Back to the States / 3 1/2 months.

Rome is impossible to describe in words, you have to experience the history for yourself.

^ Most of my family while studying in Italy..

Rome was without a doubt the best 3 1/2 months of my life so far, I can not wait until I return. The last week of Rome was one of the hardest. So many exams, papers, and presentations but thankfully Italian was over. Almost all of my friends left on Friday morning the day after finals ended. I will never forget the facebook message Jimmy wrote all of us, thanking us and telling everyone how much he will miss everywhere we went together. I will miss Rome so much. My buddy from home Jeremy told me that it will be the fastest 4 months of your life and it was. It was so bittersweet returning here to America. I cannot explain what happened over the last semester of my life, it is truly unexplainable. I made so many outstanding friendships that will last a lifetime I am sure. This has been nothing short of the best time of my life and I honestly did not expect that at all! We have traveled not knowing a thing to foreign countries from Barcelona all the way to Budapest and even Munich. So many hours of traveling only to reveal the best things possible in the world to experience. Everything around me here at home reminds me of Rome and I feel as if the time that has passed there was a dream. I also feel like I am on a break from Rome and I will be going back in the Spring, unfortunately I will not. Honestly in Rome, we lived an unrealistic lifestyle that no one will ever be able to repeat again. Using credit cards and spending tons of Euro like we all had it; all to experience unforgettable moments that we could not do over again if we tried. I know that the tight group of friends that I made will all keep in touch and I cannot wait to meet all of your family and friends, and at the same time have you meet mine.

Rome was beautiful to me. CIAO!

The boys without Jeff in Barcelona!

One of the last nights in Roma, waiting for the tram!

Parliament - Budapest, Hungary

Budahhh/Pesch

This past weekend may have been the best weekend abroad. I traveled to Budapest, Hungary and the flight was ony about an hour to an hour and a half. We left very late on Thursday night, our flight was at 1020 p.m. but of course it got delayed because we all take such cheap airlines that they get delayed or something goes wrong every single time. Once we finally arrived at our town hall center apartment at around 245 am we decided that we should go out because we planned on it before our flight got delayed! It was absolutely freezing in Budapest similiar to Prague. Anyways, Jeff, Pat, Zini, and I walked around and found a 24 hour pub where we had a few beverages and watched the eagles football game. Then we wondered over to a 24 hour grocery and bought some more beverages and shampoo and whatever else we needed. Long story short, we didn't end up going to bed until around 500 am.

The next morning we woke up around 1000 am and went out to look for some lunch, pat was a little under the weather so he did not meet up with us till later. We went to this place that had a student speical in Euros which was odd because in Budapest the currency is the HUF and the rate is something like 19 HUF to 1 USD, so the converstions were a little sketchy. At lunch we had three courses, starting with a chicken pancake, followed by a cos cos with stroganoff beef and then a creamy desert. Jeff insisted on bloody marys, so I couldn't leave him hanging. After that we found a local pub and tried to escape from the cold! Our other friends Christie, Rachael, Sarah, and Lauren met up with us there as well as Pat. We were determined to do some sightseeing that day so we climbed "ice mountain" to the top of Buda castle with everyone freezing and slipping all the way up! The views of the city were amazing especially after everything was lite up. We all ended up going to Fridays for dinner, as if we were in America or something but it was very good! After dinner we decided to goto a place called aqua world which was kind of like a grown up water park and it was awesome as expected, Friday night did not end until around 400 am as well.

We woke up pretty early once again on Saturday! We were determined to find Subway so we asked around and found it in the Octagon which is a big shopping area in Budapest. We met up with the girls in the Christmas market which was amazing and walked around checking out all the sweeeet Christmas stuff every where in the world except for Rome has haha. We decided that we were going to goto the huge hot baths discoteca rave party that night but first we went back and has hummus and snacks before we had our all you can eat, all you can drink restaurant near our apartment complex. The dinner was amazing with a variety of foods from venison to dumplings and even some sushi. The all you can drink part wasn't too bad either. Finally after about a two and a half hour dinner we cabbed it over to hot baths party where we paid the cover charge and threw on our suits. This place was INSANE, it was a natural springs bath just like they have in Colorado but it was in a club with djs and laser shows all over. Everyone from Romew that was in Budapest was there. We danced and partied all night long, once again getting home at aroun 500 am.

Sunday we woke up later than usual around 12 and packed up and cleaned our apartment, we checked out of our place and left our backpacks in the office so that we could go exploring. We did all the tourist sites on Sunday from castle to the river and all the bridges, once again we got subway and after a long day of checking out the sites we left for the airport at around 515 pm for our 800 pm flight. Of course of flight got delayed until 1040 pm but at least we were with everyone in the airport. This whole no sleep thing is definitely catching up to everyone. We got into Roma about 130 am and tried to get a cab but none came for 30 minutes so I didnt get home and to bed until around 300 am.

Budapest was unreal and I cant believe it was my last trip, some friends are making early deprtures from rome and it is really starting to set in. Over the course of the next two weeks things will become more and more bittersweet. don't get me wrong I cannot wait to be home but leaving everyone here will be so difficult.