I prayed...WHERE JULIE ANDREWS WALKED!

HEYYYYYYY everybody! I am back J

I am welcoming myself back to Florence! That bus ride was TERRIBLE! I am so ready to stay in Florence this weekend! My body is sick of sitting on a bus! But the past 2 weekends have def. been worth it!

I cannot wait for this weekend! National Margarita Day Sunday so I hope all you good citizens of America celebrate it too!

Well let me update you on the past weekend! Same as I said for Rome and Tivoli blog goes for this one. It’s long so take a break and come back to it if need be J

Well we departed Thursday night around 10 pm our time for Vienna. So hard to sleep on the bus because the DVDs were playing so loud and it was so hard to get into a comfy position! The bus ride was SUPER long and we got into Vienna around 9 am and had a great breakfast. We stayed at this SUPER nice hostel. We weren’t expecting it to be that nice. There was 5 of us in the room and Ainsley and I’s roommates were really nice. So basically we all freshened up and met back up with the group for a tour around Vienna. Their language is so different and sometimes just sounds so harsh! But we took their train to the historic center of Vienna. It was a bit cloudy out, which was annoying and so windy/cold. But that didn’t stop us. We walked around to many historic places like their government buildings, statues from WW2, Spanish horses, churches, etc. It was pretty neat! And then we all broke off from the group after the tour was over and honestly Vienna is nothing special. Ainsley and I got pretty bored and were just super ready for Salzburg. I looked at Ainsley and was like it feels so weird that I am saying Vienna is boring, it’s a lot different to say like STL is boring or something. HAHA! But we walked around and found this cute little café and got some APPLE STRUDEL! Omg it was soo good! Then we trekked it back to our hostel to take a nap to get ready for the night. We woke up and then went and did Vienna right once again and tried our first wiener schnitzel. It was SOOOO good! I got this sandwich, which reminded me of my grandma because instead of pickles, they use ghericans. Then we went out and found some wine to get ready for the night! Cheap wine but I think it’s better than the expensive stuff! Haha! They had an Austrian form of an Aldi’s! I was in love! We then went out to The Bermuda Triangle! We started out at this Irish Pub. My knowing ability to talk made us some friends with these 4 guys and we all ended up going to this other bar for a bit and just hung out for awhile. Most Austrians don’t go out until 2am or later. Sorry but we Americans do not! HAHA! We had to prep for Salzburg in the AM! The guys were super nice and I know I know, everybody keeps asking if I have a boyfriend yet…….. if the one guy didn’t live all the way in Austria I totally would have gotten his number! HAHAHA

So glad to go back to the hostel to sleep in a BED for once after that! Haha Then we woke up and got ready to have our free time in Vienna before we left for Salzburg at 3! We really didn’t know what to do so we kind of just walked around Vienna and shopped at some markets and stores but it was fun! Found this really HUGE and cute market that reminded me so much more of an American grocery store for once besides the Aldi’s.

Finally it was time to go to Salzburg and Ainsley and I were SUPER pumped! It was our whole point of going; Vienna was just an added bonus! Another long bus ride, but got there around 7 and got ready and went out to this monestary where the monks brew the beer! Wish I liked beer, but they either had liters of beer or half liters that everyone got. Ainsley and I once again did Austria right and split a Wiener Schnitzel! It was pretty good once again! Seriously though, I can name a list of people who would have LOVED that place because the beers were so big and apparently pretty good. L None the less, I am saying this meaning wish you guys were here J!

Then Shannon, Ainsley, and I champed our way back because we really didn’t know how to get home but we had a map! The tour guides in charge originally told us it was like 5 minutes away, NOPE! More like 30 minutes. Thankfully we really watched for street signs and what not cause it totally came in handy later.

We stayed at a 4-star Holiday Inn and WOW it was def. a very nice Holiday Inn! The beds were so comfy but I could barely sleep for some reason! Went to bed at around midnight and woke up at like 5 L guess I was pretty prepped for the SOUND OF MUSIC TOUR!! Then we woke up and got ready for the tour. The breakfast was delicious! They had meat once again and fruit! Totally devoured as much fruit and meat as possible considering I barely get that in Florence!!

Then it was raining, which we were super sad about but it wasn’t stopping our excitement! We got on the bus and our tour guide was so funny and so awesome! If it didn’t end up being good tour, it would have been worth it anyway because they drove us all over Salzburg. But it was totally worth it! The bus even had Sound of Music tour on it so Ainsley and I kept joking that everyone driving by us right now is probably so jealous.

They first brought us to the lake and palace where Maria and the Captain danced in the background and the lake scene where the children and Maria are getting out of the boat! Then they took us to see where they filmed the gazebo scene from I am 16, going on 17! That was super cool! And we got to see the place where Maria first runs into the gates singing! Then we got to see the trees Maria skips through! When we had a bit of free time when the tour guide wasn’t telling us facts from the movie, we all sang songs from the movie!! Of course Ainsley and I chimed in to help! LOVE that soundtrack! I totally felt like I was in Colorado again because of all the mountains and what not, but it was the real thing this time!! They also took us by the actual Red Bull corporation buildings, which are made of mostly glass so that was pretty neat! Then they took us to see the trees the children were all climbing in.. they’ve grown a bit since the movie! HAHA! Then they took us to none other than THE CHURCH MARIA AND THE CAPTAIN GOT MARRIED IN!!!! (AKA when we have my wedding over here, book your flights to Austria because that will be the church I get married in. Details to follow at a later date J) OMG that church was STUNNING and I mean GORGEOUSLY STUNNING.

I said a prayer on the kneeler since I hadn’t gone to church and I looked at Ainsley and was like, “I JUST PRAYED WHERE JULIE ANDREWS WALKED!!!!!” (haha)

I was in shock. Everywhere we walked……Julie Andrews probably walked on that same ground so many times!! I just love that movie.

So then we had some free time by the church for lunch and just to see the area. Ainsley and I once again did Austria right and got Apple Strudel! It was so good once again. The bakery had cheesecake and I was SO tempted. Ughh I miss my cheesecake days L. Then we looked around for a bit at the shops but they were all closed because it was Sunday. It was a super cute little area though. Then we finished the tour by watching some of the special edition feature from the movie, which was really cool and of course sang So Long Farewell L! So sad to be ending the tour, but it was a 4 hour tour which was so cool. We ended at the Mirabell Gardens where Maria sings around the fountains and the children touch the dwarfs. We never really found the dwarfs though L but we got the pics by the fountain! It was an awesome experience and totally worth it because I absolutely love that movie. When I was in Colorado this summer with the fam, I made my mom go get the movie so I could watch it.

I know you’re all wondering did Ainsley and I get the video of us singing in the Alps. NO we did not because along with a few other things they actually filmed no scenes in the Alps L so disappointing because we wanted that video.

Here are a few facts for all my fellow Sound of Music lovers:

1. Maria actually sang the opening scene at a different mountain in Salzburg, I cant remember how to spell it but it was kind of far away and we really didn’t know how to get there L
2. There are actually 2 gazebos. One is bigger and one is smaller. One is in Salzburg and the other was in the US at the time of filming. They actually had to move the gazebo a few years ago that was used in 16 going on 17 to a different location because meetings could barely be held at the palace anymore because of all the tourists singing I am 16 going on 17! HAHA! Also, the gazebo is now locked because an 82 year old one day was dancing around inside and slipped. She tried to file a lawsuit but she failed because apparently Austrians really don’t do lawsuits like Americans do! Haha Another fact about the gazebo is if you remember the scene with the Captain and Maria, the lighting back then was so bad that the light made weird noises and when it came time for the 2 to get romantic, they kept laughing because the noises sounded like someone farting. They did so many takes, Robert Wise said whatever and turned off the lights so that is why that scene is so dark so no one could tell if they were laughing!! Haha
3. Most of the outside scenes were filmed in Salzburg but all of the inside scenes besides the wedding were filmed in the US! L Which was very disappointing!! Also the lake and the house they had were filmed at 2 different spots. So when Maria and the Captain were talking in the backyard it was actually filmed in 2 different areas.
4. The cast was only supposed to be filming in Salzburg for 6 weeks but it actually turned into I think 11 because of the weather.
5. The actual Von Tropps now have a villa on the east coast that is still being run today as I think a hotel maybe?
6. Gretel, the youngest one, actually gained so much weight while in Salzburg because she hated Austrian food. There was like only 3 things she would eat and one of them was fried artichokes. When you watch it next, take a look at the part where the children fall when they’re in the boat with Maria. They shot that scene twice and all got asked the ? of can they swim. Well, Gretel couldn’t and Maria I believe caught her in the water the first time they shot the scene. However, the second time Maria fell into the water and if you look Gretel’s head pops up in the water, then back down, then up again because Maria wasn’t supposed to fall like that. They tried filming it a 3^rd time but something happened, so they kept the second. So watch for her head in the water! It was weird!

There are a few facts for all you guys! It was awesome and I am so glad Ainsley found us a way to get there!!

So after we got done at the gardens, we had free time to explore Salzburg before leaving at 5. Ainsley and I went around to the different stores if they were open. Why they have a Claire’s in Vienna and Salzburg, I will never understand. But the little stores were cute and Ainsley did Austria right by getting one of their special sausages. It was pretty good cause it had cheese inside! And let me say this, WHY THE HECK DO INTERNATIONAL PLACES MAKE MCDONALDS LOOK LIKE A 5 STAR RESTAURANT?? I swear, they look like an Olive Garden or something over here. They even have reminder signs on almost every corner! HAHA! It shocks me considering they are not near as nice in America. I will say this so, America is behind. They have brownie mcflurries over here. America is SLACKING!

Salzburg is absolutely gorgeous and I so wish the weather would have been nicer but it’s okay! I got so many pictures though! It is just a cute little place and I would love to go back some day! We really wanted to go up to the fortress but the easy way to go up the mountain was closed and it was a long hike up! So we walked around and around and got a tad bit bored. We found the Irish Pub we originally wanted to go to the night before and decided to stop in for a drink. Ainsley finally got her Strongbow cider she is in love with. I remembered Katie Hogan always telling me I have to try this special cider when I go to Dublin, but I couldn’t remember it. But just for you Hogan, I got Magners? Is that right? It wasn’t supposed to taste so beer like but it did, I was hoping it would taste more like apples! L SO everyone I had my first actual beer I guess yesterday. NEVER to be had again. I hate beer!! Haha We ended up going to the footbridge from the Sound of Music after that where the children and Maria all ran along! Def. a photo moment! HAHA! Then I looked at Ainsley in the beginning of our walking around and told her we don’t have a map. But knowing us 2-- we were like we can find our way back to the hotel. Seriously, Ainsley and I champ getting places now. We find our way with or without a map! Rome and Vienna we did without a map and then we did Salzburg too! Like I said before, really looking at everything we passed the night before def. came in handy at this point! HAHA! So we made it back to the hotel, very proud of ourselves of course!

We left about 5 for a very long bus ride to come! It was horrible but I finally got to watch Wedding Crashers since I had never seen it before and then got to watch The Hangover. They never could find Sound of Music for a legit price so we didn’t all get to watch that. We were sad L! SO those 2 movies helped to make time pass! But we didn’t get back to Florence till around 1:15 am and then had to get home so it was a late night cause I barely slept at all on the bus!

SO this morning def. overslept my 6am normal wake up call. But thankfully didn’t have my 9am class to go to! Ainsley and I knew not having that class today was going to pay off!! So I woke up finally started this thing and then got up and unpacked finally and did my lovely benderball. Went to Italian at noon and then worked out and then to Customer Relations at 3. Then came home made dinner and showered. Now back to writing this! So that’s caught up! WOOHOO! After customer relations is over, I am going to be the best Senior Living manager ever. HAHA!

Well, just to add a few things of thank yous and misc. info.

Bev (from work) and even Terri if you’re reading this because I know you love chocolate too-- totally meant to have you in the last blog for the chocolate festival info! You guys would have been obsessed and never would have wanted to leave!! Totally wish you guys could have been here for that!

To all my friends and family, I updated my facebook status today so I hope you like it if you have facebook- but if you don’t it reads----- I don’t know how I ever got so lucky to have the friends and family that I do. And I totally mean that!

Esp. all my friends back home, you guys make me want to cry at the texts, facebook posts, facebook messages, etc. of I miss you, come home messages! WELL I miss you guys too but don’t worry I will be home soon enough! But I love all the messages and I am glad you all miss me as much as I miss you. J SEIGS- I was sitting in the Holiday Inn lobby while we were waiting for the bus and I practically looked like I was about to cry my eyes out reading your message L! But it was cute and I loved it.

For the record, this no texting crap while I am over here is killing me!!!!! I am a technology loving 21 year old and I miss the ability for things to happen and text so and so about it or call them. BUT can’t do that here L I can’t tell you how many times I pick up my whiteberry and want to text whoever my stories. Thankfully I have this blog to do so. However, I know with iPhones they have a texting app. So I am looking into one for my whiteberry for when I have wifi when I am around school. So if anyone gets a weird text it’s probably from whatever application I found. We will see.

Hm……. And for the record, this blogging thing was like the best idea ever. I know I am going to read this so many times over the rest of my life. Besides writing in the journal my boss at Qdoba gave me, my pictures, facebook, and this blog- I will have so much to look back on and I love it! SO thanks to all those people who convinced me to write this thing! It will help me not to have so many stories to tell when I get home!! Wait who am I kidding, I have 4853409 stories to tell every day. Seigs, Nikki, and Krob- pretty sure you know that way too well by now!! Haha

But……. I received an email from Bev (from work) the other day asking me about the academic side, because that is why I am here, of this semester! HAHA This is a good question! So on that side, school is so different here. I looked at Alexa today and was like this semester is going to suck because I don’t know how I am ever going to get into school mode. I have 3 classes Monday, 2 on Tuesday, and 1 Wednesday with Thursday and Fridays off and so many places to travel. Hopefully I will manage to one of these days get into school mode! Haha! I have learned quite a bit in my classes however!

I will say this esp. since I know Dr. Dallas, ([the best department head ever]--Head of HRA at MSU) is reading this….. Special shout out def. goes to you for this! I definitely do miss Missouri State classes! Over the years I have definitely been able to praise how much I LOVE the HRA program at Missouri State to all of my family and friends. I like the classes and teachers here and I will definitely never regret coming here for school but I for sure can say I miss my favorite HRA program—teachers and classes included! J haha! So sad to think I only have 1 semester left at MSU after this! L

Alexa looked at me this morning and was like do you realize we only have 3 months left. 3 months from today we are supposed to leave…… Made me so sad because that seems so close but then I thought about it and even though 3 months sounds like nothing, 88 days sounds a lot longer! HAHA! This semester is just starting and I am super excited for everything else that is in the future.

2 of the things I def. have to put in here that I will thank myself for bringing in the future—my zig zag tennis shoes and my black purse from Target. I know most of my friends think those tennis shoes are just as ugly as my love for crocs, but those things are the best shoes ever on all of this old cobblestone. And if that black purse I got makes it through in tact by the end of this semester, I will praise the company whoever made it because people could probably bench press with this purse sometimes!! HAHA!

As for trips coming up, Dublin is starting to look like a no go and I am SUPER upset about it but hopefully I will find a way to go. L Hopefully nikki and I will be able to book our flights for London spring break within the next couple days! And a weekend in Venice after this weekend!

I received an email from my mom today saying my cousins who lived over in London for a few years are coming here at the end of Feb. so I am totally hoping I will be able to get to see them! I would love to see some family while I am here that is not seen through a webcam!! haha

Well this is getting way lengthier than I thought it would………whoopsies! I will write more tomorrow so I can split it up! Hope you all had a great weekend too!

Loves and misses J check out the latest facebook photos if you can J