For spring break in mid-April, I traveled throughout the South of France by train with a friend who’s currently studying in London. We took a relaxed approach to our vacation, choosing to visit a few tourist attractions here and there but mostly hopping from one café to another. She and I stayed in Toulouse, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, and Nice … Continue reading
On Friday, March 14th, I flew to Santiago de Compostela. Santiago is the capital city of Galicia, a region that hugs the northwest corner of Spain, above Portugal. The city marks the end of El Camino de Santiago, a Christian pilgrimage route in Europe whose Spanish section winds through the picturesque north of the country. Unlike dry, flat Madrid, … Continue reading
To Bavaria! After five months apart, my mom and I reunited for a (very) long weekend in Europe. We chose Munich because it was on my List and she’d never been to Germany. We also threw in Salzburg for a spontaneous day trip, rounding out the weekend with two important Bavarian destinations. As has been documented here, my … Continue reading
I went to Tenerife, in the Canary Islands from New Year’s Eve until January 4th. It was beautiful, around 70 to 75 degrees and sunny. I mostly lay around on the beach and explored on foot. So I’ll just include a few photos of Santa Cruz and La Laguna, Tenerife. I stumbled across a design … Continue reading
Before my solo journey to Kraków, I had romanticized travel by overnight train. Perhaps it would involve a dining car full of interesting strangers and cozy quarters where the train’s gentle rumble lulled passengers to sleep. I’m not sure where I got this notion from, but my overtrain train to Kraków fully disillusioned me. I’d … Continue reading
Vienna: a city of museums, cafes, and unforgettable torte. Molly and I arrived by train on Christmas Eve. From the U-Bahn, my new favorite metro system, we emerged into the sunshine, which glinted on the pastel-colored buildings bordering the Naschmarkt, a sprawling food market. Dropping our bags at our hostel, we ducked into the market … Continue reading
Winter Break 2013 began with Budapest. A city that we’d heard offered little to do completely hooked us. Enamored with the city and my experiences there, I ended up staying for five nights. On Thursday I left Barajas airport in Madrid with Molly, another language assistant in my program. We’d never met before, as she … Continue reading
Two months ago, I was browsing flights online at 2 am, unable to sleep. Using a favorite “adventure generator” I spotted a roundtrip from Madrid to Geneva for only €66. Better yet, it was operated through Swiss Air, not a discount airline that will charge you for breathing too loudly or bringing non-regulation sized reading material. I … Continue reading
It’s siesta on a Sunday in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. Every shop is shuttered and the streets are empty and silent save for the brush of leaves stirred by the wind. The late October sun is bright and warm, generously allowing dresses. By Plaza de Cervantes, the heart of the city, locals gather at cafes … Continue reading
I gave myself four and a half days to enjoy the Cinque Terre. Meaning “five lands,” the centuries old cliff seem like quintessential Italy. The many other tourists seem to think so, too. They’re backpackers and hikers, lovers of pesto and wine. They also seem to be French, for the most part. People come here for … Continue reading
Travel Ardor 