lukaskye

Everybody seems to rave about Santorini, so I was excited.. maybe my expectations were too high. That, or maybe it was because I went on a class trip, and they kept us confined to the main city…. which has gotten so commercialized, it’s rather sad :( I would have loved to go out and see the less-populated areas.. I would suggest going on a boat ride, I really wanted to but didn’t have the euros for it :( They have ones that take you around the volcano and to the hot springs, and you can cliff dive….... so I’ve heard.

Maybe someday I will go back and try to enjoy it for what it can be, and not what I was forced to experience :P

Athens was okay, not my favourite.. but I’m not a city girl by any means.

Tip: Don’t use taxis. Use the metro. Taxi drivers are like Speed Racer (I seriously thought I was going to die). And, if you HAVE to use a taxi.. make sure they charge you the right fare. Watch the meter, and make sure it is on “1” during the day/into the night (I think “2” is only past midnight into dawn). I got charged an INSANE amount from my taxicab driver, and lost a lot of my money, and seriously wanted to go home that night!!!

If you have any problems, they say to mention the tourist police :P

But.. besides that.. I would say visit the Plaka, and walk up the hill where the Temple of the Muses is… at night. You can see the whole city lit up, as well as the Acropolis. Very pretty :)

I found a study-abroad program located in Paros, and I’ve enrolled for the summer program for Photography. So I’ll be there for a whole month, which will start my Europe-sight-seeing extravaganza off quite nicely :) I’m so excited!!!

yeah, it’s a little sleazy, with the 24/7 drunks and the various strip clubs and what not.. but it is an experience! you see so many interesting people, music blaring from all the different bars, especially at night with all the neon lights and activity going on. just make sure to go in a group, and if you are a girl, have a big guy with ya ;) me and my friends walked down the street taking photos, and ended up buying masks and wearing them down the street.. it was so fun :)

also, I forgot to mention, they say they have minifridges.. but.. we didn’t have one, and neither did our other friends, either. No fridge at all. I got delivery chinese, and couldn’t save it for the morning :( Between that and not having a breakfast serving, it’s hard to eat in the morning, unless you decide to go out to a cafe or something.

I went to New Orleans for my Spring Break, and we stayed here. My instructor made the reservations, hearing it was a really nice place and seeing good pictures on the internet.

It is kind of a pretty place, but I’m not sure if I would recommend it to other tourists.

I don’t know exactly how much it is, we paid for the whole trip up front, but I think I heard about $120 a night? The rooms (double beds) are small, each is different.. some have closets, some have wardrobe closets, the tvs are different sizes…

They don’t serve Contintental Breakfast, or anything for that matter.

When we got here, two guy friends went into their room and found feces-stained sheets, toenail clippings, and long kinky hair under the pillow. Depending on the maid we got during the week, we sometimes wouldn’t get towels or the beds wouldn’t be made. Once in a while, we got a good maid, but not often.

The receptionists were kind of grumpy, and we had an issue with our room keys. We had three, but only one would work at a time. We would go to the front to get it rescanned, and it would work, but then the other ones would stop working. We didn’t carry them next to credit cards or anything, either.

It can be a kind of pretty place, but the service we got hasn’t been the best, and for the price I’m assuming it is… and for all the things they don’t offer, it’s not worth it. The only good thing is that it’s a couple blocks (walking distance) from Canal St./Bourbon St./ etc… although there is a La Quinta down the block, and they at least have waffle makers. :P

I think everyone should visit N.O. at least once in their life.. the experience is unlike any other I’ve experienced anywhere else on my travels. The people are so friendly, I have come across only a couple rude people, everyone else is amazing, and so happy to share their stories and even let us photography them! It’s brimming with culture.. yes.. The french quarter/bourbon st. is a great place to check out, but go EVERYWHERE. Even within a good week, I don’t think you could visit everything there is.

im one to travel.. i would rather visit a fun place and then go back home to my friends and family rather than LIVE in a fun place and go on vacation to visit friends/family.. but this is one place that i could really see myself living in, just because the atmosphere is so.. just.. ahh. i can’t describe it. GO! :) you will see!!

i’ve always just had this desire to go to australia, perhaps blame it on “outback jack” , that reality dating show, lol!!

i actually think i am going next dec for a missionary trip, imagine: beach evangilism!! woohoo!! :)

i am pretty sure i am going this summer for study-abroad, we will be based in pau, which apparently is like, an hour from spain (woo!) im so excited, i started taking french in college and love the language and so far, the culture!! i hope its worth it! :D

if you are ever around a CiCi’s.. go there!! they give you a $5 buffet (for students), all-you-can-eat, with salad bar, create-you-own-pasta (different noodles and sauces), tons of different types of pizzas, the BEST ABSOLUTE BEST CHEESE STICKS EVER, and great desserts: dessert pizza, brownies, and cinnamon rolls.

you can also order take out too!

YUM!