Looking Forward to a "Break"

While my students go home for a break from their studies, I'm taking advantage of a lengthy break where I don't have to teach!  Seeing as how I'm traveling non-stop for three weeks, I hesitate to call this a break!  I'll probably be more tired at the end of it than today!

So what kind of stories and photos do you have to look forward to?  Here's a quick rundown of the different cities I'll be visiting!

#1

Budapest, Hungary.  I'm taking a short stop in Budapest because it saves a TON of time (5 hours of flying and and a 3 hour train ride vs. a 15 hour train ride).  Here, I've reserved some time in the infamous baths AND a 40 minute massage...which I am quite looking forward to

#2

Bratislava, Slovakia.  Here I'm meeting up with a priest from my church in Sterling Heights.  His family lives about an hour away from the city so I'll spend two nights with them, soaking in the Slovakian family life and seeing a ton of castles!

#3

Vienna, Austria.  A recommendation (more like...go here before you die) from a friend and mentor in the political philosophy department.  I'll be spending 2 1/2 days seeing beautiful concert halls, libraries, and other places intellectuals of the 19th and 20th century frequented.  It's also full of museums of all types which I'll do my best to hit up!

#4

Paris, France.  For four nights, I'll be dazzled by the City of Lights!  I'm mostly excited to meet up with some conservative French students that I met in D.C. this summer.  They've promised a truly Parisian experience, but I'll also hit up the important sights---Eiffel Tower, the Seine, Sacre Coeur, and of course Mass in Notre Dame.

#5

Marrakesh, Morocco. Possibly the highlight of my trip with the promise of warmer weather, camel rides, and the Sahara Desert!  I'll be meeting up with three other Fulbrighters in the city and we'll proceed to explore northern Africa.  This is possibly the most exciting part of my trip because it's a new continent!

#6

London, England.  I'm mostly going to London to get to Oxford later on, but it's always seems to be a bit strange to me that I've lived in Europe for over a year altogether now and never set foot in the UK.  It'll be cool to say I've seen Westminster and Big Ben though!

 #7

Oxford, England.  I'm visiting my psuedo-sister Anna in Oxford where she's been studying all year.  With only one full day in the city, I'll be booking it around to see some of the highlights like Christ Church where Harry Potter was filmed.  But, the BEST part about Oxford is that my best friend, Theresa, will be arriving in Europe while I'm here!

#8

Canterbury, England.  Of the famed Canterbury Tales, I'm going on a road trip with my BESTEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!  Along with her sister and brother in law, we'll spend a day and a half exploring the magical land of Canterbury.

#9

Fatima, Portugal.  The last bit of my journey will find spiritual solace in a pilgrimage with Theresa and Lissi to one of the sites of the Catholic Church's Marian apparition.  We'll spend three nights hanging out in a convent's guesthouse, praying, and enjoying each other's company.  I'm also having my first car rental experience ever in Portugal, so it's probably good that we're going on a pilgrimage!!