Paris: Très jolie!

It's been a while since I've posted, and since I'm heading to Barcelona on Friday (^__^), I thought I should probably post my entry about Paris.

Last month, I went to Paris for the first time and it was sooo amazing! In order to get the biggest bang for our buck, the girls and I decided to book our trip through a company called UK Study Tours. This company offers low-cost trips for students to destinations like Paris, Amsterdam, etc. for around $230-250 which includes travel, lodging, and guided tours. I definitely recommend using the company to book a trip if you're ever in the UK and want to take a weekend trip to a nearby country.

Anyway, upon arrival in the city at about 8:00 AM local time, we dropped our bags off at the hotel, grabbed breakfast quickly, and hit the ground running. Within minutes, we were on the Metro headed to the heart of the city where we began our tour. First, the tour guide started us off on the Champs Elysees, the longest avenue in Paris, near the Ferris Wheel of Paris and the Obelisk. From there we walked to the "petit" Arc de Triomphe, the Inverted Pyramid located in the Louvre shopping mall in front of the world-famous Louvre Museum, and later the River Seine. We took a boat tour on the River Seine which allowed us to see a lot in a little bit of time. From the river, we were able to see the Eiffel Tower, the Love Bridge, the original Statue of Liberty, the Alexander III Bridge, the Louvre Museum, and much more.

After the river boat tour, the tour guide left us and we were on our own for a few hours to explore the city. Being in Paris was such an out-of-body type experience for me. Never before had I been in a country where I neither spoke nor understood the language! Besides the basics-- "bonjour", "au revoir", "merci", and "parlez-vous anglais?" (Can you speak English?)-- I practically knew nothing. I found myself just staring at people when they spoke French because I just couldn't grasp my mind around the fact that I wasn't able to understand anything that they were saying! Luckily though, we were able to find people who spoke some level of English whenever we needed assistance.

That afternoon, we walked to the Notre Dame, but decided not to go inside because the line was so long. Having worked up an appetite from walking and wanting to warm up, we stopped in a little cafe near Notre Dame to grab a bite to eat and un chocolat (a hot chocolate). Sitting in the cafe, wearing my beret, and sipping from a mug of hot chocolate, I definitely felt I was channeling my inner Carrie Bradshaw (see the "American Girl in Paris" episodes of Sex & the City if you're clueless). Although we planned to rent bikes and ride around the city, having no knowledge of either the French language or the streets of Paris, we couldn't figure out where we were, so we decided against renting the bikes and instead continued walking. From there, we walked to the other end of the the Champs Elysees in search of some macarons (the best pastry ever!), to check out the shopping, and to see the larger Arc de Triomph.

That night after dinner and taking a quick rest break at the hotel, we decided to check out Parisian nightlife. Having a Spelman-Morehouse connection in Paris (you know how global and well-traveled we are), K and I met up with a friend of mine who is currently studying in Paris. The bar was in the Moulin Rouge-area of Paris which reminded me New York City. There were drunk people everywhere, hanging out of bars, taxis, you name it. The area was so lively and diverse and not to mention, I got to see the Moulin Rouge! 

The next day before heading back to Oxford, we visited the Eiffel Tower and Versailles. Although the Eiffel Tower is the "cliche" Parisian tourist attraction, it was still the site I wanted to see the most while in Paris. We took the elevator to the second floor and because I'm scared of heights, I was pretty much dying inside the entire ride up. The elevators are huge with glass floor-to-ceiling windows, an exposed system of pulleys and cables, and at least 30 people inside-- not my thing. Once we finally got off the elevator, the view was BEAUTIFUL. I could practically see all of Paris around me. Definitely one of the best memories I have ever made. 

The Palace of Versailles was unforgettable as well, as it was HUMONGOUS and the single most gaudy structure I have ever seen. An entire hallway lined with mirrors, gold chandeliers, countless statutes, gold-plated door handles, feathered adornments, corner-to-corner murals on the ceilings, etc. The French royal family was definitely out of control. Touring the palace, it was pretty evident why the French people stormed the palace and overthrew the royal family.

All in all, Paris was an amazing and unforgettable experience. Just being able to observe the architecture, the people, and the culture reminded me of how blessed I am. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am so grateful that it was afforded to me.

Anyway, the next stops aboard the European Adventure Train are Barcelona and Mallorca, Spain! Estoy muy emocionada para viajar al país donde se originó el idioma español!

Stay tuned! =)

On the Love Bridge over the River Seine 

Le petit Arc de Triomphe

The Ferris Wheel of Paris and the Obelisk 

Map of the Paris Metro

The Famous Avenue des Champs Elysees

Me, in front of the Eiffel Tower

Day trip to Bath

Hey guys!

Yesterday we took a day trip to Bath, England to tour the Ancient Roman bath houses. Built between 60-70 AD, these houses were used by wealthy Romans as a center for spiritual retreat, leisure, and sport. The waters in the houses are some of the only natural springs in the British Isles. The self-guided walking tour was pretty lengthy, but definitely worth the trip if you ever find yourself in England and wanting to explore some history.

After lunch at a local pub-- I now HATE British fish and chips, by the way-- we ventured over to the Fashion Museum. Another self-guided tour, we walked through the evolution of women's fashion from dainty nightgown-like gowns, to corsets and full hoop skirts, to skin-baring ensembles.  My favorite part of the museum was trying on Victorian fashions. The ensemble that I tried on was so fetch, by the way. (The museum also featured a replica of J. Lo's infamous green Versace gown-- STILL BAD! LOVE IT).

The last stop on our trip was to the Therma Spa Bath Houses. The spa is the only one in Bath with access to the ancient springs which fill the baths and heat up the steam rooms. We paid for a two hour pass to two different heated baths and five different steam rooms. My favorite bath was located on the roof overlooking the beautiful scenery of the city of Bath which was gorgeous in the nighttime sky. Although it was cold outside, the water in the bath was heated to about 90 degrees Fahrenheit so it was enjoyable. The admission for two hours was pretty expensive, £26, but in my opinion worth the price for the experience. Again, if you ever travel to Bath, be sure to stop by the spa before you leave. And note that because of the city's popularity, the spa is also popular, so the the waiting time for entry to the spa can be pretty lengthy.

Take a look at some of the sights from our trip below!

In the ancient Roman bath house  

In the rooftop bath in the Therma Spa in Bath, England

Modeling Victorian fashion

My favorite ensemble in the Fashion Museum. Love mixed prints 

Trains, planes, and such. The life of a jetsetter.

A park in Bath

Bath Abbey

View of the main bath from the top floor

Beside the main bath

Roman pottery 

Roman coffin

Mosaic floor tiles

Remains of the sacred temple

The overflow system that the Romans constructed to manage the water running through the baths

View of the city from atop a hill

Gorgeous homes built around a central point and modeled after Stonehenge. Referred to as the Royal Crescent 

Hoop skirts in the Fashion Museum

London Town!

This weekend I took my first trip to London and I must say that it was AMAZING! London is only about 50 miles from Oxford, so the girls and I decided to make it our first European getaway. After a short Friday morning bus ride, we found ourselves smack dab in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city. Looking at our Hopstop directions in the middle of the busy sidewalk, we must have looked like tourists so some security guards were kind enough to point us in the direction of the Victoria Coach Station Tube Stop. (The "Tube" is the equivalent of a subway system in any major city). From there, we made our way to our hotel in West Central London to figure out the game plan for the day.

Since we didn't have a native Londoner in group, we decided that the best way to see as much as possible was to take a guided tour through Old City, London. For three hours-- in the freezing cold and wind, may I add-- we took a walk through history as we toured sights such as the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, The Bank of England, London Bridge, and countless thousand-year old churches, temples, and cathedrals. Our tour guide, a fabulous man by the name of John, was great and gave us history lessons on every site that we viewed. The most interesting tidbit that I learned was that Old City (City of London Corporation) and London as we know it today are actually two separate cities within London; Old City refers specifically to the part of the city that was founded and inhabited over two millennia ago while London refers to the entire city including the areas that developed around Old City. Because the British are fond of traditions as antiquated (and arguably, pointless) as they may be, there is even a tradition that bars the Queen of England from entering Old City London without explicit permission from the Lord Mayor of London. The two must meet at the boundary line of London and City of London Corporation where the Lord Mayor then offers the Queen the Pearl Sword signifying her admittance to the city. After walking along the River Thames, the tour ended at the Tower of London, built by William the Conqueror in 1078, which houses the Crown Jewels.

One thing to know about London in the winter is that when the sun sets, it is brutally COLD! The last leg of our tour left us freezing (and starving) so we quickly made our way back to the Tube so we could grab dinner near our hotel before heading out to experience London nightlife. A Spelman sister of mine who is currently studying law in London-- yes, we are international dwellers and travelers--  recommended a nightclub in Leicester Square called The Penthouse which welcomes an "urbanchique" crowd (quoting from the website, lol). The area where the club was located reminded me a bit of Times Square with throngs of people shuffling along, but more so resembled Las Vegas with its elaborate and seemingly out-of-place buildings illuminated by neon lights. The club was pretty nice, occupying three floors overlooking a beautiful view of the city, namely Big Ben and the London Eye. The DJ catered to the mixed crowd playing everything from hip hop, to dance, to pop, to Indian hip hop (LOL!).

The next day was even colder than the previous night and although I didn't think that was possible, the wind chill reminded me otherwise. We decided to keep our sightseeing adventures short (to stave off hypothermia) and decided just to go to Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guards. Done every other day at 11:30 am, the changing of the guards is still a big to-do with the Palace band's formal procession, guards on horseback, and police on horseback directing the crowds. The policemen warned the crowd in about four different languages to watch their belongings because there were "thieves" in the crowd (such an outdated term!). The crowd outside of the gate was so large that it poured into the streets, everyone huddled to get a few pictures of the changing guards through the gates. After snapping a few pictures and taking in the grandeur of the Palace, we decided to do what we do best before heading back to Oxford-- SHOP! For all those interested in studying abroad or visiting the UK, beware: Primark (the clothing store) is the biggest thief there is!

Buckingham Palace

St. Paul's Cathedral 

The girls and I @ The Penthouse Nightclub

Greetings from the United Kingdom!

Hello, mates!

So after a 10 hour trans-Atlantic flight, a 60 minute bus ride through the English countryside, and a short cab ride later, I have finally arrived in Oxford, England, my home for the next four months! My friends and I-- I'll call them L and K-- arrived at our new residence at about 10AM English time, which is 5AM EST so you can imagine how sleepy we were, as the jet lag set in instantly.

After lugging in the 9 pieces of luggage between us, our first order of business was to check out our room and the rest of this fabulous English manor. Built around 1860, this house boasts three stories, approximately 20 bedrooms, a number of bathrooms, two kitchens, libraries, and a cute little patio complete with a plush, manicured lawn. L, K, and I are sharing a large room on the ground floor which has its own bathroom and a back door which opens to that cute little patio. (Aka the best room in the house-- lucky!).

Once we were done taking in our surroundings, we were famished so we decided to walk to the city square to grab a bite to eat. Along the way, about a mile-long walk, we were passed by a considerable amount of bicyclists. Not even in NYC have I ever seen that many people riding bikes as a mode of transportation! When we finally arrived in city center we, unfortunately, realized that most restaurants do not open until about 11:30AM for lunch. As hungry as we were, there was no way that we could have waited that long for food so we decided to grab food from a locally founded sandwich shop and cafe called "Pret A Manger." (New Yorkers, sound familiar?). On my many trips to NYC, I'd always seen this place but never had a desire to test it out. Founded by two English university students, Pret specializes in gourmet sandwiches to go with its distinguishing factor being that the sandwich are made fresh in store every few hours.

Making the mile-long trek back after lunched, the three of us literally crashed once we got back home and have slept pretty much the entire day. (The only reason I'm up now is because my body has reached nap capacity for the day). We did manage to take a break from sleep to attend an orientation to learn more about rules, regulations, and places to shop in Oxford. Because we were beat, we decided to call for delivery and opted for Indian takeout. Although the food was good, it was very pricey-- £30 for dinner for three (about $49 USD)-- so we definitely plan on cooking dinner for the remainder of the semester to save money.

Tomorrow, we will visit Stonehenge and  Avebury, two famous, ancient stone formations in England. I am super excited to see a piece of history that I read about as a child in person! I will be sure to update you all with pictures of it all as soon as I can!

Until then, cheerio, mates!

That Old Fashioned Type of Gal...: ring the alarm...(Repost)

This was written by a Spelman Sister as an open letter to her future husband. So touching and so true, I hope to feel these same emotions when my wedding day arrives...


That Old Fashioned Type of Gal...: ring the alarm...: Dear My Future Husband, It's my wedding day and I am in the worst condition. I'm nervous. I can't believe I found the love of my lif...

2L. (still hell).

Hello Lovers and Friends!

I haven't posted a new entry in quite some time, so I thought I'd take pen to paper (or fingertips to the keyboard). Since my last post, I've left the Dominican Republic for fabulous Georgia (*read lots of sarcasm here*)!

My summer in the Dominican Republic was nothing short of AMAZING and easily the best time of my life. I spent an entire summer under the Caribbean sun, meeting beautiful people, and dancing all the merengue, bachata, and salsa that my heart desired. I'll miss the tostones that I bought for breakfast for 20 pesos (about fifty cents), the nearly 100% humidity on any given day, and the sweltering heat of our un-air conditioned living room. While my internship wasn't ideal, I will truly miss the people that I worked with, namely our driver for the summer, Dany. Dany was like our Dominican dad! Leaving the island really felt like I was leaving a piece of me behind and it's safe to say that my roommates felt about the same. My roommate from NYC, the one from Romania, L and I decided that in five years we will have an InteRDom reunion trip to Punta Cana, DR to recap the good times from this past summer!

Since being back in Georgia (now for the dull part), my life has been super busy. This semester I'm taking five courses, including a civil externship. 2L year has been way busier than my first year (but thank God I made it!). Besides all that boring law stuff, a girl's still got to find time to have fun, which I always do. Specifically, my roommate and I have birthdays coming up in the next week, so this coming weekend is sure to be epic.

Although I'm still managing to enjoy myself this semester despite my schedule, I absolutely cannot wait until January! On January 3, my friend K, L, and I set sail (well, fly) to the UK where will study for five months as part of a study abroad program at my law school. It's seems so surreal that I'll be living on the other side of the world for so long, but I am so ready! The girls and I are already planning our Spring Break trip-- we're thinking Spain and maybe Morocco-- and another week long trip to Italy after the program ends. (Paris and other nearby cities will be tackled on the weekends). I should be focusing on the semester at hand, but as the months continue to fly by, I find myself thinking about it more and more.

As you can tell from reading all of this, there pretty much isn't anything going on in my life right now but school. That's probably a bad thing, but whatever. Looking forward to (FINISHING) this semester and all that it has to offer.

CIAO <3

¡Revelación!

When I tell people that I am a rising second year law school student, after congratulating me on being so brave, the first question that they usually ask me is “So what kind of law do you want to practice?” And the truth is, up until now, I had no idea. I’ve always had an idea of the areas of law in which I could see myself practicing and those that I could not. Criminal law? Not for me. Some realm of international or property law? Maybe. Day after day, I waited for some kind of sign or some realization to hit me… and that time has finally come.

This week at my internship, I worked with a lawyer, R, who is the manager of the litigation and settlements department of the company. The insurance company that I work for, being the largest in the Dominican Republic, insures many of the hotels and resorts that are located throughout the country. And where there are foreign tourists, law suits are sure to follow! I reviewed endless cases about tourists sustaining personal injuries stemming from small slips and falls to burns resulting from bar fires. Because many of the hotels and resorts have their headquarters or principal places of business in the United States-- Florida to be exact-- many of the complaints were being litigated in the United States. While this may sound boring to others, I found myself absolutely enthralled!

Complaints, answers, and motions to dismiss on the grounds of forum non conveniens?  I couldn’t get enough. Page after page, I found myself completely absorbed in reading the case details and imagining how I would begin to prepare memoranda discussing both the particulars of the cases and possible outcomes at trial. I was so excited to see abstract concepts that I had learned during my first year of law come to life.

By the end of my first day working with R, I knew that this was what I wanted to do! Working as an attorney for a firm that represents large corporations such as hotels and resorts incorporated in the United States, but with locations abroad, would allow me to combine my interests in both torts and international law. Who knew it would take traveling to the Dominican Republic for me to discover what I wanted to do following graduation!