Holland Video!

Ok so I just now figured out how to add videos...so exciting! This is one of me and Brittany just hanging out by one of the main canals in Amsterdam. I think it gives you a pretty good impression of the lovely, relaxed Dutch way of life. And of Brittany.

Visitors Galore!

So I'm getting very excited because lots of my favorite people are planning on coming to visit me soon:

1. My mom! And also Tia Diane and Chris! They're actually arriving this Friday...and we're going to go to Pisa, Florence, and Venice...as well as Paris! It's going to be a great trip, or plethora of trips, rather. I can't wait to see some of my family.
   
2. Brittany! She's coming for Thanksgiving, so as to soften the blow of being without families on that special day for the both of us. We're going to eat of course. And then we'll do whatever else we want to!
3. Kristen! I am honored to say that she is making me her last European fling before returning home for Christmas. She'll be here just before the holiday, when (hopefully) we might see a little snow.

My holiday plans are still somewhat up in the air...but with any luck, I'm going to be doing a whirlwind Calabria, London, Leeds, Scotland trip!

Say Cheese!

Ciao tutti! Today I went to Parma, home of the world-famous Parmesano-Reggiano cheese, which I have come to know and love with a passion. It's one of Charlotte's and my only splurges. We ate the most wonderful lunch in a restaurant that was hidden in the back of a meat shop...the food was SO fresh and delicious! I ate the best lasagna I've ever had, which was of course generously sprinkled with lots of parmesan!

We also went to see the Duomo, the Baptisitry, and a palazzo. It was rainy today and a lot of things were closed, so we didn't have as many options available to us, but we had a good time anyway. We brought back some cheese (not that we can't get it here, it's just more fun to get it there!) and thus were quite content.

Burrrrr

Well the season has finally changed. It's SO COLD here now! Saturday was about 30 degrees colder than Friday. I feel so unprepared. I live in California. Having seasons is super exciting though! I mean, now, I wear a coat, and a scarf, and boots, and it's not just because they're cute, but because I have to! I'm kinda enjoying it at this point...but I know as the winter goes on...I won't so much. It's just about time for that hibernation I was speaking of. I'm gonna buy lots of toilet paper and pasta and not ever leave my apartment and its life-saving heating device. It's not sooo bad yet that I couldn't get a gelato today...so everything's gonna be just fine.