The Delicious Italy - Time to Indulge

Italy is a place where everyone knows how to enjoy themselves. The rules here are simple: relax, enjoy the company of others, eat amazing food, and drink delicious wine.

One of my fondest memories of Italy takes place in a little area in Tuscany, just outside of Florance called Chianti. An area of rolling hills and an abundance of vegetation. This is an area famous for their wine, so if you visit this lovely city do not forget to go for a wine tasting. The wine tasting I went for was at a small restaurant where the owner was also the cook, the server, and the wine connoisseur. He cautioned us before the wine tasting saying, "It's called a wine tasting, but it's more of a wine drinking...you're going to get drunk". We tried four different types of wine: two reds (one very aged), a bubbly white (my favorite), and a dessert wine (very boozy but still good). Along with the variety of amazing wines we ate the best pesto pasta I've ever had. There was four of us from the hostel all laughing and talking and indulging. Then the very next day we all got together and made an amazing meal at our hostel outside in the warm sun. We enjoyed each other's company, the beautiful scenery, a yummy meal, and, yes, more wine.

The food you will eat in Italy is indescribable. The next place I will describe is a little pizzeria in Naples called Pizzeria Da Michele. This was created by a man named Michele, and in 1906 he created the first pizzeria. There are secrets to this incredible pizza that only the five generations of master chiefs that have worked here know. The two kinds of pizza made here are Marinara and Margaret; Marinara is just sauce on a very thin crust and Margaret is that with cheese on top. I know neither one actually sounds all that amazing but trust me, they are! This has also become a popular tourist attraction since the movie Eat Pray Love came out, because this is the exact restaurant that Julia Roberts ate at.


FreeFoto.com

Although I could go on forever about the pleasures of Italy I will just describe one more treat I indulged in, and indulged in often. Gelato, it is perhaps the most delicious variation on ice cream you will find. If you are ever in Italy do not leave before trying at least five different flavors of gelato! There is a little day trip you can do from Florence to a town called San Gimignano which is famous for the medieval feel to it. However, it also holds a famous, award-winning gelato shop on the main square. This is where you will find any gelato flavor imaginable; I had eggnog, vanilla white chocolate, and tiramisu. But, honestly, you can find a gelato shop around almost any corner in Italy.   

The Delicious Italy - Venice

"Not all who wander are lost."
        - J.R.R. Tolkien

This quote captures the way I felt about visiting this beautiful little city in Italy perfectly. My favorite destination on this trip, Venice. I fell in love with that city as soon as we stepped into it. This is a city where one can wander and wander and never become bored or feel lost. It is so authentic; there are no cars, just boats in the canals and little cobble stone streets to wander down. The streets are lined with colorful buildings, and the cutest little shops and restaurants.

Although you could be perfectly happy just wandering through the streets of this unique little city for hours on end, there are some famous sights to see. The first being St. Marks Square, this is the most popular attraction in Venice. It is where the Basilica of San Marco stands, a beautiful, huge church that is entirely made of marble. The basilica has a separate bell tower which is 323 feet tall. Another famous building in this square is Doge's Palace, a beautiful Gothic building.

Another famous sight is Rialto Bridge which crosses the Grand Canal. This is such a big attraction simply because it is the busiest bridge in Venice. Walking along it you'll see all sorts of shops and little market-style kiosks.

Don't forget to explore around Venice as well. There are many small islands surrounding this city that can be forgotten. First, there is the island Murano; this is where the famous murano glass is made. I recommend stopping in the Murano Glass Factory to watch how these works of art are created.

Another island to see is San Michele. This island is entirely a cemetery; although being there can be very sobering, it is also the most magnificent cemetery I've ever seen. There are sculptures and roses covering this island, and each headstone is a work of art.

Then there is Burano, an island that you will not want to miss out on. It is a fishing village where all of the buildings are bright vivid colors, it was adorable! Walking through a city that brightly colored is sure to put a smile on your face! The majority of it is little, unique shops that are famous for their lace or their fish.

There is also a nice day trip you can do from Venice to Verona. In Verona you can see Juliet's Balcony. The tunnel leading up to Juliet's house is covered in love notes. Once you are through the tunnel you are in a small square where you can see the balcony, house, and a statue of Juliet. As legend has it, if you rub the statue's right breast then you will have good luck, so don't forget to do that before leaving.

The Delicious Italy - Rome

If you like history then you'll love Rome! I learned some of the most interesting things here at the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum. We signed up for a tour of these sights, where we had a tour guide, got to skip the huge lines, and got discounted prices to enter each one. If you can try to find someone selling one of these packages outside the Colosseum, it's well worth it!

The Colosseum is amazing to see! It isn't anything like what it used to be, but you can see the tunnels and rooms at the bottom where animals, prisoners, and gladiators would wait until it was their time to come out. This used to be entirely covered in wood flooring but that is all gone now. We saw where the emperor would have sat to watch the shows. We also saw blocks outside around the Colosseum that ropes would be attached to for when they pulled a cover over the top of it during the shows. We learned that it only took eight years to build this incredible theater in 72 AD, and it could hold 55,000 spectators. The events were not held here all the time, only in the fall and spring, but when the shows were going on there were lots to see. Anyone could see these shows for free but you were matched where you could sit based on your social standing. We also learned that there used to be a lake next to the Colosseum but it is all concrete now. Also, that they found lots of chicken bones in the bottom of it because people would eat chicken while watching the shows. There are many other facts we were told but I can't remember them. The tour guide also told us about an emperor who started a fire in Rome that burnt down 75% of the town because he wanted to build a giant palace for himself that was four times the size of the Colosseum.

 

Next was the tour of Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum which had even more interesting stories and facts. At the beginning of this tour we were told that Rome is the city of love because Venus, the goddess of love, lived there. Also, amor is Italian for love and if you say amor backwards its Roma! On Palatine Hill we were told a story about the vestal virgins and how Venus was a part of this group until she got pregnant with two boys, Romulus and Remus. She was forced to give them away so she took them to the top of Palatine Hill where a shewolf found them and raised them. Years later Romulus grew up and built the empire for Rome, and Rome started in the Roman Forum. After hearing this story we walked down into the Roman Forum and saw all of the ruins and arches which was very cool. There are three main arches; one made by Constantine, another made by Titus, and the last made by Septimius Severus. One for conquering war, another for conquering the church, and another for victories.

This is only a small piece of the history of Rome; if you love mythology and history then Rome is the place for you!

The Authentic Greece - Santorini

Santorini was our final destination of this amazing trip, this was a great way to end the trip. There was lots that we did during the week that we spent here but I will just tell you about the highlights. The beaches, the volcano, and the sunsets.

There are lots of beaches on this island making it the perfect place to relax and unwind. There are black sand beaches, red sand beaches, and a white sand beach. The most famous black sand beach is Perissa beach, it is one the longest beaches. Black sand beaches are beautiful but be careful, in the hot sun this sand will literally burn you. The red sand beach was really cool to see as well, it has boulders surrounding it and it is a little walk to get to. The white sand beach you can get to by boat from a spot close to the red sand beach. We were not able to see it because the water/weather conditions were not good enough that day but I'm sure it is very beautiful as well. Another beach we went to was Vlihada beach which also had black sand as well, but the main thing we enjoyed about this beach were the waves which were fun to bounce around in.

The best way to see the Nea Kameni volcano is through a tour which will be advertised at any hostel. The tour will take you to the volcano via a sailboat and you'll be able to see many other things that same day. You are able to hike up the volcano which is really cool. The volcano is a protected scientific site that is monitored to record any volcanic activity. The last eruption was just over 50 years ago.

Santorini is famous for its spectacular sunsets. The sun looks like it is slowly sinking into the ocean, and the colors of the sky are rich and gorgeous. There are two popular places to go to see these amazing sunsets, Oia or from Akrotiri lighthouse which is on top of a hill. We did both and preferred the lighthouse. Oia is the famous spot to go watch the sunset, it is where all of the white buildings are with blue roof tops. This is also an area full of little shops to explore, but it is also very crowded and expensive here. We drove an ATV up to the lighthouse and shared a bottle of wine with a couple others that we met at the hostel while watching the sunset. This spot is not crowded at all and you still get the amazing view.

Santorini is a beautiful island with lots of character and a would recommend it to anyone travelling to Europe!

 

Canada's Gems cont...

This next location I'm going to discuss is a summer hot spot. With tons of water attractions, events, and family activities This great destination is Kelowna BC. Only 7 hours drive away from Calgary and you land yourself in the heart of the Okanagan.

Kelowna is located on lake Okanagan home of the Ogopogo a mythical creature that lives in the water. As one of the largest lakes in BC lake Okanagan offers endless boating activities. With boat rentals available anyone can get out on the water. If you enjoy wake boarding, water skiing, tubing, jet skiing, and even house boating this lake is for you. Kelowna has lots of hotels and even condo rentals in the downtown core. Not to mention great views from the Earls rooftop patio overlooking the lake.

Not to mention all the events that take place there over the summer; the biggest one being Center of Gravity on the August long weekend. This event hosts professional wake boarders, basketball tournaments, volleyball tournaments and also famous musical performers. Some years it's been Steve Aoki, Calvin Harris, Classified, Dragonette, and the list goes on. This day time festival has something for everyone and is always a great time! I've been there 3 years in a row and each time is a little greater than the last.

Steve Aoki concert

Okanagan lake

I dont believe in the winter blues

Its October, and we are already getting our bitter reality that winter is here/around the corner. I know a few people who have already embarked on their annual mexico winter "getaway". Not that I wouldn't whole heartedly enjoy a weeks worth of vacation on a hot beach somewhere, but I happen to enjoy our winters. Everyone is always wrapped up in the winter blues, and my solution is to embrace the season that exists for (what feels like) more than half our year.

Winter "Staycation"

I was born and raised in Calgary and my family has always found ways to enjoy winter activities. Last winter I indulged in the freezing festivities in Lake Louise. I have been to Lake Louise in the summer, but last winter I made two trips to a mini winter wonderland.

The first, trip was a december day off work. My friends and I decided to take a day trip to frozen Lake Louise. While we were there we took full advantage of the many options offered. We started our day by skating on the lake; their set up is beautiful. The lake is frozen in a mountain valley, and in the middle of the "rink" is an ice (castle-like) structure. They have a fire to warm up by, and the hotel nestled in the valley provided us with our hot drink indulgence. When we were warmed up enough to venture further we decided to take the horse drawn sleigh ride. The ride was a cozy travel to a frozen water fall at the end of the lake, where we stopped for our photo op. I never knew Lake Louise existed as a tourist "hot spot" in the winter, but our day trip was enough to keep that day "frozen" in my mind.

Ice Skating, in front of Ice castle. Personal Photo

Sleigh Ride along Lake Louise. Personal Photo

Frozen Waterfall. Lake Louise Photo Op. 

Our Second trip was an engagement with the annual ice sculpture competition. This time we parked in town, and took a shuttle bus up to the frozen lake. There were a little over ten ice sculptures carved, and on display from the weekends competition. We again took in the sights, and skated on the lake. I was blown away by the craftsmanship that had been put into the art. I had never seen ice sculptures so elaborate, below is a photo of my favourite sculpture. If you ever get a chance to experience Lake Louise in the winter, do not hesitate!

"Lady Bug" ice sculpture. Lake Louise 2012. Personal Photo

Adventure's were had

Every place you travel has an adventure side. I wasn’t planning on indulging anymore about my Costa Rica trip, but I realized that besides leaving my heart in Costa Rica I had experienced some unforgettable adventures.

My project leader had asked us if we wanted to take a "day off" from our volunteer duties to go on a hike to one of Costa Rica's tallest waterfalls. We all imagined an extremely leisurely day so we agreed. The next day we woke up at 5:30am to be on the trail by 6:00am. What we found out is that the land leading to the waterfall was privately owned, and the waterfall itself was public. We were driven up a windy road on a mountain to the private entrance to the falls. The reason we had such an early start was to avoid the $20 (american) per person charge for being on the land. We hiked (a difficult) one hour to the falls, and then swam in the natural pools. Then we had to make a choice to either hike the one hour back and pay the land owner, or hike "a few hours" along the river back to our town. We chose to embark on the river hike, which turned into a four hour "hike". We had a local guiding us who literally hacked his way (with a machete) through the rainforest, with us trustfully following him. Note to anyone who ever embarks on a rainforest hike: DO NOT WEAR RAIN BOOTS. I regretfully hiked four hours criss crossing the river all the way down, with mini pools in my boots. However, I am not complaining for a single second because I will never forget the day we were "in the jungle" for almost six hours, I pushed myself to limits that I didn't even know I had. The day at the falls was an unschedule surprise in my volunteer itinerary, and Im glad we didn't miss the opportunity.

Before embarking on our four hour jungle exit. (notice our smiles) personal photo

Though I was fortunate to partake in unplanned discovery in Costa Rica, I was involved in a two week adventure tour itinerary. We travelled as a group of 30, from Tico coast to coast and I had amazing experiences. Cost Rica is rich in adventure and my top five adventure destination suggestions are:


Rio Pacuare :White Water Rafting
I went white water rafting for my first time this summer. I also had my first time falling out of a raft into white water. We paid a photographer for our photos at the end, and I'm excited we did because the picture below captures the moment after I was in the water. Overall the day was amazing, our guide's name was Frankie and he taught us everything we need to know; specifically if you fall out, lay back and breath.

"swimming" Pacuare. Personal Photo

La Fortuna: Zip-lining and Rappelling
In La Fortuna we had the amazing day of zip lining on 11 different lines, and mid way through we did a 250 foot rappel.

Rappelling in La Fortuna. personal photo

Samara Beach: Surfing
I want to live in a place where the ocean is at my door everyday so I can master surfing. I have never tried surfing before but at Samara beach we got lessons to try. I was addicted to the challenge that surfing presented itself as. I can not say Im a surfer, but I'm definitely hooked, one day...

Surfing lessons (before water) @ Samara Beach. Personal Photo 

Rincon de la Vieja National Park: Horse Back Riding and River Tubing
We had a horse back ride, and a short walk carrying our large inner tubes to the river. The river was a series of small rapids and we all got to sit back and relax. Except for the rapid parts, just enough adrenaline to keep us a float (pun intended)

River Tubing. Personal Photo

Rio Negro Hot Springs: Mud Bath and Natural Hot Springs
I was excited by the hot springs, they were nestled in tiny pools (with a natural stone setting). In the picture below is me and my travel mates covered in natural mud. Moments after this picture was taken we had to rinse off in a freezing natural spring.

Mud Path @ Rio Negro Hot Springs. Personal Photo

Healthy Traveling

Different food.
Different smells.
Different hygiene.
Different routines.
Different...well pretty much everything.

Photo from google images

     When you go out into the world of backpacking it's safe to assume the world you'll be stepping into will be completely different than the one you're accustomed to.  Not only will there be a lot of changes your mind will have to wrap around but your body will be dealing with the challenge of adapting to its new surroundings as well.

     It's important to talk to all your doctors before you head out of the country for an extended amount of time, such as your family doctor and any specialists you may have.  For many places in the world it is important to receive vaccines before you go in order to not contract anything.  Your doctor may encourage immunizations for Hepatitis A, Rabies, and Typhoid Fever.  Visiting your physician four to six weeks before departure is the best idea, this is to ensure that the immunizations will have the ability to take effect before you reach your destination.  Another popular suggestion when traveling to tropical areas is malaria pills.  I continuously hear from my friends who travel how they're such a hassle to carry around and remember to take, but it's not worth the risk to not take them.

     Common problems people experience when traveling are digestive related.  This is due to the new foods and eating schedules bodies need to adapt to when in a new place.  It's a good idea to ease yourself into new kinds of foods and bring medications such as pepto bismol and imodium to calm your digestive system while it's trying to adjust.  Being in a new place with a new diet will have an effect on the physical health of your body in general.  It's important to still be aware of your diet and attempt to have a regular exercise routine in order to stay healthy and avoid unnecessary wait gain from eating on a budget.

     The mind, an often forgotten thing to take care of, but it can make the difference between a great day and a mental break down.  Even when on vacation it's a great idea to grab a book or some sort of puzzle such as a crossword or sudoku every now and again.  Keeping the mind active when on vacation will help you de-stress and stay focused.

     Being healthy means being happy, so make sure it's taken into account when you're planning a trip!
   

Gaining but Not Losing?

What do people get from travelling? Is it all just achieving or possessing something? Well, let me answer that by stating the meaning of travel from a dictionary. The dictionary simply states travel as journey. For me, travel is a word that does not need any explanation. Everybody knows it, people do it all the time, unless you don't get out of your house of course. 

Many people say that you gain many things when you travel but is it all about gaining and not losing anything? Travelling is an experience one can remember for a long time and share to others. I haven't met one person who is not proud of being in another place. Everytime I get to hear other people tell stories about their travel, I get amazed by how excited and satisfied they are in sharing their experiences even if its not all a heavenly experience.    

Whenever I ask people what do they get from travelling, their answers are all the same, it is the Experience. Experience is a collection of acquaintances, actions and knowledge all packed in one word. In travelling there are many things you gain from experience, common examples are friends, new understanding about the place you are visiting and weight. Seriously, every one adds extra pounds after their travel or maybe it's just me or depending where you go to for vacation. 

New acquaintances are common to a person travelling alone. The person needs to interact with others for instances like making new friends, asking where the bathroom is or simply put as asking for directions. When people are in a new place, they tend to want the facts and the history of the place. To state the obvious and redundancy, there are numerous number of people on tourist's spots.

Millennium Wheel and Thames River London

As I said earlier, every time I travel I gain weight. Portion control and Dieting are words I don't recognize whenever I travel. The biggest part of my journey is to try and taste different foods. I believe that food gives identity to one country. Each has a dish that is unique to that place. 

Deep Fried Crickets in Donghuamen Night Market Beijing

Photo of a food stall in Donghuamen Night Market Beijing

Travelling is not all about achieving or possessing something. Certainly, you lose something from travelling. There are a lot of things that you lose from it but can you guess what it is the most obvious one?  People use, want, need and work hard for it every second of their lives. The answer is as clear as a crystal, MONEY. A wonderful creation that has been used to measure one person's status, sarcastically speaking. People work and work just to save money for a trip. It is like a reward for the whole time they have been working. Spending money wisely will make the trip more enjoyable. You don't want to run out of it quickly, trust me, I have experienced that and I was not really happy with myself.     

The whole experience of travelling is composed of gaining and losing something. It is part of the balance in the world. You have to lose before you gain or vice versa, that's the rule. Preparing for a trip is really important so that you can enjoy the experience. A healthy and prepared body, mind and pocket is analogous to a memorable and happy trip.   

Transit goes everywhere

If you have travelled its highly likely that you have utilized local transit services. The good thing about living in Calgary is our access to an extensive transit system. I have an encouraging attitude towards Calgary’s transit services. I think it could be with exposure starting young, that transit has always met my needs, or maybe it’s the only transit system I’ve ever known. I have a personal timeline with the public service that is Calgary Transit.

I associate my early uses of Calgary Transit with positive memories. I have two main childhood exposures that equate the C-Train to (at the time) being the coolest thing ever.  Presently, I don’t equate C-train use as the most fun a girl can have, but when I was young we would Park and Ride for special occasions and that was enough. The first special occasion was the Calgary Zoo, if my parents were taking me to the zoo we were not driving. We would park and ride, and I will not forget that anticipation waiting for the animal train stop. The second occasion was the Calgary Stampede Parade. If you have ever experienced the parade, you probably are familiar with the unwritten rules: “The earlier the better” and “the roads are shut down…C-train it is”. In my opinion you have never fully experienced the Calgary stampede parade if your parents didn’t peel you out of bed at 7 in the morning to take the C-train downtown.

When I was a teenager I had to utilize transit to become more independent. My parents bought me a bus pass every month my entire junior and senior high school career. In high school everyone I knew had to figure out City Transit, it’s just what we did. I was definitely able to get everywhere I needed (which was mainly to and from school).  When I was a teenager using transit, I figured out how Calgary connected and I was able to discover my own city.

My reflection isn’t to indulge in an over the top nostalgia for Calgary Transit. Currently I own a car, and I do choose to drive most places. However, I believe that using Calgary transit is a sustainable option, and it beats the outrageous MRU parkingrates. Everyday that I am at Mount Royal, I take the bus.  I know that Calgary Transit is a viable commuter choice for many.

When its winter (or October) in Calgary my optimism for transit can sometimes be hard to maintain but overall I have very few complaints for our transit system. My transit needs have always been met, and there are a plethora of options on finding all the information I need. Whether it’s the Municipal relationship(for funding), Transit schedules and routes,"how we rank", or staying engaged on the WestLRT expansion.

Since I am in my first year at MRU, I am anticipating at least three more years for my post secondary career. I have anticipation for the increased access to MRU that the West LRT line will add. Mount Royal is highly involved with the preparation for the West line expansion. There is a prediction that the amount of transit lines (busses) that run to MRU will double. I am highly excited that before my time is up at MRU I will have more evolved options for continuing my transit use. 

Lasting Effects

Everyone who has travelled knows that the experiences and things you see on your journey stay with you and impact you for quite a while after the trip.

I have only been a few places so I can easily list them:
Las Vegas
Osoyoos BC
Gulf Islands BC
North Bay Ontario
Toronto Ontario

That is the extent to my traveling experiences thus far. The list may be small, however the things that I have taken away from each trip has been incredible.

Las Vegas didn't do too much for me at the time since I was only about 14. So I wasn't able to experience the "Adult" side of it, but I did experience the family side of it. We went to a magic show and aquariums, out for meals, and walked the strip. This taught me that everything has two sides. While Vegas in the media and most peoples perception of it, is a party city, there is a family dynamic to it as well (although it may not be quite as much fun). Basically don't judge a book by its cover.

My experience in Osoyoos BC was very interesting. It taught me to respect change. I went there with my (at the time) best friend. The trip (I thought) was great. We stayed there for a week camping with her family. It was my first time in BC and I was very grateful to be there! Although when we got back from this week long trip, something shifted in our relationship (I still don't know what happened). After many ups and downs, and confusion, that seemed to be the last time we truly connected. We no longer really talk or hang out.

The Gulf Islands trip taught me that ones person treasure in another person's garbage. The family I went with has done this trip every year for the past five years, and its the only holiday they take in the summer. The one child in the family is starting to get really sick and tired of this same trip every summer and she no longer wants to go with the family. This was interesting because growing up I felt the same with camping! She hated the trip yet I was fascinated by it. However I do understand where she's coming from.

My two trips to North Bay (One during winter and one during summer) have taught me the value of family. My moms entire family lives in Ontario (mom,dad, and 4 brothers). So up until I was 16, I hadn't seen my moms family in anywhere from 2-8 years (depending on which relative). Both experiences taught me that no matter how far away you are, family always carries memories and looks out for each other. Now we go there every 2 years just to catch up!

My Toronto trip taught me the true value of friendship. My experience there was horrible and nothing like we had expected. Yet my best friend stuck by me (even through her own frustration) and we're still best friends, even though she's across the country and we only see each other MAYBE once every two years.

My horrid trip to Toronto

It was last summer and I hadn't seen my best friend in two years. 

She had moved to Toronto when I started grad ten and she come out to Alberta for a week when I was in grade eleven. 

So naturally, last summer I decided that it would be an epic idea if I took a week off from work and went to visit her in  her new downtown Toronto apartment! My parents were a bit nervous because I'm an only child and I had never done anything like that before, but I knew what I wanted to do and I was ready! I booked the trip 2 months in advance because I found a good deal on flights. Everything ran smoothly until the night before my flight..

I had supper with my mom the night before my flight at Milestones and had their Chicken Caesar salad. The salad was decent although it had a few black-brown pieces of lettuce that I didn't think anything of at the time...

Fast forward to the morning of my flight. It was an early flight (left at 7AM) so I woke up around 4AM. Right away I didn't feel right. I was super light headed and had to lay down a few times (since I have a tendency to pass out). I just felt awful and this started to make me extremely nervous because I was about to fly across Canada alone. I tried to shrug it off and continued to the airport. At the airport I was sweating non stop and definitely had a fever as well as a terrible stomach ache. I figured it was just nerves and lack of sleep because of how excited I was so I carried on with my trip.

The flight went fairly smoothly, but once I landed in Toronto I felt like absolute crap! My friend and I had all these amazing plans to go bar hopping and exploring Toronto night life, because we had both just turned 19 (legal limit in Ontario). However that apparently wasn't the plan that the universe had for us. 

My stay was suppose to be 8 days long. it got cut down to 5. The five days I was there consisted of me being in bed rest with what was either Food Poisoning (from my "awesome" salad) or Travelers Diarrhea. I was in and out of walk in clinics, and pharmacy's the entire time. Not once did we go for supper or do anything we planned on doing. I literally sat in her apartment for 5 days in agony. One day we were able to make it to a movie. Other than that I was unable to leave the house because my stomach was unpredictable. I probably consumed 1000 calories in those five days and that was only due to the endless amount of crackers and ginger ale I was having. 

I got medicine for it but that didn't help, so after 5 days I decided that I would just come home early, considering we were both getting irritated since she took time off from work to do stuff with me and I was unable to do anything. To come home early it cost me another $200.

So...

$700 later in plane tickets, all the time I booked off from work, and the sadness of not being able to do anything with my best friend after not having seen her for two years. Was what my "epic" idea turned into. I still plan on redeeming myself from that trip!