Last Week in Florence!!

Hey guys! Just wanted to type up a quick update, I've been really busy lately. Last week I didn't do a whole lot. I went out for "cinque di maggio" (cinco de mayo) with some friends and had a good time, but nightlife starts so late here we really celebrated "sei (6) di maggio". I worked a lot on projects last week, since my design classes ended. And on Friday, Han and I headed out to Paris again! Yay! We had both already been there once, but this time the sole purpose was to go see Monet's Garden. (When mom was here, the gardens weren't open yet.) We flew in on Friday night and when we asked the receptionist at our hostel the best way to get there, she looked for trains and found out there were NONE listed online. So they told us to go to the train station and ask there. We got up early on Saturday morning and went to the train station, only to find out that Saturday was the one day they decided to work on the tracks! WTH!?! If we wanted to get there, we would have to take a train to a bus, to another train, with less than 10 minutes each connection time, and the only train that came back wouldn't get us back to paris until midnight! So we decided to go on a bus tour with ParisVision, that mom and I had used last time. Luckily, they had seats left, we paid a little more than we wanted to but hey! WE MADE IT!Everyone, I'd like you to meet Monet's Garden, who I've dreamed of meeting since I was 8 years old. Talk about Deja Vu!
Yes he lived in a pink house, and just look at the cute old people! We were the youngest on our tour by at least 20 years I'd say! But Han and I can act like old people really well... except when it comes to sticking to a schedule, apparently most older people show up early to a scheduled bus departure. We were ON TIME but they were waiting for us :(
This is me with the waterlily pond behind me, and the purple flowers you see in the background is the japanese bridge!

AND.... I took someone with me! Mama Dacia was really bummed that she couldn't take me to Monet's Garden as she always promised, so Flat Mama Dacia hung out in my pocket all day! (I know she's not as pretty as Flat Nama or the Flat Sistas or the Flat Cousins, but she's hand drawn with love!)

And... Most of you may not know this, but Monet's Garden has a cartoon character, and her name is Linnea. I still have my Linnea dolls and books from when I was 7 or 8 that Grandma Sally and Aunt Deb introduced me to. SO I decided to dress like her for my big day! (except I didn't have a white jumper, so I just switched it up a bit, but I wore the leggings!) Han thought I was funny...

It was such an awesome trip. Fulfilling a 13 year long dream was so amazing! Because we took the bus trip, Han and I also had the morning to go to Sacred Heart (a church) and the Montemartre cemetary that was literally a block and a half away from the hotel mom and I stayed in. Jeni told us that the cemetaries are cool, but we never got time, and I'm so glad we went cuz it was sweet! I also LOVE the neighborhoods of Montemartre. So great. I took plenty more pictures, so I'll show you all when I get home... IN FIVE DAYS!

I can't believe its my last week in Florence! I have so much I want to do still and so little time to do it! Just one final left on Thursday, and a project due for that class as well, and then I come home! Can't wait to see everyone, counting down the days!!!