Buda & Pest

After being home for about a week from Copenhagen, I planned a sort of impromptu trip to Budapest with Ryan. He had just finished his program in Italy and we decided to rendezvous. Budapest is divided by the Danube River, therefore splitting it into the Buda side, and the Pest side.

The first day we were there we made our way to Heroe's Square, it was really beautiful, although I have no idea what it commemorates!

We also found this really cool monument, and yet again don't know what it commemorates, we couldn't find a sign!

That evening we just stumbled around town making our way along the river and up to the Fisherman's Bastillion. This is the Parliament building from across the river.

Then from the top of the hill.

Fisherman's Bastillion.

The Chain Bridge from the top of the Buda side.
That night we had a typical Hungarian meal of Paprika Chicken and dumplings, it was delish. And we topped off our meal with this typical Hungarian dessert, it was AMAZING.

All in all, it was a great trip to a beautiful city, and welcomed time spent with Ryan since we hadn't seen each other in so long. The next weekend Ryan came to Prague, and then after that we rendezvoused again in Amsterdam!

København

My 5 day visit to Copenhagen started 2 days after I returned from Paris, I'm crazy I know.

My trip started off very amazingly as me and Ally just walked around the city and lounged in sunny places. I met all of her friends from her dorm and had a great night on the town. The next day Ally had school so I walked around by myself, but then she left early so we could go to the park. I guess in Copenhagen there is a very big festival thing in a huge park, so we went there and lounged around with Matt, another friend from KState, beer and snacks and met some awesome Danish people.

At the park for May Day.

That night we went over to Matt's dormitory and to the bar there because he always hangs out there and knows the bartenders. We had a great night of lots of shots, and amazing Danes.

My KState buddies!

We love pretzels.

The next day, Saturday, we set out for Christiania. Christiania are these old army barracks that have been settle by a bunch of hippies. It was a really cool chilled out part of town with a really pretty lake.

The Church on the way to Christiania.

Marking the entrance.

The lake where we ate our sandwiches.

When you leave Christiania you re-enter the EU....Well so they say.

One of the canals... I love them.

Enjoying a hot dog with everything on it, apparently something you HAVE to do in Denmark.

Sunday was my last full day in town so we tried to do everything that I hadn't seen yet, but it was kind of rainy and gross, but we made the most of it. For breakfast we got danishes at the best bakery in Copenhagen. Then we met up with Sara, another friend from KState, and her mom to go to a sculpture museum that I loved. We also went to New Harbor, which is one of the most famous images in Copenhagen. And we went to an amazing museum called the Kunstindustrimuseet, it was basically a collection of furniture that I loved. We also walked all along the harbor finding a church that we absolutely loved, and ended at the Little Mermaid. Hans Christian Andersen, the author of the Little Mermaid was from Copenhagen, so he's a really big deal there obviously. After walking so much, we called it a day and made dinner at Ally's dorm, and worked on our studio projects.

At Nyhavn...aka New Harbor, one of the most famous shots of Copenhagen.

Stonework in the sidewalk at the Royal Palace.

Church we found that we loved.

The Little Mermaid!

The Marble Church.

My delish tart from the best bakery in Copenhagen.

The Stock Exchange Building.

Church of the Holy Ghost.

This was such a great trip filled with an amazing city and getting to see some of my amazing friends. I headed back to Praha on Monday morning and prepared for my next trip later in the week, Budapest with Ryan!

Paris, je t'aime

After only being in Prague for less than 24 hours, we headed to Paris. It started out a little rough because we were all so tired, and our hostel wasn't the best, but we set out to sight see, and I completely fell in love with this city. Here are our adventures in photos.

Thursday- After arriving we headed to Sacre Couer, had lunch at a delicious French cafe, walked along the Seine River, climbed the towers at Notre Dame, and headed to bed early because we were exhausted.

Climbing Montmarte and seeing Sacre Couer.

The door to Sacre Couer.

Invaders, they are all over the city.

Notre dame, we didn't see the Hunchback!

You step on this to wish to return to Paris.

Candles inside the Cathedral.

From the tower.

Pompidou Center.

The Art Nouveau metro stations that I am obsessed with.

Friday- We spent the entire day at Versailles, and the weather was absolutely gorgeous so we took a nap by Marie Antoinette's private estate. It was definitely one of my favorite things we did in Paris.

The main gate at Chateau Versailles.

Fabric wallcovering in the Chateau.

Hall of Mirrors, the hall that connected Louis XIV's bed chambers to his offices.

Marie Antoinette's bedroom.

Looking back at the Chateau from the garden.

The beautiful and huge garden.

Drapery at the Grand Trianon, Marie Antoinette's estate.

The Pont Trianon, Marie Antoinette's smaller getaway.

Saturday- We ate breakfast at the cafe we all fell in love with, found an amazing flea market near Montmarte, went to an art exhibit at the Pompidou, and to the Musee Picasso.

That's a BOWL of hot chocolate, at the best French cafe we went to.

Owl trivet I found at a flea market, I wanted it so bad...

Going up the escalator at the Pompidou.

Courtyard at Musee Picasso.

Sunday- We awoke early to head to the Louvre, it was ridiculously crowded, but so amazing. We also visited the Arc de Triomphe, and couldn't believe that we were actually there sitting on something so historic. And then to cap the evening off we shared a bottle of champagne on the grass of the Eiffel Tower, and saw it sparkle at dusk.

Mona Lisa at the Louvre.

Napoleon's Apartment in the Louvre.

The Arc de Triomphe.

Champagne on the grass of the Eiffel Tower.

The Eiffel tower sparkling.

Monday- This was a very relaxed day, me and Caitie shopped and just enjoyed the beautiful Paris weather. We also had a glass of wine at the cafe that is in the movie Amelie, it was pretty crazy. Then we went to the Andrew Bird concert, and it was completely amazing. I have a newfound love for him and his violin.

The cafe where Amelie worked.

Andrew Bird concert.

Tuesday- Completely exhausted after our traveling, we headed back to Praha, and were so glad to get there.

Up next: My 5 days in Copenhagen!