We arrived in Florence around noon that day and it was bright and sunny, welcoming us into the city. The weather was a bit colder than we all expected, but that just gave us all the more reason to buy a leather jacket :)

We walked around the city and realized how small and central it really felt. After checking into our hotel, we stopped at a brick oven pizza place, famous and recommended by friends.  In Italy, if you share a personal pizza you get looked at funny. So I was definitely okay with fitting in and slamming a whole one. 

Next we ventured out to see some famous artwork at Firenze MUSEI. We saw some famous works by Leonardo and all of the artwork commissioned by the Medici family. Giovanni alone with other names popped out to me thanks to my AD117 art history course I took last year. That class may have broke my 4.0 but it sure actually taught me something worth referencing.

Since food coma and museums are a terrible combination, I wanted to get out of there after an hour or so. Caffeine and shopping was next and that sounded like an ideal afternoon pick me up. We wandered the streets and made our way back to the hotel to get ready for dinner and going out. One friend in the group was turning 21 and we found a great bar with other study abroad students!

When In London! Said no one ever. I travelled to Rome to meet a friend (we had actually only met once, and that was on a weekend trip with our boyfriends) but when you find a good friend, it's fairly obvious. 

I arrived to Rome and found my way onto a shuttle bus that took me to Alex's school where I met her after class. This was one of the first places she took me, and I was breathe-taken!

After walking around and buying a new pair of boots, since my feet were raw from my other shoes, we went out to dinner at this mozzarella bar with all of her friends studying abroad.

Yes it was fantastic. You pick your flavor mozzarella and your sides and sauces and it all comes together wonderfully. 

Then we proceeded to order pasta to share, which was not enough after we saw the pizza. So we ordered that too... it's okay. We were on this new Italian diet where you ate as much as you could every two hours. We ended the evening with bar hopping and international clubbing, which was a good but tiring choice.

Today I grabbed some tea and a blueberry muffin from the cafe next door and ventured out to find some good shopping. Well - I found it and did major damage. I hope my dad isn't reading this.

Covent Gardens is 6 stops away on the tube and is group of cobblestone streets filled with strings of lights, small boutiques, and great pubs. I exited the tube station and stood at the exit not knowing which way I should walk first, left right straight or back home because I knew I would spend too much money here!

I started with the markets, looking at all of the souvenirs and handmade goods from locals. There were beautiful paintings, old beer glasses made into cups, handmade jewelry, scarfs, you name it. I managed to walk through without buying anything. I ventured from store to store and fell in love with everything I tried on. Looking around, women wearing fur coats and platform booties walked past me looking so great. It just made me want to buy more!

There were pieces that I purchased in New York City during my time there that I will always remember. I wear them and it reminds me of the good times I had there. I treated myself to two new dresses and a flowy new "go-to" blouse that I'm sure all my friends back at school will be borrowing!!

I ended my excursion with a double shake burger and a strawberry shake from the infamous Shake Shack. Probably the best day since I got here. 

Today was my first day working for Suzie Turner at my embellishments & beading internship. I learned how to handle delicate lace and although it was basic, they were fundamentals that I was learning. The building is beautiful and the studio is creative and has good vibes - although the heat was out! The sun came out during lunch and I watched boats line up in the Chelsea Harbor. It was beautiful!

I had to leave work a little early due to horrible jet lag, so hopefully tomorrow I can work a full day.

I also have trips planned to go to Paris, Sevilla, and maybe Brussels during the few weekends I have here. Stay tuned!

X

 So I moved into my apartment yesterday and got all settled in. I forced myself to stay awake all day since the first day I got here, I took an accidental 5 hour nap. I think naps are the enemy when it comes to jet lag.

Anyway, my first night here was loud. The busy streets shed noise from trucks unloading, people coming back from the bars at 4AM, and loud conversations between others on the street. I slept from midnight till 4 and then found myself wide awake until now, morning.

I am also starving. I have been counting down the minutes until restaurants open outside, because my fridge is broken and I have no real people food in here. How sad is it that I am actually going to be the first one in Subway this morning? 

And my appetite has been WAY off. I am craving a sandwich filled with meat and cheeses and spicy mustard, while I should want breakfast. 

At least I can talk to people back at home when I find myself up in the middle of the night here! It's not too lonely being awake when you can chat with your loved ones. The only issue is, sleep deprivation makes me so emotional. So I find myself crying for no reason when I skype my boyfriend, but I have just accepted the fact that I am a jet-lagged, slap happy, hormonal tourist for the first week I am here.

OK subway opens in 10 minutes - gotta run.

XX

So - one of the best parts of traveling is finding those nook restaurants and cozy cafes, where all of the locals go. I have been trying to stop in places that look promising, but have not been impressed. I guess I am just spoiled from good food back at home.

Once I familiarize myself with the good areas and restaurants, I feel like my meals will be better. This is a photo of tonights dinner, I made the mistake of going at 8:15 so the bread was really stale and the veggies were mush, but it was fine.

Today was a long day, considering yesterday never really ended for me. My flight got in early, pulling into London Heathrow at 4:52AM. I tried to stay positive saying, oh good this way I can call my parents they'll still be awake, and I can watch the sun rise. Turns out the sun didn't rise until like 8:30. And set today before 5. Depressing & dim.

My ride to the airport was awkward and the driver had a radio station that said something like, "Here in London you would never talk to your neighbor, even if they can give advice or tips" this will come in handy later...

Walking around Kensington in the early morning was quiet, but crowded. No one honked, talked, made phone calls, they just put their headphones in and walked. I could hear the sound of my breath as I tried to keep warm. 

I dropped into a Starbucks for Wifi to look at a map. I also have to admit that seeing a Starbucks was probably one of the more comforting things to see in an unknown city. That was my trick venturing around NYC, I would just stop in a Starbucks and regroup and figure out where I was going while sipping on my favorite drink.

So, 10 minutes later I decided that Starbucks sucks here. It didn't taste anything like lattes or mistos from home, and it was honestly depressing. I drank it anyway because the pounds to dollar conversion made me cringe and I wasn't about to let that go to waste.

I decided to buy an unlimited monthly pass and familiarize myself with the tube stations. The tube reminds me a lot of the subway in NYC, and even the L in Chicago. Only difference? No one talked. Silence, once again.

THINGS I ADMIT:
The driver was waiting with my name on a board and I felt really cool.
I wish people would talk more.
Children dress impeccable.
I wish I had a British Accent.
I feel stupid without one.
Starbucks sucks. Coffee in general sucks. Tea time?
Extreme sleep deprivation makes you run into walls, corners, people, dribble water down your shirt during lunch (more like midnight snack), and I miss my boyfriend a lot.

Regarding street style: I'm pretty sure if you wore yoga pants or workout shoes on the tube, people would spit on you.

XO wish me luck