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| Malta Coast |
With travel comes the bug. You've made it this far, why not go the distance? Where else can this world take you? The travel is cheap and easy here unlike america where you must book months in advance to make a small pilgrimage to Florida. With a class schedule that I would politely call "laxs", I find myself day dreaming of foreign lands and the back packers delight. So many choices and so little time were bookings trips with multiple countries in compact times. In one week I will be going to Romania, Paris, and Budapest. A week before that I will journey to Greece (mainland), Italy, and Spain. And before even all of that a 5 day trip to Malta including a cruise to Gozo and Sicily. The thirst for travel still ins't quenched and we daily rally together to plan more adventures. Today the thirst was quenched slightly with a trip to Northern Cyprus, currently occupied by Turkey. Although I've traveled there before this time we dug deep into the city and try to immerse ourselves as much as possible. I honestly can say it was one of my favorite trips so far. When crossing the border the tranquility crashed onto me. When living in Nicosia the city just seems take over and your not left with much peace. On this side it was quiet and majestic. All old fashioned and set in the past. While strolling streets the call to prayer sound and hit me straight in heart. I haven't heard any so beautiful before. I can't explain it except to say if you haven't heard it you need to. Its one of the moments that swallows the soul. I'm learning to appreciate the area more and more. The thing to keep in mind is that Cyprus is not very european at all, its middle eastern, and so one must not have false ideas upon arrival. I'm trying a little more each day to grow here and find the definition of culture. So far so good. Keep those fingers crossed! This weekend we venture to Limassol for some sight seeing and 5King....I will be walking, seeing as my running routine has diminished. Wish me luck!
Whoa...that's a lot of travel - sounds more like a vacation than a semester studying- ha ha ha! :) Jealous, party of one, please. :)
ReplyDeleteYou'll love paris- there is so much to do there. Promise me you'll go to the L'orangerie musee located in the Tuilleries -it's a tiny gorgeous estate home that has Monet's "waterlillies" (which he installed/hung himself!!) in a round room in their "basement" level. Truly astonishing to see in person- let me know if the purple settee/sofa is still the sole piece of furniture in that tiny, round room.
You must also visit Les Halle for shopping (one MUST buy a hat in Paris! I bought three!)- and that's the place to do it. AND
you must, must go to St. Sepulchre cathedral-inside it has the largest pipe organ in the world- the pipes are medieval and literally hundreds of ft high. The Musee D'orsay far outshines the Louvre. Walk across the Pont Neuf- absolutely can't miss Saint Chapelle- that's the tiny chapel with the lapis lazuli ceiling, gorgeous stained glass and the narrowest, steepest spiral staircase to get to that room- it was amazing. When I went, there was a blind man making his way up the staircase with his sight dog. IT's like being inside a Faberge egg. Enjoy enjoy- a bientot, mon cher! All you need to eat in paris is bread and cheese :) xoxox