I have returned to Sevilla from a week long trip to Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels. Paris was my favorite (even tho I still love London more!) We arrived in Paris on Thursday due to a way to early flight, and went to a friend's house who we were to stay with. His name was Gill, and he is a friend of my best friend Trisha, so he was very hospitable to Jenna, Perla, and I...His house was located right near Sagres-mont, which is a recently built church located on a hill. This gave us great views on Paris, the church was beautiful, but the best part is that around the corner was a little village that is exsactly what you think or when you hear French...artists with eilses, crepes, sweets, etc...we really enjoyed ourselves there. Later we met two French boys on the metro who ended up taking us all out to dinner where I tried Fondu for my first time- very yummy. The next day we headed to Versailles, which was much anticipated on my part because Colton had told me so many great things about it. Needless to say, I lovvved it, it was an extravagant palace built by Louis the fourteenth. The decadence of this place was unreal, and to accompany it were acres and acres of gardens surrounding the palace. Unfortunately, the gardens were not in bloom but they were still very beautiful. Later that day we hung out with our host, met some of his french friends while drinking the most delicious wine ive tasted on the steps of the Sages-mont (the church on the hill.) Saturday day Jenna and I went to explore the CATACOMBS! This was a verrrry creepy but so fun! Basically, in the 18th century the French graveyards were getting over populated and people were catching diseases from this. So they removed all these bodies and placed them underground. Youll have to see my pics to understand this, but we hiked for what seems like a mile underground, the whole time your surrounded by bones and skulls!! Crreeeepy! Later we toured the city with Gill and his friend, we walked all the streets of the beautiful city and saw things like the Pantheon. Our goal was to end up at the Louve. We made it there, but about 5 mins too late. Great...so we ended up having to go very early Sunday morning before we left, kinda in a rush. The Louve and all its artwork was cool, but I mainly found the musuem itself the most interesting...its HUGEEEEEEEEEEEE! Seriously, you could spend days upon days in there and still not see everything! Well, I did see the Mona Lisa (to small its lame...), Crowned Jewels, and some sculptures that if I really cared I'd remember the name right now...oh wait, yea, umm..one of them was that Venus one. yay =)

The highlight of Paris was of course the Eiffle Tower! Saturday night we hung out in front of the Tower during sunset, drinking wine on the pretty grassy area...After the Tower's lights began to light up we decided it was time to...CLIMB IT! Im not talking elevators here, we were brave and took the stairs. Even braver was the fact that we snuck a bottle of wine all the way to the top, so once we made it we toasted standing in front of one of the most beautiful views of the most romantic cities...missed Colton right then more than any other time lol...

Sunday night we arrived in Amsterdam after an 8 hour bus ride...I loved the city when we arrived at night! All the canals were so pretty, it was such a unique view! We went out for a bit that night, checking out the central part of the city by night. The next morning was the coolest, we rented bikes because Amsterdam is known for all its bikers...We rode around with two of our Dutch friends, strolling thru the parks, etc... It was so fun, passing by all the little canals and just getting a feel for this really unique city. I loved it! Later than evening with went to the Anne Frank house. This was an amazing experience, having read her book years ago and being able to literally experience what she was talking about. The museum left me leaving very moved, but mostly confused as to how such atrocities occured less than a centuty ago. Something Ill never understand.

Anyways... we also checked out the Heineken museum here, which was really cool to see how the beers are specially brewed, how they are processing and marketed...How they set up the museum itself was realllllllllly cool, and made it well worth it. Overall Amsterdam was cool because it was so unique, but the roughness of it got to me after a bit, and I was pretty ready to go...

We headed to Brussels after this. We only spent one night here to catch our flight to Madrid. Brussels was cool, although we didnt see much. Grand Place was a very pretty square, and the chocolate and beers were the best I've had.

This week was an awesome awesome trip! Its nice to be home tho, so much travelling really wears me down. I experienced Semana Santa (holy week) here in Sevilla last night, which is very world-renounced and extravagent. Its such a ritualistic event, and its almost hard to understand and apprecaite all of it, the hours and hours or standing and watching precessions...looking around and seeing people in tears. Its a really cool thing to see tho, and ill be checking more of it out later today.

My parents are in Rome right now, and its less than 24 hours til I get to see them!!!!! I AM SOOOO EXCITED!!! Its going to be great to show them around Sevilla, but the best thing of all is to just have them. Although my experience here is beyond amazing, I always have the feeling deep down that Im on a different planet/ a bit of lonliness, so the best thing is to be with family. =0