La Vita Dolce en Italia!

Ciao from Rome wanderlusters!

I have been so busy exploring and eating gelato and pasta that I didn't have time to blog!

Within my first hour in Rome, I almost got into a sketchy situation with a sketchy cab driver...Taken 3? Quite possibly. Then, I proceeded to wait at the bus stop and get serenaded by a 50-60 year old man who persistently invited me to come over so that he could continue to serenade me. Hmm, no thank you!

After finally getting to my friends out, we relaxed, went out for some authentic Italian dinner then out to a bar for some drinks. First night in Rome was a success but the next morning...not so much. Later in the afternoon though, I had my first REAL Italian gelato, pistachio, my favorite! Then in the evening we went to the Colosseum and walked around the busy streets of Rome.

But then...I started to feel sick. I swear whenever I travel, I begin to feel sick. Then again, it could be the different temperatures/climates. So, I stayed in from going out and slept which made me feel a lot better this morning. Today we just grabbed some free coffee, relaxed and rested. However, tomorrow we are headed downtown Rome and to the Trevi Fountain...so excited!!

Once my trip is over (Monday), I will post more about Rome, what happened and some reviews on places we went to...and other shenanigans.

Travel on wanderlusters!

Africa/Asia/India 2013!

Excited to announce I might be starting some projects in either Ghana, Mozambique, India or Nepal throughout 2013!

The Ghana project is a journalism internship and the other countries ask for volunteer work projects. I am so excited, I have wanted to do something like this my whole life. What's next is seeing if I have any friends who will join me, then to figure when I would go and for how long. I am thinking anywhere between 2 and 3 weeks to 6 weeks.

I will keep all of you wanderlusters informed! Now it's time for some tea, Revenge season 2 and packing. I have to go to the airport in 6 hours so it's an all-nighter for me.

Travel on wanderlusters!

Summer's Essentials Travel Packing List

Ladies, here is a list of summer essentials that fit in a backpack or small suitcase, giving you 14 days worth of outfits:

-Solid color maxi dress...black is almost always the best choice but hey, bring in some color if you like!
-Button-up shirt...short-sleeve or long sleeve.
-Jeans x1...dark wash is always good for a night out.
-Your favorite skirt...whether it's flowy or tight.
-T-shirts/tank tops x2...I would recommend graphic t's and tanks!
-Shorts x1...or x2 if you love wearing shorts in the summer.
-Walking shoes...make sure they are COMFORTABLE!
-Sandals...break out those cute sandals you've stowed away all winter.
-2 necklaces, 2 earrings + a watch
-Cross-body bag

I have personally packed these items, well items similar to these, before and I felt fashionable yet comfortable while traveling...and I didn't have to pay any extra crazy baggage fees! Now that's some good money leftover for some fun in the sun!

I'm dreaming of summer days wanderlusters and I know you are too. Next, I will post the Winter's Essentials Travel Packing List. If there are any male wanderlusters who want an essentials packing list, feel free to comment and I'll get to work on it for you all!

Travel on wanderlusters!

This Morning

I am day-dreaming of Australia! Don't get me wrong, I don't want to wish away my college years but I am so excited to move to Australia, more specifically, Melbourne and start my travel journalism career there.

Australia just seems so perfect and I could definitely imagine settling there, but then again I may just think that because I haven't grown up there and so a place that is new and exotic would seem perfect in my opinion. We shall see :)

Two days until Roma! I have one, small backpack to fit a week's worth of clothes into...can I do it? Hopefully. I will post an essentials packing list Sunday evening or Monday morning before my plane sets off to the land of pizza, gelato, Vespa-riding boys and beautiful architecture. Also, my friend and I are making a to-do list in terms of places we have to see and a fun to-do list filled with crazy things/pranks to do to shake up the daily lives of Italian passerby-ers. I love me some silly shenanigans in public, makes life a little more interesting...

Travel on wanderlusters!

P.S. Happy Australia...well post-Australia...Day to all the wonderful Australian wanderlusters out there!

I sleep, I sleep, I sleep.

It most definitely is hibernation season...or maybe I am just a college student who got used to a messed up sleep schedule? I went to bed last night several hours earlier than I have been for the past week...only to wake up 12 hours later at 13:20 (1:20pm)! I have slept between 12 and 15 hours every day for the last week, except for yesterday when I had the job interview. Still, I can't sleep like this in Rome or I will literally sleep my vacation away! On the bright-side, I woke up to a fantastic email that literally made me jump out of my bed. Don't you just love those emails? I sure do. 

Today is a lazy, snow-filled kind of day with tea and pizza...oh and a wine cellar party later. Not so sure about the wine after my New Years Eve experience. Hmm, well off to catch up on some more Revenge with a warm slice of pizza in my hands and a bunch of blankets.

Travel on wanderlusters!

Stumbled Upon...

The Huffington Post Travel section just a few moments ago to find a wonderful article about 2013's cheapest travel destinations. While recovering from my first spinning class ever that my friend instructed tonight and an early morning job interview, I decided it was time to oogle and plan some future travels. First on the travel to-do list: book a hostel for Budapest in May when my best friend from high-school comes for our 3 1/2 week "euro-trip"!

Number 1 is my favorite: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil!! Definitely might take advantage of this. I'm heading to #4 in June, woot woot! I'd love to go to #5 and #7 this year too, hmmm...

Here's the list of cheapest 2013 travels:
1. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2. Nashville, Tennessee
3. Amsterdam, the Netherlands
4. St. Augustine, Florida
5. Istanbul, Turkey
6. Louisburg, Canada
7. Siem Reap, Cambodia (the picture is of the Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap).

Where on this list have you guys been or where do you want to go this year?!

And now, here's the link for you to read more and start planning your trips this year wanderlusters. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/fodors/7-affordable-destinations_b_2535539.html?utm_hp_ref=travel

Travel on wanderlusters...without breaking the bank!

Hibernation Season

Super super duper freezing outside here in Prague. I think I've hibernated the past few days, I feel great but feel kind of lazy since I literally have been sleeping half of my days away. Then again, it's winter, that's the perfect excuse and I'm starting some new TV shows: Breaking Bad and Revenge. Have any of you wanderlusters watched the two? So far, I'm half-way finished with the first season of Revenge and once I finish the second season, I will dedicate the long, gray winter Prague days to Breaking Bad and several hot cups of tea.

Well, I decided to get off my butt today and get busy again so I'm not exhausted when uni starts again in a few weeks. That's weird to say, whoa...Anyways, I finally have myself a job interview tomorrow morning bright and early. Should be interesting waking up that early -__- Then a "photo-shoot" for my fashion internship and finally going to Moravia again for the weekend to see some family/friends. Then on Monday morning, it's ROME time! I am so excited. It will be my first time in the beautiful Roma and I have wanted to go ever since I was about 6 years old...more specifically, after I saw the Lizzie McGuire movie where she goes to Rome. I've been determined to go ever since and now is...almost...the time!

Not sure if I will be able to post until next week, after I've been in Rome for a few days but until then, I'm off to the land of gelato, pizza, boys with Vespas, beautiful architecture, 14 Celsius weather and good coffee.

Travel on wanderlusters...I know I will be :)

Just One of Those...

Nights where you can't sleep no matter what you do? Yeah...that was my night last night after tossing and turning for a few hours I decided to watch catch up on some Homeland and Vampire Diaries and I instantly passed out. Well, for only about 4 hours but something is better than nothing right?

I'm staring outside as I type and it's really yucky and depressing out. I miss the sunshine and warm weather...never thought I would say I miss the warm weather because I am definitely a cold weather type of person. Hmph, I blame it on Europe! Haha.

Well, I promised my friend I would take him up to the Prague Castle, snow or no snow, today so that's what I'll be doing a majority of my day and I promised you wanderlusters that I would post some pictures of Prague in the snow! Bear in mind it will be some dreary, gray/dark pictures but you'll get the jist of Prague winter beauty :) Despite how beautiful Prague is in the winter, I am dreaming of Thailand...only 2 more months until Bangkok and Phuket Bay beaches.

P.S. I started my internship with CollegeFashionista.com, for those of you who haven't heard about it, CHECK IT OUT! But my first post went live and my wanderlusters should check out the fashion-loving side of my writing! I convinced my best friend to do a mini photo-shoot for me in my backyard and now she's the face of my first CF article! http://www.collegefashionista.com/shelleahpedersen/style-advice-of-the-week-these-boots-were-made-for-spikes/

P.S.S. ONE WEEK UNTIL ROME!!

Travel on wanderlusters!

I'm Home!

After 8 hours from Washington D.C. to Paris, running aimlessly lost throughout the Paris airport only to find out my flight was delayed to almost 2 hours on a flight...with a crying baby the whole time...from Paris to Prague, I finally got home!

I love that I can happily call Prague my home even though I grew up in America. Prague is such a unique place that no matter how long you've been there, whether its a month or 4 months (like me) that when you go away and come back you get this immense feeling of "home". I was so happy to be back. So happy that I wasn't even that mad that they lost both pieces of my luggage.

Coming back home to snow after a month of fairly decent weather was a quite a surprise, not sure if I missed the cold here but I definitely missed everything else. Treated myself to delicious European coffee, poppy-seed and plum strudel, vanilla hot chocolate, a traditional Czech dinner of goulash and potato dumplings with some dark Czech beer and friends all in a matter of 48 hours.

I STILL don't have my luggage but I think I am still too jet-lagged to care. The worst part is the traveling from America to the Czech Republic. It always involves too little sleep, uncomfortable seats, running and sweating, stress and mini heart attacks when the plane goes through turbulence. At least that trip won't be happening again until mid-June, until then it's a semester full of new people, my fabulous friends, tons of great coffee and desserts, traveling to new places and good times.

My good friend from high-school is here in Prague for the next 5 days so I get to take him to all the tourist places and be all touristy with the pictures in the snow. I'll post some new snow-covered Prague pictures in the next few days...until then it's sleeping in and tons of hot tea to make a cold stay away!

Travel on wanderlusters! Are you happy to be home after a long vacation or recent travel?

New York City, New York

The 3-day trip to New York City started with a double decker bus ride for 4 1/2 hours and ended with a 4 1/2 hour double decker bus. But the time in-between was spent lounging around a beautiful house on the Long Island sound, walking around EVERYWHERE in the city, being followed by a drug addict in SoHo and finally trying the famous $1 New York style cheese pizza and a fluffy New York style bagel. We only spent one full day in the city but something is better than nothing right? One of my favorite cities in the world. Well, American cities that is.

While I was walking through the city I couldn't help but realize how weird it was to be in a big city where everyone is mostly speaking English and how the buildings were so TALL. Yes, I've been to New York City several times throughout my 18 years but it's been about 5 solid months since I've been in a modern, American city. I'm used to everyone speaking Czech or accented English and older, shorter buildings. I honestly prefer European cities after living in one for several months. What about you? Do you prefer American or European cities? I just think the history and architecture is so amazing. Definitely miss it and can't wait to see it again Thursday morning. 

I just recently started watching Homeland...SO GOOD! I was a little surprised that they could air something so similar to events that have/are happening in the United States. Super interesting and makes you think really hard: engaging. I'm hooked though so before I leave Wednesday night I am trying to get through 16 more episodes so I am caught up. If you haven't watched it yet, get started! You honestly will get hooked after the first episode. 

Travel on wanderlusters! I have tons to do before making my way to Paris then back to Prague Wednesday night. 

Feeling a Little Arts-and-Crafts-y

Hi Wanderlusters!

I'm going to post the New York City/Long Island post tomorrow morning when sipping on a warm cappuccino. So get ready! But today, a lazy and dreary Sunday afternoon, I am feeling kind of creative/arts and crafts-y, so I decided I'm going to make several inspiration boards when I get back home to Prague in a few days (eeep!). These are going to be boards on just general things I like, on travel destinations/places I've been, foods I like or would like to try, fashion, quotes; just anything and everything basically.

I went quote searching on Pinterest for about an hour the other day and found some really cool ones that will go on my quote board. Here are a few I liked and want to share with you guys.

Do you, wanderlusters, ever go on Pinterest for inspirations or arts and crafts projects? I'm feeling a little inspired in 2013.

Travel on wanderlusters! And be ready for tomorrow's New York City post.

P.S. 4 more days until I'm Europe-bound again!

Bright and Early

New York City bound briiiiiight and early tomorrow morning! SO EXCITED.

Time for shenanigans in the city and on Long Island. I'm bringing my Polaroid camera to snap some cool artsty shots throughout the city. See you Friday with some pictures and what we did there.

Travel on wanderlusters!

Mountain Woman

Coming at you live from the mountains of the Shenandoah Valley where I have been skiing...or trying to ski...all evening but am now snuggled up on the couch with my 5 year old sister watching Disney Channel before a fire-place. Ah, the life.

My friend just sent me this cool list of "20 great things to do in Rome" from www.Timeout.com...I know what I'll be doing the 28th of January to the 4th of February.

Here's the list:
1. Greet the Old Masters of the Capitoline
2. Connect with your inner gladiator at the Colosseum
3. Stroll through the gardens of the Villa Borghese
4. Join an audience with the Pope at the Vatican
5. Throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain
6. Perfect your geometry at the Pantheon
7. Scope out delightful ice-cream at San Crispino
8. Photograph the city's best piazzas
9. Scale new heights to see spectular views
10. Glam up for a night at the Opera
11. Follow the legend of the wolf
12. Tease your tastebuds at Il Pigneto
13. Grab a slice of authentic pizza
14. Have a glass of white Frascati
15. Discover geek chic at a book bar
16. Browse in the boutiques
17. Amble around antique markets
18. Catch glimpses of Napoleon
19. Indulge in sweet treats
20. Stay up late for a drink

Do you wanderlusters ever find fun little lists like this before a trip and check everything off? This is the first time and I think I'll start doing it everywhere I go in 2013....maybe I will make my own lists after a travel and post it on here for you all!

I'm too excited for Roma; when I was younger I watched the Lizzie McGuire Movie...please tell me someone out there knows what I am talking about...and when they went to Rome I instantly decided I would go one day. That one day is now only a few short weeks away!

Well, I'm off for a relaxing yet tiring weekend in the mountains, catch you all before the big NYC trip. Travel on wanderlusters!

A Late Post

Wait, it's already January 3rd...how did that happen?!

Well, I meant to post this later in the evening before festivities on New Year's Eve day but I got a little carried away and slept the past few days so here it is now.

Usually on New Year's Eve day, I take about 30-45 minutes to sit down and write anything and everything that happened that year which I felt was important or life-changing. Several big things happened in 2012 which will make it one of the most important years in my lifetime.

Here are just a few of the things I accomplished, that happened, or that I crossed off my bucket-list.
1. Graduated high-school.
2. Moved to another country.
3. Started college.
4. Get tattoo(s).
5. Celebrate my 18th birthday.
6. Surprise someone in a huge way.
7. Make life-long friends.
8. Travel to Paris/see the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.
9. Move into my own apartment.
10. Paid my own bills for the first time...big-girl time!
11. Started this blog.
12. Reconnected with my extended family.
13. Met my cousin for the first time via Facebook.
14. Spent the summer before college with my childhood friends.
15. Moved by myself to another country.
16. ^ Made the life-changing decision to move to Europe.
17. Came up with a 5-year plan.
18. Started writing for a celebrity news website, my college's newspaper and was accepted for an internship with CollegeFashionista; starting the Prague page for the first time.
19. Cut out a majority of negativity in my life, in terms of people and places.
20. Began a DIY line with a friend...well still in the makes but the idea was created.

Of course, there are so many more things that happened this year or that I accomplished but these were just some of the main ones.

I'm so excited for 2013, a new year full of opportunities both travel wise. I already have a list of things I hope to accomplish this year, not necessarily resolutions but things I have always wanted to do that I hope 2013 will make possible. I can't wait to share them with all my wanderlusters at the end of 2013.

This weekend I'm headed to the mountains for a little skiing with the family then driving back Monday evening for a nap and then...NEW YORK CITY. As I said in my previous post, one of my favorite cities in the world. Too excited!

Next post will be coming to you from the snowy mountains...Travel on wanderlusters!