Last night, I was lucky enough to witness one of the most religiously significant events in history. After having received a text from my godmother, reading "White Smoke! Are you there?", I grabbed my coat, told my friends and started running. Our school is up on a hill, about three miles away from the Vatican. We knew that public transpiration was out of the question, and traffic was so bad that we would not make it if we took a cab either. So, we ran. Fifteen of us in a group. All headed to see the newly elected pope.
When we arrived inside of the walls of the Vatican, we could not move. People we packed shoulder to shoulder, pushing and screaming and sweating. My friends and I could not see anything, and we were worried we were going to miss it. All of the sudden, the crowd broke and people started sprinting. Naturally, we followed. In a matter of two minutes, I went from being pushed and elbowed by people to standing about 500 feet away from the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica. At this point, we had all been separated, and the only people left with me were my brother and my friend Lauren. We looked at each other in amazement, all thinking the same thing, "How did we get so lucky?"
Five minutes later, the crowd roared as the Pope stepped out on the balcony. Pope Francesco gave his speech, blessed the audience, and lead everyone in prayer. We could not believe that we were experiencing such an event. Just as Pope Francesco wrapped up, I looked into the crowd of people behind me and saw hundreds of flags waving in the air. Flags of every different country, coming together to celebrate such a wonderful day.
We decided to let the people clear out and stay in Saint Peter's square to take pictures. Through all of the crowds of people, we found the rest of our group. After taking some pictures and meeting a group of high school Danish students, we walked to a restaurant. We drank wine, ate pizza and made a memory of one of the best experiences of our lives.
Baci,
Nikki
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Spring Break Part 2: Lisbon, Portugal
My brother and I arrived in Lisbon around 11:00am. We had no idea what to expect, and we were very excited. My wonderful parents paid for us to stay in the Fontecruz Marriott Hotel. Having stayed in only hostel since we've been abroad, this was paradise. I walked into the lobby and almost fainted. It smelled clean, looked like a hip nightclub and I knew it promised a great stay in Lisbon. We checked in, but our room was not going to be ready until 3:00pm. So, we decided go explore Lisbon a little bit.
The weather was supposed to be rainy all week. We thought the best way to see the city was to take a covered, double decker bus. It was a two-day, hop on, hop off pass. This ended up being one of the best decisions we made. We were given headphones when we purchased the tickets, and a narrator explained the historical significance behind every building and street that we passed. The bus took us to the "must see" spots in Lisbon. We saw the Tower Belèm, the April 25th Bridge (almost identical to the Golden Gate Bridge), the monastery, the basilica, the prison and so much more. More importantly than the specific sights, the bus dropped us off in some of the most authentic neighborhoods of Lisbon, which we had read about in all of the guide books. My brother and I were able to get off in an area that we wanted to further explore, and then get back on the bus when we were done.
For lunch, we got off near the basilica and found this hole in the wall tavern. The menu was completely in portuguese, making it a surprise meal because we pointed to an item and told the waiter to bring it. Portuguese is a mixture of French, Italian and Spanish, but sounds like Polish. We were completely lost, and it was so much fun. A few minutes later the waiter comes to our table with two plates. He put the fish and vegetables in front of me and the fried egg, french fries and sausage in front of Tommy. Anyone who knows us can see how I felt as if the chef personally knew what each of us liked. It was a great first impression of Lisbon.
At 3:00, we went back to the hotel to get our room and nap after a long morning of travel. I walked into the room, expecting a typical Marriott room. I almost fell on the floor when I saw this room at FonteCruz. The bathroom alone was bigger than my dorm room in Rome, the shower head was as big as a 12-inch pizza and the beds felt like clouds. The room alone was an experience.
After a great nap and a long (extremely long) shower, my brother and I got ready and went to find a place for dinner. We walked down to the square closest to our hotel and found a little restaurant with no name on the outside. This is how we knew it was going to be good. We walked in to an ice bar with fish that was caught that day. We shared clams, fresh salad and octopus for dinner. Restaurant Leòn was the perfect way to end our first day in Lisbon.
The next day, we woke up to the sun shining. This was so exciting, as it was supposed to rain the entire time we were going to be there. We quickly went to Starbucks (have to get it where I can) and then got on the bus. We saw the remaining sites and then hopped off to get on the cable car. The cable car is another way to see the city, but it takes you up on the hill of Alfama the Castel de San Jorge is. My brother and I got off in Alfama and walked to the Castelo. The castle seemed like nothing compared to the view it offered. From inside the castle's walls, we had the best view of the city. Lisbon is right on the water, and its buildings are all different colors, ranging from yellow to pale pink. I felt like I was in the Bahamas.
After walking around the castle and taking 500 pictures, trying to capture the view, we went to find lunch. Our lunch experience was one of my favorite parts of the trip. My brother found this little restaurant on the hill that served grilled sardines, so of course he said we had to go. We shared a chickpea and cod fish salad and grilled sardines. We also met two couples from Ireland, who were curious to know what we were doing in Lisbon. We talked with them for a while, and then went on our way to continue exploring the shops and sights of Alfama.
The next day, we walked around on our own. Tommy found a little place for lunch, so we ate there and then continued shopping. For dinner, all of the guide books recommend seeing a fado show, which is Portugal's version of belly dancing. It is a live music show with dancers and singers. So, we decided to go and experience it.
The fado restaurant was in Baixa, the downtown area of Lisbon. While we were eating, performers were doing traditional dances and singing. After we finished our food, one of the performers came to our table and pulled my brother and I on stage! I was laughing so hard I was crying, and I'm sure all of the other people eating dinner thought I was insane. I will never forget that night!
In the morning, we said goodbye to Lisbon and returned to Rome. For the next four days, my bother and I explored the city that we have been living in for the past three months. We saw museums that we would have not seen otherwise, had a picnic in Circus Maximus and had wonderful meals in new restaurants. After a spring break like the one I had, I realized how truly lucky I am to be traveling the world and experiencing all that I am. And for that, I am thankful.
Baci,
Nikki
Spring Break Part 1: Madrid, Spain
We arrived in Madrid at 9:30 am. Eight college kids ready to have one of the most memorable spring breaks of their lives. We checked into our hostel, and then decided to go eat. We found this little taverna on Calle Mayor. Our waitress, who was also the owner, could tell that we were tired, hungry and American. She made us all an American breakfast, which was much needed after being in Europe for three months.
After breakfast, we walked to the Egyptian temple, which is up on a hill with a large park. We walked around the park and watched the kids play and embraced the view of the city. The temple was surprisingly small, but nevertheless, amazing. There was writing in hieroglyphics on the walls, tombs and artifacts.
After walking around the tomb, we decided to go back to our hostel and take a nap. Once we woke up, we went into the city. A friend had told us about this tapas restaurant called El Tigre, so we decided to go check it out.
We walked into to a tiny restaurant with no tables. It was packed with people, leaning on bar tables, sharing plates and plates of tapas and drinking sangria. My friends and I all ordered sangria. All of the sudden, we have six plates of tapas in front of us and huge glasses of sangria. For each drink that you order, you are given a plate of tapas. Most people in El Tigre were locals, which made us feel even more welcome.
After finishing our tapas, we walked back towards our hostel, and stumbled upon an outdoor market. From first glance, it looked very similar to the market in Barcelona. However, when we walked in, it was completely different. All of the stands sold already prepared, authentic spanish food. There was a booth with a gigantic pan of paella, people frying fresh churros, and tapas stands everywhere you looked. All of my friends and I decided that we had to come back for dinner the next night.
The next morning, we woke up and decided to take the free walking tour around the city. The tour guide took us to the cathedral, explained the purpose behind most of the architecture, and showed us the restaurant where Ernest Hemingway would go when he would come to Madrid.
After the tour, my friend Katie and and I broke off from the group and decided to go shopping. I wanted to see El Corte Ingles, which is a Spain's version of a Macy's. Europe does not have big department stores, so shopping in a store with seven levels was a refreshing reminder of home.
Once we had fully experienced the shopping that Madrid had to offer, we met the boys back at our hostel and napped. Then, we all got ready and went to the market for dinner. Everyone tried something different, we all tasted each other's food, drank wine and had so many laughs.
The next morning, we decided to go to the Prado museum of art. At 5:00pm it is free entry, so in an effort to save money for more sangria (or shoes in my case), we decided to wait until 5:00 to go in. We walked around the neighborhood that the Prado is in for a while. A man on the street had a little booth set up where he was making paintings. Being curious, I walked over to check it out. He was making posters for salsa dancing and bull fighting, but he would put your name on the poster as if you were the one to be performing. Naturally, I bought a salsa dancing poster with"Nicole Angela" as the star of the show.
After walking around and visiting the spectacular Prado, we went back to the hostel. Our hostel roommate, Cynthia, was there. We started talking with her and found out that she is from Argentina. She was traveling alone throughout Europe. We invited her out for tapas with us, and then salsa dancing after. She practiced her english with us, and I tried to resurrect my spanish, speaking to her mostly in Italian. It was a night to remember.
Early in the morning, Tommy and I left for Lisbon, Portugal. We said goodbye to our friends, who were all splitting off at this point, some going to Sevilla, some going to Barcelona and some going to London. We all couldn't wait to see what the second half of spring break had in store for us.
Baci,
Nikki
After breakfast, we walked to the Egyptian temple, which is up on a hill with a large park. We walked around the park and watched the kids play and embraced the view of the city. The temple was surprisingly small, but nevertheless, amazing. There was writing in hieroglyphics on the walls, tombs and artifacts.
After walking around the tomb, we decided to go back to our hostel and take a nap. Once we woke up, we went into the city. A friend had told us about this tapas restaurant called El Tigre, so we decided to go check it out.
We walked into to a tiny restaurant with no tables. It was packed with people, leaning on bar tables, sharing plates and plates of tapas and drinking sangria. My friends and I all ordered sangria. All of the sudden, we have six plates of tapas in front of us and huge glasses of sangria. For each drink that you order, you are given a plate of tapas. Most people in El Tigre were locals, which made us feel even more welcome.
After finishing our tapas, we walked back towards our hostel, and stumbled upon an outdoor market. From first glance, it looked very similar to the market in Barcelona. However, when we walked in, it was completely different. All of the stands sold already prepared, authentic spanish food. There was a booth with a gigantic pan of paella, people frying fresh churros, and tapas stands everywhere you looked. All of my friends and I decided that we had to come back for dinner the next night.
The next morning, we woke up and decided to take the free walking tour around the city. The tour guide took us to the cathedral, explained the purpose behind most of the architecture, and showed us the restaurant where Ernest Hemingway would go when he would come to Madrid.
After the tour, my friend Katie and and I broke off from the group and decided to go shopping. I wanted to see El Corte Ingles, which is a Spain's version of a Macy's. Europe does not have big department stores, so shopping in a store with seven levels was a refreshing reminder of home.
Once we had fully experienced the shopping that Madrid had to offer, we met the boys back at our hostel and napped. Then, we all got ready and went to the market for dinner. Everyone tried something different, we all tasted each other's food, drank wine and had so many laughs.
The next morning, we decided to go to the Prado museum of art. At 5:00pm it is free entry, so in an effort to save money for more sangria (or shoes in my case), we decided to wait until 5:00 to go in. We walked around the neighborhood that the Prado is in for a while. A man on the street had a little booth set up where he was making paintings. Being curious, I walked over to check it out. He was making posters for salsa dancing and bull fighting, but he would put your name on the poster as if you were the one to be performing. Naturally, I bought a salsa dancing poster with"Nicole Angela" as the star of the show.
After walking around and visiting the spectacular Prado, we went back to the hostel. Our hostel roommate, Cynthia, was there. We started talking with her and found out that she is from Argentina. She was traveling alone throughout Europe. We invited her out for tapas with us, and then salsa dancing after. She practiced her english with us, and I tried to resurrect my spanish, speaking to her mostly in Italian. It was a night to remember.
Early in the morning, Tommy and I left for Lisbon, Portugal. We said goodbye to our friends, who were all splitting off at this point, some going to Sevilla, some going to Barcelona and some going to London. We all couldn't wait to see what the second half of spring break had in store for us.
Baci,
Nikki
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