Santorini, Greece

One of the other study abroad students and I decided to take a four day trip to Santorini, Greece. We flew to Athens on a Wednesday night and took an hour bus ride to the Port of Athens to catch our ferry that morning. Overall, Greece was one of the most amazing places I've ever been. Despite the typically negative connotation that's often associated with Greece in the U.S. media today, the people there were some of the most welcoming I've met. 

The ferry that took us on our 9 hour trip from Athens to Santorini.

The view from my hotel balcony. 

Here's the car we rented. Unfortunately, we didn't get to drive from the other side of the car or on the opposite side of the road.

This was a really cool bookstore we found. It's owned by Americans who work here on their vacations. 

Somewhere down there is Atlantis... 

Beware of dog?

Mussels, oysters, octopus and shrimp pasta.

Hemingway was my author of choice for this trip.

Doesn't really do it justice.

The Courtauld Gallery, London

This is the first work I've seen of Degas and his dancers.

Van Gogh's Self-Portrait with a Bandaged Ear. This was the first work of his after he mutilated his ear. 

I remember learning about these Modrain works in art class. It was fun to actually see them in person. 

Renoir's painting of his art dealer.

Monet

Monet

The Imperial War Museum, London

Monty's tank at El Alamein.

Don't worry, the American Sherman tank was well represented.

A World War I tank. 

There was a Don McCullin exhibit inside. He's a famous war photographer that also covered other major foreign features for The Sunday Times. This is a famous picture he took of Mother Teresa in Calcutta. 

This is a picture I chose to write about for one of my Art in Society reflection papers. It's an Army Chaplain finishing the Sacrament of Reconciliation at a base in Vietnam before the soldier is sent back out to the front lines. This was my favorite photograph of his. 

Amsterdam

This was the first city I've been to where canals were everywhere. 

They love bikes here and when they say "Bike Lane," they mean it. 

The touristy "I amsterdam" sign. 

The Van Gogh museum was amazing. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take pictures. 

I've never seen so much cheese. 

The American cheese section. 

One of my many Heinekens while in Amsterdam. Unfortunately, the group I was with didn't want to go to the Heineken brewery so that'll be something to come back for. 

The Anne Frank museum was amazing. We weren't allowed to take pictures but it was something that I'll never forget. 

We found a Banksy work just walking down the street. 

London Hooligans

This pub is right next to my apartment. It's one of the main football pubs and every time there's a big game in London fans from both teams meet here before. They had to close off the street and the tube stop until the game started. It was a very British experience. 

Abbey Road

Here's the famous crosswalk. No, I did not get a picture of myself walking across.

This is the Abbey Road Studios where The Beatles, McCartney, Lennon, and Pink Floyd all recorded. There's graffiti all over the walls along the street with some of their lyrics.