country

Over the long weekend me and a couple of friends decided to travel to Mendoza, a city know for serving Malbec wine to very thirsty Argentines. In order to get there we booked our bus trip on what seemed like a sketchy website but in the end things worked in our favor.
The bus trip to Mendoza was 13-14 hours with pit stops along the way. Some buses serve two meals to the passengers and seats on Flechabus are very comfortable.
We arrived in Mendoza around 3 o’clock and took a taxi a taxi to our hostel: Hostel Mayam. The place didn’t have the best interior design but the service and the kindness provided to us was wonderful.
After freshening up and taking a nap we decided to see the center of Mendoza and go out to dinner. The resto-bar, the name given to a restaurant that happens to have a bar, was nothing special but we did have the opportunity to watch the soccer or futbol game between Argentina and Chile. It was intense but it was wonderful to see the passion and blind loyalty some people share for the sport.
When we arrived to Mendoza we had nothing planned but we did know what we wanted to do. On that Friday we went to the Tourism Department, which by the way was very helpful, and received brochures from some of the tourism agencies in Mendoza.
We decided to have a half-a-day wine tour in Maipu. The agency would pick us up from our hostel and take us to two wineries and one olive factory. One of the wineries belonged to a big company in Argentina and the second was a family-owned business. The olive factory was small and produced olive oil and other cosmetic products.

Wine from Bodegas Lopez

Wine from Bodegas Lopez

The first winery: Bodegas Lopez was big and beautiful. We were given a tour of the distillery and then given a tasting of the Malbec and sparkling wine. Our guide showed us how to taste the wine and appreciate its distinct flavors. The same thing was done and the second and smaller winery but we had the chance to see the gardens and the vineyard. At the olive factory our guide also gave us a tour of their business and then proceeded to give up a tasting of their different kinds of olive oil. I didn’t expect much from the tastings but it was very good; we were served small pieces of French bread with virgin olive oil, garlic olive oil, rosemary olive oil, and dried tomatoes.

Winery Bodegas Lopez

Winery Bodegas Lopez

Gardens in Don Arturo's Vineyard.

Gardens in Don Arturo’s Vineyard.

Don Arturo's vineyard

Don Arturo’s vineyard

That night we got back to our hostel and were served an asado (Argentine barbecue), possibly the best asado I’ve had in Argentina. For the cost of 100 pesos or roughly 6 dollars we got a ton of meat, salad, bread, and wine. We also got to socialize and talk with the other students, which I think is the best part of staying in hostels. I meet Australians, Swedes, and French people I whom I had the pleasure of speaking with.
On Saturday we booked two activities at Argentina Rafting, a tourism agency. We decided to go rafting and horseback riding. The agency provided up with transportation and the proper equipment to raft (wetsuits, boots, and life jackets). The water was especially cold but it was crazy fun. The horseback riding was my favorite as we got to ride the horse around the mountains.

Poterillos in Mendoza

Poterillos in Mendoza

The trip to Mendoza was surprisingly cheap. The bus trip to and from Mendoza was around 190 dollars, the wine and olive tour was 30 dollars, and the each of the activities was 30 dollars as well.


Location: Mendoza, Argentina

Who knew a piece of my heart was in Florence?

The other day, I was sitting in my favorite place. The one where David and Andrea work. It sits on the Arno, and we call it “Caffè.” The sun illuminated the rough, uneven white-brick walls and the golden brown wood of the tables. Adam sat across from me. It was his birthday; he turned 32. David sat at a table behind me on his late lunch break. Andrea behind the counter continuing the daily grind of Caffè work.

IMG_6765David and Andrea are brothers, (“i fratelli”), and they look like twins (“i gemelli”), but Andrea is two years older than David. David is but 22, and I am 20. I could easily fall in love, but it surely isn’t meant to be. They brought out an omelet with a little heart reading, “With love! 32” on it, and their classic goofy smiles. (Earlier that day they gave Adam a two day old piece of cake with two candles that were shaped like 22, which wasn’t even the right age, and then another slice of cake after the omelet. So funny and sweet!) They are just cute for the fun of it, and they enjoy life. It’s refreshing.

Alexxus sat behind me and to my left at the barrel with her iced cappuccino and biography of Tiziano Ferro, her favorite Italian singer and songwriter. Alexxus is younger than I am, I learned this just yesterday. She is a deep thinker, and coming without knowing a single soul, brave indeed. The sun warmed my soul as did the presence of my friends.

The romance of a moment, irrepeatable.

I was wearing my favorite dress in my favorite caffè, where I always do my work while Adam does his, and we joked with David and Andrea that “we all work together.” My hair was neat in my ballerina bun as usual with the wispy tendrils framing my face, IMG_6762and my soft tan dress tied at the waste by my dark blue denim collared shirt–a bit warm on this sunny day but just perfect for me. I sat at the table with my laptop and phone in front of me, hard at work on my photography homework. Beside my computer was a copy of a letter. It was addressed to the editor of one of the english speaking newspapers in Florence where I hope to remain for the summer months. I had just submitted it online the evening prior.

In part, it read: “…before I arrived in Florence, I thought I wanted to see the whole world, but once I arrived here, everything changed. I fell in love with this charming city. As I enter my fourth and final month in my study abroad program, I can’t even fathom leaving…”

I held the paper in my hands with my shoulders back and the warm sunshine on my face. With one ear available for the sounds of the caffè and an earphone in the other, the soft music of Ben Rector’s Sailboat awoke me to the romance of this moment. Suddenly, I realized just how intricate it was, irrepeatable. This moment of longing, of loving, hoping, and desiring for this experience to last a little longer–a moment that defines my 20-year-old life in a way that I am now different, somehow transformed from who I was before.

Who knew a piece of my heart was in Florence?

Who knew I would find part of myself here of all places? I have grown a lot from this experience. Annie has taught me to be myself. Elizabeth says not to care what others think. Why need we be all the same? Santi Apostoli has given me a home and a mission. Gianna and Giovanna have made me smile with authentic zeal. Alessio teaches me to be free, to always try, and to never fear failure. Screen Shot 2016-04-09 at 2.08.46 AMAnd, my Florence family, and Cici, and Katie, and the staff of my school, and everyone! Florence especially, if I may personify the city. Everyone has taught me to love so deeply, so deeply that I am drunk off the sweetness of life–figuratively of course, but so deep that it almost feels literal.

The bliss, the riding of a wave that feels like a natural forever… But, in the back of my mind, and somewhere in my heart, I know I have to leave. I know the wave will eventually break against the shore. But, I just don’t know… how long will this loveliness last? And, I praise the Lord. I praise His holy name for giving it to me in the first place, and I hope desperately that my desires match His will. But, I also know that I need to trust Him. He is goodness and depth itself, while I am a little whisp… here and then gone in the blink of an eye in the whole history of human existence. My sight is so limited, tethered to here and now, latching onto the best thing I know in this world.

Fr. Mike Schmitz once said, “God knows us better than we know ourselves, and he loves us better than we love ourselves.” I love this. It reminds me that God has created me, His will is always and forever better than mine, and whatever He has planned for me is good. He has handcrafted this perfect bliss, one that speaks to my heart in ways nothing else can. And, whatever is to come is what is best. God is the bliss.

“The threshold which the world crosses in him
is the threshold of wonderment.” -Saint Pope John Paul II
“My soul doth magnify the Lord.” -Mother Mary

More sweet moments

Last night I went to Adam’s birthday party. It was an apperitivo at La Petite, near Piazza della Repubblica. Rena and Alexxus came too. There we had a drink and some Italian food and enjoyed conversation about nothing yet everything with Melinda. Melinda is a writer and expat here in Florence, a woman who fell in love with Florence just like I am beginning to drink up its sweetness, only three months deep. Little did I know I would come across a former writer from the very publication I was applying to. What a truly lovely surprise this was.

Long story long, I am loving it here, the friends I’ve had the pleasure to meet, and all life’s serendipity. More photos to come!

Ciaooo

Angela

xoxo

Moreton Island

This weekend my friends and I made our second trip trip Brisbane, staying overnight and successfully making it to the aforementioned Moreton Island!

Life in The Valley

In the afternoon we took the train to Brisbane, and made our way to Bunk Backpackers hostel. As compared to the hostel I stayed in when in Sydney, this one was far better. The entrance looked just like a hotel, the rooms were clean, and the facilities (pool/hot tub, bar, lobby etc) were lovely. We checked in, then went to dinner at Full Moon, a nearby Thai restaurant. The food was fantastic and it looked like a lovely place to spend an evening relaxing listening to live music. Friday evening we explored nightlife in “the Valley,” a downtown area of Brisbane that locals often suggest visiting. The area looks like an artsy city at night, with lights and graffiti art all around. We enjoyed our time exploring, and headed back to the hostel early to get some rest before our morning ferry to Moreton Island!

Paradise?

In the morning we caught the 8:30am ferry ride to Moreton Island, which took about 75 minutes to reach. Moreton Island is located on the eastern side of Moreton Bay on the coast of south East Queensland, just north of Stradbroke Island. The island is 37 kilometers long, and 13 wide at it’s widest point. Many visitors also stay for more than a day, since 95% of the island is contained within Moreton Isand National Park, camping or glamping is very popular. The Coral Sea lies on the east coast of the island, offering plenty of water activities including sports, snorkeling, and even scuba diving. Nicknamed “the Gem of South East Queensland,” this bay is one of the few untouched areas of natural wilderness along Australia’s east coast. In fact, it is the third largest sand island in the world.

Tangalooma is the main access point for the island, although we docked at a nearby smaller port. Tangalooma Resort is an exclusive property where guests are able to stay for periods of time, and they offer many different packages and activities to do around the island. Fun fact, this resort was used in the filming of several commercials and movies, including Totally Wild, Getaway, Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and Scooby-Doo’s Spooky Island.

Tangalooma Resort

Tangalooma Resort

Spooky Island movie set on Moreton Island

Spooky Island movie set on Moreton Island

Visit Brisbane promotes white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters surrounding Moreton Island, and upon arrival we saw that this is 100% accurate! The water was legitimately the clearest water I have ever seen, and there were even a few starfish and tropical fish right near the water’s edge. The entire island literally looks like a postcard, the perfect image of paradise. We spent our day mostly just enjoying the beach, however since it is a national park, visitors can also enjoy walks and hikes, exploring historical sites, and many sport activities. There is also a mock shipwreck area called “The Wrecks” where a sunken ship is dispersed near the water’s edge. We stayed the day and caught an evening ferry home, returning to Brisbane for dinner on the water. We were all exhausted on the train home, but it was a weekend well spent!

Beaches of Moreton Island

Beaches of Moreton Island

The Wrecks at Moreton Island

The Wrecks at Moreton Island

Brisbane at night

Brisbane at night

What I Ate in Copenhagen

If you had asked me a month ago what makes Denmark so great, the last thing I would’ve said would be the food. When I think of Scandinavian cuisine, I immediately picture lots of fermented/pickled fish or something you could get from an Ikea cafeteria. So needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised to find AMAZING food in Copenhagen! The food scene there has been gaining more and more attention over the last several years, with Copenhagen being home to several Michelin-starred restaurants and what is considered to be the best restaurant in the world, Noma. While we didn’t partake in the some of the nicer eateries, we were able to find great food all around the city:

smorrebrod

Smørrebrød

Smørrebrød: Don’t ask me how to pronounce it, but Smørrebrød are open-faced sandwiches that are quintessentially Danish. They’re made with Danish rye bread and are usually topped with some sort of seafood or egg salad, and can be found almost everywhere in Copenhagen. We went to Torvehallerne, an upscale food market (and one of the best I’ve ever been to) to try them, and we weren’t disappointed. I had a less-traditional Smørrebrød with roast beef, pickled veggies, grated horseradish, and fried onions, while my friend had one with breaded white fish and a shrimp topping.

flodboller

flødeboller

Pastries: They’re not called danishes for nothing! Still at Torvehallerne, we stopped at a bakery for some dessert. Denmark is famous for cinnamon buns, or Kanelsnegle, so of course we had to get one of those—and it was out of this world! I also got something called a flødeboller, which when I translated the name on my phone it came up as ‘cream puff’. I was expecting the typical choux pastry with cream in the middle, but it turned out it was just marshmallow fluff covered in chocolate–still teeth-rottingly sweet and delicious though!

carlsberg2

Carlsberg

Carlsberg: Copenhagen is home to Carlsberg beer, a brand that you can find in probably every bar in Denmark. They have a “Carlsberg Exbeerience” visitor’s center at their original factory that includes tours of the factory, the largest collection of beer bottles in the world, 20 Jutland horses, and of course, a bar. Admission includes two free drinks, so we tried the original Carlsberg and the Carlsberg Special Brew. I’m generally not a beer person, but Carlsberg is my new go to–though I’m not sure how common it is in the US.

cheesecake

Cheesecake

Cheesecake: One of our walking tour guides told us that we would be crazy not to try the cheesecake at Bertel’s Salon, so of course we couldn’t pass it up! We got there about an hour before closing, they only had a few flavors left, and it was expensive (a whole cheesecake goes for 450dkk, or about $70!)–but it was the best cheesecake I’ve ever had in my entire life. Hands down, no contest. I had the cherry, and it was the perfect mix of tart and sweet, and the cake itself was rich without being too dense. It was my heaven.

contidorilaglace

Othellokage

Hot chocolate and more cake: Yet another cake place we couldn’t not go to. Conditori La Glace is the oldest confectionery in Denmark, and the interior is the same as it would’ve been back in the 1870’s when it first opened (so basically adorable in every way). It also has one of the best hot chocolates in the world (according to the internet), so we were there. We got the hot chocolate which was delicious and intensely rich, and it came with its own little silver dish of whipped cream. They offered free seconds, but I literally couldn’t move afterwards so I wasn’t up for it.  We also had two of their famous cakes–the sportskage, which was crushed nougat and whipped cream with a macaroon bottom and caramelized choux pastry, and the othellokage, with custard cream and chocolate ganache. Both were to die for, and the atmosphere of the cafe made it even better.

paludan

Brunch at Paludan

#Danesknowbrunch: The morning after we arrived, we went for brunch at Paludan Bogcafe, a bookstore/cafe/bar recommended to us by a friend who was in Copenhagen a few weeks earlier. We each got the Paludan’s Brunch, and it was mind blowing. It included scrambled eggs with sun dried tomatoes, bacon, sausage, prosciutto and melon, smoked salmon, a pancake, danish brown bread with butter, two cheeses, and homemade berry jam, mixed fruit, Greek yogurt with berries, syrup and muesli, and a choice of a smoothie or fresh-squeezed orange juice. I didn’t even know where to start but everything on the plate was delicious!

That’s all for Copenhagen!


Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

London, Manifestations, and Medieval Music

Before studying abroad, I never thought I would be traveling so much around Europe. This passed weekend was Easter weekend, (Happy belated Easter everyone!) which meant students had Monday off as well. So basically, I had a 4-day weekend to explore any place in Europe. I decided to visit Portobello Market, Big ben, and even Buckingham Palace. As you probably already know, I went to London this weekend, and it was awesome! I definitely recommend visiting London at least once in your lifetime.

So, I arrived in London on a Friday morning. The first thing I did in London was probably a really American thing to do, but I was basically obligated; I went to Chipotle. Okay, maybe I wasn’t obligated, but it was well worth it.

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Big Ben

After settling into our Airbnb, we decided to go out and explore the city, without really anywhere to go or do. I got to see Big Ben, Parliament, London Bridge, and even the London Eye. I was really surprised to see how many tourists were out and about, especially since it was still winter season. I did not have the chance to get on the London Eye, but I’m sure it would have been worth the 2-hour line.

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Borough Market: BREAD!

Saturday morning we woke up pretty early to go to London’s world-famous markets. The first stop was at Borough Market, which is a huge farmer’s market with lots of small little food shops. Of course, we spent about an hour just taste-testing all of the food. I loved the variety and diversity of this market. I could walk one way and try Paella, and walk another way and try Curry.

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Spanish style Paella

After spending the entire morning eating amazing food, we decided to go to Portobello market, which is an antique market. Portobello Market is basically an entire street of just shops of all kinds. This is where you go to find some vintage clothes, teacups from the Victorian era, and even vintage cameras. Of course, I could not afford most of the items for sale on this street, but I did buy a teacup set.

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It started raining (what a surprise), so we decided to get some coffee while remap our plan of touring London on a rainy Saturday afternoon. We decided to take a tour around London through the bus, which was well worth it. We saw Hyde Park and all major tourist attractions.

On Sunday Morning we decided to head to Westminster Cathedral for an Easter morning Mass. Afterwards, we had reservations at Bea of Bloomsbury’s for some afternoon tea. We were completely soaked when we arrived for our tea, but the tea was well worth running in the rain.IMG_1734

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Buckingham Palace

 

We had the rest of the day free, so we decided to pay a visit to the infamous house where the Parent Trap movie was set in. This house was really nice, located right outside the SOHO district in London. Afterwards, we also visited Abbey Road, famous for the Beatles album cover. We got to see Abbey Road Studios as well, but could not go in, as it was a Sunday. London was great, but I wish I had more time to visit this awesome city.

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Abbey Road

The week after Easter was a bit boring compared to my weekend adventure. I was in Montpellier all week witnessing the manifestations the students were putting for the “Loi Travaille” (workers law) that is being disputed now. What I know about this law is that nobody likes it, and it is currently waiting to pass, or not, and eventually become a law. The university was closed briefly, and public transportation was scarce.

Yesterday night (Friday night), I spent my night with my host mom at a classical music concert in St. Guilhem le Désert, which is a mountain town built in the 10th century with medieval architecture. The concert was in the local Basilica, and included the original organ from when the church was built. It was really refreshing listening to an instrument from hundreds of years ago that fully works today. I loved this cute little village, and I hope to return soon to explore. À la prochaine!

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Basilica

Food Glorious Food

Since my last post, I have traveled to Prague, Czech Republic; Nice, France; Barcelona, Spain; and of course I have been exploring Florence a little bit more. From these travels I have realized that food is just as much essential to the culture as art and history. Thankfully, I was able to experience the culturally significant cuisine in all of these places and here is what I found:

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Prague knows its street food.

To me, Prague embodies a big beautiful, modern city that was taken right out of a Disney fairytale. The architecture is colorful and traditional while mixed with rows and rows of stores and restaurants. I found that the easiest way to eat good food while still being able to explore Prague was to get the street food. The first street food I tried was a trdelnik. If I could have one dessert for the rest of my life it would be a trdelnik. It is a hollow cylindrical pastry that can have fillings like Nutella or ice cream and are dusted with sugar, nuts or cinnamon. You can find them almost anywhere in the city being made right before your eyes.

It was pretty fishy in Nice.

The beautiful coast of Nice

The beautiful coast of Nice

Nice (pronounced like niece) sits on the coast of France and is one of the most beautiful cities. Surrounded by blue water and breath taking views, there is no place quiet like Nice. While not wondering the beach, I splurged on a local cuisine: seafood. From salmon to haddock to crab, Nice is a fish lovers dream. My first French fish experience was with a seafood spaghetti. Noodles covered in marinara sauce were paired with plenty of scallops, shrimp (that still had the eyeballs attached) and muscles. It was a meal that many Americans are probably familiar with, but not many have been able to experience the taste of fish from Nice, which is unlike any other.

IMG_4109Crazy for paella.

If you’re the type that likes to have an early dinner and be in bed before nine, then Barcelona is the yin to your yang. Barcelonans enjoy large late night dinners, which is paired with staying o
ut until 6 a.m. In between midafternoon naps, the people of Barcelona enjoy a big skillet of paella. Paella is typically rice cooked with fish, meat and an assortment of vegetables. It’s salty, savory and so filling that you want to roll out of the restaurant.

The more the merrier.

My favorite course of grilled vegetables

My favorite course of grilled vegetables

While in Florence I had the opportunity to experience a traditional five-course meal for a class that I am taking on food and culture. Our teacher took us to restaurant that is Chianti, an area in Tuscany that is known for its many wineries. Once at the restaurant we were seated and immediately served warm bread to start the meal. For the first course, we had a crepe that was filled with radishes and cheese. Once we were finished, we were served a creamy and thick risotto that had pieces of asparagus. Our third course was penne pasta with meat sauce and peas. Our last course before dessert was grilled vegetables with a smoked cheese (my favorite course). And lastly, we were given a dessert that looked like a piece of cake that was made out of ingredients for a cannoli.

If you think this sounds like an extreme amount of food, then you’re right. As Americans we aren’t used to eating this many courses at one sitting. But if you ever get the chance to experience a five course meal I highly suggest it!

Food has been one of the best parts of my study abroad journey. If you’re thinking about going over seas, I suggest preparing to indulge in the delicacies of the world by bringing loose fitting clothes. You wont regret it.


Location: Florence, Italy

President Obama Visits Argentina

After 12 years of Kirchnerism an American president finally makes an official visit to Argentina. With a newly elected president, Mauricio Macri, the United States is stretching its arms in acceptance. Mauricio Macri was elected in November, preceding Cristina de Fernandez Kircher, a member of the Peronist party with anti-American sentiments.

Obama arrived to Buenos Aires on Wednesday at 2 a.m., I can tell you with certainty because I heard his very loud entourage by my window. The president made his way to the American embassy in Palermo, a new and hip neighborhood in Buenos Aires.

My host mom and host brother were ecstatic with Obama’s visit, perhaps even more than some Americans in Argentina. Argentina is very polarized, therefore with Obama’s visit there was both anger and joy from the people. President Obama came during an interesting time in Argentina, on Thursday it was the Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice. That national holiday serves as an anniversary of the beginning of the Dirty War and dictatorship in Argentina where thousands of people “disappeared”; they were tortured and  killed by the military. Many people believe that the United States allowed and helped the dictatorship thus resenting Obama and the U.S.

During his visit the president attended the memorial for victims of the Dirty War with Macri. The president and the first lady also attended a state dinner where they both danced tango. Michelle Obama also made a visit to a group of girls with Argentine first lady, Juliana Awada, and made a speech about girls education and her humble background. The family ended their visit in Bariloche, a town in the south of Argentina where many American presidents have previously stayed.


Location: Plaza de Mayo

Easter Abroad

For the holiday weekend, we didn’t have class on Monday, and since my last class finishes at 2pm on Thursday, I had a long Easter weekend to relax and enjoy! A good number of my friends traveled to Cairns, but since I will be visiting there with my mom later on, I stayed in Gold Coast.

Friday(‘s never work)

On Friday we spent the day soaking up the sun at Burleigh beach, where I also tried an acai bowl for the first time! For those of you not informed of this delicious meal, it’s essentially a blended acai base of berries, with granola and fresh fruit, sometimes other added items like shredded coconut or more fruit. Along with fresh squeezed juices and smoothies, acai bowls are very common around this area. An another note, it’s pronounced ah-sigh-ee.

It was a lovely day relaxing on the beach, and after heading back to campus we decided to have a barbeque at one of our friends apartments. Due to it being Good Friday, most businesses were closed, and every other Friday that we have tried to have a fun evening out, it has coincidentally just not been that eventful. Friday evenings don’t seem to be as popular here as in the States, so we decided to make a tradition (with what’s left of the semester) of having a cookout and enjoying some pool and hot tub time on Friday evenings!

Currumbin Rock Pools

The following morning my friends and I had a similar get together, and met at a different friend’s apartment to make a breakfast of pancakes, fresh fruit, and coffee. Enjoying homemade breakfast on the balcony was a great way to start the morning!

Later that afternoon, I visited the Currumbin rock pools, a natural swimming area about a half hour from campus. There are several swimming areas connected through the rock formations, some more shallow or deep than others, as well as a small rock jump and picnic areas. Although it was starting to get later in the day, and cooler with the prediction of rain, it was definitely still a check off my Gold Coast bucket list. I can imagine the area being very enjoyable (but probably crowded) during a hot summer day!

If you happen to be following my blog, you may remember a post I wrote about exploring Currumbin near the beginning of the semester. If not, refer to my post titled “Adventures in Burleigh & Currumbin”. Moral of the story, we hiked down a mountain with the intent of ending up at the rock pools (with little and vague direction), and eventually decided to head home when they seemed too far out of sight and sunset was approaching. As it turns out, if we had crossed the bridge near the small park we were in, then walked five minutes to the left and around the corner, we would have been there. Ironic looking back on that day, but appreciative that I eventually figured out where the rock pools were located, and got to enjoy them!

Currumbin rock pools

Currumbin rock pools

Sunday & Monday

This morning a couple friends and I went for brunch in Broadbeach, then spent most of the day enjoying Easter Sunday (procrastinating) by baking Easter cookies and having a movie night. Monday I spent just about the entire day studying in the library, then joined friends again that evening for a movie night. Although this weekend was not all too eventful, it was an enjoyable weekend taking in the beach culture and relaxation of Gold Coast. With the next few weeks bringing finals exams and multiple groups projects and papers, it was a great weekend of preparation!

Sunday brunch at Lola's

Sunday brunch at Lola’s

Easter cookies

Homeade Easter cookies