Moscow Reunion

My mission companion Emily and I met up with our friend Katya for dinner. All three of us were together in Moscow and Zelenograd, Russia.

Georgetown Cupcakes

This famous cupcakery has its own TLC show. We waited in a line behind 100 others to try our first Georgetown Cupcake.

Ray's Hell Burger

First stop DC: Ray's Hell Burger. This is the hole-in-the-wall burger joint that President Obama brought the Russian president for dinner.

North Carolina

I got home from Europe at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, and by 3:00 on Thursday I was on a plane headed out to the East Coast. My former roommate, Jenny, picked me up from the airport and we went straight to Richmond and then to the beach in North Carolina. It's so hard to be me!

First Class from Paris

The best moment of my life was when our buddy passes on Delta got us bumped to first class on the direct flight from Paris to Salt Lake City. Not only did I get a 6 course meal with real stemware, flatware and quality food, but at one point in the flight I was literally woken from my peaceful slumber by the aroma of freshly baked cookies and milk. Thank you Kate and friends!!!

And then there was Slovenia

Kate and I flew from Istanbul to Lubljana, Slovenia. My great grandmother immigrated from Slovenia after WWI when she was 17 years old. Her sister and other family stayed behind. My cousins Kate, Liz and I stayed with family for a week, and we were treated like royalty. Slovenia was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. We visited Lake Bled, the Alps, Mini Mundos, Lippitza horse farm, Italy, Austria, and on our last day we visited my 26th country: Croatia.

Turkey in a Nutshell

After Ukraine Kate and I flew to Istanbul. We stayed for two days visiting Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Cistern, a Turkish bath and a Hookah/Whirling Dervish Bar.