These are a few of my favorite things:

Ciao!

Here in my last week in Florence, I am sitting in my living room, feeling the warm breeze through the windows, listening to church bells, and soaking it all in! I have no idea if there is ever a "correct way" to truly appreciate something but i know how easy it is to take things for granted. In this past week I have caught myself saying " this is the last time we will do__, Im going to miss ____ so much," and so on. It has really hit me this last week that I have had the experiences of a lifetime in the past 4 months! I have been trying to think about things I have learned, or ways I might have changed from all of this. I think I will only be able to tell when I return home and look back. But what I can say is that everything that has come from this trip (with God's help), challenges and all has been for the better. I have grown with myself, and with God. Thank you everyone for praying for me, encouraging me, and telling me you miss me! I only wish I could share this with some of you. 

So I guess I will tell you a few of my favorite things :)

The Arno, my favorite spot in Florence. 

Laughing, dancing, impersonating, eating, laying on cold tile floors, and any other craziness in the living room of VDP. 

Fresh fruit and veggie markets, and the friends made in the meantime. 

Cramped train rides and sleeping adventures. 

Gelato....duh!

Home cooked meals. Usually rummaging through the fridge and cabinets to make any concoctions we could come up with! 

Cobble stone streets. The light reflected off of them. Stella falling on them. 

Santa Croce. Walking by this enormous beauty everyday on my way to class.

Our luxurious bathroom. Complete with a Sauna. 

Besides waking up to Paige's beautiful face every morning, this was out of our bedroom window. 

freakish traveling hours, and all the emergencies and difficulties that came with it. (Well now they are funny...)

Beautiful Hidden art throughout the entire city.

Morning Cappuccinos, I became a regular :).

My time here is up! how sad, but looking forward to seeing some of you on the 21st, and others throughout the summer!

♥ ♥

ME!

Paris/Bordeaux/San Sebastian

Hi everyone!

Sorry It has been so long since I have posted, there are things to do places to go! This spring break I traveled with Greg from Paris down to San Sebastian, Spain. We had a blast, it was one of my favorite trips of all time! It was great to have a comfort of home here with me at the "half way point" of my 4 1/2 months here. I am so lucky that I have a sibling that is also a great friend and someone I want to spend time with. I am so blessed. Here are some pictures of ourweek together, enjoy!

PARIS, FRANCE

Day at the Louvre Museum in Paris. 

Outside the Palace of Versaille. 

Our memorable/miserable sprint to the train station in the rain and wind! brrrr

First day running around in Paris.

Rented bikes and got lost!

Top of Notre Dame, awesome gargoyles! 

Greg and I found an awesome little restaurant in the middle of Paris, stone walls, great food and wine, and entertaining company.

Quasimodo is back.

BORDEAUX, FRANCE

Photo-shoot on the INCREDIBLE sand dunes in Bordeaux, France. This I believe was Greg's and my highlight of the trip. This trip here was very unplanned and last minute. We are grateful for this decision, because this was such a stunning and hidden place! These sand dunes spread for miles and when looking down the "spine" of these giant mountains, on the right is the ocean as far as the eye can see. On the left is vast plain of beautiful lush forest. It was unlike anything I have ever seen...

Finally made it to the top!

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN

Greg delicately eating Gelato, always memorable. 

We rented bikes on the first day and rode around the coast line of the city. We stopped at this fun spot for a while to watch the waves crash up onto the rocks. 

bici rent bikes, Gregs "favorite" place.

beautiful sunset!

We hiked to the top of some mountain, not sure the name. BUT a beautiful view of San Sebastian, need I say more?

One month left, stay tuned!

Emily

Venezia, Milan, Me

CIAO!

These past two weeks have been

 extremely busy! My roommates and I went to Milan for the day last weekend and I would say it was bittersweet. This cathedral you can see behind us is in the center of Milan, and of course, beautiful! This picture taken in the square was taken early morning before the crazy festivities of Carnival started. 

After walking around for a few hours taking in the rest of the not so beautiful city of Milan, we went to the ballet! The ballet was the "Coppelia Ballet". It was enchanting, entertaining, and I loved every part of it! The dancers were so graceful on pointe, the story was entertaining and the music sounded beautiful. This really made me miss being on stage and all of those years I spent devoted to dancing. But we all have to grow up sometimes and start onto our new passions. 

Which brings me to Venice and the beautiful pictures Carissa and I were able to take the weekend after. My childhood friend/sister came to "live a life in the day of Emily Spencer in Florence" (as she said it) for 10 wonderful days. We explored parts of Florence inside and out for the first week, then traveled to Venice, and the hill tops of Fiesole. 

This picture was taken at the top of Fiesole, the city of Florence is spread out behind us. 

This picture was taken in S Marco Square in Venice in front of S. Marco's Basilica with my roommate Paige, who stayed with us for a day before heading to Verona. 

This is on our gondola ride, we had a blast! We went under the bridge of sighs, our love will now last forever! (or something like that)

On the Rialto Bridge in Venice.

This is taken on a wall beside the Arno River and the Ponte Vecchio. The girls and I love to sit at this spot to eat our gelato and people watch! 

These past 2 months have been both an amazing experience as well as challenging and growing time for me. I have been a traveling fool, seeing a new place every weekend, meeting new people, trying new foods and experiencing a different lifestyle and culture. Its incredible to have the opportunity to do this and I am loving every minute of it. However something I underestimated was how difficult things can also be. It is very different to be so far away from friends and family with only skype to keep us together. In difficult times like these, I am also reminded of what I take for granted at home everyday, being overseas has given me a new perspective on so many things. 

I love the lifestyle of europeans in Italy. Life seems to be so simple, not filled with silly stresses of life that people are consumed with in the states. Time is a completely different thing over here! Enjoying life, taking in the moment, and doing it at a pace thats enjoyable seems to be a priority to most. Shops open up around 8 or 9 (yes that includes coffee shops), then the town takes a "siesta" (a rest time for about 2 hours), and they close up around 7, and go home to their families for a nice pasta dinner. Food is not made based on the speed of production and consumption, but based on a healthy lifestyle and natural flavor. Something that I think everyone can be better at is conservation. It seems as though in the states, everything is overly excessive for example: showers, expensive designer clothes, food, cars, beauty products, electricity, and so much more! I have noticed here that those things that we over consume or take for granted, they use as simple ways to to live life, not making those things the only means to make life better. 

However I do miss my soy lattes, my showers where I can shampoo without hitting my elbows on the sides of the shower, hoping in a car to get somewhere, and my grand bags of trail mix :). But most of all my friends, family, and the Christian community I always seem to take for granted. I know that God uses so many things in life to challenge us, and I believe this will be and is a great one for me. The only way we can grow is to get through those challenges right? 

I recently read a chapter in "Whiter than snow" by David Paul Tripp called hoping for a broken heart. This really stood out to me it is inspired by Psalm 51:17 "a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise". Here is a short blurb from the poem

..................

I am too 

comfortable 

with the state of things 

between 

you and me 

too relaxed 

with the nature 

of my love for you

 too able to 

minimize my need for your 

grace.

There are desires 

that take me in a 

different direction than what you have planned 

for me. 

I make decisions

based more on what 

I want 

than on what 

you will. 

So I am hoping 

for 

wise eyes 

to see through 

the cloud of self-righteousness 

and see myself

as I actually

 am.

................

I am longing 

for

a humble spirit 

that is willing 

to 

accept and confess 

what you reveal 

as you break through 

my defenses 

and show me 

to me. 

I am hoping 

for 

a broken heart.

I have been meditating on this the last week, and God has really used this to bring my focus back to him. Everyone needs a real accurate self assessment, and if we listen, God will give it to us. Sometimes what he tells me and shows me is not what I want to hear, but to take it and change these things for his glory changes me. Where religion seems so dead over here, it is easy to get in the swing of not going to church or being involved with other christians. It is too easy to get comfortable with where I am in my walk, and content in places I should not be. 

Lately through struggles but also good times, I have felt His presence keeping me strong over here when all I have to rely on is Him. Overall I am having the time of my life over here and still appreciate your prayers.

Thanks for reading these, please remember to drop a line once in a while because I am so far away and don't want to be disconnected from everyones lives! 

Emily

SIENA & SUCH

Ciao family and friends,

I finally feel like I am getting a routine in my life over here! School 3 days a week and usually traveling for the other 4, it's a tough life. This weekend, my roommate paige, a friend Mandy, and I got up early friday morning and headed to the train station. We had no idea of where we were going to travel to, but once we got there we decided to just take the next available train out, which was Siena! It is a small and beautiful town about an hour outside of Florence. When we arrived we headed towards the central part of to

wn, which is enclosed by a great medieval wall. We went out to lunch, took pictures of this "sleepy" to

wn, and soaked in the sun we had been longing for! My favorite part of the day was a tower we climbed (466 steps) to overlook the rolling hillsides of the town. It was one of the most beautiful sights I have seen, it was up there with the Swiss Alps. 

From the tower, we went to a temporary museum exhibition called "Where Madness Meets Genius". It was a collection of works from patients and artists that used their pain and suffering to communicate what they were going through. It was interesting, however most of the depressing and dark images I saw stayed with me for the next few days. On the bright side, it was a great and adventurous day!

This week I am back to classes, where quizzes and projects loom. But one thing I am looking forward to, is my new Portrait and Documentary photography project just assigned. I really enjoy the small class of 5 because it is much more personal and I feel that I have the freedom I want, but quality attention and direction. In the next two weeks I am creating a theme of street artists in Florence. I will be shooting pictures of them at night, and then bringing them into the studio for some portrait work. It is a little risky I feel to ask them to come to our studio, but I was told the risk is necessary, yikes. 

But as the weeks go on and more adventures around Europe take place, while having a blast, I am friend sick. I'm experiencing great and new things, but it's not the same to not be able to share it with the ones I love! I do appreciate being able to skype to see your cute faces, new hair cuts, hear stories, and send goofy videos ;). So to all of my friends reading this, (especially my 5 frogs ;) ) I miss you terribly and wish you were here with me! You are all on my mind, and I am glad to have fun memories to think back on when we are all separated! 

Next up: Milan

♥ Emily

*

Below my overview of Vienna is a new post from amsterdam, I am sorry its out of order. I am still getting used to this whole blogging thing! And there will be more stories to come soon!

Ciao

Emily

amsterdam video

VIENNA!

Vienna! 

This last weekend, we traveled by a night train to Vienna, Austria. Luckily most of my roommates came, so I was in great company too! Our trip was full of Viennese food, visits of Grand Palaces and museums, SNOW, and the ballet! Our guide and valentines day date, Francesco, took us around the city to see many beautiful sights. On saturday February 14th (my favorite day of the trip), we started out at Schonbrunn Palace, went to the Belvedre museum, and ended our day at the ballet, and had a great dinner at Sacher (famous in Vienna for the Sacher cake, a rich dark chocolate dessert). The Belvedre was the most beautiful 

museum I have seen this far. Out of the windows is a view of a lavish garden with a backdrop of all of the city of Vienna. There we had the privilege of seeing "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimpt, and many other beautiful paintings. This is also where I discovered my new favorite artist, Alphonse Mucha! An artist in the 1890's who created color lithographs that were intended as advertisements and then became beautiful works of art. My favorite collection was of his "posters". I really enjoyed these because of the way he portrays women, the beautiful colors, and the vintage feeling they create (www.muchafoundation.org). We then had the afternoon to ourselves to explore the city and get ready for our night out. 

Sorry it's a very brief summary of our fun trip, but below is a taste of what our weekend was like! Paige my roommate is documenting our trips by video.

Ciao!

Emily

Amsterdam Adventures

Amsterdam, a weekend full of interesting adventures. Where to begin! 

Our trip began on Friday morning at 3am. A "reliable" cab was supposed to pick us up to take us to our 

bus that would then take us to the airport and finally our destination, Amsterdam. However we had a few setbacks... The cab almost didnt make it to pick us up, and paige begged her way onto the bus for the last seat!

When we arrive after a long journey and no sleep our friend Fernando picks us up to go and get settled in his flat that over looks the city. We started our day by renting bikes for 7 euro and explored the city! We first went to the Anne Frank museum, what an 

experience. It was so interesting to be standing in her house where she and her family were in hiding for almost 2 years, it was very powerful. After a long day, Fernando made us dinner and we got to hang out with the "boyesh" (boys) for a night.

A night on the town.

Our sweet rides.

 

Thought I would document the best goat cheese sandwich I have had in my entire life. That face is pure joy.

On our second day, we headed back into town for lunch and the Van Gogh museum! Again we explored the city, admiring the beautiful architecture and interesting culture. The city reminds me of an upscale Venice. It is in area small, but the buildings are grand and industrial however they still have a certain victorian charm about them. The city is very clean, something they take pride in especially their canal water. The three of us then ended our day by returning the favor to "Nando" and making the "boyesh" dinner. It has been an experience thus far in shopping at the grocery store and not being able to read the language its written in! It is

 especially challenging with the food allergy. However if I do say so myself, we came up with a nice pasta concoction, and pear dessert. 

Outside our yummy sandwich shop.

cooking the boyesh dinner.

On our last day the girls headed to the city once again. The first of our day was spent inside a popular 7 floor, department store with an amazing brunch on the top level. Of course it was easy for us to spend a while in there! But we had to brave the cold and explore more of the city while we had the chance. The highlight of my trip was definitely this last night where we took a canal night cruise that toured the city from the water. It was beautiful at night and from a view that many do not get to see. To complete our trip, we had to see the famous Red Light District. At first it was funny and very crazy. But then after seeing the prostitutes posing in windows selling themselves as a product for the next interested customer I realized it was not funny at all but, a very sad and more than unfulfilling lifestyle. How blessed am I that I have the choice not to resort to a job like those in the Red Light. 

photo from our canal boat.

At the brunch on top of Bijenkorf department store.

Our travel on the way home was just as interesting as on the way there! We flew on a small BOUNCY CRAZY plane ride to Genova airport because of the fog in Pisa, we were unable to land. So we took a bus ride to Pisa with about 50 male "flame throwers" it was an..... experience. Finally 12 hours later we made it home safe!

I am so glad that I got to experience Amsterdam and all of its unique qualities and people! And also be able to tell others that the city believe it or not is not just drugs and sex, but full of history and beautiful architecture. All in all, a fantastic weekend.

Next stop: Vienna, Austria

Buonasera! 

Emily

(Photos by: Paige Hansen)