Amsterdam High Life

Ahoy!

I survived Amsterdam. Actually, I more than survived Amsterdam - I thoroughly enjoyed Amsterdam!!! Oh it was a joyous adventure throughout the city. The day commenced with a typical charter bus ride up, though I have discovered I love high speed trains and charters. The two bring back good memories of traveling while I was younger, throughout Europe and while in Washington, DC, art history trips and such. Once we arrived, we unpacked and immediately started exploring. Of course after Burger King, the group hit up a coffeeshop. Space cakes were engulfed and the adventure continued throughout the city. We saw incredibly detailed architecture on every street, characters of every sort, businessmen and teenagers alike, smoking and sharing a coffee, little kids running around. Above all else, I enjoyed the warm weather! It was the first time since my arrival in Europe I went without a coat. Oh the weather and the sun were terrific! In our walking, we stumbled upon a beautiful flower market, full of spectacular tulips. I wanted so badly to buy some bulbs to bring home. I knew I would not get them through customs, but I thought of the joy it would bring my grandmother to have Dutch tulips in her windsill.

I grabbed curbside pizza for dinner, doused with chili powder. Second time since my arrival my mouth felt heat! It was good. A couple of groups hung around the hostel, drinking and eating more space cakes as expected. Eventually, I went with a group to the notorious, though very pitiful, Red Light District. It essentially is an area full of window-doors, where young girls stand in skimpy swimsuits luring men in. I did not feel sorry for the women, but rather pitied the men who elicited the services. Who knows what kind of diseases were going around that place! It was funny to me to see some girl texting on her cell phone while "working" a window. I went for the novelty and after an hour of walking in circles, a small group came back to the hostel to relax and enjoy the thrills of Amsterdam. The next day, I visited Anne Frank's house, saw Amsterdam's lovely parks, and walked everywhere. The sun was out though so it was nice, but the slight cold wind made me need to wear my jacket. On the charter bus home, an officer of the organization put on a music video collection, with songs like "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion, a Shania Twain boot-scooting diddy, Selena's last number one, random songs from the 1990's like so. Oh the humor and embarrassment with the songs. I caught myself singing along, much like everyone else. I am surprised the driver did not pick up on the smell coming from the back either!

This weekend I have more school work to do, though I am excited about going hunting in Brussels on Saturday! Handbag hunting, that is!! I still have not found a handbag I want, and since I am not going to Italy, I have to find something soon. I may have to go back to Paris at the last minute for a day if I do not find anything before or during Easter break. Right now I am really concerned about the exchange rate, especially with my long trip coming up, but I hope I will manage alright. When I return from Easter Break, I have probably five or six presentations within that first week back, and even more the second week. But alas, I only have two months until I return home. I will be so happy to have roommates that talk to me, warm, sunny weather, and love! I cannot wait to go to Arizona after my internship, probably around August 10th. I have been considering asking if Brian should tag along, it would be nice to introduce him to the people that make my life complete. Oh the love I could share. It is a possibility, though there is plenty of time to plan!

With ♥ and hope for only two months more,

Chole

The Mundane European Life.

(Written two weeks past, again, not published correctly. My apologies!)

Well good evening my dear.

Yes, even though I am in Europe, life is still terrible mundane sometime. Not much has been going on around here lately. This weekend I stayed in Louvain-la-Neuve, as well as exclusively my dorm... I truly stayed in because I had so much to get done and the weather has been horribly dreary. I am happy to report things are starting to pick up the pace with school, as I prefer. All these group meetings are not fun to coordinate, but whatever makes the time past faster. On Wednesday, I have a total of four presentations in three classes. It was an eight hour miserable course day.

For Easter, I will be going with a fellow Longhorn, Corinna, to Central Europe. I had wanted to go to south France and Italy, though Corinna asked, "When are you going to come back to these places? You can go on vacation to Italy, come with me." Our intenary is as follows:
*Saturday, April 4th to early Tuesday, April 7th: Celle, Germany - where Corinna's grandmother lives.
*early Tuesday, April 7th to afternoon of Thursday, April 9th: Villach, Austria
*late Thursday April 9th to Friday, April 10th evening: Innsbruck, Austria
*Friday, April 10th evening to late Easter Sunday, April 12th: Munich
*late Sunday, April 12th to late Monday, April 13th evening: Salzburg, Austria
*late Monday, April 13th to Wednesday, April 15th afternoon: Vienna
*Wednesday, April 15th afternoon to Thursday, April 16th: Budapest
*Thursday, April 16th evening to Saturday, April 18th afternoon: Bratislava, Slovakia. Then fly home to Brussels from Slovakia.
Germany, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia should be an experience of a lifetime! I think it will be nice to go to around, plus I needed plans. Yes, it was expensive, but I did not need to sit around here for two weeks by myself, depressed. So I am traveling! It should be fun and I am looking forward to Easter Sunday in Munich. I will not have internet so please do not be concerned if you do not hear from me during that time! I promise, if anything goes awry, I will be in touch.

Next weekend is Amsterdam with the exchange group. It should be a pretty good time! I am not sure who is going though, everyone has been traveling too much to ask around. Wish me the best, this week is full of group meetings and laundry and uneventful days and nights! I miss everyone terribly. Almost half way done...

With ♥,

Chole

Parisian ♥

(I wrote this two and a half weeks ago, it just did not get published apparently, my apologies!)
Hello to the world!

For five days, I embraced the Parisian life to it's fullest! Oh how I loved Paris. I almost wish every day could be Parisian. I finally feel a bit more like myself after this weekend, and for once in a blue moon, happy! It was a magnificent weekend of seeing, tasting, and doing everything you should while in Paris. I arrived on Thursday, and left Monday, three full days was just enough to get everything in and have some fun! The weather was gorgeous, only on Sunday was it dreary. I miss the sun so very much.

On Thursday night, Saloni took me to a fun party at her school - sponsored with free alcohol, champagne and candy! On Friday, Brady, another UT student visiting from Ireland, and I visited Notre Dame and the Latin Quarter. That afternoon, Saloni took us around where she lives in the heart of Paris, the 3e Arrondismont. Oh what fun they had making me try on 300 EUR sundresses and outfits. If only I could take one of those pretty dresses that was in Vogue two weeks prior home with me. Friday night we stayed in, exhausted from the day.

On Saturday morning, Saloni and I walked to Pere Lachaise Cemetery (many famous people buried there. I have seen Jim Morrison's grave now. After some time perusing the dead people, we walked a couple of miles to Sacre Coeur! On our way we stopped for delicious pastries. We burned the calories off after another couple of miles. But once we arrived to our destination, oh the glory, the beauty, the fun!! Next was Moulin Rouge on our way to La Galleries LaFayette, a posh Parisian version of Harrods. I could live at the store, easily. Moulin Rouge could have been missed had the tourists not been around, though it was fun. I handbag shopped at Galleries while Saloni searched to replace her blush. The sun was setting and home was calling - the Texan-themed party was to be Saturday evening at 9P. We made it back in time to get dressed, eat and party Texan-style! I tried a new beer, almost a combination of champagne bubbly and a lager. Interesting combination called Finkerbrau I believe.

Day three: Walking on Rue de Rivoli (lots of shopping!), walking around the Musee du Louvre and the Palais du Louvre gardens, the magnificent and never disappointing Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Ladurée, home to scrumptious macarons in flavors like Rose, Citron, Myrtle Berry, and my favorite, Orange Blossom. So worth the pleasure! They melted in your mouth, no wonder they are the best in Paris!! The three of us girls ate our packed lunches under the Arc de Triomph and then continued on our ultimate destination, Le Tour Eiffel.

I loved visiting Le Tour Eiffel. I think we spent just as much time, if not more, taking pictures of or with it, than we spent climbing and experiencing it! It was just as I remembered from ten years previously, the views and the wind, simply breath taking. There are 668 steps to the second level! We even were able to catch the night show! Before my afternoon train on Monday, Saloni took me to a cute crepe curbside and then lunch at a great falafel place, recommended by Lenny Kravitz.

The sunny weekend was simply lovely. I loathed coming back to Belgium, especially when I returned from a sunny, semi-warm day in Paris to rain, clouds, and a cold wind in Louvain-la-Neuve. Paris was a perfect weekend get away. Cannot wait to return in yet another ten years!


Sending Parisian ♥,

Chole

Last weekend in February?

Well hello,

It's once again Monday, and the month of February is already gone? Wow, I did not see that one coming! This past weekend since I sadly have a cold, I stayed in Louvain-la-Neuve. Friday was the most exciting, an adventure to the grocery and two loads of laundry! Saturday I unexpectedly went to Brussels for the Comic Strip Balloon Parade to see some pretty cool balloons up close and personal. I had never been to a balloon parade like that before! Now I know why people love the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. They are super cool. When I returned home from the afternoon, I pulled together homemade chicken soup. I was just very proud of myself because it tasted delicious - especially with no written recipe! That's all I have really eaten the past couple of days, but since I have no appetite, it is wholesome and healthy and hopefully will get me better. No worries, I brought DayQuil and Pseudophed, not to mention the large quantities of hot tea I have been drinking. I honestly do not think I have been this sick since high school, though I really do not remember the last time I was sick. Sunday I was productive and worked on school for the most part.
On Sunday, it was my grandfather's 89th birthday! I called, but the connection was poor. I sure wish I could have been there with the family. My grandmother told me all the good food that they were having and just the thought made me smile. I sure do miss them and cannot wait to visit in August. I leave on Thursday for Paris and it should be an amazing weekend. A bunch of people are surprisingly going to Paris and/or Europe for their Spring Break, the week after next. Supposedly it's the new Playa del Carmen. Germany, Amsterdam, and Italy are in my personal traveling forecast. Updates soon!

With ♥,

Chole