Florence

Whenever you start to plan your spring break make sure that you go where you want to go and go where you will enrich your experience at the Abbey. I went to Vienna Austria, Interlaken, Switzerland, Venice, Florence, and Rome. My favorite city in Italy was Florence. Whenever I started my journey I thought I would enjoy Rome the best but I loved Florence. It you go to Italy you must go to Florence. Do not sell yourself short on your time there either. I wish I would have stayed there another day. If you go you must go to the top of the city, bring a bottle, of wine and reflect on your time there. If you do all of the major tourist sites you would have seen so many wonderful pieces of art. My favorite site I say at in Florence was the Duomo. It is a church, bell tower, and baptistery down by the famous artists of the early Renaissance era. Also, if you go to Florence you have to stay in the hostel Leonardo House. It is in the best location ever!!!
http://hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Leonardo-House/Florence/2165is the link to the great hostel I talked about earlier.

Wicklow County, Ireland

It has always been a dream of mine to hike through the Wicklow Mountians of Ireland. I am a big fan of the outdoors and love nature. With that said for a few days of my spring break I decided to go to Ireland. About 45 minutes outside of Dublin there is an unbelievable mountian region. I can not comment anything about Dublin because I did not go there, however I here if you are looking for a fun big city than go. The first day I was there I went to Glendalough and this was in the heart of the Wicklow Mountian National Park. At this location was St. Kevin Monastery built in the 6th century. Being a history major i had to go there. It was very cool, walking in the ruins was very moving. With it being in a national park there was nature trails all over the mountians. We decided to go on one trail up this mountain to this water fall. BEAUTIFUL. Everywhere you looked it was just amazing. Ireland was so green and breath taking. Next we decided to hike down to the upper lake. Looking out on the lake and seeing the mountains behind it was amazing. I knew that I will never forget that image for as long as I live. Walking on another trail along the upper lake I spotted a place called St Kevin's Den. Walking to that location I read the little insert and it said that this very spot was where St. Kevin ( the monk who founded the Monastery) would come an meditate. So i did the same. I was still and just took in God's unbelieveable creation. Religious or not i would highly encourage anyone to visit Glendalough because it indeed is one of the mose beautiful places I have ever been. The next day we visited the Powerscourt Gardens near the famous sugar loaf mountian. The gardens were pretty but i would only go in the summer time because the majority of the gardens were not in bloom. Irish pubs are just like the movies. Fun and good music. Please visit Ireland because I promise you will enjoy every minute of it.

Da Vinci's House and Amboise

Amboise was my favorite chateau because that is where the famous Leonardo Da Vinci is buried. Francis the 1st, Da Vinci's good friend, gave Da Vinci a small house to live this town. Da Vinci's died there and in the arms of his good friend Francis the 1st. Visiting his home was incredible because you walked where this Reinssance man walked, where he lived, and most importantly where he thought. His house was very small, however the grounds around it were large and beautiful. His final show Da Vinci's had all of his works on his lawn allowing many people to come and enjoy. He was not only an artist, but he was a engineer, a mathematician, a architect, and a scientist. His devices and contraptions that were all over his home and his gardens. Next, the Abbey Group had lunch on the river and we just enjoyed each other and laughed about past experience and funny monents. Then, Carlee and I visited the Chateau. We saw the chapel where Da Vinci was buried. The chapel is very simply. It just blew me away that I was fortunate to see where Da Vinci lived and where he is buried. After seeing the chateau we met up with the group and enjoyed the town because it was a beautiful day in the Loire Valley.

Travel Tips

Traveling is wonderful but it also is stressful. A few quick tips. Ryanair is and hour and a half outsid of the city and very often goes on strike. Easyjet is a great airline to use. Charlotte and I used Easyjet coming home from Rome. Give yourself about two hours preparation time before you plane leaves. My advice it take trains because you get to see the countryside of Europe. Charlotte and I on our way from Vienna, Austria to Interlaken, Switzerland took a nine hour train ride, but we got to go the Alps. Outside looked like a winter wonderland. By your train tickets in Italy once you get their, and the not so nice trains are much cheaper. Always go second class because you are more likely to meet other college students. Also be friendly to others while you travel all the while being careful. If something looks sketchy than it probably is sketchy. here is a helpful link for travel.
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/

Monet's House and Gardens

Claude Monet and his family lived in Giverny, France. This small town in Normany is about one hour outside of France. Monet moved there because he wanted to get away from the loud city of Paris. He wanted to surround himself in a small quiet setting. That he did!!! Monet created these beautiful gardens also his gardens uncluded the waterlillies. It was in these controled gardens where he painted his most famous works. This impressionist did not care what critics thought about his works. He believed that if a painting touches one's soul than it is indeed art. Being a huge fan of impresssion and Monet I decided to go. While looking online, My friends and I found a bike tour company located in Paris that would take us on a bike tour of Vernon and Giverny. This American company is called Fat Tire Bike Tours. You booked out spot online for Saturday and headed to Paris on Friday night. After a fun night at the Latin Quarter the girls and I were so pumped the next morning about this tour. The tour begins at the train station. You meet up with the group, jump on a 40 min. train to Vernon, get your bike :), head to a market, have lunch next to a lake(where there was a sailboat race going on), go down a bike trail and then arrive in Girverny. Our tour guides were close to our age and were alot of fun. The bikes were beach cruzers so very safe and easy. Once in Girverny you enter Monet's House and his Gardens. I encourage you to go in May because anytime before that the gardens will not be in bloom. We went our last weekend at the Abbey. The waterlilles were amazing. To be thinking that these grounds inspired all of Monet's famous works was mind blowing. His house and studio was precious. It was a great day indeed. The guides also take you to Monet's grave. The bike trail back was much fun and riding through Vernon was fun as well. After putting the bikes up we hoped on a train back to Paris. The trip took about 8 hours so it is a full day. Girverny was probably my favorite town besides Pontlevoy in France. Monet's was a very talented artist and it was a honor to visit where he lived and flouished as an artist.http://www.viator.com/tours/Paris/Giverny-and-Monets-Garden-Bike-Tour/d479-3588MONET

Stay in the Loire Valley!!!!

One thing that I have enjoyed the most about my experience at the Abbey is simply staying in the Loire Valley, especially in the spring time. You must appreciate the place you and living and the beauty it possesses. Go to all of the Loire Alive trips you can to see the chateau’s of the Kings and Queens of France. The towns are charming too. A lot of people go and get piercings in Blois. I have enjoyed going to the surrounding towns very much. You can catch the bus and it only cost two euro to get there and two euro to get back. Ambroise is a really cool city to go to because Leonardo da Vinci lived there. You can go visit his house. Blois is beautiful because it is on the river. Blois also has lovely shopping. Here is a website with information on all the chateau's in the Loire Valley. www.simplychateau.com/chateaufrance

London :)

I would encourage every Abbey student to visit the beautiful and historical city of London. My friend Lindsey and I traveled to London the first two days of our spring break. We flew East Jet and yes it was affordable however we learned if you do not have to check any luggage than it makes your trip alot easier and less stressful. Also, if you do have carry on luggage make sure it fits in a small back pack. Saying that you should keep in mind that the less you pack the better your trip will be. We flew into London Luton. This airport is 45 min. outside of the city. DON'T STRESS. You just ask for a bus ticket to the train station and from there you take the train inside the city. The train will arrive at a tube station. The tube is their subway system. So clean and so easy to opperate. Buy an Oyster Card it will come in handy because buying individual tickets will get old and expensive. In this post I have included the link to the hostel we stayed at. It was in the Kennsington District the location was perfect Lindsey and I walked everywhere. We went to these places and I encourage you to go: Big Ben( must see), Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey( all right by each other too). Westminster's Abbey is incredible it holds so much history my favorite part is the Poet's Corner. Also see all the government buildings, Buckingham Palace(changing of the guard is a must see), Kennsington Palace, Tower of London(where Anne Boleyn was killed and crown jewels are held), London Bridge, St Paul Cathdral(beautiful), and Shakesphere's Globe. Something special about London are its parks. Be sure to visit St. James and Hyde park. With only being there for two days I wasn't able to see any musuems, BUT go London's Imperial War museum is suppose to be amazing as well as the British History musuem. Be sure and see plays too and if you are into shopping go to Harrods. I hope this has helped. Know that London is very safe and clean. The people of kind and appreciate visiters wanted to learn in their city. Be sure to go to a pub grab a beer and get you some fish and chips :) :) http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Astor-Kensington/London/19000?source=googleadwordshostelsbyname&gclid=CLnOu8zAwKECFQ-Y2AodyB6xEQ