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
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
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
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
Florence. The name itself inspires a sort of beautiful anticipation, as though slide after slide in an art history lecture will emerge in one city: Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, Michelangelo’s David, Titian’s Venus of Urbino… But I hadn’t gotten to those yet. I arrived by train tired and ready to unload my increasingly heavy … Continue reading
I’ve run away to Italy. There really isn’t a better place to run away to, with all the little streets to get lost in and the Italian to attempt and the pasta to consume. My first stop was Venice. Venice is straight out of a postcard – of the hundreds of postcards at the hundreds … Continue reading
It has only been eleven days since the semester ended, but I’m already having trouble remembering the sharp, wet cold of my last day in London. I skipped spring altogether, luxuriating in the long days of sunshine and the ensuing sunburns. Last Saturday four friends and I made it to balmy Kalkan, Turkey in one … Continue reading
Travel Ardor 