So I have posted most of my daily itineraries or a lot of the sightseeing that I did. However, I wanted to also have a page of final thoughts and comments that brings together a lot of the new and different things that I experienced. This is also a page of reflection of stuff.

1)Pay for water: There is no such thing as free water at restaurants. If you ask for tap water, the waiter will bring you a bottle. If you receive a bottle of water, you pay for it. I would recommend bringing a reusable water bottle.

2) Toilets aren’t free: Though it is a normal bodily function, if you are at a public space besides restaurants, you pretty much pay for toilets. Most restaurants will let you use the bathroom for free if you dine in or pay for food.

3) Cities in Italy are spelled differently than we say them. Roma, Venezia, Milano are not Italians funny accent coming into play, but instead their actual language.

4)Don’t forget pound, euro, franc conversions. That cheap 10-pound breakfast you scored is actually almost $14.

5) Hotels will give you a room key for most likely two purposes: 1) to enter your room (duh) and 2)  to put a light in your room. Most European hotels will require that you stick your hotel card in a holder, and ta-da your hotel room lights up.

6) Don’t be afraid to bargain!!!! I thought this only happened in India, but if you go to any outside vendor or even an actual nice looking shop, ask if they’ll cut you a better deal or give you a discount. More often than not they’ll either give you a straight discount ( I got 5 euros off a leather purse) or will give you a better price for purchasing more ( I got 2 euros off 2 bottles of originally 7 euro drinks).

7) Be willing to go out of your comfort zone! Try and practice that language you learned in school, eat that unfamiliar looking dish, venture into that historical looking place. I was pleasantly surprised to find that most of these experiences are where I made the best memories.

8) Do your research about places/things! I was glad I had taken that Art history class because I had context for a lot of the artwork, sculptures, and paintings I had seen. I also am obsessed with Italian food, so constantly watching Giada de Laurentiis on Food Network prepared me with knowledge of Italian food so I had a better idea of what I wanted to try or decode a menu.

9) Don’t try and be American in a European country, instead try and be a European. I know in the U.S. we make changes to the dish we want to eat which will get you a mean waiter ere or we will be loud and sometimes obnoxious in public but that’s how you attract attention and make it obvious you’re a tourist. Be prideful of your country of course, but just be aware that certain things we can do in the States might receive a different perception abroad.

10) Leather jackets are a MUST! I found that in most countries, everyone wears leather jackets, don’t know why. But if you want to “blend-in” this is a simple way.

Random things: people smoke EVERYWHERE, there are pedals in Italy for water, bathrooms/hotels/food are all smaller, pickpocketing happens in a lot of the big European cities I visited so be careful!!, and have a converter app on your phone.

Having this incredible experience of being able to visit these amazing countries, immerse myself in these cool cultures and experience a totally unique way of life, I could not be more thankful. I now have a greater appreciated for the luxuries we have in the U.S. such as free toilets and free water, but also see where the U.S. can better itself in terms of sustainability efforts such as smaller portions for less waste and not being able to keep lights on unnecessarily. My heart is so full from the memories and my stomach is so full from the food. I am so excited for more great experiences and can’t wait to see what the future holds!

With love,

Saya

So, I know the most exciting part of travel is the food, and I am no stranger to that. In fact, I was most excited for the food, as I truly believe this is the most authentic reflection of a culture. I tried lots of pasta, gelato, pizza, and some other unique things. I will also share the incredible experience I had of taking a cooking class to make homemade pasta!

Cacio e Pepe

This dish is called Cacio e Pepe which translates to “cheese and pepper” and is an authentic Roman dish that has Romana cheese, a sheep’s milk cheese, pepper, pasta, and water. The beauty of this dish is that you focus on its simplicity of al dente pasta, salty cheese, fresh pepper and enjoy the ingredients without extra fanfare. I loved this dish. 

Gnocchi in Pomodoro sauce

I also tried gnocchi in Rome. While this is no different than gnocchi elsewhere in Italy, I had to feature this pillowy soft potato pasta. I tried gnocchi in Venice which was soft but mushy. The place that I had at this restaurant showcased airy gnocchi that was mixed with a light amount of San Marzano tomato sauce and fresh basil and broiled with mozzarella. Again this is a fairly simple dish but executed perfectly. I mean the freshness of the sauce, the refreshing basil, crispy mozzarella and soft gnocchi made for an incredible meal.

One new thing that I learned was that different parts of Italy have different styles of pizza, no not all Italian pizzas are the same. So, when I learned that Roman pizza has a thick crispy crust, I was curious to know what was like. I would compare the crust style to that of a Jet’s pizza with less grease. The pizzeria that I went to didn’t have very many vegetarian options for my chicketarian diet, so I went with the suggestion of a zucchini pizza with blistered cherry tomatoes. The way I ordered the pizza was unique. The chef had a sheet tray of pizza and she held a flat spatula and asked me how much I want by going from a big square to a smaller one. Once I decided the portion, she weighed it and based on the price per pound, I paid. So this was a cool experience.

Trapizzini with an arancini

I tried this thing called a tripzinno which was described as pizza with an Italian classic dish sandwiched in the center. I really don’t know if this is authentic or not, but it was different, so I thought it was cool. While my imagination conjured an image of two new york style slices of pizza sandwiching chicken cacciatore, it was more like a crispy bread with a soft inside then soaked up the chicken cacciatore. I have learned that “pizza” here actually refers to the dough or crust instead of crust with sauce and cheese.

Ate some amazing biscotti and stracciatella gelato

I also ate incredible gelato. The key to good gelato is to make sure you can see the gelato machinery or make sure it is in the shop! Also- don’t be afraid to ask the gelatier(?) what is the freshest/their recommendation. That’s how I got to try some amazing unique flavors and sample the shop’s best.

Using the pasta roller to thin out the pasta

Now for my cooking class: seriously an experience I will never forget. The head chef we worked with Lilliane was so nice and chatted with me as we walked to the school. We talked pasta sauce “shop” and I was telling her about my favorite pasta sauce: rosa, which is a combination of a cheese sauce with Pomodoro. When I asked if she tried it, she responded: “No, its probably an American thing.” This made me reflect on the fact that something as simple as the Italian sauces that I think are “authentic” just simply isn’t that. Even authentic Italian restaurants in the United States cater to American’s perception of “classic” and keep dishes like fettucine alfredo (which is not a thing in Italy) on the menus because Americans like it. It surprises me that we have taken the concepts of pasta and sauce and so radically changed it.

Finished product!

Well in the class, we made homemade pasta and we used 4 ingredients: semolina flour, an egg, salt, and oil. We made a well in the flour and added the other ingredients pretty much. Then we kneaded it and put it through a variety of settings in the electronic pasta roller. Finally, we dusted our fettucino with more semolina and it was ready for the boiling water. I really loved this experience and will definitely try and find another cooking experience like this when I study abroad, so I can learn the authentic cuisine.

An interesting thing is that the pasta portions aren’t as big as those at home. However, I personally was able to finish my meal and be satisfied without being too full. Plus, after dinner, I was still in the mood to walk around instead of being sleepy like I sometimes am after a hearty pasta dinner. Also, menus here have simple pasta dishes as one course and meat dishes separately (that usually don’t have pasta) and I have really come to appreciate the simplicity of the homemade pasta with a simple, flavorful sauce. I really can focus on the delicate flavors and the ingredient’s freshness, which is a lot different than the heavy meat, vegetable and sauce laden pastas at home. I think the pasta in Italy is different too because it lacks alot of the heavy components that I find at restaurants in the States. Again, I think the U.S. pasta meals cater to the heavy butter, cream sauces and heavy meat diets that are more common here, so the integrity of Italian food can be lost.

Well, Italy and its food filled my stomach and heart. I am so excited to return to Italy and all the other countries I visited, while also exploring more of Europe. Europe, thanks for the memories, and I will be back!

Until next time,

Saya

I am in Rome for 4 full days and leave the following morning. So instead of making day by day posts, I thought it would be more beneficial to focus on the “sights” aka touristy attractions and the other for food. This post will focus on some of the incredible architecture, sculptures, buildings and things that I saw.

On our drive from the train station to our accommodations, I saw this really huge and important government- looking building, so I asked our cab driver what it was. He surprised me by saying a war memorial. Later in my stay, I was able to check it out and it was really neat!

The War Memorial: An interesting side note that I learned about important Roman architecture is that you are not allowed to sit or eat on these monuments, which is not necessarily true of properties in the U.S. I think this rule helps to enforce that these buildings are important and maintain respect for them. For example, a lady was sitting on the steps of this building, so an officer made her stand up. I think the U.S. should make these types of rules, so that we can maintain the health of important monuments and so that people can focus on respecting these properties. On a side note: a friend in the military explained that the flags of certain ships or capsules and things are there to commemorate the groups that pursued those missions.

Mold of the colleseum

The Colleseum: an incredible sight! A few interesting facts that I learned about it: Mussolini, the Italian dictator, created a square version of the Colleseum, which was later bought by Fendi. Also, the reason that the colleseum seems “incomplete” with that awkward area of material “missing” is that the stone was removed to be used in another building.

Of course, I was confused so I asked the guide to clarify and she explained that the material was expensive, so in an effort to save money for another monument, a part of the stone was removed. Well years later, the building collapsed, so another material (brick I think) was used at the end of the colleseum to prevent a collapse in the future.

The Spanish Steps: So upon first glance, these look like very normal looking steps and you would be completely right. Since my friends and I ventured here we had to use Wikipedia to find an answer. Honestly, the steps are primarily symbolic from my understanding in that they were used to bridge the church at the top to the fountain at the bottom, so in essence, they “bridge the top and bottom.”

The Vatican and Papal Basilica of St. Peter: the pope resides here.

The Sistine Chapel: houses some of the most incredible artwork ever. You are not allowed to get photos here, so I took a very bad video to which I am attaching a grainy photo too. I really wanted to take a picture of the Creation of Adam, as I also learned about this in my History of Art Class. However, this did not make it into my video. The significance of the Creation of Adam fresco is that Michaelangelo painted where Adam is granted a spark of life.

The Pantheon: It was built as a Roman temple and the oculus (the hole on the top) is a way to connect the temple with the gods above. It also holds the tomb of Raphael, a famous Italian artist.

The Trevi fountain: A beautiful fountain in Rome that is known for giving good luck if you throw a coin over your right shoulder.

I expected Rome to be a crazy busy city since it’s so famous. I thought the people would be rude, I would be cramped everywhere and that everyone would look like they walked out of a fashion magazine. However, the people here are really kind and I think they are really proud of Italy, so it’s positive seeing so many tourists. While it is busy, I didn’t have too much trouble at any monuments except the Vatican/ Sistine Chapel. Our timing was also poor since it was a Saturday afternoon, but everywhere else was fine. The fashion of Italians is simpler than I expected. It’s simple outfits with a bold statement, so it’s chic without being overdone. An interesting note about clothing stores: they have a European size and an American size. So, a European size is a Small, but the American size label says Extra Small. I was so surprised because stores go through the work of adding the difference in sizes, despite the store being in Europe and catering to Europeans. I wonder if the world still truly holds the perception that all Americans are obese and unhealthy, because I guess living in America, I obviously know that is not true, so I assumed those outside of the United States would know that. Interesting…

Until tomorrow,

Saya

Coffee gelato

Today we are en route to Venice, however, we took a lunch break in Lake Como. Lake Como is really beautiful, but it was super exciting, as this borders the city of Milan where I will be next spring. At lunch, I was with a group of people. So when we paid our check, we were confused by an extra 12 euro charge for 6 people. The manager was super kind and explained to us that at Italian restaurants, there is a “cover charge” if you will that covers the setting up of the table and any free food such as the bread we received. This is not like a tip and more like a service fee. The manager said that usual cover charges are between 1 and 2 euros, and that we should always ask upfront what the charge is, as some restaurants will take advantage of American tourists.

Also, I was so excited to have my first taste of authentic Italian gelato ft. here.

Once we arrived in Venice, we went into town, had dinner and walked around. I had the BEST pasta of my life here. I got a ricotta and spinach ravioli with a basil cream sauce. Incredible.

The next day we went to the touristy part of Venice where I was able to see authentic Venetian glass blowing, St. Marks Basilica, St. Marks square, the Rialto Bridge, the canals and so much more. Interesting fact: Venice is actually a city made up of more than 100 small islands that are connected by hundreds of bridged, which is why there are so many canals.

St. Mark’s Basilica

Before my gondola ride, I decided to get a snack. I got a slice of pizza and cappuccino. Since I was walking around St.Mark’s square and only posses two hands, I was sipping my cappuccino and holding my pizza flat on my other hand. Well, as soon as I left the shelter of the awning, within 10 seconds (I kid you not) a seagull swooped down, picked my pizza up out of my hand and threw it on the ground. At least 10 pigeons proceeded to attach my pizza along with the seagull. And this ladies and gentlemen is why I am now afraid of pigeons. And let me tell ya, Italy has A LOT of pigeons. The darn things are in every alley and to make matters worse, these birds don’t know the concept of personal space. So they fly so low that my short 5-foot frame almost collided my face with the pigeons on more than one occasion. I really have no clue why I barely saw any birds in any other European city, but not I can’t stop seeing pigeons.

The gondola ride was really fun and it was such a cool perspective of Venice and I would definitely recommend it!!

Finally, in the evening, we went to a vineyard where I got to try amazing authentic food and local wines that came out of this family’s backyard. Checking out the small trees of the vineyard, I was surprised to learn that some of those trees have been growing for a decade. It was also interesting to learn that white wine is wine where the grapes have their skins taken off and red wine is where the grapes and skins are separated but fermented together for that deep red color. Also, white wine can stay good for up to 2 years, rosé for up to 2 years, and red wine for up to 5 years. So, if you gift wine to someone, tell them to drink it and not save it. For our wine tasting, we tried 5 different varieties. We sampled each one with the same technique. Pick it up, swirl it around to open up the oxygen, smell it for any distinctive flavor profiles. Then we took a taste to compare it to our previous notes. Finally, we clinked glasses and enjoyed our wine.

For our first wine, it was a Prosecco. It was okay. I found that it was less sweet compared to other varieties of Prosecco I had tasted elsewhere in Italy.

(a red wine that I can’t remember the name of): This one had a cherry scent. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was mellow in flavor and not bitter. 

Today, we took a bus from the city of Paris to Switzerland. On the way to Switzerland, our tour director mentioned some really interesting things about Switzerland. Apparently, the Swiss are a stickler for rules; in fact, this is part of the reason that Switzerland created the famous Swiss watches, as they are always on time. Switzerland has many official languages and is known as a neutral country. It remains neutral in wars which can be seen as positive, as they don’t really have enemies, however, for surrounding countries, this can be seen negatively. For example, my tour director is from Estonia, and she mentioned it was sad that their neighboring country of Switzerland was unwilling to help them during the war.

Finally, getting citizenship in Switzerland is incredibly difficult, as our tour director had a friend whose brother has been living in Switzerland for 15 years and is now finally getting the opportunity to apply for citizenship. The citizenship process is very challenging, as you are tested on the countries history and multiple languages, must possess a certain amount of money in your bank account, and the people of your community must vote on whether or not you can stay. If you thought America’s citizenship process was rigorous, Switzerland could give it a run for its money. I don’t know why Switzerland has such a difficult process; I wonder if it’s because they don’t want too many citizens or something else.

Cheese Fondue

We arrived at our hotel around early evening, and since it was a Sunday, our tour director made it seem as though we would not have many dining options, as many shops are closed on Sundays. This surprised me, as the U.S. usually closes restaurants around early evening, instead of being closed the entire day. I think that this is so shopowners and staff can spend time with their families and have a full day to do it instead of a couple of hours. Personally, I enjoy having Sundays as a lazy day to catch up on work or chill, so I definitely see the value of that.

With limited options, a friend and I chose a local place well known for its fondue. Having never eaten cheese fondue before and not being a swiss cheese fan, I was a bit nervous to try it. We were served a pot of fondue with cubes of wheat bread. When I tried the fondue, I was shocked by how delicious it was. It was like a warm teddy bear hugged me, I mean this is the epitome of comfort food. Granted I don’t know how expensive fondue generally is, but I got a fondue portion and a small salad, and I spent nearly 40 francs which is 40 dollars. I have heard that Switzerland is expensive, so I was prepared, but still, at home, the most I spend on a meal is like $20 and that’s with a tip. So, double that money for dinner is a bit wild for me. But nonetheless, a delicious meal.

Also, our hotel is in Engelberg Switzerland, and my roommate and I lucked out with a spacious room and a balcony that overlooks the Swiss Alps. I mean this view was postcard worthy.

The next day, we ventured to town in Lucerne where we got incredible views of the town, did great souvenir shopping and overall just enjoyed the beauty of the city. After enjoying this incredible area, we went to the mountains. We took a boat from Lucerne to the mountain area and then took a train up the mountain. Again, this place is stunning and these photos don’t do Lucerne justice. I think part of the beauty of Switzerland is that it is “untouched” in terms of not being overpopulated with people to trash the country, and those that live their respect nature.

As I was venturing the town, I had an interesting interaction with a local involving me and a stoplight. In many of the other European countries I have visited thus far if there are no cars coming in either lane, then you can walk across the street. I was at a small walkway where no cars were coming and even though the stoplight showed a red pedestrian (meaning don’t walk), I still started crossing the street. I was then immediately yelled at by an angry Swiss who shouted “You can’t do that in this country. You may be able to walk across the street like that in your country, but in this country, you can’t do that”. I timidly took two steps back to my side and was shocked. I have never been yelled at like that by a stranger let along for crossing the street when I shouldn’t. Though I shouldn’t have crossed the street, I don’t think that required me to be yelled at. I guess my tour director was right, the Swiss like to follow the rules. By the train station, a man blowing bubbles and spewing hateful things about President Trump. Regardless of your political views, when you visit another country, and someone says terrible things about the president of your country, you feel a bit defensive and attacked. So, I have learned that the Swiss are outspoken people.

Taking the window seat of the train up the mountain of Rigi meant I got to enjoy the lake, the clouds, and the environment. When we got to the top, I was absolutely floored by the view. There’s truly no way to speak about this, so I’ll leave these photos here. It’s interesting that the mountains are so clean (not littered with trash and the snow is perfectly white not marred with shoe marks), as most touristy places are not that well-kept with so many visitors. Also, there are houses on the mountain, so I wonder who lives there? Also, for those people, they live somewhat in isolation, so I wonder if they have to go to town every time they need groceries, living products or really anything that I visit the store for.

Finally, for lunch, I tried chicken schnitzel at the cabin. It honestly was not as great as I imagined; it reminded me of crispy cafeteria chicken, so I can’t say I am enticed to try it in the future.

The rest of the day was spent exploring the area and appreciating nature’s beauty. I was overall surprised by how rude the Swiss people were at times, how stunning every body of water/ mountain is, and how different this place is from everywhere else. I mean Switzerland is so picturesque and pure that I would be so happy to live here forever.  I am looking forward to leaving for Venice tomorrow and making it to my dream place: Italy!

Until tomorrow,

Saya

This morning we had a bus tour of the city. What’s interesting is that we weren’t able to go on a portion of the bus route, as there is a protest in Paris that is apparently going on every Saturday for the yellow coats. The people are protesting for cab drivers and such to receive higher wages. Like I said in another post when I visit these amazing European countries, I completely forget that this is their normal lives and I am just visiting. So, hearing of these things reminds me of the current events that happen in other countries and to stay current on affairs outside of the U.S. With that, I would have had no idea that this protest is happening, because I have realized that at home I really only come in contact with U.S. current events and anything that’s highly publicized on social media. However, it seems that people outside of the U.S. are knowledgable on the issues within the United States, which makes my unconscious ignorance more apparent. One thing that I really want to focus on when I get home is being more educated on foreign affairs

During the tour, I got to witness the incredible sights of Paris including the Louvre which is actually a gigantic building with thousands of works. It’s not the small pyramid thing that you see on everyone’s Instagram, but instead, it’s a mansion of art. Apparently, it houses over 35000 works of art, and if you tried to look at every object in the museum from 8 am- 5pm it would take you years.

We also got to see a portion of the Champs-Elysses, the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and more. Some interesting things I learned about the Eiffel Tower are that it represents France’s strength on its centennial celebration of the French revolution. Our tour guide also said that it used to be read and has changed color throughout the years to finally land on a brown because of Aesthetic purposes. Though I don’t quite know how much I believe this, our tour guide did say that Parisian culture focuses on style and that a lot of the clothes that people wear are not comfortable but instead wear because they look good. It’s really interesting how a country known for its fashionable appearances manifests into its culture.

Also, our tour guide was an interesting character and shared a lot of controversial jokes about other European countries. He made some comments about Brexit and said that it is actually a verb and if someones at a party and says that they’re going to leave, but then you see them later, you would say, “you’re brexiting.” I was especially to hear comments like this because I assumed that all countries within the EU were all friendly, as they make up the same region. However, I learned that even countries within the EU have their respective thoughts about others. I realized that I lump all European countries as being friendly to each other, as they are in the same region. However, in every friend group, there are occasional conflicts, so I suppose this idea is applicable. This makes me curious about European stereotypes amongst each other and other conflicts these countries have with each other.

I also asked our tour guide what the most annoying thing that Americans do are to which he surprisingly answered “getting up in the middle of the meal to go to the restroom” because he jokingly/seriously said, ” we don’t need to know about your bowel movements”. While I have never seen going to the bathroom in the middle of the meal as an odd thing, I guess that’s just a testament to different perspectives. My perspective as an American is that if you want to be comfortable during a meal, so you do what you need to. But in Parisian culture, which focuses on appearance, this may look odd and leave a gap in the table and cause a disruption. I love comparing the perspective I hold and the new one I am gaining, as I really see “normal” things is such a different way.

I also got to visit the Palace of Versailles and the only thing I can say is INCREDIBLE. This place is stunning. From being decorated with real gold on the outside to housing some of the most famous painters, this is a must-see. But more than the castle, the gardens are truly spectacular. Walking through the gardens and admiring the technology and intellect of these architects back in the day is incredible. The Chateau de Versailles ties together 5 different Kings and King Louis XIV, the sun king, built the palace. Also, the price tag of Versailles estimated to be a couple of billion dollars which is crazy. Again, that motif of appearance and being stylish is shown in the glamour of the Palace.

Finally, for dinner, a few friends and I decided to have a really fancy Parisian dinner with 5 courses. While I don’t have all the pictures, I wanted to share about something crazy that I did. If you know anything about my diet, its that I am pretty much a vegetarian that also eats chicken, some might even say a chicketarian. I grew up eating other meats but lost the taste after pretty much elementary school. So after 5th grade, I NEVER ate pork, beef, seafood or anything. However, when I was in Paris, I knew that escargot was a delicacy, and someone ordered these amazing smelling garlicky herb butter snails. Maybe because I was curious, or the wine went to my head a little or they smelled so good, but I decided to try one. What I will say is that the texture is very similar to chicken in terms of chewiness. I couldn’t really taste the snail itself, because the delicious garlic her butter overpowered it, but I can see why people like them. SO talk about a wild experience.

Overall, I was surprised to learn about all the history within a few mile radii. I mean everywhere I looked, it was like there was another significant monument. I also was surprised that Paris is not a vibrant city full of life, it’s similar to NYC in the sense that it’s not as glitzy as it looks in the movies at the time. Sure, I had glitzy moments, but I think movies portray it to be a captivating city that is full of energy, and honestly, I did not get a vibrant spirit. In fact, Paris was most peoples least favorite city in my tour group. I think most people weren’t impressed with this experience because of the pickpocketing, the dreary weather, and rude people. However, Paris I have loved you and I will return to keep practicing my French with anyone who will let me.

Until tomorrow in Switzerland,

Saya

Today we left the cute quaint country of Amsterdam to venture to Paris, France. Since we had a long bus ride, we took a pit stop in the beautiful town of Gent, Belgium. We arrived in Gent around 11 and were super excited to have lunch here. Out tour guide recommended checking out a place called the Holy Food Market which is similar in concept to our very own North Market in downtown columbus, except the Holy Food Market is within what used to be an old church. So, it has the magnificent architecture and beautiful stain glass windows of the church, but the great market from all the vendors. However, when our group got to the market, it was closed, as its lunch service doesn’t open until 12. Given that our group was leaving Gent at 12:30, we weren’t able to wait around for the market to open. I was surprised that lunch places don’t open until 12 at the earliest, as restaurants open for just a lunch service open at 11 a.m. in the United States. So I am having to adapt from my routine and typical eating schedule more to the European one. However, I really have embraced these changes, as it makes me feel less like a tourist and more apart of the culture.

I asked the market owner for a local recommendation because of our time constraint, and she recommended a small bistro just around the corner that her friend owns. My friends and I ventured to that small spot and we got lunch. I am super tired of all the carbs I have been consuming, as at home I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables which is more challenging to find here. I have noticed that European diets rely a lot on carbs, meat and dairy. It is rare that I see a meal have a lot of vegetables or any sandwiches /pasta/pizza have a quality serving of vegetables. Also, I can’t remember the last time in Europe I had a fruit. What I will say, is if you want fruits and veggies, you really have to seek it out in Europe, whereas, in the States, I think it’s a bit more accessible. However, I also wonder if part of the reason I find a lot of carbs or meals without produce is because I am in more touristy areas where they are catering to the tourists by serving “classic” carb heavy meals such as sandwhiches, pasta or pizza. Given all this, I decided to order a salad with chicken added. All I can say is DELISH. The chicken was seasoned with an asian flavor, and the salad was so refreshing. Exactly what I needed.

An interesting interaction occured when a girl from our tour group asked for a takeaway meal, however, started eating it in the restaurant. The restaurant owner got really mad and made a comment to the girl that she couldn’t eat it within the restaurant since she asked for takeaway which was really surprising to me, as people in the U.S. do this sometimes and no one says anything about it. I know I have done this before where I’ve gotten jeni’s ice cream and said to-go but ended up eating it within the shop. I never really thought much of it, as I didn’t need my meal to be specially packaged up, but I never thought about this action in terms of the principle. In fact, I have been more cogniscent of this being home and making sure I tell the cashier whether or not I will be eating inside or elsewhere. The girl in the restaurant ended up apologizing and wrapping her sandwich up.

When we finally got to Paris, all of us were bustling to get to the heart of Paris and see the iconic Eiffel Tower. Unsurprisingly the poor weather during our trip continued and it was raining. We took the train to the Eiffel Tower and after the ride one of the girls in our group got pick pocketed. It was crazy that within 20 mins of exploring Paris, a girl got 200 euros stolen from her. This was a good reminder to all of us to be vigilant of our belongings and not lose sight of that fact that we are obviously tourists and realize that people will pickup/take advantage of that. We learned that most pickpocketing in the city is usually a 2 person team, so if someone asks us a question or shows us a map, there could be a 2nd individual who is stealing something. Not that I’m complaining but I wonder why there’s not a pickpocketing culture in the United States. For a smaller city like columbus I am not surprised, but in  NYC for example, they have big public transportation system, a busy city and large tourist attractions, but I don’t usually hear about NYC having issues with pickpocketing, so I wonder what causes it or how it manifests to become such a big issue.

As soon as we left the train station, smack dab to our left was the Eiffel Tower. It was truly shocking to see the Eiffel Tower in real life. I’ll learn more about the Tower’s history tomorrow, but I can genuinely say that seeing it was such an incredible experience. I mean the Eiffel Tower is this bigger than life architectural masterpiece that really captivates a person. Definitely one of the coolest experiences I have ever had.

After this, my friend and I got dinner. We went to a nearby restaurant, and I was able to use my French (which had me geeking out, as I love the language). The waiter at first did not seem impressed with me and my friends, as I assumed he thought we were annoying Americans, but once I translated that I learned french for 4 years and it was my first time in Paris, he had a much better attitude towards us.

Other things I learned French waiters don’t like 1) making substitutions/ adjustments to the entree 2) being indecisive about your meal 3) asking to separate the bill. Just a few considerations if you decide go abroad. I assume that people aren’t the biggest fans of Americans in the first place, so to make a lot of requests can be seen as annoying and to make you high maintenance. I also think that making adjustments to an entree can be seen as disrespectful to a chef, as meals are specifically curated and changing things might make it seem like the chef didn’t do a good job. Also, at the beginning of the meal, we didn’t get a bread basket or anything which is surprising because at most nice restaurants, you usually get something. I think it is because the restaurant wants you to order an appetizer, keep your hunger for the real meal or maybe because they don’t want to feed you bread before you order a carb laden meal. These are all guesses, but I wonder.

For my meal, I got a wonderful chicken and vegetable risotto. For dessert, I had to get chocolate mousse, and a friend got the creme brulée. Im not a big creme brulée fan, as its very rich, custardy and warm plus I don’t like the sugar crust. My chocolate mousse on the other hand was incredible. Literally dream worthy. Their desserts especially are very rich, heavy and decadent. The french definitely like their creamy and buttery desserts, but I think they make it work as they just take a bite or two of a dish and are satisfied with the flavors instead of consuming the entire thing. An interesting first day and I can’t wait for tomorrow!

Until then,

Saya

Before even stepping foot into Amsterdam, I thought I had it all figured out. I mean I briefly visited Amsterdam a few years ago for a flight layover, so I thought my 2nd experience in Amsterdam would practically be the same: bikes everywhere, canals and quaint buildings. However, Amsterdam is so much more than all these things. I was probably one of the few people who didn’t realize how liberal Amsterdam’s culture is, but if you should know anything about Amsterdam, it should be that it is a country full of a liberal spirit and kindness. As our tour guide said, “Amsterdam is tolerant to anyone that can treat others with respect.” Before my tour guide saying this, I would have thought the United States is the most fair and open-minded country, not because we’re perfect, but I thought being a developed country that it seems everyone wants to come visit, America was the peak of success. I think in some respects America is very successful, but I made a big generalization. I think that is in part because my dad always said that coming to America was his dream, so I view America as being the standard of how a country should be.

After visiting Amsterdam and experiencing its culture, I totally get a sense of how those values have manifested within their culture. Our tour guide also mentioned that Amsterdam is a place of freedom for others fleeing what you may have: an asylum of sorts. No matter if one’s ideas differ from others, Amsterdam is always welcoming to people, which is super cool.

For example, there is a statue of Alisa Bosshardt to share how influential a role she had in Amsterdam. She became a member of the Salvation Army and after WW2 supported those that worked in the red light district. She helped the prostitutes who had little voice and was able to supply them with any necessary living things. The prostitution culture in Amsterdam is obviously different than elsewhere, but it’s really a unique experience to have the lady’s in the windows like manequins. However, after seeing this the first time, I really didn’t notice it after that. I was just surprised that tourists felt like they could take pictures or make fun of them since they were “inside”; I got a sense that the actual people from Amsterdam were respectful, but it was the tourists that were an issue.

There was also a lady who had a shop and would hide Jewish people in her home. They would hide in the upstairs of her house. When a Nazi soldier found this out, they came to her home. However, this lady, as she was walking up her stairs came up with a plan to save the Jewish people she was hiding. So she turned on the stairs and said “Hail Hitler” while holding her palm up. The Nazi soldiers, so confused, couldn’t believe that she was one of “them.” So, the Nazi’s believing this lady was not helping any Jews decided to help her and in turn asked how they could support her. She was able to finesse a supply of alcohol from them all while hiding Jews in her home.

Stories about these powerful individuals and more really articulate the spirit of Amsterdam.

I also visited a cheese shop with a friend. I was surprised first of all that the store owner allowed me to try any cheese and used a cool cheese slicer, so every taste was fresh and creamy instead of hard and stale. In the United States only big grocers like Giant Eagle or Whole foods are places where I get this experience of trying the cheese, but Amsterdam in smart, because the only way to know if I like a cheese is to try it. In fact, it was this tasting which convinced a friend and me to buy 3 wedges of cheese each. I mean with flavors like truffle, pesto, wasabi and so much more can you blame us?

However, I was also shocked to find that none of the Dutch cheeses were refrigerated because they were vacuum packed and able to be kept closed for a few months. Nearly every cheese in the United States was refrigerated, so it was weird when I brought it home to put the cheese in my pantry. Furthermore,  these cheeses were made from unpasteurized/ raw milk which gave way to its unique flavor and texture. I think it’s surprising that the U.S. doesn’t allow for the manufacturing of raw milk cheese because of possible contaminants and bacteria’s, yet a bag of cheese from the store in the states will contain a slew of preservatives and chemicals. I think that the U.S. needs to start really reevaluating our food culture and processed goods, as dye-free, preservative-free and such foods shouldn’t be premium products, but instead the standard.

Another cool thing I did in Amsterdam was going on the Adam Lookout which is the tallest swing in Europe and swinging over the country of Amsterdam. Quite literally the best view of Amsterdam that one could have. I have never been so mesmerized by a scene and wow this was such an incredible experience! I would definitely recommend checking this out.

Finally: I have some random tidbits of information about Amsterdam. 1) You MUST try their fries. I was in Amsterdam for 1.5 days and some of my friends bought the fries 3 times each during our stay. 2) The Stroopwafel is also a MUST. Literally, 2 thin buttery “waffles” (think the thickness of pizelle) sandwiched with caramel in the center. SO GOOD. 3) NO F#CKING PHOTOS – this is an artistic campaign to not objectify the ladies in the Red District. These are real women too, so please don’t take photos of them. For some context on why prostitution is a legal thing here, it dates back to the fact that Amsterdam has a port. So men who were on the seas for months would be “rich” at these ports and engage in lavish meals, excessive drinking and women. These men were called the 6 week gentlemen, because at the end of 6 weeks, they would be poor and go out to sea again. This is what started the prostitution culture in Amsterdam. 4) Amsterdam has the largest cocoa port in the world and is the greatest importer of the product, so definitely try some out!

I think what surprised me most about Amsterdam is just really how eclectic and understated it is. I never thought of it having a diverse food scene (dutch cheese, stroopwaffel, poffertjes etc) or having so many cool attractions or just being such a kind place overall. I realize that when I considered myself “culture” I considered the knowledge about a country’s famous art/artists, monuments or food to be the epitome of the culture, but really that was superficial, because I really didn’t know the culture itself or understand how the country’s history affected its present. This realization has made me more open-minded and something I will keep reminding myself of when I continue exploring.

I had a nice and Lazy start to my 3rd morning in London. I was able to sleep in, take my time getting ready and not feel pressed to get anywhere. To start out the day, my friends and I decided to check out the National Gallery. The National Gallery was “free” except for an optional donation at the entrance, so I would highly recommend checking it out! It was incredible seeing the work of so many famous painters that I learned about in my History of Art Class post-Renaissance period.

I saw the traditional water and bridge-works of Monet and the classic dancer images of Degas. I was truly entranced by the art because their works are incredible. Monet is widely recognized for being a famous impressionist and truly capturing light to make incredible works of art. Degas was famous for his ability to capturing dancers in movement and portraying them with pastels. Though both of these artists work are considered to be impressionists, just by simply comparing their works, it is apparent that they are vastly different.

After this relaxed early afternoon, we walked the streets of Oxford Street which has great shopping, ate at Brewdog, just a pub that has locations around London where I got a chicken sandwich, and visited Camden Market! Camden Market reminded me of the type of shopping in India, as it was an outdoor market in an area that was houses by awnings and tent-like material.

This is a great place to get souvenirs, as you can bargain on prices for anything. I was able to get a few shirts for my family, while my friends were able to find other trinkets. Though this area is about 20 minutes outside of the center/touristy parts of London, I was surprised that a big city with many historical monuments would have an outdoors “market” instead of another street of bustling stores. I don’t find many ourdoor shop areas in the U.S. that aren’t like actual storefronts where you can bargain, so it was cool that such a modern country like Britain does truly have a little bit of everything.

Camden Market is near Kings Cross Station, so of course, our next stop fulfilled a childhood dream of mine: visiting the Platform 9 3/4. I was surprised by how simple Kings Cross Station was, in that it was literally a yellow brick wall with a sign that said Platform 9 3/4. I was surprised to learn that Kings Cross Station is an actual train station, a popular one too, so it was so weird having this touristy spot right inside of an important transportation area. I really can’t imagine something like this in the U.S., because I feel like it would get too crowded and frustrate the locals too much to be successful. You also could get a picture running through the wall (which I definitely got) and then are able to optionally purchase it or buy other HP merchandise.

I also later did another neat Harry Potter activity, which was probably the coolest experience I had in Europe, crafting drinks at the cauldron Bar. You are given a menu of a few different types of drink concoctions you can create and then of the wizards will give you all the tools and ingredients to make them. It was super cool because things steamed, fizzed, whizzed and so much more. Hands down one of the coolest things I have ever done. I think this was also really cool because it really bridged a fun adult activity with a child favorite, so it was a new way to experience one of my favorite book series- truly timeless. One of our drinks was more of a tea-based beverage and our 2nd drink was a sweet concoction.

Finally, we needed a bite to eat. One of our friends was Ecuadorian and got so excited when we saw a Cuban restaurant, so she dragged us there for some tapas fare. I ordered the chicken wings and Patatas Bravas. While this is not classic English fare, tapas are a traditional Spanish style of the meal and with Spain being in Europe, I consider it an authentic European meal. The chicken wings were beautifully charred, juicy and full of flavor with the sour cream to cool it down. The patatas bravas were not what I was expecting; while I was expecting fried cheesy potatoes, as most potatoes in restaurants in the States feature fried potatoes, these were instead boiled, soft potatoes covered with a tomato sauce. I had never had Cuban food, so this was such a neat experience for me, and I am really glad my friend convinced us to go here! I am quickly learning that though Europe is such a foreign, new and exciting place, I am learning so much from the people I am meeting just because they have different experiences and upbringings to share. So while Europe is bringing me out of my comfort zone, it is really the people I am meeting that is teaching me so much! How cool!

On the very first day, my impression was that London was a place of important historical buildings and such. I really thought of it as an important place because of the queen and Buckingham Palace, despite not being obsessed with the Royals culture. However, from the narrow alley passageways that make up the entire city, to a neat transportation system via the tube to the eclectic culture of each area, I really see London as a hub of people with diverse backgrounds all finding their place. In this sense, the big city feels really bridges together all these different people and links all these unique people.

Up next: Amsterdam

Until tomorrow,

Saya

Today, I felt refreshed to take on London with my abundant sleep. I was running late, so I did not get a chance to really enjoy the hotel breakfast, but I was really surprised by the array. There was an array of different bread products such as slices of bread, croissants, pain au chocolat etc. There were also containers of British classics such as baked beans, sausages, scrambled eggs, tomatoes, and mushrooms. There was also a cheese and cold cuts board with fresh cucumbers next to it, which was something that I don’t often find at hotel breakfasts. I think that since the British are able to get so many fresh pastries and things, its easy to offer a variety of these treats. Also, I have found that European meals are fairly simple and straightforward, so I think the cold cuts and cheese board is a testament to that. Finally, there was an espresso machine that was a nice perk.

Once I left, I immediately wanted to return to the hotel, because the weather was cold, rainy and windy, which made for an unpleasant start to the morning though. EF provided us with a guided bus tour, so this was a great way to get more information about the sights I had explored yesterday. We went to London’s version of “Wall Street” that apparently works with the most currency in all of Europe. Canary Wharf was actually a huge center for commerce back when it was a hub for shipping, though it still continues being an important dock with over 1000 ships passing by every month. This spot was pretty quiet despite being a Monday morning, as it was a bank holiday. Thus, it was nice to easily peruse the premises. This area also had a wonderful view of tower bridge which is different than the iconic London bridge.

I then went to a coffee shop for a pick me up and was immediately struck by a few things- the simplicity of the coffee menu in comparison to a Starbucks, the variety of available vegan options and the fact that it was cash only. I didn’t see too many flavored coffee options which were different from the Starbucks and Dunkin’s of the world that are always exploring new flavor concoctions. This coffee shop and many other cafes are very considerate of vegan and vegetarian diets which I don’t find nearly as considered in the states. I wonder why there’s a more considerate menu, despite being the same brands I consume in the states may be the Brits have a more diverse population of diets. Also, being in London, a huge city, there is probably a strong millennial and working population vs suburban, so they may have a greater desire for vegetarian and vegan options.

Finally, I was most surprised that the shop was cash only, as nearly everywhere in the United States accepts both cash and credit. I think that these smaller shops probably don’t like the hassle of a card machine, and I assume it costs too much to deal with bank transactions. I don’t think that the U.S. could really have cardless shops though, because the few that have attempted to do this have had to revert to accepting both currencies.

Buckingham Palace

We continued the tour by seeing more of the London area and also seeing the guards going down the street and playing music at Buckingham Palace. The cops were on horses and aggressively yelling at viewers to step behind the line. This entire spectacle was so odd., as I have never been in a setting where horses on cops manage the safety of people as the band played. I guess if I saw cop cars instead patrolling the area, that would have been more normal, but the horses may be more environmentally friendly or efficient? And funny enough the royal baby was born around the same time we arrived at Buckingham Palace.

After this, I rode the London Eye. The London eye is a must see in London and is truly an unparalleled vision of London. The London Eye is like a Ferris wheel on steroids because you are encased in a bubble with a ton of people, in my carriage there were about 30 people. The ride is roughly 30 minutes and is neat because you get so many different angles of Europe.

After this, I went on a river cruise of the Thames river and got to experience traditional tea time. The cruise was very peaceful and I enjoyed interesting crustless sandwiches, fancy desserts and warm coffee (not a tea fan).

I really got to immerse myself in British culture today and experience some of the neat historical and architecture greatness of this city. I think I am most surprised by how this doesn’t feel so different than NYC which I just visited last month when I meander the city. NYC has the same vibrant spirit, with art museums, trendy people, skyscrapers and such so it doesn’t feel super different. However, the accent, the trend of wearing dark colors and a leather jacket (which I suspect is a fashionable way to stay warm), the constant sickly stench of cigarette smoke everywhere all remind me that I am in a different place. A big challenge I have faced is the lingo when I talk to the people, as apparently the British sayings are more or less funny made up things. Our tour guide even said that the word “fanny” like fanny packs is something you should never utter in Britain, so being aware of those thigns sometimes surprises me. I am excited for my free day in London tomorrow and to see what adventures I experience!

Until tomorrow,

Saya