À Bientôt, France

In just another hour, I'll be hopping on a bus that will take me from Ambialet to Toulouse. From there, the group will fly to Paris, where we will (weather permitting) board a plane leaving at 4:40 pm France time to arrive in D.C. around 7 pm EST.

I wish I had taken the time to post more frequently this last week, as I could probably write a dissertation on the past few days here alone. But with final exams and tearful goodbyes, doing so just wasn't realistic. Still, I need to write one final post:

Europe has been very good to me. The highlight of my entire time here has undoubtedly been getting engaged to my best friend. I could not be more excited to come home and see you, Alek. That clock never seemed so alive as it did in Paris and Rome. We need a lifetime together in order to make up for how fast the time goes by.

Secondly, I think about how lucky I am to have been able to visit 4.5 countries (counting the Vatican) in three short months. Little pieces of Barcelona, London, Paris, Rome, and the Vatican are with me wherever I go now, and I think that's pretty spectacular.

Finally, I am blessed to have been given the opportunity to get to know some incredible people along the way. Living at Le Prieure has been nothing short of an unforgettable adventure. I've had the time of my life, and I owe it all to you.

À bientôt, France. I'll be seeing you.

Espagne

It's about time that I update you all on last week's adventure! We returned on Sunday night from a spectacular 5-day trip to Barcelona and back. I visited some of the most fascinating places in Barcelona, as well as on our way to and from Spain. Some of my weekend's highlights: Carcassone, seeing the Mediterranean for the first time, Gaudi Park, the view from the terrace of The Gaudi Museum, Temple de La Segrada Familia, a private tour of Barcelona's Gothic quarters given by Dr. Woods (my history professor) who studied in Spain at one point, The Picasso Museum, Flemenco dancing,a paella and flan dinner with Kerstin, lunch in Salvador Dali's hometown (he could have sat exactly where I did for all we know), The Salvador Dali museum, and much more! Here are some of my favorite pictures:


I was told that Carcassone is the largest medieval fort still standing in Europe (and therefore the world because there are no medieval forts outside of Europe). Carcassone dates back to Roman times but played an especially large role in the Albigensian Crusades when Northern France declared war against the southern Catholics and Cathars. (Being there, I sort of chose to forget about all the fighting that happened and instead focused on taking pictures of where I thought the knights and princesses would have spent time together).


A view of Gaudi Park.


Proof I was in Spain! I'm sitting on the edge of the mosaic wall at Gaudi Park that outlooks the city.


From the terrace of The Gaudi Museum. This was such a difficult place for me to photograph because the architecture was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Incredible, nonetheless.


The Birth Scene facade of La Segreda Familia. This cathedral has been under construction for over the past 100 years, but is supposed to be finished within 15. Pope Benny is coming Nov. 7th to dedicate the church, but I want to come back to see it when it's all done.


The inside of this cathedral was by far cooler than anything else I've ever seen-ever.


A Gaudi depiction of the Crucifixtion lies at the end opposite of His birth.


The real deal.


My Spanish flan...what other kind of flan is there?

Finally, follow this link to see an all too short clip of what I saw after walking out of a Catalyn Mass at the medieval Spanish cathedral!

Overall, the trip turned out to be overwhelmingly wonderful. I found Barcelona to be such a vibrant and photographic city; one that I would gladly return to in order to better explore the many parts that I was unable to make it to in the three short days we were there. You're more than welcome to come with the next time I go!

Au Revoir

At long-last, the group is headed to Barcelona, Spain for the weekend! On our way to Barcelona, we will first stop in the French cities of Narbonne and Carcassone, spending the night near Europe's most well-survived Medieval city. On Thursday, we will continue our journey and should be arriving in Barcelona by noon! I get goosebumps just thinking about it. I hear that tapas, el Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia (the church of the Sacred Family), and the Salvador Dali Museum are all a part of the itinerary.

xoxo