The Netherlands is my second home.

The Netherlands is my second home.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

I'm in love

Don't get too excited.  
I know with a title like that what you are thinking.
Unfortunately, no there is no gorgeous Dutch boy to spend my chilly autumn nights cozied up next to,
but that's okay!
I'm in love with Groningen.  I'm in love with the Netherlands.  I'm in love with Europe.
This is a very random and not planned blog post, but I had a few random pictures that I never shared that need to be public!
Groningen is so beautiful!
Traveling is so fun, but getting to come home to this cute little Dutch city for the past two months has been a dream.
The first few pictures were trying to salvage the ones that my camera somehow ate.  
The colorful houses! They are kind of far out of the way, so it's taken me a while to get back out there and retake those pictures.  These aren't as good as the ones I lost, but we went as the sun was setting and people were kinda staring at us for taking pictures of their house. 
It was a nice bike ride, but it did take a while.

It is so soon before my mom and sister come!  It's this weekend, and that trip will definitely have tons of pictures.
Taylor Swift's new album came out yesterday and my sister sent me all the songs.
I had Mexican food for the first time in forever last night.
I GOT INTO MUSC FOR NURSING. (you can see my obvious excitement).
So I am in high spirits.

The only sucky thing happening right now is that my dang ankle feels broken.
Martha seriously broke her elbow the other day, so I don't think it's that bad.
But I've been barely able to walk for two days!
I think I strained it too much by running this weekend. 
It better get better by this weekend because I have a lot of walking ahead of me!
I have been resting and resisting going for runs even though the weather has been amazing.
So pray for my foot to heal, I don't know what's wrong with it.

Well, there is your random weekly word from me, I hope the pictures are entertaining.











I took this while riding a bike, sorry it's blurry. But this is the prettiest street/canal in Groningen, I love it.


Then I turned the flash on and all you can see is that dang tree.  I will get better pictures of this street when I can walk around better, I promise!


We found a cupcake shop.
(strawberry cheesecake, salted caramel, chocolate, carrot cake)


Autumn looks good on Groningen.





Night classes aren't so bad when this is the view, right?


Yeah, we went back for more cupcakes.


But how could you resist this face?


Although my view is a tree and a school, it's growing on me.


A very crowded morning at IKEA breakfast.




I took this mid-jog.


I stopped to take this one.


New favorite coffee shop? (café)


Latte macchiato and "Lazy Noon" (latte with chocolate milk and slagroom)



My uni is so pretty!


I must (really) like this place.
These are "Heavenly Hazels", cappuccinos with hazelnut and whipped cream


The leaves are trying to turn yellow outside my room.  The lighting was really pretty.

Alright lovelies, that's all for now.
xo



Thursday, October 23, 2014

Ciao, da Italia



Adorable, right?




People love selfies





Martha, looking picturesque


Karen, being a tourist ;)




At our first Italian restaurant, where the service was terrible. 
But we're in Venice, so still smiling!




The alley way where our hostel lay.


Beginning to explore






Of course, I was wearing shorts.
They are very Catholic in Italy.






There were (luckily) signs pointing you wherever you needed to go.












View from the gondola.








We shared it with an Australian couple.
They were on their last leg of a 6 month trip!





Apparently they don't have dryers in Italy






I was trying to get the people in costume (in the back)


soz, Karen


They had gondola "street" signs!




I'm obsessed with clotheslines






Back on the Grande Canal






Rialto Bridge




Side view of Rialto Bridge




Typical tourist shot.


She's not actually holding anything












We had great weather



Message in a bottle?  or just litter...



















I wanted that boat. (favorite color)


Another gondola sign! I love it.



Clotheslines!!





Very touristy area.








St. Mark's Cathedral.







Gondolas galor! 





Giant marble and gold staircase, NBD















Inside the Bridge of Sighs (we think)

























And here are the phone pics:


Bfast the first day was delightful.


I love ivy!





Really cool, colorful, expensive pasta!


The Italian's idea of "coffee"




Our view from an outdoor café


Cheers! (enjoying some Spritz)


Gondola selfie!






This is unfortunately the only picture I got featuring the Venetian masks.




(as seen on instagram)



Happy hour cocktails! (mojitos are delish)


We like our wine in pitchers


The best pizza


Just look at that beauty


Even the floor was marble (in St. Mark's Cathedral)



The Italians like to use solid gold in their ceilings.






Literally, gold ceilings.






We convinced the guy to let us get fro-yo even though it was closed.
(we were only a minute late)

And there ya have it, folks! 
xo