My big fat Italian, French, Serbian, Portuguese Spring Break

Ten days, Ten cities, 5 countries, 2 girls

Cinque Terre, Italy

In typical fashion I made sure to have the least dramatic birthday ever, by ringing in my 21st year of living on the Mediterranean coast of Italy (ha ha.) Nestled in the cliffs are 5 smalls cities that together make up Cinque Terre. Each one very similar to the next, all boasting vistas of open water, vibrant architecture, and the smell of fresh seafood cooked in enough butter to give a small horse a heart attack. The food in Cinque Terre was some of the best food I have had since I have come to Italy. Most notably, my birthday dinner consisted of Gnocchi alla vodka with Prawns that I simply think about every day since I've eaten it. I could've eaten it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the rest of my time here.

Due to some unfortunate rain, we did not spend much time on the beaches, but taking the boat ferry to all of the small towns is worth it. The large cliffs and rough water pouring in, makes it hard to believe anyone would ever want to settle in these areas, but they all have a unique culture and camradarie that we will not understand. Their beauty speaks for itself. One of the small churches is so gorgeous Andrea Boccelli makes a special trip every year just to sing there.

My favorite part of the trip was the first night, on the eve of my birthday, having small pastries and prosecco with my parents on their balcony overlooking the water while listening to the accordion playing on the street. This is one of the simple moments in my lifetime that I will never forget.

French Riviera

The French Riviera is the time warp I didn't know I needed. It is like Southern California, but in its prime during the 50s and 60s before it was too over crowded and it exuded glamour. I was feeling real mad men vibes the whole time I was there. Vast rock beaches, yachts the size of mid sized homes, and uniform architecture that hold a golden cleanliness. Nice, Monaco, and Antibes make you think of sheets with a 5000 thread count, trendy bars, and nostalgia.

Nice, aptly known as Paris' vacation town, is a sunny village with both history and leisure. If you want to lounge on the beach and overlook the deep blue water-- it's for you. If searching through old historical ruins is your thing, you can walk from the beach right into the old city. There are flea markets and antique shops, but also high fashion and fine dining. You can be served in a suit and tie or by a beach boy at a restaurant on the water. It truly has it all.

Monaco is the wealthiest place I have ever been. I have never seen bigger yachts, a cleaner city, and more louboutins. Although the area is pricey, we still stopped to get coffee and croissants at Cafe de Paris, which overlooks the famous Monte Carlo Casino. Monaco's most unique feature however, is its many gardens. These small, but carefully curated gardens are peppered throughout the city. Each one more manicured than the next, gives Monaco a relaxed vibe.

Antibes was our final town on the Riviera and its more like the middle class cousin of Nice. Unlike Nice, though, Antibes has white sandy beaches and surf shops to match. Its a lowkey place to bring your family, retire, or take a quick vacation. We spent our day hiking up to the lighthouse, which has a view of the entire coast. On a day that's not foggy, you can see all the way to Italy.

Portugal

Going into my trip to Portugal, I had no idea what to expect. Allowing Monika to be my trusty trip planner I was just along for the ride. Flying into Faro airport you see a coast line white sandy beaches that are covered in mansions as far as the eye can see. Portugal, or at least the southern part, is far from what meets the eye. Here is where I had one of the most amazing experiences of my study abroad.

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I had the benefit of staying with Monika's cousins. Serbian ex-pats living in Portugal, working hard to give their family the best life that they can. From the minute we landed Monika's family, Jelena and Nikola, dedicated their time to making sure we had the best experience possible. They went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure we had a true Portuguese experience. Nikola took us to Lagos and allowed us to explore the new and old city. We saw the most expansive beaches and colorful tiles that were spattered across the "old town" in the city. We ate very authentic Portuguese food (which was not easy on the stomach) and and drank the sweetest wine I have ever tasted. He drove us to the "end of the world" which is the southwestern most point in continental Europe and dropped us off at one of Europe's most beautiful beaches so we could have the full Portuguese experience.

What I did not expect was the camaraderie, love, and hospitality I would experience. Because of a random gasoline strike, Nikolai was unable to pick us up from the airport. He did ,however, have a friend who he met filling out paper work, that picked us up and helped us get to the train. They took us to what they call as the "Serbian Embassy" which is a small hole in the wall coffee shop that is Serbian owned and operated where I had one of the most decadent pastries I have ever had in my life. A doughey cup of custard that was sugar broiled to create a creme brûlée filled doughnut. The cast of characters was something out of a movie. All Serbian ex-pats talking and roasting each other alternating between Serbian and english. They were rough around the edges, but they were honest people. Looking to make a living in the ever growing tourism industry in Portugal. They liked the slower way of life. They liked the lack of care for status and materialism, but felt deep camaraderie and love for their home country. They faced hardships together. They care deeply about their culture. They take care of each other, but they knew they had to leave.

At their home, Jelena and Nikola made us feel apart of the family. Nikola, is a larger than life man who quite literally is over 6'5". He wanted to talk politics and culture and was a history buff to boot. He never wanted us to miss out on an experience and deeply and genuinely valued family. It was clear he was so excited to spend time with Monika and allow her to be apart of their family for a short time. Jelena, was a woman who's beauty was effortless. Her quick wit paired well with the devilish smile she'd flash when she would make a little joke about her husband. She never took herself too seriously, but radiated confidence and security. She was the ultimate host that wanted the best for Monika and I. If i mentioned I was hungry-- she would prepare a feast. If Monika said she liked shrimp, Jelena would whip up her best shrimp dish for dinner.

Each kid in their family was more cool than the next. All speaking fluent english, Serbian, and budding Portuguese were powerhouses in personality. Luka, a skinny boy with charisma and spunk loved america with his whole heart. He wanted nothing more than to make American pancakes with us and eat Ben and Jerry's. The youtube love also wanted to show us how its done on the soccer field and talked excitedly about his return to the nedeljkovic's home. Marija, the youngest of the three was a powerhouse. She was cute and she knew it mixing Serbian, Portuguese and english, was smart enough to know that I only spoke english and picked up on the fact that I was a sucker for a game of peek-a-boo. Vladimir was gentle and kind and my soccer partner during our pick up game. He was quick to give a hug, high five, or tell you that you made a good shot.

Jelena said, "we are not close by blood, but we are close by heart." I could feel this. Family was important to them and the currency of love was nothing more than quality time. During all of the meals and time in the home, it was wonderful to feel the warmth in the house. Each person loved each other very much. There was laughter and kindness all around. It was simple and easy understanding of the world and was almost enough to make anyone want to go off the grid for a little while. I am truly so thankful to have gotten to experience this. This slower form of life that reminds you to take a little time to appreciate those around you, not only look for people that can offer you something else, and take time to enjoy your life.

Portugal itself was very beautiful, but I will let the picture speak for themselves.