Spring is here!

It has been getting warmer in Florence, and throughout Italy, which makes me very happy.  I was not able to handle anymore cold since I am an Arizona girl and there is currently 100 degree weather there right now.  I am so happy I am missing that and experiencing the 70s here in Italy.
Last weekend, I went to Milan with my fashion marketing class.  We got to see all the luxury stores, the design district, and some specialty stores.  It was pretty cool because it was design week when we were there, which is when they have showcases of interior and architecture design.  They are very interesting and modern showcases.  With the class we mostly visited clothing stores though.  First, we went to the Armani mega store, which is 4 floors of clothes, shoes, a restaurant, bar, chocolate shop, flower shop, Apple products, and even a book store. Yes, Armani has all those things in one store.  Plus, there is a home decor store across the street where everything is designed by Armani.  And you thought he only made clothes...
After that gigantic store, we traveled down the street of some luxury, high-end stores.  I went into Dior, Prada, Jimmy Choo, and a few other places.
After this, we went to a more trendy, funky areas called Brera, which is considered the design district.  Here is where we went into the Marc Jacobs mono brand store.  Jacobs is one my favorite designers, so this was exciting.  And we ended the day with another place that was dedicated to more trendy and hip clothes, design, and art.

Chocolate Armani Egg

Chocolates at Armani 

Espresso maker 

Space ships?? 

Marc Jacobs' window display 

After Milan, I went to Rome with Sarah. We wanted to go back because we did not get to go inside Saint Peters when we were there and there were a couple other things that Sarah wanted to see.  So I figured why not since I have my Rail Pass.  We left early Saturday morning and got there in the early afternoon.  We went straight from the train station, heavy bags included, to Saint Peters.  Not realizing that it was the day before Palm Sunday, there were a lot of crowds. I am just glad that we did not go on Sunday in hopes that we could go in because we would have definitely would have not been able to.  We knew it would be busy, which it was, but the line did not take long and it was a beautiful, warm day, so I didn't mind.

The chairs all set up for Palm Sunday

Where the Pope lives 

The Pieta! 

The dome

The altar 

Beyond here and under the dome is where Saint Peters' tomb is 

The rest of the day was spent wondering around Rome, eating a delicious meal, going to San Clemente, and even going to a Steelers bar.  Sarah is from Pittsburgh and is a Steelers fan, so she wanted to go to this one place that was supposedly a bar dedicated to Pitt. It was a really cool place because it had tons of college teams banners on the walls. Even an ASU one...

The next day we went to the Borghese Gallery, FOR FREE! The man did not charge us and it was suspiciously as if he did it on purpose while others were charged.  Either way, I don't care and was more than happy to not have to fork over the money.  When we git into the gallery and saw the all art work, I was amazed.  Some of the most beautiful pieces of art are inside the gallery.  Some of statues were so amazing and looked real.  It is so crazy to think that people were able to create such beautifully done pieces of work at the time that they were living in.  It fathoms me.
The rest of our time in Rome was spent in the Borghese gardens around the gallery, which were so large and very pleasant.  I was able to relax and take in the fresh air.  Wow, I am super cheesy. Sorry guys!

Sarah holding up the very large map we bought.
We definitely looked like crazy tourists!  

Beautiful! 

I fell in love with this tree 

Overlooking Rome!

This weekend, my friends and I are going to Croatia.  We are leaving tonight, to go on an 11 hour bus ride to Croatia.  It is going to be one long ride, but hopefully it will be worth it.  I know it will since we are going Island hopping with a fish dinner/white wine included and we are going white water rafting. I am already smiling just thinking about all the fun I am going to have this weekend!
Look for a new post, the pictures will probably be amazing!

So much to look forward to...

Yes there is! I am having a great time in Florence. Officially one month from today I will be going home.  I'm pretty sad about that.  I have met some great people and have created bonds with people that will probably last forever.  I know, I'm getting pretty cheesy, but it's true.
I wanted to just go through all the trips I have coming up because I am pretty excited.  This weekend, I am going to Milan (tomorrow) with my fashion class. We are getting a more inside look behind designers and it should be really fun and interesting. Then Saturday, Sarah and I are going back to Rome and staying the night there and coming back on Sunday.  There was a few things we did not get to see when we were there, so we wanted to go back.  Sites like actually going inside Saint Peter's Church are things I have to do before I die.
Next weekend, Easter weekend, all my friends and I are going to Croatia.  I am pretty excited about this.  Crazy to think about going to Croatia, but I figured if I were to come back to Europe (which I am going to do of course) I won't go to places like Croatia.  So, why not take advantage of it. When we are in Croatia, we have booked to go on a island cruise and then water rafting.
The weekend after that, I am going to London with Kat and Lauren.  We are going there for the royal wedding.  That will be awesome, but crazy. There are going to be so many people.

Nicole, Kat, Lauren, Me, and Nina
The friends that I have met!

Well, keep looking for updates from those places!

Ireland!

This weekend my roommates and I went to Ireland.  Being an Irish girl, I was really getting back to my roots!
It was such a beautiful place and the people were so nice.  I loved it!
We stayed in Dublin, in a great hostel right next to the Temple bars area.  This is where all the great pubs are it's always loud and fun along this road.  We got there Friday night and were immersed in the scene.  The instant that we started walking around Dublin I loved it.  So, we got a very delicious meal at a cute Irish restaurant.  I had a great Italian vegetable soup to start off with.  Yes, Italian soup is not Irish but I guess I just can't get away from my love for Italy. My main dish was a chicken leg with portobello mushrooms over a mashed potato puree type substance.  It was all washed down with some tea with cream (yeah in Ireland and Uk they drink their tea with cream).

Dublin with the double-decker bus in the background.
We took these to get around the city. Lots of fun. 

Our restaurant 

After the meal, we walked around the city a little and then went to a bar right next to our hostel.  Our hostel gave us a card to get a free pint of Guinness or Lager at the bar, so of course we had to use that.  The bar had live music going on upstairs where were able to hear Irish music.  It was a lot of fun and I loved the atmosphere.

The next day was a LONG day, but it was well worth it.  We had to meet our tour bus at 7 AM. Yep. I'm not a morning person, so this was quite difficult.  But, we got to our tour bus, which I recommend (Galloway Bus Tours).  The bus tour took us to Galloway, which is about 3 hours from Dublin.  In Galloway, our actual tour guide met up with us.  Speaking of our tour guide, he was hilarious and had the perfect Irish accent.  I had a hard time understanding him, but every time I could, he had me cracking up.  He took us into the beautiful countryside of Ireland and the Cliffs of Moher.  Amazing views.

Baby sheeps 

Cliffs

The cliffs are extremely windy and it was quite humorous what the wind was doing to me, my hair, and even my clothes. I was bound to be blown off the cliffs because the walkways at the top were very narrow.  Thank god I did not fall.

Windblown

My scarf was going to fly away from me...

Feeling the Irish in me near the kelly green grass..

That night, after our tour we went to another pub that played live music and walked around the city.  The Irish are pretty crazy and have no shame in having fun.  So, it was really enjoyable to follow by their "rules" for a little while.

Drinking a Guinness at a pub near the Cliffs of Moher

The next day we went to the Guinness factory and saw the whole beer making process.  We were able to taste test the beer and we each got a voucher for a pint of Guinness.

"There's poetry in a pint of Guinness" 

The taste test 

The rest of the day consisted of walking around Ireland a little more and seeing a few churches and parks.  The parks were beautiful and had some of the greenest grass with gorgeous flowers.  The flowers were such bright colors that they looked fake.  

The river that was near our hostel 

St. Christ park 

I loved the doors  

And the obsession with the flowers began...

Blooming and beaming  

Has it gotten a little excessive? 

St. Patricks park 

Ireland was a great success and I want to go back soon with my family! I know we would have a blast.