I AMsterdam!!

Well, I had a wonderful three day trip to Amsterdam with 47 other exchange students! We left early on Thursday morning from Brussels and started out by going to the Johannes Vermeer museum in Delft, where I saw the Girl with the Pearl Earring Painting. It was so beautiful! Later we arrived in Amsterdam and had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe and after walked through the famous Red Light District. It was a little disturbing...and the hotel we stayed in was so great! I shared it with girls from the U.S., India, Japan, and Argentina.

Alright so Friday morning we went to the Jewish Quarter of Amsterdam and went to a synagogue and museum. In the afternoon we got to visit Anne Frank's house. It was very emotional but I feel so lucky to go there, I read the Diary of Anne Frank a few years ago and it really was so unreal to get to see her house...and the bookshelf that hid her secret room. She was trapped in that house for about two years! Friday night we went to the Van Gogh museum and I got to see his famous painting of the sunflowers...so beautiful.

Saturday was unfortunately the last day but at least we had beautiful weather! Sunny with blue skies...perfect for our canal ride :) After we had free time to look around the city a little more and buy souvenirs.

So I really enjoyed my three days there....and I hope to go back one day! :) And if any of you are planning to visit just make sure you watch out for the many bike riders!!


Now I am counting down the days till my next trip...Spring break in ITALY! :) But for now I have a lot of things to keep me busy in Belgium!

Cute shoe :)

Exchange students!!

Vacances :)

Ahhh vacation is here...I slept in this morning till 10. I love it, I feel like I never have the time to sleep in. I spent the weekend in the North of France with my host family...so beautiful :) We just went to the sea and walked around and enjoyed the sunny weather. Although it was still cold! I was wearing jeans, socks, boots, gloves, a hat, a scarf, two sweaters and a big jacket. Gotta love the European coldness :) I want it to be summer already so I can wear a bathing suit and get a tan! ;)

Last weekend I was lucky enough to go to Switzerland and see my mom. Wow, it was a much needed break. I was so happy when I saw her arriving in the Zurich airport...and when we hugged and began to talk it felt like no time had passed between us at all, even though the last time I saw here was 6 months ago. We stayed in a perfect apartment in the town of Fribourg...and spent our days shopping, talking, and eating :) She was amazed at how much European's eat bread! By the time we left on Monday I think she was looking forward to returning to California and eating a huge, healthy salad and I was looking forward to returning to Belgium for the chocolate, waffles, and fries :) Really nothing in this world can compare to them....

Tomorrow I will be spending the day in one of my favorite cities, Brussels, with my Belgian friend :) I think we will go to the cinema and do some shopping. I am so excited because I haven't been to the cinema in foreverrrrrr! Even though it's in French I still love it :)

This Thursday I will be leaving for Amsterdam with about 40 other exchange students. Looking forward to it....I am so addicted to traveling now! I will write another post when I return from my trip and explain how Amsterdam was.

The beautiful North of France :)

Mommy and I in Fribourg, Switzerland

View from our apartment

And also I wish everyone a Happy Mardi Gras!! 

"So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."-Mark Twain