Summer Lovin' Had Me A Blast

Summer lovin' happened so faa-aa-aast.

After a week of summer camp and a week of desk warming (i.e. downloading music, eating snacks and nap...errr LESSON PLANNING, of course), I made my way to Europe for a two week vacation!

Within less than a week of my original departure date, I cancelled my Philippines plan and booked a flight for my Amsterdam-Paris-Munich journey. Yes, I was freaking out, but I needed a break.

It was the best vacation that I could have asked for. Not only did I go on adventures, but I was able to share this experience with my family. It was a refreshing breath of fresh air and I'm really glad that I made the last minute decision, although my wallet may tell a different story!

More in-depth city stories after the jump!

xo

Amsterdam: Ariel and I only stayed here for two nights, but it was such a unique experience. Our hostel was on the edge of the Red Light District (yes, that Red Light District), which was quite a sight. I made a few friends in the hostel and ended up taking a walking tour around the city. It. Is. Gorgeous. I highly recommend going to Vondel Park; it's the perfect place to picnic and people watch!

 

Paris: The only words that need to be said about my Paris experience: Themed photos. This was my first trip to Paris, and I was blown away. Not only did my family and I do the "touristy" things (the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, etc.), but we also had the sense to let Paris consume us. We were able to people watch, one of my favorite things to do. The highlight of my entire trip was having a picnic under the Eiffel Tower. We got there right as the sun was setting, stayed until the lights came on and my parents filled their Coke bottles with wine. Absolute perfection. And there was brie, so I mean, how could I not enjoy it?

Munich: So. Much. Beer. Only my mother, Kristina and I went to Munich and, unlike Paris, there were no set plans for our few days there. We tried to go to the oldest brewery, only to be told that our reservation wasn't for the brewery tour but was for blah blah blah. Oops. Instead, we spent our first day going to the Dachau Concentration Camp. I've always been enthralled with Nazi history, so I was in my own world. We also went to the English Garden, which is in the center of the city. Who knew it would be so poppin'?! People were in their swimsuits, jumping in the endless rivers, streams and lakes. We even saw people surfing!

PS My favorite beer was the radler—light beer and lemonade!