Stockholm pictures

Who knew baby goats were so entertaining?
Skansen
Hot air balloons along the skyline

Gamla Stan, the island where we stayed

Look at that nice Swedish girl who has her asian friend visiting

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, the last week of school was crazy and then I have been traveling for 10 days.  So here is the first post of the bunch about Stockholm.  I had really wanted to go to Stockholm all year because of my Swedish heritage.  Besides, everything amazing comes from Sweden- IKEA, swedish meatballs, H&M etc.  

We got there on May 14, it was a lot colder than I expected.  It probably would have crossed my mind if I thought about how much more north it is than Italy but it was so hot in Florence when we left that I didn't think about it.  It was still nice the whole nice, sunny but around 65 instead of the 90s in Florence.  

We stayed in Gamla Stan which is the old town, a small island between the other islands.  That night we ate the best swedish meatballs ever! (sorry Mom, yours are good too)  

The next day we walked around Norrmalm, the northern island.  The following day we went to Sodermalm the sothern island that is younger and more hip.  We didn't really do that much, just walked around the city, went shopping and enjoyed their beautiful parks.  We also played a lot of scopa, an italian card game we just learned.  One night we went to this random antique store and talked to the owner for a while.  He told us that the basement of the shop used to be a prison and said some people have seen ghosts down there.  Sadly we did not.  He also asked if I was Swedish which I was very happy about.  

On our last day we went to Skansen, their outdoor museum.  Its called a museum, but its more like a cross between a theme park and a zoo.  They had people dressed in traditional clothing and old historical buildings.  They also had a section of Scandinavian animals.  We saw goats, bears, mooses (plural for moose?) goats, seals, peacocks and a giant bunny.  We ate swedish meatballs again and then sadly had to leave for our flight to Berlin.  

Overall the trip was great.  Everyone was so nice and all the food we ate was delicious.  Stockholm is a beautiful city and I was so glad that I made it to Sweden.  

Chuck Anderson

My friend Casey introduced me to this artist, Chuck Anderson.  Anyone who knows me knows that I love rainbows.  I think his photos are so beautiful.  

Short and Sweet

Robin and I in Pompeii in front of Mt Vesuvius. 
On Capri
Casey, Robin, Chloe and I at Positano

My internet is down, I'm at a cafe right now using their free wifi and I have a presentation tomorrow so I have little time for blogging.  Just wanted to write a quick one about this weekend in the Almafi coast.  It was amazing! We went to Positano, Capri and Pompeii.  The weather was beautiful, we went to the blue grotto, saw the ruins of Pompeii, layed on the beach and swam in the ocean. We stayed at a really cool hostel with a rooftop bar.  

The next two weeks are going to be crazy with school.  Lana comes to visit next Wednesday which I'm really looking forward to.  I finally finished booking my trip in May after school is done.  I'm going to Stockholm, Berlin, Prague, Milan and Turin.  I'm really looking forward to being finished with the stress of school for a while, I just have to get through finals!

Blessings

Picture/location of my new apartment compliments of google maps

Ever since getting home from spring break I've been crazy busy with school and also the realization that from this side of break the semester looks quite short.  As I told everyone thats asked I have mixed feelings about going home.  One thing that has made me more excited to get back to New York is that I finally have an apartment!  Due to some amazing friends back in the city I officially have an apartment starting May 1st.  I will have my own bedroom, its two blocks from the subway and close to central park.  I'm so happy about living with friends and not having the rules of the dorms.  Also I'll be saving a bundle.  

The other wonderful blessing of the past week was talking to Betsy.  We got to videochat, she should me the condo shes been staying at in Bahrain.  It was so nice to see her face and catch up on everything.  Its funny because with me being in Italy we are only 1 timezone apart.  

Overall everything is going so well.  I'm just trying to enjoy the rest of my time in Florence while getting all my school work done.  Tomorrow we are going on a Chianti Wine tour with school and then I'm going to Capri, Pompeii and Sorrento for the weekend! 

SB3: Crete

Its hard to say, but Crete was probably my favorite island.  We stayed in Chenia, which is on the western part of the island.  Our hotel was 100 meters from the beach and the first day we just walked around the city and went to the beach.  The water wasn't too cold so I went swimming.  Then we played frisbee on the beach, it was a really fun day.  

The next day we rented a car with the help of our hotel owner Costantine who was great.  You have to be 23 to rent a car but my oldest friend is only 22.  We drove down to Imbros where there is a really cool gorge that we hiked.  After we were done we went to the beach. 

On Sunday we went to the southwestern corner of the island to go to a sandbar beach.  You have to walk out 50 meters to get the sandbar.  It was one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever been to, and the most southern part of Europe.  

It was really fun to have a car, all the roads are in the middle of the mountains. Sadly Sunday night we had to take a ferry back to Athens as the first part of our journey home. Overall it was one of the best trips I've ever been one.  Greece is amazing!

SB3: Santorini

Red Beach


Fira

Santorini is so beautiful.  It was completely different from Mykonos which I was happy about.  You can see how the island was formed from a volcano. We stayed right in the main town of Fira at a really nice hotel that was only 13E a night!  Definitely the best deal I've ever found.  

We rented four wheelers again and rode all around the island.  We went to 3 different beaches, red beach, black beach and this random beach that we stumbled upon that I don't think has a name. The beaches are named for the color of the sand which is from the lava.  I was so happy about the warm weather and to get tan.