Stuttgart & Palm Beach

This past weekend Denise and I got to spend the whole weekend with her mother and stepdad in Stuttgart! It was a great visit eating all your typical german dishes, going to the Circus, and walking around the city all lit up for the holidays!

We also got to meet up with some of our German friends from China, Luise and Freddy! It was so good to catch up with two other fellow SSIS classmates! We drank Glüwein, a mulled wine, that is served in tradition in all the Christmas Markets across Germany! It was pretty good, and I'm not even a wine person!

 Freddy, Luise, Denise, & Me

On my last day in Germany, Denise, Wolfgang, and one of Wolfgang's friends named Joe, and I all went to a completely indoor water park called Palm Springs! It was a huge facility, with more than a dozen hot tubs, tanning beds, indoor and outdoor pools and jacuzzi despite the 0ºC weather!

Denise & Me swimming outside in 0ºC weather

And then to top it off over a ten huge water slides! It was such a fun day, filled with the right amount of thrilling water rides and then sitting and relaxing in the hot tub. Also got to experience the popular group showering that occurs in Europe... an experience and I will leave it at that :P

My trip overall was a great time visiting with Denise and her family and with new and old friends! The food was excellent, and the weather cooperated for the most part! What a unique experience to stay with friends and see their city through their eyes rather than through a hotel tour guide! I'm so glad I took this semester to travel around and see my two friends and experience Europe for the first time! Denise, Chloe, and I are already planning 2014 Summer Reunion! Can't wait to see what happens!

Until the next adventure.... xx

Nurnberg Christmas Market

Thursday has been my favorite day so far! We went to the Nurnberg Christmas Market! It is said to be the best Christmas Market in the entire country! It was sooo big! We stayed for over five hours and we still didn’t see it all! So many shops for candles, pastries, bratwursts, beer, dolls, handmade wooden trinkets, candies, fresh honey, and much much more!

Denise & Me at the Nurnberg Christmas Market

And I finally got to eat an authentic Bratwurst with mustard… so good! It was a gorgeous day despite being cold, and Nurnberg looked so nice in the snow! To end the day we ate at a popular restaurant called Vapiano’s. If you get the chance to visit this unique restaurant, you won’t regret it!

I’m having a wonderful time here in Germany. The people are so lovely, and I’m enjoying every minute of catching up with Denise! I have missed her so much! I can’t believe it’s already Friday : (  Time passes so quickly!

Germany

It’s snowing in Bamberg! Around six inches of snow was on the ground when I arrived in Bamberg on Tuesday! It was such a beautiful sight! I know if we had snow like that in Brentwood, the whole city would be shut down for a week! Denise’s dad picked me up from the airport and we took the train for two and a half hours to the city of Bamberg. Denise met us at the station and drive us to the house where she had prepared homemade Thai Curry! It was so delicious!

On Wednesday night we went to a Bamberg Radio Station’s Christmas party! One of Denise’s brother won free tickets, so Denise, Michael, Mishel, Wolfgang, Hans, and I all went to enjoy free food and drinks! So many older people out dancing and drinking, it was a hilarious sight!

Me & Denise with a friend at Bamberg Radio's Christmas Party

So happy to be here with Denise! Can't wait to tell you more about my trip!

Caio xx

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capitol of Scotland and founded in the 12th century! It's such a beautiful and old city, I loved all the architecture of the buildings. It was crazy to see some buildings that still stood that were older than my entire country!

Edinburgh

Me, William Wallace, & Chloe

I got to visit the Edinburgh Castle, dubbed"Castle in the Sky" due to it's location high upon a rock! It was a beautiful view of the city!

One view from the Castle of the city

Me and the Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh decorated with little rides for Christmas time

Afterwards we went the Edinburgh Playhouse to see Dirty Dancing! It was a fabulous show!

Later in the week we got to return to Edinburgh to meet up with an old friend from China, named Annalisa! She  is attending University in Edinburgh. I went to a Christmas village downtown and had Belgium Waffles with chocolate and vanilla sauce!

Annalisa & Chloe eating waffles in Edinburgh Christmas Village

Chloe and I also went to the Edinburgh Dungeons, where you go on a scary journey through the history locos in Scotland! From horror stories of incestuous family, to cannibalism, to William Wallace, the stories made out visit to the Dungeons so freaky! There were actors and also little rides throughout the visit. It was so scary!

The next day was a really chill day. We went out in the evening to a friends' house to have some drinks. Afterwards we went to the town's hotspot, The Gallery, where there was no more than 50 people, between 18-55 years! It was so funny to walk in and have Chloe know almost everyone by name! Everyone knew I didn't live in Carluke because they didn't recognize me!

It was a small town feel for sure. Even the taxi drivers knew Chloe and her family by name! It was such a fun night and everyone was so friendly and welcoming to me!

Overall it was a fabulous trip. Just the right amount of time doing tourism, spending time with Chloe, meeting new friends, and seeing the local sites. I feel so lucky to have experience Scotland this way: living among locals! Not many people will get to see Scotland the way I have. I am so happy my trip went to well, and even more pleased that I got to visit my dear friend Chloe and we were able to just pick up where we left off! I love Scotland, and I can't wait to go back someday!

Nineteenth Birthday in Glasgow!

Nineteen is probably one of the most boring birthdays ever. You are already a legal adult, but you are still a teenager. But my nineteenth birthday will be so memorable due to the fact I got to spend my day in Glasgow!

Me and my train ticket

  In the morning I woke up to presents and a card from Chloe and got ready to board my first train! We took the train into Glasgow and shopped on Argyle Street.

 High Street in Glasgow

 We then ate at a famous restaurant called Nando's for lunch! We also bought Macaroon biscuits at a little shop. They were sooo good!

We got 3 :)

Afterwards we shopped until we dropped at Primark! I bought like £55 worth of stuff! My shopping came to a halt after that :P

High St. all decorated for Christmas

In the evening we had my favorite stew in the world made my Carol! Then we went and played pool with friends! It was a good birthday! So happy I got to spend it with Chloe :) xx

Cheeryyyy! xxx

Aye, Scotland!

After 15 hours of travel, laying over in Iceland, I finally made it to Scotland! From the driving on the opposite side of the road, to the accents, to the beautiful snowy country side, I'm taking it all in for the next week I have here! I'm loving it all so far! Christmas has been such a fun time to visit! The snow and the decorations all around the towns looks so pretty.

New Lanark

me at the telephone!                               

 William Walace

Why did I choose Scotland? Well, when I lived in China I became very close to my friend Chloe, who is a native Scot. Looking back, I would have never imagined myself here, visiting her two and half years later!

Yesterday and today, we spent the days in Lanark and New Lanark! New Lanark is a very old Mill Town, where they have set ups of old houses, school rooms, and of course they have the water mill! It was such a pretty (and cold!) day.

Clyde River at New Lanark

New Lanark

For lunch we ate macaroni pie and scones! Many people think that scones are from England, but that actually originate in Scotland! Anyways, every bit of food I have had here has been absolutely wonderful! I'm afraid all the weight I lost in Costa Rica will be gained right back :D

Tomorrow is my biirrthhdaayyy! We will be going into Glasgow for some shopping! For dinner Ms. Cassells is going to make me her oh-so-delicious STEW! I loved it so much in China I ate it for breakfast! Afterwards I think we are going out, to a famous bar called Soul Suite with some friends! It shall be a good birthday!
Tata for now!
Allie

Hasta Luego, Costa Rica!

Well the rest of my journey in Costa Rica was a blur. I got to spend a lot of quality time back with my Familia Tica, especially with my sister Mariela and my mom, Emy.

Me and my sister at the Jazz Cafe

Fernanda dancing

I even got to go and see my Prima Tica perform in a show! She danced traditional Costa Rican dance

I will miss my Tica Family verrrryyyy muchhhhhhh, they were a gift from God :) 

 When I left, the weather was 80 and arrived in cold Nashville at the chilling 32! I spent a good almost two weeks with my family, friends, and boyfriend, just relaxing and eating American food and taking long, hot, and pressurized showers, and driving my own car :)
Now I'm sitting snuggled in a bed in SCOTLAND! I guess you could say that I get around :P
Allie