Prague Party People

Photo credit: Matt Mrozek. It's been real Swedish House Mafia. You will be sorely missed.

All the best friends in Prague. 

All 80,000 names of the victims of the Holocaust that were residents of Bohemia and Moravia at the Pinkas Synagogue.

 The incredible interior of the Spanish Synagogue.

Lovin' at the John Lennon wall. 

Matt and I atop the hill at the castle.

Awe-inspiring views. 

Communist Memorial. 

The river at sunset, unbelievable. 

Opening night of the Christmas Market!!! AKA my heaven.

My journey to Prague was fueled solely because Swedish House Mafia was playing and some of my best friends are studying there. Never could I ever imagine falling in love with a city that seemed so foreign to me just days ago. I'm not sure if I can even put into words my time there. If anything, I learned to appreciate my life, the experiences I have had and the people I am lucky enough to call my best friends. I can't explain the overwhelming feeling of love I have for the people that I had the privilege of dancing the night away with at a concert that will go down in the history as one of the most epic nights in my life one night to touring synagogues and Holocaust memorial sites with them the next day. There is so much love to go around and I am so thankful for all those in my life who share it with me. And with that, Merry Christmas to all. The holiday season is officially upon us!

Noël sur les Champs-Elysées

Ever since we heard there was such a thing as a lighting ceremony of the Champs-Elysées, we had been counting down the days until we could watch the entire street light up for the first time of the Christmas season.  Although Alyssa had to run to catch a flight to Rome (not too shabby, right?), I was able to enjoy a leisurely stroll through the Christmas market with my family (who arrived that morning) starting at the huge ferris wheel at Place de la Concorde, and finishing at the top of the Arc de Triomphe. 

Giving Thanks in Italy

View from our balcony where we ate Thanksgiving dinner.

The Vatican on Thanksgiving Day.

The Colosseum.

The site where Caesar was actually murdered was just a block away from the apartment we called home. Our building was a part of the remaining ruins of the Theatre of Pompey, and the actual site of the murder took place above. Today, the ruins have become a refuge for the homeless cats of Rome. I can only imagine how Caesar feels about that.

Best friends at the Trevi Fountain.

Truffle oil gnocchi. Need I say more?

The stunning Duomo.

Four different flavors of chocolate gelato... before dinner.

View from the Piazza Michelangelo. 

With an influx of my peers' families visiting over Thanksgiving break, including Kylie's, I decided to continue traveling Europe and spend the holiday in Rome and Florence. My partners in crime were Tori and Kari, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Incidentally, it was the best Thanksgiving away from home I could have ever imagined. We were lucky enough to stay with a colleague of Kari's father, which led us to enjoy a hearty American dinner with around 12 American graduate students, their friends, and significant others. We dubbed ourselves the Thanksgiving refugees, and a random group we were. The meal was mind blowing to say the least, and I think I ate an entire pecan pie. I still feel so blessed that I had the chance to bond with so many welcoming strangers over a true American holiday abroad. It was a honestly an unexpected experience I will always appreciate.

Porte de Vanves

Just two metro stops from our apartment, we have the fantastic marché aux puces (flea market) at Porte de Vanves. Although it requires getting up early (the market opens at 8 am and finishes by 1 pm), it is well worth it.  We easily spent three hours sifting through the hidden treasures of the over 200 traders set up there and walked away with some amazing Marie Claire magazines from the 1930s for just 4 euros a piece.  On a second trip back with my family this weekend, I stumbled across a table of vintage jewelry and bargained for a gorgeous gold necklace I haven't been able to take off since (I got to practice my bargaining skills in French too!).

Galeries Lafayette

Galeries Lafayette is already our dream come true.  It is quite possibly the most amazing department store in the world.  So you can only imagine how we feel about it at Christmastime when the fantastic window displays and Swarovski crystal Christmas tree make their appearance. Here's hoping we don't spend our life savings in our final three weeks in Paris...

L'Opera Garnier

The film The Phantom of the Opera is based on the Opera Garnier, and this is his box.

Tour Montparnasse

Avant le sunset...

Fashionable friends. 

Après le sunset.

As residents of the Montparnasse disctrict, it is almost despicable that it has taken us this long to make it to the top. The tower is actually a fascinating, and little known by American tourists. In 1969 Presdient Georges Pomidou created quite a large controversy in Paris, as well as all of France, when he allowed construction on the Montparnasse Tower to begin. Pompidou was an advocate of the tower, as his desire to modernize Paris was no secret. The tower was met with much disapproval by the citizens of Paris, as the tower basically ruins the beautiful architecture found at every turn. People also did not want this sleek, ugly building overshadowing the Eiffel Tower. But now, it is a wonderful way to enjoy a panoramic view of the city while being able to see all the monuments you would usually be atop. 

Alyssa and Lucia joined Molly on her 21st Birthday to celebrate with a drink on the 56th floor at Le Ciel de Paris. While the drinks were a little pricy, the experience was worth it. I mean seriously, check out those views...