tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69996434669800775942024-03-05T04:54:03.643-05:00Lishy LishyAdventure AwayAlishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.comBlogger261125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-52094831714482671502014-01-10T14:42:00.000-05:002014-03-30T15:01:43.153-04:00Poptastic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm so thankful to live in a city filled with a vibrant culture and arts scene. There really is a widespread appreciation for great art in this city. From architecture, to Andy Warhol, to the giant rubber duck, Pittsburgh has been an epicenter of the arts, especially in recent years. When my friend MZ came to town, I wanted her to have a full-blown Burgh experience so we headed to the Heinz History Center. While there, we were able to see the Poptastic exhibit by Burton Morris. I had seen his art many times before without realizing that he is from the 'Burgh! It was great to see his bold yet whimsical work up close. </div>
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<br />Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-47219219523609122582013-12-23T14:32:00.000-05:002014-02-28T14:44:44.789-05:00Byham TheaterAs an early Christmas gift, GC surprised me with tickets to see<i> A Christmas Carol </i>at the Byham Theater. It was my first trip to the venue and I loved dressing up and venturing downtown to see the show. The theater was a charming blend of old meets new and the performance was equally admirable.<br />
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<br />Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-69058597473948652912013-12-23T13:56:00.000-05:002014-02-28T14:37:43.714-05:00Glitter GradI "capped" off my undergraduate career at Virginia Tech this past weekend and donned a glitter-painted cap. It was a hit, and my Instagram was even retweeted by the Virginia Tech Twitter account! It was bold, but I went for it. When in doubt, choose glitter!<br />
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With the loads of leftover Martha Stewart glitter paint, I decided to paint wooden frames for my sweet friends. I tried to pick patterns and colors to suit the personalities and pulled it off with the help of Frog painting tape. </div>
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After getting to know the Belk brand by exploring the store and hosting an event, we decided to emphasize collegiate colors to tell a story. With the help of the local Belk store and my generous friends BM, PD and MJ, we had a photo shoot to launch the Styled Spirit campaign. It was a joy to photograph my great friends in Lane Stadium and to see our ideas come to life. Our hard work paid off with a third place finish in the collegiate competition.</div>
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We strategically chose maroon and orange merchandise to appeal to Virgnia Tech students. This shot was used as an example of how Belk could showcase merchandise on Pinterest.<br />
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Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-91511636124465476112013-11-11T13:21:00.000-05:002014-02-28T14:27:34.461-05:00Under the Green UmbrellaAt the beginning of the semester, I made a game time decision to add another marketing elective. I enrolled in Donna Wertalik's Social Media Marketing class on the last possible day to add courses and have been a social media junkie ever since. My world is now filled with brands, social analytics, tastemakers and emerging platforms.<br />
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Part of the course involves teaming up with a local business to execute a social media marketing strategy. My group was paired with Under the Green Umbrella (UTGU) and we got to work bringing the brand to life in the social sphere. Under the mantra "Let the Love Grow," Under the Green Umbrella sells wholesome, natural and unique foods at local area farmer's markets. From cranberry pumpkin muffins, to sweet tart pumpkin apple cider, to poblano pepper pesto, UTGU's founder, Tracie, is always dreaming up new treats. Aside from her kitchen prowess, her brand is centered around her buy-local lifestyle and her two young boys.<br />
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Throughout the project we redesigned her website and crafted content to emphasize her family and lifestyle. I served as the team's resident blogger, writer and twitter-enthusiast, and had a blast working with Tracie and her family. <br />
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Here is an except from the blog - see the full post <a href="http://letthelovegrow.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<br />Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-59260048571628401172013-10-25T12:59:00.000-04:002014-02-28T12:59:48.809-05:00Fall WeddingGC and I attended the fabulous fall wedding of our good friends J + K. The two Pitt alumni had a gorgeous ceremony in the Phipps Conservatory outdoor garden with a perfect view of the Cathedral of Learning. A festive, pumpkin-filled reception followed shortly afterwards at the Mansion at Maple Heights in Shadyside.<br />
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I usually visit Phipps during the holidays, so I was thrilled to learn that guests were able to tour the conservatory before heading to the reception.<br />
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K is a talented artist and spent hours crafting the decor for the reception. I applaud her patience and creativity! The chalkboard signs were incredible and I loved the centerpieces.<br />
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The duo picked Warm Apple Cider as their signature drink and even had a pumpkin-cake, how fitting! Congrats to J + K !<br />
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<br />Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-31058062474250461212013-10-01T12:13:00.000-04:002014-02-28T14:20:40.587-05:00Welcome to the SouthBlacksburg, Virginia may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of "the south." I certainly didn't realize that I would experience such cultural differences when I decided to attend Virginia Tech University. But since it is my last semester in Blacksburg, I decided to soak up all of the southern charms that this town and my best, most southern, friends have to offer.<br />
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Football is the fall semester and tailgating and turkey legs comprise every home game Saturday. I attended the Homecoming game and started jumping to Enter Sandman as my Hokies took the field.<br />
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My good friend CB invited us to her house on Smith Mountain Lake for a good ol' southern escape. A High Point, NC native, CB insists she's from the "deep south." During the trip I experienced my first ever low country boil and withstood various jabs about being "a northerner."<br />
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Three words: Flatfooting in Floyd. Every Friday night, the Country Store in Floyd, VA opens its doors to locals and tourists alike for an evening of old-fashioned soda, modern-day-priced "penny candy," a blue grass band and flatfooting. An Appalachian take on clogging, Flatfooting is a type of folk dance that originated in the region as early as the the 18th Century. Experts and amateurs alike took to the old wooden floors of the country store to get their flatfoot on. I was even roped into a square dance number. I am definitely not in Pennsylvania anymore.<br />
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<br />Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-40304738277947496362013-09-01T13:08:00.000-04:002014-02-28T12:16:50.514-05:00Fall DigsFor my last semester in Blacksburg, I moved into "The Penthouse," a glorious ranch filled with five girls, a husky named Mako, and a boxer-pittbull named Roxy. Chaos, ensued. But I was able to make my small little sublet space my own, if only for a few months.<br />
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I just love eclectic accessories. This tea cup was a gift hand delivered all the way from China, after a friend's recent trip. </div>
Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-86532115896314170992013-07-02T22:28:00.000-04:002013-07-03T21:29:49.976-04:00Dreaming of Wimbledon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Crazy upsets aside, watching Wimbledon this year has been surreal. Since my tour of the grounds this past February, I have been aching for a return visit. Even on that dreary winter afternoon, without a tennis-star in sight, and strawberries and cream out of season, I was captivated. And as I wandered the grounds bundled up in my parka, I was in awe of the history, the traditions, and those beautifully manicured grass lawns. <br />
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Court 1</div>
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Henman Hill. Will the name be changed to Murray Mound after this year's championship?!</div>
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An example of historical plaques around the grounds</div>
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Press Room </div>
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Centre Court with the score from the 2012 men's final still displayed on the score board.</div>
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The Wimbledon Museum</div>
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Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-90735349789414214352013-06-27T20:44:00.001-04:002013-06-27T20:44:18.093-04:00Minneapolis, MNAfter traveling through Europe last semester, I became extremely aware that I really haven't seen enough of the United States. Needless to say, the traveler inside of me was thrilled at the opportunity to travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota for a wedding.<br />
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I loved exploring the University of Minnesota campus.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was in awe of the Weisman Art Museum. Located on campus with a direct view of downtown Minneapolis, the museum, designed by famed architect Frank Gehry, was stunning inside and out.</span></td></tr>
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Sweeping spaces and high ceilings made for a gorgeous interior.</div>
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I loved that art was such a focus throughout the campus</div>
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Modern designs were offset by more traditional, historic buildings</div>
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No trip to Minneapolis would be complete without a visit to the Mall of America.</div>
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The wedding reception was gorgeous thanks to the keen eye of the bride, who works as a graphic designer.</div>
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Two hours north of Minneapolis, lies the town of Brainerd. I loved having the opportunity to display a more scenic region of the state.</div>
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7 fish later, our adventure on Bass Lake came to a close. </div>
<br />Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-33082011849800012062013-06-09T17:13:00.000-04:002013-06-10T11:42:28.349-04:00Re-Visiting Paris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In honor of the final day of the French Open, I wanted to re-visit my fabulous trip to the city of light by sharing all different pictures. I just wish I could have squeezed in a visit to Roland Garros.</div>
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Notre Dame</div>
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The Louvre</div>
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L'arc de Triomphe</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">The River Seine and Notre Dame</span></div>
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<br />Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-38902400787705757572013-06-09T16:59:00.002-04:002013-06-09T16:59:35.612-04:00A Belated BirthdayI was thrilled to be celebrate my 21st birthday surrounded by friends and family, but I never expected so many surprises to conspire.<div>
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A few weeks prior to my actual birthday, I traveled to Blacksburg, VA to visit friends and to shower them with Swiss chocolate from my trip. I may or may not have had 35 chocolate bars in my carry-on bag... To my surprise, they made me a cake in honor of my upcoming birthday.</div>
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After a surprise birthday celebration at BD&E thanks to my wonderful bosses and co-workers (and Bella!), GC surprised me with a special dinner on Mt. Washington at Bella Vista.</div>
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Shrimp bruschetta may not be authentic Italian, but it was an incredible combination. </div>
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The next day, my parents treated me to a Caribbean style meal at Bahama Breeze.</div>
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One week later, and my birthday roses still looked stunning.</div>
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Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-85744608715619170632013-06-09T16:39:00.001-04:002013-06-09T16:39:27.542-04:00BD&E<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After arriving back in the states, I jumped right into an incredible internship opportunity with <a href="http://bdeusa.com/">BD&E</a>, a strategic branding and marketing communications firm in Pittsburgh. I have been contributing to creative projects, attending photo shoots and press checks, and of course, catering to BD&E's top dog, Bella. I have even been able to write posts for the <a href="http://wearebde.wordpress.com/">company blog</a>!Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-44437663305726313172013-04-23T02:49:00.002-04:002013-06-11T00:23:27.308-04:00PanoramasI compiled some of my favorite panoramas from my study abroad experience-<br />
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From top: Lugano, Paris, Wimbledon, Barcelona, Siena, Corniglia, Manarola</div>
<br />Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-66626038752621589872013-04-17T12:55:00.002-04:002013-04-18T09:27:55.257-04:00Florence - The Grand Finale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Since Florence is so close to Cinque Terre, my dad and I decided to spend a day there. I definitely did not mind returning to the Italian city of leather goods. The trip was bittersweet, however, as it was my last time traveling until I fly back to the states. I will certainly miss Italy. </div>
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I was still in awe of the Duomo the second time around. I did not not get a chanceto go to the top of the bell tower during my last visit, so I was able to convince my dad that the views would be worth the climb.</div>
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I loved seeing the dome from above.</div>
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The view from the top was absolutely stunning.</div>
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A huge local food market featuring vendors from all over Tuscany was in town for the weekend. We went stand to stand sampling meats, cheeses, chocolates, and baked goods. Our favorite find was this homemade biscotti. Not only did it taste incredible, but it also had the texture and consistency of a brownie. </div>
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Red pepper and roasted tomato bruschetta.</div>
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Since it was the weekend, a huge local vintage market was set up near Pitti Palace. I snatched up these vintage art deco studs for only five euros.</div>
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Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-53538528749786760622013-04-17T08:54:00.001-04:002013-04-17T08:54:02.133-04:00Cinque Terre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Cinque Terre, which translates to "five lands," describes a strip of coastline in Northern Italy in which five fishing villages are carved into cliffs. The area is considered a national park, and many hiking paths connect the five towns. I was thrilled at the opportunity to hike and explore the region with my dad.</div>
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We stayed at Hotel Colonnina in Monetrosso, the town farthest north. Our hotel was beautiful and had a lovely rooftop terrace.</div>
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Even though the hiking trail was closed due to less than ideal conditions, our concierge assured us that the trail was safe enough to hike. We didn't expect the journey to be so strenuous, but the scenic ocean views more than made up for the effort. <br />
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I was amazed to see the village of Vernazza from above.</div>
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Cinque Terre is known for fresh foccocia bread and perfect pesto. I tried trofie pasta with pesto and was completely blown away by the flavor.</div>
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We started our second day in Riomaggiore, the town farthest south. I loved hiking up to see the entire town from a distance.</div>
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A bright square was filled with young locals playing soccer.</div>
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Riomaggiore's dock area was covered with colorful boats.</div>
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The next town we visited was Manarola. The view of the village from a path along the cliff side was incredible. I can not stop staring at this picture, and the scenery was even more beautiful in person. </div>
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We had the most amazing lunch at il Porticciolo, a small family-owned restaurant near the water. The food was spectacular. I had grilled bruschetta with pesto and tomatoes and mussels, and my dad enjoyed grilled swordfish. I am convinced it was the best meal of my entire study abroad trip.</div>
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Corniglia, north of Manarola, was the smallest village, and was perched the highest on a cliff. </div>
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The ultimate Cinque Terre treat - foccocia with pesto</div>
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Ending the day in Monterosso.</div>
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<br />Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-21152199255226347172013-04-16T16:11:00.001-04:002013-04-17T12:25:10.527-04:00Athens, Greece<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After four relaxing days in Mykonos, we took the ferry to Pireaus, the port of Athens. Our hotel was near the port, so we simply took a cab into the city to see the major sites.</div>
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Our hotel in Pireaus was much safer, cleaner, and cheaper, than other options in Athens. We were right on the harbor and there were many shops and restaurants nearby. </div>
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I was blown away by the Acropolis. I saw some spectacular ruins in Rome, but those didn't have an incredible view.</div>
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The Parthenon<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXRpgdepY0U/UW0HCZpMyRI/AAAAAAAABbI/451eaWUOhGc/s1600/DSCN2252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXRpgdepY0U/UW0HCZpMyRI/AAAAAAAABbI/451eaWUOhGc/s640/DSCN2252.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Theater of Dionysus</div>
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The Plaka neighborhood in Athens was a great area to explore.</div>
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I couldn't go to Greece without ordering an authentic gyro. Quick Pita in the Plaka was a gem, with excellent options that were all around 2 euros.</div>
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For our last meal in Pireaus we went to a local hotspot, The Four Brothers. Ordering moussaka, calamari, and dolmades to share was the perfect way to end our trip. The owners even threw in my all-time favorite Greek dessert, halva</div>
Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-35542070107824393512013-04-16T03:26:00.002-04:002013-04-17T12:25:42.519-04:00Mykonos, Greece<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The beginning of April is most definitely the low season for tourism, especially in Greece. The low season has some downfalls, such as fewer ferry routes (resulting in our Santorini trip falling through), and fewer shops and restaurants being open, but also some serious perks. We stayed in Mykonos for four nights and it was quaint and quiet. I was in awe of the white buildings and overall beauty of the island. We made sure to capitalize on the fact that we practically had the entire island to ourselves, and we spent a lot of time getting to know the culture through the locals. </div>
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We split time between two hotels in Mykonos. The first, Ledra Apartments, was only a five minute walk to the center of town, and was a perfect place to start our trip. </div>
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Our second two nights were spent at The A Hotel, located a little farther away from town. I was so incredibly impressed by the pool, hot tub, and breakfast area. The staff shuttled us into town whenever we needed, and the breakfast spread was incredible. On our last night, we hung out in the hot tub, hot chocolate in hand. </div>
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I especially loved the A Hotel's colorful chandeliers.<br />
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Our favorite hang out spot was the cozy Suisse Cafe, where the owner, George, made excellent crepes and told us all about the history of the island. </div>
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On the warmest day, we took a cab to Paradise Beach. </div>
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Little Venice, the row of shops and restaurants that hangs over the ocean, was my favorite part of the island.<br />
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One of my favorite meals was Moussaka at Katerina's, located right on Little Venice. Our table was on a balcony over the ocean with a perfect view of the island's famous windmills.<br />
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The Windmills, the most iconic aspect of the island</div>
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Since I am part Greek, I loved being able to recognize all of the food and desserts. I was surprised to learn that dolmades, or grape leaves, were very different than the ones my yiayia makes. They were served cold, stuffed with only rice, and with a side of plain yogurt. </div>
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The area along the water was lined with restaurants and looked beautiful at sunset. </div>
Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-61885924325660085662013-04-01T12:46:00.002-04:002013-04-01T12:46:47.375-04:00Lugano LovingStudy abroad involves a lot of trip planning in a little time. Unfortunately, sometimes the details slip through the cracks. I am referencing this past weekend where a small little detail like a train reservation, prevented us from traveling to the Amalfi Coast of Italy. Lesson learned, Easter weekend is unsurprisingly a top travel holiday in Europe too. Left with no other plan, we ended up having a fabulously relaxing and beautiful weekend appreciating our home base of Lugano, Switzerland.<br />
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The beautiful weather on Easter Sunday prompted a spontaneous paddle boat adventure on Lake Lugano.</div>
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I loved seeing new views of the charming lake town that I have called home for the past three months.</div>
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It's still amazing to wake up every morning and see the Swiss Alps in the distance.</div>
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An authentic Italian Easter dinner was an obvious choice, so we headed to the Spaghetti Store to dine near the lake. </div>
<br />Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-35184049302635171132013-03-24T04:35:00.000-04:002013-03-24T04:35:06.793-04:00Locarno and Lake ComoTraveling through Europe in a semester is incredible. Study abroad is a once in a life time opportunity, and I am thankful for every moment. Study abroad is also similar to a marathon. To combat fatigue, a few of us decided to stay in Lugano for the weekend. Instead of an overnight adventure, we took small day trips to learn more about the area of Europe in which we live.<br />
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On Friday, we headed to Locarno, Switzerland, a lake town similar to Lugano, but located an hour west. Locarno was quiet and laid back, and we loved wondering through the streets without a map. <br />
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We took advantage of the beautiful weather and ate lunch al fresco.</div>
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Swiss chocolate is so photogenic. </div>
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On Saturday, we ventured an hour south into Italy to experience Lake Como. <span style="text-align: center;">Rumor has it that George Clooney once owned a home near the lake, so we wanted to experience the Hollywood-worthy town. </span><br />
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Lake Como was beautiful and overall very similar to Lugano.</div>
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Saturday turned out to be an incredible day to visit Como, because markets pop up all over the city on the weekends. </div>
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I loved the whimsy of this little lake town.</div>
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Como's Duomo</div>
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You know you're in Italy when there are cute, narrow streets everywhere.</div>
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Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-91567938335330551362013-03-19T11:40:00.000-04:002013-03-19T15:25:11.613-04:00Tour of Tuscany<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our first stop, San Gimignano, was a small town surrounded by walls. I loved the quiet streets and quaint leather shops.</div>
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The town also provided great views of the Italian countryside.</div>
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Our next stop was the hilly but beautiful Siena.</div>
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A friend recommended Nonno Mede's pizza so we decided to take a lunch break there. The pizza was definitely some of the best I have had so far on the trip.</div>
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I was so surprised by this grand square in the middle of Siena. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">The tiny town of Monteriggioni only has 58 residents, but I loved exploring the streets. I also had some amazing blood orange juice in a cafe there. </span></div>
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We ended the tour with an incredible olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting in Chianti.</div>
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<br />Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-72748406140840029742013-03-19T10:39:00.001-04:002013-03-19T10:39:30.408-04:00Florence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Florence was amazing. I loved the old world charm, laid back lifestyle, and rows of leather stores. I also really enjoyed exploring the whole city on foot. Most importantly, however, the shops in Florence ended up having the most incredible gift items. <br />
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I've seen a lot of churches throughout my European adventures, but the Duomo in Florence was still able to surprise me.</div>
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During a tiring search for our apartment, we took refuge in a cafe in order to relax and to ask for directions. The cappuccino was one of the best I've had, and the staff was so incredibly nice. I had not even ordered yet, and they had already answered my questions, and provided me with the wifi password. They even called the phone number for us so that they could point us in the right direction. We were so thankful, and returned every day after that for breakfast and snacks. </div>
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The iconic Ponte Vecchio bridge exceeded my expectations. Aside from providing beautiful scenery, my favorite leather shop, Mannelli, was located on the bridge. </div>
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My favorite Mannelli purchase was this floral Florentine leather wallet. </div>
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There's something so romantic about seeing an entire city at sunset. I just loved this view from <span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; outline: none; width: auto;" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Piazzale Michelangelo.</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="fcg" style="color: grey;"> </span></span></div>
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No trip to Italy would be complete without a plate of pasta bolognese. </div>
Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-15551416563705615612013-03-19T10:12:00.000-04:002013-03-19T18:24:50.435-04:00Barcelona<br />
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For the second break, we headed to Barcelona to soak in the sun and the Spanish culture. The architecture throughout the city, especially Gaudi's, was intriguing. The sun and the sand also gave me a nice little glimpse of summer, regardless of the fact that it did not get above seventy degrees. <br />
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Our hostel was perfectly located near <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Plaça de Catalunya</span></span> and La Rambla.</div>
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La Bouqueria, the renowned fresh food market, was super cool. I loved getting lost in the rows of fresh fruit, fish, meat, and sweet stands. Some of the best food that I ate during the week was purchased at the market. My fresh coconut/pineapple smoothie was especially tasty.<br />
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The weather on Tuesday spoiled us. I desperately wanted to break out my sun dresses. </div>
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I loved seeing sculptures on the beach.</div>
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The rain on Wednesday provided a gloomy backdrop for Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia church. </div>
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I was so inspired by Gaudi's Casa Battlo (House of Bones). We got there right as it was getting dark, and I loved seeing the mosaics gleam in the lights. The picture honestly can not even begin to capture how interesting this building is. I really regret not paying the sixteen euros to go inside. <br />
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<br />Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-436941076069921492013-03-04T04:49:00.001-05:002013-03-08T06:26:34.758-05:00RomeWith Rome being such a tourist hot spot to begin with, I thought that the city would be especially crowded because of the recent happenings at the Vatican. Other than news vans outside of St. Peter's Basilica, I surprisingly never noticed a commotion. After a long weekend soaking in the sites, I now know why it is one of the most popular tourist spots in Europe. Between ancient ruins, pretty piazzas, sweeping views, and crazy good cuisine, Rome has something for everyone.<br />
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St. Peter's Basilica is the gateway to Vatican City for good reason. I was blown away by the amount of detail throughout the stunning interior.</div>
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We walked down the cutest cobblestone road on the way to Piazza Navona.</div>
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I had the most incredible spaghetti bolognese for lunch at a quaint and classy eatery.</div>
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We stumbled upon a gourmet gelato shop, tucked away in a courtyard, that just so happened to be featured in Lonely Planet and the LA Times. The apple cinnamon sorbetto was like eating a fresh baked apple pie.</div>
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The Trevi Fountain was enchanting.</div>
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Since Romans like to eat late, some restaurants offer a dinner happy hour before seven. We found an indoor/outdoor restaurant, and were able to people watch and enjoy our 5 euro meal al fresco.</div>
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After a while, some of the ruins started to blend together, but the Colosseum caught my attention and left me speechless. </div>
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Close to sundown, we headed over to Trastevere and made our way to the highest point in central Rome, Janiculum Hill. The breathtaking view at sunset was well worth the steep climb.</div>
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For my last meal in Rome, I ordered bruschetta and another plate of spaghetti bolognese. </div>
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<br />Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999643466980077594.post-88556667362847197492013-02-19T16:19:00.000-05:002013-02-19T16:19:36.518-05:00Dublin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ireland was exactly how I imagined it to be, green and charming. Dublin was definitely a change of pace after visiting Paris and London, but enjoyable none the less. I loved the quaint shops, traditional eats (lamb stew!), and laid back atmosphere of the city. <br />
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Street musicians lined Grafton Street, a popular shopping destination. </div>
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Saint Stephens Green park</div>
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St. Patrick's Cathedral</div>
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Trinity College was across the street from our hostel and fun to explore.</div>
Alishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02189760632256251641noreply@blogger.com0