Italian Holiday

I am continuously blessed to be able to travel to and explore new places. One of the most recent was Italy. 

Italy has the most UNESCO World Heritage sites of any country, is full of delicious food, and has the some of the most beautiful sites (landscapes, cityscapes, people) ever.

I spent just over a week in Italy and went to four cities: Milan, Rome, Venice, and Florence. I still can't believe I was able to do so much in so little time. By the end my feet were aching, but my heart was full of love and appreciation for this incredible country. 

Check out my vlog and photos for some of the best views. 

& let me know your favorite places to travel in Italy.

I spent longer than necessary waiting for the birds to fly.

This is Michelangelo's last work, the Rondanini Pieta.

Tbh, no matter how giant you think the Colosseum is, it's bigger.

Where's Paolo?

Rome ruin-ed me.

God was shining in on St. Peter's.

I fell in love with Venice's streets. I'm not sure if it was because or despite constantly being lost in them.

The birds of Venice

There is nothing like the silhouette of statues on a blue sky.

Being casual while taking in the morning light (and only sunshine while we were there) over Florence.

How incredible is the architecture in Florence?!

It's important to include this picture so you can see how tired we were after exploring. We were constantly going, but it was 100% worth it. There's no time for rest when there's more beauty to behold.

I already can't wait to go back to see and taste everything I missed!

- Jess

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Christmas in Edinburgh

To start, quick life update that I somehow missed on here: I'm in Georgia, the country, teaching English this school year. I've never been to this side of the world and it's an opportunity that I took because, why not? I'm getting to explore new places, make new friends, and live a life far different from what I'd have in Ohio. Like any new, different experience it has its ups and downs and there has been a lot of learning, by me and my students. I think I'll wait until I'm back home to do a full post on my experience, after I've had time to really unpack for myself what this has been like.

Anyway, to the point...
(I realize this is the latest/worst timed post ever, but #yolo, I've been busy.)

Over the winter holidays I had a couple weeks off school and took FULL advantage of the time off, location on this side of the Atlantic, cheap European flights, and new friends from some of my favorite places. 

The first place: Edinburgh.
I'd been there once before, but for less than 48 hours. This time I spent almost 2 weeks there, hung out with the locals, had some chill time by myself, and really got to explore the city. After visiting the first time I fell in love with it and after this trip it's still on my list of 'best places I've ever been.' 

During this trip (I told myself) I was on a very tight budget, so in my exploring I tried to do as many free things as possible. I thought this was actually pretty easy. There are so many free museums and outdoor activities, and at Christmas there was the Christmas Market! I really didn't find any shortage of things to do and free activities meant I had a little wiggle room in my budget for brunches and Christmas chocolates.

Edinburgh really knows how to do Christmas!
Side note: I had the most incredible mac & cheese here.

Looking for E-L-V-E-S in the Christmas tree maze

The National Museum of Scotland: full of animals, fashion, airplanes, sunlight, and more.

If miracles were to happen anywhere, surely it'd be here.
@ Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

Just walking around is an activity...

...look at these streets!

Calton Hill has a vieeeeew

National Monument of Scotland on Calton Hill

The yummiest cakes and breakfast atmosphere @ Southern Cross Café

This was the most casual post about a place ever, but I hope you enjoyed it.

I'll be back with more soon! Promise.

- Jess

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Exploring: Toronto

Hello! It's been a long time since I was last here, but I'm back! 

I just finished some adventures and I'm starting some new ones, so I'll have plenty to keep it fresh in this tiny corner of the internet.
                                                                                                                    

Where was my last adventure?

I'd never been to Toronto, or even Canada, before last week. I'd only heard rave reviews from everyone I know who's visited, so I was very excited. I had a lot of recommendations, it was looking to be good weather, and there is a beach! Toronto and everything it had to offer were just as great, if not more, as I expected. If you get the chance to visit, don't pass it up! 

To Do:
There is so much to see and do in Toronto. Check out the museums, especially on their discount nights. Take the ferry to the islands, it's only $8 for a return ticket! The view of the Toronto skyline from the island is a can't miss. Check out the Allan Gardens Park & Conservatory and then walk to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to get a bit of civics and history. 

Art Gallery of Ontario

T-rex at the Royal Ontario Museum

Toronto Centre Island

Wearing:
Top Madewell (similar)
Jeans Madewell
Shoes Birkenstock

Turtles at the Allan Gardens Park & Conservatory

To See:

If you don't want to spend money enough for 2 meals on a trip to the top of the CN Tower, check out the rooftop of the Thomson Hotel. You get a great view and the CN Tower is in it! Take a stroll through Grafitti Alley for some of the best insta opportunities. Take a night walk to Nathan Phillips Square to see the giant 'Toronto' light up sign. The letters change colors and it is seriously cool.

Thomson Hotel Rooftop!

Grafitti Alley, wearing:
Top ASOS (similar)
Bottoms Zara
Shoes Keds

Nathan Phillips Square

To Eat:

The most important meal of my day is brunch. Sadly, I don't have any pictures of my delicious brunches because I had prepared too well to be hungry enough to eat it all! Even without the pics, I highly recommend every place I brunched at in Toronto: The Beaver, Starving Artist, & The Lockhart.

When I wasn't brunching, I was coffee-ing. Toronto has no shortage of local cafés with delicious drinks and treats and creative atmospheres. If Tim Horton's just isn't cutting it, check out Strange Love, FIKA, and Butter Avenue.

& don't forget to try a butter tart! 

Lover's Latte at Strange Love

St. Honoré Mango tart at Butter Avenue

When you're hungry again at dinner, go to the best ramen place that I have EVER visited: Sansotei Ramen. It's near the Art Gallery of Ontario and, seriously, this was the best meal ever. The broth was delicious, there was just enough spice, there was a WHOLE EGG, and I got a lapel pin that is this ramen. 

Another dinner can't miss: doubles. According to Ali's West Indian Roti Shop on Queen St, doubles are 'spicy fried chickpea patties' and according to me they are 'DELICIOUS.' I will warn you though, the spicy doubles are no joke. I only barely kept my dignity when my eyes started watering.

Spicy Tan Tan at Sansotei Ramen

While you're here, check out the short travel vlog I made in Toronto! 

See you soon!

- Jess

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Down South | Memphis & Nashville

Last week was my (last) spring break and I had the opportunity to travel to Memphis and Nashville, TN with a group of international and domestic students from my school. I'd never been to West or Middle Tennessee before this trip and I was excited for the food, music, and warmth. I wasn't disappointed.

Let's start with Memphis:

(me while studying)

 Stax Museum of American Soul Music shocked me. I wasn't sure what to expect; I didn't think I would be interested, honestly. Boy, was I wrong. The history that is stored in this museum goes beyond the music. It captures the soul (bc soul music) of Memphis and world when Stax was an operating record company. 

 & the National Civil Rights Museum. Potentially the most important and relevant museum, considering current events. If you visit (which you should, EVERYONE should), you'll start at the beginning of the Europeans' violation of Africans' rights: the slave trade. The museum takes you on a chronological journey that ends with the current struggle for civil rights and the #BlackLivesMatter movement. 

I was taken back to the brief lessons we had on slavery and the civil rights movement in history class. I don't think we learned nearly enough. & I was taught more than I ever could have imagined about the past struggle and the current struggle for rights.

When our group met up after going through the museum we had a discussion. What did we learn? How does the American civil rights movement translate to other countries and their civil rights movements? How does the civil rights movement in the 60s affect the current race relations in America and the fight for equality?

These were tough questions.

Our groups were made of students from different backgrounds. Different religions, different races, different ethnicities, different nationalities. & we all brought different, and valid, ideas and thoughts to the table based on our experiences. This was by far my favorite part of the trip, just being able to connect and learn from each other on a less superficial level.

&& we're off to Nashville:

The Parthenon? Is this Athens (of the West)? Hehe

Those columns though *heart eyes* 

Ceiling goals at the TN capitol building (ft. original chandeliers)

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The PNW is Calling & I Must Go

Long time, no see, huh?

I kind of forgot I had this tiny space of the internet for me.

I've started my last semester of university (for now, at least) & I seem to have committed myself to a few too many things these last 4 years. There is so much going on. But alas, I've found time to chronicle a bit of my life here again...

Two months ago I found myself in what I can almost 100% confidently say is my favorite place in the US: the Pacific Northwest. 

I hadn't been there since I was about 2 years old and my only memories were a couple of photos. This time I was 21 and I plan to remember it all and never again go two decades without returning.

My aunt, uncle, and cousins live in Portland, so that's where most of my time was spent. Our time was spent Christmas gift shopping, showing me the favorite places of the locals (at least the 4 locals that I know...), and about 1 family fun adventure hike everyday. We even traveled up to Seattle for a day (because how could we not?).

The most instagrammed place in Oregon, 2015.

Columbia River

again.

There was a white Christmas in the mountains

I made it to the Pacific Ocean. (Cannon Beach) 

Sunset, Christmas Day 2015 

THE Haystack Rock

"Donuts for grownups"

Did you know it's twice as expensive to go to the top of the Space Needle as it is to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower?
So... we didn't make it to the top.

Needless to say, I will be back.

See you soon, PNW.

- Jess

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