clues...

Apparently there are some places that need to be discovered sometime while in Azerbaijan.... I will let you all know when I figure out where exactly I am supposed to be going, when I actually find the destinations, and what there is to be seen!

Alecia and Debbie have me hunting for this:

"The clue to your destination lies in the title of track 5 on the Grateful Dead's album-- Shakedown Street."

Kelly is sending me to:

"A premier destination for hikers! The ancient village of KHINALUG."


So, I don't know exactly what I will find or see in either of these places-- but I am excited to do some exploring! Thanks girls!

good times...

Since my return... some of the time has been spent having fun with friends! Seems that we are always laughing... at ourselves mostly!

Learning a little more Azeri...

I stayed up last night learning how to count in Azeri! I can count to 20 (iyirmir)—very slowly though! I feel like a little kid all over again! Crazy! The spellings still get me… but here goes… at least up to 10 (on).
1- bir
2- iki
3- uc (this has little marks above and below… but not on our keyboards)
4- dord (dots above the o)
5- bes (different s)
6- alti
7- yeddi
8- sekkiz (upside down e)
9- doqquz
10- on

I also practiced some “first words”, but that isn’t going as well. I did notice that the words are pronounced in three letter increments--- which is helpful. However, when the phrases are being said and the speed is kicked up a notch or two, I get lost.

I might have to get a “roaming” keyboard so that I can use it to actually spell the Azeri words—because our keyboard just doesn’t cut it. Unless there is some trick to changing the font or something--- Cortney, can you figure it out for me??!!

empty house...

so it is really hitting me. my house is slowly emptying out and becoming harder to be in for long periods of time. i know that the things that are missing are just material possessions, but it is the fact that it is all really happening.

i am super excited to have this opportunity and to be able to experience something that others may only think about-- but never do-- it is just hard to actually do it. preparing for a change like this is impossible.

i told myself that i wouldn't be sad because this is something that i have wanted to do forever. however, the reality is-- you have to be a little sad. saying goodbye and so long to all of the people and things you hold dear is a tough task. knowing that daily life resumes and you no longer fit into the puzzle that you did before is a tough thing to swallow. maybe i need to look at it as though i am a piece that never truly fits into ONE puzzle-- but many different ones. either way though-- when i remove myself from one place that hole has to be filled somehow-- no one holds onto a puzzle that has a missing piece for to long. reality can be difficult.

these things go through my mind on a daily basis now... especially as the house empties and the boxes get packed.

wow....

okay... I have way too many pictures! I really did leave a ton out of this slideshow! And let me just tell you.... these pictures do not even come close to showing the real beauty that the countries we visited have!

didn't want it to end...

well, i am back in the US. i was really sad to leave Europe because it is amazing. the last few stops were a bit busier than Switzerland and Austria, but we still had a good time.

Strasburg, France-- had a few old parts to see and a beautiful Cathedral. Paris was super busy--- but you can't beat the view from the Eiffel Tower or from Monmartre. we visited Versailles and Notre Dame as well. France was a bit of a blur because we were really busy and tired from traveling. 20 days is a long time.

i have so many pictures--- 432 to be exact-- that it is going to take me a while to upload them and share them with all of you.... but no need to worry, you will see them! i am tired--- jet lag is kicking by butt today. many stories to share about airports and traveling home troubles, but that will have to be at a later date.

good night all.

leaving home stay...

today i leave my home stay family--- Daniela. i am sad because the time went too quickly. we did a lot of sight seeing in Bern, Belp, Interlaken, Thun, and the mountains. Daniela took me to Grindlewald... where we took a cable car up to the top of the mountain-- the small mountain (2227 meters. it was amazing! we could see Jungfrau... a huge mountain peak that is always covered with snow (it is where the glacier is located). we didnt make it over to that point because the weather changed so quickly and we ran out of time.

last night we had Raclette. it is a cheese dish with lots of sides...and you actually create you meal to your liking. it was sooooooo good that i couldnt stop eating! we then enjoyed some homemade Swiss cake... chocolate... it is on the order of bread with a tasty crust made with sugar--- Danielas sister gave some cake to me, so i could tease everyone on the bus... it is so delicious!

so, we are actually heading to Heidi-land today and staying one more night in Switzerland... then we are off to France. wishing you were all with me to enjoy the sights and the people... it is fabulous!!!

what a trip...

so i am still in europe... trying to type on a german keyboard... a little different. we are having so much fun and doing so much! i havent really had internet access nor the time to get on to write... but i have a few minutes today, so i wanted to give you all a quick run down of what we have been doing...

we landed in Rome on Saturday, July 5th... we literally got off the plane, boarded our bus and headed to the Coliseum and the Roman Forum. Both were beautiful, amazing, and unbelievable... but we were all exhausted! we ate dinner in a cute little restaurant in some hidden street in Rome and then headed to our hotel. we all crashed that night! we started the next day bright and early... headed to city center and had a scavengar hunt of sorts... which actually gave us time to see the city a bit more. The next day we went to Vatican City. It was awesome! the Sistine Chapel and St. Peters Basilica were sights that i cant even describe. being at the Vatican was such an experience... we even got to go inside the city (where no other tourists go) because we were lucky enough to have a question and answer type of session with a priest.

we then headed to Tuscany... the first stop was Florence. we saw DAVID.. and yes it was a sight to see... so much history! we toured the city a bit and had some free time to wander on our own. the next day we continued our tour of Tuscany and headed to Jesolo to stay. we were right on the beach at the Adriactic Sea. i will have to tell you about the hotel later, but running on the beach was refreshing. we left early one morning to tour Pisa. that town quickly became my favorite in Italy, much calmer and more relaxed. and after Pisa we had time to enjoy the beach again at Jesolo. the next day we headed to Venice by boat of course. WOW! what an amazing history and city.

the food in Italy was so filling... each place we stopped we had a four course meal and we rolling out the doors.

we departed Italy and entered Austria... our mouths were open wide. it is absolutely beautiful! we climbed the mountains and enjoyed an authentic meal on a farm and old mill... and even learned to dance with an accordian! we then descended from the mountain and entered a small town... where we enjoyed a Medieval dinner at a castle! so many funny stories about that. that night we stayed in another town... after playing medieval games and making stone charms. we stayed in tents, had a bon fire and roasted smurf marshmallows... too much fun!

we headed to Vienna (Wein) and stayed at the most awesome hotel ever! we enjoyed a great dinner, had a discussion with a concentration camp survivor, and went to a concert in Sisi Castle. the night was funfilled.. but we were starving at 10:30 at night... so we stopped at an Austrian McDonalds :) after Vienna we headed to Salzburg... were the weather changed... it was rainy and cold. but we still enjoyed our tour of the salt mines, the celtic village, and Salzburg itself. unfortunately we didnt get to take a ride in a bobsled because of the weather.

yesterday, we spent most of the day on the bus... traveling to Bern, Switzerland. we are all split up into home-stay families. i am staying with Daniela. she is really sweet and promises to show me the sights in Bern. we are heading to Interlaken this afternoon because the weather is so nice.

i, of course, left gaps in all that we have done and experienced... but i will have tons of pictures and stories for you all upon my return. I LOVE EUROPE!!!

Look out EUROPE....

I am leaving for Europe tomorrow, in the AM. A mix of emotions and fears are overwhelming me right now--- mostly I am excited though!

We fly in to Rome! How exciting is that!?! Our trip truly begins the moment we arrive.... check it out by clicking on the title of this post.

Girl Time....

It was so great spending some time with "the girls" this past week! We laughed, cried, fought, relaxed, and shared.... great fun!



It is going to be really tough to say goodbye.... definitely not looking forward to it... very sad.