How could I resist?

I had one month before school started back in San Francisco. My flight from Iceland took me into the heart of New York City, another very favorite city of mine. My boyfriend and I both have good friends in New York, so my first steps on US soil were very happy indeed. New York is where we left off originally to start our European adventures, so it seems only fitting that this is where they would end.

A few days later and I'm saying goodbye to my boyfriend for the thousandth time in the past year and a half of our long distance relationship, and saying goodbye to my east coast friends. Off to Michigan to visit my family!

Shortly after I arrived, my sister flew in from San Francisco...time to have one last little adventure before it's back to the grind, back to real life. My grandma, now 91 and no longer driving, had decided to give us her car. What better way to get a car from the Midwest to the west coast than a crazy road trip to go see all the little bits of America I had always wanted to see?!?!

So off we went, my sister and I, on the open road on a cross country trip. First stop was Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. Awesome!!! It is truly an amazing sight and if you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it! Next was a trip to the magnificent Yellowstone National Park, where I got to see our famous geyser, Old Faithful, in all its glory. Yellowstone blew our minds, the Grand Prismatic Spring is definitely one of the most astounding sites I have ever seen...we felt like we were on Mars! 

Mt Rusmore, South Dakota

Old Faithful! Yellowstone National Park

little sister at the Grand Prismatic Spring

beautiful Yellowstone National Park, Montana

The drive through South Dakota, Montana and Washington were uneventful, yet gorgeous, with all kinds of fun road side attractions along the way. Right up my alley!

Oh yes, all the things a road trip is supposed to be! Next stop, Vancouver, BC to see a friend I had made in Germany...and also to check out the fair city itself. We've always wanted to go there, so why not! After a quick stop in Vancouver, we headed back south for a stop in Seattle, then to visit friends in Tacoma, then breezed through Portland....

Vancouver, BC

the famous Bob's Java Hut, Tacoma, Washington

 



...and then...at long last......back to San Francisco.
6 hours before classes are about to start!!!

As always....thank you Gilman Scholarship Program!!

http://www.iie.org/en/Programs/Gilman-Scholarship-Program

How Iceland soothed my aching heart

Where to start? What to say? This will most likely be the last time I write on this blog. I'm not much of a blogger, if you can't tell by the 5 month lapse in postings here.

The last 5 months have been a complete blur. I meant to write so many times--I wanted to document each step in the process of coming back home...but time got away from me. And here it is, the beginning of a new year, 2012.

I left Germany to meet my boyfriend in Iceland. Wow, what an amazing way to take my mind off the heartache of leaving der Vaterland. Iceland was amazing, like being on the moon or in some sci fi movie. So much art and music and unique culture in that land. Truly amazing.

gorgeous Reykjavik sunset 

 Blue Lagoon geothermal spa in Grindavik

Gullfoss waterfall on  the Hvítá river   

lovely Reykjavik, Iceland

A week in Iceland is enough to make anybody feel better, especially if you take a day at the Blue Lagoon! We went camping and hiking, we saw Gullfoss the enormous waterfall and Geysir, the original geysir that all others were named after. We discovered the art and charm of Reykjavik.

And then I got ready to go home.

Once again, thank you to the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship program, for helping me to have the adventure of a lifetime!

http://www.iie.org/en/Programs/Gilman-Scholarship-Program