du(blin) bu fl

Ireland really is as green as they say it is, and Irish people are incredibly friendly and charming... other than that, there's not much more that I could say since I'm so pressed for time! I left the lucky country with a smile on my face, a book of Irish and translated Gaelic poems in my hand and an array lovely photos. Here's a few:

Welcome to Dublin

Friday night dinner

Friday night fun

Day trip to Arklow

Saturday lunch

My choix

:)

Exploring the outskirts of town

My friend Elizabeth and I :)

Wandering to the ship yard

and through the countryside

Back to Dublin for the evening

Saturday dinner

The BEST falafel I've ever had

Saturday... dessert?

Sunday lunch

It may have been expensive, but it was so worth it. I'm Irish from my mom's father's side and after this trip, I could not be prouder about it!

It is going to be a Happy Lá 'le Pádraig indeed. Enjoy your weekend!

strasbourg, tu me manquais

Oooh, it feels so good to be "home." Spring break was, indescribable... but it's nice not to have to live out of a suitcase! You know that feeling of pure bliss, you feel so lucky and blessed and happy with your life and everything and everyone surrounding it? I hope you do! 'Cause that's how I felt basically the entire week and a half, and if you continue to read along for my multi-day recap I'm sure you'll understand.

I had a nice low-key night with the host family before we left on our separate ways. We started with the basic vegetable soup to which my host-mom added Japanese crackers to. I liked the crunch. I also like starting dinners with this warm bowl of veggie goodness, yum.

Then I had a small salad and some carrot sticks. Eating with your hands definitely makes raw veggies more fun.

And finally a leek and spinach quiche. It was delicious! Despite the small meal we sat for quite a while at the table discussing plans. My host-mom went on a cruise of the Caribbean with her best friend and my host-sister went to Madrid to visit friends.

The next morning I was up bright and early and ridiculously excited :). I left my apartment around 8:30 a.m. but not before having green tea,

and a sweet goodbye breakfast: un gauffre with jam and une crêpe, with an orange. And it's all up the glorious hill of multinational decadence from there! I'm not just talking food, people, (oh no, I obviously ate very well but gluttony is not my thing,) I'm talking enjoying life to the absolute fullest. You should try it, if you haven't already, it rocks my world ;). How much, you ask? Well, stay tuned tomorrow where I'll bring you back through my adventures across Europe in a trip I like to call DuBuFl (Dublin, Budapest, Florence). Bonne soirée!

yum, a european trend

Hello lovelies! How's March treating you so far? I miss you so I thought I'd check in to let you know how the traveling's been going (pictures courtesy of the universal google images)...

We began in the fun and friendly city of Dublin complete with Guiness and a day trip to the green Irish countryside...

made our way to the European east, Budapest, Hungary to be exact, to meet spicy paprika and warm family friends...

and now we are feasting our eyes and tummies under the beautiful Tuscan sun in Florence, Italy. Spring break is and has been delicious in every way. I'll be back again for real after a quick weekend trip to the UK to visit friends, see you soon!