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Festival de Sant Joan in Barcelona - beach & street party!

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Barcelona

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Nit de Sant Joan was literally LIT

Day two in Barcelona - We visited Sagrada Familia for an audio tour of the basilica and tower visit - definitely worth the price! The cathedral is stunning both inside and out - truly astonishing to witness one of Gaudi’s most famous works in real life. We ventured to the top of the Navitity towers - overlooking the main entrance of the Bascilica, Barcelona and the ocean - I would recommend this additional add-on for the beautiful views and for the opportunity to traverse through the inner workings of the towers that Gaudi himself lived to see be built - amazing.

After Sagrada Familia, we ventured up to Park Güell for a birds-eye view of the city - the very top is so peaceful and serene; it doesn’t feel like you’re in a major city! We opted against paying to enter Monumental Zone so I didn’t get a photo at the famous Plaça de Natura but we could see it from where we were standing in the park! :)

In a short while we were in the center of Barcelona’s major shopping district along the famous avenue, Passeig de Gràcia. All the top international and Spanish brands have a large store along the avenue for hours and hours of people-watching and shopping - definitely a must see.

We then met Ogaga and his friend at a cosy Ethiopian restaurant for dinner, Addis Abeba. The plate we shared was delicious especially paired with their fresh mango juice.

June 23-24 is also very important in Barcelona as it marks not only the summer solstice but “Nit de Sant Joan” or the Feast of Saint Joan - The Festival of Fire. As such, locals all over Barcelona light fireworks through the city - I’d never seen anything like it! Sure, we may light off a few sparklers to celebrate the Fourth of July but Spain parties much harder! For hours all around the city, families, friends, and young people staked out their part of the city - public parks, street alleys, parking lots, beachfront areas - to celebrate. The sounds of firecrackers and boomers going off made me a little uneasy at first but we soon found ourselves at a huge block party celebrating the night with folks lighting firecrackers both near & far. Around midnight, we traveled down to Barceloneta - the beachfront boardwalk where thousands of people were celebrating, drinking and of course lighting off firecrackers. The festivities were incredible to witness. Even around 3am when we returned back to our airbnb neighborhood, folks were still partying and lighting firecrackers with loved ones - even little kids! Tomorrow is a bank holiday so schools and most businesses will be closed to allow folks to enjoy the holiday - I hope to soak up the sun along the beach right along with them!

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Viva Barcelona

Barcelona is BEAUTIFUL - I'm loving the sights, the sandy beach, mountain views, and leisurely pace of life here. The weather has been warm, sunny with the perfect breeze. I'm staying near the iconic Basilica de La Sagrada Familia in a cute airbnb now that i've been joined by my bf from home. His friend Ogaga also joined us in Barcelona. The first evening, we three grabbed dinner at a nearby Vietnamese restaurant (Capitol de Vietnam) - it was delicious! I ordered a bowl of pho, two types of nem, and a delicious cup of rooibos tea. I felt like I was back on my abroad adventure in South Africa and Vietnam! After dinner, we ventured to meet Ogaga's friend in Plaça de Catalunya and walked along La Rambla for pictures and sangria - yum! Barcelona is truly a cosmopolitan city - at any moment, I hear a slew of languages representing the diverse locals and tourists alike. Wifi hotspots are abundant and the Metro is affordable and very easy to navigate. The city lives on well into the night as bars and clubs close well into the early morning hours - so far really enjoying all that the city has to offer!

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Quick stops in Provance

While we traveled from Antibes to Barcelona, we made several stops in Provance, a region in southern France. Our first stop was to the medieval city of Avignon which is where the Palace of the Pope is located - very cool to see the medieval walls and bridge. There were a ton of shopping, cafes and restaurants of all cuisines for our lunchtime stop. We then traveled for a fun excursion - kayaking down the Gardon River! It was definitely more intense than I imagined but we cooled off with a dip in the freshwater river under the ancient Roman aqueduct - The Pont du Gard - what a sight! :) We spent the night in Nimes and in the morning, made a quick stop in the hilltop medieval city of Carcassonne, known for its citadel and 53 watchtowers lining the walls. It was awesome to feel transported back in time. I did a little shopping and had a great lunch before joining the group. We're now off to our final country: Spain. Off to Barcelona first!

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Monaco & Monte Carlo!

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Highlights from Rome & Vatican City!

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Antibes & Nice, French Rivera

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Florence & Pisa!

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Florence!

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Sunny vibes in the South of France

Though I was in no rush to leave Florence, our trip continued and soon we were off to the French Rivera (Côte d' Azul) in Antibes, France. Antibes is a quaint local town straddling the line between local and touristy - the regional train lines connect it to other southern towns like Nice and Cannes while a marina filled with yachts and luxury liners mark the seaside town. Our first night we ventured around the old town to get acquainted before heading to dinner off the main promenade - we found ourselves surrounded in EuroCup2016 festivities as France and Switzerland matched - it was an intense game as many locals flocked to bars and restaurants to cheer on their team. Day two, I was set on visiting Nice...I'm so glad I did. I woke up to breakfast and joined friends at the Antibes beach. After a cool dip, I ventured off to Nice for some alone time. In the few hours I spent there, I saw quite a bit - the main shopping district and avenues, a stroll along the famous Promenade des Anglais, postcard views from the top of Chateaû de Nice (Castle Hill), and a delicious lunch at a creperie called Granny's - simply fabulous but nowhere near enough time to fully experience all of Nice; yet another city I hope to return and see again. Following my 30 min train trip back to Antibes, I joined the group for our nighttime excursion to Monaco - we ate dinner, strolled around, had drinks at a seaside brasserie, and visited the famous Monte Carlo casino. The intimate sporting center was filled with high rollers as Bentleys, Rolls Royces, Ferraris, and Lamborghinis lined the outside driveway. I sadly did not win much but still had a great time. Tomorrow, we're off to Nime in Provence! :) reaching the home stretch of this fantastic journey!

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Firenze is probably my favorite

I had a blast in Florence and am already planning my return. First off, it’s a beautiful, safe and scenic city full of history and culture.

We stayed in a wonderful hostel (Plus Florence) near Piazza del Indepencia so we were very close to the major sites like The Duomo.

Our first night, we traveled to a family owned vineyard in the Chianti region (~30 mins) for a private vineyard tour and wine tasting. It was so picturesque - they served us several types of reds, whites and a dessert wine best enjoyed with biscotti. We all really enjoyed the evening.

Back in Florence, I did my own exploring…visiting the Museo Gucci (as recommended by a friend) right in the center of Florence: Piazza della Signoria. Since it was Friday night, the entrance fee was only 5€. It was fabulous - their bookstore was awesome, definitely worth a visit! After a gigantic gelato cone from a nearby Gelateria, I found myself among new friends in Florence - yes, it is true that southern Italians find no problem in making friends and so I found myself spending the rest of the first night among new Florentine friends with plans to catch up tomorrow. The second day was more restful. I focused on sleep and personal care and also did some wandering through the shops of Florence, spending time with my tour friends over drinks, dinner and sunset views at our hostel, before meeting up with my local friends. All in all, I had a wonderful time in Florence yet 2ish days was not enough. Upon my return, I hope to venture to the top of Piazzale Michelangelo, stroll through the wings of the Uffizi Gallery, check out deals at the designer outlets of The Mall, find a deal on leather goods, shop til i drop, and see the enclosed David sculpture at the Accademia. Until next time, Florence!! I'll certainly be back :)

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Rome's Been so Great I forgot to Blog

I spent three days in Rome - The Eternal City. To say I had a great time is simply an understatement. Rome has such a busy energy, fueled by tourists and locals alike. The weather was warm and sunny with perfect summer nights - it was fabulous!

We stayed at Hotel Nizza near Termine - a huge train station and transportation hub making travel around the city easy. Speaking of, public transportation in Rome is extremely efficient and cost effective - a one-way tix is 1.50€ and buses, trains and above ground trams come regularly to whisk you all around.

The first night, a group of us ventured to the Trevi Fountain and Pantheon before enjoying a group meal near Piazza Navona and bar hopping in Campo di Fiori (The Drunken Ship has fishbowl pitchers of mixed drink for 20€ - split with friends and try their Sex on the Beach).

The second day, I did some wandering around - visited the Piazza di Popolo and Piazza di Spagna : Rome is iconic for its ancient ruins as well as their large decorated public squares. I window shopped along the shopping street of Via del Corso (stop by the 5-story Zara at Largo Chugi) before joining the group for a guided tour of the Colosseum and The Roman Forum. Seeing the iconic ruins of Ancient Rome was incredible - you really can’t appreciate the epic proportions of the Roman Empire until you see what remains and hear what did not. Fun fact: The Colosseum got its name (well really nickname cause it wasn’t called that back in the day) from the massive bronze Sun God statue that once stood beside it, later melted down once Christianity took over and built into the high altar housed in St. Peter’s Basilica). After the tour, my friends and I grabbed dinner and gelato (hands down best gelato in Rome is at Flor Gelateria Italano on Largo Corrado Ricci - try a scoop of hazelnut and sour black cherry on a cone). Energized, we walked ~20 mins through Rome to the hip neighborhood of Travestere, along the way we stumbled upon the Largo di Torre Argentina: ruins of ancient Roman temples and now cat sanctuary, a cool bazaar along the Tiber River with bars and shops, and ended up at the cute and quaint Cioccolata e Vino (Vincolo del Cinque, 11A) for their famous chocolate shots - yes shots of chocolate, hazelnut or coffee liquors topped with whipped cream and other additions in an edible chocolate shot glass - SO GOOD!

Our final day in Rome began early for a guided tour of The Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Seeing some of Michaelangelo’s most famous works including the iconic “Creation of Adam” in the ceiling of the Sistine was terrific. Even more so than seeing the ruins of Rome, seeing the immaculate art and decor throughout The Vatican and the colossal St. Peter’s Basilica blew my mind. Most of the limestone, marble, bronze and gold that once adorned Ancient Rome now completes the gigantic cathedral - I’m not Catholic but the sheer size and design of the cathedral made my jaw drop. It’s a must see. I decided to venture to the top of the dome for a birds eye view of Rome. My friends & I then enjoyed our last night in Rome back in Travestere at Hosteria del Moro (aka Tony’s - Vincolo del Cinque, 36) for a delicious & affordable feast including caprese salad, bruschetta, pastas, chicken parm, dessert and wine - I definitely recommend. I definitely didn't see all that Rome has to offer but I did enjoy all that I did see in my three days. I made a wish in the Trevi so legend has it that I will return, hopefully with family and loved ones so they too can experience Roma! Off to Florence and Tuscany!

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First night in Rome!

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Venezia Stole My Heart!

As I mentioned our group stayed in Lido Di Jesolo, so to reach the islands of Venice, we traveled by ferry. Venice, as you might have noticed by the photos, is simply beautiful. We were blessed by some of the best weather yet on the trip - warm and sunny skies with a slight breeze.

Venice is a fascinating city - as I mentioned its comprised of islands connected by bridges, over 400 to be frank. On Venice, you’ll find no cars, bikes or trucks - goods are delivered by wheeled hand carts, their ambulance is a boat. Venice is definitely a walking city with a seeming maze of narrow streets - I would not recommend for travelers in wheelchairs or strollers though I did see some.

The city mostly caters to tourists - there are more tourist shops selling glassware, masks, leather goods, and lace than supermarkets. Considering Venice can see up to 100k tourists PER DAY, I suppose this makes good business sense. Yet for locals, the 40,000 Venetians who live in the city, these decisions can be a hassle which explains why most Venetians live on mainland for better accessibility to goods and services. Venice is mostly filled with shops, especially around the major tourist attractions yet one can find quaint, quiet side streets if willing to get a little lost. If I’m ever fortunate to return to the sinking city, I hope to wander more around the city instead of having a planned itinerary - though I did really enjoy myself!

We began the day with a guided tour of the centre of Venice around Piazzo San Marco where Doge’s Palace, Campanile Tower and The Basilica greet visitors. We then enjoyed a glass blowing demonstration and lovely private gondola cruise - nothing like the cruises at The Venetian in Las Vegas :) it was terrific! I would definitely recommend any visitor to Venice take a gondola cruise (with or without musician) to best appreciate the canals and beautiful architecture - it really feels like you’ve been transported back in time. Beware gondola cruises do not come cheap - expect to pay 100£ for an hour cruise.

Our group enjoyed a pizza lunch at one of our tour director’s favorite spots then walked through the labyrinth of Venetian streets to the Rialto Bridge (it was under construction so my pics aren’t the best). We ended the day with gelato and window shopping before hopping on a late afternoon ferry back to Lido di Jesolo.

Back in Lido, some friends and I hung out on the beach and had a great last night in Venezia - wine, pizza and new friends! ¡CIAO! Off to Roma!!