homeward bound

{french cloud via the neo-traditionalist}

it is with mixed emotions that i leave france today to return to connecticut for the summer. on the one hand, i will miss this country and my host family more than words can do justice. on the other, i could not be more excited to reunite with family and friends and return to routine and some decorating projects i can't wait to share with all of you. i'm taking a moment to reflect on some of the experiences i've had during my five months in europe and inviting you to see more on the travel blog i've kept over at mackenzie en france...

there were trips to the many châteaux of the loire valley, including a particularly trying trip to villandry...

michael and i spent valentine's day in paris...

i took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to barcelona with my dad...

i explored and adored amsterdam with michael...

i saw the breathtaking beaches and american cemetery of normandy...

my brother grayson and i frolicked in interlaken...

after which we went hang gliding in the swiss alps...

michael and i fell in love with venice...

we climbed the duomo in florence...

we went from the colosseum in rome...

to the parthenon in athens...

then there was that can't-look-away view in ios...

plus the donkey ride in santorini...

...followed by a whirlwind trip to london, prague, munich, salzburg, vienna, and istanbul with my mom and sister reilly (pictures to follow!).

it's been one hell of a semester and i am so incredibly blessed to have had this opportunity to see the world at such an early age. thank you, mom and dad — see you this afternoon!

{french cloud via the neo-traditionalist}

it is with mixed emotions that i leave france today to return to connecticut for the summer. on the one hand, i will miss this country and my host family more than words can do justice. on the other, i could not be more excited to reunite with family and friends and return to routine and some decorating projects i can't wait to share with all of you. i'm taking a moment to reflect on some of the experiences i've had during my five months in europe and inviting you to see more on the travel blog i've kept over at mackenzie en france...

there were trips to the many châteaux of the loire valley, including a particularly trying trip to villandry...

michael and i spent valentine's day in paris...

i took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to barcelona with my dad...

i explored and adored amsterdam with michael...

i saw the breathtaking beaches and american cemetery of normandy...

my brother grayson and i frolicked in interlaken...

after which we went hang gliding in the swiss alps...

michael and i fell in love with venice...

we climbed the duomo in florence...

we went from the colosseum in rome...

to the parthenon in athens...

then there was that can't-look-away view in ios...

plus the donkey ride in santorini...

...followed by a whirlwind trip to london, prague, munich, salzburg, vienna, and istanbul with my mom and sister reilly (pictures to follow!).

it's been one hell of a semester and i am so incredibly blessed to have had this opportunity to see the world at such an early age. thank you, mom and dad — see you this afternoon!