Quick reflections...

Just some quick thoughts from my first European tour!

- if all cheese tasted like French cheese, I never would have become a vegan

- Europeans have awesome shoes and beautiful scarves

- you can get a SUPER DELICIOUS glass of wine anywhere in Barcelona for about $2

- pretzels in Frankfurt make pretzels in NYC seem like they taste like cardboard

- it's super frustrating being somewhere and not speaking the language

- smiling at someone and saying thank you in their language can go a really long way

- Europeans don't judge you for drinking at lunch (in fact, they may judge you if you don't have a beer/glass of wine...)

- walking everywhere is really fun, and allows you to see where you really are

- you can make friends everywhere

- The Just Be Nice Party is now international!! (too bad Repubs and Dems can't say the same!)

- fall is still my favorite season...regardless of what country I'm in

Reunion

Celebrated 10 years with my fellow Oles today and yesterday. Photos and stories to come!

Back in college

I'm at my reunion! So far, so good. It's surreal, slightly awkward, and a lot of fun.

Fill you in more tomorrow! Kristen

California reflections...

So here's what I've learned about traveling to new places: You romanticize a place when you only visit once in a while.

You can find your people anywhere.

You can find jerks anywhere.

Being a musician, or having a job that let's you travel and reconnect with friends is awesome.

I love the west coast.

I still love the east coast, I just know it better, so the flaws stick out a bit more.

When I see something in someone's house that I think is awesome and a great idea- I'm going to steal it from now on. :)

And here are my favorite photos from the trip:

Windy San Francisco.

Redwood Park

Oakland pups

Trails in Ojai

Beach time

Baby seal in Santa Barbara

Devil's Canyon in Utah

Crazy jogging path in San Rafael Reef, also Utah

San Rafael Reef (worth the scary jog for the photo)

My friend, Holly, had the most beautiful setting for her wedding!

Cows in Fort Collins

I also romanticize my hometown. Now that I no longer live in Green Bay, I love it. You know, absence makes...

That's what I have for now. Why do you love to travel and see new places?

Midwives

I haven't finished this book by Chris Bohjalian yet, but so far, I highly recommend it!