greece.

santorini was a dream. if i could dream about it every night i would! i am counting down the days i get go back....and there is no telling if that will actually happen! {we got there extra early since our flight from athens landed at 7:00 in the morning. but that was okay because we had an awesome airline that charged us 100 euros to check 2 bags. (please notice my sarcasm) we did get to see the beautiful sunrise from the plane.} this is a city built on hill and every picture that you have ever seen of this place is identical to what it looks like, but you don't get the magical feeling or the lose your breath kinda feeling.

since we got there so early, we were able to explore the streets before anybody was up. it was wonderful! we got breakfast at a place that overlooked the water...we even saw a couple from knoxville! we acquired lots of little treasures through out the day. we went to the beach and swam in the water. i hitch hiked back up to our place because i didn't want to walk back up...big hike, y'all! *serbians are very nice! we also got to see the beautiful sunset, and we were told santorini is one of the best places to watch the sunset! all in all this place was a dream. i want to retire there in a house with a purple door that is surrounded by beautiful flowers.

roma.

rome was unreal. that is really the only word i know how to describe it! there is history everywhere you walk. ruins everywhere. and let me tell you...i didn't hate it! when we stepped off the train and walked to the train station we were a little worried how rome would be. we got lost a, lot, but our sweet apartment lady seriously fell from the sky at the perfect time! and that apartment was so great...we semi washed some clothes (meaning we washed clothes but i don't know how clean they got), we took a nap, we had lots of room! it was perfect!

rome has some of my favorite things: my favorite restaurant where i had a big ole bowl of spaghetti, really cheap wine, gelato at every corner, ruins, the coliseum, restaurants covered in ivy. i would go back in a heart beat. here's to coconut and pineapple gelato! holy yum yum!

austria.

vienna.

this was our second stop. when one thinks of austria one may picture rolling hills, julie andrews, fields that one can frolick in. well that is not what vienna is. it is a huge city! it reminded me of denver colorado. it was fun to explore, and i probably had one of the funniest lunches of my life there because some people ordered weiner schnitzel. we seriously walked the entire city looking for a palace that i'm pretty positive doesn't even exist! people would tell us where to go, and we would do it...nothin'! there was this pretty sweet market called the naschmarket, and it had fruit, restaurants, and cute little shops that had one of a kind scarves. by the end of the day we were exhausted and excited to get to the austria we had in our mind.

salzburg.

the hills are alive in salzburg! we all decided to do a 'hop on/hop off' sound of music tour. we saw all of the sights and sang along to do re mi and the hills are alive. we got to explore the quaint little city and had a mini photo shoot with ourselves. when we got hungry we happened upon this cute little bistro called cafe bistro...who would have thunk? it was so yummy, and since we were there they played american music...like 'we are the champions' for 10 minutes! one of my favorite parts of the day is when we sat in the mirabelle gardens towards the end of the day and just watched people and talked about our day. i want to go back to salzburg asap! i loved it so much!

prague.

prague was our first stop and it was perfect! it was dreary and absolutely beautiful. the streets are lined with cobblestone and each building is different. it was like a fairy tale! we loved exploring the castle, the square, and finding our way around the big city. we also had some of the nastiest beer i have ever tasted...it was very cheap too maybe that's why it wasn't so great! if the beer was the only thing i didn't like about prague, i would say that's a win. i'm ready to go back...who's with me?!?

back pack europe...czech!

well folks, i did it! i survived and no body was taken!! that's the one thing everybody asked us when we told them we were going to europe..."have you seen taken?" liam neeson did not have to use his special set of skills and come kick some tail and take some names.

we traveled through 12 cities, 8 countries in 3 weeks. i have never taken so many train rides, buses, or subways as i did in those 3 weeks. it really was an adventure of a lifetime! we had a lot of mishaps with travel and had even more laughs and funny stories! as sad as i am to be back and not still exploring, it is nice to be at home and kick up my feet and drink ice cold dr pepper and not pay money to use the restroom...freedom at it's finest!

going to europe.

well folks. it's that time where i leave for europe with 4 of my friends and we explore all of europe. i am excited, nervous, anxious, thankful, wishful, and did i say excited?!? i have no idea what to expect or what we will see, but i couldn't be more pumped...see what i did there, i used a different word for excited. here's to europe and the many, many stories that i will have when i return! holler.

*here's to hopin' i meet a hunk on the plane or in europe...maybe next time you see me i will have hunk around my arm....here's to hopin'!

celebrations all around.

this past week my family celebrated 3 big events at ye olde steakhouse. we celebrated my graduating college! we celebrated mother's day...i know we were a little late. we celebrated my brother's birthday, he has been on earth for 28 years...that is a long time! yay for celebrations.

*the birthday boy was too cool to get in a picture but not too cool to be the photographer!