Just Touched Down in London Town!

           So two days after stepping off a plane from the U.S.A. I was on a bus heading to London. Yes, you can take a bus to London. I've been asked that a lot, but you also actually have to take a ferry or go in the underground tunnel. I was lucky enough to experience both, just to see how it really works! On the trip to London, after going through passport control for both the UK and France (those people don't mess around, they were extremely intense...) our bus was put into this huge train, to than enter the Euro Tunnel. If you are claustrophobic, I wouldn't recommend. We were in there for about 45 minutes, and you are sitting on the bus with a bunch of people, in a train car, in a tunnel, underground, under water....it was a bit unnerving, but I survived! On the way back, although it was a little less pleasant at this point because it was 4 am, we actually put our bus onto a ferry and had to get off and sit in the lounge area for the 95 minute ride. I was glad I got to see how it all worked, and I was even happier to make it to London! So back to my trip....

Hitching a ride on the night bus...

       We arrived on Thursday in the afternoon and it was quite rainy. Shocking, I know, you would never expect rain in England! But anyway, we didn't do much, just got settled and tried to plan out our next few days, and we were lucky enough to get beautiful weather for them! Friday we were visiting the Warner Bros. set of Harry Potter, that was the underlying reason for our trip to London, I couldn't pass it up! Harry Potter was really such a phenomenon and it was so much fun to see the behind the scenes movie magic! It was funny to think that last summer Ciara, James and I went into NYC to the Discovery Time Square Harry Potter Exhibit to see all the props, never even imagining I would get to go to the ACTUAL studio. I really can't believe my life sometimes, but I don't hate it!
        We were able to see the Great Hall, walk down Diagon Alley, see so many props and costumes, and we were shown how the crew made everything seem so life-like, it was really awesome. I also got to walk up to 4 Privet Drive, and casually sip Butter Beer as I took in all the scenery.

4 Privet Drive, aka where Harry used to live. #casual

      We also had the opportunity to learn how they filmed the flying scenes on the broom, and since I was there I figured I would give it a try! YOLO!

Flying over Hogwarts, NBD.

              After spending a good 4 hours taking everything in, we figured it was time to head back to the city. It was the evening by than so we just did some more sight seeing and rested up for tomorrow. On Saturday Chloe and I decided to take a trip to Stonehenge because it was always something that I have heard about, and since I was so close, I couldn't pass up the opportunity! It was about a 2 hour bus ride, but luckily we hooked up with a tour company that droves us there and back, to avoid the struggles of taking the train and than have issues getting to the actual site. We were lucky because it was such a beautiful day! We saw people paragliding over the stones from 3000 B.C., obviously... We had an audio guide and spent about 2 hours learning about all the history and myths. It was a really fun time and it is a place I will never forget! 

Stonehenge Rocks! (pun intended)

It was such a beautiful day! 

            On Saturday with our extra free time, Chloe and I hit a few other big spots in London. We visited Buckingham Palace to holla at the Queen, and than strut our stuff on Abbey Road.

Doing what I do best...fakin' it til I make it!
Abbey Road

            Sunday was out last day in London, so we had to make the most of it! We pretty much walked all over the city, with our sights on the London Bridge. When I actually found it, I was a bit underwhelmed. It was really just a bridge...nothing special, but luckily the gorgeous Tower Bridge was not too far away, so that made up for it!

The girls in front of the Tower Bridge.

I came about 75 days too early! There were a lot of renovations going on throughout the city, and I'm sure it is because they are getting ready to host the summer Olympics! So exciting!

Near the Tower Bridge they had a huge fold-out of all the significant events in sports leading up to the Olympics. It was really cool, and I even found Judo on there---shoutouttttt Dad!

         I also stopped by the National Gallery to see some Van Gogh's (casually while I still can),  walked to Westminster Abbey, saw Big Ben, Shakespeare's Globe Theater, Downing Street (shoutouttttt Mom!), and the list goes on! I really had such a fabulous time and  I was sad to see the weekend come to a close, but as I have said many times before--all good things must come to an end. It was time to head back to Leuven, and get back to reality (I am using that word very loosely...). I have four 15-page papers and lots of studying to do. Contrary to popular belief, I do actually go to school here, and its crunch time! 

Cheers!

But don't worry, next week Ciara and Dad are coming to Belgie! So I don't have much time to get my act together! So excited!!!!!

Pit Stop: U.S.A.

       So after a busy bit of traveling, I had an important agenda... get back to New York for @ColMeCrayCray's First Communion! #twittergeneration

       I had a 10am flight out of Brussels, getting me to JFK around noon EST on Thursday. It was great to be back! There really is no place like home, so it was great to see Uncle Denis and Maeve waiting to give me a lift from the airport. It was just a normal day in the McCullagh household, Mom busy with the kids, Dad at work, Ciara at Hopkins, and James & Col at school. I went to Colleen's Irish Dancing class, James's v-ball game, a run around NHP and any other "everyday activity,"  just because I could!

I was heading to Baltimore in the morning,
but not before helping Col prepare for her Crazy Pajama Party!

      I was back on the Bolt Bus cruising down to Baltimore, excited to see Ciara, Shayne, and all my other friends! Although, it was weird heading back to Charm City prematurely.

Ciara & I at the Loyola vs. Hopkins
Men's Lax game at Ridley. 

         I tried to split my time between Loyola and Hopkins to see everyoneeee, but it was quite difficult! I spent Friday with Ciara and headed to Loyola for Saturday. 

Delia, Carolyn, Shayne & I. 

          On Sunday, the rest of the fam headed down to Balty for Ciara's end of the year basketball banquet. It was really nice to have everyone together again! We had a wonderful lunch down at the Inner Harbor. Its still hard for me to believe Ciara is down in Baltimore for school too now!

#MadHopz
Pun, intended.

It was a bit sunny, but you get the idea!

       After a great weekend in Baltimore, we headed back to New York to get set for Col's Communion.                               She was so excited and it was great to be there for it!
         We had a party after to celebrate and we invited a bunch of our family and friends. I was so lucky I got to see so many people during my short time home!

The Communicants, John & Colleen.
#presh

Getting ready for freeze dance!

       As my time home dwindled, I got all ready to head back to Belgium! I can't believe how fast the time has flown this year, less than 2 months left in Leuven. # ThatShitCrayyyyy

                           I'll leave you with this beyond-angelic picture of my darling sister...

Back to Belgie I go, for 2 days...and than LONDON BABY!

Denmark and Sweden. #CantStopWontStop

We have landed!

        So after a short 3 day "break," back in Leuven, Chloe and I packed our bags again and hopped on a flight to Copenhagen, Denmark. I had heard wonderful things about this city, and I wanted to see them for myself! I was very excited because Hans Christian Anderson is from Copenhagen, and I am all about a magical setting!  #DisneyLover

The Little Mermaid and I!
(Or the Den lille havfrue, as it is in Danish)

There was just a wonder feel of fantasy as you walked around the city. There were so many statues of fairies, and so many beautiful flowers in bloom. I really had a smile on my face the whole weekend.

Just magical!

Pit stop at the Carlsberg Brewery? I think yes. 

We had a jam-packed day, so after the brewery we headed over to the Tivoli Gardens, or how many locals call it "The Disneyland of Denmark."

There I am outside of the Tivoli Gardens!

So we stayed with my friend Julie, who is spending the semester in Copenhagen. She was off traveling for most of the weekend, but she let us know that Sweden was only a 30 minute train-ride away...so we had to make a day-trip! Did you know that Sweden is where IKEA and H&M all started? Those Swedish don't mess around!

Having some fun outside an authentic Swedish IKEA!

Swedish meatballs? Yes, please.

Oh look! H & M!

Malmo, Sweden

So many lovely flowers!

Back to the airport for a cozy night to catch our 6am flight back to Brussels!

           Denmark and Sweden were absolutely wonderful! Chloe and I had a great weekend, but the time had come for us to head home. This is even meant to be taken literally for me, because I am heading back to the states for 10 days to attend my favorite 8 year olds communion! Can't wait to see the fam!

You want a PISA me?

        So after DH and Sue headed back to Belgium, Chloe, Cait, Nicole, Steve, Annie & I headed to the Amalfi Coast. We were going to be staying in Sorrento for a few nights to see the coastal side of Italy. We decided to make a pit-stop in Pisa to snap some photos with the leaning tower...

      I think the most enjoyable part of the day at Pisa was watching everyone attempt to take the perfect 'leaning tower,' picture...

Cait and I helping straighten some things out...

         

#LOLZ.

           After a long day of posing, we had a long night ahead of us. We had to stay in Pisa until 2 am to catch our train to Naples. It was a bit of a rough night, we learned Pisa isn't the nicest area. Also, being a huge group of young American girls, we weren't feeling too comfortable in the train station with copious amounts of creepy men in the wee hours of the morning, so we took refuge in a nearby bar to stay safe. The train ride itself presented an even more uncomfortable night, being all separated riding throughout the night on a 7-hour train...but the important thing is we all made it to Sorrento safe and sound. Now, onto the beauty of the coast!

The gorgeous view from our room!

Chloe & I stayed at a cozy bed and breakfast in Sorrento.
These are our wonderful hosts, Luigi and Hugo.
It was such a great place and the people were wonderful, they really treated us like family.

Our first full day there, the weather was BEAUTIFUL! 

So we took advantage and took the ferry over to the island of Capri.

No, this is not a postcard--I actually took this picture.
WOW.

I couldn't miss out on the opportunity to swim in some clear blue water,
no matter how rocky or chilly it was! There is nothing like it...

The next few days were a little rainy, so we decided to explore the ruins of Pompeii....

Annie, Cait, Nicole & I in the ruins.

Seeing things like this really put the whole site in perspective. 

       After spending the rainy day in Pompeii, we took the metro into Naples for lunch...

This is the same pizza Julia Roberts ate in Eat, Pray, Love.
If its good enough for Julia, its good enough for me!

They were so nice and welcoming to us,
I'm always up for making new friends!

Lemons were huge in Sorrento, literally. 

           The next day we took a bus to Amalfi and Positano. The weather was less than pleasant, but we made it work. It was scary taking the huge bus around the tight turns of the narrow roads on the mountains, but I suppose that just added to the experience!

Rough waters in Amalfi.
Never underestimate the power of the ocean!

        After an incredible 2 1/2 weeks in Italy, it was time to head back to Belgium. Seven trains, 2 buses, and 25 hours later, we were safely back in Leuven! 

Our humble abode... Train #5--Munich to Koln here we go!!

                                       Now time to rest! 

            JK LOL I'm going to Copenhagen in 3 days! Ciao for now!

Rome-ing Around Firenze-- Loyola Style.

              I have done quite a bit of traveling this semester, and it didn't stop until I journeyed to Italy! We had a 10-day Loyola trip to Rome and Florence where we hit every museum you could think of! I saw soooo many amazing things that I had only read about in textbooks, and I was lucky enough to see them in person!

             The trip started in Rome, where we walked to the Vatican to enjoy Palm Sunday mass with Pope Benedict. It was UNREAL, there were so many people and we were fortunate enough to have tickets. It was a beautiful day and we sat through the mass (struggling at times because it was mostly in Italian) mesmerized by the reality of our lives...I was just feet away from the most important living human being in the Catholic church.

Palm Sunday Mass with Pope Benedict. 

Tissy, Maeda, & I at the Forum.

The Leuven crew in front of the Coliseum. 

           We had most of our 6 days in Rome scheduled for us, which I didn't hate because we were able to see so much. I am going out a limb and saying Rome is potentially one of my favorite cities I have seen all year, and that says a LOT. It is so beautiful and I am in awe when I think of the great sights like the Coliseum, the Forum, and the gorgeous Trevi Fountain right in the middle of a bustling city---what's not to love? Plus, on my morning runs I ran to the Vatican...I mean, who DOES that? Oh wait, me. I have to keep pinching myself because this doesn't feel like real life!

      We also got to tour the scavi under St. Peter's Church and got up close and personal with the Sistene Chapel....casual.



 Oh yeah, and there was plenty of pizza and gelato to go around...

My first gelato in Italy...and it was fabulicious.

Soooo much pizza. It did not come in pies at "grab 'n go," places....
they actually had scissors and would cut the size of the piece you wanted.

Candy & I at the beach a train ride away from Romaaaa.

We took a day trip to Ostia Antica, an ancient ruin that was really awesome to tour. We were able to see the baths, as well as the cafe's and homes that used to be a home for so many. It was similar to the ruins of Pompeii...but don't worry, I went there too (just wait and see!).

Amazing mosaic wall at Ostia.

         After a FABULOUS stay in Rome, we hopped on a bus to Firenze (a.k.a. Florence). The Duomo, Michelangelo's David, and the gigantic leather markets all made the list of spots to hit while in Florence.

Cait, Katie, Nicole & I enjoying some authentic Italian cuisine in Florence.

Steffi, Candy, & I in Florence. 

We spent Easter Sunday in Florence and there was a spectacular fireworks display in front of the Duomo. I am talking fireworks that would not be allowed in the U.S. because it seemed a little out of control, but than again, it was unlike anything I had ever seen. In the evening we went out to dinner with the entire Loyola Leuven program to celebrate.

Its raining fire? I tried to upload a video, but there were technical difficulties...
so the photo will have to suffice.

          One of my favorite days in Florence was our wine tour of Tuscany. It was beautiful to see the country side and I really did learn so much about wine! I'm so sophisticated now....well, at least I can fake it 'til I make it. 

Your regular day at the vineyard...
We learned how to taste wine properly, as well as all the different kinds and ingredients.
Now lets just hope I can remember it all! 

Our last time all together to end off the Loyola-Italy trip!
So many great times!

Now just because DH and Sue were leaving Italy.....it doesn't mean that I am!