Category: Travels

Paris|Mona Lisa, I See You

Posted on by Milli Stephania in Milli Stephania, Travels

This is the part that I hate the most, all my days start to blend together. I arrived with a journal like I usually do when I travel. I start writing everything in detail, it makes my blogging easier, but then it all goes to the shits.
It was time to visit the infamous Louvre Museum, the home of Mona Lisa and Venus De Milo. Seeing them in person, was a once in a lifetime experience. We bought some croissants, which were delicious for breakfast, and got to the museum as early as possible. We wanted to avoid the crowds, we bought our tickets and bee lined our way to the audio tour guide booth. Getting that audio tour was the best thing we could have done, it broke everything down with full details and back stories. Which saved me and all of us from walking around not knowing what was going on. I loved the rooms fulled of gold, the crowns, all the royalty…how beautiful. It didn’t take long for the crowds to take over, and I noticed a lot of asians came on packs and seemed to be the ones who were the rudest. It wasn’t my favorite feeling, and when it came to the Mona Lisa, the crowd was insane. Everyone kept pushing, having no consideration for anyone else around them. Wack.

She truly was more beautiful in person, I admired her from afar, glad I had my glasses with me. When I finally got to the front, I just stayed there and stared, got my picture and let others have a chance.
After the Louvre it was time for dinner, we walked into a restaurant that head stem punk decor. I feel like all I do is use the bathroom, the french barely believe in water. If you want water, you have to ask for it, as for wine, it’s always there waiting for you.

I decided to try something different, and ordered a salmon and avocado tar tar. It was good, but not as banging as the pizza Christopher ordered. I like that we all order different things and start passing our plates back and forth, it gives us the chance to try everything.
After dinner we headed to the highest point in Paris, the view is absolutely stunning. Sacré- Coeur is a church on top of a hill. It took a little bit of a hike to get up there, but once we got up there, the view was well worth it. By the time we got to the top my feet were killing me and all I really wanted was to teleport back to our flat, and soak my feet.

Paris | Sad Kind of Beautiful

Posted on by Milli Stephania in Travels

Well, Hello France!

Surprisingly enough finding our apartment  wasn’t difficult. Thanks to Estelle, our host, who left instructions on how to arrive. We took the RER-B (the train) to Châtelet-les-Halles, were we jumped on the 11 and got off at Goncourt. The metro was pretty simple, just like the trains of NYC, there are signs and arrows leading you. Once we left the train it was almost 3 blocks away. The apartment is nice and bright, and I’m glad I had all the instructions and codes to get inside, especially since we got here earlier than our check in time.

Estelle has left a welcoming note,there’s orange juice in the fridge and a bottle of red wine in the counter just waiting for us. Thank you!

We’re all exhausted, hungry and just waiting to jump in the shower, wash our asses. The men keep cracking up because the shower is so much smaller than we’re used to and they look humongous inside of it.

It’s time to get breakfast and it’s also time to bundle up. It’s cold and drizzling here, now what should we eat?

I ordered croque madame, with grilled ham, cheese and a fried egg. I ordered a potato soup that was delicious and everyone started dipping their bread into it. Café Bonne Biére was warm and toasty. We strolled through the streets to visit our first museum.

Centre Pompidou, the outside looked like the bones of the building. Pipes everywhere. Inside there were sculptures and paintings everywhere. Pablo Picasso being one of the infamous and many others, some more disturbing than others.

It was raining, and even though it was wet and cold, from how high I was, the view was beautiful. I’m glad I packed about 3 pairs of glasses with me, because without them, I wouldn’t be able to take in everything.

After we got back to our flat, we noticed that the cafe we munched on earlier, was the same one that was the first target of the shootings a few months ago. The Paris attacks reflected in monuments full of flowers, candles and memorials. It was a sad kind of beautiful. 

 

Atlantic City 2015

Posted on by Milli Stephania in Friends + Family, Milli Stephania, Travels, Videos

Vacations. We all need them, and want them even more. Chris’s mom, Millie has spoiled us rotten. She planned a whole family trip to Atlantic City. I’ve been brushing up on my card gaming skills, you know, just in case.

I have never been, and was pretty excited. 

The car ride was pretty uncomfortable, but we all managed through, when we finally got to spread our legs, the sight of the hotel made us forget about the pain. The lobby was full of machines, everything was so bright and light up. I only thought to myself.. If this is how cool A.C. looks, imagine Las Vegas?

We headed to the rooms to get comfy, and headed right back out to roam the Atlantic City boardwalk, which was pretty chilly surprisingly. When we got back, the boy, Chris and Matthew, taught us girls how to play poker. I’ve always wanted to learn, and even though Chris has tried to teach me before.. for some reason, I was finally understanding it now. Maybe it had to do with all the beer in my system.

The next day, we roamed the boardwalk some more, played in the sand and soaked up some sun rays with more beers. Beers are always the answer.

Dinner with the family was great. We all had burgers, keeping it simple and oh, so satisfying.

I’ll admit, that bubble bath was everything, especially since I had a special someone and some wine to join me. The hotel pool party was way too good, and i was feeling the buzz in no time. I was pretty much in my own world the whole time.

Chris started making conversation with some girl in a white dress and after a couple minutes I decided to go be nosy (you know…just in case) and when I looked at her, I immediately recognized her. I’ve met Laurie about once and have had her on my social media for some time now. We spent the rest of the night chatting up a storm, and drinking with her and her beau. 

The morning and check out time came a little too quickly. Chris was knocked out, while I packed our things. Ashley and Matt were already done and I’m running around trying to make sure we didn’t forget anything.

This tiny getaway was much needed. i had a great time. Thank you so much Millie, for allowing to be a party of your family’s escapades.

Santo Domingo: Day 3: Feliz Dia De La Independencia

Posted on by Milli Stephania in Milli Stephania, Travels

Buenos Dias Republica Dominicana!

What better way to start off the celebration of Indpendence Day, than actually being in the place you’re celebrating!?

When I was a little girl, maybe like 5 or so,  and used to live in Santo Domingo, I remember being dressed up in a huge pink devil costume ready for the carnaval. I remember being scared of the monsters, but having fun at the same time. Now that I’m much much older (goodness, I’m getting old) this time I would be able to celebrate like the adults do… with a lot of liquor.
It made much more sense to take the bus over to La Vega, another city in La Republica Dominicana, since we were all going to be drinking and nobody wanted to be the responsible designated driver.

When we first got there, the sun was beaming, I decided to wear a dress, don’t ask me why, because I ended up regretting it later once I got beat up, I’ll explain later.

My hip was killing me from the day I busted my ass at the bar, and these diablos weren’t helping. They’re dressed from head to toe and carry these balloons filled with cow fat that hardens…and then they beat you in the butt with them. yes, you read that correctly. Chris got hit first, and he thought I was the mastermind behind it all. I call him over and tell him to pose with one of the diablos, and another comes up right behind him and pops him right in the ass! I was cracking up, and lucky me got to capture that pain.
The guys scurried off and snuck some Brugal in, so we all go to enjoy the music while we tried our best to cover our butts.

My cousin Ernesto had plans of his own, since he kept being conniving and kept planning to get us hit. He would call the diablos over and sneak behind us so one of gets hit. What a bully!
(when Chris got hit ….look at that face! ↑)

I’m not even going to lie, when I got hit, ouch! I felt that sting for the rest of the night. I was in so much pain. I got hit on my right buttcheek, and I didn’t even get the chance to see the diablo that beat me!
Night time arrived at the guys were feeling it. Ernesto the show off that he is got Chris to take his shirt off and somehow I ended up being hassled into taking pictures of them… who did they think they were? lol  They were showing off their tattoos and their muscles (cough cough cough)