Where I've been
Italy
Yes, as surprising as it is I have been to Italy. All jokes aside, I am so happy to have lived in Rome, Italy for three and a half months. I was able to experience the culture of Italy and I loved every second of it. I know when I go back home I am going to miss the beautiful landscapes, delicious food, and charm of Rome. My favorite city to visit in Italy was Nocelle because it was on the Amalfi Coast right on the top of a cliff. You could see the sea for miles and could see Positano down below. The sunsets were amazing and the Italian lady who owned our Airbnb was sure that we got an authentic Italian experience. I also really enjoyed Assisi. There is a picture of Assisi below, but you can check out more photos here.
Currency: Euro
Days Spent in Country: 98
Cities Visited: Rome, Santa Marinella, Vatican City, Montepulciano, Montalcino, Florence, Venice, Perugia, Asissi, Positano, Nocelle, Amalfi, Sorrento, and Capri
My Favorite Foods: Carbonara, gnocchi, and tiramisu
Hungary
Visiting Hungary was one of the highlights of my traveling experience. I visited Budapest and was able to do a walking tour of the city, go to the local food market, and go to a Turkish bath where I sat in a hot spring for nearly 3 hours. The weather was a bit colder than Italy, especially since I visited in November, but it was still wonderful. The trees were all turning beautiful colors and the architecture around the city was breathtaking. Check out the pictures.
Currency: Forint
Days Spent in Country: 2
Cities Visited: Budapest
My Favorite Foods: Langos and goulash
Austria
I was able to visit Austria in the same weekend that I went to Hungary; however, that was definitely not enough time. I absolutely loved Austria because of how green everything was. When I was in Vienna, I walked around the city and was able to look at the amazing architecture. For lunch I went to a restaurant where I had sausage wrapped in bacon and filled with cheese, an Austrian beer, and apple strudel for dessert. I was so happy afterwards because of how delicious my meal was. We then went to Salzburg where I went on the Sound of Music tour and was able to see the sights of the film both in the city and in the countryside. It started snowing when we were in the mountains and it was so beautiful. Below is a picture of the gazebo from the movie The Sound of Music, but you can get more photos here.
Currency: Euro
Days Spent in Country: 2
Cities Visited: Vienna and Salzburg
My Favorite Foods: Sausage and apple strudel
Spain
I definitely did not spend enough time in Spain. Barcelona was one of my favorite cities to go to because of the atmosphere, food, and beauty of the city. Also, my Spanish speaking skills are a lot better than my Italian speaking skills, so I was able to understand people a little more. The public transportation in the city was really easy to use and made getting around easy. I went to Park Guell, La Sagrada Familia, La Boqueria, and the soccer stadium of F C Barcelona. I had an absolute blast exploring the city and want to visit more of Spain in the future. Below is a picture of La Boqueria. Check out more photos here.
Currency: Euro
Days Spent in Country: 3
Cities Visited: Barcelona
My Favorite Foods: Paella, croquetas, and sangria
England
Going to London was my most recent trip and was one where I got to see someone from home. I met up with Sam and had the best time together. We went on the Harry Potter Studio Tour, saw the movie Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, went to the Natural History and British museums, went on the London eye, went on a Beatles walking tour, and so much more. We walked a ton and were constantly busy. At night we tried to eat at Pubs, but one night we went to an Italian restaurant. It made me realize how good the food is in Italy because that pasta was absolute garbage in comparison. Below is a picture of Kensington Palace which was very close to our hotel. There are more photos here.
