God's Grandeur

"The world is charged with the grandeur of God..."

This past week we needed to recite a poem for our poetry class. I chose God's Grandeur by Gerard Manley Hopkins. I memorized this poem when I was a junior in high school and it has stuck with me all these years. I still feel a tie to this poem and what it says.

This is a graphics project I played around with on the train from Munich to Berlin today. I just took one of my photographs that I took in Florence and added a little something to it. Enjoy!

Roma

We are in Rome, Italy this week. The city where ancient ruins come to life. Rome is filled with excitement at every turn. Interesting people, places and history. My week has been packed with trips to the Colloseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Vatican. I am soaking in as much as I can during our short stay in Rome. Here are some photos from my week.



Roman Forum

Leslie and I being silly at the Colloseum.

Yes! Leslie and I had a water bottle sword fight in the Colloseum. She put up a good fight but I won!

Throwing coins in the Trevi Fountain. Legend has it that if you throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain you will find your way back to Rome again. I guess that means this is not goodbye. I will see Rome again!

Until next time... Ciao!

Cinque Terre

Saturday I took a day trip with the group to Cinque Terre. We took the train from Florence to Cinque Terre where we finally had a warm beach day. Our day consisted of tanning on the beach, hiking, swimming, cliff diving and a ton of laughter. It was so nice to have warm weather and to be back on the beach. It felt like home. It was a Point Loma inspired day. Lots of sun, water and sand. The scenery was incredible. I can't wait for the day when I return to Cinque Terre. Here are some photos. Maybe the pictures will inspire you to go to Cinque Terre someday as well.






Some of the group after cliff diving.

These girls are incredible. What a blessing they have been. I love them all and this trip would not have been the same without them.

It was a fantastic day with great friends. I loved every minute of it. I am still smiling from ear to ear.
Until next time...

Ciao!

Firenze

Spring is here and I am in Florence, Italy this week. It is a beautiful city filled with leather markets, old buildings, and delicious gelato. We have been running like mad all week and it has been hard to keep up. I am finally feeling the exhaustion but I am extremely excited for the next few cities that we will travel to. I am packing tonight, since we leave for Rome tomorrow. I figured everyone would enjoy seeing some photos from my week in Florence. Here they are. Enjoy!


Michelangelo's David!


View of Florence at sunset.


Some of the girls and I watching the sunset over Florence.

Ciao!

Venezia

View from the Rialto Bridge

My week in Venice, Italy is coming to a close and what a week it has been. Venice is so different than any other place I have been. It is so nice to not have cars. There are no cars on the island. Everyone walks or takes a boat by canal. It is a very nice change. Venice thrives on tourism so of course there are shops everywhere. I was amazed to find how many specialty stores there are. There are hundreds of mask stores. It was very difficult to pick what kind of mask I wanted to buy but I finally found, not one but two masks. Each mask is different and has its own personality. Venice is also known for its Murano glass. Everywhere I look, I see beautiful Murano glass. The architecture and atmosphere of Venice is incredible. It is hard not to get hooked. I love everything about Venice.


Sierra and I by San Marco Square

On Sunday evening we left Paris for Venice. We took an overnight train and arrived in Venice Monday morning. After carrying our luggage across 5 bridges we finally made it to our apartment. It is so nice to have an apartment and not live in a hotel for a week. We actually have a kitchen. Woo Hoo! It is extremely nice to cook meals instead of eating at a café or out to dinner. We have had class every morning and then go exploring in the afternoon. The best thing about Venice is that you always get lost but it is really easy to find your way… eventually. There is always something new to see and it is fun to get lost.


This is what you find throughout Venice

Friday, Jen came to visit. After I picked her up at the train station, I had class and in the afternoon we took the water taxi to the Lido. We had class on the beach and then spent a few hours walking on the beach, swimming in the cold water, finding sea shells, and playing volleyball and soccer. After we had our fill of beach fun we all rented bikes to ride. We loved riding the bikes around while trying not to get hit by cars passing by. We found some beautiful houses and scenic views.


Jen and I

My first week in Italy has been incredible. I am sad to be leaving Venice but I am looking forward to seeing Florence. I can’t believe a week has gone by already. I don’t feel like I have been gone from Paris for more than a few days. Well I am off to Florence.

Ciao!

A month of travel awaits

Bonjour!

I would like to apologize for the lack of blog posts. Life has been pretty crazy lately and it becomes difficult to make time to blog. I am in LOVE with Paris and do not want to leave even though I am extremely excited to travel throughout Italy and Germany.

We are in our last week of our stay in Paris. The week is jam packed and I am finding it difficult to say goodbye to this incredible city. I have friends here, a connect group, and a church. All I need is an apartment and a job then I would stay forever. If God allows me to come back, I would in a heartbeat.

Thus far, my week has involved:
1. Connect Group for church
2. Disneyland Paris with Marie and Matt
3. Random adventures in Paris with Adam and Aaron
4. Church at Hillsong Paris
5. Sitting on the grass by the Eiffel Tower then going to the top at sunset
6. Helping Kasey, a friend from church, move (carrying all here bags on the metro was pretty hilarious)
7. Reading poetry while sitting by the Seine River and Notre Dame with Libby

I have been slowly packing all week and it is hitting me that we are leaving Paris. Paris has really become home in the last 2 months. I am finding it hard to grasp the idea that I will not be in Paris much longer. I cannot wait to come back to visit my friends and experience this wonderful city once again. Maybe next time I will be fluent in French.

I am very excited to travel for the next month. We only have about a month left before I head home to California. The next month will be filled with adventure and excitement of new cities and cultural experiences. We leave on an overnight train to Venice on Sunday. Within the next month we will travel to Venice, Florence, Rome and Berlin with a few day trips while in Berlin. Traveling will be quite an adventure but I think I am up for the challenge. I am very excited to travel but I am not looking forward to living out of a suitcase for a month. Should be interesting.

I will try to get photos up soon. I haven't had time to edit them or upload them. I promise they are coming soon though.

Well until next time.
Au Revoir!

Victoria

Chateaus and Shenanigans

Bonjour!

Friday I took a day trip with Libby, Sierra, Katie and Rachel. We left at 5:30 and took a train to Blois, France. Once there we took a taxi to Le Chateau du Chambord. The castle was gorgeous. It was a beautiful sunny, blue sky type of day. It was incredible. We explored the castle for a few hours and then went out on the lawn out front where we took jumping photos in front of the castle as well as having lunch. I don't think I have laughed so much in my life. After lunch we took a taxi back into Blois where we shopped and had dinner at a Pizzeria. We were all exhausted by this time. It is pretty hilarious because we all became giddy. We finished the evening by having dessert at a patisserie by the train station. We all slept on the train back to Paris. We had been up since 5am and did not get back to Paris until 12pm. What a long day! It was so much fun though. I am so blessed to be here with these girls. I cannot express how thankful I am for them. I love each of them so much!

Here are some photos of our day trip to Blois, Chambord and the Loire Valley. ENJOY!


Le Chateau du Chambord

Loire River from the taxi.


Libby!

Roof of the castle.

It was an all around FANTASTIC day.
Much Love from Paris!

Au Revoir!