Budget-Friendly Travel Tips

Wow, long time no blog.  With school and work, somehow this passion got away from me.  But I’m back and ready to share some more travel tips!

For my college graduation, my boyfriend and I wanted to do a big Europe trip that wouldn’t break the bank. Here’s how we achieved that goal-

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Breaking Up With Your Semester Abroad

It was love at first sight, a whirlwind adventure.  It was long walks along the beach and late night churro dates.  It was running carefree through castles and jet-setting every weekend.  It was the experience of a lifetime, it was my semester abroad.

What to Know if You’re Studying Abroad in Granada: My Goodbye Blog

 

Today I packed up my room. Today I walked down Calle San Anton and Recogidas and Puentezuelas for the last time.  Today I said goodbye to the city that’s become my home.

I’ve been reflecting back on how much of a whirlwind this semester really was.  I’ve seen so much, I’ve done so much, and most importantly, I’ve learned so much.  I’ve learned so much about myself and who I want to be and how I can handle situations on my own and in foreign countries and without being able to speak the native language, and those are skills you can only acquire by traveling for an extended period of time.

That being said, I want to share these things I’ve learned with people who are not only going to study in Granada, but visit Granada in general.  I think these are all some pretty good tips for someone planning on visiting the city that was voted the most beautiful in Spain (according to an ambiguous Facebook source, of course).

What am I Thankful For?

Back in the U.S., families everywhere are preparing for Thanksgiving and family gatherings and stuffing themselves full… And I’m across the world (not a bad deal).  Tomorrow, instead of sitting around the dinner table with my family, I’ll be heading to the airport, off on my next great adventure.  I’ve got so much to be thankful for, as it seems like the last 3 months have been a dream.

3 Hours in Córdoba

Córdoba is one of those cities that is absolutely bathed in history, from the walkways to the buildings to the bridges to the view of the city, you can feel just how old Córdoba is. Any Game of Thrones enthusiasts will like the fact that there are some scenes of the show filmed here, and any history enthusiast will appreciate the fact that the whole city of Córdoba is actually a UNESCO world heritage site, preserving it’s historical value.

Bohemia Jazz Café

Last week marked the end of my intensive Spanish program and also the completion of my first month living Spain!

7 Things

This week I’ve compiled a list of 7 things that have made me happy or brought me joy in some way-

The Homesick Blues

This week was hard, I’m not even going to lie.  Granada is as beautiful as ever, I’m learning more and more every day, but that doesn’t mean every day is going to be the best day ever.

Up until this week, I hadn’t really spent a lot of time pining over home or missing anything in particular. But, while we all have bad days and bad weeks, the best way to get over it is to create a positive mindset.

In all honesty, I am still in my funk and I hope writing this gets me out of it, but I’ll let you know!

Lagos, Portugal: Home Away from Home?

This weekend I went to Portugal for the first time! It was such an amazing experience and I’m so glad I got to go with all the new friends I’ve made since I’ve been in Spain.

Here’s a run down of my three days in Lagos, Portugal, complete with awesome grottos, cliffside sunsets, and lots of sunshine.

Spending Sunday in the Oldest District in Granada

On Sundays in Granada, nearly everything shuts down.  It’s the day off for small shop owners, and there’s a law dictating that big businesses close as well to preserve the small shop industry within the city.  That left us with a day off, no plans, and not a lot of options.

Sitting around felt like a waste of a day when I think about the fact that I fly home in 97 days, so my friends and I decided to spend our afternoon walking through the Albaicín, the old Moorish district in Granada.  And boy, am I glad we did.