tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66231140356596170782013-01-04T14:25:55.232-06:00L'amour la vita bonitavckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-66523669524246816072013-01-04T14:25:00.001-06:002013-01-04T14:25:55.252-06:002013-01-04T14:25:55.252-06:00holidays. <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff9a00; font-family: Courier New;">i live in the boonies. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ff9a00; font-family: Courier New;">kind of. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ff9a00; font-family: Courier New;">the small town i live in gets smaller when you live in the country with no internet access. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ff9a00; font-family: Courier New;">what at first made me feel overwhelmingly unproductive was incredibly freeing. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ff9a00; font-family: Courier New;">and that texas sky.</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kqBKuzXqDvg/UOcvrHqfhzI/AAAAAAAABI0/cKcQqVDFF9o/s2048/Photo%252520Dec%25252031%25252C%2525202012%25252C%2525205%25253A57%252520PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="375" id="blogsy-1357328378003.0452" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kqBKuzXqDvg/UOcvrHqfhzI/AAAAAAAABI0/cKcQqVDFF9o/s500/Photo%252520Dec%25252031%25252C%2525202012%25252C%2525205%25253A57%252520PM.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #ff9a00; font-family: Courier New;">my last days in the US have been spent feeling like a child in my parents home & i have loved it. despite my age, i never fail to feel like the 8 year old who would get caught singing spice girls into the microphone (which conveniently pulls a Clark Kent and transforms into a bed post in the day time)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ff9a00; font-family: Courier New;">time stands still.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ff9a00; font-family: Courier New;">my parents see their children- one in the Marines, the other leaving the country for art school, and one on the cusp of growing into a teen- all wonderfully going <em>so fast</em> and in so many directions</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-y2VbymQVIHk/UOcv-cZ_p8I/AAAAAAAABJM/RMItOq1dcCY/s960/Photo%252520Jan%2525204%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525201%25253A07%252520PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="333" id="blogsy-1357328378006.284" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-y2VbymQVIHk/UOcv-cZ_p8I/AAAAAAAABJM/RMItOq1dcCY/s500/Photo%252520Jan%2525204%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525201%25253A07%252520PM.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #ff9a00; font-family: Courier New;">but the second we gather around the table for my mothers cooking, time goes back and we are as we always were.</span></div>
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<a href="http://blogsyapp.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Posted with Blogsy" src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" height="20" style="margin-right: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>
vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-22398374096948762072012-12-16T11:36:00.000-06:002012-12-16T11:36:01.996-06:002012-12-16T11:36:01.996-06:00this town.
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This town. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Today is my last day in this town. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This town is comprised of 95, 142 people. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I've been lucky enough to know a glimpse of them. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The last four years of my life are not the best, as I am
one to think that life only gets better with age and opportunity, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">But they were the most memorable yet. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">My nights have been filled with laughter, tears and dancing.
</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">My dreams have been fulfilled, created and recreated. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">My loves have been completely non-sensical, illogical,
selfish and selfless. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">My life has been a complete college cliché and a story
that’s never been told. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I have never been so outlandishly happy, nor so insanely anxious
to continue exploring outside these walls. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">These years aren’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the
best</i> in my life, but I can say have been the best yet. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I’ve been lucky enough to discover two towns at this
University, so to both Bryan and College Station, thank you. For being
irresponsible, responsible, welcoming, happy, dramatic, loving, irrelevant, and
consumingly wonderful. I will miss the hell out of our of tailgates, the Village’s 100<sup>th</sup>
Monkey, feeling so loved by people I want to retire here, my roommates, dancing
on anything with a solid surface, conversations on the front porch, spring
breaks, wine with my best friend, videos from the night before, forgotten memories and the memories so
vivid you can feel them shaping you as a person. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">With my best friend & a meal at my favorite cafe, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Goodbye College Station and Texas A&M University,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I love you. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Gig Em. </span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-28705577253734167642012-11-09T13:05:00.001-06:002012-11-09T13:30:55.309-06:002012-11-09T13:30:55.309-06:00166 days<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It has been 166 days since I've left Europe and the first weekend that I've had time to stop and think back on it all. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">From the second I stepped back on American soil I've been in a whirlwind of moving in, starting classes, a new job, and seeing beautiful people I've missed. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It's been wonderfully consuming. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">However, among the craziness I haven't had time to reflect on my summer...to let it sink in that <i>that actually happened.</i> </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">That this past summer I lived in Holland. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I interned with a global company, and worked with such wonderful people that I looked forward to every morning coffee break. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I lived in a closet room in an intern house and was known in Nunhem as the new girl {who was always either at the bus stop or market}. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I couch surfed throughout Europe. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I traveled by myself & loved every second for what it was worth. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I also met so many friends I never felt alone. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It was a summer of realizations. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It was also one filled with beautiful friendships and beautiful places. Both of which I miss more than I can describe. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yA0qi-jIFrg/UFah9OH2WXI/AAAAAAAABEw/IwykjQ59WoY/s1600/IMG_7672.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yA0qi-jIFrg/UFah9OH2WXI/AAAAAAAABEw/IwykjQ59WoY/s640/IMG_7672.JPG" width="640" /></a> </span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My heart has never felt more full than when I was abroad, nor have I ever felt more at home. I've never felt more like myself & I've never felt more alive. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In total I traveled 7 countries in 2 continents and spent my time traveling in the best way: by living with locals. I may not have seen every (or hardly any) museums, but I saw sunsets from a secret spot, overlooked cities on apartment rooftops, partied with new friends & strangers, picked up recipes from the dinners we made together and fell in love with people every day. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I was disenchanted by anything touristic, and instead explored places through people. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I got lost a lot & found that when lost you always find something, from a new friend to an incredible view. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The best part of it all, is that in 59 days, I get to go back. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I've gotten a scholarship to go to an art school in Italy to study Art History & Photography. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">And I. Can't. Wait. </span><br />
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vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-7655301345081684722012-08-12T04:05:00.002-05:002012-08-12T04:06:40.389-05:002012-08-12T04:06:40.389-05:00the last of holland.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Friday was my last day of work and it felt unreal. I stayed late because I didn't want to leave the place that granted me the best summer of my life.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This past week I've been soaking up as much of Holland as possible,</span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> which translates into an excuse to eat as many Dutch pastries as possible and of course going back for </span><a href="http://lamourlavitabonita.blogspot.nl/2012/06/first-day-at-work.html" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Jack's food</a><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This past week has been filled with homemade dinners with my roommates, bike rides, sunset walks, and a lot of wine. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Don't even get me started about how much I'm going to miss this sky. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">From daily trips to fresh bakeries, to going to the farms nearby for berries and freshly made ice cream, I am going to miss this place that quickly became my home.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Thankfully I can't be too preoccupied with the thought of leaving Europe because today I go to Marrakech, Morocco! Till Thursday my front porch will be the rooftop of my riad, my wine will be mint tea, and my dutch pastries will be replaced with pigeon pastilla. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'm so excited. </span></div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-37700127300228582422012-08-11T03:33:00.001-05:002012-08-11T03:45:27.092-05:002012-08-11T03:45:27.092-05:00solar music festival.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">SOLAR MUSIC FESTIVAL</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">65,000 people over 3 days. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Sold out. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">we scored free tickets. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">free hugs.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">madness.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Europeans sure know how to throw a music festival.</span></div>
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<br /></div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-44737011685178838512012-08-03T17:52:00.000-05:002012-08-03T17:53:06.769-05:002012-08-03T17:53:06.769-05:00cinque terre :: italy<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Cinque Terre felt like a dream. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I couch surfed with Marco, a true Italian that had an explanation for everything and and incredible appreciation for the detail in the simple things. He described life as you would a fine wine, and never turned down a chance to split a bottle of Merlot or an anchovy. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In Italy my love for the simple things in life was reflected in the everyday lives of it's people. For instance Marco had two apartments. One with running water and electricity and one without utilities but with a garden and a hammock. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So of course we stayed in the latter. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In the mornings I would wake up to the old italian men arguing about the days catch outside my window and Marco watering the garden. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I would then walk the path of Via Dell'amore to Manarolo for the best macchiattos in the world.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I saw Cinque Terre from the sea, as it was meant to be seen, while snacking on homemade foccaccia, prosecco, and olives. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We had a lunch in Manarola where we tried every seafood dish on the menu, drank way too much limoncello, and ended up giving the rest of the restaurant a showstopping performance of an impromptu kareoke, which was followed by a dance party on the boat before exploring caves.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> I went paddleboarding in Monterosso al Mare, and the feeling of standing up surrounded by sea was indescribable.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The rest of the weekend was spent dancing on cliff tops to an Italian band, cliff jumping, and swimming.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I had one of the most enjoyable dining experiences at Bagno di Campi, the restaurant Marco worked at, which was an hour and a half hike from Cinque Terre where I saw one of the most beautiful sunsets of my life. Standing on the hill, watching the sun slowly set to colors you wish you could capture in paint, overlooking hillside vineyards and the villages, I had to pinch myself to remember I wasn't dreaming. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Then I got to the restuarant. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Absolutely stunning views, with food that was incredibly fresh, and a dinner that lasted till midnight.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In Italy I regained a sense of wellness from being surrounded by natural beauty, and a big Italian serving of la dolce vita.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My heart felt full.</span><br />
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<br /></div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-17100278521312407532012-08-01T12:54:00.000-05:002012-08-01T12:54:16.075-05:002012-08-01T12:54:16.075-05:00twenty one.<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I spent my twenty first birthday along the Meditteranean with an Italian that loved the simple things in life, two American sisters, and a group of french surfers. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I literally hopped on a plane by myself, and spent the weekend with yet another group of wonderfully amazing new people. I had the time of my life.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">After a pitstop in Pisa, I went to Cinque Terre, Italy. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">In Cinque Terre I was a total beach bum.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">I enjoyed 3 hour solo dinners overlooking the sea, danced to Italian music till the morning and ate seafood till my stomach hurt.</span> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{braised lobster & black truffle gargenelli pasta from Bar e Vini in Manarola}</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{buttered anchovies & tartufe focaccia panini from Ciak in Monterosso al Mare}</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And oh the hours I just stared at this water. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I fell in love with yet another part of France in Nice & Marseille, and was welcomed by some incredible new friends that made me feel right at home. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Though the reward for turning 21 in America is irrelevant in Europe, the french surfers I stayed with in Marseille were arguably some of the chillest people I've ever met and made sure I had a birthday I'll never forget.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I was spending my twenty first birthday in the South of France with rose, champagne, sea food and fun people. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Constitutes as the best birthday ever. </span></div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-30183779193473742642012-07-18T13:21:00.005-05:002012-07-18T13:23:38.703-05:002012-07-18T13:23:38.703-05:00Le Voltiguer<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">Ever since reading about Le Voltiguer on <a href="http://oliviaraejames.com/blog/">Everyday Musings</a>, I dreamt of the simple french fare and freshly squeezed citron presse.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">It was everything I thought it would be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Perched perfectly on the corner of Le Marais district, it was so perfect for people watching I went back twice in my three days in Paris. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white;">I loved everything about it. From the old interior & charming faded paint, to its menu consisting of whatever the chef felt like making you, it was unapologetic in the best way.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">With a glass of Bordeaux Red and the best salmon quiche I've ever had,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;"> I could have stayed there and people watched for hours. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang=""> </span></span></span></span></div>
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</span>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-63424514082516746822012-07-17T16:35:00.001-05:002012-07-17T16:46:12.690-05:002012-07-17T16:46:12.690-05:00joie de vivre :: paris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">While in Paris I didn't go to one museum or take a tour. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Instead I spoke about happiness and had three hour lunches with my new friend Thierry,</span></div>
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<span lang="" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">got to see Paris through the eyes of an old friend and ate too much tartare, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">learned an old french song called Champs <em style="font-style: normal; line-height: 16px;">Élysées, and sang it while skipping down the french boulevards during the day and after drinking too much wine at night, </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><em style="font-style: normal; line-height: 16px;">spent hours people watching</em><span style="line-height: 16px;">,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">ate at <i>the best</i> cafe, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">found treasures in the </span><em style="font-style: normal; line-height: 16px;">Les Puces de Saint</em><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 16px;">-</span><em style="font-style: normal; line-height: 16px;">Ouen and vintage shops, </em></span></div>
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<span lang="" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">celebrated the French National Day by dancing at a fire station party with incredible people,</span></div>
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<span lang="" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">and found a happiness walking in Paris at night I never want to leave. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The joie de vivre (the joy of life) is one thing I understand & can see in every aspect of Paris. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 15.555556297302246px;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It was mentioned in a conversation with Thierry that happiness can be an unconscious thing. Something you can see in a reflexive thought about a time in your life. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 15.555556297302246px;">But in Paris there were so many times I caught myself fully conscious of being truly happy. Whether it was eating the world's best ice cream along the Seine, laying in the sunshine at the Jardin des Tuileries, or the split second I saw the entire horizon of Paris upside down while on a rollarcoaster... I fell head over heels for the most beautiful city in the world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Then there was the Eiffel Tower. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I had seen its image so many times I wasn't expecting to be so moved by the sight of it. It was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen.</span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Its beauty welcomes you in a singular, unforgettable kind of way. Like Paris itself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It's why I'm going back this weekend. </span></div>
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</div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-75837764749060030222012-07-09T16:04:00.000-05:002012-07-09T16:04:04.936-05:002012-07-09T16:04:04.936-05:00liège :: belgium<br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I think I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Friday I discovered that a bungee jumping tower in <span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Liège</span>, Belgium, about an hour train ride away from where I live. I posted a very last minute request on Couch Surfing so I would be able to stay to visit the longest European market held every Sunday in Liege, <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.88888931274414px;">"le Marché de la Batte". </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I think I’m also a bit of a market junkie.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Once I arrived my wonderful host Hatim picked me up and came with me bungee jumping.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yk4v5dp7PUM/T_tFkharldI/AAAAAAAAAsg/0t1PgSoKV7k/s1600/IMG_7233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yk4v5dp7PUM/T_tFkharldI/AAAAAAAAAsg/0t1PgSoKV7k/s640/IMG_7233.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I loved it. Once you jump you immersed in a tidal wave of sky where your mind has no reference point. It was wonderful. I'm going skydiving as soon as it stops raining in Holland. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IQfzxjiY0TI/T_tFxrCm4sI/AAAAAAAAAso/Kchlv62-Ahs/s1600/IMG_7239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IQfzxjiY0TI/T_tFxrCm4sI/AAAAAAAAAso/Kchlv62-Ahs/s640/IMG_7239.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Hatim showed me around <span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Liège</span>, and we went of the Montagne de Bueren aka the stairs of pain. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">But a beautiful reward. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">After our climb I thought it was time for a gastronomical reward and bought some Belgium chocolates. Oh my lord. Dark chocolate covered orange rind & white chocolate café crème ganache were my top two.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Then Hatim taught me about the wonderful world of Belgium beer. We grabbed an assortment and I tried three of the seven best beers in the world. Ironically the best beer is specialty beer made in small batches by monks. They are called Trappist beers and the monks use the water under the Abbeys, so (technically) you are drinking holy water in a sense. The beer tasted heavenly, so I believe it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The rest of the day consisted of Beatles songs, beers in the park and the sweetest honeydew I’ve ever tasted.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The next morning I left to the market with a cup of oregano coffee and some great memories. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Liège</span>, you were good to me. </span></div>
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<br /></div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-33152593912266276592012-07-03T16:08:00.000-05:002012-07-03T16:08:51.506-05:002012-07-03T16:08:51.506-05:00la mercat de la boqueria<br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">One of my favorite places in Barcelona. </span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_SKYWRmqA4/T_NQzgF0xmI/AAAAAAAAArs/OOAOBFoklQg/s1600/IMG_6973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_SKYWRmqA4/T_NQzgF0xmI/AAAAAAAAArs/OOAOBFoklQg/s640/IMG_6973.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-REHtYMCTgNo/T_NP9r6nRMI/AAAAAAAAArI/yilDQMvK-Q8/s1600/IMG_6961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-REHtYMCTgNo/T_NP9r6nRMI/AAAAAAAAArI/yilDQMvK-Q8/s640/IMG_6961.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I had to visit it every day it was open to get the best fresh juices & figs that were out of this world. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Between the freshness of the food and the authenticity of the people selling it, I was literally enchanted by this open air market.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I could have spent days wandering that place. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wjlx7E36OnI/T_NPhkPAsHI/AAAAAAAAAq4/iaMhGlKk7bs/s1600/IMG_6958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wjlx7E36OnI/T_NPhkPAsHI/AAAAAAAAAq4/iaMhGlKk7bs/s640/IMG_6958.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-18658287915287179872012-07-02T17:04:00.000-05:002012-07-03T15:44:09.991-05:002012-07-03T15:44:09.991-05:00barcelona<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Thu</span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">rsday morning I left my friend Magda's house to fly to Barcelona where this awaited me: </span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fQMU9XnFI9k/T_H-6wEbnxI/AAAAAAAAAmw/dSga9wsNtEI/s1600/IMG_1653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fQMU9XnFI9k/T_H-6wEbnxI/AAAAAAAAAmw/dSga9wsNtEI/s640/IMG_1653.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{Barceloneta Beach}</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8D1B933MAy8/T_IEDJRBmcI/AAAAAAAAAoY/I9cjZ50DrNQ/s1600/IMG_7147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="419" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8D1B933MAy8/T_IEDJRBmcI/AAAAAAAAAoY/I9cjZ50DrNQ/s640/IMG_7147.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{my dear friend Claire!} </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I couch surfed where I found the equivalent of my front porch haven and spent dinners on the porch eating homemade spanish tortillas with Claras (beer mixed with Fanta)</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yw9tF3c94nc/T_INk4LybkI/AAAAAAAAAp0/6qVZnaftKZY/s1600/IMG_6916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="419" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yw9tF3c94nc/T_INk4LybkI/AAAAAAAAAp0/6qVZnaftKZY/s640/IMG_6916.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TugcFWGM39s/T_INDvHyMnI/AAAAAAAAAps/7NAOJEQ_BxA/s1600/IMG_7070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="419" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TugcFWGM39s/T_INDvHyMnI/AAAAAAAAAps/7NAOJEQ_BxA/s640/IMG_7070.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vx4bQOpnSwE/T_IMzyEzQZI/AAAAAAAAApk/rvI0L2Y5qZ8/s1600/IMG_6923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="419" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vx4bQOpnSwE/T_IMzyEzQZI/AAAAAAAAApk/rvI0L2Y5qZ8/s640/IMG_6923.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I saw some incredible art & architecture</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t4O3D1q_k_o/T_ICA7rI23I/AAAAAAAAAnQ/FKFfr-eU2vY/s1600/IMG_1679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t4O3D1q_k_o/T_ICA7rI23I/AAAAAAAAAnQ/FKFfr-eU2vY/s640/IMG_1679.jpg" width="470" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{Picasso's Margot}</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-by6OX99ba1o/T_ICN_h3pUI/AAAAAAAAAnk/GePQPE6KLpo/s1600/IMG_7013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="419" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-by6OX99ba1o/T_ICN_h3pUI/AAAAAAAAAnk/GePQPE6KLpo/s640/IMG_7013.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{D'arc de Triomf}</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PpruHo0uxOI/T_IEnLmd_FI/AAAAAAAAAok/a_RTi0EaClU/s1600/IMG_7158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="419" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PpruHo0uxOI/T_IEnLmd_FI/AAAAAAAAAok/a_RTi0EaClU/s640/IMG_7158.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JM-WbBdSpKo/T_IDyx2BSxI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/6icfo7TX6Tc/s1600/IMG_7138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JM-WbBdSpKo/T_IDyx2BSxI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/6icfo7TX6Tc/s640/IMG_7138.jpg" width="337" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{Park Guell}</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NcN90aB4ExU/T_IFb2mvvpI/AAAAAAAAApI/lBifayak5u0/s1600/IMG_7209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="419" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NcN90aB4ExU/T_IFb2mvvpI/AAAAAAAAApI/lBifayak5u0/s640/IMG_7209.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Indulged in fun drinks & food</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{Absinthe at the Bar Marsala}</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{Tapas & Toothpick Restaurants} </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{Boy Scout shot at Chupitos. My favorite because you got to eat the toasted marshmellow after} </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And wandered shops till my feet were going to fall off. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{rack of scarves at an adorable boutique in El Born}</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I tried everything I could in Barcelona. My favorites were tapas, tanning topless, crema catalana, dancing in a gay rights parade, and the spanish tortilla. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Oh, and in Barcelona wine is often cheaper than water. My kind of place. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">What I loved about Barcelona was the city's relaxed passion. Slightly paradoxical I know, but their way of life has been seemingly untouched. They have such a relaxed way of living, but do so passionately. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Whilst we were watching the game at a neighborhood bar, I was watching an old man as he came in, grabbed a newspaper, filled up his personal mug with Clara and talked to the bartender when it occurred to me that if I removed the big screen television and the overly paid athletes, I could have easily walked in on the same scene 50 years ago. Here the old european way is still definitive of their culture. In fact it wasn't until two years ago that they took away Barcelona being a nudist friendly city (not only beach, but you could legally walk down Las Ramblas in your birthday suit if you fancied). </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Dinner is late at night to be enjoyed when the day finally cools off and you can enjoy friends & wine, and even when it rained on Sunday the outside cafes would be packed with people enjoying cafe con leche or wine and tapas. The city jostled with people not driven by success per se, but with a leisurely enjoyment and contentment in their surroundings. </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">From the hustle of la Boqueria to the stillness of seeing the city from El Tibidabo, Barcelona was filled with a remarkable timeless energy. Whether it be watching a dance group perform in front of an old cathedral, or see a modern bride getting married in la Iglasia de Santa Maria del Mar, this city has perfected the mix of old and new culture. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{meat stand at la Boqueria, dancers in the old town square, wedding at la Iglesia de Santa Maria del Mar and the view of Jesus looking over barcelona at El Tibidabo}</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Christian, my couch host for the weekend, woke up at 4 am to find me on the terrace taking in the last bit of Barcelona before my taxi came. Looking over Barcelona you could still hear people celebrating the past nights win and he said, "Everyday I fall in love with my city."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">After this weekend, I did too. </span></div>
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</div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-83316780999043682502012-06-26T15:30:00.001-05:002012-07-03T15:45:37.463-05:002012-07-03T15:45:37.463-05:00amsterdam.<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">three days in amsterdam with my friend claire, someone who loves food and beer as much as I do.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Probably best I don't recount everything.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">{seriously charming city}</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">{Claire and I at a delicious dinner}</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">{De Burgermeester. I've been dreaming about this burger since I read about it on a post from my favorite blog, <a href="http://www.olivia-rae.com/">Everyday Musings</a>. A years wait granted me the best burgers I've ever had: The Royaal Burger with Blonde d'Aquitaine beef, truffle egg and pancetta & The Manchego with Manchego, cashew nuts and pear compote. Believe it or not these were the mini burgers.}</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">{If you are ever in Japan, or the Jordaan district in Amsterdam, this place is a MUST. Japanese Pancake World is a trendy restaurant with spatulas, chopsticks and rice crackers to accompany the best freaking pancake you've ever had in your life. It comes out 'dancing' on the plate}</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">{Albert Cuyp market. Where you can find the best herring, fresh juices, an adorable vintage shop, and ladies who take their cheese a bit too seriously}</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Amsterdam involved a visit from a dear friend, new friends, a 200 euro bet that ended with a life talk from a window hooker, and a ton of great food.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I had a blast.</span></div>
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<br /></div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-43301783849972581082012-06-19T15:26:00.002-05:002012-07-03T15:47:53.405-05:002012-07-03T15:47:53.405-05:00germany::munich<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Early Saturday morning we took the train from Passau to Munich. Ole makes fun of me because I have the ability to fall fast asleep anywhere in a matter of minutes but with all the trains I’m taking I think it’s one of my best talents.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">When we arrived in Munich, the weather was perfect. The whole weekend was wonderfully hot, and reminded me of the luxe heat from Texas.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We then went downtown to meet the sweetest tour guide on earth, Ole’s friend Ben. We spent the rest of the day going through his favorite parts of the city, having pretzels & beer at the famous Chinese Tower Beirgarten, watching the surfers at the </span><span style="line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Englischer Garten</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">, and stopping by some of the local vendors where I scored a gorgeous handmade leather wallet that was “cheap as chips” [still the cutest expression ever]. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">{it was so hot we had to eat the gelato as fast as we could..at least that was the excuse ;)}</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #666666;">{one of the coolest things of the day: the surfer's at the Englishcher Garten}</span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-orAvnTXvCGM/T-DP-kS6mjI/AAAAAAAAAjk/Rf7Pvs1wTys/s1600/IMG_6641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="504" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-orAvnTXvCGM/T-DP-kS6mjI/AAAAAAAAAjk/Rf7Pvs1wTys/s640/IMG_6641.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">{at the Residence Gardens}</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">{Mayor's residence}</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">{at the Chinese Tower Biergarten}</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Munich was my kind of city. The architecture was gorgeous, and there were a ton of restaurants, nice shopping and art museums that I could spend weeks exploring. Though it’s a huge city with over 1 million people, it never felt busy or rushed. It had a slow sense of enjoyment along with the enthusiasm and vibrancy present in big cities with people demonstrating their beliefs, talents, and hobbies. It’s an inspiring city with class and I loved it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We ended the day of sightseeing laying under a shade tree in the English gardens. The park was full of people enjoying the good weather, and we spent our last moments in Munich people watching </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">while listening to an accented version of Wonderwall. Solid afternoon. </span> </span></div>
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</div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-72354769895791498842012-06-18T16:30:00.005-05:002012-06-18T16:36:05.482-05:002012-06-18T16:36:05.482-05:00germany::passau<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Europe keeps getting better: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This weekend I took a trip to Passau, Germany to stay with my friend Ole & from the start I could tell the trip was special. I had a 12 hour trip including a 4 hour layover in Venlo {see previous post about the potential scene from “Taken” waiting to take place}. My backpack and I got into a fight due to my hatred for packing, so I wasn’t the happiest person as I headed to the bus at 11:45 at night to catch the train to Venlo where my 1-5 a.m. layover awaited me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> But then God reminded me why I love traveling. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I arrived in Venlo and, after a creepy encounter with a homeless man {which ended in me giving him euros for fear he would make a human suit out of me}, I walked across the street to a gem I am going to have to revisit: Hotel Wilhelmina. The concierge Pieter welcomed me instantly, and invited me to join a table of himself and friends for a drink. We snuck baguettes from the kitchen and talked over wine until 3:30 in the morning. Once they went home, I fell asleep for about an hour until Pieter woke me to make sure I caught my train. Before I left he took me to the back of the restaurant and told me to take whatever I wanted for my trip. He insisted & sent me with a bag of meats & breads for the train ride. People are so dang nice here, it makes me so happy. In a couple weeks I’ve got a drink date planned with them again when I head to Venlo for the Floriade festival. Peoples kindness continues to amaze me, and it was a great start to the trip because for me traveling is about the random experiences you have & the new people you allow yourself to meet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Around 12:30 I arrived in Passau and met Ole at the station. Right away I was enchanted by the town, and when we got to Ole’s apartment I got so excited because I finally found a front porch in Europe!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Technically a terrace, but it proved to be the perfect place to sit outside after a day of sightseeing with a glass of wine & talk. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">{at Cafe Blaas}</span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Ole showed me around town before we met Nora for lunch at a true Bavarian restaurant. I had Schweinshaxe, which translates to roasted suckling pig, and this delicious potato dumpling called kartoffelkloesse, & a German beer. The beer was excellent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Later that evening I found my heaven in Café Blaas. Nestled on a hill that you can see from Passau, this beautiful café is right across the Austrian border. As we were driving up the winding road I was literally speechless at how beautiful the scenery was. Then we got to the top and I fell in love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Yes I know that I’m starting to sound like Taylor Swift with my quick declaration of love at every new place in Europe but this is arguably the prettiest overlook I’ve ever seen. As soon as we sat down I was already begging Ole to promise and take me again before I left.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Friday and Saturday night were spent out in Passau, and I loved going out with all of Ole’s friends! My favorite was Saturday night we went to a club called Frizz (pronounced Fritz), which was described by Ole as the “best and worst club in town”. Best time in the world, worst sweat you’ve ever exuded while dancing. It was basically in an underground cellar/sauna and ended with Clemens, Ole & I dancing and singing on top of the couches. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"> <span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Sunday was my last day and our very dehydrated group met for breakfast at Café Blaas and afterwards went for a short hike in the Austrian countryside.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Before I left for the train station we completed my German initiation with dinner at an outdoor café where I had my first wiener schnitzel with roasted potatoes and Weizner beer. I could only ask myself one question: how have I lived without schnitzel all my life?! I am obsessed. Side note: After the weekend in Germany I can tell you I was definitely the darkest [part] German there. But everyone knew Kraemer (Krämer)!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It was so fun to explore a new city with a friend who knew all of the ins & outs. Ole was a perfect host and made sure I got my German experience as a local would. The entire weekend was filled with wonderful new people, great beer & wine and the most breathtaking landscape I’ve ever seen. I was a happy girl. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">My heart literally ached a bit when we crossed the bridge to the train station, I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with Passau.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-81176127628466084602012-06-13T14:07:00.001-05:002012-07-03T15:49:57.642-05:002012-07-03T15:49:57.642-05:00comfort<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This week I've felt a sense of comfort in my surroundings. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I've gone on walks. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Had too much dessert</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O0z3T496-3o/T9jdBRZH8qI/AAAAAAAAAdU/KrpqTD48WAo/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O0z3T496-3o/T9jdBRZH8qI/AAAAAAAAAdU/KrpqTD48WAo/s640/photo.jpg" width="470" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Discovered some of my favorite sights in town</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And I came back for Jack's food. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">But more than that, I've realized how comfortable I've gotten with these people. I moved into the intern house Monday and absolutely adore my roommates. Tyrrel is absolutely hilarious and the three of us have spent the nights cooking dinner together & having intense discussions on if Zimbabwe's ugliest man competition was fixed. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The people I work with are just as wonderful. I'm spending this weekend in Passau with a friend & booked a ticket that granted me a 1 a.m.- 5 a.m. layover in Venlo. No big deal, right? Ample time to read & grab a cappuccino right? Wrong. Some problems: </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">1. Venlo's train station closes its doors from it's last arrival at 1 a.m. till its first departure at 5 a.m. {Whoop for being the last/first person there}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">2. Venlo doesn't tell you until after you've booked that you will be stuck outside for the said 4 hours. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">3. Apparently Venlo train station is kind of sketchy at night. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">4. Kind of sketchy as in its drug dealer central. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">5. With my ability to easily fit in the trunk of a car and susceptibility to be lured easily with strangers with food/candy, I make a prime target for kidnapping/sex trafficking/stuffing my organs with drugs to be smuggled across countries. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">6. Train tickets are non refundable. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">SO. After I found out those fun facts I was prepared to arm myself with a kitchen knife, umbrella & large blanket. However my wonderful coworker Mirriam made it her mission to find a way around that. She spent hours on the phone with the train station trying to change my ticket, and when that didn't work, a place that was open 24/7 (where is a McDonalds when you need one?). Finally we found Hotel Wilhelmina. They so graciously said I could chill in their hotel lobby and drink coffee & have cake. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Mirriam is a life saver. Literally. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Have I mentioned how much I love the people here? </span></div>
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<br /></div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-31064636850550233582012-06-10T13:25:00.003-05:002012-07-03T15:50:17.512-05:002012-07-03T15:50:17.512-05:00sundays<br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Here Sundays are an event. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">A slightly late breakfast, early afternoon wine & a lot of patio sitting. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> Everyone is outside here, walking bike riding, or being a fellow patio sitter. Its wonderful. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I walked in the forest, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">people watched as I had a cappuccino & a croissant</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">& fell asleep with the sun on my face. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It's a beautiful way of life here. </span></div>
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</div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-27609582201013288342012-06-10T10:58:00.000-05:002012-07-03T15:52:01.111-05:002012-07-03T15:52:01.111-05:00maastricht i love you<br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Friday night we had a huge employee party. Over 900 people with endless drinks, food & dancing. I had the time of my life. And the next morning (which was quite hard to wake up for), I fell in love with my next travel venture: Maastricht. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">After a delicious croissant, lots of water & quick train ride I arrived to the most beautiful city I've ever seen.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Me, Martin, Bruge & his wife took a running tour. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">6 km, one energetic tour guide and exposure to some fascinating history.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{With our lovely tour guide}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> Seemingly everything in the city is symbolic. Maastricht has remains of roman baths that are now under the city, and the remains of the city wall are breathtaking. My iphone photos don't do it justice.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{remains of where city walls were; the quote says "I'm not who I used to be" Humor in architecture!}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{remains of the city walls}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t6VgOww1CD8/T9S-NSAOVZI/AAAAAAAAAak/qKWn3Hazgwc/s1600/IMG_1525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t6VgOww1CD8/T9S-NSAOVZI/AAAAAAAAAak/qKWn3Hazgwc/s640/IMG_1525.jpg" width="470" /></a> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CSPMFU1gjTQ/T9TAZG6PUUI/AAAAAAAAAbo/yt3vSxeYl6Q/s1600/IMG_1532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CSPMFU1gjTQ/T9TAZG6PUUI/AAAAAAAAAbo/yt3vSxeYl6Q/s640/IMG_1532.jpg" width="470" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{old church converted to the worlds most beautiful bookstore}</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">{Turns out there are 4 musketeers, not 3. And the phrase was meant to say "One for All and All for One" but the russian sculptor switched the phrases}</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">After the tour I spent the rest of the day shopping & trying some local cuisine. I had Hollandse nieuwe haring & my first belgium waffle. The haring is herring in english, and here in Holland is a very traditional food. It's raw fish you eat by the tail with onion (skin & all). It was delicious. Equally so was the waffle, but that was expected. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{YUM}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{A wonderfully talented street performer}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I came back from Maastricht just in time to meet friends at a nearby pub to watch the futbol game. Futbol is an insane event here. I had a blast & the night ended with french lessons & my roommate to be (Monday!) dancing on a table. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">These people know how to party. </span></div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-77887154063653223632012-06-08T10:06:00.003-05:002012-07-03T15:58:24.450-05:002012-07-03T15:58:24.450-05:00roermond<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">These past two days have been a whirlwind. Filled with <i>very good </i>food, interesting conversation, and a lot of walking. So I'm happily enjoying my day off today with sore feet, a good book and a walk around town later before going to a party tonight. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><u>Wednesday</u> was a big day for work & I started at 7:30 am and didn't get home until 8 pm! It was such an incredible day. The conference was a huge success & the day ended with a wonderful 'walking dinner' and red wine. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{veal cheek with potato truffle mashed potatoes & crispy bacon}</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{cream of cheesecake with marinated pineapple under white chocolate mousse & orange granite}</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This dessert was one of the best desserts I've ever had. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">An observation of the food here: I've had the privilege of eating at some of the nicest places in America for work, and while I've enjoyed some very great food, nothing so far compares with the food in Europe. The food has such full flavor & great presentation. Additionally the ingredients are incredibly fresh, and you can taste the difference in the produce & meats as most everything is local. Portions are smaller, but filled with such rich ingredients you are satisfied quickly, I haven't seen an American sized portion of any of the restaurant food I've ordered my stomach is on cloud nine. You can tell they observe the golden rule of <i>quality vs. quantity</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Throughout the conference I was able to speak with people from France, Germany, Britain & Holland. One of the people I met was helping me plan my trip to London as said the tickets were "cheap as chips"! Such a cute expression. Working on my accent is quite different from what I'm used to as Spanish & Italian are very romantic languages, and French, Dutch & German require a 'throatier' pronunciation. I think they sound equally beautiful. I may name my son, dog, or car (if Lola ever dies) <span style="line-height: 19px;">Frédéric </span><span style="line-height: 19px;">because it is so much fun to say. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">{my favorite thing to see on my way to work...maybe I will name him </span><span style="line-height: 19px;">Frédéric!}</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 19px;"><u style="line-height: 19px;">Thursday</u><span style="line-height: 19px;"> I went to work for a meeting & spent the rest of the day in Roermond. Strangely though everything is in Dutch, I had no problem getting around. After 20 years my sense of direction has finally kicked in. I popped in and out of shops & talked to the locals. Everyone in Roermond is incredibly friendly, and the streets were filled with people sitting at outdoor cafes, or shopping. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I was a bit obsessed with the doors in Roermond. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">After shopping and touring the town (and because get real, its me), I needed some grub. Everyone recommended Prinstteerl</span><span class="tealdark serif" style="text-align: center;">ých for lunch.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06;"><span class="tealdark serif" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> I had a Pils beer & a grilled lamb baguette. The beer was a bit too bitter for everyday drinking, but it was nice to taste. The baguette was delicious. The lamb was perfect. I really liked the atmosphere of Prinsteerl</span><span class="tealdark serif" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">ých, as with most places in Europe, there is outdoor seating where you can people watch (I had to people watch at the Gelato shop because Prinsteerl</span><span class="tealdark serif" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">ých was so packed only indoor seating was available), and inside was very posh. I saw a woman carrying a purse that I know is worth 10,000 dollars. INSANE. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">After lunch I stopped at the famous Le Bont</span><span class="serif" style="text-align: center;">à</span><span style="line-height: 19px;"> for chocolate. They are better than Willy Wonka because the chocolate was <i>divine</i>. I ordered an Earl Grey Dark Chocolate Truffle & it was like you were drinking tea while eating chocolate. Yum! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 18px;">Though the food in Roermond was great I have to admit I was looking forward to Jack's dinner. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">{pork with white </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">asparagus</span><span style="line-height: 18px;">, vegetables in asparagus sauce}</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 18px;">After dinner a group of us stayed up till the morning talking & drinking beer {Lindeboom, the local beer made about 4 km from here, is the best beer I've ever had.} I am so happy in this place. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 18px;">It was a perfect ending to a great day. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 18px;">Simply love, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 18px;">Veronica </span></div>
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<br />vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-59021462588668583522012-06-05T15:44:00.003-05:002012-07-03T15:57:41.140-05:002012-07-03T15:57:41.140-05:00first day at work<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Thanks to jet lag I woke up bright eyed way before my alarm went off so there was an extended period of me singing loudly to myself as I pranced all around my apartment. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I had told Jack's wife I would meet her for breakfast at 7:30 before I headed to work and I entered the cafe and had this waiting for me.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I literally "oooh-ed". Then I looked like a total american as I sampled everything in sight. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Oh and I'm in love. True love. His name is Nusco and it is a dark chocolate spread. Better than Nutella. Yes there is such a thing! And the dutch put sprinkles on their toast which makes breakfast contain two of my favorite things (chocolate + sprinkles). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Stomach happy, I walked to work for the first day of my internship! Technically it was a volunteer day, but I'm glad I did because I was thrown right into helping out with projects for this week. It turns out I get to manage a conference in 4 different languages tomorrow! Natalie (the other woman I intern for) is in charge of the conference can't be there for family reasons and since Mirriam has her own event tomorrow I was put in charge to make sure everything goes according to schedule! It was a wonderfully CRAZY first day. We went to a couple meetings and ran around preparing everything for tomorrow. I blinked and it was 7:30 p.m...I was at work for 10 1/2 hours and didn't even realize it! I'm already in love this job.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{My view on the route to work}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{A glimpse of one of the buildings at work!}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">When I got back from work it was already almost 8 p.m. so I stopped by the cafe. When I asked for a menu Jack said not to worry, that he would whip something up special. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">{Does not having to use a menu qualify me as a local now? Semi-local?}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Behold:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{Seared pork with fresh vegetables in a green pepper sauce with potato salad}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">You can see some of Jack's incredible dishes on his facebook page here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/DeHuiskamerVanHetLeudal">http://www.facebook.com/DeHuiskamerVanHetLeudal</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I went for a run this evening, and couldn't help but stop and stare. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">It's official. I'm in love with this place.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{Soccer season is upon us! Here's a local bar that started on its decorations. I'm excited to head to the bars & check out the game watching atmosphere. I hear it's pretty intense}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I'm off to bed early tonight, big day tomorrow!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />Simply love, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Veronica </span></div>
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<br /></div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-41483693479833002232012-06-04T15:02:00.001-05:002012-07-03T15:56:06.058-05:002012-07-03T15:56:06.058-05:00first day in europe!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Due to my family thats reading this, this will probably be the most detailed post I've written so far (more details=more clues to my dad just in case he has to go Liam Nelson on someone if I become part of a "Taken" movie scene). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So this past week I've been visiting my family preparing for my cousins wedding (which I'll post on later. Twas a helluva good time), and haven't had much time to dwell on the fact that I was about to leave the country. Saturday night at the wedding, I couldn't explain to you how happy I was to be with my family... I remember as all of us were dancing I stopped to thank God because I am so blessed He gave me such a fun & loving family (that loves to wobble as much as I do). It was the perfect last day in America. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{Nobody saw Nicki Minaj coming out of my cousin Ali. Girlfriend can dance}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{Becca & I}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{Probably mid Bernie}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Sunday morning I woke up singing me & my dad's song: <i>I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane</i>. Except this time I really was, and it was weird. After saying goodbye to the family at the airport I was off! The plane ride was very entertaining as:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">1. Lufthansa planes are like the Hogwarts Express of the air. They are magical!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">2. I had two empty seats next to me. At first I was disappointed because I have always met wonderful people on planes but then I realized I got triple pillows blankets & leg room. Whaddup sprawled out Veronica.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">3. We had chicken curry & chocolate mousse for dinner! And wine. :) Lots of wine. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">4. Thanks to the wine and having Modern Family on my TV, I giggled at least half of the way. I also watched the guy in front of me try to keep his laugh to himself as he watched Modern Family and giggled even more. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">5. They had one of my favorite french movies on demand. I was a happy flier. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I was so excited when I landed I think it gave me a superhuman adrenaline rush. That's the only way to explain how I carried a guitar case + checked bag + carryon + my backpacking pack through the airport. After exchanging some money, I had a 10 minute game of trying to find my assigned driver. His name is P.A.S. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">His second wedding anniversary is today and his birthday is this Wednesday. He was a sweetheart who was as equally enthralled with the story of the guy high on bath salts & cocaine eating another guys face as I was. Fun first conversation! As I looked out of the window, all I could see was beautiful greenery. It was raining (and it hasn't stopped since), but hands down, Germany & where I am currently in the Netherlands has the most charm of any landscape I've ever seen. I want to stay here forever. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We went straight to my new work where I met with the HR department to get the keys for the place I'll be staying. I was supposed to live in the intern cottage but it turns one of the girls is having a late departure and will have the room till Sunday. So I get to stay in a hotel apartment for a week! It has it's own living room, kitchen, and upper floor with three extra beds! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{my living room for the week! HUGE WINDOWS}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">After I freshened up, I headed to meet Mirriam, one of the women I will be working with, for lunch at the company restaurant. Except of course I was a total newbie at life and forgot to pack a rain jacket/umbrella. So in the middle of me walking from my hotel apt. to the company gates it starts pouring. I run into the receptionist building at the beginning of the company property and was given my second example of how nice everyone here is (first was PAS). A women went out in the rain to bring me her umbrella from her car so that I could use it for the rest of the walk! I swear these people are the kindest people in the world. I made it to lunch & afterwards Mirriam showed me around the facilities and introduced me to everyone in the International Marketing & Sales Department. Everyone is so cool. There are a lot more people my age than I thought and everyone was very friendly and welcoming. You could tell this was a fun work atmosphere! Even though I'm not supposed to start until next Monday, I asked if I could help out this week to get to know everyone better (plus everyone will need an extra hand since this week is the company's 95th Anniversary). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">After meeting everyone, I got a tour of the premises. This place is breathtaking. The company has a modern decor inside renovated old architecture. For instance the headquarters is the old barn and there is even a castle on the property! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">After the tour, I wanted to explore a bit so I went to town to pick up a few groceries and get to know it a bit. The square looks like it popped out of a story book. I stopped by the Co-op to pick up bread, good cheese, wine & 2 types of yogurt. They have the biggest selection of yogurt I've ever seen. And its the good kind. The straight from the cow/goat kind. Give me yoghurt & I'm a happy girl. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Which leads me to now. I'm sitting in the cafe next to my apartment drinking a glass of red with Mumford and Sons playing overhead and just ate the most delicious meal. My new friend Jack is apparently a freaking world class chef and out of this quaint little cafe, he gave me the best smoked salmon of my life. Let me have a foodie/fattie moment while I describe what is sitting in my stomach right now. Smoked salmon and carpaccio salad with quail eggs, white asparagus, sprouts, fresh carrots and champagne tomatoes with truffle oil dressing. The way the fresh smoked salmon tasted when paired with the white asparagus...I could probably write a paragraph about the sensory experience. I'm pretty sure God is going to have this waiting for me at the pearly gates. First meal in Holland: heaven. Oh and Mumford was just replaced with 50 cent. Dutch radio is funny. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{hotel restaurant}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{so. delicious.}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Though I'm over 5000 miles from home, sitting here in this cafe, watching the rain fall on this charming town, I already feel a sense of home. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Simply love, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Veronica</span></div>
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<br /></div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-1864168527466610672012-05-28T01:51:00.000-05:002012-07-03T15:59:38.506-05:002012-07-03T15:59:38.506-05:00last day in texas<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This is my brother. He's a beast. AND HE GOT TO VISIT THIS WEEKEND! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">He is in the Marines and I haven't seen the kid since his bootcamp graduation in March so I was happy as a clam to have him around, even if it was just for three days. So my final days in Texas were spent lounging around the house with Sean watching movies, sharing stories, and making insane kitchen creations like a macaroni-sweet potato fry-bean-avocado-cheese-beef quesadilla (it was delicious).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Saturday was spent floating the gorgeous finally flowing Frio, beer & enough fried food to make Paula Deen blush. As Texas as you can get. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">But I'm going to miss walks the most. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">After dinner walks with my youngest brother around our land are <i>the best</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Below is the kid. He's a cutie. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">With morning bike rides and evening walks, I'm going to miss the hill country & the Texas sky so gorgeous it made Georgia O'Keefe fall in love.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Ciao Texas, in one hour the Kraemer clan will drop the Marine off at the airport and continue to Tennessee to see the rest of the fam. One week to Europe. Imsoexcited.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">WHOOP to being stuck in a car for 13 hours. The kid is about to learn the joys of slug bug, license plate game, and the 'going on a picnic' song. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Simply love, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Veronica </span></div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-61632353309864958222012-05-21T15:11:00.000-05:002012-07-03T16:06:29.941-05:002012-07-03T16:06:29.941-05:00texas<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This whole leaving the country thing is great for convincing the fam to go along with your ideas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">-"C'mon mom, this is the last Dairy Queen I'll have for <i>three months</i>!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">-</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">"Bring beer & meet me at the river for the afternoon, it's the last time we'll have time to go for </span><i style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">three months</i><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Add </span><i style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">three months! </i><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">to a request and there's a 99 percent chance momma & poppa Kraemer will give in. Which landed me toes in the water, beer, burgers, ice cream & my movie choice (My Week with Marilyn). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; text-align: center;">With the Frio river finally flowing again, sitting in a fold out chair under the huge Texas sky with your toes getting nibbled my minnows and a beer in your hand sounds like a country song but makes for a great Sunday afternoon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Yep, I'm going to miss Texas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Simply love, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Veronica </span></div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-89392046954039175992012-05-18T18:54:00.002-05:002012-07-03T16:06:12.275-05:002012-07-03T16:06:12.275-05:00grateful.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I am so stinking happy right now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Dancing in parking lots, scaring people in traffic next to me because I am joyously flailing in my seat, so giddy I could bounce off the walls kind of happy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">My work permit passed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I'M OFFICIALLY INTERNING IN THE NETHERLANDS IN 16 DAYS. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Where's a mountain to yell at the top of when you need one? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">My internship will be assisting a Marketing Specialist in the Global Marketing sector of an amazing company. For those who know me, you know I've had this internship for a while now. However when it comes to plans, my anxieties aren't put to rest until I get a heck yes check in print. As in legal documents are good to go. So despite having a vocal agreement for this internship for quite some time, I felt like it wasn't going to happen until my permit passed. And then there were some complications with my permit allowing further anxieties. But I left it to the Big Guy upstairs and He thankfully allowed me to work with this incredible company that <i>cares</i> so much about their employees.. even a small town wide eyed hopeful intern in another country. So after months of waiting <u>it is finally happening.</u> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I am finally going. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Sneak peak of where I'll be: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{Holland tulips}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">{breathtaking.}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The only thing I pray for is to continually push myself. That I use every breath in me and every ounce of energy I expel for a purpose. I am so excited to see what God has in store for me these next three months and am excited to see what I will be like when I come back to American soil. Eurostar probs. Totally kidding. One dream at a time Veronica. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I am so excited this post almost came out in all caps. I can't wait to explore, start my dreams of travel & living in Europe, enjoy making new friendships & memories, and learning as I get to indulge in my wanderlust. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">One thing is for sure, this blog will get hecka more interesting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">*If you see a girl in cutoffs and aviators dancing erratically, please don't give a disapproving look as Madam X did. Rather, give her a high five. Hell, join in with her. Everyday is worth dancing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Simply love, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Veronica </span></div>
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<br /></div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623114035659617078.post-3754815570406118122012-05-17T22:43:00.001-05:002012-07-03T16:05:58.717-05:002012-07-03T16:05:58.717-05:00Falling.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Sunday at 1:30 am (technically Monday morning)I get a text asking what I was doing the next day. I had to pack my house. My guy friends wanted to go cliff jumping. Cliff jumping is infinitely more important than putting things into boxes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Quick ramble: why the heck do they call it cliff jumping? The most exhilarating part is allowing yourself to fall. I think people have a negative connotation associated with the word 'fall' and athletic activities so they tend not to use it. But if you think about it, that is what most adrenaline rushes consist of. Falling. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Sky diving=falling out of the sky. Cliff jumping=falling off a cliff. I think people feel that falling insinuates a loss of control, which insinuates failure, but doesn't all the fun lie in that 5 seconds chaos? What kind of fun would it be if you were in control of your fall? Unless you were some control freak who would enjoy that. Then you probably shouldn't go cliff falling. End ramble. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">After 3 hours in the car we were rewarded with a 70 ft cliff, and perfect water. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">After 3 hours of jumping and playing in the water we were rewarded with fried food, beer & pie at an adorable outdoor icehouse. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It was a good day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Simply love, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Veronica</span></div>vckraemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344283989862554463noreply@blogger.com0