Fall Break: part one.

Here is yet another post a month in the making! We had about four or five days off after midterms at the end of October. In previous years, students have had ten-day breaks, so we were a bit bitter; nonetheless, six of us set out to create an epic trip of all trips to celebrate the end of the first half-semester and our American appreciation for Halloween. ;] Where better to go than Spain?

Allow me to explain. The absolutely beautiful island of Ibiza is actually one of the party capitals of Europe during the tourist seasons. However, come October, the place is pretty quiet. We decided that it might be a nice place to go just to chill - to enjoy the warm weather, the beaches, and even embrace the absolute lack of basically anything to do. :P We jumped on a plane to Barcelona, where we had a short layover before our thirty-minute flight to Ibiza. We decided to indulge.


Indulgence meant McDonald's. Yes, we have a few McDonald's in and around Florence, but we'd avoided them. As a midterm reward, we treated ourselves to a bit of its highly fatty, carbo-loaded goodness. And had no regrets about it.

Because fountain soda is basically nonexistent in Florence.

The Barcelona airport is beautiful and massive. There was a car advertisement of sorts in the middle of the terminal that house within it live snakes. :P

Finally arrived at our incredibly inexpensive apartment-style hotel where we had the best view in the house! Check out the Ibiza coast by night.

Ignore the hotel in front of us. ;]

Here's the same view by day.

Katya relaxing on the deck.

Claire. :]

After soaking up some sun on the porch, we were off to visit the Dalt Vila fortress in Ibiza Town.

The old castle-like fortress has a fantastic view of the ocean - but then, what in Ibiza doesn't have a great view?




Katya and Claire.

Katya, Claire and Jackie.

Zoe and me!

Katie and me.

Me and Claire.

Katya and me.

Smilin'.

Then we explored.

A pair of Ibizan doors. :P

The port.

Enjoying the sun!

Afterward, we went back to our motel and chilled on the rocky beach. That's Katie.

The view from our oceanside dinner spot, MINT.






Claire, me, Katie and Katya.

The whole gang!


MINT, while pricey, was delicious.

It's been far too long since I posted food photos! Here's my dinner.

Popcorn chicken.

Curry powder and soy sauce.

Chocolate mousse.

Vanilla ice cream.

Claire's dessert!

Prepare for an onslaught of sunset photographs! It was just toooo beautiful of a sequence not to shoot.








So, that was Ibiza! We spent the next morning shopping and then jumped on a place back to Barcelona to enjoy the rest of the weekend there! :] More to come...

Fam in Florence: part three.

Time to wrap up what probably seems to you like the long-lasting saga of my parent's visit to Florence! The study abroad gods really do not allot time for blogging! ;]

The day after our roadtrip, the parents and I kept it local. I couldn't wait to show them all around Florence! We rose bright and early to climb the dome of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, or the Duomo. At four hundred and sixty-three steps, it is quite a treck - but the view is worth it!


Replicas of Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise on the Florence Baptistry next to the Duomo.

Making the ascent!

From the stairways inside the Duomo.

View of the Basilica from the dome.

View of Florence from the top of the Duomo!

Palazzo Vecchio from the top of the Duomo.

Basilica di Santa Croce from the top of the Duomo.

View of Giotto's Campanile - the bell tower.


It's a family affair.

Glamour shot!



And a final shot of the basilica after climbing down.

Afterward, we were FAMISHED! So we went to I Due Fratellini, an adorable little establishment that is, quite literally, the size of a closet.

Parents lovin' sandwiches.
That night, my host family (and roomie) were gracious enough to welcome my parents to dinner. Mara prepared a delicious meal and, far and away, the absolute best tiramisù (which I've learned means "pick-me-up" in Italian) I've ever had. :] Unfortunately, I forgot to take photos. But it was great. Here are a few before-shots (and that's just as well - we were stuffed afterward!).


My gorgeous parents!


And that just about wraps it up. The next day we spent museum-hopping, shopping and eating. It was so great to see my parents at just about the half-way point of my time abroad, and I feel so incredibly lucky to have been able to share my Florentine experience with them. :]