Ireland had always been a place I wanted to go but just never thought I'd make it there. But, when my newly-single best friend from grade school, Calli, decided she wanted to come over for her first European adventure, I told her to pick any place in Europe (expect Spain) and I'd meet her there. She chose Ireland. It couldn't have been a better choice.
We based ourselves in Dublin and spent a few days exploring and drinking our way around the city. We went to all the classic sights: Trinity College, Book of Kells, St. Patrick's Cathedral, St. Stephen's Green, Guinness Storehouse and Brewery and Jameson Distillery. We spent many nights in the Temple Bar district, watching live music, meeting people from around the world, and drinking amazing beer! We rented a car and drove down to the Rock of Cashel and Kilkenny. The following day we drove over to the western side of the country and visited Galway and the Cliffs of Moher. The countryside was so gorgeous and green, something you would miss if taking a train or bus. We got lost a few times but our trusty GPS, along with the helpful locals, always guided us back on track. For someone with my pickiness in regards to eating, this was my mecca. Meat and potatoes? Yes, please. And with a good beer? I'm in heaven.
One of the best parts of the trip was the most unexpected. Two great friends of mine that I taught with in Puerto Rico are now living in San Salvador, El Salvador. They randomly told me a few days before I was to leave that they would be taking a group of students on a trip to Dublin for a week and it just so happened to be the same week I would be there!! It was so fun to catch up with them, swap stories and be back together again, albeit on another continent. I miss them dearly and I hope to visit them in Central America soon!
Coincedentally, I also heard that Cheryl and Scott (another couple I know from Puerto Rico) would be in Dublin for a day while I was there. We had a nice time catching up, having a few drinks, and buying some jewelry :)
After all my friends had left I had a couple days left until I had to go back to Madrid so I decided to go up to Northern Ireland, more specifically Belfast. It was quite the experience to be in a place where in my lifetime The Troubles (a civil conflict that raged from 1969 to the late 1990's) had claimed thousands of lives, even as recently as 2001. Many innocent people, mostly Roman Catholics, died on the streets of Belfast. Bombing, assassination and street violence became a way of life for many people and my eyes were opened when speaking about that time with the owner of my hotel. He said he has vivid memories of being a child in the 70's and being barracaded out of the city. Tanks and armed men would patrol his neighborhood and he feared for his life on more than one occasion. Now, the city is like any other, with restaurants, bars, parks and schools. While it wasn't the most exciting city, it was interesting to walk the same streets that were the sites of so much bloodshed a few years back.
It was the perfect time to be in Ireland and a wonderful and relaxing way to spend Spring break.
Slán go fóill, Linds
Monday, April 5, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Lugano, Switzerland
Getting an international teaching job is a crazy process, especially at a job fair. You are thrown into a conference room with 100+ schools and 500+ teachers wanting the same job as yourself. So, for three days at a job fair in Boston last February I stood in long lines and waited for the opportunity to sell myself in two minutes to the director, who then decided if I was qualified enough to get an interview. Well, as luck would have it, while standing in the line for The American School of Madrid, I started talking to Carol, who was in front of me in line. Most people don't talk to each other because we are all competing for the same jobs but this was a long line and we both knew we'd be there for quite some time. We did the usual "where are you from," "what do you teach" introduction. But as we started to talk a bit more we realized that we had a very strange connection: Carol's teaching partner at St. George's School in Spokane, WA is my mom's best friend of 30 years! Crazy how worlds collide sometimes. Once I found that out, I knew I'd see Carol again. A day later I accepted a job in Madrid and Carol accepted a job in Lugano, Switzerland at TASIS.
Carol met up with Dana and I in January to ski for a day in Zermatt and we stayed with her in Lugano for the evening. But Lugano is such a gorgeous Swiss city I knew I needed to go back, so over a long weekend in March, three friends and I visited Carol and explored her amazing little town.
Lugano is the biggest city in Ticino, the Italian-speaking part of Switerland and is 5 miles from the Italian border. It lies on Lake Lugano and is surrounded by mountains, one of which, Monte San Salvatore, we climbed. The view from the summit is stunning with lakes and mountains as far as the eye can see. We visited Carol at school, became regulars at the local watering hole, and had many laughs. Thanks for your wonderful hospitality!
Can't wait for Carol to come to Madrid in May for San Isidro and a bullfight!
Ciao, Linds
Carol met up with Dana and I in January to ski for a day in Zermatt and we stayed with her in Lugano for the evening. But Lugano is such a gorgeous Swiss city I knew I needed to go back, so over a long weekend in March, three friends and I visited Carol and explored her amazing little town.
Lugano is the biggest city in Ticino, the Italian-speaking part of Switerland and is 5 miles from the Italian border. It lies on Lake Lugano and is surrounded by mountains, one of which, Monte San Salvatore, we climbed. The view from the summit is stunning with lakes and mountains as far as the eye can see. We visited Carol at school, became regulars at the local watering hole, and had many laughs. Thanks for your wonderful hospitality!
Can't wait for Carol to come to Madrid in May for San Isidro and a bullfight!
Ciao, Linds
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Rome
Ahhhh... the land of pizza, gelato, coffee and fine sights. A food lovers dream and one of my favorite places in the world. Rome is a city you could spend weeks in and still not scratch the surface. So with 3 days and a full itinerary, I set off to see it all! Here are the highlights:
--The Colosseum: Built in 80 AD, it is the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman Empire. It was used for gladatorial contests and public spectacles and could hold over 50,000 people. The overall condition is fading but the magnificence of it will never tire. I went three times just because it's that amazing!
--The Vatican (and St. Peter's Basilica): The Vatican City is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled area within the city of Rome. With only about 108 acres, it is thought to be the smallest independent state in the world (and amazingly enough has its own currency!) Home of the pope and one of the holiest sites of Christianity and the Catholic faith, St. Peter's Basilica is the largest church building in the Christian world. Started in 1506 and completed in 1626, St. Peter's Basilica holds the tombs of over 90 popes. St. Peter's square is a magnificent plaza where people from all over the world come to rest, reflect and worship.
--The Trevi Fountain: Completed in 1762, the Fontana di Trevi is busy at all times of the day or night. Local legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome. I threw a coin in during my trip in '98 so I had to do the same this time!
--The Spanish Steps: The steps were built in 1723 and are the meeting place for tourists, Roman teens, Italians and tour groups year-round. At the foot of the steps is the beloved Barcaccia ("Ugly Boat") fountain. Leading out from the bottom of the steps is the fashionable Via dei Condotti, Rome's trendiest street for fashion, with names such as Gucci, Valentino, Benetton, and Bulgari. Fun fact: Scalinata di Tinita dei Monti, or Stairs of Trinity of the Mountains, are the local name given because of where they lead, to the church of the same name. But the name "Spanish Steps" comes from where the steps rise, Piazza di Spagna, or Spanish square, named because the Spanish Ambassador to the Vatican lives on the square.
--The Pantheon: The only ancient Roman temple to survive the millennia intact, it is an engineering marvel you have to see to believe. After walking through the 20-ton bronze doors, you have to wonder how the massive dome holds up under its own weight- the tension around the ring of the oculus, along with the ribbed vaulting and the fact that the thickness of the concrete gets lighter towards the apex all aid in supporting the dome. It is now a church dedicated to Saint Mary of the Martyrs.
-- Plaza Navona: I spent much of my trip in this oblong plaza watching the world go by, sipping a coffee or eating some gelato. The plaza is full of life at all hours of the day, whether with tourists buying art in its center or Italian couples walking hand-in-hand beside one of the many fountains or sculptures.
-- The Mouth of Truth: An ancient Roman sewer-cover carved into a face with a gaping mouth, legend holds it will bite off the fingers of anyone who dares stick in his hand and tell a lie. Strange...
Addio, Linds
--The Colosseum: Built in 80 AD, it is the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman Empire. It was used for gladatorial contests and public spectacles and could hold over 50,000 people. The overall condition is fading but the magnificence of it will never tire. I went three times just because it's that amazing!
--The Vatican (and St. Peter's Basilica): The Vatican City is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled area within the city of Rome. With only about 108 acres, it is thought to be the smallest independent state in the world (and amazingly enough has its own currency!) Home of the pope and one of the holiest sites of Christianity and the Catholic faith, St. Peter's Basilica is the largest church building in the Christian world. Started in 1506 and completed in 1626, St. Peter's Basilica holds the tombs of over 90 popes. St. Peter's square is a magnificent plaza where people from all over the world come to rest, reflect and worship.
--The Trevi Fountain: Completed in 1762, the Fontana di Trevi is busy at all times of the day or night. Local legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome. I threw a coin in during my trip in '98 so I had to do the same this time!
--The Spanish Steps: The steps were built in 1723 and are the meeting place for tourists, Roman teens, Italians and tour groups year-round. At the foot of the steps is the beloved Barcaccia ("Ugly Boat") fountain. Leading out from the bottom of the steps is the fashionable Via dei Condotti, Rome's trendiest street for fashion, with names such as Gucci, Valentino, Benetton, and Bulgari. Fun fact: Scalinata di Tinita dei Monti, or Stairs of Trinity of the Mountains, are the local name given because of where they lead, to the church of the same name. But the name "Spanish Steps" comes from where the steps rise, Piazza di Spagna, or Spanish square, named because the Spanish Ambassador to the Vatican lives on the square.
--The Pantheon: The only ancient Roman temple to survive the millennia intact, it is an engineering marvel you have to see to believe. After walking through the 20-ton bronze doors, you have to wonder how the massive dome holds up under its own weight- the tension around the ring of the oculus, along with the ribbed vaulting and the fact that the thickness of the concrete gets lighter towards the apex all aid in supporting the dome. It is now a church dedicated to Saint Mary of the Martyrs.
-- Plaza Navona: I spent much of my trip in this oblong plaza watching the world go by, sipping a coffee or eating some gelato. The plaza is full of life at all hours of the day, whether with tourists buying art in its center or Italian couples walking hand-in-hand beside one of the many fountains or sculptures.
-- The Mouth of Truth: An ancient Roman sewer-cover carved into a face with a gaping mouth, legend holds it will bite off the fingers of anyone who dares stick in his hand and tell a lie. Strange...
(click on the photo below to view the album)
It was a fabulous trip and I hope the legend holds this time around, too; I can't wait to go back!
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| Rome Blog |
It was a fabulous trip and I hope the legend holds this time around, too; I can't wait to go back!
Addio, Linds
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Collin and Erin's Wedding
"Finally... my brother found someone that is smarter than he is."
I'm so grateful and thankful that my brother, Collin, and his wife Erin have tied the knot. As many say but is very rarely true, they are truly meant for each other. Family and friends were treated to an unforgetable week in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico full of activities, meals, laughs, drinks and fun. It was a wedding that no one will soon forget (and one that many will never be able to top, including myself!).
We all stayed in a villa just south of PV overlooking the ocean. It was gorgeous and enormous, big enough for us all to stay yet intimate enough that we all got to know one another quite well! We spent much of our time at the villa relaxing, reading, swimming, playing drinking games, eating meals, chatting and enjoying being away from the bitter cold back home. The bridal shower was held at the villa, as was the rehearsal dinner. One day was spent at a beach where we had a volleyball tournament while simultaneously another group went whale watching. The wedding was held at a beach south of the villa that is only accessed by water taxi. It was a beautiful beach wedding (the weather held out and didn't rain!), the bride and groom looked stunning and the reception that followed was full of surprises. All in all, it was the perfect way for what I believe to be a perfect couple to start their lives together. I'm sure I can speak for many other people when I say I did not want the week to end!
Since it would take far too long to write a caption for each photo... I'm not going to. The pictures are in chronological order and include our many dinners, days spent at the pool or beach, nights out on the town, bridal shower, rehearsal, wedding and reception. You may also note that it seems there was a surgery going on at one point-- my aunt slipped and fell on the day it rained. Instead of going to the emergency room and wasting the whole day, my brother and his friend sewed her up (if there was any wedding to get hurt at... this was the one, with 10 doctors in attendance)! I hope you enjoy.
I've also included a link to the professional photos taken at the rehearsal, wedding, reception, and "trash the dress" session the following day. They are spectacular!
I'm so grateful and thankful that my brother, Collin, and his wife Erin have tied the knot. As many say but is very rarely true, they are truly meant for each other. Family and friends were treated to an unforgetable week in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico full of activities, meals, laughs, drinks and fun. It was a wedding that no one will soon forget (and one that many will never be able to top, including myself!).
We all stayed in a villa just south of PV overlooking the ocean. It was gorgeous and enormous, big enough for us all to stay yet intimate enough that we all got to know one another quite well! We spent much of our time at the villa relaxing, reading, swimming, playing drinking games, eating meals, chatting and enjoying being away from the bitter cold back home. The bridal shower was held at the villa, as was the rehearsal dinner. One day was spent at a beach where we had a volleyball tournament while simultaneously another group went whale watching. The wedding was held at a beach south of the villa that is only accessed by water taxi. It was a beautiful beach wedding (the weather held out and didn't rain!), the bride and groom looked stunning and the reception that followed was full of surprises. All in all, it was the perfect way for what I believe to be a perfect couple to start their lives together. I'm sure I can speak for many other people when I say I did not want the week to end!
Since it would take far too long to write a caption for each photo... I'm not going to. The pictures are in chronological order and include our many dinners, days spent at the pool or beach, nights out on the town, bridal shower, rehearsal, wedding and reception. You may also note that it seems there was a surgery going on at one point-- my aunt slipped and fell on the day it rained. Instead of going to the emergency room and wasting the whole day, my brother and his friend sewed her up (if there was any wedding to get hurt at... this was the one, with 10 doctors in attendance)! I hope you enjoy.
I've also included a link to the professional photos taken at the rehearsal, wedding, reception, and "trash the dress" session the following day. They are spectacular!
Felicidades Erin and Collin, I love you both!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Zermatt, Switzerland
After spending two weeks with my parents I still had one week of Christmas vacation left (oh, darn... what a rough life!) One of my dreams has always been to ski in the Swiss Alps and it became a reality when I spent a week in Zermatt, a small resort town on the Italian border of the canton of Valais in the west of Switzerland. Zermatt is home to the Matterhorn, the most photographed mountain in the world. Almost one-third of the 4,000-meter mountains in the Alps are grouped around Zermatt, which has attracted mountaineers and thrill-seeking individuals for decades. Zermatt epitomises every image you'd have of Switzerland- high-alpine, awe-inspiring, clean and environmentally friendly (there are no cars in the town, amazing!)
My friend Dana and I flew into Milan, Italy, took a train into Switzerland and tranfered onto the famous Glacier Express. The train ride was incredible as we wound around canyons and past lakes and small villages. So beautiful! We stayed at a remarkably nice hostel the first night, from which we woke up with the Matterhorn basically crawling through our window. The following 4 nights we stayed at probably the nicest hotel in town (we somehow had the stars alligned when we booked and found an amazing deal!) We were served 5-course meals, had plush robes and slippers waiting for us each night, heated boot racks for our ski gear, a sauna and pool to relax by after a long day of skiing, and a facial to top it all off; it was heaven! The highlight of the trip was beginning our day skiing in Switzerland and ending the day skiing in Italy; the only run that crosses an international border. Amazing!
I think my perception of top-notch skiing is a bit jaded since I've skiied on some of the best mountains in the world. Although I wouldn't say the skiing was as good as Vail or Beaver Creek (because the runs weren't as long or wide), the infrastructure was second-to-none and the snow on day three was the most incredible powder I have ever experienced. You'll see in the pictures how amazing the scenery is. It's really too hard to explain the overall beauty of the town and the country. We are already planning a return trip next winter to do it again!
My friend Dana and I flew into Milan, Italy, took a train into Switzerland and tranfered onto the famous Glacier Express. The train ride was incredible as we wound around canyons and past lakes and small villages. So beautiful! We stayed at a remarkably nice hostel the first night, from which we woke up with the Matterhorn basically crawling through our window. The following 4 nights we stayed at probably the nicest hotel in town (we somehow had the stars alligned when we booked and found an amazing deal!) We were served 5-course meals, had plush robes and slippers waiting for us each night, heated boot racks for our ski gear, a sauna and pool to relax by after a long day of skiing, and a facial to top it all off; it was heaven! The highlight of the trip was beginning our day skiing in Switzerland and ending the day skiing in Italy; the only run that crosses an international border. Amazing!
I think my perception of top-notch skiing is a bit jaded since I've skiied on some of the best mountains in the world. Although I wouldn't say the skiing was as good as Vail or Beaver Creek (because the runs weren't as long or wide), the infrastructure was second-to-none and the snow on day three was the most incredible powder I have ever experienced. You'll see in the pictures how amazing the scenery is. It's really too hard to explain the overall beauty of the town and the country. We are already planning a return trip next winter to do it again!
Uf widerlüge, Linds
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year!
As is the case with most of us, I rarely take the time at the beginning of the year to reflect on what has happened in my life in past 12 months. But as we enter a new decade I couldn’t help but think about what an amazing year 2009 was, and more importantly, how much has happened in the 5 years since graduating from college (time for a reunion!). My life has gone in the complete opposite direction that I thought it would in May, 2005 when I left the comforts of Tacoma and embarked on what was a life-changing journey around the world.
Since that time, I’ve traveled to 25 countries, visited 5 continents (and lived on 3!), received my Masters, taught on an island and in a big city, and met countless people from every nationality and background. I went from the dread of running while playing college basketball to embracing and loving the competition that running road races brings. I’ve gone from eating a very narrow diet to loving food from every country (still working on vegetables and fish…) I’ve gone from my hobbies being watching TV and talking on the phone to not wanting or needing either of them. Instead, I enjoy spending my time lying on a beach, reading a book, drinking a glass of wine, and watching the day pass by with few distractions. I think I have evolved into someone who knows how lucky and fortunate I am to live the life that I do and I embrace each adventure that comes my way. Yes, I still get extremely stressed by my job, have an addiction to candy and shoes, and often don't wear sunscreen. But, aren’t we all a work in progress?
It has been quite a ride and I can’t even imagine what is to come in the next 1, 5 or 10 years. I already have a pretty full travel schedule for 2010: Switzerland (to ski the Alps), Rome (to eat more fabulous food), Mexico (for my brother’s wedding), Paris (for my birthday), Ireland (for spring break), Netherlands (for a friends birthday), a month of travel in Eastern Europe in July and back home to Seattle for the month of August. I’m sure many other trips will pop up in between but if you’d like to visit I would be happy to show you around Madrid or Spain (that is… if I’m in town!).
With all of this traveling in the near future, I have thought a lot about a few things I hope to accomplish outside of seeing the world: receive my Masters in Counseling, run a marathon, learn to surf (I seem to only know how to play ball-related sports, this will change!), and take a photography course. The logical side of my brain says my biggest goal should be to settle down a bit, buy a house and car, and begin acting like a normal adult. But then again, the illogical side says I’m having too much fun. So, who knows when I’ll be returning to the States but I’m going to enjoy every minute until then.
I am fortunate that you were able to be a part of a few or all of my journeys of the past few years and hope you will continue to be a part of my future endeavors! All the best in 2010 and beyond.
Since that time, I’ve traveled to 25 countries, visited 5 continents (and lived on 3!), received my Masters, taught on an island and in a big city, and met countless people from every nationality and background. I went from the dread of running while playing college basketball to embracing and loving the competition that running road races brings. I’ve gone from eating a very narrow diet to loving food from every country (still working on vegetables and fish…) I’ve gone from my hobbies being watching TV and talking on the phone to not wanting or needing either of them. Instead, I enjoy spending my time lying on a beach, reading a book, drinking a glass of wine, and watching the day pass by with few distractions. I think I have evolved into someone who knows how lucky and fortunate I am to live the life that I do and I embrace each adventure that comes my way. Yes, I still get extremely stressed by my job, have an addiction to candy and shoes, and often don't wear sunscreen. But, aren’t we all a work in progress?
It has been quite a ride and I can’t even imagine what is to come in the next 1, 5 or 10 years. I already have a pretty full travel schedule for 2010: Switzerland (to ski the Alps), Rome (to eat more fabulous food), Mexico (for my brother’s wedding), Paris (for my birthday), Ireland (for spring break), Netherlands (for a friends birthday), a month of travel in Eastern Europe in July and back home to Seattle for the month of August. I’m sure many other trips will pop up in between but if you’d like to visit I would be happy to show you around Madrid or Spain (that is… if I’m in town!).
With all of this traveling in the near future, I have thought a lot about a few things I hope to accomplish outside of seeing the world: receive my Masters in Counseling, run a marathon, learn to surf (I seem to only know how to play ball-related sports, this will change!), and take a photography course. The logical side of my brain says my biggest goal should be to settle down a bit, buy a house and car, and begin acting like a normal adult. But then again, the illogical side says I’m having too much fun. So, who knows when I’ll be returning to the States but I’m going to enjoy every minute until then.
I am fortunate that you were able to be a part of a few or all of my journeys of the past few years and hope you will continue to be a part of my future endeavors! All the best in 2010 and beyond.
New Years Eve with my Mom
Feliz Ano Nuevo!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Morocco
I figured my parents may get a bit bored staying in Spain for the two weeks they were here so I planned a trip to not only a different country but a different continent. We spent 3 days in Marrakech and what an experience it was. Marrakech is situated at the base of the Atlas mountains, where sub-Saharan Africa meets Arab North Africa. I can't really put into words what the city is like and pictures just don't do it justice; it really is a place you must see to believe. The sounds, the smells, the sights... snake charmers, monkey men, storytellers, snail stalls, orange juice stands, call to prayer, mosques, souks, tombs, gardens... it's sensory overload! From the incredibly beautiful riad that we stayed in, to the bustle of the night market and the dusty alleyways we navigated through, it was an experience none of us will soon forget. I'd highly recommend a trip to Morocco to anyone seeking an extraordinary vacation unlike anywhere else.
(click the photo below to be redirected to the photo album from our trip)
M'a ssalama,
Linds
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Southern Spain
My parents made the long journey to Spain for two weeks over Christmas. We spent a few days in Madrid, seeing all the sights and attempting to keep warm (hard to do when Dad forgot his winter coat and my electricity got shut off!). Then, we were off to Southern Spain to visit the "Costa del Sol." If ever there was a slogan that did not accurately describe a place, this was the one. It was freezing, raining, cloudy and windy the entire time! But that didn't stop us from seeing all the sights and in retrospect we probably saw more since we didn't spend any time laying on the beach. It was quite the experience to navagate the roads of Spain but we got by quite well.
We based ourselves in Malaga and made day trips from there. Our first full day was spent visiting a few small mountain towns, most notably Ojen and Ronda. The second day was spent in Sevilla (Seville in English). The third day we traveled along the coast to Cadiz and the small country of Gibralter. The fourth day we ventured east to Granada. And the last day was spent in and around Malaga. Then, we returned to Madrid to celebrate New Years with the millions of other people before Mom and Dad headed home. It was a wonderful vacation full of lots of laughs, wine, frustrations (not with each other but mostly just with Spain!) and memories. I'm so lucky they were able to make the trip and I look forward to many more vacations around the world together!
(click on the album below to view the pictures from our trip!)
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| Southern Spain |
Besos a todos,
Lindsay
Friday, November 27, 2009
Canary Islands
As many of you know, I'm a true beach girl in every sense. Still, I thought it would be easy to move to a big city and a welcome relief to live somewhere with seasons (whereas the seasons in Puerto Rico were hot and very hot, humid and very humid). Well... I was wrong. As I've said over and over again this winter, I will never live away from a beach again! I was craving the warmth and sunshine by October and thrilled to be able to visit a beach (while not a couple hours drive, it was just a couple hours by plane) for Thanksgiving break. I will be the first to admit that I have been spoiled in my beach going the past few years; I would venture to guess I've vistited some of the nicest beaches in the world while living in the Caribbean and traveling through Southeast Asia. And I will also be the first to admit that the Canary Islands are no Caribbean-- freezing water, high winds, and many, many naked 80+-year-olds. None-the-less, I had a great time with good friends and got a little sunshine on my pale face.
Gran Canaria beach
Just a bit windy...
This pretty much explains everything...
Freezing cold water
Good friend Dana and I
Very cool dunes line the waterfront
Another good friend of mine, Jamie
Last day at the beach... a little color
Pretty sunset
Trish and Fil
Dana and I
Sunrise!
This trip makes me that much more excited for Mexico in February!
Besos a todos, Linds
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Florence, Italy
One of the great perks of working at an international school that has a high tuition (but not a high salary) and a well-known headmaster in the international teaching circuit are free trips, such as the one that 90 of my coworkers and I took to Florence in early November. We spent 5 days at the Mediterannean Association of International Schools conference... but only about 5 total hours at the conference itself. (sidenote- I will say I was one of the only ones from my school that went to 3 presentations, most didn't go to any. Patt on the back...)
Pictures of this city just don't do it justice; everywhere you turn is another view of something wonderful. Although many go to Florence to see the David (which I did go see), Uffizi, Duomo and Ponte Vecchio, what I was most looking forward to was the food and shopping (big surprise, huh?). Oh, I could go on for days about the food. Pizza, pasta, gelato, waffles, cheese, wine, chocolate, fruit, bread... I would love to live in Italy but I'm afraid I may gain a few hundred pounds in the process. Florence lived up to all my expectations (and memories from 12 years ago) and more. I'd love to return in the summer and see what things look like in the sunshine instead of rain and overcast.
One part of the conference that everyone attended was the Gala, held out of town a bit on a hillside. We were told the gala was being held in the city center but after one hour on a bus, many of us were beginning to get worried as to where we were going. But all fears were put to rest when we were dropped off in front of an old palace, owned by a family who has kids that attend the Florence International School. They now rent the house out to big parties and weddings and boy, was it beautiful. Just touring the house was amazing, let along the food, drinks, and dancing. ASM (as we normally do) took over the dance floor for a night to remember. I'm now in the process of planning a solo trip to Rome in February to do it all over again (but this time, unfortunately, I'll have to pay for it!)
Pictures of this city just don't do it justice; everywhere you turn is another view of something wonderful. Although many go to Florence to see the David (which I did go see), Uffizi, Duomo and Ponte Vecchio, what I was most looking forward to was the food and shopping (big surprise, huh?). Oh, I could go on for days about the food. Pizza, pasta, gelato, waffles, cheese, wine, chocolate, fruit, bread... I would love to live in Italy but I'm afraid I may gain a few hundred pounds in the process. Florence lived up to all my expectations (and memories from 12 years ago) and more. I'd love to return in the summer and see what things look like in the sunshine instead of rain and overcast.
One part of the conference that everyone attended was the Gala, held out of town a bit on a hillside. We were told the gala was being held in the city center but after one hour on a bus, many of us were beginning to get worried as to where we were going. But all fears were put to rest when we were dropped off in front of an old palace, owned by a family who has kids that attend the Florence International School. They now rent the house out to big parties and weddings and boy, was it beautiful. Just touring the house was amazing, let along the food, drinks, and dancing. ASM (as we normally do) took over the dance floor for a night to remember. I'm now in the process of planning a solo trip to Rome in February to do it all over again (but this time, unfortunately, I'll have to pay for it!)
Getting read to leave in the airport
Ponte Vecchio in the background
Modern art inside an old cathedral- love the contrast
Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore
Baptistry Doors, or "Gates of Paradise" as Michelangelo put it
Piazza della Republica
Fil and I out one night
Two of my middle school teaching partners, Eric and Steve, at the Gala
Good friend of mine, Susan
Just a smigin of the beautiful ladies at ASM
Dana, my next-door-neighbor and travel partner
Mmmm... dessert at the Gala
Delicious... every last morsel was eaten
Amazing pasta dish
And even more amazing dessert
Fruit, pasta, cheese and wine galore
Fake David (can't take pics with the real one, unfortunately)
Looks like a painting, doesn't it?
Arrivederci, Linds
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