Empire State of Mind

"Now you're in New York, These streets will make you feel brand new, Big lights will inspire you, Hear it for New York, New York, New York!"...you know the rest, at least I hope you do. You know that Alicia Keys, Jay-Z song that makes you really want to go there when it comes on the radio, or rather when it came on the radio. 
So, why am writing about New York? Am I in the Big Apple for New Year's Eve...no, I sure wish I was though! I'm writing about it because I will be going there next week for 3 days and 2 nights. 
I LOVE New York City, ever since I was little I have loved that city. Definitely one of my favorites. I have always wanted to live there when I grew up and maybe I will after I experience some more of the world and live in Australia for a while. We will see where my plane tickets and mind take me! 
There is so much to do today...including a special New Year's Eve dedicated post later this afternoon.

To Amsterdam We Will Go!

We just added a new destination to the May-June 2013 travels: Amsterdam, Netherlands...so scratch what I said before about going there in March.

Have any of you been to Amsterdam? How did you like it and what would you recommend doing there?

The countdown to May-June 2013 begins...but I'm excited for the in between's too!

Travel on wanderlusters!

The Second-to-Last Day of 2012

The days are flying by and right when I'm in bed each night I think "Ah I need to post on the blog n....tomorrow..." then tomorrow comes and well, you get it.

But I am posting now in the spare few minutes I have to myself since being home for some of winter break. I'm so excited to be going back already, mostly because my good friend (from high-school in America) is coming to stay with me for a few days in Prague and I get to show him around. Also, because all the fun travels of 2013 will be kick-started by I go to Rome at the end of January. Don't get me wrong, I love America- being home and all but I have the urge to travel each day that 2013 nears us.

So far, the travels set and stone planned for 2013 are: 
January- Rome, Italy
February- Berlin, Germany
March- hopefully Amsterdam, Netherlands OR Dublin, Ireland for St. Patrick's Day
end of March-April- Bangkok and Phuket Bay, Thailand
end of May-June- Budapest, Hungary; Paris, France; Barcelona, Spain then home to America for the summer.

I've been keeping my fingers crossed for a few months now because in January or February I find out if I get to go to Perth, Australia for my fall 2013 semester. My two best friends and I are all wanting to go so we've been dreaming and hoping everything works out. We will see what happens!

Hopefully I made your eyes happy with a new...long...post!

Travel on wanderlusters and happy second-to-last day of 2012! Blog you all tomorrow.

A Merry Christmas from a MIA blogger!

Wow, I have been so MIA! Only because coming back home to America to surprise everyone took a lot of time and energy.

Truly priceless the looks on my best friend's faces and everyone else's. I've always wanted to surprise people, but I would always crack...I, for the first time, didn't crack and my plan worked out perfectly.

So I'm home for the holidays...being back though makes me realize how much Prague is my, new, home and how much I miss that beautiful city. Granted, I will be back in a few short weeks but I guess it takes leaving to fully appreciate everything that city has to offer...even hard uni work/papers.

The next few weeks here will be spent with my lovely, and very missed, friends. Relaxing and watching my American TV shows is also on the list...plus tons of Chipotle burrito bowls. I think I've had 7 since I got in last Sunday. Sad, I know.

MERRY CHRISTMAS/HAPPY HOLIDAYS wanderlusters!! I am so glad I decided to start this blog this year and hope that 2013 will bring some good posts and a ton of new readers to the blog. I want to thank everyone who has read so far and has kept coming back. I promise some fun, good travels and video blogs will be coming in 2013.

One of my Christmas presents actually was a ticket to Thailand in April. SO EXCITED. I have always wanted to go to Thailand. I think that was my favorite present this year. I am so grateful, not only for that but to be surrounded by such great friends and to have been given the opportunity to start this new chapter of my life in Europe.

Here's a final Merry Christmas from my little brother and I...we celebrate Christmas on the 24th since my mother and her husband are both Czech and grew up celebrating on Christmas Eve.

How did you spend Christmas Eve/Christmas day? What did you get? 

Travel on wanderlusters!

Tragedy Strikes in Newtown

I'm sitting here writing this in tears, as a big sister to a little sister in kindergarten and a little brother in 2nd grade.

I took a nap this afternoon only to wake up to the horrific news of what happened in Newtown, CT. My heart instantly ripped into two. I cannot even imagine the devastation the families of the children and teachers killed and the whole community of Newtown. No, I am not a mother but I am a big sister who has two elementary school siblings and my heart and thoughts go out to every one affected by this tragedy.

I don't understand how someone can wake up with the urge to kill so many innocent people, let alone YOUNG CHILDREN. Why? Why, why?! For the sake of the country I grew up in and where my friends and family live, I hope this prompts change. I sincerely hope this was finally the last straw after all the shootings that occurred throughout America just this year, 2012. Watching Obama wipe the tears from his eyes, pause for a few seconds between words and say his final words really makes me hope that change will finally be made.

I cannot imagine living in fear everyday, I cannot imagine sending my child or brother and sister to school worrying about if this will happen again. I just can't. This is why change needs to be made. No parent should EVER receive a phone call that their 5-10 year old child has been shot in school, a place that is supposed to be safe, a place that gives them a future.

Again, my heart and my thoughts go out to the families and everyone affected by the Newtown school shooting this afternoon.

You Know...

Those mornings where you wake up...sick...? The WORST mornings. Yup, well that was my morning. However, I'm done with uni until February so that made this morning a little bit better. 

The whole month of October I was really miserably sick and finally got better for the month of November but looks like it's back. WOO!

Anyone else feeling under the weather? The bitter, windy cold doesn't make it any better either. Well, I'm escaping on Sunday for a while so hopefully I will get better in Norway...

It's weird thinking these are my last few days in Prague for a few weeks. I already miss it!

Travel on wanderlusters!

Spotted: Tom Cruise

On the Charles Bridge yesterday afternoon! Now where is little Suri?!

Today, on the walk to the National Library, we were stopped in our tracks when we saw they were filming a movie right outside of the library. So, of course we stopped and stared, waiting patiently for some A-list celebrity to come running in the scene. We left minutes after to the Christmas market then came back and right when we came back they were filming a scene...couldn't tell if it was Tom Cruise but it sure looked A LOT like him.

Whatever movie they are filming, they are trying to portray it being in the Netherlands, nope, it's in Prague. The fake street signs and Netherlands license plates were added to make it seem like it was in the Netherlands.

It's beaaaautiful and sunny today but I get to spend the entire, FREEZING, afternoon in the library studying for finals next week. I just looked up from typing this and realized an extremely creepy lady with a "I'm going to steal you and throw you in a cave" grin was staring at me from across the library. Okay, then.

Travel on wanderlusters!