Category: Travel

How Do You Say “Ready!” in Italian?

Posted on by bwucinski in Personal, Shopping, Travel

“Pronto!”

This word accurately reflects the excitement and readiness for my upcoming trip to Italy!

After my lovely friend Monica arrived back from her study abroad semester in Florence we got to talking about everything and anything Italian and European related. Let me tell you, two days isn’t even enough to talk about every thing I need/want to know.

The biggest thing she helped me realize was that I needed to narrow down my list of places I want to travel. So for my international trips I’ve decided to go to Paris (of course), Amsterdam, Istanbul (for spring break), and Berlin (which will be my next blog post after this). All of these places have different cultural backgrounds and I think will give me a good vibe of Europe. In addition to these trips, I’ll also do a trip when my parents visit me and when my younger sister visits me. For her, I think Croatia or Prague (or Greece) would be really great places to take her out since she loves young nightlife. I’ll also be doing future blog posts this summer on those locations to compare between them.

Monica also helped me to come up a good list of places to travel within Italy. I mean, although I’m there to experience Europe, I am in Italy and I want to be able to take away a little bit of Italy when I leave. So for Italy I’m going to travel to Cinque Terre, Venice for Carnivale, Bologne, Milan, and the Amalfi Coast, which will all be further explored virtually from my laptop this summer. Of course if I have the money or time I’ll go to some other locations as well but those are the ones that sound the most interesting so far. Also, TCU provides a trip to Rome and Sienna so those are also places that I’ll get to see as well.

I just can’t wait for the next 6 months to fly by so that I am able to finally see all these places I’ve been researching for the past few months. I love my friends and I am quite comfortable in my American bedroom, in my American suburban home, deep in the heart of Texas, but I’m ready to explore a new world and new side of myself. Monica explained study abroad as, “Challenging yourself every day, even in the littlest things.” and that’s something I am looking forward to doing while I’m there. When we were talking at lunch she said, “It’s weird coming back and seeing that nothing has changed here, but knowing that I’ve changed and seen so much.” That thought was a reality check that I may come back with so many experiences and memories that I will be a changed person when I come back. However, that’s something I’m excited about.

Now, she also explained what to pack for Italy. Her main advice is pack what you love and what represents you. So here’s my beginning list of what to bring:

-A cute winter coat. So my printed blush pink coat from Anthropologie will definitely be accompanying me.

-Some basic black pieces for layering.

-Jeans, at least 2 pairs.

-Leggings. I will be bringing every single pair I own.

-Flat boots. I’m thinking of investing in a custom leather pair when I get there to wear for the majority of the trip.

-Not too many accessories because you can always buy lots of scarves and jewelry there.

So far that’s the list for packing, which is a good start. I think the best thing I’m going to back is a smile and a good attitude, because I’m going to look like an American regardless, so why not be a polite and nice American. Hopefully going from blonde to brunette before I leave will help me to fit in a little better.

I Can’t Wait: To be an American in Paris

Posted on by bwucinski in I Can't Wait For, Shopping, Travel
“So just love, make mistakes, and have wonderful times, but never second guess who you are, where you have been, and most importantly, where it is you are going.” -Carrie Bradshaw

My eternal icon, Carrie Bradshaw, traveled to Paris (aka her Mecca) in the final two episodes of Sex and the City. The fashion, the plot, and the breath-taking scenery could easily make these some of my favorite episodes. Did I mention the clothes they feature in these episodes? Some of the most memorable outfits are featured in these episodes, rightfully so because Paris deserved awe-inspiring fashion.

Like I said, amazing.

So, the whole point being, I absolutely cannot wait to go to Paris. It’s the city of love and I do love love.

Notre Dame, Effifel Tower, La Siene River and the Lourve are all the things you must do while in Paris. Which of course, I will do. However, I’m wanting to know some of the other activities and places that draw people in to Paris.

Well what else is there to do? Well shopping would be a top contender.

Shopping

I will certainly be pinching pennies this summer if I want to afford anything in Paris. The first stores I will be checking out are the vintage stores which can have a range of Parisian secondhand fashion. Aspasie & Mathieu is a vintage store that is known for great accessories. Le Dépôt-Vente de Buci is another vintage store that has great fashion, supposedly marked down 20-30% more than other stores. As I’m stated before, I love a good flea market (or any type of market, really) and Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen is a flea market with tons of stalls dedicated to vintage fashion. But the number one place to go shopping in Paris is the Galeries Lafayette which touts over 75,000 brand name items. There is even a fashion show every Friday! Can you said Oui!

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Entertainment

Moulin Rouge, another great draw for Paris, is going to be first stop for a night of cabaret. If it’s anything like the movie I may just do ahead and start freaking out now. I’m definitely going to see a French play, preferably by Moliere and Comédie Française has three stages and each one usually features a French playwright for the evening. Cannibale Café is a hip bar/restaurant with decently prices meals and a cool atmosphere to enjoy a few drinks with friends. The Frog & British Library is a popular cafe with students so I’m sure if we hung out here for a bit we could possibly make some international friends-if they don’t absolutely hate Americans already. Maybe I’m start out by saying I’m from Texas…and use a heavy accent.

While I always use Lonely Planet to find some good reference material for traveling, I recently found Fodor’s Travel Intelligence which has a good category called “Places to Explore” which lists the neighborhoods to check out in a city.

Overall, Paris is something that I want to ask people about. It’s a place that you can’t plan for and has a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ that you can’t really experience until you are there. I guess this is one trip I’m just going to have to make an impromptu adventure.

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Loader-saveTravel tip from my friend abroad right now: The Jewish ghetto of Florence has some really cool stores and is a great area to explore.
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I Can’t Wait For: Istanbul, Turkey

Posted on by bwucinski in I Can't Wait For, Travel

After a lot of consideration (and checking flight deals) Istanbul seems like a great candidate for my spring break while studying abroad next spring.

Although India would be extremely interesting to see, especially the tree where Buddha supposedly reached enlightenment under, I feel like it might be just a little unsafe for me traveling alone. Indonesia is still my number one pick for spring break, however, tickets to Bali cost over $1,000 and that is definitely pricey for my budget. I really do want to see them both someday, but those might have to be saved for when I’m actually working for a salary, instead of my minimum hourly wage.

So Istanbul it is! The cultural history of Turkey is something that I feel will impact my study abroad experience. With all the Western countries I’m going to see, it might be nice to travel just a little bit to the East.

Shopping

From what I’ve begun researching, shopping in Istanbul is going to be excellent, and definitely something I will be looking forward to. The Istanbul Spice Bazaar will by the first thing I check out. I don’t think there will be tons of clothes, but just seeing it will be fantastic. Sali Pazari is another market that boasts the cheapest clothes around. It’s a bit of trek to get there but I feel like it might be worth it. A La Turca is great for antique shopping and highly recommended to see. Mor Taki is a great source for Turkish jewelry (something the women there love is bling) while Yargici is a great shopping destination for almost anything, also with an amazing and affordable selection of jewelry. According to Travel Muse, Yargici is comparable to my beloved Gap, which means it’s going to be a hit with me.

Excursions

I’ve looked at a few travel packages and several of them sound quite amazing and pretty cheap for several hours of touring.

Imperial Istanbul Half-day Tour

Discover Imperial Istanbul on this half-day sightseeing tour. Visit Hagia Sophia, which is today one of the most magnificent museums in the world, the Blue Mosque Hippodrome with its Egyptian Obelisk, a remarkable pink granite monument built 3,500 years ago by an Egyptian pharoah. Last but not least experience the Grand Bazar of Istanbul. Well recovered for over 1,500 years, Hagia Sophia is named as one of the most remarkable museums in the world. Two stories of ancient history confronts everyone in this well preserved structure. The next stop will be at the Blue Mosque Hippodrome just in the middle of the Sultan Ahmed area including the impressive ancient Egyptian Obelisk. After leaving the Blue Mosque Hippodrome, you will finally have the opportunity to do some haggling at the Grand Bazaar, with it’s 4400 shops!

Going Out

The more I research Istanbul, the more set I become on going. It’s a huge metropolitan city with tons of different options. My favorite bar I’ve looked up so far has been Ada, which is half book/music store and half bar/cafe. I guess there are even hipsters in Istanbul. If I want a relaxing or quiet evening, I’m definitely going to hit up Anemon Galata Bar where you can sip drinks and watch the sun set over Istanbul. Angelique seems like the type of place to just have a good time with dinner, drinks, and some dancing. For a crazy night out you’ll be able to find me at Araf, dancing the night away to fist-pumping Turkish techno.

 

 

Istanbul seems like it could be a dream come true. Culture clashes with modern ideas, with lots of shopping and entertainment spread throughout the city. It also seems somewhat affordable with $200 plane tickets, $50 trip fees, and a range of prices for shopping and bars this could be the perfect destination for my spring break.

I Can’t Wait for: Amsterdam

Posted on by bwucinski in I Can't Wait For, Travel

As I mentioned in earlier posts, I was going to try to post little informational posts on places I’m looking forward to traveling to while I’m studying abroad next spring. One of my closest friends is actually leaving for the Netherlands in August because she will be studying at the Maastricht University for a semester. Maastricht is outside of Amsterdam but still a short train ride away from Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. After talking to my friend, I was starting to consider all of the different things I want to do while I’m there.

Nightlife

So the nightlife of Amsterdam is notorious for being…well…awesome. So I’m really looking forward to that. Two of the areas that are well-known for cafes and clubs (also known as  discothèques) in  Leidseplein and the Rembrandtplein. There are also a tons of theaters in Holland that I would love to see a show at. Of course, no trip out in Amsterdam would be complete without seeing the Red Light District. 

Shopping

I love markets. I hate that America really lacks on them. Especially Texas. I’ve heard rumors that the Fort Worth Flea Market can have some really cool stuff…or just a bunch of worthless junk. So I’m excited to see that some of Amsterdam’s top shopping spots are markets, like Albert Cuypmarkt in Amsterdam. It’s open every day except Sunday and has hundreds of stalls with tons of moderately priced clothes and food. Another good shopping area is the Magna Plaza Shopping Center. This is one of the most prized architectural buildings in the Netherlands. I feel like I’m almost going to be more tempted to stare at the outside than venture inside to window shop at the rather expansive “mall”.

Sights to See

There are several things to do and visit in Amsterdam during the day like museums like The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam and squares like the Around Dam Square. There is architecture (like the Royal Palace) and several attractions like canal cruises, along with even more jazz clubs and theaters.

I’m really excited to see Amsterdam and what it has to offer. unfortunately, I’m really worried about pronouncing any of these names.

Oh Canada.

Posted on by bwucinski in Travel

There is an ongoing debate occurring between myself..and well..myself. Should I save up/set aside some money to go to Vancouver, Canada this summer and take a long 4-day-weekend there. I will be working 40+ hours for 3 months straight at my internship so this would be a nice sort of break from being an advertising firm’s (excuse my French) bitch for a few days and really give me something to look forward to. Also getting out of the Texas heat and into some beautiful weather could be nice. But I guess I should start to find out what makes Canada any better than what they show on South Park.

So after checking out some information on Lonely Planet, I’ve found they have a great listing of activities to do in Vancouver! Some of favorites so far are:

Scuba Diving, Kayaking in a Cove, and  a Sea Safari!

Some of the shopping I’m interested in is vintage, shoes, and just some good old-fashioned clothing stores.

I’m also trying to figure out which part of town to stay in.  East Vancouver is very hipster and has a boho type of feel to the city. While the Downtown area is very upscale and chic. Both hotel rates are about the same for either side of the city and both are not that far away from each other so I guess it’s not that big of a decision.

All these things along with great restaurants and an amazing nightlife, this trip would be a great way to satisfy my travel bug right now! But part of me would still really want a diamond necklace.

More updates will come if I decided to take the plunge and buy the place tickets (which are pretty cheap! only $300 per ticket!)

Other places to see and things to do according to my good friend Ava Sharbaf who visited Vancouver a few years ago:

Butchart Gardens on Victoria Island

Granville and Whisler Island

Vancouver Art Gallery-Downtown

Parks of Vancouver-Stanley Park with Bike Rentals and beaches

Eat at White Spot: a Canadian staple with a kid’s Pirate Pack which you much order to go.

Check out Chinatown

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Vancouver Aquarium

Check out Zara and H&M

Shopping at Robson and Denman

God, Religion, and Other Views

Posted on by bwucinski in Personal, Travel

So this semester I am taking a class called Documentary Film and Religion. Although I’m at a Christian university and we are required to a religion course, this is my second one. I may not be the most devote Catholic or Christian but I absolutely love hearing and learning and questioning religion and what it means to society.

In class tonight, our professor Darren Middleton, had us watch a film called Oh My God. It’s a film that takes a journey around the world and asks several different people of all ages and races and cultures to define God or their idea of a sacred power.

You should definitely watch the trailer, if not even watch the film. I wanted to write down some of my favorite quotes and ideas from the movie.

  • Truth has been diluted by too many voices.
  • God has created one race and that is the human race.
  • Does God give validity to lost souls who want to belong?
  • An ocean can contain a drop, but a drop is not an ocean. (talking about how one view cannot describe the power and mystery of God)
  • The space between sound is God.
  • Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Muslim, Buddhism are peace. The people and followers are conflict.
  • Is religion just the search for something greater that the sum of humanity’s parts?

All of these things considered, we had a discussion about the movie afterwards. Some of the things we discussed in class were just as interesting as the movie.

Our environment and culture affect our view of God. Our understanding of religion is directly related to our understanding of ourselves. It reflects more of our own personal beliefs than it does about th deity in question.

Although God created humanity, humanity continuously creates the idea of God.

Ruldoph Otto explained God as “mysterium tremendum et fascinams” or mysterious, terrifying, and fascinating.

We also examined how and why violence and religion seem to be intertwined. I personally thought about in the way that since religion is interpreted based on your understanding, if you want violence and interpret religion or God as being your justification for violence then you can potentially “get away with it”.

Even though there are so many different religions and different cultures around this great big world, all of them just want something to believe in. They just want to know that there is some rhyme or reason to this life we live and essentially a belief in a God helps them to understand their purpose in life.

A large thing I took away from the film (besides the many, many definitions of God) was that while I’m abroad I really do want to experience a culture so vastly different from the Westernized world. While they showed images of Bali and India I kept picturing myself there and what it would be like to actually be surrounded by these people who could literally not have a single thing in common with me besides the fact that we are both living and breathing humans. I want to be stand next to the ancient shrines and temples and the ruins of a civilization that I will never get to truly experience.

To me, the whole point of travel to see a different side of the world and to take a part of that culture with you. While visiting the Maori villages in New Zealand we learned a lot of their beliefs and sayings. Although I couldn’t exactly say them correctly or even fully comprehend some of them, I do know how to do the traditional war dance, the Haka.

Overall, there is a big world out there with many different ideas about every subject and I can’t wait to find out first hand what they are all about.

California Dreamin’

Posted on by bwucinski in Personal, Travel

I’ve just returned from a relaxing/hectic vacation in Califonia for the 2011 Rose Bowl in Pasadena. My beloved TCU Horned Frogs were playing the Wisconsin Badgers and my dad (a Wisconsin Alum) wouldn’t let our family miss it for the world.

The game was hands down the most spectacular part of the trip-with TCU beating Wisconsin by 2 points and seeing it was incredible. However, I felt like I saw quite a bit of California during the trip. We stayed at a hotel in West Hollywood, spent New Years Day in Pasadena for the game and the parade, then spent the next day in Laguna Beach, and finished the trip by visiting Venice, Rodonda, and Manhattan Beaches on our way to LAX. Talk about sight seeing.

Laguna Beach

I’ve seen episodes of Laguna Beach (the television show) that shows snobby and over-priviledged girls shopping and eating at expensive resturants. Honestly, the town had a very beachy feel to it with many locals hanging around shopping and eating out. We had the chance t visit a delicious sushi resturant and experience some great shopping. I was even able to buy a new pair of Jeffrey Campbells at 40% off!

Redondo Beach

The entire reason we visited Redondo beach was because The O.C. is my sister’s favorite television show. We looked up online and found out that a majority of the major scenes are filmed on the Redondo Pier. So off we went. The actual beach is gorgeous and the coffee house had…a lot of character. It was definitely a hole-in-the-wall but it had some damn good milkshakes.

And The O.C. booth picture at the Redondo Beach Coffee House

Manhattan Beach

This was one of the most beautiful beaches in California. We were able to watch the sunset right before we went to LAX. We only were able to stay on the main strip for an hour or two. It has a TON of great shops like Katwalk, The Beehive, and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, both great places to hit up if you’re in the area. Although Coffee Bean is pretty much like Starbucks in California. However, watching the sunset on the California coast with Coffee Bean coffee doesn’t get much better.

I’ve always wanted to move to California. When I was aboit 9 years old we went to LA for the first time and I remember stepping off the plane and completely freaking out that it wasn’t 104 degrees like Texas. It’s sunny, has great temperatures, amazing shopping, and a ton of things to do in every city no matter where you are in California. Hopefully, I’ll be able to save up enough and move there and find a job in San Francisco. Here’s to dreaming of my future home in California but being stuck deep in the heart of Texas.

I Can’t Wait For: Florence, Italy

Posted on by bwucinski in I Can't Wait For, Shopping, Travel

This is the beginning of a new category in my blog called I Can’t Wait For, where I will be researching and virtually exploring all the places I eventually want to see in Europe. Since I’m going to be spending about 5 months in Europe, specifically Florence, Italy, I thought I might start reading up on some of the best things to do in city.

So far, the shopping is making me want to hop on a plan right now and start ravaging through the massive leather markets in Florence. Thanks to another blogger, I was able to read up on some of the great opportunities to snag an amazing italian leather item. It sounds like a dream come true, with several tons of leather to choose from. It reminds me a lot of the Queen Victoria Markets in Australia, where I bought  my amazing leather backpack which is one of my favorite purchases from Australia.

I know the museums are going to be art overload in Florence. With Italy being the birthplace of the Renaissance, how could you not go to the hundreds of museums over there? I plan on doing a lot of art hopping over there, but I’m hoping to find a few amazing galleries with some modern art work and graphic design to see. I’m not exactly sure how I’m going to find some studios where I can see work, but I know there are several design schools where hopefully I can see some spectacular Italian coursework. The Florence Institute of Design is one school I keep hearing about and also the school I will be attending, Lorenzo de Medici, an international school over there will have some student work to display.

Last, I’ve heard about gelato. I’ve had American gelato, but everyone tells me that legit Italian gelato is amazing. I’ve also heard about the wine and the cheese. I’m not sure if Italy can top Wisconsin cheese, which I was basically raised on because my dad is from there, but I can’t wait to try it. Apparently, Le Fonticine is amazing place to try for some awesome pasta dishes. I have to admit, while food is all amazing and what not, I’m somewhat of a picky eater. As open minder as I am with most things, food is just one thing that it pretty difficult for me to handle.

Overall, I can’t wait to absorb some of the amazing culture over there. I’m sure I will be adding more posts about Florence in the next coming months. I have an entire year to get ready for my experience abroad. Hopefully I’ll be adding some articles about Italian language and of course, more fashion spots to hit up.

 

Next to come: The Loomis Agency. The advertising agency that I will be interning with this summer. Just to give some insight on a small, but mighty, advertising firm in Dallas, Texas.

 

Today.

Posted on by bwucinski in Personal, Travel

Today, I’ve decided to add myself to the pool of esteemed bloggers who are now the masters of many of our thoughts. Well, I mean your thoughts, because I am now one of them.

Oh never mind. I’m doing this to put my thoughts down and to ponder the way our world interacts with 3 of my greatest passions: fashion, advertising, and travel. Throughout this blog I will periodically post about topics pertaining to these topics. The newest fashion inspiration, the greatest commercials of the week , or the newest place I have an obsession. I am trying to prepare myself for the world out there. There are so many amazing places, cultures, and clothes to be explored and I want to start educating myself now.

I will be studying abroad in Florence, Italy in the Spring of 2012 and here is a tentative list of the top locations I want to visit:

1. Paris, France (cliche but it’s a must for any fashion junkie)

2. Venice, Rome, Tuscany

3. Amsterdam (the quintessential college destination)

4. Moscow, Russia

5. Stockholm, Sweden

6. Ireland, Scotland, London

7. India (where I want to spend my spring break)

8. Barcelona, Spain

9. Beijing, China

10. Greece, anywhere.

It’s going to be an adventure. Guess what though? You can join me! Figuratively though. That would just be terrifying if you actually followed me.

Anyways, I’ll keep you posted. Haha, get it? Blog posts…posted? Ah.