Vilnius Continued...

Last night we met 2 of Kristin's friends for a late dinner of wine &
tapas....so YUMMY! Then we went to one of the local Latin dance hot
spots.

Today we had another relaxing day in Vilnius! Had lunch at a street
cafe and "people watched" for a couple hours. Kristin strategically
picked this spot so we could watch the many wedding parties that
parade through Old Town on a typcial Saturday afternoon to take
wedding photos. The bridesmaid dresses and wedding dresses are a
sight! Great people watching to say the least!
spent the rest of the day exploring
*the city within a city (cool artists community that is technically
has it's own government and is seperate from the rest of the country).
*the old historical castle...climbed to the top for a beautiful view
of the city.
*enjoyed Old Town shopping, a few more churches and picturesque streets.

On a more personal note: It is so nice to do some leisurely
sight-seeing and just enjoy the company of two close friends as we see
a new part of the world. This morning I commented to the girls how
one of my fav parts of us traveling together is getting up and getting
ready together in the mornings, sipping coffee (like we do back home),
reading a bit of Ozwald Chambers to get the day started, with praise
music playing in the background. I know my friends are even more of a
gift from God than any amount of traveling and adventure!

....also missing my friends back home and thinking of you guys often!

Tres Amigas...and amigos

at long last, the tres amigas have joined forces in Vilnius! april &
charity met in Copenhagen, and took a short flight to Vilnius, where
K-Baby greeted us with a warm Lithuanian hello!

After dropping our bags at Kristin's amazingly cute apartment (perfect
mix of Eastern Euro old world decor with some modern flair), we took a
short walk to one of her fav local pubs to enjoy one of her fav
Belgian beers. The scene was really chill...until a 3-man Mariachi
band randomly walked in and started performing. And of course april
had to chat with them afterward because she has mad Spanish speaking
skills. Apparently, these 3 Spaniards from Barcelona were on holiday
from Pharmacy school and chose to randomely travel as a Mariachi band
(whatever??) as an easy way to meet people....but it was totally
entertaining chatting with them (they knew English pretty well). One
actually went to UCI for Grad school and knew exactly where SLO was
because he had gone on a trip to Big Sur while in CA.

Anyways...today we saw Kristin's school and walked all around old
town. Beautiful! Enjoying a slow afternoon in a cofee house and
saving some energy for a late dinner and a bit evening entertainment.
:)

HIGHLIGHTS (so far)

PARIS HIGHLIGHTS

* Segue tour of city the day I arrived--great way to see most of the sights in small amount of time...also great way to stay awake while trying to get over jetlag with Paris time!

* Eating my first fresh baguette while lounging on a bench in front of the Eifel Tower, like its no big deal (just like the Parisians do it)

* Losing track of all the random places that French people freely make out in public ...my personal fav--couple blocking the entrance to a dressing room in a boutique...making out like there was no one around (despite all the shoppers waiting to try on clothes).

* Savoring a fresh hazelnut crepe hot off the grill.

* Night bike tour of Paris--nothing more calming than cycling the inner court yard of the Louvre at twightlight with the faint sound of street performer music floating through the cooridors.  Then the tour only got better as we boarded a boat and floated down the river drinking wine and watching all the sights light up! AMAZING!  (the tour group was totally young and friendly so we had a great time together..hopefully that my tour guide emailed will show up pic below).

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=1&view=att&th=122a16ae85c43b33&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=f_fxdr7rim0&zw

many more stories and pics to show when I get back home and download everything.

 

COPENHAGEN HIGHLIGHTS

arrived late last night, woke early this am and have been on the go ever since...

* Bike with Mike Tour of the city this morning--Mike, born and raised on Copenhagen gave a great tour of the city.  I had no clue about half the stuff the told on the history of the city.  Loved the mix of modern architechture and traditional scandenavian style archetecture preserved throughout the city.

NOTE: If you havent figured it out already, I am now a definite fan of bike tours in any big city especially when time is limited (I definitely have seen way more of Paris & Copenhagen in short period of time thanks to these fast paced tours).

* Touring Carlsberg Brewery--the most famous (and quite tasty beer) in Copenhagen

* Meeting up with two students from Poly that are studying at Copenhagen Business School this summer through the exchange program I coordinate.  Great to visit with them, hear about their enthusiasm on Copenhagen and enjoy a traditional Danish meal together.

 

 

Now Im exhausted and off to bed. Gotta get up early in the AM to squeeze in my last sights of Copenhagen before I fly out at about 9pm. Cant wait to see April at the airport--shes coming from London and we are both flying out to our next stop--Vilnius, Lithuania...where we meet the third in our trio, K-Baby! and then the real adventures begin!!!

 

 

 

 

PARIS, baby!

ahhh...i love this city!  even ,more than i thought i would.  so beautiful; romantic and confident.  took tour of the city on segue today!  great fun!  more details about paris later...when the keyboard isnt so confusing to type on!!

This was me today....

 

 

Driving down to the OC in Friday afternoon traffic was a very fast and harsh reminder of the amount of PATIENCE that is needed when traveling!  However, I doubt that any of the European cities even get close to rivaling the level of traffic I experienced in LA today.  It took me 3 hours to go the distance that usually takes 45 minutes (and there were NO accidents)!  ugh!  The only good thing about the 405 is ....wait a minute...there isn't anything! haha!  But I tried to face it like a champ...blasted the tunes and attempted to think happy thoughts!   I'M ON VACATION AND NOTHING CAN RAIN ON MY PARADE! 

And they're off....

Left work today with a huge sigh! DANG...it feels so GREAT to be off for a month! It was hard work getting to this point, but OH SO WORTH IT! THANK GOD FOR VACATION DAYS!!!

but not everything about vacation is fun...
Said goodbye to my precious roomie, Heather, tonight. It's sad to think that I won't see her for a month! She is also a little bummed that April & I are leaving the Shell Shack, but we are convinced that the Shell Shack is in good hands! Heather will have plenty of fun here without us! --between chasing summer sunsets at the beach, Farmer's Market, random happy hours with friends, and soaking up the sun on the deck--there won't be much time for missing the other two roomies!

So I'm off to OC on Friday, then flying out Saturday AM.

April & I are both departing on Saturday AM, but landing two different places...

I'll be spending a couple days in Paris visiting a Study Abroad school I work with, then off to Copenhagen for a couple days to visit another school.
I'm really looking forward to both visits, but feeling a bit insecure about my "coping skills" in Paris. I don't know a lick of french and already feel like a stupid American that can barely speak a 2nd language (too bad it's the wrong language for France; Spanish won't get me very far in the land of Parisians). I've tried to look at some last minute French phrases, but I can't even pronounce the words! Oh well! I expect it will be a healthy challenge to feel a bit uncomfortable and learn how to cope anyway. As soon as I arrive in Paris, I've booked a Segue tour of the city, and I plan to make friends with someone (anyone) in the group who speaks French & English! ;)

Meanwhile, April will be in London visiting our friend Lori Thompson--taking full advantage of the English language and culture, I'm sure!

And what about, K-Baby?--you might be asking. She's soaking up the last of her family & friends in San Jose this week and we'll all redneaveaux in Vilnius, Lithuania next Thursday night--watch out, Vilnius!!!

eUROfAB

everything eUROPE, anything fABULOUS . It's not just a cute tagline to a new and short-lived blog—it's an expectation! This holiday is entirely Europe…and without a doubt, we expect it will include plenty that is fabulous! Call me romantic, call me idealist…I prefer to consider it realistically hopeful. I've never met anyone who didn't enjoy their trip to Europe and this is one time in my life where I intend to fully follow in suit!

Of course, this fabulous trip would be entirely IMPOSSIBLE without the fact that I am not only going to Europe for the first time and absolutely excited about it, but in nearly every other way, conditions are perfect! To name a few…

#1 I'm going with two fabulous friends…and I mean F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!

My favs on April Mae…spunky when you least expect it, longest running roommate, well-read, well-traveled, and a true glutton for fun! (not to mention her impossibly gorgeous hair)

My favs on K-Baby…people magnet, soulful and caring, carefree, entertaining story teller, great sense of style, and having fun is a way of life for her! (not to mention adorable dimples and a smile that turns heads)

#2 I get to go to Europe for 4 weeks! I realize this is practically no time compared to the study abroad students I envy all year long, or those profs on sabbatical, or the free-spirit types that can quit their job, sell all their possessions and just roam the earth for inordinate amounts of time. BUT since I fall into none of those categories, four weeks feels like a small miracle to me! After many years of dreaming of a chance to go to Europe, I doubted that it would ever happen, let alone for more than a couple weeks without quitting my job or marrying someone in the military! But alas, miracles do happen and my boss actually let me go! (however I will say that the negotiations and prep at work have been grueling—but still totally worth it!)

#3 It never occurred to me until recently that going to Europe during this particular season of my life is absolutely ideal, and in many ways much worth the wait! Had I high-tailed it overseas for the traditional post-college Euro backpacking tour 7 years ago, I would miss out on several things that I've sense gained, such as….

A) A true appreciation for wearing cute clothes while traveling and not just khaki shorts and boring wife-beater tanks! I'm no fashion queen, but I've learned to appreciate a good travel skirt—both for its versatility and its flattery. (Yes, I am that vain.)

B) A truly independent and adventurous spirit, with a love for culture and a quirky appreciation for feeling like a stranger in a foreign land.

C) A love for good coffee (abundant in Italy) and a growing taste for good wine (need I say more when I'm in France & Italy?)

D) A true thankfulness for the chance to have such an epic adventure during the best "single and thriving" years of my life! I've come to believe that some things are meant to be done with none other than your most fabulous and single girlfriends! —I believe this to be one of them. Thank God for AprilMae& K-Baby!!! And if my future husband is out there somewhere, I'm totally down for going to Europe again someday for a honeymoon! –but why take any chances waiting ;)

And so I've lost myself in lists and bullet points of reflections and expectations…but a little pre-reflection before the trip has been good for my soul and I'm even more convinced than when I started writing this little post that this will be a great adventure!

A friend of mine recently reminded me of a bible verse that speaks of the way that God goes beyond our expectations. "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…" (Ephesians 3:20) I love that part of His character and it shapes even how I look forward to my eUROfAB holiday!

ETD: Saturday. July 18. 10:40 …. ONE WEEK TO GO!