Welsh Cakes

I successfully made my very first batch of Welsh cakes in honor of St David's day (even though I'm late). Here is proof.

I will continue my posts about my vacation tomorrow. I am going to post about each city I went to (at least that is my plan). Overall I really enjoyed the trip, but it certainly wasn't a relaxing holiday. Since Hilary and I fit so much in, it felt very rushed and very busy. Traveling stresses me out. I break out! ugh. I thought I would be done with zits once I got into my twenties. Not the case...I should have known. Anyway, I will be writing more about my trip so keep checking for new posts!

Cinque Terre

Hilary and I arrived in Cinque Terre late on Saturday night (that was Feb 21st) after a day of train rides. We took eight trains in total. Two of them were by mistake because we got on the wrong train and had to go back. It was dark when we got finally made it to our destination so we couldn't see much, but I could hear the ocean and smell the fresh air. We found the main office for our hostel, where they had left an envelope for us with our keys and directions to our room. We followed the tiny path up and down stairs and between buildings to get to our room. The room was basically a one person apartment with 11 beds stuffed into it. Our beds were in the kitchen.
Cinque Terre is made up of five cities. We were at Riomaggiore which is on the end of the row of cities. We hiked from our city to the other end. It was gorgeous. We started out on "lovers lane" and then broke off from the path that followed the coast line and headed uphill. It was very uphill. We climbed so many stairs! It was well worth it when we reached the top though. The views were amazing plus while were walking along the top a little dog joined us. He was our personal tour guide. He would stop and wait for us to take pictures and then continue again. I think he stopped keeping us company once we reached the end of his territory.
The sun was just beginning to set when we reached the last town. Hilary and I were both very tired so we found some gelato and sat on the beach and then headed back to our hostel on the train. It was a wonderful day and I think that everyone needs to visit Cinque Terre.

bon voyage

I am off to Italy. I wanted to write a long post about what I am planning, but as usual I have left everything to the last minute and have been desperately packing. I leave early tomorrow. I get back a week from Monday so I will be quiet for a bit. Wish me luck with my Italian adventures!

moba

Museum of Bad Art. Yes, it is a real place. Ryan found out about it. Check it out at www.museumofbadart.org . It is in Massachusetts so I am going to go when I get back. What a great idea. I can't wait!

in the news

Guess who is in the news today...BANSKY! check it out. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7899443.stm (it is picture of the day #7)

I went on a long walk today. I thought I needed to get out. It was nice to walk without any real end goal. At one point I was trapped withing the walls of one of the lycees (high schools) here in Aix. I had to escape by following a car out of the parking garage gate. It was my version of a James Bond moment. Just making it in time through the closing metal gates. I think it is funny how nervous teenagers make me feel. I would have thought that by this age I would be over their judgmental stares and the feeling that I need to be cool enough. I mean they are in high school for heavens sake. I am in my junior year of college! Tell me, other adults, does being nervous of teenagers ever go away? or does their power to make you feel self conscious and bad about yourself continue to burden everyone even as we grow older? Is it just me?

The rest of my walk was fairly uneventful. I still can't find the park I have been looking for since I got here. I ended up at another park and sat on a bench finishing post cards and such for a short time. Then I did some errands.

My roommate and I cooked some very nice chicken this evening. We just took chicken breasts and then covered them with a mixture or herbs, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, and lemon zest. Then they went into the oven for 30 minutes and came out delicious. We had them with carrots and shallots.
After dinner I went with my friend Hilary to try a yoga class. It was nice just to be back in a dance studio. It was just the right level for me. I think I am going to go twice a week from now on. I think it will improve my french (especially the body part words). Today I ingrained the words insprirer and expirer. Also, the class was very full so perhaps I will meet someone to have a conversation with once in a while. In the pictures, that is actually the instructor that I had today and that is the studio where I was.

Baby Girl!

I have a new baby cousin! I am very excited and I can't wait to see her. Everyone thought she was going to be a boy. I want to say, "I was right," but that isn't totally true. My mom told me a couple of weeks ago that my aunt and uncle thought it would be a boy and I said that I had thought of my new cousin as a girl. After I saw the ultra sound pictures though, I too thought it would be a boy. She fooled us all, but I would like to think that she fooled me less. I am going to go visit at the end of march/beginning of april. Oh and she doesn't have a name yet. They only had a boy's name chosen. I can't wait to find out what they decide on.

On another note, I am enjoying Rachael Yamagata. Her most famous song is Be Be Your Love.

25 Random Things...Not

My friend from high school, Artie, posted this article on facebook. I thought it was really interesting so I am posting it for all to see. I had been debating writing my own 25 random things list and I still might eventually even if it is just for fun and just for me. Anyway, I found this article interesting. I'm not sure of the credentials, but it sounds reasonable to me. Enjoy.

http://www.slate.com/id/2211068/pagenum/all/#p2