grand finale

{3.15.2010}

Bliss was fading in the sunset and responsibility was leaving voicemails on my cell phone. But just a few more tasks awaited Logan and I on our adventuresome menu. The first was a date with the Pope. Benedict that is. Whyyy would we not use x's and i's for numbers right? When in Rome! Logan and I met Benedict the xixix (whatev) at St. Peter's square (where THE peter is buried- yowzA!). People were tailgating in the square awaiting his arrival with pennets and guitars playing and singing songs to hear their beloved religious leader. As soon as he peeked out his little window the whole square fell silent to hear his blessing. I can now say I have been blessed by the pope. Hope that grants me invincibility and gets me out of future speeding tickets. From there we trail blazed on our noble steed the double decker bus to tackle Castel del Angelo, Piazza del Poppolo, Mausoleum of Augustus, The Spanish Steps, Michael Jackson (yup he's hiding in Italy) street dancers, graffiti artists (my muse), Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Capitol Museum, Circus Maximus, the Pantheon, and much more. The Spanish Steps (which were imported to Italy and supposedly where Jesus stood on trial and his flogging wounds dripped His precious blood on that very concrete) was my favored spot. This is where I overdosed on gelato for the last time, tipped Michael Jackson for his impeccable "Billie Jean" serenade, gawked at Italian break dancers, and drooled over the coolest graffiti art of the Colosseum. "time flies when you're having fun" is the worst concept ever, come BACK fun, quit playing games with my heart!! Buuuut life awaits, so for now I'll plan my next sabbatical and play and replay these wonderful memories in my day dreams while focus flies out the window and I sit at a desk staring at my computer screen with a glazed over gaze. ahhhhhhh ciao RomA!

gypsy locker

{3.15.10)

Paris summation; seasoned and timeless the architectural exhibition is awe-inspiring and breath-robbing. Patisseries and shops in the Latin quarter are an atmospheric cornucopia. The history of the french aristocracy and royals is my main attraction and my mind always returns to Les Miserables as I love revolutions. France can be dismal. Even though the historic districts are eyes on fire lovely, 2 steps to the left or right and you find yourself in a world apart. Graffiti, garbage, and decreped buildings, less than fortunate. Orphans claiming to be bombed homeless victims from Bosnia and relentless gypsies. The gypsies were my favorite. Logan and I followed some of them around for the better part of the afternoon. They are so crafty and shifty. It was like watching present day artful dodgers. I wanted to interview and psychoanalyze them. Logan asked "why don't they just get jobs?" right? because they defy authority and are total rebels. They blend in and take advantage of an easy pocket to pick. Logan got a fever today so I chose to stroll around the local neighborhood with my ipod streaming a leaking soundtrack to life through my veins. As I paused to watch some local misseurs playing bacci ball in a park I observed that all the people here emit vibes and auras that are so foreign to America that I lack the vocabulary to describe it. The culture is an anomoly to me so I choose to maintain my own perception of it because my imagination is more fantastical than a defining demographic encyclopedia.

high kicks at the 'rouge

3.12.10

gaudy + flamboyant + bombastic add a half cup of glitter and dazzle with a teaspoon of flaunt-shnazz-pizz-zazz and you have a kaleidoscope of Paris, France. The Moulin Rouge was an eye full, literally. Logan and I couldn't stop laughing. Our noise level was like that of rowdy American football fans at the Superbowl while the rest of the audience applauded and observed the show like an elegant Broadway love story. There was a costume change every five minutes and the men had more makeup on than dolly parton. It was beyond bizarre but an experience I am glad to add to my resume? Later we toured a perfumery. In France, these chemists are as esteemed as doctors in America. They bustled around in their white lab coats with their envied nasal abilities and glass beakers with martinis of aromatic bliss. I love a good perfume and apparently there is quite a science behind its creation. Versailles was next and by the time my eyes had consumed all the golden gates, silk wall lining, and crown molding my pupils were morphing into precious stones from absorbing the ostentatious treasure exhibition. A favorite part of today was the cathedral Notre Dame (i wanted to shout SANCTUARY when I entered its grand entry way) and the vendors that sell antique Parisian art and newspapers and post cards alongside the street. neato-fajito france gives me writer's block au revoir

i'm a writer not a fighter

and I have some wordsss for you Paris!

3.10.10 Hamburgers are to Americans as gold and silk is to Paris Logan and I huddled in Le Voltaire to shield us from bitter cold. I wanted to punch France for its cold weather cuz it was holding me back from seeing the world. The Arc de Triumph, the Louvre, the Left Bank and Latin Quarter all reflected in my eyes. CHECK ps- I am convinced that even though the French were nice to us, that through their smiles they manipulated our lack of communication skills and took advantage of our pocketbooks and made fun of us is their goofy language.

parle vous anglice?

{3.16.10}

jinis se pa and croissant that is all I could communicate and for a communicator.. THAT is a cripple Paris was alluring, dazzling, and elegant. Enough for me to appreciate and then feel uncomfortable. I felt pressure to look better than I felt. oops. I did love the vibes of the city, but try as I might, I couldn't get past the demographical stereotypes. Sorry Parisians. Our first night in the city of lights we had cheese and snails... I wanna know WHO decided THAT was a good idea. Log and I preferred to take up residency in every patisserie and crepery we laid eyes on. We even made up our own signature crepe combination: Nuetella, Banana, and Coconut. you're welcome France love the Americans

city of lights

can you ever remember when something stole your breathe away?? My most material memory is that of falling off the monkey bars in elementary school and literally having my breathe taken away from me... well these architectural fortresses had a similar effect... {nevermind if i was posing like a tourist... I was just posinggg}

london's redemption

3.6.10

4,421 miles... would you have walked that far Vanessa Carlton? what? ha lets just say the first British accent Logan and I heard (which was from the customs officer who stamped our passports) literally almost made us hit the floor. We made it a few steps until we straight giggled until she wet her pants and I had tears streaming down my face. rewinddddd let me start at the beginning, so when Log and I were boarding the plane, we realized we didn't even know where we were supposed to go after we got to heathrow. Sooo, our mom's had to google search the name of the place we were staying and get us directions... so much for being organized or prepared- whoops! By the time I set foot in London I hadn't slept a wink from scouring the travel books and notes my mom had drawn out for me all night on the plane. At this point I have to be honest, my entire mind was still consumed by the somewhat unjustified fear of being trafficked. I swear every shady dude I saw, I thought was a trafficker and was ready to throat punch a homie if he even looked at me and Log. Regardless we found our hostel *ahem* hotel (HA!) and checked in, then walked all over Russell Square and Covent Gardens. We found a hip green market in Brunswick Square and talked to Turkish boys selling olives, the one made sure to inform us that the market would close promptly at six, not sex. Good joke, I thought anyway. We shmoozed 2 free Churros from a british latino which still throws me everytime people who look anything but English talk with a British accent. side note: London has a great organic game, everything here is au naturale and there is so much awareness of FAIR TRADE. loveee that! Sooo I started this day as a determined 1, and ended at a thrilled 9.5. We got a nasty free dinner from our tour group and Logan and I are freezing but I am lovingggg London so far. After dinner, Log and I went down to the pub to get a hot chocolate and two Italian men were tryin to hit on us. One was already so smashed that he couldn't remember his English so his friend kept trying to translate. Two younger British boys watched shaking their heads from a few feet away. Log and I were sure they would try to come rescue us after the Italian Stallions were getting too friendly and the drunk one even kissed my arm and logan's hair (ha!) when we finally shook the shadeballs Log called out the Brits for leavin us hangin and all they had to say was "that WAS awkward" ummm FAIL! wrappin it up: our hotel is weird, our travel group is weirder but Logan and I are rockstars and ready own London. awwwww yeaaaahhhh giRLLL

once in a lifetime, but hopefully more

3.5.2010

have you ever thought about how all encompassing the time frame "lifetime" is? I mean, its infinity as far our carnate existence is on this material earth is concerned and I'm about to exit the platform for this wild ride. It took the pilgrims weeks to complete this voyage "accross the pond" anddddd here we go! My thoughts right now are somewhat stressed about not being able to see enough in my allotted sentence in Europe. My expectations and perceptions of what is to come includes meeting rugged British gents in pubs like in p.s. i love you, epic hotels and street markets from my mum, odd european goofs like Peter Sellers in his Pink Panther films, and nannies and crooked teeth children from Marry Poppins. How do you like that twisted buffet of european stereotypes? oops, i'm just being honest. I am also experiencing this gripping terror of being trafficked. I'm sure it is just from last weekend of being in DC with Not For Sale and all the research and reading I have been doing, but I just have this hovering fear. [stay tuned for day 1}