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6/13/26 - Vienna Day Two: Three Palaces

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I woke up this morning to a rainy Vienna. While we were getting ready, we could hear the rain pounding against the skylights in the loft. Thankfully, it stopped right as we headed out for coffee. My cappuccino was perfect. We hopped back on the U-Bahn and headed into town to visit the Rosengarten. The edges of the garden were lined with rose bushes in all different shapes and colors, each labeled by variety. It was so pretty, and you can imagine how heavenly it smelled.  The garden reminded me of UF’s Wilmot Botanical Gardens, where I volunteer back at school. Similarly, they showcase all different species of camellias.     We downloaded the WienMobil app and bought day passes, which was definitely a good move transportation-wise. They don't always check for tickets, but it's better to be safe than sorry. The U3 Volkstheater station looked like an art museum: Before exploring Vienna's palaces, we grabbed a quick lunch at Wiener Grill Haus, where I got SCHNITZEL, roasted p...
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07/26/26 - Au Revoir, Paris (Day 2)

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It's becoming a strategy to sleep in on Day 2 of our weekend trips. After catching up on some z's, we were quickly rushed out the door by the group of travelers staying in the Airbnb after us. Us after getting kicked out onto the street at exactly 11 am: Day 2 and an early checkout meant our backpacks stayed with us all day. We quickly grabbed some lattes to fuel the breakfast search. My almond milk latte was so simple but so good.   After the caffeine power-up, we set out on foot towards Notre-Dame. We peeked at streetside menus until the rain finally pressured us and we decided on La Grande Colette, where I got my crêpe fix! (doused in sweet lemon syrup) Once we waited out the downpour, we headed back to Notre-Dame. While my friends went souvenir shopping next door, I was determined to wait in line to see inside. It was so worth it.   I had enough time to sit for a while and enjoy the cathedral. The acoustics in there are so good that they have to play a "shhh" reco...
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07/25/26 - We Were Staying in Paris (Day 1)

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This was my first-ever sighting of the Eiffel Tower...try to spot it! Bonjour, Paris! A couple of weeks ago, Elena, Kiera, Reese, and I booked a weekend trip to Paris - we'd all been dying to go. I wanted to take the Chunnel, but flights ended up being cheaper. Time is starting to fly here, and our Paris weekend came right up on us! We woke up on Saturday ready to tackle the City of Light.  In the morning, we grabbed some fluffy omelettes at a cafe near our Airbnb and set out for the day. Our first stop was Rue de l'Universit é for a mini photoshoot with the Eiffel Tower (before we got all sweaty from walking around)!     Public transportation in Paris is comparable to London's, so it was super easy for us to download the transport app and navigate our way around the city. We spent some time circling the Eiffel Tower and taking in the views. After we were satisfied with our pictures, we ventured north and passed by Notre-Dame as we walked along the Seine. There were merc...
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