The Spring Break of My Life

by Carolina Azcuna

Marrakech

I can confidently say that this past break was the best spring break I have had to date. I was lucky enough to travel to Marrakech, Madrid, Lisbon, and Porto with a friend that I made here in Paris in one of my classes. We both wanted to visit t

                Our first stop was Marrakech, Morocco, one of our favorites of the entire trip. The weather was incredible, the people were so kind to us, and the food was delicious. The culture there is so warm and so rich, and it was amazing that almost everybody spoke Arabic, French, Spanish, and English! My friend and I who traveled are both obsessed with languages and speak French, Spanish, and English, so this was a fun challenge for us. The city was beautiful and had such a different feel to it unlike anything I had ever experienced before. The market required bargaining to the lowest prices possible, like a game where you had to start at half the price you suggested because it was all just an act to them. Needless to say, we loved Marrakech with its culture and vibrant people.

Lisbon

                Next was Madrid, where we stayed with my friend’s cousin, so we had a much more local and personal experience. The food in Madrid, I may have to say, was my favorite out of all the cities. The variety was insane and everything was just so good and rich in flavor. Walking around the city was beautiful, and the friends we made helped us have such a good time! It was nice to hear Spanish being spoken instead of entirely French like back in Paris, so that added on to the home warmth that we felt. We experience the nightlife on our last night in Madrid. We went out and did not get back to the apartment until 6:30 am, so we didn’t sleep and left at 8 am for our flight to our next location….

                Lisbon, Portugal was the other favorite of the trip. I don’t know if it was because of the open hearted people, the blissful beach, or the nightlife which kept us up until 8 am. Everybody was so kind and so quick to help us find our way, it was really nice to feel so welcomed. It was amazing to just be able to lay on this perfect and open beach, such a contrast from Paris. It was relaxing, warm, and just made us happy to be able to enjoy our view and not worry about anything else. We also experience the nightlife in Portugal, a club on the sand where we didn’t leave until the sun rose.

Madrid

                Finally, we were in Porto, Portugal, a more northern city of Portugal. The city was unlike any the others, on an incline, and full of shops and stone cobbled roads. The only bad thing was that it was rainy the entire time we were there, so we really had to get out and be motivated to explore the city, which we did. It was beautifully decorated and there were all types of people in the city, but it was a much smaller city than the others we had visited. Before we knew it, our time was up and we headed back to Paris! I had a busy and full spring break, and it was perfect. 

Back in Paris,

Carolina

Spring 2013

Paris, France

University of Paris Sorbonne

Hiking in Cinque Terre

by Logan Turnbull

Great view from our hike!

                After a brief hiatus in GSE excursions, we all gathered once again on a trip explained to be the most memorable. This trip was to the famous area, Cinque Terre, which is actually five small towns in Italy that face the Mediterranean Sea. The reason this trip was explained to be the most memorable was because of the free time we were given. Once we arrived at Vernazza by train we were given a map of Cinque Terre and told by our GSE coordinators that we could use the entire day any way we wanted as long as we met at a given meeting point at 6:00 PM to take a train back to Florence. We’ve always been given a good amount of free time during our excursions, but this was the whole day in the beautiful environment of Cinque Terre! 

Amazing landscape at the pier

I walked with a small group of people to the beach at Vernazza to check it out before we started our hike. To get to the beach was simple, yet enthralling. We simply took a left at an intersection in Vernazza and before us lay a small rock cave that opened up to an amazing few of the Mediterranean. We walked through the cave and emerged to get blasted by sunlight and all of the sudden it was if we were at the ocean. Naturally, people took an ample amount of pictures, and while that was going on, some of us took to climbing up the rock cave we recently passed through. Once high up on the rocks you had a great view of the beach below and the sea that stretched to the horizon.

We finally made it to the beach!

                

After taking in some sun we went to the pier in Vernazza and saw some of the tremendous landscape of Cinque Terre. There were vineyards scaling up mountains, little local huts scattered throughout a sea of green nature, and little fishing boats docked ready to be boarded. The views of this area rivaled all the views I had seen previously while studying abroad. We then started our hike to another city, Monterosso. We had heard it was a bit of a hike, but we weren’t expecting anything too demanding. Half an hour later we were all pretty beat, sweating and shedding any layers we had. Going uphill through the vineyards of the mountain takes a good amount of perseverance. However, the path soon leveled out and we were in and out of the shade so we didn’t get too tired. The views throughout the two hour hike were incredible and it allowed you to appreciate the landscape of Italy in a way Florence doesn’t.

The cave leading to the beach in Vernazza

                Once we reached Monterosso we immediately went to the gorgeous beach to lie down and take a rest. This was great because I promised myself I would swim in the Mediterranean before I left so I warmed up and was ready to go in. The water was still a little cold so it took some time to get in, but eventually I just ran in because I saw there was a spot to cliff dive from. With the motivation, I ran in and swam to the cliffs I had previously hiked across while getting to the beach. After a quick climb and encouragement from friends, I jumped in. It was surreal. I was in a beach in Cinque Terre jumping off a cliff into the Mediterranean. The water was clear and I could see the bottom perfectly. To the left of me was a cave I could swim in. I had such an amazing time and I was able to appreciate it more knowing that my semester abroad was coming to a close, sadly. After the beach we met up with our coordinators and had aperitivo right next to another beach. Having a mojito and snack food on the beach with great friends was a great way to wind down an exciting day. It was an amazing trip.

Ciao!

Logan 

Spring 2013

Florence, Italy

Lorenzo de' Medici

Cinque Terre and Verona

by Rachel Thurman

Cinque Terre

This past weekend our group took two daytrips- to Cinque Terre and Verona! First let me start with Cinque Terre on Saturday. Cinque Terre means “five lands”, and it encompasses part the northwest coast of Italy, with five little towns all built on the cliffs overlooking the water. The land is terraced in for farming, because it is so steep, and it is quintessential “Italian traditional culture”. We woke up early in order to utilize the whole day, and caught the 7 am train out of Florence. 

Hiking in Cinque Terre

We arrived a few hours later, and we got off at the fourth of the five towns- Vernazza. We were planning on hiking the coastal path from Vernazza to Monterosso. After grabbing a little bite to eat before the hike, we all walked around the small town for a few minutes, mostly in silence due the fact that we were all gaping with open mouths at the breathtaking beauty. It was nice to be outside of the Florentine city life, because when you step into a place like Cinque Terre, it is like time just ceases to exist. You could easily lawl around the day, and relax by the water, taking in the sun, or sitting at a trattoria for hours on hours just because. I love places like that. My friends and I definitely had a moment of debate over going to the hike or just basking in the sun and enjoying. But we were all dressed in tennis shoes and workout clothes, and we were ready to hike. Not knowing what was coming ahead, we tried to mentally prepare for the 2 hour hike. I have to be honest: probably the hardest hike I have ever done in my life, mostly because of the steepness when you get up into the forest away from the water. But- one hundred percent worth it. We got a little workout in, and we arrived in Monterosso, sweaty and shaky haha! The views from the path were out of this world, however, and I cannot explain any better- all I have to say is that everyone needs to experience the hike. No matter what your age- you can get through it, and you will feel proud once you reach the next town!  Once in Monterosso, we walked around the town, and then met back up with the rest of the group for some drinks and snacks at a fun bar by the beach. It was the perfect way to close out our day before taking the train back. Cinque Terre was quite the adventure, but wow, what a gem of Italy!

Verona

On Sunday, we got to see a totally different type of city from Cinque Terre: Verona. We got on the bus in the morning, and I had no idea what to expect. All I knew or heard about Verona was from Romeo and Juliet, and the movie “Letters to Juliet”. (I know, I am not a huge history buff…and it is a slightly pathetic that I did not know more). But hey, I was there to learn what Verona had to offer! Now, I will say that I was basing my expectations from the movie, and I thought Verona was a small, cute little village. On the contrary, Verona is a pretty good size city! Not as large as Milan or Florence, but a decent size, and from the minute I got off of the bus, I was in love. Not because of Romeo and Juliet. Because the city itself had the most wonderful feel about it. Part of me even said to myself “wow it would be nice to study abroad here…”. We had a great walking tour around town, and saw a great traditional farmer’s market, Romeo’s house, Juliet’s house and balcony, the arena/colosseum, the bridge, and more. We even wrote notes to Juliet, and maybe we will find true love! Hehe. It is not a huge city, but it was the perfect size in my opinion. Since Verona is so north in Italy, almost to the German border, there are a lot of German influences, and many things are even written in German. At the farmer’s market, we saw sausage and hot dog stands, pretzel stands, even beer steins! It was cool to see how the city had influences from another country. I wish I had more time in Verona, or enough time to make it back there before I leave (in two weeks-gasp!) to go home. I am definitely putting it on my list to come back and stay there a few days. We left the city and took the bus to a great place for lunch, and in the knick of time, right as a huge thunderstorm and pouring rain hit, we were on our way back to Florence.

Juliet Statue

I do not know if I could pick one over the other for which place I liked better. The towns were both so different and unique. That is an element I have come to love here in Italy- you can drive an hour away, and be in an entirely new environment. I had a couple moments of reflection on the bus back, as I realized it was our last trip out of Florence with GSE. We have had some amazing trips, and I am trying my best to make the most of every moment left in my final two weeks. It is May, spring is in the air, the sun is shining, and I am freaking out that the end is coming soon….

Peace, love, and beaches,

Rachel Thurman

Spring 2013

Florence, Italy

Lorenzo de' Medici

The Last Hoorah

by Olivia Dixon

Inma's beautiful outside patio

 I cannot believe my study abroad experience is actually coming to an end. Four months has never gone by so fast. This past weekend we had our farewell lunch with the whole GSE family and the fact that I am going home became a reality. This was the last time that everyone was going to be together and it was definitely a very bittersweet event. We have all become so close and have gone through so much together this semester that parting ways is not easy. Even with the sadness of saying goodbye, the farewell lunch, like all of our events together, was a great time! 

One big GSE family in the living room

Inma, our program director did more than just take us to a restaurant, she invited us all into her personal home! I always say how we are all one big family, so this just sealed the deal. Inma’s house was absolutely gorgeous and just a block away from the beach. I felt right at home at her place from the moment I walked in. It was such a nice day out and we got to sit out on the front patio while Inma’s mother-in-law barbequed and prepared an amazing meal for us. We all agreed it was by far the best meal we had eaten this entire trip. It was an absolute feast! We sat around the table for hours reminiscing on memories of our trip and future plans. It was such the perfect way to bring one of the best experiences of my life to a close. 

Always room for dessert!

After finishing up with lunch some of the group wandered down to the beach while the others (like myself) who were too stuffed to walk, went and lounged in the living room. Inma pulled out her photo album of her wedding for us to look through which was so fun to see after hearing all the stories about it through out the trip. The beach-goers made their way back to the house and that’s when the party really got started. Crazy things happen when we’re all together and in this case it was the creation of the official GSE Harlem shake video. Don’t ask how it came about because we can’t even tell you, but it happened, it was a success and it ended the day with a bang. I honestly never wanted to leave Inma’s house because that meant that the farewell lunch was over which then meant that soon the trip would be over as well. Everyone says that your study abroad experience flies by but you don’t fully understand until you’re here. I would give anything to rewind time and do it all over again but until someone perfects time travel I’ll just be looking forward to the future GSE Spring 2013 reunions soon to come! Thanks for reading all my blogs! Hope you enjoyed and if you’re reading this in consideration of studying abroad in Barcelona…DO IT!

Hasta luego!

Olivia

Barcelona, Spain

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)

London Weekend

By Carolina Azcuna

I spent this past weekend in an amazing city that I really fell in love with in just two days…London. I really can’t describe how happy this city made me; not just because I had friends from home there, but also because the weather and the vibe of everything was perfect. It has been my favorite trip offered by GSE for sure, and I am so glad I was able to take part in it. We left early Saturday morning from Paris, and arrived in London a little bit before 11:00 am. We had a tour on an open top bus planned throughout the city, and although it was a little bit windy in the morning, it was the perfect way to get a grasp of the city and try and piece it together. There was so much to see every single way we went, and I was taking as many pictures as I could. As soon as the tour was over, we grabbed some amazing lunch in an Indian restaurant, which I’ve heard London is pretty well known for. The food was incredible, and we headed back to the hotel afterwards to meet up with my friends from home.

                My friends were really the perfect tour guides all weekend. They took us shopping in a store that I could not believe existed. It was about 6 stories of everything you would ever need, so like a mall but in a much more confined space and just labeled as one store. To make a long story short, it was incredible and I suggest everybody visit this placed called TopShop. Afterwards, we rushed around town and went out at night to this club that used to be a mental institute and is now a very well-known nightclub with all types of music. It sounds kinds of creepy, but it was a really cool club with amazing architecture and a bunch of people.

                The next day was one of the best days I think I’ve ever had. We woke up and headed out to a pub for lunch where a bunch of locals were going crazy about a soccer game, and we had a delicious lunch with perfect weather. Afterwards, we headed over to the famous Platform 9 ¾ just because we simply had to. As we left the train station, we decided to go to Abbey Road, which was the one thing I had told myself I had to do before I left London. It was incredible. I am a huge fan of the Beatles, and so is my dad, so I thought of him everywhere I went. There were people taking pictures from all angles of the road, as the locals annoyingly tried to get by to their destination. We met a Russian guy, about our age, who was taking polaroids from the perfect angle, stopping traffic, and would give you your picture for 3 pounds. It was the best 3 pounds I have ever spent because now I have the perfect memory of a place I had been thinking about for so long. We went to Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, and then got a delicious dinner at another pub and walked along through a beautiful Park before we had to head back to Paris. It was really the perfect weekend, seeing my friends from Maryland, and spending time in such an amazing city, experiencing a culture that is so closely linked to a group of artists that I have looked up to for so long. I loved London beyond words.

Loving for London,

Carolina

Spring 2013

Paris, France

University of Paris Sorbonne - Paris IV

Using the Gym in Florence

by Logan Turnbull

Swan Gym Membership

                During my stay in Florence I’ve enjoyed a wide variety of delectable Italian cuisine. I do often cook for myself in my apartment, but every now and then a group of us will go out to eat somewhere either to try something new or just because we can’t resist the taunting aroma of food at every corner of every street. That being said, it’s understandable that many people, after creating a habit of eating in restaurants, begin to worry about what all this pasta and pizza is doing to their bodies. Don’t worry, no one here I know has gained a substantial amount of weight or anything, but some people begin to feel slightly more sluggish. Luckily, I predicted this unpleasant possibility and signed up for a gym membership within the first 2 weeks of arriving to Florence. I usually like to exercise and try to stay fit, so finding a gym was important to me when I got here. Others in my apartment have begun to follow suit.

The Cardio Section

                When I was looking into getting a gym membership I was worried about how to set one up. I wasn’t sure if people working at any of the gyms would speak English well enough or if I’d be able to only have a membership for the four months I’d be in Florence. After trying to research it on my own, I ended up emailing my GSE orientation leader, Chiara, to see if she had any suggestions. She gave me a list of a few gyms and I looked them up to see if one would be a better fit for me. I also figured out how far away they were so I wouldn’t have to hike across Florence every time I wanted to go. I settled on one gym called Swam Gymnastics Center and went to go see if I could set up a four month membership. It turned out to be extremely easy, as the owner spoke English quite well and I got my own card. Now, whenever I show up, I just give the desk worker my card, they give me a key to a locker, I change in the locker room, and then I go and work out as I please.

Pulley Machines

                The facilities were another worry I had initially, but that quickly diminished. I walked around the gym before I signed up to see if they provided all the equipment I was hoping for in terms of exercises. I was pleased to find a cardio section, a free weights section, a core section, and plenty of pulley machines. I’d easily be able to do all the exercises I wanted here! They actually offer classes too; I personally don’t use them as I like to workout at my own pace, but a few of the girls in my apartment have started attending them routinely. The price for my four month membership was about the same as one would be at the YMCA in the United States, so all-in-all I was very satisfied. I usually like to go in the morning because I don’t have classes then and it’s usually less crowded so I can use whatever I want. I’ve come to know the men who work there and they’re all extremely nice. One of them works as a personal trainer and I usually go when he’s working with someone and I’ve noticed he does a great job with each person he helps. The only thing you have to be wary of is that all the weights are in kilograms, not pounds, but there’s 2.2 pounds in a kilogram! It’s tough to exercise when you’re busy traveling, seeing all of Florence, and meeting new people. Signing up for a gym has proven to be extremely beneficial to me and I recommend it to anyone who plans on studying abroad in Florence!

Ciao!

Logan

Spring 2013

Florence, Italy

Lorenzo de' Medici - Florence

Montmarte

by Carolina Azcuna

Some friends that we made here always spoke of this one spot in Paris that we had to visit before leaving. They said it had an amazing view of the city and the vibe was one of a kind, so of course we paid this place a visit. Sacre Coeur, meaning sacred heart, is the area of Montmarte I have come to love and appreciate. I have been to Sacre Coeur twice, and definitely plan on going back a couple more times. It is a big white basilica on the top of an overlooking hill, surrounded by artists and cafes and booming with culture at all times. It has a beautiful and seemingly endless view of the city, which can be appreciated even more with a clear blue sky. With some bottles of wine, some good company, and a guitar or two, it always makes for a really nice and relaxing time. It is almost always decently crowded, with a good vibe and people enjoying themselves and playing some music.

The first time I went, we met up with some friends who were singing and playing guitar on the basilica steps, and made our way down to the large space of grass where groups of friends lay down and just relax with the nice view. I stopped at this little store on the uphill that sold chocolate everything! There were all sorts of different types of chocolates and deserts, and they were amazing. There is plenty of entertainment, with street performers and music all around. On a nice sunny day, this place is perfect for a good mood and really a memorable time. Honestly, my first visit there gave me one of the best feelings I have ever had. I know that sounds kind of ridiculous and like I’m lying, but I remember laying on the grass in my dress, hearing laughter and the guitar strings, and just thinking about how happy I was at that very second.  

The part of the city surrounding the infamous hill is also beautifully busy and usually pretty packed with people making their way to the basilica. Close to the Moulin Rouge, this part of town has a lot to see, and is never empty and dull. Simply walking up to the basilica, you see so many people and get a taste for the view that you are going to witness at the very top. The road is much more intimate than many of Paris’ larger crossings, and the cobblestone paths make for quite a different environment than we are used to in the constantly busy streets of the central city. In other words, it’s a nice change. It’s cool because it’s so different. People go there just to enjoy the view, the company, and the vibes. It is a very simple place but has so much to offer and makes you feel so good, that there’s no wondering why it’s always quite busy with people from all over.

From the top of the city,

Carolina

Spring 2013 

Paris, France

University of Paris Sorbonne - Paris IV