Thursday, July 17, 2014

Travel Diary: Milan Tourist


A courtyard with a sculpture on display

Entrance to the Galleria
Front of the Milan Cathedral


Piazza del Duomo
King Victor Emmanuel II statue
Inside the Galleria




Hi everybody!

I had half a day in Milan because I was going to take a train to Lake Como later that day. So, I quickly ate breakfast at the hotel, got dressed, and headed out. As I headed to the Galleria, which is one of the world's oldest malls that houses stores like Prada and Louis Vuitton, I passed by beautiful buildings only found in Milan. There were courtyards nestled in buildings, some with large sculptures to view. When I arrived at the Galleria I was in awe at the many fashionistas about. The tons of men and women dressed in high-fashion casually strolled through the mall... and this was on a Thursday morning! I was wowed by this remarkable city already, especially when at the end of the mall the Milan Cathedral appeared. This intricately made cathedral was placed in a giant piazza full of tourists, pigeons, and the statue of King Victor Emmanuel II. The inside of the cathedral was spacious lined with large columns and beautiful religious paintings. It is absolutely gorgeous!
Alas, I had to go to the Milano Centrale station, but not before taking one more walk through the beautiful Galleria.
So Milan, I had a lovely stay. The food was exquisite, the people were runway ready, and the architecture was grande. Hopefully I will be back to partake in the rich culture, but for now Milan.... ciao!

Thank you so much for reading!

Stay beautiful,

Sofia

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Travel Style: Milan




        Top: Bebe   Skirt: White House Black Market (similar here or here)   Heels: Charles David   Belt: Calvin Klein (similar here)   Lipstick: Ruby Woo by MAC


Hi everybody!

After leaving Copenhagen, I flew to Milan. Upon arriving, my eyes immediately went from person to person admiring all the high fashion outfits around. I knew that as soon as I were to enter my hotel room, I were to get dressed up (red lipstick and all) and go explore! Speaking of the hotel, I stayed at the Best Western Hotel Galles, a beautiful hotel centrally located. The room was beautifully decorated and very comfortable.
Anyways, I headed out in search of an authentic Italian meal. During my walk, it suddenly started to pour. I quickly searched for a restaurant while the rain drenched me. I finally arrived at a seafood restaurant. It was an oysteria and I absolutely enjoyed the meal. The food consisted of fresh pasta and seafood. I had a great experience enjoying carpaccio, seafood salad, and spaghetti with shrimp. Delicious!
After that, I went to a nearby gelateria and enjoyed stracciatella gelato (vanilla gelato with chocolate chips) while strolling back to the hotel.
From my first night experience, I see Milan as the Italian version of New York City. It is fun, lively, and bustling. Milan is definitely a must-see when visiting Italy.

Thank you so much for reading!

Stay beautiful,

Sofia





Monday, July 14, 2014

Travel Diary: A Tour of Copenhagen Day 2

Our Savior's Church
Climbing the outside of the church

The altar of Our Savior's Church
The organ of Our Savior's Church
Copenhagen architecture
Canal Tours




The Royal Library


The Copenhagen Opera House

The Little Mermaid Statue
The Happy Wall

Hi everybody!

The second day of Copenhagen was action-packed. It started off with breakfast on my porch. I bought Danish pastries at a nearby bakery. I then headed off on the bus back to the city. Once I arrived at the bus stop, I walked over to my 1st site: Our Savior's Church. There are 400 steps leading to the top of the spire. Climbing inside was an adventure due to the narrow and steep stairs. Once I reached the outside, I have to admit, I was a bit terrified due to the narrow balcony and see through railings. I mustered up enough courage to look out at the view and it was breathtaking. Looking out at Copenhagen, a city different than ones I'm used to, I was in love with the canals, architecture, and streets below. The next 150 steps were spiral stairs wrapping around the outside of the church! Aaah! So up the stairs I went, shaking all the way up, until I finally reached the top. The view was even more spectacular. The inside of the church is gorgeous, as well. I especially loved the altar and the chandelier.
Next, I headed to Kongens Nytorv Square, where you can take a boat tour, eat at outdoor cafes, and enjoy the canal views. I went on the Canal Tours Copenhagen boat tour and saw many sites such as, the Little Mermaid Statue, The Royal Library (you can take out a book and then sit outside to enjoy the view while reading), the Copenhagen Opera House, and much more.
On my way back to the bus stop, I visited the Happy Wall, which is a wall that lets you write down anything you are happy about. (P.S. Denmark is known as the happiest country in the world). So, after writing a little note which consisted of my blog and my family, I went back on the bus ride and headed to my comfortable apartment.

And that was day 2 of my European adventures!

Thank you so much for reading!

Stay beautiful,

Sofia

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Friday, July 11, 2014

My Travel Style: Copenhagen Day 1









Crop Top: Bloomingdale's (similar here or here)   Skirt: STEPS (similar here or here)   Heels: Charles David   Belt: Calvin Klein (similar here)


Hi everybody!

This is what I wore out on my first day in Copenhagen. It was an outfit that paired with black sandals for the day and heels for the night. This outfit is simply chic and was perfect for the afternoon I had in Copenhagen. Also, all of the items are versatile and can be worn in various combinations. This is good to think about when traveling, so that the packing is lighter. Trust me, you do not want to lug around an over-sized luggage to-and-fro. Anyways, if you haven't read yesterday's post I shared my experience of the first day in Denmark. So, please check it out.

Thank you so much for reading!

Stay beautiful,

Sofia




Thursday, July 10, 2014

My Travel Diary: Getting to know Copenhagen

























Hi everybody!

I just got back from my trip to Europe and what an exhilarating, magical, and cultural whirlwind it has been! I have learned so much while traveling through Europe this Summer and I want to share this with you. So for the next few weeks, I will be doing a travel series that will include where to go, how to dress, what to eat, etc. I am so excited to share with you my adventures and tips, and I would love to hear your experiences via the comments below and on Twitter or Instagram. So, let's begin!

My trip started off in Copenhagen on June 19, 2014. I arrived in the afternoon to a clear blue sky with chilly temperatures. I quickly put myself together and grabbed a handy yet stylish denim jacket to go exploring. I decided that I was going to get to know Copenhagen, since I only had the evening and I just got off a long flight. I wanted to walk with the locals, dine with the locals, and experience the culture. So I took a bus from my apartment, which was on the suburban side of the city, to the more bustling streets of Copenhagen. The bus stop was aside of Tivoli, one of the world's oldest amusement parks. Although I never entered this park, which is famous among many locals and tourists, I could hear the screams of joy and adrenaline outside of the ornate gates. If you are into roller coasters and amusement parks, I recommend you visit this iconic park.
Next, I visited the City Hall. There were musicians playing outside and I decided to sit down to take in the sights (I could never fully comprehend that I was in such a gorgeous location). I continued to meander through the streets, looking in shops and stopping in plazas. There was one plaza I was typically fond of called Grabrodretorv. What a place: colorful buildings, cobblestone paths, and quaint cafes filled the square. As soon as I stepped in this square, I felt like I was truly in Europe. I hopped from square to square as I weaved in out of the clean streets of Denmark. I also sat down in a large square containing the Court House of Copenhagen at Nytorv, which displays the quote, "Countries have to build with laws."  This was in the heart of Copenhagen, so I was really able to see how the locals interacted. I noticed that their mode of transportation was mainly biking (No wonder Copenhagen is known as Europe's greenest city). The bikers had their own lanes and lights. It was thoroughly entertaining to watch the array of bikers zoom by me on their way home from work. Denmark also has 17 hours of sunlight, and you could tell that the locals were enjoying every bit of it. They were out and about at 10 P.M. like it was 3 P.M. This added to the feeling of safety I had, especially while walking back to the apartment. But before that, I had a lovely traditional Danish meal at a restaurant nearby (post coming up about the delicacies in Copenhagen).

And that was my day first day in Europe. Quite a long one! Overall, I just enjoyed wandering through Copenhagen to end up in front of famous sites or in cozy squares. I'll talk to you tomorrow to show you what I wore on my first day of sight-seeing. Until then...

Thank you so much for reading!

Stay beautiful,

Sofia

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Shamrock Green






Dress: Ralph Lauren (on sale!)   Pumps: GUESS (similar here or here)   Necklace: Tiffany & Co. (similar here)   Watch: GUESS   Bracelet: Tiffany & Co.

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Thank you so much for reading!

Stay beautiful,

Sofia



Thursday, July 3, 2014

4th of July










Top: Ralph Lauren   Shorts: Ralph Lauren    Shoes: Converse   Bangles: Target


Happy 4th of July! 

Thank you so much for reading!

Stay beautiful,

Sofia

For live photos and videos of my current vacation, visit me on Instagram here.