London in Black and White

Finally, I went to London!  WOW.  I know people think I'm crazy just now visiting London for the first time. But for me, it was never at the top of my list. I preferred more different experiences like Southeast Asia, Bora Bora, etc. But I must say, I was so wrong about London!  IT IS SO AWESOME!

I was there on a work trip and lucky to have a weekend to explore. I heard the "British Museum had one of the coolest ceilings" so I had to check it out. My friend was not wrong.  :)  The British Museum also has The Rosetta Stone! WOW!!

 

There is so much cool architecture and history in London, not that I didn't know that, but I didn't see it until now.  Literally.  :)  London is such a cool cultural hub. Every race, culture and color is represented there. Tons of great food, restaurants and SHOPPING! I was lucky enough to stay in Mayfair and let me say every designer you can think of is in that area! Bring your pocket book honey!!! I'd recommend London for a fun girls trip or a family vacation. I must say I am looking forward to going back and making more memories!

Flashback Friday

Today I've been reflecting on a lot of things, and I stumbled upon a lot of old pictures from my travels over the past few years. It's nice to reflect every now and then to understand where you've been and where you're going.  I'm extremely grateful for these experiences.

I wanted to share some of my favorite travel photos. Feel free to follow the links to find additional details on my travels in these special places.

This photo was taken walking around Lisbon, Portugal.

This photo was taken from the office of my previous employer in New York City. 

This was one of my first days in Bora Bora, French Polynesia.  I was extremely excited to get in this magical water. I brought that inner tube from home and the resort had flippers and masks for us to use. I was ready to go!  

This picture was taken in Thailand at the Tiger Temple. I was actually walking a tiger! You are looking at me trying my hardest to be invisible in this moment. The tiger had stopped to pee and was barely looking back watching me. The range of emotions I was feeling in this exact moment are indescribable.

Here I am walking up the stairs inside the Duomo in Florence, Italy.  Florence was one of my favorite places I visited in Europe.

I'd taken a trolley up the mountain to this high viewpoint in Interlaken, Switzerland. 

This picture was taken on a boat tour of the islands off Thailand. These magical waters are my second favorite in the world after Bora Bora.

Most Expensive Restaurant, Please!

When you go out to dinner with friends do any of them say "Let’s go to the most expensive restaurant?" If so - you are in luck - I have some great suggestions! Here is a list of the most expensive restaurants in Europe! Surprise your successful friends with these recommendations next time they are in Europe! I'm sure they will be forever grateful! ;)



1. Le Meurice (Paris)

2. Sketch Lecture Room & Library (London)

3. Restaurant Paul Bocuse (Lyon, France)

4. Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark)

5. Restaurant Pic (Valence, France)

6. Solo Per Due (Vacone, Umbria, Italy)

7. La Marmite (St. Moritz, Switzerland)

8. Le Louis XV Alain Ducasse (Monte Carlo, Monaco)

9. Les Airelles (Courchevel, France)

10. La Pergola (Rome)


http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/07/travel/europe-most-expensive-restaurants/index.html?hpt=travel_hp_herobox  

Europe's Cool Metro Stations

I'm sure many of my fellow backpackers have travelled through some of these metro stations! Do you agree these are the coolest, or most impressive?

I absolutely loved the art on the walls at the Lisbon metro stations. There were quite a few stations I got lost in, and some that were very simple and easy. Ahhhhh, what an experience.

If you haven’t backpacked, alone, in a foreign country, you are truly missing out an important part of self discovery and survival skills. :)

http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/04/travel/europes-best-metro-stations/index.html?hpt=tr_c2

 

Top 10+ Cities In The World!

Have you been to any of the below cities?  WHY NOT?  I had the pleasure of visiting Florence, Bruges, and Barcelona over my month long backpacking adventure in Europe.  I must say Florence was amazing I extended my stay for a week there!  Bruges was absolutely cute like something out of a fairy tale.  Barcelona has incredible history and umm a beach!  Check out details of my trips on my blog - pages are above!   

Here's a small selection of the rankings.

 

Top cities in the world:

 

1. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
2.= Budapest, Hungary
2.= Florence, Italy
4. Salzburg, Austria
5.= Charleston, South Carolina, United States
5.= San Sebastián, Spain
7. Vienna, Austria
8. Rome
9. Siena, Italy
10. Québec City
11.= Cape Town, South Africa
11.= Bruges, Belgium
13. Vancouver, Canada
14. Kyoto, Japan
15.= Prague, Czech Republic
15.= Kraków, Poland
17.= Victoria, Canada
17.= Sydney
17.= Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
20.= Seville, Spain
20.= Beirut, Lebanon
22.= Paris
22.= Melbourne, Australia
24.= Venice, Italy
24.= Barcelona, Spain

 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/16/travel/cn-traveler-top-cities/index.html?hpt=tr_c2 

 

 

Amsterdam anyone??

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/17/travel/amsterdam-travel-legal-parameters/index.html?hpt=tr_t2 

"Decades before anyone else considered legalizing marijuana, prostitution or gay marriage, the Dutch stood -- as they still do today -- at the forefront of change on many controversial social issues, legalizing or tolerating a range of activities that other countries placed squarely outside what they consider legally and socially acceptable."

Expensive!!

I heard Switzerland was expensive but DANG!!!  $15.09 for a Burger King value meal in Zurich!  And $20.39 for a green curry chicken Thai dish in Interlaken!  Does it really cost that much to fly meat over the Swiss Alps?!?!  Must be! 

EVERYTHING is expensive here.  A friggin magnet is $10!  Cheap sunglasses on the street $25!  A pin for my backpack is $8!  #nobueno

Weird Vibes

The other day marked my exact halfway point of my backpacking trip, while in Amsterdam :) The first 2 weeks were exhilarating and exciting!  However in Amsterdam I started missing my friends some. Just wishing they were there with me!

After Amsterdam I decided to go to Berlin last minute b/c everyone kept raving about it. Germany was not originally in my set travel plans.  Honestly I never had a "pull" or desire to go to Germany.  Just didn't.  Even with all that I decided I would check out Berlin!  I must say though that I do not like the energy here.  Don't get me wrong Berlin has been through A LOT and today I stood in some very historic places.  But I am here and I do not like it. Just seems heavy, negative, sour, or like something bad could happen. I do not know why I have such feelings when I am such an open minded person. Maybe I was German in one of my past lives and its telling me to get the hell out?? Who knows! I am headed out of here tomorrow though, most likely to Switzerland then Italy!!

Europe!!

I've finally landed in Europe and have started my backpacking adventure!! Ill post details of my first stop soon!!!! :)

Travelling Solo

I finally booked my Europe backpacking trip!!!!!!  I am so excited!  And what a coincidence I find this article about what other solo travelers have learned about themselves when travelling solo.  :)  This is going to be beautiful...

http://solotravelerblog.com/learn-travel-solo/

Awesome Beaches in Europe

WHEN I finally take my ass to Europe, I will definitely be checking out one of these beautiful beaches! 

http://www.globalgrasshopper.com/travel/10-beaches-europe-travel-snobs/

Backpacking??

So, for a while now I've been thinking about backpacking through Europe. The future at my job started to feel uncertain, so I was strategizing "Plan B" as if I could predict the future. I told myself, "If I get laid off I'm going to take a month and travel Europe!"  Well, what do you know... My "Plan B" may soon become my Plan A!

Now I'm starting to think if I'm really cut out for backpacking. I mean, can I bring a pair of high heels?! What about my flat iron!? I don't want to be in tennis shoes and have my hair in a pony tail 24/7. I mean I can, but I would like to be cuter if possible. Am I losing the point here?? Haha.

I've already mapped out a few of the top Hostels in Europe. Now I need to search the best travel options, whether it be train, bus or plane. Then I need to hit up REI to see about this backpack. Maybe they'll be room for my flat iron and a pair of heels. ;)

Dreaming of Europe..

Normally when I vacation I yearn for palm trees and turquoise water.  But being that I've seen a lot of that lately I've been desiring a taste for European architecture and history.  I am secretly planning a 2 week backpacking trip in Europe that I hope to do in the first half of 2013.  I wish a friend could join me, but I would bet I will be at this alone. 

I found this interesting article on CNN today.  It lists 13 of Europe's secret hidden hot spots.  I cannot wait to plan to visit the most interesting, usual and unusual places in Europe!  Stay tuned and I'll keep you posted on my travels!!  :)

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/29/travel/european-hot-spots/index.html?hpt=tr_bn4