Copenhagen, Denmark
-I wasn't here long but in the brief layover I had I went to Nyhavn, which is the famous canal. I bumped into a friend from Michigan who had been studying there and she and her friends told me all about Danish culture and what they loved about Copenhagen. They even gave me a few Carlsbergs and I was extremely content to just enjoy the sun and their company while on a boat deck.
Stockholm, Sweden
-I spent a great weekend here visiting my friend Amanda. It was great having a local to show me around and I absolutely loved both the country and people. Unlike Parisians, the Scandinavian people were so warm and welcoming and loved to talk to me about their culture and America. Plus they were all beautiful. It was the first place that I really felt at home and with my height, blondish hair and blue eyes I fit right in. I was also very lucky with the weather, it was warm and sunny the entire weekend!
-I ate amazing food in Sweden. Amanda bought me real Swedish fish and her mom made me Swedish meatballs with potatoes, which is a traditional Swedish dish. I was in heaven!
Amsterdam, Holland
-This was my one of my favorite places in Europe. Amsterdam is a beautiful city, filled with canals, bikes and small winding streets. Everywhere I turned there was a small canal lined with tulips and boats. I also loved the Dutch culture and the history of Amsterdam. I went to the Anne Frank house, which was incredibly moving. I re-read her diary while I was traveling in Scandinavia so it was fresh in my mind. Seeing the Annex and hearing the story of the Franks first hand was a very emotional experience but something I think everyone should experience. I also visited the Van Gogh museum and spent over 3 hours there, such an amazing collection. It was great because I met up with my friend Maggie and it was nice to have someone there to share the experience with.
-Other highlights: a tour of the Heineken factory and eating traditional Dutch pancakes and stroop waffles
Aix-en-Provence, France
-Wonderful town in the south of France that is famous as the home of Cezanne. It was incredible how much the city still resembled all the Cezanne paintings. I made a visit to his house and ran into a friend from school, which was incredibly random but very welcome. We hiked a short distance to the Terrain des peintres, a small park overlooking Montagne Sainte-Victoire and was a favorite spot of Cezannes. The city was very picturesque and was a wonderful place to simply stroll around.
Cassis, France
-One of the most breath-taking places I have ever been. Cassis is home to Les Calanques, a national park positioned on the Mediterranean Sea. I spent the entire day climbing the white-rock cliffs and while hiking meet a French ex-marine who lived in the neighboring town of Marseille who showed me the hidden spots of the park and told me the history of Cassis. I reward my day of hiking with a glass of famous Cassis rosé and mussels and fries.
Marseille, France
-Not a great town but positioned right between Aix and Cassis, so it was convenient. There was an amazing cathedral on top of hill which gave me a great view of the harbor and the city. I also stumbled upon a choral concert in the cathedral which was a nice surprise.
Nice, France
-Very beautiful town located right on the Mediterranean. I spent my day here laying on the rock beaches. It had been awhile since I'd see the sun, so it was nice to take a personal day and lay out.
Monaco, France
-I happened to pass through Monaco during the Grand Prix. While I enjoyed seeing all the people and being in city during an exciting time, the cars were very loud and the race track made navigating the city hard. I did climb up to the castle and take a walk through Les Jardins Exotique, which was located right along the Mediterranean and absolutely breathtaking.
Grenoble, France
-After a week of sunshine and beaches, it was off to chillier climates. I visited a friend from Michigan who was studying there with a Michigan program. It was really nice to see a familiar face and be surrounded by a crowd of Michigan people again. Grenoble is nestled in the alps and we went to the old fort on top of the hill. We also visited the art museum, had long meals and watched a football match.
Maggia, Switzerland
-The last stop on my travels was a week with our family friends the Coduris. I took a nine hour train from Grenoble to Maggia and it was one of the most beautiful trips I've ever taken. Winding through the Alps and along the lakes, I couldn't look away from the window. The Coduris were incredibly hospitable and in the week I was with them I learned so much about Swiss culture and ate amazing food. From risotto, to fondue to chocolate, I didn't stop eating! Elena showed me the surrounding towns of Locarno and Bellinzona and one day we drove to the German part of Switzerland and stopped at Ballenberg and Interlaken. My favorite thing we did was taking a hike to their mountain house which you could only reach by foot and was located in the heart of the Alps. I flew out of Milan and got a chance to see the famous Duomo and had lunch on a terrace directly next to it. Great views!
I'm so grateful that I had this opportunity to see so many different places. Thank you to my parents and to everyone who hosted me while I was on the move.
Work starts tomorrow, more to come!
(Starting top left: Sweden, Amsterdam, Maggia, Aix, Cassis)
(Starting top left: Switzerland, Grenoble, Amanda and I in Sweden, Nice, Max and I in Grenoble)
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