It hasn’t been too long since my last post, but with each passing day the imminent end to my time in Europe has crept up more and more. The weeks have been passing by way too quickly, and I’ve had to fight the desire to book a few more trips for after the semester ends in order to prolong my stay.
About three weeks ago, my friends and I jetted off to Paris for a long weekend. After way too many Croque-Madames (grilled ham-and-cheese sandwiches with sunny-side-up eggs on top…amazing), croissants, Nutella and strawberry crepes, Ladurée macarons, and crispy duck confit, we attempted to walk it off by climbing halfway up the Eiffel Tower. It’s equivalent to climbing about 50 stories of stairs, which was probably necessary after a weekend that mostly revolved around food.
Favorite moments included our trek to the nearby farmer’s market, where you could find any fresh pastry, seafood, meat or cheese imaginable, as well as unique jewelry. It’s still so strange to think that locals do their daily grocery shopping in open air markets such as these when we’re so used to our chain grocery stores back at home.
There, we purchased baguettes, brie cheese, and a basket of tiny strawberries and brought it under the Eiffel Tower for a picnic, where we proceeded to be attacked by pigeons and small children playing soccer.
Another highlight was the Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton exhibit at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, which is close to the world-renown Louvre Museum. The original Louis Vuitton trunk designs and elaborate dresses, shoes and bags by fashion mastermind Marc Jacobs were stunning, and I can’t think of a more appropriate location to celebrate the fashion house’s legacy than Paris.
At night, we ventured to the Basilique du Sacre Coeur, a famous Roman Catholic church and Parisian landmark. At the top of the steps, you could get a fantastic view of the Eiffel Tower light show; the entire tower sparkles with hundreds of lights on the hour and looks like it’s covered entirely in diamonds from a distance. It was a breathtaking sight and quite the experience to share with all the amazing girlfriends I’ve made here, even though nights in France are shockingly chilly.
I rounded out the trip by trying my first escargot, something I would have never done due to my fear for all bugs. But it’s something everyone has to try in France, and ever since coming abroad I’ve been more open to new experiences because each one has turned out surprisingly well.
The following weekend, several of us went to Corfu Island in Greece expecting four days in the sun. Instead, we were greeted with rain, cloudy skies, and cold weather. But that didn’t stop us and 600 other college students from taking full advantage of the beach and swimming pool. This trip didn’t involve much sightseeing unless you went on the ATV tour around the island, which we unfortunately missed because the sign-up list filled up so quickly.
But it was still a great time, mostly because a lot of Maryland students studying in other countries were also there. For anyone currently studying abroad or planning to, Corfu Island is ideal if you’re looking for a wild spring break kind of weekend.
The next month brings Barcelona and the Amalfi Coast. I can’t wait to return to Barcelona after seeing it years ago with my parents and Amalfi Coast has been praised as a favorite by many other abroad students. That leaves me with two more full weeks in the beautiful city of Roma, but if I had it my way, I would stay here for at least another six months.