Spring Break Along the Mediterranean

Europeans sure know how to enjoy their vacation time! We had a full two weeks off for Easter break. Most London students take the two weeks to travel home and prepare for final exams and term papers. The London businessmen and women take off for warmer weather or ski vacations. 

My spring break was certainly an interesting one. Unfortunately, the week before spring break, I had to fly home for my father's funeral. It was an incredibly trying time and I still can't believe I made it through that week. However, knowing that I was going back to travel around Europe with my best friends gave me a feeling of excitement for the future. 

I arrived back in London on a Monday with little sleep from the night before. I spent the afternoon at Heathrow airport, waiting for my flight to Barcelona where I was meeting my friend Lindsey and her parents. I hardly slept on the flight from New York and could not get comfortable on the airport benches. On top of everything, there was an air traffic control strike in France, so my flight was delayed and then extended because we had to fly around the entire country of France. 

Barcelona

I arrived exhausted after traveling for 36 hours straight without any real sleep. However, I was so grateful to be in Barcelona with such wonderful people. Lindsey's parents got rooms in a great hotel near the Assembly in the eastern section of the city. It was just a few blocks from the beach!

The weather was not great during our time in Barcelona. It rained each day and was far too cold for laying out on the beach. However, the weather could not take away from the fantastic architecture and the amazing food. 

The first day we visited the Sagrada Familia, the famous church designed by architect Antoni Gaudi. It was like nothing I had ever seen! The outside of the church looked like an ornate sand-dripped castle, the inside like a bright white cave with crevasses and stalactites. Because of the weather we didn't visit Parc Guell which features other sculptures from Gaudi. 

At night we sample traditional Spanish tapas including paellea, croquettes and pan con tomate. Of course we paired it with some fantastic local red wine. I just wish I could take bit of the fantastic food with me!

Nice

After Barcelona, Lindsey, her roommate Kristen, her parents and I headed off to Nice. Flying into the city was spectacular. We flew along the coast and circled over small city. The water was the bluest color I had ever seen! It was pure paradise.

We stayed in a small boutique hotel that had a great balcony and was just blocks from the old city. The first afternoon we walked to the beach and rented bikes. We rode up and down the beach path. It seemed everyone was out walking, riding bikes or roller blading down the beautiful coast. The weather is always beautiful in Nice because it is surrounded by mountains that block most of the rain clouds.

The second day we took a day trip through Provence. We visited a mountain top town called St Paul de Vence. It's twisting cobble stone roads took us to an incredible lookout down to the valley below. This region of France is famous for it's lavender and flowers. It is home to numerous perfume factories and we had the opportunity to stop in one along the way back to Nice.

On the final day in France we ventured to the small principality of Monaco. There is a public transportation bus that leaves from the center of Nice. It only costs one euro to make the 30 minute trip to the mountain-side resort. Lindsey's parents are big tennis fans, so we walked to the Monaco Country Club where the Davis Cup was being hosted. We were able to watch the Brian brothers of the United States defeat the top French double team, all while looking out on a beautiful view of the Mediterranean. After the match we traveled back to the center of the city and hiked to visit the royal palace and tomb of Princess Grace Kelly. Our last stop was the Grand Casino Monte Carlo. I felt like I was a character in Edith Wharton's the House of Mirth standing outside this amazing building overlooking hundreds of beautiful yachts sitting in crystal clear Mediterranean water.

That evening we met up with another Maryland student who was studying in Nice. She took us to an excellent restaurant in the heart of the city called Acchiardo. The city of Nice was actually a part of Italy for hundreds of years. Then in a referendum vote, the people of Nice decided that they wanted to be a part of France.  However, the Italian culture can still be found in Niçoise cuisine. I had delicious homemade gnocchi, a potato based pasta, in a sweet tomato sauce.

In the morning I said my goodbyes and thanks to the Frechette family and headed back to London. I got back to my flat and unpacked my bag from my trip to the U.S., Spain and France. I consolidated all my clothes in my backpack and headed for my cousin's house in South Kensington. I had a wonderful Easter Sunday dinner with family and got some rest before I headed off to my second leg of spring break. 

Mykonos

Mykonos Island in Greece was the relaxing vacation I needed. While studying abroad it is easy get run down, spending all day walking around cities and touring museums. I needed a break from touring and just needed to relax on the beach.

Although it was not prime beach weather in Mykonos there was enough sun to spend some time lounging near the water. The other days were spent walking through the winding streets of Chora and snacking on gyros. It was also Greek Orthodox Easter so we were able to see some cultural traditions as well. 

Overall spring break was an amazing experience and a blessing. I am so grateful that I was able to see three beautiful countries with wonderfully kind groups of people. It was the perfect distraction I needed and allowed me relax and enjoy life. It was also heartwarming to come home to a huge package filled with cards and letters from friends back home, reminding me to Keep Calm and Carry On.