Family vacations vs. Solo travel

Well, it has been a while. No, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth or been abducted by aliens. Rather I have been with the family. A few weeks ago my lil brother Dave came to join me for some fun in Nice and a few days in London. Ya know, it is way more fun watching Grand Prix cars, nerding out at The Harry Potter Tour and getting trashed by 12 at the Fullers brewery when you have someone to share it with. Not to say we weren't ready to kill each other at times, but I do approve of traveling with siblings.
The family expanded when we hit Venice and spent a week cruising in the Greek islands. Oh darn ;-) Mykonos is the most beautiful island ever I think and practically designed-if your city is very confusing then you enemies get lost and you can pour hot oil on them!!
The ship itself was lovely too and you'll all be glad to know I am sporting a nice tan. First time in years I think. And I have now climbed a wall 200 feet above the sea! Granted the wall was only about 20 feet itself but whatever.
Currently I'm in Dublin, awaiting the arrival or more family, having said goodbye to the rest in Venice this morning.
More updates as things happen!!
Oh, and for the curious ones, no final word yet on school in the fall. Soon I hope!!

My new favorite color? Burgundy

Hello my lovely people,
Sorry for the delay in writing-between being busy and lacking WiFi I've been all over!
Regardless things have been amazing. Today I took the train into Nice and it is soooooo beautiful. My little apartment is lovely and I could almost literally throw a stone into the water from my patio. This with a glass of Kid in my hand and life is good.
But to catch up the last little while: the end of my time in Tours was nice, a little rainy but ok. I saw my dream castle: Chenonceau. Totally white stone with this amazing long room that served as a bridge over a river. It was originally a ballroom, then in WW1 it served as a hospital and in WW2 it served as a way of smuggling people from occupied to free France. Amazing eh?
From Tours I made my way to Lyon, food capital. And oh, was it ever. Ate an amazing supper in a Bouchon Lyonaise and will never look at food the same! Alas, since then it's been back to my own fair as I cannot eat like a queen every day.
I could,however,drink like one. I most recently spent 4 days "a faire la degustation" aka wine tasting in Burgundy, the land of Chardonnay, pinot noir and ,apparently, Caddis. Needless to say I did a bit of wandering about drunkenly in the French countryside. Lol. Well worth it.
For anyone keeping track ive managed not to get permanently lost yet
Otherwise just pumped to see some familiar faces soon! Oh and one more exciting thing-looks like I'll be spending about a month in Italy, living with an Italian family and running a camp for kids learning English! Very neat. Plus I'll have evenings and weekends free to see the country.
Rightly, not much else to say, hope all is well. Off to watch the French presidential debates!

La belle France

Today, given the rain, I thought to update you, my lovely followers, on my travels thus far. Upon arriving in Paris, I was quite sad to find the city under a serious rainstorm. Nothing like that to make you want to stay in the hostel. But fortunately my travel fears were lessened when I met some great girls and we celebrated my first night here by making a name for ourselves. Oh and aparently my Frenh isn't too bad; I managed to get into a fight with a frenchman and he understood me! Anyways, next day was better, did a walking tour around Paris and got to see many of the sites- the Louvre is absolutely overwelming and the tower is most beautiful at night. My four days and nights in Paris were full and exciting- I didn't want to leave. The lst evening a friend and I tried to see an opera- major translation error on my part!! We bought tickets to 'La Petite Messe Solomnelle' which I translated as the little solemn mess rather than mass. The show was rediculous and naturally followed by too much drinking. Ah Paris.
Currently I am in Tours, at the heart of the Loire valley. Did a day bike trip with an Aussie chick down to a castle yesterday and if the weather's good tomorrow will go to another.
All in all things are good. More to come when the internet is free!

6 days to go and counting...

If I were to rename myself, some translation of "Independent" would certainly find its way into my title. From my 9 year old self pleading to go to boarding school to my 19 year old self moving to New York City alone, I have always wanted to do things for myself. 

Which is why it is kinda funny that the idea of spending 4 months in Europe by myself makes the butterflies in my tummy dance the rumba. 

Don't misunderstand; I'm totally stoked to be going and am planning to have an incredible time, if for no other reason than to appease the many people who have already told me they are planning to visit Europe vicariously through me. But I can't help but feel like something's about to happen. Ya ya, cheezy I know, head off to Europe to find yourself and whatnot. But if you care to follow me along on my journey, I'll let ya know what's got the silly butterflies so excited.

Next Monday is Day 1- Off to Paris! More to come from the city of romance