Chelsey the European (Part II)

Well, I'm back in the good US of A where freedom rings, Deoderant is applied, and Peanut Butter is accessible. :: Sigh :: It's good to be home.

I'll admit, it is hard to say goodbye to the traveling life. No matter how tiring and unaccomidating it could be at times, it still is hard to leave behind. I know it sounds a little silly, but while in Europe life in America seemed like a distant memory. 40 hour work weeks? Final Exams? Running Errands? Bill payments? Responsibilities? What are these distant memories?

Now it is back to real life. Job hunting. Whoopie. (If anyone happens to have a hook up, I would be much obliged.)

As I walked out to my car yesterday to run some much needed errands, my malamute, Sitka (seen below in the only picture I can get to on this computer at the moment) followed me out of the house and went to the door eager for a car ride. Oh, how I love my Sitka! If only I could take her with me to run my errands, but alas, it just is not possible... or is it?

One of the things I loved about Europe is how dogs went everywhere with their owners. Metros, trams, places of business, even restaurants. I couldn't help but entertain the idea... so I did just that! Embracing the European laid back life style, I grabbed Sitka's leash and we were off for some quality time.

The first two stops were not a big deal as we went through the drive thus at the post office and bank. The bank teller sent Sitka a tasty little treat in the tube. (I think I was more excited than Sitka!) The big test was the Jamba Juice at Jordan Landing. I figured it would be okay as teenagers run the place and wouldn't care-or at least say anything- if she popped inside for a minute. The true test would be customers complaining about a dog being in a food joint. I took my chances. All in the name of prolonging a European lifestyle!

Cute little Sitka was so excited as we walked around Jordan Landing and she sniffed all the new trees, benches, cement, and everything in sight. She gave me a weird look when I beckoned her inside a store. She could tell it wasn't the vet, but just didn't know what to think of it. Once inside, Sitka was fine, and just sat next to me. There were some looks and you could tell the Alaskan Malamute chillin' in line with me was throwing people off. She got a few scratches on the head, and compliments on her beauty. We got Lindsey's Mango-a-go-go without any problems from consumers and I was so happy! Chelsey- 1, Lame people that have nothing better to do than complain (Allergic population are void of this comment)- 0. Sweet!


In the next few weeks the plan is to add some pictures on here, and tell some stories that I was not able to get to while I was on my trip. Hopefully I will be able to do so while I find a 'perfect' job. :)

When in Rome...

I have been in Rome for 2 days and am LOVING life!!! Today has totally felt like a Roman Holiday and my Audrey Hepburn haircut makes it all the more realistic. Although she had 2 cute guys at her side and she didn't deal with all the crowds... you get the idea though.

While here we have:

• Seen the Vatican
• Seen the Sisteen Chapel (Got a couple of blurry pictures in when the guards weren't looking)
• Experienced the Colosseum (Sooooo cool! I LOVED IT!)
• Saw Raphael's tomb inside the Pantheon
• Tested the hand of Truth (I still have mine!)
• Went to the Spanish steps and listened to a band for the Music Festival
• Made a wish at the Trevi Fountain
• Went to the Boghese Museum and saw COOL statues!!!!
• Ate many... MANY a delicious gelatos!
• Avoided being pick-pocketed (so far)

I can't even believe that I am here! It is sheer bliss coupled with heat and exhaustion, but worth every single step! We are planning on going out tonight to celebrate our last night in Rome, and then wake up really early to get some great pictures of the Colosseum before the crowds. Hopefully we can wake up in time! :) Then we are off to Milano tomorrow and end our trip in Barcelona!!! Hurray! I am soooo excited!

My love to you all! I can't wait to see everyone and hear what has happened while I've been gone! Ciao!

Florence!

Today we arrived in Florence and it was most exciting as my dear sister Kierstin, and her husband Ken are spending part of their honeymoon here. I saw Ken in all his tallness as I walked up the platform and was sooooo excited! We walked up the market and saw so many leather clothes along with many ties and scarves. We made our way to the Duomo and and climbed 400 and some odd steps to the top of the dome to overlook the city. YOWZA! It was quite amazing! What an experience to see such an ariel view of the city, especially with those you love most! After that we saw the replica of the Michelangelo's David then made a quick jont over to... some bridge that was beautiful. Before we all left we made our way to the pig statue to rub it's nose which grants us the wish to come back to Florence. I rubbed that snout extra hard!
It was so great to spend time with Kierst and Ken. While I have been loving my time with my friends, it's just a little something extra when you have your family with you. I love them!
I will be home in one week, and am not quite ready to say goodbye to Europe yet. However, after seeing the fam, it reminds me of the things I love most at home, and I start to get the little itch to come home.
See you all soon!!!!

Lots of happenings

Wow.... I am loving life! We spent less than 24 hours in Zurich, Switzerland and had a BLAST! Zurich, like Vienna, is a host city for Euro 2008. We ended up going to a street celebration where big screen tv's were set up and people watched all the games. I ate LOTS of delicious food! DE-LIC-IOUS! There was lots of food, fun, music, dancing, cheering.... oh, it was so much fun! It reminds me of when the Olympics were in SLC, the excitement in the air just buzzes in the air! We met a group of guys and one of my dear friends hit it off with one, so we went to an English pub to go dancing. I had soooo much fun! They played a mixture of different music and I could not hold my dancing side back! I was a little leary how the guys would be here, but it turned out to be nice. They will kinda dance next to you, but wait for you to give the go ahead before they put the moves on you. It was really nice to not deal with any nasty guys!
We have been in Italy for 2 days! Yesterday we were in Milano and we stayed at a great little hostel. They have a dog! His name is Jet and I had so much fun playing with him! I fell in love with him! We actually have to go back to Milano in a few days as it's a connective city for us to travel. I am so stoked to see Jet again!!!! While in Milano I had some of the BEST Penne I have ever ate! It was in a delicious.... lemon/bacon cream sauce.... SO GOOD!
We are now here in Venice!!!!! It is soooo weonderful here! We are getting ready to go out and explore!!! It is TRULY MAGICAL! We all love it to so much! I will write stories when I can about it! Gotta run! My love to you all!!!!!
I LOVE ITALY!

New Travels

My study abroad is over, and I am now traveling to extra cities. Class ended on Wednesday June 11th, where we hopped on a train and made our way to Vienna. I LOVE Vienna! If I was there longer I would have gone apartment hunting. Vienna was especially fun as they are hosting the Euro 2008 Soccer games, so there was a sports electricity in the air which made it all the better.
On thursday the 12th, we took a train into Munich, Germany. We took a day trip to Fussen to see the Cinderella castle and we loved it!!!!
I need to get going as our train to Zurich leaves in a half hour.

My love to you all. Europe is fabulous!!!!

Budapest

Ah, nothing like being at a McDonalds in Budapest to use 20 minute intervals on the internet... ooh.... sweet artery clogging aroma filling the air. It's a nice change from the urine soaked/B.O. filled metro. Mmmmm, nice! Just to clarify, the Z and Y buttons are backwards on this keyboard, so... i won't waste my time fixing them. Zou just might need to fill dislexic for a bit.... and.... i also cant figure out how to make a new paragraph so enjoz the confusion! Budapest has been verz interesting. The economz is not exactlz stable and we are stazing in Pest, which is the poorer part of the citz. Everzwhere we walk, we see homeless people which is verz disheartening to see. I have never felt like such a greedz brattz American. It is a verz humbling experience to understand more fullz the blessings we have in our countrz. The men here are... bad news. Thez are verz much stuck in their Communist wazs and do not tolerate women looking into their ezes. It is different as American girls because -from what I can tell- we are meerlz sex objects that thez treat with little or no respect. Cat calling (far worse than anz new zorker construction worker) is normal here, followed with eerie stairs and distrubing remarks. A couple of mz friends were walking down the street when a guz grabbed her butt, and then a few minutes later a different guz spit on them. Zeah.... never have American jerks looked so good! As with anzthing, there is a lot of good with the bad. I have been fortunate enough to see manz beautiful things! One of which was a Russian Opera which I bought an evening gown for since i could not be allowed in seen in mz tourist blah clothes. The Opera was trulz amaying, and once again, it has been great to experience the breath taking talents of so manz people word wide! Budapest loves two things... meat, and Turkish baths. I have had as much meat as i can afford and tolerate without feeling lathargic. Manz hae gone to the baths and have loved them! I am planning on going later todaz and am plannig on going European, as I am in Europe afterall. I will let zou now how it goes. We are planning on going to a Palace on top of a hill which has a Labrznth underneath. We hear it is wonderful and worth the monez. I know, this might seem lame, being in Europe and all, but I made it a point to see the Sex and the Citz movie as earlz as I could on the trip. That meant seeing here in Budapest as it opened June 5th here. I won't see much about it as to not spoil it, but it was wonderful to see as it made me appreciate and miss home. It was nice to watch the movie ad drift back to the states and think of comforts onlz friends and familz can provide. Specificallz mz dear Carrie as she is mz other half and we both relate everzthing to sex and the citz. (hez, it's what we do) manz others were thought of as well, and it was reallz nice to get a piece of home even if I stole it for a mere hour or two. I two dazs mz class will end, but I start an extra 2 weeks of travel with 3 of the sweetest and coolest girls on the trip. I am sad for mz class to be over but am verz hopeful for the future and diferent sites I will see. I feel fortunate as I suspect the next 2 weeks will flz bz quicklz as i see so much beautz, to onlz return home to the true beautz in mz life which is all of mz loved ones. I will trz to write again in mz travels, but am not sure how the internet cafes will be as I will onlz be in a citz for a daz or two. Just know, I am being smart, safe and have 3 great girls with strong heads on the shoulders and we will all look out for one another. Mz love to zou all for zour support! See zou soon!

Prague

Prague has been a blast. A couple of days ago we made our way to a nearby town called, Kutna Hora. There, is a church decorated with 40,000 corpse bones. It was very interesting as it is not something you see daily that's for sure.
Yesterday we went on a paddle boat ride and got caught in a sudden downpour! I felt like I had just got off a water ride at Bush Gardens.
We are here during the puppet festival and have tickets for 2 shows tomorrow. There are marinettes everywhere and the shop owners will try to entice you in with dancing Pinocchios. Very cute!
I have one more day here in Prague and then I am off to Budapest. Supposedly Budapest is the cheapest. I look forward to the money break as I think I am in the poor house! I might need your pity upon my return!
I can't remember if it was mentioned in my last post, but the ice cream here.... TO DIE FOR! You have not lived until you have ate at Cream and Dream! YUMMERS!
Loves to you all!
p.s. please give hugs and kisses to the pooches as I miss the little furballs!