PRAHA!

So I made it into Prague yesterday morning. Prague has been so cool so far. We had a bus pick us up from the airport and the lady told us a lot about Prague as we drove through. She was very sweet. I took a bit of a nap (okay, 4 hours) when we got to the hotel. We went out to eat at a small little Italian place and it was fabulous! There was only one lady I saw in the entire place serving people, and she was just so sweet! She was so patient with us even though we didn't speak the language. I pretty much fell in love with her kind heart!

This morning I had a delicious breakfast in the hotel with some GREAT peach yogurt with strawberry granola and pineapple. Yummers! This morning we took the tram and a bus and went to the Jiri Anderle Museum. He is a well known Prague Print artist. Ummm, It was crazy, but good to go to. After that we walked up to the Prague Castle. That was beautiful! We climbed up one of the towers (287 Steps) in the cathedral. It was so much fun! The view was WELL WORTH the hike! It was cracking me up on the way down the narrow spiral staircase as you would hear people panting and whimpering on the way up wondering when they would ever get there. There was a group not even half way that asked me if they would see the top any time soon... I let them know they still had a hike to go, but said they could do it and it was worth every step. One lady thanked me through her heavy breathing, "thank you for your encouragement!" it was cute.

As we walked around the palace grounds we went through a corridor that had different armor and helmets on display. At the very end was an area set up to shoot a cross bow for only 5 Korunas! It was so much fun! I shot 6 arrows and had a couple good shots. I was able to keep my target practice. So much fun!!!

After that, we walked through the city a little bit. It was more the touristy stuff, but it was great! We crossed the famous Charles Bridge which is gorgeous! Loved it! After all of this, we made our way to an ice cream shop our teacher always stops off called, "Cream & Dream". Wow. No other words to describe. I got my waffle cone with one scoop of vanilla with chocolate chips and the second scoop of strawberry. One of the girls asked how my ice cream was right when I took my first lick. I literally could not answer. I sat down and composed myself... It was hella good to say the very least!!!!

Now we're back at the hotel and Shala is nice enough for me to use her computer for a bit. We are leaving for dinner in an hour. There is a place right around the corner a few of the people went to last night. It's suppose to be awesome! I'm sure it will be!

I love you all! My only wish is I could share all of these moments with all the people that mean the most to me in my life. Know that I think of everyone back home very often and look forward to seeing everyone again. Love to you all!

Getting Acquainted

Amsterdam has picked up during the last couple of days.

I went to the Van Gogh Museum which is nothing short of spectacular! I wish I could fully describe the feeling that was there as I looked at all of his masterpieces, but alas, it's just not possible. It has truly been a gift to stand in front of such works of art and experience the connection between myself and these expressions. I really am speechless when it comes to Van Gogh. I. Loved. It.

I also had the most wonderful experience of seeing the Anne Frank house. We were told we couldn't go inside, but this was a filthy lie it turns out. Going into the annex was one of the most brilliant things I have ever witnessed and would recommend everyone make a trip to feel it for yourselves. The air is so thick and somber and the public moved with a reverence as we filtered in and out of the empty rooms. What a horrific feeling to see the windows blacked out by fabric with only a dim light shining from the ceiling. One can only imagine the horrors of cabin fever as you watch your people being lead away to their torments. It was a memorable experience, one I shall never forget. (Hope this works.)

We spent today at the Rjiksmuseum which was full of many gorgeous things. Too many to convey at the moment. It has indeed been quite the time seeing such masterpieces. 

On a closing note, I'm still not all about Amsterdam. I hate walking into clouds of Pot smoke and I have never had so many people snap at me and treat me so rudely in all my life. Don't get me wrong, of course, there are many people here that have been very pleasant and more than nice, but for the most part.... ick! :) 

I look forward to my last day in Amsterdam as we leave to Prague tomorrow. I would like to say farewell to his fair city with a little quote from Austin Powers: Goldmember, which I did not truly understand until this weekend. After spending time here, I find it to be incredibly real.

There are two things I hate most in this world: People intolerant of other people's cultures, and the Dutch!

Chelsey the European

Yesterday I came down with a cold/flu. This does not make me happy. I opted to stay home and sleep yesterday instead of going to the annual cheese auction (Don't worry, the lovely Jen took pictures).

While home the maid came in to clean the room, but I asked her to come back in 20. I mustered up all my energy and went downstairs in the lobby and waited for 1 hour and 20 minutes. When i came back, she still hadn't cleaned the room. Ah well, I just put the bathroom trash can outside. The bathroom doesn't have a lot, but if figured I would be okay.

I stripped down to my bra and underwear and began to shave my legs in the sink (this is loads easier than inside the shower for me). With one leg lathered and in the sink, the bathroom door opens, "oh! So sorry!" the older eastern European maid exclaims. I explained to her through the shut door she was okay to clean the hotel room while I was in the bathroom as nothing in the bathroom needed to be cleaned. "This bathroom is okay?" she clarified in her cut accent. "Yes, the bathroom is okay."

I hop in the shower and am enjoying the spray when I hear, very clearly, "You don't need the bathroom to be cleaned?" I turn around and see our maid through the glass shower doors and say it really isn't necessary for her to clean in the bathroom. "I check toilet paper." She comes inside and insists we need more tp. With the bathroom door open directly in front of the hotel room door open, she leaves to her cart, leaving me exposed to the hotel hallway.... oh how I hopped the cheese auction was still entertaining my class mates so they weren't about to walk down any moment and see all of Chelsey (in her glory)!

It turned out fine, but it totally made me smile to have the poor maid see Chelsey naked on several occasions.

To end this post on my sickly days in Amsterdam, I became sicker as the day went on yesterday and moved into the flu portion of my sickness last night and today. When I finally came out of my coma like state at 5:00 pm today, I saw a beautiful arrangement of flowers from Michael! How I love him! 

Home... deprived.

Here I am in Amsterdam. We got in yesterday around 2:00 and had the afternoon to orient ourselves here. Today we met as a class and I gave a presentation on 2 Fred Williams paintings for the Tate Museum in the park with the "I amsterdam" sign.

We later went shopping at the Market which is like Portabello Road. I got kicked out of a guys shop because he didn't like me trying on the hats. We later went to the grocery store where I got attitude from the cashier because I didn't take my food out of the carry cart when I placed it on the counter.

I came back to the hotel and enjoyed being out of the sun, eating some food, and having my room to myself.

So I wouldn't say I'm homesick because it's cool to be in Europe, but I'm definitely feeling missing home right now. I wish Monkey were here to cuddle up on the couch and then bark at the neighbor kids.

There are a lot of dogs here, and it makes me happy. They trot alongside the bikes, or ride in the basket. Love it!

Amsterdam!

I don't know if I will be able to write again as the internet cafes seem scarce in this area. So if you don't hear from me, just know I am in Amsterdam dodging bikes, loving the Van Gogh museum and loving life!

It smells like pot.

Cheerio!

Tonight is my last night in Foggy London Town. Sad, sad, sad! I LOVE London. I swear, I was meant to live here! So just keep that in mind. Maybe you all will all be able to sleep in my flat when you come out to visit! And maybe, just maybe, you'll have the entire place to yourself if i happen to be trotting around EU!

A few things I will not miss about London: The lack of public trashcans and toilets. And, that's pretty much it! :) I'll try to write from Amsterdam this week!

Side note, today at the British Museum (AWESOME!) I swear I saw today's Encino Man. Move over Brendan Fraiser, cuz this guy was good! He has long nappy dread locks and when his girl was expressing her views on the mummy he TOTALLY grunted. It rocked!

Mon petit chou chou!

Paris is by far one of the most MAGICAL cities I have ever been to! Well, once we got into the city that is! We left our London hotel at 5:00 am and made it to Paris at 9:00 am. We got lost lost LOST in Paris and didn't check into our hotel until 5:00 pm!!!!! That didn't stop us for going out for a night on the town!




When we got to the Louvre I was speechless! It was one of the most breathtaking things I have ever seen! I can't believe I was there! It was like being star struck but... European Building struck! Loved it! We also went to the Eiffel Tower and watched it SPARKLE (just like you said Kristen!) It was amazing!



While in Paris we:

*Went inside the Louvre (hello Venus Di Milo!)
*Went to the tip top of the Eiffel Tower (Amazing!)
*Saw the Arch de Triomphe (sweet-sweet!)
*Drove golf carts around Versailles (pimp!)
*Ate many a great food! Including crepes, pastries, wraps, and tiny churros!
*Bought/looked at street markets
*Went to Mass at the Notre Dame
*Was separated from the girls I travled with for several hours wandered around solo
*Walked in the rain.
*Wandered around aimlessly
*Constantly said, "Parlez-vous français?", "merci", and "excuse-moi"


I was pleasently surprised as everyone said the French were all snobby and stuck up, but I found everyone to be most helpful.

Things I will not miss in Paris: The smell of the Metro. Yuck!!!

Coming back to London felt like home. As surreal as Paris was, it was great to be back to London. Even though I have only been here a week, London feels like home! I just might need to look into colleges here. :)

PS. I will upload pics when I get home. So enjoy these internet ones... for now. :) Oh, and if anyone wants to see ADORABLE Shiba Inu Puppies that Michael has, go here. I think the lower righthand is Bruce. I LOVE HIM!

Cheers!!!

I'm in London! I am here at an internet cafe in Leister square. I can't even believe how much I love it here. My feet ache from being all over the city again and again.... and again and again! It's all good though. Usually if I rest a moment or two the pain goes away. I am one of the only ones to not have blisters... yet! :)

We have seen MANY cool cool stuff. Taking the tube (i sound so Enlgish) to many places. Mann, I have the tube DOWN! We have seen:

• Trafalga Square
• Paliment (Outside)
• Big Ben (Outside)
• Westminster Abby (The outside)
• Hyde Park
• James Park
• Buckingham Palace- we saw 4 guards do some fancy footwork/marching before walking inside.
• The Sex and the City LONDON PREMIERE! (Didn't see the movie, but I saw parts of the cast from very far away!)
• Day trip to Oxford
• Tate Museum
• Tate Modern Museum
• Boat ride on London Canal (name? it was between the two tates)
• Shakespere's "The Globe" (Outside)
• St. Paul's Cathedral (SOOOOO BEAUTIFUL! Prob my fav. place so far)
• The play "Wicked" LOVED IT!!!! I got a picture with the main star (Green witch-Elphiba) afterward)
• William Hogarth's house.
• We have been to several museums where our teacher Justin sets up appointments and we see original prints from artists. Including a couple of Picasso's first prints that are worth MILLIONS! They are right there! So cool!

(From these museums, I am writing reports on Henry Moore's "Standing Figures" and Ana Maria Pacheco. -I can't find the portolio online, but here's an idea of her work.) I loved it!

That's all I can think of right now. :) The food is delicious here! Nothing too crazy. I did try some fish n' chips with mashed peas (like mashed potatoes) and had a cheese and chutney sandwhich (a tangy british spread). It's been good!

My room mate is a Simpsons nerd like me and we will both randomly quote the simpsons and it's sweet to have the other know what we're talking about. Last night we were up until 1:00 giggling!

Tonight I am seeing a anything but PC play called Avenue Q. It's like Sesame Street for adults. Then we leave for Paris tomorrow morning and get back Sunday night. Hooray Paris!

Don't mind that I am not spell checking this sucker. No time. Time is money at the internet cafe! I'll write again when I can. Love to all!