Milan II

 view from hotel

 even this has it's own cafe in Milan

 Da Vinci

 had a really good meal here get risotto alla milanese if you're ever in milan

I am currently on the train to Florence from Milan.  Which was gorgeous.  Even the train station was beautiful.  Maria Nascenti is probably my favorite cathedral ever—that’s an odd statement but whatever.  It’s cooler than Notre Dame, I can vouch for that since I’ve been by both recently.  After getting into Milan last night and putting our stuff in the hotel we walked around the piazza del Duomo.  Had some nomtastic tiramisu.  This morning we actually woke up early and went into the Maria Nascenti and then climbed to the top.  Gorgeous view.  Didn’t go on top the last time I was in Italy and I really don’t know why now.  May have been a concert or closed for cleaning.  Speaking of they restored a lot of the marble surface of the cathedral since I was here last and it looks so different.  It lacks the contrast of the dirtiness it had before but honestly it looks so much better.  Truly a different cathedral after being restored…maybe it’s just that I actually explored the roof. 

            Words can’t describe how excited I am for Florence I love Tuscany so so much!

Milan

 Maria Nascenti-3rd largest cathedral in the world

 World's first shopping center

In front of our hotel

Paris in Review

 someone had this as their screen saver and I wanted to copy them

Last day/night in paris was great.  Managed to go to Paris and not go to either the louvre or the Eiffel Tower.  haha.  We went to mont martre with my aunts friend from high school who was so nice and helpful the entire trip, as were her kids.  Best mussels I have ever eaten in my life were at this place called chez eugene.  In leaving mont martre saw that little vw hippy bus that in essence just pulled up with a band inside and played to the crowd gathered.  The train to Milan had breath taking views.  I WISH with all my heart that there were trains like this in the states.  The train went through the alps.  Also one of the most notable aspects of the train ride was the food.  Travel and food being good, not what you'd normally think but had a really great meal on that train.  

Paris

view from the top of a department store 

 Notre Dame

 Fellow Tourists at the louvre

 Musee d'orsay

 Notre Dame

 Arc d'triomphe

Les Invalides

After visiting numerous Chanel locations in Paris (I have never seen so many people of one descent in one place at the same time spending so much money).  We spent the morning at friend’s department store trying on perfumes.  Literally half of the morning got stuck between one by Acqua di Parma and one by Tom Ford and could not decide got both…I shoulda waited a day to think about it because there is a third that I wish I would have gotten.  I will probably get it in Milan I am so weird.  Had lunch on top of the department store, which had an amazing view.  You could see Les Invalides, The Eiffel Tower, The Opera and Notre Dame on one side and Monte Martre on the other. 
That night we went out to a Pub (in Paris?!-I know) apparently according to family friends it was the place to be.  Which, we quickly found out because it was packed around one.  French guys are interesting.  I was headed to the bathroom and a guy kissed my hand I felt bad and tried to say that I would be back but they didn’t speak English and I accepted the fact that I was being an asshole and kept walking.  Then it happened again and in my awkward, what-the-fuck-am-supposed-to-do-ed-ness I kissed their hand back and walked away safely making it to the bathroom with no more hand kisses.  When I got back to the table my sat at my friend literally made me dance with a French guy that she was dancing with.  He spun me about 20 times; I should have honestly been on the floor because of dizziness by the end of that dance.  We went through all the languages that the other one spoke, he said a little Spanish and Italian so we awkwardly tried to talk.  Shortly after that we drove back to the hotel and passed Moulin Rouge and all the neon lit creeper-tastic sex show places nearby.  Fun night.

Bastille Day

 This was epic the 4th will always pale in comparison after seeing this

Dublin Day 2

Dublin Day 1

 Tree In Marrion Green

 The Doors are so pretty here

 Wandering around Saint Stephen's Green

 Again in Saint Stephen's Green

 Pretty Church

I was VERY jet lagged all of this day but wandered around Dublin after taking a nap when we got here yesterday morning (I didn't sleep a wink on the plane).  I feel much better today.  Went for a run in the rain this morning, I swear running is much much nicer when in a new city.  Went back over all of what we covered walking on this morning's run.  Woke up around 12 and couldn't sleep until 3 last night but then again I went to sleep at 8-Whoops.  Staying in a castle tonight which should be interesting...At a bed and breakfast near the center of town right now it's been lovely.  I like it here in a strange way it reminds me of Denmark although I was WAY younger when I visited Denmark.  The people rarely smile here-something about cold places often makes the people cold as well.  Going to the Guiness factory later today.  Something one must do whilst here, apparently.