Check out my new Blog for Burkina Faso!

Hello everyone, thanks for continuing to check in with me and my travels! I am headed off again to Burkina Faso and I would love if you would look at my new Blog for BF.

http://laftheexplorer.blogspot.com/

Thank you all so much for your love and support!

L

Croatia Continued, London, and home!

The next day mom and I took it easy in Split again and just enjoyed our last day and hiked in the park in Split, and spent the afternoon on the beach. That night at dinner I got the call letting me know I had been accepted to go to Burkina Faso this summer! So that will be my next big adventure!

Mom and I overlooking Split from the park

The Coastline in Split from the Park

The 'Riva' in Split at Sunset

We Flew to London the next day and met up with my friends Huw (who lives in England) and Amanda and walked around London with them which was great.  Mom and I got a little lost on the bus ride home at around 10pm but we eventually made it ha! And then it was a really long day flying home to the US, I think we were up for 24 hours :(
But we made it!

Me, Huw, and Amanda in front of Buckingham Palace (Plus my bag that Huw took to London for me!)

The one sunny day in London!

Big Ben! 

Classic London :D

Me and Amanda at the Palace!

And then we were home....

What a crazy adventure it has been.  I'm still kind of in shell shock that in in the US, but it is so nice to just walk in the pasture, see my cows, drive my car with the windows down and the radio blaring.
I'm hoping this is not the end, and that you'll continue to check in on my travels, but I do plan to post on Burkina Faso when I get back so make sure you keep checking!

Thank you all again for listening to my rants, supporting me, and experiencing this life changing journey with me.  Love you all.

Laura

PS I've been home and pretty stationary for about 48 hours so I needed a little change, so as of today....

Ok, all my love :D 

Laura 

Croatia

We left Budapest May 1, and flew to Split, Croatia but had a long lay over in Munich where I actually did a phone interview for an opportunity to volunteer with FFA for the Howard G Buffet Foundation in Burkina Faso June 20-July 9 this summer to work on agricultural development projects.  We arrived in Split late the 1st and we just crashed in our cozy little 'villa' in the middle of the old city in Split.
The next morning we let ourselves sleep in and then spent the day wondering around the old city in Diocletian's Palace and actually walked inside the oldest Cathedral in the world that was originally Diocletian's (Roman Emperor) resting place and Jupiter's temple http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletian's_Palace.  We really took the day easy, I wandered down to the beach, and we had a great dinner of sea food in the old city.

Diocletian's Palace inside

Mom having a glass at a restaurant in the old city

Diocletian's Palace outside wall with flowers

The next day we got up early and rented a car and drove North to Plitvice Lakes and hiked.  It needs little explanation, just look at the pictures.  One of the most beautiful places I have ever been in my life.

Hungary and Slovakia

Mom and I flew to Budapest and her friend Victor picked us up at the airport and then we drove to his home in Komarno, Slovakia about an hour out of Budapest.  Komarno is actually split between Hungary and Slovakia by the Danube River so we were constantly crossing the border, but Victor lived on the Slovakian side.

Mom and Victor at the Budapest Airport

We happened to be in Komarno during the Spring festival which goes for about 5 days until May Day so down town there was live music on both Hungarian and Slovakian sides and lots of food stands, wine stands, and beer stands.  One night Victor and I actually carried our glasses of wine over the bridge from Slovakia to Hungary to check out the music on the other side.  

While with Victor we went to the castle in Komarno that has never been taken by a foreign army (until the communists), went to a farm in his village outside of Komarno and went on a horse and buggy ride through the country side, spent much time with his parents Charlotte and Victor, visited Bratislava and Budapest!

While in Bratislava we walked all over the city (much to my mother's chagrin) and visited the castle, the equivalent to the White House of Slovakia, and the old historic square.  In Budapest we saw the houses of parliament, the Palace, the old Cathedral, and the Chain Bridge.  

Visiting a Stud Farm with Victor in Hungary

I snagged the key to Komarno's un-takeable fortress!

Native Hungarian breed of Cattle

Mom and Victor at the farm

Mom and I in front of the Bratislava "white house"

Mom and I in Budapest 

Mom and I from the Castle in Budapest

With Victor's Family in his parent's flat (L-R Victor, Me, Charlotte, Victor Sr.)

We had such a great time and must say a BIG thank you to Victor and his parents for taking us in and utterly spoiling my mother and me!

Espana!

I'm a lucky duck because I had my uncle Bruce and my mommy to pick me up at the ship! It was so great to see them mixed in with all the tearful goodbyes to my friends.

My Mommy and ME (you can see the MV behind us)!

Bruce and me 

But we headed out and went to the Sagrada Familia which is an incredible church still under construction since 1882 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagrada_Fam%C3%ADlia 

 

Bruce and I ate Tapas and drank wine, we all went out to dinner and mom actually tried the squid ink rice (which I thought was great) and then I met up with my friends one last time and we all went out together.  The next morning mom and I hopped on a big metal bird and flew to Budapest!

Ghana photos

Here's some photos from Chip from Ghana!

So it comes to a close

Today is my last day on the ship. It's really .... upsetting, exciting, frustrating, and emotional. I am really overcome with a feeling of loss because I know most of these people I will never see again, but I am also really excited for my strong friendships that have begun here and the places we can go together and the relationships we will have in the future.

I get it easy compared to all the other students because I am so lucky to have my mother and my Uncle Bruce meeting me tomorrow in Barcelona and I am so excited to see them!

So I hope you all stay tuned, I will continue to post as my mom and I travel into Eastern Europe!

Thank you for sharing this journey with me. I really think keeping this blog has been such a blessing to keep everyone updated and involved in my experiences and will make it easier to come home and readjust.

With all my love from right outside Barcelona~ Laura