Mont Saint Michel in November: Weather, Travel Info, and More
Are you a Harry Potter fan? Have you ever dreamt of going to a castle away from the rest of the…
Review: EF Ultimate Break
Earlier this year I set my mind on the fact that I would be taking a trip to Europe. I didn’t know when, where, or with who, I just knew it was something I had to do.
I asked friends and family if they would go with me and many said yes. But the follow through and finances weren’t there. And I began to get disappointed and begin to think that maybe this wasn’t going to be possible. And then something happened, something that shook me, and I knew I had to get away and a trip was going to be the only way. I didn’t care if I went alone, I was going. And then I heard about EF Ultimate Break.
Barcelona, Spain
And at last we reach the end of this life changing trip! Today we talk about my final stop of the Iberian peninsula: Barcelona!
I loved the whole trip, but I would say that Barcelona was my favorite. I don’t know if it’s because by then I was already more comfortable with the European way of things but it just felt like home. The vibes that I got there reminded me of Austin, TX (which is my favorite city in the US) and I just felt that if I were to ever move to Spain, Barcelona is where I’d go. So why did I love it so much? Let me tell you!
Sitges, Spain
As we continue to work our way to shorter days and cool fall weather, let’s go back to some more sunny days in Spain. But before we travel to the last city of my trip (and my favorite), let’s take a quick stop in the little beach town of Sitges!
Sitges sits about an hour train ride from Barcelona and is a little beach gem. Yes Barcelona has beaches, but they get way too crowded and frankly I’m now a big fan of crowds. We ended up at Sitges because our wonderful tour guide offered us an extra excursion: paddle boarding! I had only done paddle boarding a time or two in Austin and I was definitely not gonna miss a chance to do it in Spain! Plus it meant a day at the beach and a new town to explore! A total win!
Toledo, Spain
Medieval Toledo! I wasn’t sure what to expect, and I was actually surprised by this little town!
Toledo is about 30 miles outside of Madrid. You’ll see a lot of advertisements for it in Madrid. If you get a chance to visit, I definitely suggest doing it! We headed off to Toledo right after visiting the Palacio Real de Madrid. To say we did a lot of walking that day is an understatement!
This little town sits on a hill surrounded by a river with bridges creating access to it. It really has a medieval feel to it, but with a twist! It is known as the the city “of three cultures” because of its influence from medieval Arab, Jewish and Christianity. This walled old city still has its ancient synagogues, mosque, and churches.
Madrid, Spain
Ah, Spain!
Anytime anyone asked where I was going for my trip, I said Spain. I didn’t mean to leave Portugal out, and I was excited about going there, but everyone is more familiar with Spain and it just seemed easier. Also, everyone I had talked to that said they had been to Europe, said that Spain was their favorite. I found out immediately why that is and I couldn’t agree more!
Let’s begin with Spain’s capital and the heart of the Iberian peninsula: Madrid!
Sintra & Cabo de Roca, Portugal Travel Diary
Now let’s travel to a real life fairy tale town and the prettiest place I ever did see! My favorite city of the whole trip: Sintra! Also, since we took a little detour to a surprise spot, I’ll share some pictures of that too!
Unfortunately this was only a half day trip and I really wish our tour would have included a whole day here (two days in Lisbon would have been enough). I’m pretty sure about 80% of the group would agree too! But Sintra is now on my list of places to visit again and I can’t wait to share with y’all this charming little town!
Lisbon, Portugal Travel Diary
Since Portugal was the first European ground I ever stepped on, it’s only fitting that I begin this series with Lisbon!
I’ll be posting a different post for each city I visited because I want to be as thorough as possible! There was so much to see, therefore there is so much to say! I want to share with y’all all the places I saw, shopped, and ate at! Also, I took like a million photos, so….
Alright, let’s hop on a plane and travel to Portugal’s capital: Lisboa!