An Epic Failure Everyday, but Still Wonderful

My last big trip is over. It is really sad to think that I will be home in less than 1 month. I am now at the end of this wonderful learning experience. It has really taught me a lot of things. Enough of that. I just returned from Paris. I didn't realize that there was SO much to do. I thought that It would be easy to tackle Paris in 4 days. Haha not true. Everyday we had something go wrong, but the trip was still wonderful. We left London on Wednesday afternoon. After arriving in Paris and getting to our Hotel, we took a "short 15 minute walk" to the Eiffel Tower, the reality was that our walk was really about 45 minutes. It was great to see the Eiffel Tower at night. We found a Crepe Stand I had a Nutella crepe. Amazing. We then spent about an hour sitting at the tower and talking. We then bought a single ticket to ride the Metro back to our hotel. It was a really good day!

Crepe in front of the Eiffel Tower

On Thursday, I started our day at the Louvre. We where supposed to meet our friend Susanne at the Entrance, little did we realize that there was TWO entrances. oops. we waited for 30 minutes then decided to go ahead and go inside. We did send search parties to try and find Susanne. I saw the Mona Lisa. I can also say that I got lost in the Louvre. We walked around the Egyptian exhibit and couldn't find the exit. It was still a good adventure. Our next stop was Lunch. We wanted to test the theory the McDonalds or McDo sells wine with their meals. It is not true. After lunch my friend Shelby and I where going to go to some other Museums but Susanne got a hold of us so we met up with her and had wine and crème brûlée. We then Headed to the Arc de Triomphe. We wanted to go to the top but the workers where on strike that day. We then headed back to the Hotel to meet up for dinner with Liz and Jordan. I had cheese bread and kier. It was a great second day problems and all.

At the Louvre

Mona Lisa

Wine and crème brûlée

Arc de Triomphe

Dinner

Day three started with a trip to Notre Dame, which was breath-taking. It was so pretty! I was going to go to Mass but that didn't happen due to timing issues. We then proceeded to find a Lock Bridge and Shelby and I placed a Lock in honor of our sisterhood. We then went back to the Eiffel Tower to try and go up to the top but the line was SUPER long so we got more crepes and set in the grass beside the tower. We ended up playing Rummy for over 2 hours. Not realizing that we still had a BUNCH to do. We then headed out to Sacré Cœur to see the chapel there. It was great! Our original plan was to do this all before lunch and then Shelby and I where going to go out to Versailles. We did not go because at this point it was almost 6 pm. Even though I didn't get to go I still loved ever single minute of that day. After we had dinner we went back to the Eiffel Tower and bought Tickets to climb 670 stairs and then take a lift to the third level. It was totally worth every step. The city was amazing at night. We also had Champagne at the top!

Notre Dame

Placing our Lock

Lunch at the Eiffel Tower

playing cards

sisters!

Sacré Cœur

at the top looking over the city

Day 4 was filled with a trip to Disneyland Paris with Jordan and Shelby. It is very similar to both in the US. My favorite part of the day was only waiting 5 minutes to ride Space Mountain. We planned to do everything in Dinseyland and then Park hop (since we had a two park pass) around dinner. We where getting ready to leave the park when we asked if we could get into the other one and the lady said it closed at 7pm (it was close to 8:30 at this time). We where kinda disappointed because we wanted to ride Tower of Terror. We got to do everything that we wanted to do though. It was great. We had a great time at Disney. It was so cool to go to one where English is not listed first. Around 9pm we decided to beat the crowds to the RER line and left the park. It was a lot of fun!

Disney!

Space Mountain.

Sunday we planned on going to Mass at Norte Dame, but because of times that we had to leave Paris we did not get to go. It was still an amazing trip. I was so tired. I also learned that there is a lot to do in some cities and you have to be flexible when it comes to travel. Things are not always going to work out. Paris was a wonderful trip and I will never forget the memories that I have mad this semester.

Another thing, I learned that my Great-Grandmother passed away on Thursday (March 22). I will not be flying home to attend her funeral, but I wish that I could be with my family right now. Another side note I am now the proud sister of an Eagle Scout.

xoxo

liz

Arbeit Macht Frei

Another weekend down, only 7 left.

This weekend was filled with a trip to another country. I went to Krakow Poland. Which was amazing. First we celebrated Jordan (my host sister) and Aaron's (my host dad) birthdays. Also Jordan's family came into town so we had tea with the family. It was wonderful and I have such a great host family.

Our Tea time meal

Krakow, Poland. Where do I begin? This was the trip of a lifetime for me. Words do not really describe how I felt the whole weekend. I loved every single moment of it. I would love to go back and spend some more time visiting other sites in Krakow. I spent most of the day Saturday at Auschwitz and Birkenau. Being in a place of so much history was absolutely one of the best moments of my life. I don't really know words to describe how I felt being there. I guess the feeling that I have is relieved as well informed. I always thought that Auschwitz-Birkenau was two separate concentration camps but really it was one complex. I learned so much and will never forget the experience that I had there. While I want to write more about Auschwitz-Birkenau I just can't find the right words to describe it (sorry). I also wanted to take more pictures but could not do that. This is basically the extent of the pictures that I have because I just couldn't take pictures in Auschwitz-Birkenau.

I also got to have traditional Polish food while in Krakow. It was great and I loved trying new things. I also enjoyed walking around the Grand Market and walking through the Cloth Hall. I loved the atmosphere and want to go back to Krakow sometime soon. Also I will book the Hostel for the right nights. On this trip I booked my hostel for the wrong two nights, so I ended up paying for three nights and only staying for two (oops). It all worked out in the end. Wandering around the streets at night is a little sketchy and I would not do it unless you absolutely need to. Over all I enjoyed the City and I want to go back. Enjoy the Pictures that I did take :)

Sign over the Entrance to Auschwitz- "Work Makes (you) Free"

Barb wire fences

Cyclone B-used in the gas chambers to kill prisoners

Eye glasses Display

Guard tower

Cattle Car that held up to 100 people at a time

Looking down the tracks at the entrance to Auschwitz II (Birkenau)

Ruins of the crematoria at Birkenau.

Women's bunks that up to 3 people slept in

My pierogis

Polish Zloti

I am not doing anything next weekend (finish up homework?) and then I am going to Paris!!! I am so excited for that trip. I have always dreamed of going to Paris. I think that it is going to be amazing because I am going with a Phi Mu sister!! Until the next post (should be soon)..

Much Love

liz

GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!!!!!

Another weekend in the books. This weekend was filled with different activities. We did not have classes on Friday so my sister and I volunteered to cook for our host family. We went to ASDA and got all of the supplies needed after some confusion on the conversions. After all that was sorted out we proceeded to head to there house and cook dinner for them. Our menu consisted of Tater-tot casserole, pineapple souffle, green beans and derby pie for dessert. I think that we did a pretty awesome job and it was really yummy. Here are some pictures from the night and some other visits as well.

Kate feeding the boys (Sam and Danny) Derby Pie, it was a home run with them :)

Playing with Sam one afternoon. I am currently being buried under cushions

Our meal that we cooked

On Saturday we travel to Lincoln again. This time it was purely for fun. We met up with some of our British mates and had lunch at a restaurant called Nando's. It was a chicken restaurant. It was super good and a really nice change from the food at Harlaxton. We then wandered around Lincoln before catching the last shuttle back to Grantham. I am so happy that I have made friends while living in England. Also it was a terrible night for the UE family. The Theatre department as well as the school community lost a student. Please keep the family of Evan Nasky in your thoughts and prayers as well as the whole student body.

Our group that went to Lincoln

Sunday was a typical English day, but despite the weather, my friend Hayley and I trekked though it to go see Fulham and the Wolves play. It was a 5-0 game with Fulham winning. We had great seats and got to see Clint Dempsey (a fellow American) score 2 goals. I was watching highlights and I can be seen at the 0:21 mark in this video (I am like half crouching/standing behind the guy in the blue hoodie). It was so much fun. We had a wonderful time and it was a blast to go to. I want to go watch another game soooo bad. Seeing this game was something that I can cross off my bucket list. Enjoy the Pictures!!

Hayley and Me at the game

literally not zoomed in. This was how close we where to the field!

Clint at the end of the game!

We won!!

I have classes this week and then I am off to Poland! I am so excited to go since this is another bucket place list.

Much love

-xx-

liz