Starting Off The Holiday Season With A Bang!

The first Art Walk of the Holiday season takes off tomorrow at 5:30 in downtown St. Augustine. This event is a self-guided tour of the beautiful scenery of downtown St. Augustine, as well as the amazing artists that dwell in the heart St. Augustine. This event is a great time to spend with family and friends to stroll along the lit ancient streets to enjoy the beauty of art. 

There will be free parking offered at any participating AGOSA art galleries. Being a local of St. Augustine we can easily forget about these amazing events that take place in our city. We have the chance to partake in refreshments, live music and new exhibits! These events take place every first Friday of the month. So do not hesitate to get up and get out to enjoy the beautiful city of St. Augustine and what it offers!

Most Exciting Trip Of My Life!

Fun Photos Of My Trip!

Palace of Versailles

History of Versailles

The Beauty of Versailles

Imagine the most beautiful gardens, with angelic fountains surrounded by statues, outrageous paintings hundreds and hundreds years old, incredible and lavish rooms filled with the most expensive furniture and then cover it in gold and you have Versailles. Versailles was the home of the Royal French family. 

The day we visited Versailles I was very eager to see the palace because I had studied it in previous classes and I instantly fell in love with the history and the art. As we walked through the palace each and every room became more and more lavish and outrageous! There was gold moldings, gold furniture, gold emblems, just gold everywhere! I was astonished to pace around in awe, knowing the royal family, including Marie Antoinette, once lived here. When we came upon the hall of mirrors I was stopped in my tracks. In all honesty I started to tear up. It was miraculous. The chandeliers, the mirrors, the gold and the statues were outstanding. Just knowing that this was where Marie Antoinette took my breath away.  

What really made my jaw drop was also hearing the history behind the palace. At this time in history the country of France was starving to death, however their ‘leaders’ the royal family were living as though they owned the entire world! This is where the famous words were spoken, “let them eat cake.” 

I found myself strolling in the Versailles gardens unaccompanied, yet again. This truly made me realize how incredibly romantic the country of France was. I realized the next time I come I will definitely bring my future husband. The gardens of Versailles were spectacularly manicured where not one thing was out of place. I was taken aback by the amazing fountains and the beautiful flowers.

In the center of the gardens was a small lake where everyone was able to rent a row boat. A few of my friends and I got a boat and ventured out onto the small lake. However, none of us had ever rowed a boat before, so needless to say it was interesting. However, we ended up getting the hang of it and we had a blast! Once this day was over I realized how lucky I was to be able to go on this trip and to see all the beautiful things the world has to offer. This trip ultimately inspired me to further pursue my dreams of traveling. Next stop Italy <3

Romantic Night with the Eiffel Tower... or not.

There are days I wish I could go back to Europe and escape from the terrors of college and the life I lead. Visiting England and France was a great escape and I recommend everyone venturing out to see the world and what it offers. 

One of my favorite visits in France was to the Eiffel tower. It was a miraculous view! 

 

Our first night in Paris we were taken to the Eiffel tower to ride a boat tour around the city. I was with my friend Colby and her boyfriend Joey. Of course, I had no person of interest to join me on this lovely and romantic boating trip. As we were paraded under the bridges and through the coves we passed the Notre Dame Cathedral and numerous couples having romantic, candlelight dinners on the riverside. Then we approached another bridge, but this was a special bridge, the most romantic bridge in Paris. Well isn’t this just darling. As we came closer, the tour guide proceeded to tell us if lovers kiss under the bridge then it will bring them eternal happiness. Then she went on to explain that if we did not have said lover (me!) then just make a wish under the bridge and love will come your way. Well, that lady was wrong. 

 

Anyway, we ended the tour back at the Eiffel tower to see it go up in sparkling lights. It was beyond gorgeous. Definitely a moment to spend with a significant other, however, I spent it with the drooling old man sleeping on the hand rail. Awesome.

Reunited!

While I was in England I set up a time to meet up with my brother who lives in England. Tyler, my brother, lives in Tadley which is an hour and a half outside of London. Tyler and I have the same dad and different moms. His mom, or should I say mum, is from England, so that is why Tyler was raised there. He is 2 years older than I am, so whenever we see each other it is always fun because of the closeness in age. 

He and his other sister Loren, who I am not related to, took the train into London and stayed at the same hotel our group was staying in, the Premier Inn in Hanger Lane. I was so happy to see them I cried. At this point I had not seen him in almost two years. I was beyond excited to be with him again. At this point we visited in the hotel bar and had a few drinks to get reacquainted. 

Luckily that night was a “free” night so Tyler, Loren and I took the tube into the city to go to a few pubs to watch the football match (soccer) and have a few pints. Tyler took us to an old antique looking pub. It was so beautiful! The walls were a glossy wood and the ceilings had amazing hand painted murals that looked like something Michelangelo created.

 We spent more time talking and catching up while I watched one of my first football matches. This was such an unbelievable night. I was in an authentic pub in London with my brother that I have not seen in so long, sharing drinks and watching a match with a crowd of Londoners. This was easily one of the best nights I have ever had.