¡Barcelona!

This past weekend, Jeannie, a friend from school, and I decided to take advantage of our long weekend and head to Barcelona! The trip started off with us sprinting through the airport to barely make our plane due to our delayed bus to the airport! We arrived in Barcelona and and continued our streak of bad luck in terms of transportation. We got on the bus going in the wrong direction. Unlike the US, in Barcelona the buses are extremely confusing and the even if the number is the same (i.e. bus #59) the direction is more important because they do not have the same stops. After about an hour of on the bus we realized something was wrong. The bus driver was extremely helpful and realized what we did so he escorted us to the correct bus in order for us to reach our hotel.

With the afternoon ahead of us we headed to Parc Guell. Parc Guell was designed by Antoni Gaudi and built in the early 1900s. Sadly, one of the two main buildings was under construction and therefore covered in scaffolding so we couldn't really see it. However, the parc entrance was still beautiful and we were able to see the mosaic covered benches, the mosaic salamander "el drac" and the building's twisting architecture! After we went to see the Sagrada Familia, also designed by Gaudi. The church is still under construction and is expected to be finished in 2026. The inside of the church was unlike anything I've ever seen!

Overlooking Parc Guell

Inside the Sagrada Familia

Thanksgiving dinner consisted of sangria and tapas at a popular restaurant. The meal was not our favorite, but we were glad we experienced some typical Spanish food. Thursday was shopping night out so all the stores were open late so the streets were packed! We ended up at a Hotel rooftop bar that was holding an event for the night, we may or may not have crashed it...

Tapas and Sangria!

Enjoying the view!

Friday we set out to explore the city. We stumbled upon Cornelia and Co. a restaurant on Carrer de Valencia and had an amazing breakfast! (the restaurant was so good we returned Saturday for breakfast and lunch!) We continued to Passeig de Gracia and Las Ramblas until we hit the pier. The day was perfect. We wandered in and out of shops having our own little Black Friday while taking in the sites! We saw Casa Batllo, another Gaudi design and La Boqueria, a public market with stalls filled with meat, fresh fish, fresh squeezed juice, chocolates and more! We ended the night with dinner at Sesamo, an amazing vegetarian restaurant, that gave us a a seven course tasting menu and pumpkin pie for desert (a little belated Thanksgiving)! After, we had drinks at the rooftop bar of The W overlooking the water and the city.

Inside La Boqueria

Saturday was more relaxed, after breakfast we headed to Camp Nou. We ended up not going inside due to the fact that they were charging an obscene amount to tour the stadium. FC Barcelona was away playing in Russia, so we sadly couldn't take in a game. We went back to Cornelia's for a late lunch and some apple pie (some more American fall dessert!) Tired, we stumbled upon a wine bar to complete our day!

Outside of Camp Nou

The trip was a lot of fun and Barcelona was a great city. The weather was beautiful and sunny all weekend which was a nice reprieve from the rain here in Lugano. If it was just  a few degrees warmer, we would have been on the beach! Jeannie and I returned to Lugano Sunday morning and now face the growing amount of work that needs to be done in the next three weeks!

Let's Talk Turkey!

Happy early Thanksgiving!! Thanksgiving is my ABSOLUTE favorite holiday. I love everything about it: being with family, helping my mom cook eating all of her delicious food, family football games, cousin pictures, etc. etc! (Side note: I spent many hours perched on the kitchen island after school chatting away with my mom watching her cook dinner. I have her to credit for my love of good food and the ability to cook.) We always have Thanksgiving at my house with my mom's entire family and guests. It usually ends up being around 30 people and this year does not disappoint!

Thanksgiving dinner table a few years ago

I won't be in Lugano on Thanksgiving and therefore will miss my friend's Thanksgiving dinner. I decided I still needed a little bit of Thanksgiving anyway so I decided to make pie. My mom sent me some Libby's pumpkin (one can for the pie and another for options like pumpkin oatmeal, which I am really excited to try next week), necessary spices and Nana's famous Pumpkin Pie recipe.

Surprisingly, Switzerland does not sell many baking ingredients like brown sugar, baking powder baking soda etc. Luckily, the only ingredient I was lacking for this recipe was brown sugar. I ended up attempting to make my own with white sugar and molasses, but due to the fact I don't have a mixer or blender it didn't really take on the brown sugar look...however, the proportions were correct so I threw caution to the wind and used it anyway. After a little over an hour of baking the pies were done.
My room now smells a little like Thanksgiving and I am really enjoying it. Tomorrow I'll bring the pie up to class so we can all have a little bit of home!

Finished Pumpkin Pie!

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving! And in the spirit of Thanksgiving a little list with a few things I am thankful for :)

• A loving family
• Amazing friends
• My health
• My freedoms 
• My life
• The ability to travel and explore
• The Fall season & all things "fall"
• Good food & fine wine
• The Adirondacks (especially the escape & beauty it provides)
• Skype/iMessage (to easily keep in touch!)
• Coffee
• Colgate
• Photos & scrapbooks
• Laughter
• Fireplaces

Zurich

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you to all who serve and keep our country safe!

Yesterday, Shannon, a friend from school, and I decided to go on a day trip to Zurich. With the craziness of our classes last week and the beginning of the end approaching (of the semester that is!) we took a much needed school/work break and hopped on an early morning train! 

Zurich, located in the German section, is the largest city in Switzerland. It is a leading global city and Switzerland's main commercial hub. It is one of the world's largest financial centers and home to many Research & Development centers for many international companies.

When we arrived we headed down Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich's main street and one of the most expensive shopping streets in Europe. As we walked down the street toward the lake we stumbled upon a mini market, with three men playing the alphorn, a traditional Swiss instrument. Originally, they were used in the mountains as a means of communication between fellow herdsmen and the town and were also used as a way to call the cattle.

Alphorn

After, we went to see the Grossmünster, better known as Zwingli's Church. This is the site of the origins of the Swiss Reformation and where Zwingli would preach about his idea's on reforming the church. When we entered there was an orchestra concert going on so we sat and listened for a while. 

Orchestra Concert in Grossmünster

We then saw the "largest Church Clock Face in Europe..." The clock, located on the Steeple of St. Peter has a diameter of 8.7 meters. The current church was built in 1706 as the first church built under Protestant rule. The inside of the church was not what we were expecting at all, it was completely white with curtains, chandeliers and no stained glass windows!

St. Peter's Steeple

We had a traditional German lunch, which was really delicious and a nice change from the all Italian options we have here. The portions were huge and I was completely filled until much later that night. We then continued to meander around the city for a while, stopped for coffee and then decided to call it a day. Zurich was a good escape from Lugano, it was nice to see more of Switzerland and be able to hang out without the looming amounts of work over our heads!

All Dressed Up And Ready To Go!

CONGRATULATIONS JAMES & TERESA!!

James, Me, Teresa

This past weekend my brother tied the knot and I could not be happier for the both of them! 

Thursday I made my way home from Milan to Newark on the first flight out after Sandy! I was so nervous that I wouldn't be able to make it home I couldn't sleep two days before my departure date. I was ecstatic when my plane took off, and even happier when I landed! My first stop was Starbucks to get a large coffee in a to-go cup- something I have been missing since I've been gone!

Friday my parents and I headed up to Cooperstown for last minute wedding preparations. It was so good to see both families and have everyone together, especially since I haven't seen everyone since this past summer.

Saturday night was the Rehearsal dinner at the baseball hall of fame and it was a grand slam! At the beginning of the evening I met Ichiro Suzuki who was there for a tour. He gave my little cousins some autographs and they were beaming ear to ear the entire night. Playing off the location we had baseball themed appetizers (pretzels, pigs in a blanket, french fries) and desserts (Boston cream cupcakes and, root beer floats and milkshakes). Since I won't be home for Thanksgiving it was so nice to see my entire family as well!

Aunt Nancy & I at the Rehearsal Dinner

Sunday was a whirlwind of activity! Teresa gave all the bridesmaids these awesome fuzzy animal slippers which we wore all day and decided to bring with us to the reception as well. Mine are pigs and I have them at home and cannot wait to wear them again...

During the morning we had our hair and makeup done and before we knew it, it was time to get ready for the ceremony! Teresa obviously looked absolutely stunning and James was beaming when she walked down the aisle! The ceremony was beautiful and ended with the Marine Corp Sword Ceremony. (It snowed as they were leaving the church allowing for an amazing photo op and then stopped shortly after!) The reception was held at the Otesaga and I don't think anyone sat for long. The dance floor was packed the entire evening!

I cannot be happier that Teresa is now my sister and am looking forward to the many years ahead. Congratulations you two! I love you both so much and can't imagine life without both of you!