This is the last week for my blogging assignment. I will try my best to keep up to date with it but no guarantees. I have really enjoyed blogging and reminiscing on my time abroad but also looking forward to the future of where I want to explore next.
There are still so many places I want to go it is hard to list them all. So for this last entry, well maybe not last,  it will just be a little break. I will list where I want to go and the things that are on my bucket list. After all I think everyone should have a bucket list! I know I have already checked out quite a few already!

So for starters the countries I would LOVE to visit!

• Australia 
• Greece
• Russia
• Brazil
• Sweden
• Switzerland  
• Germany
• Canada

Other states!

• Hawaii
• Alaska
• California - San Francisco & LA etc! 
• Illinois  - always wanted to go to Chicago

Now for my bucket list!

• Skydiving
• Bungee jumping 
• Learn how to speak Russian 
• Adopt a Great Dane 
• Scuba dive with giant oceanic manta rays
• Hold a baby panda
• Go to Coachella 
• Learn how to surf
• Go whale watching 
• Move to London
• Live in NYC
• Learn how to play guitar

They are both pretty lengthy lists and I am sure I'm missing out quite a few places and things I want to do. I could probably go on for days but we will keep it short and sweet. But this is a general idea of where and what I want to do during my time on this gorgeous planet. I also want to make a difference and leave my mark here. I do not know what they will be yet but I will figure it out as I go along. For now this is goodbye but I am hoping to keep up with my blog posting in the next weeks to come. Thank you everyone who has kept up with my blog! Cheers! 

So this week I was a little stumped on what to write about. So I decided to Google and Pinterest search 'travel' and see what comes up. I found some great articles and helpful tips!

Below you will find a great article for jobs that can require one to travel! I think having a job that allows you to travel is such a great thing! And why not travel before you are tied down married with kids and that whole shebang. Not to mention I think travel makes you richer, no not with money. But with knowledge, experience and respect for others.

Do not think these things go unnoticed. I think people can tell who have traveled the world and who has not. Just by how someone can carry a conversation can show a lot. In the business world I know there can be many cultural barriers and it is so important to know and understand those.
http://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/Jobs-Require-Travel-3204508#photo-31075871

This article below I really liked as well. I never thought about riding a bike around Paris, but now I think next time I am there I will give it a go. There is so much to see in Paris I think taking a bike may give one a new perspective and possibly see things you couldn't on a bus tour.  https://www.yahoo.com/travel/biking-is-the-most-delightful-way-to-get-around-116480935877.html

There are so many more places that I want to explore but one that is on the top of my list is Australia! My parents used to go there to scuba dive and I would love to follow in their footsteps! I think Australia is filled with some of the most amazing creatures and beautiful scenery

Check out this awesome travel video! Definitely wish I was in Australia now exploring the land! 

Most of my favorite quotes are from Bob Marley!

"Love the life you life. Life the life you love" 

"Don't worry about a thing. Every little thing is gonna be alright"

"You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have"

Now those are some great quotes to live by! And of course we cannot forget...

One Love 

One Heart 

Let's get together and feel all right

Check out this clip from a YouTube channel called HIGH on LIFE!

I absolutely love this video! My favorite part is at the end when the narrator in the video says...

What do you want to do in life?

What makes you tick? 

What makes you feel awe?

Choose what you want!

Stop looking for reasons why you can't but why you can.

If you can, you should!

This is so true! As I am about to go into the real world after graduation I want to do what I want to. I want to choose to be happy and not just get by but thrive! Life is a gorgeous thing, so get out there and do what brings out the best in you. 

For our final destination we will be stopping at Venice! Now this is a city you have to see if you get the opportunity! The water is gorgeous and there are canals which connect everything. It's truly unlike anything else. With winding streets it is easy to get lost but that's okay because you usually find the best places on the road less traveled.

The most interesting thing about Venice might be the high tides it encounters. Well check out the picture below it says everything!

They have special platforms for people to walk on and for tourists they even have special plastic bag to fit around peoples shoes they already have. It's a little funny looking but certainly does the trick!

 

Lastly, I will leave you with this short clip about Venice and The Top Ten Things to Do in Venice, enjoy! 

Our next stop on the Italy tour is Florence and Pisa! I never knew why people loved to study abroad in Florence so much, but after visiting I completely understand! It is unlike any other place I have been before! The culture is so different there, there would be some major adjusting. One thing I learned was it's actually unusual and not appreciated if one drinks without eating. So some places with have a fee but there is food there. I found this so interesting because it's so different from American culture. It just shows you how diverse different countries are. It was also interesting to see most Italians hang drying their clothing. I do not think I would ever want to permanently live in Italy but I would visit a lot!

One of the best investments I had in Italy was the bus tour. They may seem very touristy but they really are the best way to get around and it allows you to see as much as possible. The best part is you can hop off at any time if you want to explore that stop more and then just hop on another bus when you are ready! I used to think they weren't worth the time or the money but I was wrong! Sign up for those bus tours and you will not be disappointed. Though I was not too happy with my bus tour in Paris but that is another story, so you will just have to come back to hear that one!

The street art in Florence is amazing! The artists use chalk to create these masterpieces! People gather around watching and observing the spectacular scene. They must have so much patience and really love what they do. Such incredible talent you can't help but me mesmerized. 

Lastly, Pisa! There really is not much else there or to do than see the leaning tower of Pisa. If you plan on visiting you really just need an afternoon. I believe I was there for under five hours easy. You can climb the tower but it is a little pricy especially being on a study abroad student budget. Though it is a must to see and of course get the classic picture! The best part is everyone does it so you never feel out of place! I think it actually takes more time setting up the picture perfectly than being there. Well maybe that's an exaggeration but you get the idea!  

So I have been saying all of these places I have been to are my favorite but Rome is really one of my favorite places. It is so hard to say which one is my absolute favorite because they are all so different are beautiful in their own ways.

Rome is filled with so much history I was astonished to what my eyes had witnessed. I remember in high school and even in middle school you are taught about Rome and you see pictures in your text book and you think wow that pretty cool and don't think too much about it at the time. I took Latin in high school and of course we talked about about Rome a lot. So once I arrived in Rome and saw the Colosseum I was in awe. It was as if that picture from my text book from my Latin textbook came to life right in front of me. As corny as it may sound I almost felt a part of it and could imagine in my mind being there so many years ago. 

If there was just one place to recommend to someone to visit Rome would be it. The amount of visible history  is truly amazing. Everywhere you turn it almost feels unreal and everything is preserved so well. 

I was only in Rome for a short few days because I was doing a whole tour of Italy so I would definitely want to go back again. There is just so much to see and admire my time really was not enough. As beautiful as Rome is I think it was be a challenge to study abroad there. There would be so much culture shock but it was be an amazing experience for sure. I actually know of someone who is going to study abroad in Rome and I am hoping to visit her there! Traveling to Rome really made me see how beautiful life is and I could see first hand the gorgeous pieces of architecture that covers the city. 

Of course I had to make a stop at the Trevi Fountain and toss a coin in but after I shuffled my way through the crowds of people! Another amazing sight to see. If I lived in Rome I would probably be there everyday admiring the view and maybe even picking up a book to read. There is just so much to see from the Pantheon, Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Palatine Hill,Vatican City

and so much more!

As I was walking about Rome I was a little too picture happy. I took pictures of the same thing more than twice and then just snap shots of anything I could! But nothing compares to the feeling of being there in person just absorbing everything. It is so hard to describe in words but Rome truly may be my favorite place. It is unlike anything I have ever seen before and so different than the culture in America. I am truly so fortunate to have had this experience and wouldn't trade it for anything. So if you ever have the chance to travel anywhere in the world go to Rome, I promise you will not regret it! And remember when in rome do as the romans do!

By far one of my favorite places I visited, Ireland. From the beautiful city of Dublin to the countryside there is always something to do. Dublin has a rustic homey feel to it making one never want to leave. If I did not study abroad in London this is the place I would go next. Everyone is so genuinely kind, and you do not meet one bitter person. Many places in the world are not fond of American's but the Irish will welcome anyone into their country. It felt like home when I was there. As I walked to get to the Guinness Factory I took a few wrong turns. So I took out my map and tried to get back on track. Though before I could even really analyze the map a man came up to me asking if I needed any help. Of course I took him up on his offer and he gave me directions. But a second time I got lost again and once again I took out my map and before I could look down at it a woman gave me directions. I was so pleasantly surprised, this kind of this would never happen in New York City. Sure you can ask someone for directions but you will either get someone who has no idea what you are talking about or they will be bitter, then the off chance you actually get someone who is kind to give you directions. So even though it was not the easiest to find the Guinness Factory, the journey there was amazing enough.

My tour guide to see the countryside of Ireland did not recommend the Guinness Factory to tourists, but since I already went that morning I did not really agree. For me personally you could say I am a beer snob, so I love learning about the process and all the ins and outs of brewing beer. I read almost every sign and love each second I was there. What could be bad about learning how to pour your perfect pint then taking your Guinness up to the 360 Gravity Bar, where you can see a gorgeous view of all of Dublin. And no picture you take with your camera could ever do it justice compared to the view in person. I could have even spent more time at the Factory than I did but I had to rush over to my second tour of the day. There simply was not enough time during my quick trip to Ireland to do everything that I had wanted to do. But again it is just another reason to go back!

So, unfortunately I had to leave the Guinness Factory but I headed over to the "P.S. I Love You" tour. Though there was not much reference to the movie it was still amazing to see the countryside of Ireland. It was unlike anything else I have ever seen before and you could never find those views anywhere in the United States. It was simply breath taking! I could stay there for hours just looking out over the hills and beyond. I can still remember me standing there in awe of the sight I was witnessing. It almost even seemed unreal that I was even in Ireland. If there was any other place besides London I would want to move to this would be it. Not to mention just watching P.S. I Love You had already made me want to move to Ireland and find my own Gerard Butler.

As I headed back to Dublin I found by far the best tavern. The pubs food tasted as it was home cooked by your mom, which is hard to find anywhere. What I really liked is you go get your food and pay right there, so it was kind of nice not having to flag down a waiter and wait for your check to come. You could sit back and relax and listen to some good music. I liked it so much I even went back for a second time. So if you ever get the chance to go to Ireland definitely try to check out O'Neils!

My time in Scotland I only visited Edinburg but it was absolutely gorgeous! It is filled for so much history and charm, it was hard to say goodbye. I could just walk around for hours admiring the gorgeous sights. The rustic feel and the cobble stone roads where so enchanting. The Edinburg Castle was amazing and the views from the top were breath taking. I ended up eating lunch at an old tavern bar which was so warm and cozy and the food tasted homemade.

I ended up staying at a hostel in Scotland and it definitely was not the best form of a hospitality service but it was good for just a weekend. It actually ended up being a very interesting experience. There were bunk beds which are not particularly unique for hostels but there was a children's rug on the floor. The kind with roads and shops, but it was on top of another rug, very bizarre. Our lockers also were not numbered but were identified by a different bug or creature, which I certainly was not too fond of. Though it may have not been the most ideal place and sequence of events, it was definitely an experience that was one for the books. Really throughout each of my hostel experiences there was always something that was a little interesting, but always made for some of the best stories. After all spending a few nights in a hostel is part of the study abroad experience!

I certainly did not get the chance to do everything I wanted in Scotland. So here are some other reasons why you should go to Scotland! 

http://amongraf.ro/19-reasons-why-scotland-must-be-on-your-bucket-list-amazing-no-12/20/

The University of Edinburg was also very rustic and beautiful. Besides the University of Oxford, Edinburg is the other University which I think would be really cool to attend. When I visited it was a  little chilly but I could just imagine when it is warmer outside students just hang out in the courtyard area relaxing or catching up on their studies. I would highly suggest to anyone to visit Scotland, from the views and sights to the history it is a great place to explore!

This week it is all about Paris! One of my favorite places I had visited. I know some people who have traveled to Paris don't have a very good experience there but I think its just who you run into and where you go. I feel like that can happen any where.

The best part of my trip to Paris was we just had to hop on the Chunnel from London. Once I arrived in Paris it was so mesmerizing! It's unlike any other place I have ever been to. I definitely did not have enough time to do everything I wanted, so that's just an excuse to go back!

My absolute favorite memory was climbing the Eiffel Tower! And no I did not take the elevators up, I walked up all of those stairs. It was a challenge especially in the cold but it was worth every step. Once I got to the top the views took my breath away. Then the light show came on when we were up at the top, and that experience alone was amazing! To warm myself up after I got a crepe from a stand by the Eiffel Tower, and things just don't get better than that!

The Louvre was another favorite of mine in Paris! I'm usually not one for museums but I could spend days there and it would be an easy thing to do because there is so much to see! I saw the Mona Lisa which was very surreal. Just standing in front of such an iconic piece of art left me speechless. Though for some reason I thought it would be bigger, it was a lot smaller than I imagined it would be. It was such an amazing experience, I would go back in a heart beat and plan out a whole day to spend at the Louvre!

The best part about traveling when it is winter all different cities decorate their towns and have special events. Similar to Winter Wonderland in London, the streets were filled with a variety of vendors in Paris. There was food, sweet treats, mulled wine, crafts, jewelry and even rides! It was so fun to see decorations for Christmas and it reminded me of a split second of NYC decorations from back home. But I loved Paris even more!

 There is so much to do in Paris and I was there for just a weekend I hope to one day go back soon. I almost forgot to mention the love lock bridge. It is such an iconic symbol of Paris but how to the Parisians feel about it? Check out this article which may give you some new insights of the bridge. http://abcnews.go.com/International/paris-locks-bridge-love-locks/story?id=25683052