tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12968899788591902532024-03-21T06:36:56.530-04:00Adventure in the Great Wide Somewhere!Jesye's European AdventuresJesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-51616555810921575552017-12-02T09:08:00.000-05:002017-12-09T05:48:10.899-05:00Lessons from Romanian Taxi Drivers
"In this spot you'll see many crosses."
Our taxi driver from the Bucharest Airport had spent the last twenty minutes pointing out various plazas, buildings, and neighborhoods he thought might interest us.
"They're here as a memorial. Many people died here 27 years ago. I was there." He went on to tell us that the tiny patch of grass we were parked next to at a stoplight was the Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0Bucharest, Romania44.4267674 26.10253839999995844.0639659 25.457091399999957 44.789568900000006 26.747985399999958tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-39862106634365624782017-08-13T22:41:00.002-04:002017-08-13T22:41:29.753-04:00Exploring Lokrum
Arriving in Dubrovnik with my short-term travel companions made the journey much more fun and relaxing (for me) than expected.
By the time I had trudged up a million stairs with my oversized suitcase to my Airbnb, I was ready to meet up with my family and do some exploring. My Aunt Nancy, cousins Emma and Wendy, and their friend were on a tour of Dubrovnik from Split, and I was thrilled to Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-29295106188108772132017-08-05T22:25:00.000-04:002017-08-15T12:33:18.441-04:00Tour Day in Herzegovina
While there are countless benefits that I could go on and on about to traveling alone (and probably will soon), I briefly encountered one negative aspect during the first leg of my trip.
I'd researched all different tours that I was hoping to book, but when I finally went to book them I couldn't- they required you to sign up with at least two people! I was really bummed at first, but Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-7046910275907343262017-07-29T15:24:00.000-04:002017-08-13T21:55:14.977-04:00Why I Loved Mostar
I spent most of my time in Bosnia and Herzegovina in a kind of giddy delirium.
I was so happy from the moment I stepped off the bus from Split, Croatia and into the astounding heat of Mostar. Giddy, sweaty, and exhausted. I'm not proud to say that my first act in Bosnia was a nap. But once I was a little more rested, I headed out to enjoy twilight in the lovely little Old Town. The Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0Mostar 88000, Bosnia and Herzegovina43.343774800000013 17.8077577999999943.251386300000014 17.646396299999989 43.436163300000011 17.969119299999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-55598547253925196302017-07-17T16:28:00.000-04:002017-07-30T16:29:38.244-04:00My New Bosnian Boyfriend
The other day I learned a little about local souvenirs in Mostar.
The colorful bronze trays I was originally drawn to are actually Turkish! It's the pure bronze (or bronze and tin) etchings that are local. I think I need a good story and tradition to commit to a souvenir. I'd been stopping everywhere to check out the hammered bracelets and coffee cups, totally feeling no commitment Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0Mostar 88000, Bosnia and Herzegovina43.343774800000013 17.8077577999999943.251386300000014 17.646396299999989 43.436163300000011 17.969119299999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-49778169151209059402017-05-03T11:41:00.000-04:002017-06-28T07:55:07.916-04:00In Venice Once Again
Last week I needed a change of scenery.
It was one of those weeks when it's just too hard to live away from everyone I love, and I needed to get out and distract myself. I thought about going shopping or heading to the park, calling a friend or getting a gelato. Everything seemed too quick and escapable, not enough of a distraction. While hard times make it challenging to live away Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-29496294666016176812017-04-30T10:31:00.000-04:002017-06-28T07:54:51.482-04:00Burano: A Rainbow of a City
Even from a distance, the candy-colored houses of Burano stood out vividly.
Burano is a small journey within itself, and while this was my fourth visit to Venice, it was my first on the tiny island.
To get to the colorful island, you need to first take a vaparetto to Murano, then disembark and grab another to Burano. The process takes at least an hour, and includes waiting in Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0Burano, 30142 Venice, Italy45.4853906 12.41665620000003445.4853906 12.416656200000034 45.4853906 12.416656200000034tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-25319462101835403472017-04-26T08:48:00.000-04:002017-04-30T10:06:21.232-04:00Easter in Florence: The Explosion of the Cart
Easter is a huge deal in Italy, and is celebrated with varying traditions all over the country.
In Florence, Easter is celebrated with the Scorpio del Carro, which translates to the Explosion of the Cart. This tradition dates back to the First Crusades, when a Florentine knight was the first to scale the walls of Jerusalem. As a reward for his bravery, he was given three splinters Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0Florence, Italy43.7695604 11.2558136000000143.586129400000004 10.93309010000001 43.9529914 11.578537100000011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-25635920841090420472017-03-28T14:01:00.001-04:002017-06-28T08:05:35.078-04:00Focaccia Trials
Remember a while back when I said I wanted to take advantage of living in Italy by learning as much as I could while here? (Exact words were "Be a better Italian"). Well, one of the ways I'm striving to be a better donna italiana is to learn to cook some of my favorite dishes! I've been working on perfecting my focaccia recipe, and trying to do so without gaining 40 lbs of bread-weight in the Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-17155083567850636602017-03-18T11:06:00.000-04:002017-03-18T11:08:56.202-04:00Stavanger and Jorpeland
I loved Norway in a way I never expected to. The rolling hills, deep fjords, and ever-changing skies have been impossible to forget. Of course, hiking Preikestolen was the most momentous part of my trip, but exploring Jorpeland and Stavanger were quietly perfect as well. You may want to leave this to load for a few minutes, because it's about to be a VERY picture heavy post!
Growing up Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0Stavanger, Norway58.9699756 5.733107300000028858.8389301 5.4103838000000284 59.1010211 6.0558308000000292tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-75882213925400314992017-03-13T11:40:00.000-04:002017-03-18T11:40:33.828-04:00Quick Picture Post: Back to Cervinia
I can't believe it took two years to head back to the ski town I adored so much! Odaliz, Laura and I found an apartment for rent this weekend and jumped at the chance to head back to Cervinia. Fondue, stunning views, mountain air, and another ski lesson (where I only fell like... 5 times...) made it the perfect weekend getaway!
Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0Frazione Breuil Cervinia, 11028 Breuil-Cervinia AO, Italy45.9337002 7.629204999999956323.155681199999997 -33.679389000000043 68.7117192 48.937798999999956tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-1533303624051875632017-03-05T14:12:00.000-05:002017-03-18T13:34:54.728-04:00Favorite Moments Around London
London is massive, and with so much to see, it's important to prioritize and plan. My mom and I are list-makers, and had come up with a massive list of everything we wanted to see and do while in London. However, after our first day we realized that wasn't going to work. Many of the experiences we wanted to have were more than just, "Walk by and snap a picture" experiences, and they were Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0London, UK51.5073509 -0.1277582999999822351.1912379 -0.77320529999998222 51.8234639 0.51768870000001777tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-45426525117604354792017-03-02T17:30:00.000-05:002017-03-05T17:36:02.583-05:00San Francisco and Las Vegas
San Francisco with Krista
Over the summer, I was reminded that should/when I move back to the United States, there are plenty of amazing cities to travel to. For my birthday, my parents booked me a ticket to see one of my sisters in San Francisco, California. Before she moved to San Francisco, we had visited together for an overnight trip and loved it. Now that she lives there, she was Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0San Francisco, CA, USA37.7749295 -122.4194155000000136.9717915 -123.71030900000001 38.578067499999996 -121.12852200000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-84402561541365500132017-02-06T17:02:00.000-05:002017-02-07T14:46:16.658-05:00How to Spend a Long Weekend in Brussels
In my last post, I spoke about a website/app I use when I'm searching for a new place to visit, but am not quite sure where to go. Before a long weekend I had back in December, Odaliz and I looked on Skyscanner and found an inexpensive flight to Brussels (after Tallinn, inexpensive was key!). Neither of us wanted to go on a long trip, but we knew we wanted to go somewhere for a few days. Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0Brussels, Belgium50.8503396 4.351710300000036150.6899556 4.0289868000000357 51.0107236 4.6744338000000365tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-22387182885167686432017-01-28T10:44:00.003-05:002017-03-18T13:36:51.020-04:009 Essential Travel Apps
Rome2rio
Plan your trip by viewing all possible ways to get from point A to point B. View prices and travel times, as well as get links to flights and train tickets. This is possibly my favorite app when thinking about multi-stop trips, or when first considering a new location.
Skyscanner
Skyscanner searches tons of websites for the most cost-effective flight, hotelJesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-15886360122618099452017-01-02T18:25:00.001-05:002017-01-02T18:28:29.397-05:00Resolution to Reality: Tips for the New Year
As someone who looooooves New Years, birthdays, new school years... really any fresh start, I've come up with a few ways to turn my goals into reality.
Have a plan
I tell myself every year, "Jesye, this is the year you're getting in shape." Every year it doesn't happen. The problem is that my commitment is real because it isn't specific enough. This year, rather than "Get in shape,Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-2268418814194181822017-01-01T16:51:00.000-05:002017-01-02T17:09:22.207-05:00New Year, New Goals
Photo by Brigitte Tohm
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
New year, new goals, and you know how much I love goals! When I was studying abroad, I remember feeling like the last month was crunch time. My friends and I did more, saw more, laughed more, and stayed out wayyyyy later than the rest of the trip because we had to use every last moment. I'm starting to feel that again now, despite having a year and a Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0Rochester, NY, USA43.16103 -77.610921942.975787 -77.933645399999989 43.346273 -77.2881984tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-60956496465109838802016-12-31T15:18:00.000-05:002017-01-02T16:51:54.731-05:00Where 2016 Took Me
January
Rochester, NY
Milan, Italy
February
Milan, Italy
Siena, Italy
Stuttgart, Germany
Hechingen, Germany
Frieburg, Germany
Colmar, France
March
Milan, Italy
Rome, Italy
Pompeii, Italy
Amalfi, Italy
Positano, Italy
April
Milan, Italy
May
Milan, Italy
Prague, Czech Republic
June
Milan, Italy
Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0Rochester, NY, USA43.16103 -77.610921942.975787 -77.933645399999989 43.346273 -77.2881984tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-12275990904878812382016-12-17T08:53:00.002-05:002016-12-17T09:09:09.105-05:00Glögg and Other Estonian Things I Ate
For Thanksgiving, my friends and I took a trip to Tallinn, Estonia.
Estonia was never on my radar until last spring as I tried to procrastinate plan my last minute very spontaneous spring break adventure (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3). Tickets to Tallinn, Estonia were the cheapest on Skyscanner, and I considered heading to Eastern Europe for the first time. Well, that didn't Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-748841132511951822016-12-07T13:24:00.001-05:002016-12-12T13:11:03.207-05:00The Last Leg of My Spring Break Adventure
Back in April, I wrote about the first legs of my solo trip to Southern Italy- Rome to Naples, then on to Pompeii.
The next section of my trip was just wonderful. From Pompeii, I caught a small regional train to Salerno, and from there a bus to Amalfi. While on the train I found myself a cute little hotel from my phone (trying to be spontaneous, remember?). The bus ride to Amalfi was Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0Amalfi Coast, Italy40.6333329 14.60176599999999840.6318264 14.599244499999998 40.6348394 14.604287499999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-767146370969485582016-12-07T10:43:00.000-05:002017-03-18T13:40:23.820-04:00Little Town, It's a Quiet Village
Colmar, France might have been the prettiest town I've ever seen.
Actually, Colmar WAS the prettiest town I've ever seen, and was the third stop on my parents' and my February trip. My grandparents have always mentioned Alsace-Lorraine as one of our ancestors' hometowns, but I never really knew much about it. I also remember hearing that though our last name (Streisel, pronounced Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0Colmar, France48.0793589 7.358512000000018847.909728400000006 7.0357885000000184 48.2489894 7.6812355000000192tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-65982319683571505272016-12-06T13:38:00.001-05:002016-12-12T13:22:37.995-05:00Continuing the Fairytale in Freiburg
Though Stuttgart was cold, rainy, and gloomy, we found the Germany we'd been looking for in Freiburg, known for being Germany's sunniest town. It looked like a medieval fairytale- rustic old buildings, charming turrets and towers, and these cute little mini-streams along the sides of the roads. We loved it!
The beauty of Freiburg was in the details.
Founded in 1120 asJesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0Freiburg, Germany47.9990077 7.8421042999999647.8289672 7.51938079999996 48.1690482 8.16482779999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-86799571439690364382016-11-19T11:37:00.001-05:002016-12-12T13:57:16.224-05:00The Start of Our German Fairy Tale
For the last few years, my visits home for Christmas have always included at least one day in the living room with my parents, actively planning their visit in February. Last year we planned out the most wonderful fairy tale vacation in Germany and France, heading back to the home of our ancestral Streisels. Well, when I brought up Alsace, France (more to come in another post), we found thatJesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-46208333302225287392016-11-13T17:43:00.000-05:002016-12-06T13:42:52.737-05:00Malta- Better Late Than Never!
I've been emptying my phone and camera of pictures, and am loving reminiscing on all of the wonderful memories of my travels from the past year! It's crazy how behind I've gotten on posts. These next few will probably be mostly pictures, as I really need to catch myself up!
One of my first trips of last school year was to Malta, a teeny little island country south of Sicily. My friends and Jesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0Malta35.937496 14.37541599999997335.526131500000005 13.729968999999972 36.3488605 15.020862999999974tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1296889978859190253.post-33576259598045259242016-11-13T08:31:00.000-05:002016-11-13T17:45:39.479-05:00Words of Wisdom from His Holiness, The Dalai Lama
I had another one of the experiences that will stay with me for the rest of my life, something I never thought I'd be writing about.
A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to attend a presentation by the Dalai Lama. Over the course of a few days, he presented his teachings on interdependence and "The Path," the Initiation of Avalokiteshvara (I had to Google that one), and finallyJesyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13474663708644837416noreply@blogger.com0Milan, Italy45.4654219 9.1859243000000145.2872319 8.86320080000001 45.6436119 9.508647800000011