Travel
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Top Two Can’t-Miss Sites in Monaco
The Principality of Monaco is the second-smallest country in the world – behind Vatican City!Β The country is in the French Riviera, along the Mediterranean Sea.Β I popped over to Monaco for a day while spending a long weekend in Nice, France.Β Monaco is a very quick (and scenic) train-ride from Nice.Β Β Most people associate Monaco with the Monte Carlo Casino and the Grand Prix, but the destination has a lot more to offer.Β It’s like visiting a city, but you get to add a whole new country to your list!Β If you’re short on time, I recommend visiting two highlights – Le Palais des Princes and Jardin Exotique de…
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Day Trip from Barcelona: Girona and the DalΓ Theatre-Museum
I always recommend visiting local Tourist Offices when traveling. They offer a lot of great resources, including (free!) maps and advice. I like to take a look at the available tours to nearby destinations for ideas and suggestions. Sometimes I book day-trips through tourist offices, but a lot of times I use the tours as an idea to plan a trip myself!Β At the Barcelona Tourist Office, I noticed tours for day-trips to Girona and Figueres. I took a pamphlet with me, did a little research myself, and I found it was easy to book train tickets and visit the cities by myself. Figueres is a popular destination due to the…
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3 Days in Barcelona: The Ultimate Itinerary
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, the Northeastern region in Spain.Β This city has so much to offer between the art, architecture, delicious food, and the beach!Β To this day, Barcelona is one of my top favorite cities that I have visited.Β Β Here are the can’t miss spots when visiting Barcelona for three days: Day 1 Barri GΓ²tic – Gothic Quarter The Gothic Quarter is incredibly charming – I spent much of my first day wandering this area. The narrow streets are filled with cathedrals, restaurants, and clubs. It is a stark contrast to…
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Discover Lille, Ma Ville: The Heart of Northern France
I lived in Lille, France for 8 months between 2016-2017 while I was a Teaching Assistant. Lille is the capital of Hauts-de-France, the northernmost region of France. This region is relatively new, combining the two former regions of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy. Lille is specifically located in French Flanders, close to the France/Belgium border. Β When applying to the TAPIF program, candidates select three of their top choices of regions where they hope to be assigned. Luckily for me, I wasn’t assigned to any of my choices! I was assigned to the Lille region, and I immediately fell in love with it!Β The city has so much charm!Β This post contains…
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Exploring the Fez Medina
Fez is the second largest city in Morocco, behind Casablanca. Fez has different sections, including “Old Fez” (Fez el Bali) from the 9th Century and “New Fez” (Fez el Djedid) from the 13th Century! Yes, you read that right – “New Fez” was founded in 1276!Β Β Fes el Bali, Old Fez, is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.Β Inside the walled city, there is a maze of winding streets filled with vendors and merchants.Β University of Al-Karaouine, the world’s oldest existing (and still operating!) university is within Fes el Bali.Β Β Fez is still the most intact, least modernized medina in the Arab world and one of the largest car-free urban…
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Cherry Blossom Festival
It’s that time of year folks! It’s Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC! Every year around this time, people from all over come to DC to see the coveted cherry trees blooming around the tidal basin and other areas. This also sparks a festival with various events in the city. The trees were planted beginning in 1912, but new trees have been planted regularly since then. Peak bloom was Monday, April 1st! This was no April Fool’s joke, because I brought my puppy and walked around the basin on Monday and indeed the trees are blooming! Peak bloom is supposed to be when at least 70% of the trees are…
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Firefly Festival 2018
Firefly Music Festival was the first camping festival I attended, in 2016.Β I went with a handful of friends and we camped on a 30-person lot.Β I had so much fun at this festival, I’d been dying to go back!Β Last summer I was still broke from living in France, but this summer I was committed to going again! I paid for a 6-person camping site, because I thought some friends would be joining.Β Note to self, you probably should not spend money on a shared camping site unless your “fellow campers” actually buy their festival tickets as well.Β As we got closer and closer to the festival weekend, it…
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Solo Travel: Why am I Comfortable Traveling Alone?
This spring, a group of my closeΒ college friends came to visit me.Β On the first night back together, we obviously had a lot to talk about!Β One of my friends asked me how I feel so comfortable traveling by myself.Β I had, after all, just traveled through Eastern Europe for two weeks by myself.Β Her question is natural – it does seem strange to feel comfortable doing such a thing.Β As I answered her, I realized that at some point over the past couple of years it had just become normal for me. When I studied abroad for 6 weeks, I made sure to coordinate with another student so that…
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An Afternoon in Honfleur, France
When I visited Γtretat last month, we rented an Airbnb in Le Havre. Β Apparently, my landlady grew up in that town! During an afternoon apΓ©ritif with my family at their home next door, she recommended that we stop in Honfleur! She said it was a beautiful and historic french town.Β Β It turned out to be great advice, as Honfleur is only ten minutes out of the way driving from Le Havre to Paris. Β We decided to spend a quick afternoon there, before heading to Paris for the weekend. Honfleur is in the French Department of Calvados. Β It sits rightΒ at the estuary that connects the Seine to the English Channel, just…
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Γtretat, Normandy: My Return Visit
When I was 16 years old, I had an opportunity to go on a ten day trip to Northern France through my high school! Though I feel like I wasn’t old/mature enough to truly appreciate it, the trip was amazing. Β We went to Paris (of course!) and then proceeded to other areas in the north. Β There are bits that I remember more vividly than others. The one town that absolutely stuck out to me was Γtretat! In this town we had a lot of free time. Β I broke off from the group with a couple friends and we climbed up to the top of one of the falaises and explored!…
