Our Very First Christmas

 

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Courtesy of the wonderful Google

So the last time I blogged was on Thanksgiving and now it’s… whoops! This is a pretty lame excuse, but life has been extremely busy recently/ since then haha.

But anyway – Merry Christmas everyone! Or, Happy Christmas ; )

I’m home, back in Boulder, and everything is beautiful. But before I go on and on about how much I love Boulder, I want to fill you in on the last trip I took while I was in London. Over the summer, I lived with a girl named Emilie in New York City. She was interning as well, but had come all the way from Paris, France. When we hit it off right away, we decided it would only be necessary for me to come visit her while I was abroad.

Emilie was the most incredible host. I think we covered every corner of Paris and I was only there for two days. She is such a wonderful friend.

Our Accomplished Itinerary:

Saturday -

1. Bastille – used to be an old jail

2. Hotel de Sully

3. Place des Vosges

4. Hotel de Ville

5. Seine River

6. Notre Dame de Paris

7. Eiffel Tower

8. Champe de Mars

9. Invalides

10. Le Tourville – Cafe

11. Pant Alexandre III

12. Grand Palais

13. Assmeblee Nationale

14. Oelisque de la Concorde

15. Roue de la Concorde – Beautifully Illuminated Ferris Wheel

16. Avenue des Champs Elysees

17. Hotel de Crillon

18. American Embassy

19. Saint-Germain des Pres (Creperia)

Sunday -

1. Louvre – loved the Mona Lisa and Michelangelo

2. Carousel

3. Jardin des Tuileries

4. Rue de la Paix

5. Place Vendome

6. Opera House

7. Gare Saint-Lazare

8. Charles de Gaulle etoile – Arc d Triomphe

9. Laduree

10. Mantmartee

11. Basilique du Sacre – Coeur

12. Moulin Rouge

Les Photos:

The cutest French puppy there ever was.

Note Christmas Tree in background : )

The inside of Notre Dame

The Beautiful Emilie and me in front of the Eiffel Tower.

La Roue de Paris. I overcame my fear of Ferris Wheels in Paris...

The Louvre.

And then I dropped my camera… But actually, I did.

So, to Paris, mouth watering crepes and cappuccinos, to friends and family, and days where the lights are shining bright.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Much love and much thanks,

Erika Brynn

Our English Thanksgiving – A Midnight Feast

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays, from the beautiful autumn colors to the wonderful smells of nutmeg and pumpkin spice. The day brings families together and gives people the opportunity to think about all of the things they are grateful for. Plus, it’s my mom’s birthday.

Considering I am in London and away from my family, today has been a unique day to say the least. But just because the British don’t celebrate Thanksgiving doesn’t mean my friends and I aren’t doing it up.

One of the things I am most grateful for is nature, I began my day at 7:15 a.m. by jogging through Hyde Park with Jordan. It was a beautiful morning. When we got home, we had some coffee and got dressed up for a special service that St. Paul’s Cathedral was holding. The cathedral was beautiful and I ended up sitting next to a woman who was missing her daughter. The woman lives in London, but her daughter goes to school in the U.S., so I could relate.

St. Paul's Cathedral, Thanksgiving Morning 2010.

On the steps and about to go in.

On the way back home, we stopped at our school in London for a little party they were throwing. They had apple pies and cupcakes and some really good spiced cider. It was really nice to see everyone and talk about how we are all celebrating the day.

When we got home, we started cooking right away. My flat mates and I were throwing the party, with nine people expected to arrive at 7:00 p.m. Our dining room table was covered in makeshift pots, wax paper and fresh ingredients. I was in charge of the sweet potato souffle. The marshmallows here are pink and white, so that made it look pretty funny. I also was in charge of the cranberry sauce.

Le Sweet Potato Souffle

The day ended up being a “learn as you go” process… There were timing issues in the kitchen, lots of spilled red wine and a computer emergency just before our guests arrived. The turkey took forever to cook, so we ended up eating dish by dish (and I’m pretty sure we ate the pumpkin pie before the stuffing.) But in the end, it turned out to be a pretty fun night. I think we ate the turkey about midnight. Here it is…

Hmmmm, probably should have removed the thermometer before we took the picture…

And here is a picture of the majority of our guests. I’m not sure where Dan and Erica were when it was taken, but they had Thanksgiving with us too.

Us, playing the waiting game

So, what I am thankful for this year? My mom’s ability to host Thanksgiving : ) But I am also thankful for my friends and loved ones, my safety, my ability to laugh, strangers who are kind, understanding and helpful when you most need them, my warm bed, and being here in London where everyday seems to be an adventure.

What are you thankful for?

xoxoxoxox,

A grateful Erika Brynn

Czech it Out – Prague, Forever Etched

Who knew buses now flew in the sky? Well, at least that’s house EasyJet does it. I swear, every time I travel somewhere, I learn something new. This time, it was how to fight for three seats together when there aren’t any assignments. Even though we had been traveling since 3:30 a.m., we were victorious in the end. Erica, Jordan and I are like the three musketeers of traveling.

Jordan and Erica

Going to Prague was at the top of my list for things to do while studying abroad. As the plan was descending, the beauty of the city really swept me away. There were clusters of red-roofed houses and buildings among patches of sparkling water. We came in just as the sun was at its morning peak and it was a beautiful sight to see.

Once we were off the plane, we got some crowns (the money used in Prague) and bought transportation passes for the weekend. But before we got to the hostel, Jordan and Erica stopped at an “authentic” hot-dog stand on the street. The hot dogs were cheaper than a bottle of water, and we found this lovely statue. It reminded me of Edgar Degas’ “Little Dancer Aged Fourteen,” one of my favorite pieces of artwork.

That afternoon (Friday, November 12th), we went to the DOX Museum, walked around the Old Town Square and got gelato from a dessert place called “Cream and Dream” (yeah, we thought it was pretty funny…)

Saturday was jam-packed…

1. Astronomical Clock

The stairs were a little scary…

… but the view was worth it.

2. Tyn Cathedral -

3. Lunch in Old Town Square – The Town Square is unbelievable. Horse drawn carriages and stands selling mead, hot wine, sausages, cheese and sweets compose a beautiful scene. The atmosphere is brilliant and the architecture reminded me of several ski villages back home in Colorado (probably because there was a giant bonfire right in the middle of the square.) Erica, Jordan and I got chicken skewers and corn on the cob.

Chicken Skewer makers!

And then, a cup of hot wine – so irresistible and so good.

4. Charles Bridge – one of the coolest bridges I have ever walked across. Artisan stands and musicians are everywhere and the view is so beautiful…

Not actually Charles Bridge, but another one that you can see from it : )

A beautiful singer and accordion player.

5. Lennon Wall – such a cool place, such an important thing to see.

Erica taking a picture of the wall

So important, that I just had to add to it : )

Me adding to the wall, courtesy of Erica.

Sunday -

1. Prague Castle

2. Toy Museum – a very interesting and unique collection. We found this and got very excited. Shout out to our school!

A little piece of home. It always seems to pop up in the strangest places, but always results in a great feeling.

3. Flight home

What I loved most about Prague was the energy. Everyone was extremely down-to-Earth and happy. Positive signs were everywhere, from the street signs to the weather.

So Namaste everyone,

See you soon,

Erika Brynn

Surfing in Wales

We knew we weren’t in London when we turned a corner and a sheep was staring right at my friend Jordan Clifford’s face. She swears it smiled at her...

Jordan!

Two weekends ago, she and I embarked on our first “Adventure Weekend” through Preseli Venutre on the Pembrokeshire Coast of Wales. Getting there was an adventure within itself. Our first train was so delayed that we missed our connecting one and ended up somewhere in the middle of “Who Knows Where Wales” where the signs weren’t in English and all we had to eat was a bag of prunes. It made for a funny scenario, but then it started to rain. Luckily we ran into these guys who were headed for the same place…

Dan, Zack, Steve and Kevin

Six hours later, we were in the Lodge at Preseli enjoying steaming plates of lasagna and slices of apple pie. Oh how travelling makes you appreciate the simple pleasure in life…

The next morning we got up bright and early for our seven-mile hike along the coast. We ended up being in a group with Dan, Zach, Steve and Kevin, so jokes were made the entire way. As I was  climbing up the grassy hills of Wales and looking out over the ocean that was picturesquely painted with a full rainbow, the whole thing truly hit me — I was in Wales, hiking with newfound friends. These memories are going to stay with me forever and ever; these are the stories that I am going to share with my future family. The good ones, the bad ones, each day I am getting stronger and learning more about the world and myself.

 

The weather was perfect – the sun was shining, but it did rain for a little. This made the pathway extremely muddy, and I’m pretty sure we all slipped at some point. I was covered in mud by the time we made it back to the lodge. My red converse were actually unrecognizable.

Pre-Fall!

Post- Fall, note converse

After hiking, we had lunch and then embarked on our next adventure – coasteering (definition – exploring the coastline and jumping off stuff along the way.) This involved getting into a wetsuit… much harder than I thought. But swimming in the ocean in November, well, I was thankful for it to say the least. And getting into the wetsuit eventually became the least of my worries. As we scaled the edges of sharp cliffs, I definitely thought I might not make it a few times. I remember Jordan telling me at one point to tell her mother that  she loves her. That was right before we jumped off a thirty foot cliff into some pretty strong waves…

Our last adventure was the big one – surfing on Sunday morning. The view from the beach literally took my breath away. After many failed attempts to stand up, I finally caught a wave on my last chance and rode it all the way in. It was a great feeling.

What is so cool about Preseli Venture, beyond their amazing adventure weekends, is their awareness about the environment. The lodge was built in 1988 with sustainability and energy conservation in mind. For a look at how they stay green, click here.

All in all, it was an amazing weekend and one I will never forget. It was refreshing to get into the ocean and breathe some fresh air. In the words of John Muir, “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”

 

Sea Kayakers

With Love,

Erika Brynn

Prego – The Word Under the Sun

For so many reasons, this post is dedicated to my lovely grandparents, Pop Pop and Sue Sue. We spent the week in Rome together and I had the time of my life. There were so many adventures, so many inside jokes, so much  laughter, and so much love. Capturing all that Italy is in a blog post feels overwhelming. The colors, the smells, the sounds – they’re hard to depict. Hopefully a storybook approach will attempt to do it justice… Here’s what I learned in Italy…

#1. The cobblestone streets and alleyways of Italy are all that they are made out to be – always complete with vespas and gelato shops.

#2. The Trevi Fountain is one of the most spectacular places on Earth.

#3. The Spanish Steps are beautiful – especially when you get to witness newlyweds taking their first steps on them hand in hand.

#4. There is beauty everywhere, in the cracks and the details; you just have to look for it.

# 5. Swiss guards are elegant, yet funny too.

# 6. Street art is universal, and universally cool.

#7. The Colosseum is magnificent.

# 8. And so is authentic gelato.

# 9. Every little kid deserves a scoop of it.

#10. Love is everywhere.

Pop Pop and Sue Sue, thank you for everything. I truly admire your love for life. You have taught me so much.

With Love,

Erika Brynn

The Street Art of Belgium

I am not really quite sure what I was expecting to see in Brussels, Belgium. I think I was expecting chocolate stores and Finnish houses.

But this is what I found…

And this…

and this.

The city was rather economically polar.  We thought this was strange since Belgium hosts the European Union’s headquarters. Overall, the atmosphere was pretty depressing. But seeing Brussels was important, regardless of this feeling. I won’t be returning soon, but I always try to focus on the positive instead of the negative. In this case, the street art really captured my attention and I enjoyed studying all of the different pictures. But most importantly, I got to spend the day with my lovely grandparents. They are visiting from Texas and right now we are in another country spending time in a very beautiful place.

Stay tuned for more details soon! : )

Ciao! (And that’s a hint…)

- Erika

A Full English Breakfast, A Full English Weekend

 

Laura and David Bartholomew

Sometimes we can never know why certain people come into our lives., or why we enter the lives of others. But I believe we meet everyone for a reason, whether that is to learn, to love or to grow.

This weekend, Laura and David Bartholomew entered my life, and I am so happy parts of our worlds were able to converge. As part of the HOST program set up by my university, I got to spend a weekend with them in their countryside home in Oxfordshire.

Laura and David were so kind and funny. At one point, their two daughters came over for a visit — both of them were recently married. David brought out his new, navy blue prescription goggles and decided to put them on. We all sat in the living room laughing because he kept them on for some time, treating them like they were his glasses. It was a great sight.

Laura also has a great sense of humor, and she is an amazing cook. She made several delicious English meals, all with gluten-free flour for me.

Here’s a sampling of the meals we shared:

- English sausages, whipped potatoes and carmelized onions w/ peaches and cream for dessert

- English dumplings, beef stew, roasted potatoes w/ berry compote for dessert

- English breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast and baked beans

During the day, they took me all around Oxfordshire, sharing the city’s history with me. On Saturday we visited the Hughenden Manor, which was extremely beautiful. My favorite part was the gorgeous garden. On Sunday, we walked around Oxford, visited several of the colleges there and had lunch at a local pub that was just off the river.

 

Punting!

Oxford has such a good feeling to it. As much as I love the constant stimulation of city life in London, it was nice to drive by a group of dairy cows grazing in the sun. And the architecture in the town in stunning.

So thank you Laura and David for a lovely weekend. I’ve never stayed with a host family before, but I think they are the best host parents in the world. I really felt at home and enjoyed our evening conversations by the fire. Spending a weekend with a “true British family” was a great experience and I’ll admit I was sad to leave. As my bus pulled away, they waited to make sure I was safe, waving goodbye side by side. I have a feeling we will be staying in contact, my mom and Laura have already been sending each other a few emails.

With love and thanks,

Erika Brynn Mahoney