london photos

on my way to london!

our hostel right by Hyde Park.

some of the girls on the river.

road that leads to buckingham palace. yes i was in the middle of the road taking this one.

loved this guy, this is the one alysa cracked.

matching aviators, me and tom.

jack sparrow meet jack ciolek.

the beatles.

peace. ghandi and me.

london bridge.

my idea for our single/personal shots.

another one of the london bridge.

picture from the london eye of big ben and parliment, and west minster abbey.

the london eye.

big ben.

had to take one of these.

troopers.

planes, trains, and automobiles ... literally

Sorry this post is verrrry delayed ...
London was amazing! I absolutely loved it there. Expensive- YES buttt soooo worth it.

Our flight left thursday night around 10pm and landed in London around 11:45pm. When we got to London everyone was absolutely tired and cold from the plane and had to wait in this rediculously long line to have our passports checked. When we got through the line, we figured out that our hostel was an hour and 20 minutes away. YIKES!! So we all bought these bus tickes for 13pounds (=$26american dollars). When we got into the city, we got off the bus only to realize that our hostel was around a 35 minute walk away. With everyone now tired and crabby we got cabs instead of wandering in the city for forever. We finally made it to our hostel at 4:30 in the stupid morning. AHHH!!! We wake the other three girls in our room up because we had to turn on the light to find where to put our stuff. Being my first time in a ''real'' hostel I slept with my purse under my arms the whole night.

Friday we woke up around 10 got some BURGER KING!! Oh this was such a nice break from pasta and pizza. Then we all got tickets to tour the city on a double decker bus!! We got off the bus around Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. We walked from here to Buckingham palace. On the way here a few of us were a little behind when we noticed our friends ahead and they were talking to these people on some double decker bus- As I got closer I realized that they were not people we knew it was the JONAS BROTHERS!!! They were filming a music video, and were talking to us and we made it on their website. (www.bebo.com/jonasbrothers) At buckingham palace we took pictures with the infamous guards. ANDDDD my roommate Alysa got one to laugh. It was wierd because we think that these we new guards in training because they were quite easy to crack. On our walk home we went shopping and went to dinner at Cheers during happy hour and our food was rediculously cheap. Thank god! After dinner we went to Kate Moss's store TopShop. Holy Crap, this store is amazing. It had clothes, shoes (TONS TONS TONS of shoes), jewelry, purses, guys department, place to get your hair and nails done, a fashion consultant, cafe area, vintage level. Oh man if our American dollar was worth more I would have for sure spent money here. Buttt i didnt dont worry! Friday night some of us went to this club called TigerTiger. This club was set up really cool, with two different levels and really good music, and of course best of all CUTE BOYS, who SPEAK ENGLISH!!!

Saturday we woke up got some lunch/breakfast, and then got back on the bus to tour some more of the city. We went to the wax museum, which by the way is a play house for big kids. I had a blast here! After this we headed to the london tower and the london bridge. And then took a long way to the london eye. This is where we had some awesome views of the city. After this we grabbed some dinner at an English pub. I had some delicious fish and chips. It was about 7pm here and all of a sudden when we were waiting for our food this guys is getting kicked out of the pub and he gets into with the worker, and the cops are called. It was rather intense. After dinner we headed to ABBEY ROAD! It was late and we couldnt take good pictures, but the lady taking them accidentally took a video. I will have to figure out how to post them. That night, our last night, four of us decided that despite the taxi coming at 3am to take us to the airport, that we wanted to go out. We went to TigerTiger again. Moral of the story, not such a good idea. We almost missed our flight, but we made it just in time.

Sunday I slept alllll day long.

Last couple days in Roma ... post to follow.

Almost missed my flight ... buttt I did make it home from London

Just to let everyone know that I did make it home from London ... butttt I did almost miss my flight due to some "I have to go out on our last night in London" complications. I am really busy working on 2 presentations that are due in the next couple days, but I will post pictures and stories as soon as possible.

bungalos, karaoke, & getting kicked out of pools

Thursday night we all met up at Hard Rock, for our leader Becky's last night. She has to go to a conference in New York, and now Tom takes over. Here at Hard Rock, I was walking back into the resturant when I bumped into this man, and I looked up to say "sorry excuse meee, Jeffff" IT WAS JEFF FOXWORTHY and I was just so caught off guard that I stood there with me mouth wide open, and he just laughed at me and walked outside. By the time I got my self together and walked outside, he was gone!! BUMMER!!! That night we all went to this open Piazza called Campo Di Firore where we found this bar called the Drunken Ship, they had beer pong and flip cup going on which was alot of fun. Mom - they had the wierdest drinks with the wierdest drinks, andddd one was close to Fishnets and Hookers, hahaha.

Friday we left for Florence for the weekend. Florence was beautiful. On our way to the hostel we got off at the wrong stop and had to walk up hill in the blistering hott sun, then we finally got back on the bus ... only to go one more stop and then we were at our "hostel". The hostel we stayed at was a campsite with tents, and I mean ligit tents. So we tried to make ourselves feel better and call them bungalos. We all know that I hate camping, but this actually was alot of fun, and an experience to rememeber. Our campsite was up on this hill, the most beautiful view of the city. It is known for its view, so this was a plus for staying there. In Florence we went sight seeing ... the Duomo, this church that looks like it is out of place and not real, it is sooo intricate and beautiful. We also saw some other churches, and this bridge and according to my friend Matt it is the only bridge to stand after WWII. Dinner that night was at this resturante in a piazza where we got free carosel rides with our meal, but the stupid mean Italian lady wouldnt let us ride because we were too big. So we all gave our tickets to these families that were right there, because there is no way that I was giving my card to that stuck up italian lady. That night we went to this bar called Red Garter, where we all finally got to do kareokee. This was a blast. My friends Allison and Kelly and I did Sweet Caroline, and the crowd went wild. These guys said that our applause was the best he heard all night. Hahaha, its all about song choice!!

Saturday we walked around downtown again, got some sovenirs for some lucky people at home. That night we started this bar crawl, but after the second bar a few of us met up with my friend Matt who was in Florence too. We met up with him and his friend at this street festival that was going on the famous bridge in Florence. After the festival we walked around to look for another place to go to buttt we were unsuccessful so we all layed on the street and stared at the Duomo. I mean straight up stared, no words were spoken just serious staring. That night me and Alysa went back to their hostel because they had a pool. Only to find out that the pool was closed, so we were all sitting outside, when we were told to silencio! (not the first time that weekend that that happened to me and alysa -- the night before this lady stood outside our tent and clapped and told us to silencio!) While we were sitting there these kids walked to the door to the pool and pulled a little harder than we did and magically the door opened, and so we all went swimming. I was trying to get the suana started and I pressed this button, but Matt thinks I pressed an alarm button because only moments later we were being kicked out of the pool by the security guard. This of course would only happen to me ... sometimes on this trip I think that I will forever be known as Death Cloud, thanks family -- that bad month I had will forever haunt me!! Nothing happened because all ran for ourlives and hid. Needless to say I had to sleep in my wet clothes! (Mom I know what you are thinking .. not only did I swim in my clothes but I slept in them as well)

Sunday we went sight seeing again and got to see the David. Beautiful human being, with a nice butt haha! On the way to the train station we got lunch at this resturant in a piazza, I had delicious gnocchi with meat sauce!! I am going to miss this food for sure when I get home!!!

This week we have class and finally a beach day on Tuesday!! Thank goodness because it has been sooo hottttt!!! And then this weekend is LONDON!!!!!!! I cant wait.

some photos from france && the vatican

Vatican, where we had a like an outdoor viewing of the pope!


This is how close I got to the Pope!! He actually gave MSU a shoutout, and blessed us. I have a video and I will try and post it.

Me, Alyssa, Alysa, and Allison inside of St.Peter's Basillica.

Night shot of the main street in France where our hotel was.

The closest I will come to riding a vespa is taking a picture on one. I might have to sit on more to feel somewhat fulfilled.

Jesse, Dave, Tony, Stefan, Evan, and Evan at the harbor in Monte Carlo.

A shot from the train of a harbor on the way to Monte Carlo.

Group shot of the girls on our way to the beach.

This ones for my dad, picture of the harbor in Monte Carlo.

Another one for my Daddy of the harbor.

gotta love the french riviera!!!!

France was amazingahhh!!! We were right in downtown Nice,France. Only a 5 minute walk from the beach, and we were right off the main street with lots of shopping and resturants.

Saturday we got there pretty late so we all just unpacked and then some of us went to Subway for dinner. (lol Chelsea I thought of you because I knew that you wouldnt have been able to resist either) Then we walked downtown to this open area, and lining the street were these colored lit up buddahs on posts. There were these guys break dancing in the street, and some of them were really good. Then we just went to this local Irish pub, Kings Pub and listened to a live band. It was wierd the band played all american music but couldnt speak a lick of English. Its strange to think that they have to include that element into their music.

Sunday (fathers day -- and yess I called my Daddy because he's the best) we had a free day, so a bunch of us took a 20 minute train ride to Monte Carlo. This place is just bleeding out money. I am talking when walking from the train station to the beach, it was Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Lamborghini. In the harbor were some of the most beautiful boats I have ever seen. (Nothing compared to the wooden boats Dad, dont worry I still have appreciation for the woodwork ones we saw in the UP) But these boats were not boats I should say yachts, or mansions on the water. We actually got to go on one and drink wine and hang out with the crew. The beach was alot of fun that day hanging out in the sun and on one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been to. That night I just went to bed because I had to wake up early for the Cannes Lions Advertising Film Festival.

Monday and Tuesday we were at the festival watching ads, going to seminars, looking at print ads, and just taking it all in. The tickets to this festival normally go for $2000-$3000 EUROS, and we got to go to this at a discount because we were students. I cannot express how lucky we are and how much people told us that they were jealous that we had the privledge to go to this at such a young age. Going to this, I really know that this is the area of work that I want to be in. I was actually interviewed by Nokia who is doing a documentary on the festival. Monday we went shopping when we got home and then dinner at this really good Italian resturant where I had seafood pasta. I was in heaven, I had muscles surrounding the pasta and the pasta was tossed with shrimp, calamari, and crawfish. SOOO GOOD!! That night we went to CheckPoint, and to Waynes a dance club. Tuesday there was a strike for the trains so we had to take a 85 EURO taxi to Cannes. But our taxi was a mercedes suv with this really cool lady, so it was okay I guess. After doing what we wanted at the festival, some of us went to the beach to lay out. GORGEOUS beach!!! That night we went to dinner and watched the soccer game, and then went dancing at Waynes again.

Wednesday we headed home, and some of us went to dinner at this American resturant in Trestevere. After dinner Natalie and I went to Scholars (our favorite bar) to meet up with our favorite bartender. Haha, we had some good conversations about the weekend in Cannes and just life. Also we learned that while we were gone that Scholars had a karokee night. AHHHH we all have been looking for a kareokee night. So we convinced the bartenders to have it again before we leave.

Now we head to Florence. Our first trip by ourselves .... o god this will be a good weekend.

Wings winning the cup, Pompeii for the weekend, Bloom, SCHOOL WORK!!!

Sorry I have not written in awhile, but classes have really been piling on the presentations and midterms!

Well last Monday after the military parade we all went out to this Pub called Scholars to watch the Wings play. It was alot of fun because of course the pub was full of Americans, and they played classic bar songs. (Come on Eileen, Journey, Sweet Caroline, etc.) A friend of ours payed the bar $250 to keep the bar open until the game was oer, needless to say we stayed until 6AM. Inside we were not really sure of the time, but when we left it was sunnyshine out and everything. Oh the things we will do to watch our team win the cup in Roma. Of course we all stayed in on Tuesday night . Wednesday night we headed back to scholars, only this time we got to watch the Wings WIN THE CUP .. in ROMA!!! It was really cool to see, except there was some pretty angry Pens Fans that harassed the whole night!

Thursday was pretty low key because we were all still tired from Wednesday and Monday. But Friday morning we left for Pompeii, an anceint ruin city. The first thing we did when we got there was CLIMB the VOLCANO, Mt.Vesuvius (for those of you who watch Greek, this is the REAL Mt.Vesuius). But of course the weather had to be crappy, and it rained the whole way up, of course though the second we got back to the bus the sun was breaking through the clouds. After that we headed to the hotel to relax and get ready for dinner in the hotel dinning hall. YUMM!!! is all I have to describe our dinners in the hotel! That night we all just made friends with the really old bartenders. In Italy when you start a job you have basically a contract for life, they dont believe in switching jobs. Both of the bartenders were really nice and named, Raphael. Saturday we headed for the ruins in the city of Pompeii. But of course once again it was pouring, and I mean pouring. So we all wore ponchos, and had umbrellas. Our tour guide was awesome, and really funny and knew how to get on our level with the humor. FINALLY THE SUN CAME THROUGH AND WE HAD SUNSHINE!!! We got to see the rest of the ruins in nice weather, then just walked around and had some pizza while we waited for the bus. That night after a delicious dinner some of us headed to the beach, others stayed with our new friends at the bar, and some headed to bed early. Sunday morning after breakfast we finally had nice weather and we all headed to the beach! There we were in the water, laying out, and playing football with our leader Tom. It was one of the best times so far. I lovveee being at the beach and getting tan. (DAD DONT YOU WORRY I THOUGHT ABOUT YOU AND I PUT ON MY SUNSCREEN, ON MY FACE AND SHOULDERS)

Monday was pretty tired, but we had a week full of homework, and presentations. Monday night though we did make it to the closing night for this club, Bloom. It was alot of fun, just 5 of us roommates went and danced the whole time. It was alot of fun, we know the promotions guys so we were pretty VIP haha and got to walk right in. It was a good night!

We have seminars all week, one on Life After MSU (about resumes, interiews, internships, public speaking), one on creatiity (havent had it yet), and one on the Advertising Industry (haent had it yet). Also I had my group presentation in my PR class. It went really well, and our Professor LOVED ours! We had to pretend we were a celebrity's PR team and what we would do about thier scandals. We chose Miley Cyrus (I thought of you Ollie, miss you and love you. Of course you too Chelsea!). Also I have a Fact Sheet on Greece due today for my international Adertising class, a midterm today in that class, anddd a midterm tomorrow in my PR class. But tomorrow, Friday, is my roommate Alyssa's Birthday so we are having another apartment over for dinner, and then all going out for the Colosseum Pub Crawl, because she is obsessed with the Colosseum.

Saturday morning we will board our bus for the TEN HOUR ride to NICE, FRANCE.

Till then ... when in Roma.

seeing the sunrise, hearing an italian women rip one, walking through the entire italian military

**Sidenote: my spelling is really bad because I type really fast and I have a European keyboard here folks, this crap ain't as easy as you think.

So much has happened since Friday ...

We had that group dinner Friday night as this little Italian place about a block from the Tiber River, where we had the giggles the entire time for some reason. It was one of those nights where no matter what anyone said or did we would laugh for 10-15 minutes after. We unfortunately did not get to see Sex and the City, it was sold out :( I was soooo mad, I mean how could an English speaking version of it sell out in a country that speaks ITALIAN!?!?!? So instead we walked down to the Trevi fountain where we all through 3 coins in. One for your return to Italy, one so you will fall in love while you are here, and one so that you will marry the one you fell in love with. It tradition I guess. I posted some pictures of it too!

After the Trevi my roommates and I headed to this club called Gilda, where we met some John Cabbot (the other school that kids from State go to in Rome) and hung out with them and danced there. This club or "disco techa" in Italian, was amazing, they played American music which was wierd, they had professional dancers, and even a drag queen [I thought of you Cioci Kim, this guy was sweet looking, but I couldn't ever get a good shot of him with my camera, sorry:( ] Leaving the club, it was really difficult to find a taxi, needless to say we got to see the sunrise in Roma. Our program leader Becky says you have to stay up one whole night and see the sun rise at least once while we where here. It was sooo gorgeous to see, and it followed such an amazing night.

Saturday...

We had out walking tour of this museum in Rome, where we got to see lots and lots and lots of ruins, and statues. Some were very cool, and its amazing to think how much history can be in one place. I really enjoyed the huge foot of the statue that was 7 times as big as the head. (I posted the pictures) Also there is a picture of Rome's famous "She-Wolf". After the museum we booked it to the movie and I finally got to see Sex and the City in Rome, how many times can you say that you did that in a lifetime? After the movie I came home and got ready to go out with everyone, and once again we went down to Trestevere.

Sunday...

Sunday we got to go to the Colosseum, and the forum. The Forum was really cool, because it was full of old ruins from temples, and churches and basillicas, and arches. It was really wierd to think that hundreds and thousands of years ago those people were here building them. The Colosseum was so sweet, loved it. Trivia: Jumper was the first movie in 50 years to be allowed to film inside the Colosseum, not even Gladiator was allowed to film inside. I posted some photos of that too. After our tour Allison, Alyssa and I went shopping!!!! I got a really cute white pencil skirt, a blouse, and a sundress. While we were walking down the street this Italian women completely ripped the loudest, juciest fart that I have ever heard. The best is she just kept walking not even fazing her, I think it was more uncomfortable for us and the couple walking next to us. HaHaHa!! After shopping the three us cooked some pasta and stayed in for the night.

Monday ...

I LOVE THE ITALIAN MILITARY!!!

Monday is an Italian national holiday, so everything is closed and no class for us. We all went down to the parade and watch the military men walk. Oh was I in heaven. After the parade, this girl Mackenzie and I basically stalked down the Navy boys we met. We followed the whole parade of gorgeous Italian men down the street to where they were boarding buses. I mean there were families saying goodbye and then there was me and Mackenzie just in awe of these gorgeous men. We finally found the bus with our boys on it, and said Ciao! The other people that were with us finally caught up and we all stood on the side waving and screaming ciao! The buses were honking and it probably was one of my favorite times here so far.
Tonight, we are all going to our friend's apartment, and going out to "the steps".

When in Rome ...

When In Rome . . .

Here are some photoes from the walking tour. I will get post more soon.


Wednesday was if I could describe it in one word, rediculous. We all definately paint the town that night.

Hours before ...
That morning we had our first group meeting, and basically it was us just talking about the last few nights out and everything that happened. I had my presentation on the Colosseum, and it went pretty good. The best part of it was when Beth and I played Elton John doing ''Bennie and the Jets'' at his concert outside of the Colosseum.



For lunch we at Archi Bar, and then had my first International Advertising class, which was really hard to concentrate in, and we were all head bobbing and falling asleep. Too long of a day for all of us to concentrate.

Finally the night life. We are just made salads and sandwhiches for dinner. Before finishing 3 bottles of wine and getting ready to head out to Trestevere ... again. We once again we back at our favorite square where a quick walk across the river and you had 2 40's for 5€, they are rediculously cheap. So back and forth we all went the whole night, and eventually we all were slowly getting wild. The locals in this area are indescribeable. First off we have the metro in the red camisole, who sings and dances to American pop music. He also poses for his picture to be taken, hilarious. Then there was this bum who tried to make out with this kid Kyle on the trip, and it was freaking hilarious to watch Kyle try to explain NO thank you in Italian. We were suppose to go to this club across the river, but by the time we got everyone ready to go it was kind of late, and it was a 20-25 minute walk. So we just stayed at the square and continued to indulge ourselves into the atmosphere, if I can put it politely. Some people went off the the pubs and a few of us just stayed on the steps, where we learned that Italians really love the blondes from America. When we got home we were still very awake and were not tired what so ever. We all stayed up for another hour or so talking and laughing and having a blast.





The morning that followed the night to remember ...
Our classes only have around 14 of us in them, so if someone does not show up, your professor is guaranteed to notice. Which was the case for a friend of mine, Matt, who not only could not make it to class because of the night before, but the whole group (including our teachers) knew why. When he finally showed up for the second class, everyone applauded him. It reminded me of a scene right out of a movie. In both classes kids were constantly running back and forth to the bathroom, I shall not have to say why. (Surprisingly, for once in my life I was not one of those kids!!)



I was going to stay in that night, when Mackenzie called and asked if I wanted to go out dancing with some Italian Navy boys that we met on Monday night. So Mackenzie, Lauren, Natalie and I went out with some very gorgeous Italian Navy boys. We had such a good time, having a drink at a pub that played motown music. Then we decided to go to a club across the river, but when we got there the people outside waiting to get in were looking a like Italian emo kids, but scary. So of course we left and found this pub called Irish Village. Here we just sat and had a few drinks before taking the longest taxi ride home.





Today (Friday) ...
I had both of my classes again. And in the middle of them we have a three hour break so before enjoying this nice time mine and another apartment had to have a meeting with Becky. We got some noise complaints from our apartment neighbors. Ahhh, its really hard to adapt to ABSOLUTE quiet hours after 10pm. Especially after coming home from a night out. So now we have to take our shoes off when we come home, before walking up the stairs to our apartment. We cannot wear our shoes inside, and have to really be careful when we come home and not say a word. At least for a few nights to let our neighbors cool down. Today AUR had a barbeque, so I had some hot dogs and just layed out in the courtyard, and soaked up some sunshine.


Tonight we have another group dinner, at of course downtown Trestevere, and the girls are going to the premiere of Sex and the City and the guys are going to see Indiana Jones. After we are taking a walk down to the Trevi Fountain, and going out to some local pubs for yet another night. This shall be an interesting night.




Here is a photo of all us
at the steps in Trestevere.

Loving the Roma!

I am finally here, and have been somewhat settled in for two days now.

The 8 hour plane ride on Sunday evening to Amsterdam, no I could not leave the airport don't worry, went by really fast to my surprise. I watched 3 movies, and got a dinner and a breakfast. They were actually pretty good, which I did not expect at all. The airplane ride to Rome, which was two hours was not that bad either, I organized my planner (of course I would have to organize my planner) and then slept the rest of the way.

When we got to Rome we took buses to our apartments, and had a guide from the American Uniersity of Rome (AUR), give us the basic low down of our apartment and neighborhood. That day me and my 5 roommates just unpacked and napped. Our apartment is HUGE and really nice and in a nice location. We are close to a grocery store, a bakery/meat market, a bank, a pharmacy, and there is a store similar to target a few blocks down the hill. That night we met the whole group at a pizzeria about a 10-15 minute walk from our apartment. After dinner some of us went with Amy and Nicola to this place called Trestevere (a neighborhood filled with open courtyards, pubs, and returants) to hang out. Amy has lived here for 8 years and is a really big help to find exciting places to go at night, good shopping, and basically just get around. Nicola is the guy that flew with us over here. He works for MSU and is fluent in French and Italian.

Today we went on a walking tour of some of downtown Rome. We walked by this open market and shopping area called Campo De Fiore where there are fresh fruits, meats, and vegetables daily. Also awesome clothing stores that we will have to go back to really soon!! :) We toured the Pantheon too, which was really exciting. My roommate Katie and I were (for the first time) ripped off by these gladiator costume wearing men. They took pictures with us and THEN asked for euros. Bummer! :( But they were cute photos. After the tour we all seperated and got lunch and gelattos before heading back to AUR for our orientation.

After orientation we went grocery shopping and headed home. I worked on my presentation, and everyone else got to nap! :( Alyssa and I cooked the dinner for tonight. Of course it was pasta and bread and wine! What else would we have??? After dinner we all just hung out and got ready before heading to this Irish Pub up the hill about 15 minutes. Here a group of us just hung out and enjoyed a few drinks before heading back for the night.

So far I love Rome and can't wait to experience more.

When in Rome ...