This summer has just begun, but the routine has been formulated. Two jobs, around 45 hours of work every week, very few days off, few opportunities to leave town. A lot of down time but not enough to really leave.
That's not to say I won't be
doing anything this summer and that's not to say that Thousand Oaks doesn't hold its own in the adventure category, it's just to say that while I save up and hang out around school you can expect a lot of reminiscing.
Tonight, I'd like to share with you a few of my favorite pictures from last summer's trip to Europe.
Here are some fresh views of what I was doing a year ago and what I really hope to be doing a year from now.
Enjoy!!
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| The Duomo in Milan, Italy |
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| Lake-side fortress remains in Lago di Garda, Italy |
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| Lago di Garda, Italy |
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| Gondolas in Venice, Italy |
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| View from atop the Rialto Bridge, Venice, Italy |
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| Coldplay lyrical graffiti on the fortress walls of Luca, Italy |
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Michelangelo designed Duomo in Florence, Italy
(Never finished because he thought it "looked like a bird cage") |
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| Piazza della Signoria, Florence, Italy |
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| Florence, Italy |
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| Piazza Navona, Rome, Italy |
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| Colosseum, Rome, Italy |
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| View of the ceiling inside the Pantheon in Rome |
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| Saint Peter's from a distance. Rome, Italy |
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View of Rome from atop the Spanish Steps
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| Government buildings in Den Haag, the Netherlands |
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| Scheveningen Beach near Den Haag, the Netherlands |
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| St. John's Cathedral, Holland |
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| Basilica of St. Mary, Kevelaer, Germany |
St. Mary's chapel, Kevelaer, Germany |
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| Well... yeah, it's Amsterdam |
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| Dutch countryside just before the storm |
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| St. Mary's Basilica, Kevelaer, Germany |
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Not quite an English phone booth, but as close as I've came
Kleve, Germany |
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| My neighbor for a week, Asten, the Netherlands |
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St. Rumbold's Cathedral in Mechelen, Belgium
(Yes! We did climb the 500+ stairs to the top!) |
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| Belgian side street after eating Belgian waffles covered in Belgian chocolate! |
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| Rita and Om Jop <3 |
- Let me never forget to give credit
where credit is due. I've learned, over and over again, that it is those you travel with and those you meet at your destination that make the trip all that it is. I strengthened bonds and made life long friendships in Italy. Then, in Holland, I was met by the open and gracious arms of my family who taught me about my themselves, our heritage and above all, myself.
I've said before that the lessons I've learned abroad and in transit are innumerable and immeasurable. I've said before that my hosts and my friends will never know how great an impact they made on my life. All I can do is hope they at least know how thankful I am for our experiences together and for their generosity. I love you all so much, truly.
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| Molly, Lauren, Ryan, Nate, Katie in Rome |
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| Amy and Liz in Venice |
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My beautiful family:
Jorde, Olaf, Peter, Wilem, Anne, Anne, Kj, Anneriek, Irma, Reike, Josen
(Our last day together in Holland) |
**All pictures were taken and edited by myself, I use a Kodak Easy Share and iphoto.**
