First Stop, Copenhagen

(By the way - I have just about had it with blogger and lining up (or really not lining up) my pictures in my post!)

Well, that is not quite true. Before Copenhagen I was in Portland, Providence, and Boston - all wonderful cities, but just not quite as exciting or exotic as the second half of my vacation.

I had not done a spec of planning for my time in Copenhagen. So untypical for me. Instead I let KC, who had been living there for 6 months, play tour guide and show me her Copenhagen.

We did a lot of walking around the city.

And spent an afternoon sailing!
































Which included some swimming. There was a bit of a heat wave going on.


















We BBQ'd for the 4th. And taught some Danes how to make s'mores.























We rode bikes (without helmets!?!?). And played volleyball. And ate ice cream.




Actually, we ate a lot of ice cream!

Travel Itinerary

Sunday, June 21 (5:30 pm) - Train departs for Portland
Monday, June 22-Tuesday, June 23 - Conference in Portland
Tuesday, June 23 (9:45 pm) - Train arrives in Seattle
Wednesday, June 24th (6:05 am) - Plane leaves for Rhode Island
Thursday, June 25- Friday, June 26 - Bridesmaid Duty
Saturday, June 27th - Travel to Boston, see BFF's Max and Laura!!
Sunday, June 28th- Monday, June 29th - Fun times (including New Hampshire hiking) with Max and Laura
Tuesday, June 30th - Travel to Copenhagen
Wedesday, July 1st - Arrive in Copenhagen, see KC for first time in over 6 months!
Thursday, July 3rd- Saturday, July 4th - Explore Copenhagen
Saturday, July 4th (5:30 pm) - Ferry departs for Oslo, all-night party
Sunday, July 5th - arrive in Oslo, explore
Monday, July 6th - travel to Jotunheimen National Park
Tuesday, July 7th - Friday, July 10th - backpack through Jotunheimen (including a glacier trek!)
Friday, July 10th - ferry to Bergen
Saturday, July 11th- Monday, July 13th - explore Bergen
Tuesday, July 14th - train departs for Oslo, flight departs for Copenhagen
Wednesday, July 15th - fly back to Seattle :(

Whew!!

Let's just say packing is NOT going well...

Cyprus: Limassol, Driving on the Left, Old "Stuff," and Hiking Around

I spent a few days in Limassol because it was home to the cheapest guesthouse in all of Cyprus. There was also a wine festival with free wine. Yes, you read that right, FREE WINE. Too bad I didn't have any of my wino friends with me!





I rented a car to explore more of the country. This involved driving on the left side of the road. Note: I can't tell my left from my right. One of the downsides of being ambidextrous.



Don't worry, I didn't crash into anything. I did visit the ancient city of Kourion. It definitely was a city with amazing views!





I also saw more ancient ruins in Pafos. And crazy cool mosaics.

Not quite so old, but still a pretty pic.

The next day I drove into the Trodoos Mountains and went "hiking," which really was like walking on a flat, dusty trail. I was certainly the most fashionable girl on the trail.

The towns in the mountains were quaint.

I spent my final day back in Limassol. Where I...

RODE A MOTORCYCLE!! If I had a life to-do list, this would certainly be on it.

And that was Cyprus.

Cyprus, Part 3: Northern Cyprus - St. Hilerion Castle

I only took a brief excusion into Northern Cyprus to check out St Hilerion, an old castle built into a mountain.



From here you could see the northern coast and Kyernia.



Supposedly the castle was inspiration for Walt Disney when creating Snow While (the castle of the wicked witch or stepmom, or whatever she was).



Lots of climbing on uneven surfaces. maybe that is why my knee continues to hurt?

Cyprus Part 2: Nicosia

Nicosia is considered the world's last divided city. After the Turkish invasion in 1974, a UN "green line" was drawn, separating the Republic of Cyprus (the Greek side) from Northern Cyprus (the Turkish side). Northern Cyprus is only recognized by Turkey. Nicosia is the capital for both sides and the green line runs through the middle.

The green line runs somewhere between the Greek Cypriot flag in the front of the picture and the Turkish Cypriot flag in the back.

Near the line there are many abandoned and destroyed buildings.

I spent 2 days in Nicosia and did a lot of walking. The main downfall of the city? It is not on the coast! I was very anxious to get back to the warm waters of the Mediterranean.

Cyprus, Part 1: Ayia Napa (AKA The Conference and 5-Star Hotels)

The whole reason I traveled some 8000 miles to Cyprus was to present at a conference. And not just any presentation, but my first conference presentation (although not the first I had attended). The conference was not quite what I expected, but I guess to be honest, I really didn't expect anything. The weeks leading up to the trip had been a whirlwind of deadlines and stress - both professionally and personally. But I'm in a field dominated by stodgy old men, so I expected, well, stodgy old men. Much to my surprise, the first 2 conference go-ers I laid eyes on were #1 young, and #2 female! There was also a young, super-dork professor from the wonderful midwestern USA that wanted to be my best friend (why do I attract such super-dorks?!?), the germans who busted out their speedos as we raced to hit the beach before the sun went down (um yeah - awkward to sit in a suit all day with people and then prance around in a bikini with these same people an hour later), dancing, and lots of Cypriot wine. I had a blast.









Ayia Napa isn't much more than a party town on the beach (although this is where I did swim in the WARMEST WATER EVER!). But don't worry, I did manage to make good use of the 5-Star accommodations while there so all was not lost.

Drunk. And Tired.

(Author's Note: Tonight really isn't tonight. It is Friday night. But because blogger now lets you blog in advance, I can still "post" even though I am really soaking up the sun right now.)

The plan was to go out tonight. To enjoy the pacific northwest's finest brews. To stay out late tonight. Because my 10-hour flight leaves at 1pm (not bedtime) and arrives in Amsterdam at 8 am (wake up time).

Although I was tempted to stay home and watch the end of Win a Date with Tad Hamilton.

Well, I went out. And I drank. But I came home early. Because the friends I was with were a) mountain biking all day, b) up and out of bed at 5am thing morning (craaazy!), or c) lame. So I am back home, a bit tipsy, with nothing to do. But blog!

But at least they bought my beers. One for the Greek Cypriots. One for the Turkish Cypriots. And one for the masters degree (that whole margin debacle sorted it self out and I was approved for my degree - yay!) Yeah, almost drunk after just 3 beers. Sad.

Packing today. It was interesting. I had to plan my "business" outfits based on the heels I could wear without further damaging my heels - meaning one pair of brown wedges. And then I had to being 3 other pairs of shoes for the rest of the trip. 4 pairs of shoes for a 2-week trip, from the girl that brought 2 pairs on a 7-week trip. I blame it all on the knee!

But the bags are packed, (I'm ready to go. I'm standing here outside your door).

And now I am rambling... And I am sure this post is fascinating.

Andio! That's (Phonetic) Greek for Goodbye

I leave for almost 2 weeks in a foreign country in 24 hours, and this is what I have accomplished on the packing front.

At least I know I'll have enough clean underwear to last me the whole trip.

So much has happened in the weeks leading up to this trip, that I really haven't mentally prepared for it. I have a plane ticket, places to stay, a presentation ready to present, and my trusty lonely planet, but other than that... I've got nothing. Not that I need much more than that (plus a bathing suit and some sunscreen), but typically the days leading up to a trip like this are filled with anticipation and excitement. I know I'll get there and have an amazing time, because, if nothing else, Cyprus has sandy beaches and blue-green water (and 92 degrees with sun forecasted everyday). Oh, and feta cheese. And did I mention there is a wine fest while I am there?!?

So I just need to shake this overwhelming feeling of sadness. Because as KC said last night, there is so much good going on in my life right now and I am letting just one man (plus one knee injury and one best friend who moved across the country), overshadow it all.

I'm going to board that plane tomorrow with optimism that some Mediterranean air can make it all better. Otherwise, I know time is the only true cure-all.

Till then...

Wanderlust

Top 10 Places to See:




01. Peru


02. Galapagos Islands


03. Greece


04. Poland


05. Australia


06. New Zealand


07. Egypt


08. Brazil


09. The Seychelles


10. Bhutan

What's on your Top 10?

Up. Down. Up. Down. UP!

Honestly, it is amazing how fast the emotions running through my mind can up and change course in a matter of seconds. Almost anything can trigger a switch from up to down or down to up. It is a roller coaster ride that is emotionally draining.

Life certainly isn't roses right now, there is a bright side.

Yesterday I received word that I was awarded a fellowship (one that I didn't even apply for so someone must have said really nice things about me in order to convince the dean's office that I was worthy). It covers my tution for the next year, meaning my advisor doesn't have to pay it out of her budget, meaning she can pay me more. Score!

Then this morning there was an email I had anxiously been awaiting for a few days. Two weeks ago I submitted an abstract for a conference. It seemed like a longshot, but my advisor said she would fund me if my paper was accepted. I figured that it couldn't hurt to try. Well... I learned today that my paper was accepted and I'M GOING TO CYPRUS!!

Ummm, can you say excited!?!? Or should I say, EXCITED!?!?

No talk of the great experience to present at such a big conference, or the line on my cv, instead my advisor tells me that she expects a detailed photo journal of my trip. Ha - LOVE HER!

Given it is a 21 hour trip for a 3-day conference, I will obviously be extending my stay and exploring the island. Anyone want to join me!?!?

Not Dead

Just traveling for school, spending time with Boston, and skiing.

Oh yeah, and working on my thesis.

Stay tuned.

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

Ferris Bueller is so right on with this one. How is Thanksgiving THIS WEEK?!?! Time flies by yet, I never seem to get anything done.

Last week was hellish. I was swamped with work and commitments (so I barely got any work done) and then had to attend a conference in Portland. It was relatively fun, but not all that informative and I could have spent my time otherwise (not to mention all the time I spent dealing with logistics of getting 10 other students down there).

I caught a cold on my return from Hawaii, my car battery died and had to be replaced, and I lost my student id (which doubles as a bus pass). I spent the week in shock, thinking about my friend’s sister’s murder (they arrested two men, one who confessed), and worrying about another friend’s father who was having a brain tumor removed (the surgery went well and the tumor was benign).

This weekend I treated myself to a glorious morning of sleeping in (12 hours of sleep!), a leisurely run with my roommate, dinner with an old friend, an easy hike up north with a new friend, and just a bit of homework. And in just 3 days, I’ll be back in the comforts of my childhood home. My mom (who, I don’t say it enough, is amazing!) will cook me all the foods I am craving and let me stay in my pjs all day. I get to catch up with my brother and play with my nephew. And see my best friends, and best friend’s new baby. I will feel all nervous about attending my 10-year high school reunion, but then have a blast. I’ll still work on my thesis, but I’ll do it in a place that makes me feel all warm and cozy.

Then I will come back to Seattle and life will be all crazy again. But as the keynote speaker at last week’s conference pointed out, cities experience traffic congestion because they have desirable qualities. There is a reason why San Francisco is congested and Flint, Michigan isn’t. So maybe there is a reason my life is “congested” too?!?

Hawaii - The North Shore Chapter

I loooooved the North Shore. Very chill and the beaches were beautiful (and uncrowded). I stayed in a cute little guest house in Waimea, which was great because I met fellow travellers that I played on the beach with during the day and chilled with during the night. I snorkeled (saw turtles!), surfed (stood up on my 3rd try), swam under a waterfall, jumped off a huge rock into the ocean, and lounged (in both the water and on the beach). Oh yeah, and ate lots of shaved ice - yum! It was a relaxing couple of days - I wish I could be back there now!

(this isn't me, but this IS the rock I jumped off!!)