Au Revoir Paris!

My time in Paris has come to an end... but will be picked up again sometime soon, I can feel it. You know when you meet someone, and for some reason you just have a feeling you will see them again??? Being in Paris I have done everything my heart has desired, and redone and revisited my favorite places. There are of course more that I want to do, and things I will look forward to doing again. I hope the next time I am in Paris I am with someone who I can show Paris to... the way that I have seen Paris, and lived in Paris. I was given an amazing opportunity to live in Paris for a month, with some of the most amazing people... PARISIANS. I have ventured to places only locals know about, as well as the top tourist places. I have had wonderful recommendations by Naomi, Jake (TAs) and Teo who all have lived in Paris, as well as recommendations from my fellow classmates, and through this blog I have passed on many of these gems... keep the information flowing: Next time you hear someone is going to Paris tell them about the Louvre's secret entrance and Creperie de Josselin.
I am heading to Italy next, and I am so excited!!! Although part of me wishes I could stop at home, even for just a couple hours, I am reminded everyday: There really is no place like home. It has been tough being away from home, I have never been away without family, not even for a couple days (I realized this the first time I was overcome with the Homesickness flu). Thankfully, technology keeps all of you  a little closer, and Natalie always reminds me that Home is always Home, and it will still be there when I land on August 1st!!!! :)
Okay, enough of that mushy gushy stuff...

CHOCOLAT!!!!!

O'pera... by far the most beautiful building I have ever been in

We saw Harry Potter 3D... in PARIS, great experience

Oh, School Boys... a great reminder of the many picnics with the class

We were blessed with the most amazing TA's on our trip. They were always there with recommendations, as well as sharing special experiences with us. This picture on the left was from our dinner we had on one of our last nights in Paris. We had a whole room to ourselves (very rare in Paris) were we enjoyed a 3 course menu with the WHOLE class. It was bittersweet. I started this post about a week ago, but I have been pretty busy, so I will give a quick summary... Le' Go!

Our last night in Paris was on Bastile Day (I think I spelled that wrong, but I don't want to take the time to google it to figure it out) and there were celebrations all over the city. We went to the Eiffel Tower to listen to some music, but left before the fireworks show at 11... or maybe it was 11:30pm... to get  our last dinner. Then we headed back and by the time we got back the whole area was SWAMPED with people, CRAZY! The fireworks started and our view was "meh" so Naomi, Jake, Kailey, Calvin, Ray and I decided the view from Calvin and HBO's room on the 7th floor form our Apartment would be WAY better (just like Teo told us) so we booked it back to the Apartment and had 17 minutes left of the show... IT WAS C'EST MAGNIFIQUE! I will have pictures for you and videos when I get home :)
The last day in Paris we had time to kill till 8pm when our train for Italia would depart so Kailey and I decided to hit up our favorite places: Jardin de Luxembourge, Creperie de Jossilin, Cafe in the 6th for cappuccinos and one last stop at the Eiffel Tower... Amazing.

Then we were off to ITALIA!!!!!! I was going to pretend like I wrote this on the train (but we didn't have wifi (wee-fee) so I am actually in Venice now). Overnight trains are iiiinteresting. Kailey and I didn't know there was a Food Car on the train and were dying for real food (not our snacks we stole form the Paris complementary breakfasts) and thankfully we had already befriended the train stewardess and when we told him we were hungry he said "didn't you go to the food car?" Apparently where was a food car about 4 cars down, but it had already closed :( But not for us!!!! He were practically running behind him as he led us there, jumping from car to car. The food was terrible- I didn't even take a picture... weird, I know. But THANKFULLY they had WINE!!!!!
I hardly slept, but in the middle of the night there I woke up (because the train randomly stopped) and I looked out my window and saw these big mountains in Switzerland! I had no idea we were going onto neutral land, so I can say I have been to Switzerland now, right?!?!?!
Finally in the morning we arrived in Venice (although I guess I booked the train to the stop before Venice-- once again, good thing we were friends with the staff, so he let us stay on till Venice. Now we have had two days in Venezia. Last night we saw a firework show because there was a Festival (surprise for us) so the Islands were PACKED! Italy is sooooo different compared to France... but not better, or worst. It's still too soon to tell, but I think I love them both! We went on a Gondola ride via the only female Gondolier. She was really interesting and really nice. She has been giving rides on her Gondola for 17 years and she told us about a special "hidden gem" in Venice. See Pictures. It was windy today, so it was risky for us to go on a ride, but since we all knew how to swim we took the risk (true story). at many times we had canals to ourselves... VIP.

I must wrap this up so let me finish with 3 things:
1. Pizza
2. Gelato/ Gelati
3. Bellinis- Kim Kane... You would die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will fill you all in more later, but for now: Arrivederci!!!

Concert in the Park

The really nice lady working said this was her favorite... she has really good taste!

Mousse au Chocolat

O'pera Cake

They use all natural ingredients in their Gelati (Venice)

Bellini<3 Kim Kane, you would DIE!!!! They have it everywhere in Italia! I will have one a day for you ;)

Finally, Italia has Veggies!!

2,50 euro for a slice of really good Pizza... finally cheap food!

Venezia

The "Metro" for Venice is via boats

Gondola ride with Alex (the only female Gondolier) She was great, everyone should go to her a real experience

The "hidden gem" Alex told us about, it inspired many Fairytales

Gelati- we can make a whole blog all about the Gelato, its everywhere!!!

p.s. All the pictures are in random order because I am not techy enough to get the pictures to move when and where I want them to, they decide. I wrote this post over a span on about 2 weeks, so I am sorry if it make no sense, just enjoy the pictures, we will talk later.
xoxo,
KMG

Me, Naomi, Jake and Kailey

Robby, Kelly, Kailey, Me, Calvin and Manesh

Presentations in a park... This places doesn't even look like Paris