Eurodisney and stupid volcanoes

Well who knew iceland could be such a pain in the ass?! Who the heck are they economically? NOTHING!!! They bring nothing to the international table except apparently disruption and major money losses to all airlines. Spring break plans got completely messed up. Dublin got moved forward 3 weeks and Mom's visit also got pushed forward 3 weeks...which left me with a week and a half of absolutely NOTHING! Why not go to eurodisney? It was so cool! It only took a 35 minute train ride just outside of Paris to get there and the train basically brought us pretty much to the gate. Since it was Alyssa's birthday and nobody else seemed to want to do anything, we went to Disney just the two of us. What kind of person skips out on Disney?! Weird...but anyways, we had a blast! Eurodisney is a lot smaller than the Disney parks in the states...it had two parks, one like universal studios called Walt Disney Park and the other was like Magic Kingdom. We went to the one like Magic Kingdom. It was set up the same way as back home. There was a main gate, main street, town square, a princess castle (except it was sleeping beauty not cinderella), and the park was broken up into different themed sections. They even had the disney train that went around the perimeter of the park. Who knew 45 euros and a day spent at disney could cure depression haha. We got there around noon so we had 8 hours to spend there. It didn't seem nearly as crowded as Disney in the states, but I also haven't been there in over a decade (WEIRD). We didn't have to wait more than 40 minutes in line for any ride and we were able to do everything we wanted to. My favorite ride was the Pirates of the Caribbean ride...the amount of detail on that ride was amazing! It was this leisurely boat ride throughout the different scenery from the movie. It was really cool. Of course we hit up all of the rollercoasters, there were only 4, but that was enough for us. Just because we're officially the luckiest people on the planet (NOT) and we reallyyyy wanted to go on the teacups, naturally they were closed. Why would they be open? I swear after all this bad luck, I better win the lottery, because if I don't, I'm definitely going to be that person who gets struck by lightning and uses up their luck on that instead of winning money. I probably just jinxed myself and I'll get struck by lightning in Italy. I honestly wouldn't even be surprised. Anyways...on the map it showed another "thriller" for a ride...let me tell you...it wasn't. After waiting in the 40 minute line decked out in star wars decorations (I know nothing about star wars, but I'm pretty sureeeee Walt Disney had nothing to do with those films...so I'm a bit confused) anways, we finally get up there and it was a stupid simulation ride, which I can't do because I get carsick...needless to say I wasn't feeling that great after that. But we did find Ben and Jerry's ice cream!!! I finally found phish food ice cream in europe! The last ride Alyssa and I went on was Pinocchio and it was a kiddie ride haha. We of course had a suicidal 5 year old in line in front of us and witnessed him throwing a temper tantrum and running on the tracks in front of a moving car...thankfully the guy working the ride was able to stop it in time...but again, just our luck. When 8 came around all we wanted to find was a place to get a drink to celebrate her 21st...but for some reason a country that serves wine to their 13 year olds doesn't serve alcohol in their theme park...so we had to go into Disney Village and pay 8 euros a drink. All in all it was a good day...oh right...but just to top it off we had to meet creepy mccreepster on the metro home who decided to sit right next to us and play us his god awful music and then follow us as we proceeded to switch cars twice to get away from him...anyway anyone can send me mace?? Definitely can't wait to get back to the states and hang out with frat boys again (and I NEVER thought I'd ever say that one). But anyways we went to Disney and it was amazing and it cost half as much as it wouldve in the states. We got there and back, bought our ticket, bought two meals and two drinks and spent what we wouldve on the TICKET to get into the park in the states.
Anyways, since the volcano finally decided to stop spewing ash into the air and raining on my parade, we leave for venice tomorrow!!! Then wednesday we're off to rome and friday we're off to palermo, sicily until monday! Then its back to class :( and then I'll have less than a month until I go home (CRAZY). I can't believe how fast the time is going, it's kind of scary. As hard as this abroad thing as been at times, I'm not sure I'm ready for it to be over. Although I CANNOT WAIT to get back to the gym. Italy is going to kill me! I already barely fit into my size 3's (I know poor me, but I don't want to buy a new wardrobe). Hopefully I'm back to my normal size for Jenn's wedding in July. At least working all summer and running around all day will help. Oh also really weird...at a bar two nights ago I met a guy from Cliffton Ireland which is where Gram's mom is from. I thought that was pretty strange to find. Well that's all...keep your fingers crossed that this second volcano doesn't erupt so I don't get stuck in italy...not like I'd really mind, butttt I probably should go to school. Here are some pictures of Disney...thanks again iceland.

In front of the main gate!!


Main Street Parade


Sleeping Beauty's Castle


PIRATES!!!


Thunder Mountain


On Space Mountain haha


With Minnie!! (we followed 3 year olds to get here)


MICKEY!


End of the day parade

Loire Valley!

Outside the Chateau de Chambord!!


On the little boat in the moat!


View of the rooftop terrace


Me and Bay in front of Chateau de Chambord


Outside of the Winery


One of the many wine cellars


The gardens at Leonardo da Vinci's mansion


Leonardo da Vinci's House


Chateau de Chenonceau (the whole grounds)


View of the front of the Chateau de Chenonceau

This past weekend we went on a program trip to the Loire Valley. I was a bit skeptical and almost didn't go because I'm not the hugest fan of my program, but I'm glad I did. We left Saturday morning at 8 am and got to the first Chateau at 11. This Chateau was the Chateau de Chenonceau. It was a little castle on fairly small grounds, but it was so pretty! It was built in the 11th century and King Francis I, King Henry I, and King Henry II all lived there during their times. The gardens were beautiful, to the right of the castle was the garden of Catherine de Medici and it was really pretty. We spent three hours there before boarding the bus to go to "Le clos Luce" which is the house of Leonardo da Vinci. His house was really interesting and it overlooked a HUGE garden with a river. The best part of the house was the basement level. IBM took all of da Vinci's plans and used materials that would have been available to him during his time to build all of his designs. The basement housed all of these inventions and it was really interesting to see the plan and then the final product. Its amazing how someone can come up with the things he did at the time he lived. We learned that he was an estimated two centuries ahead of his time (scientifically speaking). After touring his mansion we were taken to a winery and we were treated to a free wine tasting, which pretty much consisted of an entire bottle of wine each once you added everything up. We tasted two different reds, two whites, one rose, one prestige, one rose champagne, and one regular champagne, and were able to have more than one sample of a few of them. Needless to say we were all in great form boarding the bus to head to the hotel haha. The winery was really pretty and it was awesome to get to see the different stages in the process and learn a little bit about how each kind of wine or champagne is made. The winery we went to has used the same recipes for the last 500 years, so they must be doing something right. We also learned that you can tell what part a wine is from just by looking at its bottle because each region has a different shaped bottle. I never would have noticed that unless someone told me, I had no idea the shape of the bottle had any significance. After that we headed to our hotel (The Holiday Inn) and we all showered and got ready to go out to dinner. Cory ended up splurging a bit and splitting profiteroles for dessert which were SO good. We were all so tired from the wine and from all the traveling that a few of us didn't go out and headed back to the hotel around 11. I'm pretty sure I was asleep by 1115 haha. The next morning I was up and ready at 8, grabbed breakfast, and was on the bus by 9 am. We were off to the Chateau de Chambord (in the region where the Chambord liquor is made). This castle is the biggest one in France and it was BEAUTIFUL! We had the entire day there and even though it was a bit windy, it was still nice out. The castle was started by King Francois I in the 1500's, but he never lived to see its completion. It is perfectly symmetrical and houses over 400 rooms! Complete with a hunting wing and a wing to park the carriages in. After our tour of the castle we ate lunch and were given tickets to rent little boats to drive around the moat in and we could also rent what looked like golf carts with pedals to drive around the grounds. This was a lot of fun. Afterwards we were told we had a surprise waiting for us, which was another wine tasting (this one not so big, thankfully). We got to try two different white wines, and they mixed one white with some chambord. We were given an assortment of six different types of cookies that they eat in that region and I probably ate 10 of them...oops haha. We left there at 3 and I was back at my apartment by 6. Overall it was a really good weekend. Now I have two exams and a quiz standing in my way of two and a half weeks of spring break starting on friday! Then we're off to Dublin until monday and Mom and Gram and Grampa come on tuesday!! I can't wait...only three more days until it begins. Now back to studying...bummer...

Prague! (finally)

Saint Nicholas Cathedral (view from the top of the Clock Tower)


Astronomical Clock


Prague Castle!!!


The back of the Cathedral at the center of the Castle


Where the Prague Symphony plays


It was raining on our tour so why not have a beer?


The last remaining theatre that Mozart played at


Old Town Square and the Easter Market


Prague!! From King Charles Bridge


First drink in Prague


Cool chandelier at Hard Rock Cafe

Sorry for the delay...spring break starts in 5 days and I have so many exams before that so I've been studying. Obviously I'm taking a break to do this because I'm bored out of my mind studying the stupid french language and cinema and french...booooorrrrrriiiiinnnnnggggg. Anyways...Prague was AMAZING! Definitely my favorite city. The city has the same population as Paris, but everything is so much more condensed and you can walk everywhere!! (Which would take an entire day in Paris) When we got there on friday we went straight to our hostel which was HUGE! It had over 500 beds in it and had a restaurant/pub, swimming pool, and sauna! It was insane...Steph and I even had our own side of the room so it felt like it was just the two of us in it which was nice. Then we went out in search of something to eat. We were told to eat at this place called Bohemia Bagel (because we wanted bagels and can't get them anywhere in Paris) and after searching for over an hour and finding nothing, we stumbled upon a Hard Rock Cafe which meant one thing: NACHOS! So obviously we went in! It was sooooo good! After that we went to Old Town Square and found the Easter market (Prague apparently takes Easter very seriously). The market was so cool, it was a bunch of little stands with Czech food and desserts everywhere. Then we walked over King Charles Bridge which was this huge walking bridge with a ton of venders and painters which was really cool except it took FOREVER to cross it because everyone was walking SO SLOW! I wasn't a fan...I hate inefficient walkers. After that we went back to our hostel and got ready to go out for the night. The hostel told us a few bars to go to so we just picked one and headed there...except we got lost and took the wrong fork in the road and had to get a cab (who totally screwed us over because come to find out we were ONLY one street off). Anyways we finally made it and we ended up joining a pub crawl and made friends with a group of american guys on vacation. The two pubs we went to were really cool and after staying out ALL NIGHT, Steph and I finally walked home (in the daylight) and slept all day. On Saturday we had planned on doing a free walking tour, but Steph was a bit too hungover and we ended up at the wrong starbucks (we were supposed to meet at a starbucks) so we missed the tour and she was too sick to stay out with me so I walked around Old Town Square. I found a little crepe stand and listened to the Prague Symphony play songs from Pirates of the Caribbean and then went to the Chocolate Museum by myself. The chocolate was really good, but the museum itself was such a rip off. After that I walked up to the Prague Castle (which is the castle that the one in Beauty and the Beast is based on). It was BEAUTIFUL! The walk up was quite the workout, but it was so worth it. I could see all of Prague from up there and the weather was perfect. After that I headed back to the hostel and got ready to go out. We met two guys from Switzerland and went to this 5 floor club. It was a huge tourist attraction but it was really cool. Each floor had its own theme. But after running into the guys from the night before we decided to cut our losses and head home because the night was getting creepy and awkward. Europe is FULL of creepy men...I thought frat boys were bad enough! But it was still a good night. On sunday we FINALLY made it to the walking tour which was so worth it! Our tour guide was this little English guy from Wales and he was really entertaining!! We saw the Astronomical Clock, which is the oldest working machine (from 1300) which was really interesting. We met these two guys on our tour who graduated from Arizona State (which is where steph goes) and we ended up hanging out with them for the day. They came with us up to the Castle and we stopped at a little pub and checked out the Absinthe shop, who knew there were so many different kinds of Absinthe?! We didn't. After the Castle we headed back to Old Town Square to see the Astronomical Clock strike a new hour...which was a bit of a disappointment haha the rooster sounded like it was dying. After that we walked up to the top of the Clock tower and we were able to see the entire city at night which was really cool. All of the lights looked so beautiful! For dinner we went to a steakhouse and all got burgers, which you also can't find in Paris unless you eat fast food (which I still don't). They were really good except the waiter "pretended" he didn't understand us and when steph and I asked for jalepeno's on our burgers, he brought out fried jalepenos and cheese? The boys ordered two orders of fries and got one whereas steph and I ordered one order of spicy fries, and got two. Either way, the meal was really good. We ended up going to bed really early since we had to be up at 4 am to catch our 6 am flight. We had the most obnoxious cab driver ever! I mean, he was trying to be nice and give us a tour, but after repeatedly telling him we don't speak czech we just gave up and had to listen to him narrate everyting in czech for the remainder of the drive...notttt what I wanted to hear at 4 am thats for sure!