On our Way

9cities, 7 countries, 10 days.


Lisa from Kansas came over last night. We finally planned our european takeover! This is the third attempt of working out the details of our excursion. It just never seemed to work out before, mainly frustration from plane and train schedules. But now we have it! Her and I, Starting November 14th, will conquer 7countries and 9 cities in 10 days! 


Starting in Riga, Latvia (basically as a flight hub) we will spend one day in this small old town. Then its off to Frankfurt, Germany for the day then train down to Heidelberg to see Dom and Vanessa. 

I was afraid that after everything thats happened between vincent and i, that i would never have been able to meet this Vanessa that i've heard so much about..guess i was wrong!

Leaving the next morning for Paris, France. 


Paris, France. {sigh}

I will bend the contract of 'no sweets' and happily take in anything this country of pastries has to offer. Its almost a cirme to go to France and not indulge in the cafes and patisseries. Needless to say, i'm looking forward to it! :)  
Spending only but two days in most cities, we've given the most time to Paris, spending three days there.
After Paris, we will train to Brussels, Belgium and experience the heaven of a Belgian waffle. A day and a half spent in Brussels, we will then train to the Netherlands!


I will finally get to meet family that i would never have been able to otherwise. Family that i've only seen pictures of and heard stories of. Aunts, uncles and cousins from my dad's side, my grandfathers family. 
This was my reason for studying abroad! 
Visiting the small town of North Brabant Uden, Netherlands.
Seeing the neighborhood my grandfather once walked in 
Finding the church he went to as a child and teenager, Sint Petrus..Saint Peter


again {sigh}


After the Holland, we will somehow make it up to Copenhagen, Denmark.This is one detail we haven't worked out yet. either fly or train..train or fly..who knows yet! I think we will find the answer later. Were handing the burden off to future heather and future lisa to worry about.


After copenhagen, then we will again, somehow make it to Stockholm. We will spend a couple days, then catch a ferry back to Turku, Finland...

9 cities, 7 countries, 10 days...boy were gonna be tired! 

But depriving our bodies from the luxury of sleep to see these beautiful cities is well worth it. We think its possible because as Lisa puts it, were both "speed walkers." Both our natural paces are quite fast. I've never met anyone that could keep up with my fast feet, i'm always the one to slow down to another's level. Lisa does surprisingly well considering her short height. 

 I remember my sister complaining once in the mall of how fast i was walking, shes my exception for slowing down :) "shopping is supposed to be slow and relaxing," she'd say.."pick up the pace," i'd then tell her. haha. poor girl.

This trip is a bit of a grand finale because when we return to finland, we will only have a month left.

 Lets not think about it now..leave this thought for future heather. 

Next week, a group of us are heading to Gdansk,Poland for three days. We hear from our native polish kids that there's cheap food and shopping!