This past week my mind has been a bit overwhelmed with just one thought, so I thought I would go ahead and share that today.
Remember last week I said I was going on a trip and I asked you to guess where? Well… on Sunday I will be leaving the quiet shores of Lake Michigan
for a trip to…
NOT a joke. My aunt is living in Spain and invited me to stay with her and since I had enough skymiles to pay for a big portion of my flight, I jumped at the opportunity. I’ve barely even left the United States (Bahamas and British Virgin Islands…) so I am beyond thrilled for this opportunity.
Since I’m going to be over there anyway, I decided to visit Paris as well. It’s always been a dream of mine to go there, so I just had to add it on.
I’ll be arriving in Paris on Monday morning, staying three nights there and then taking the train to Barcelona to meet up with my aunt. We’ll spend two nights in Barcelona, then travel back to Alicante, where she’s living. Two weeks from tomorrow I’ll travel to Madrid and spend one night there before I fly back to the USA.
I feel so, so blessed that I have this opportunity, that I was able to take two weeks off from my temp job and that I’ve managed to make it as cost effective as possible (Well… so far. Let’s see how much food costs!). I will be staying in hostels alone in Paris and Madrid, so I’m a liiiiiittle nervous about that, but sometimes it’s best to do things that scare you a little, right?
Anyway, if you have traveled to any of those cities and have tips or “must-do’s” to share, I’m all ears!
Also – I won’t be bringing my computer or blogging during my trip, but you can follow my adventures on Instagram! Whenever I find wireless…
Have you ever visited another country?
What’s something you’ve done that scared you?
ahhh my life is ONE BIG THING WHICH SCARES ME—and it rocks.
have such a fantastic time!!
awesome!! have so much fun!!
i haven’t traveled there before, but i am so so so so excited for you 😀 you’re going to do great babe AND you will grow and learn so much 😀 love you and thanks for telling me long before this post 🙂 makes me feel special 🙂
Sounds like such an amazing trip – I’m definitely jealous! I’ve never been to Europe but I would absolutely love to go. You’ll have a great time!
Check out Sandeman’s free tours! They are great and they have them in both Paris and Barcelona. You just sign up online and show up wherever they say the group is meeting. It’s a local who gives a tour and you can ask tons of questions, and basically you just give a decent sized tip since it’s “free”!
Barcelona- there is a place called “Pla” which is the best meal of my life and I highly recommend. Like you must go and get the salmon. Definitely call to get a reservation though! Also, try to eat at one of the local places that looks like a hole in the wall for some totally traditional food. The subway system there is amazing! Also, Montserrat is a train ride outside of Barcelona and it is so amazing. Just google it! Then the Sagrada Familia is an awesome must-see Cathedral in Barcelona.
I did a super fun champagne boat ride on the Seine River in Paris. Also, do NOT eat at any restaurant within a 5 mile radius of the Eiffel Tower, etc. Super rip offs and not good food/tourist traps! I can’t remember the names of the good restaurants there (they were in French..) but obviously just use yelp and go from there! Versailles is a train ride from Paris and is awesome too.
This is going to be an awesome trip!!
Yay!!! I’m so excited for your trip Katie! You’re going to have an amazing time! And you better believe I’ll be stalking your Instagram 😉
Thank you, thank you for the tip on Sandeman’s tours! I took their tour in Barcelona and Madrid and absolutely loved it!
Have a great time!! What a wonderful opportunity. I finally went to Europe when I turned 40 and it was an amazing time.
Omg I’m soo excited for you!! I can’t wait to see your pictures. Have a blast!
bah thats so exciting! i’ve been to both spain and paris and I’m in love with both. Barcelona and Madrid are two of my favorite cities of all time!
AHHHHHHHHH!!!! This is AMAZING!!!!! I am so happy for you!!! Doing things that challenge us, scare us, and are totally outside our comfort zone get us ready for even bigger exciting things to happen. So this is fab!!
I’ve been to paris…but only when I was 3, so I don’t remember it. Go to the eiffel tower???! 😉
ohhh!!! that sounds fabulous
Paris is the #1 city I want to visit 🙂
I’ve been to Paris twice (duh.. I’m a French Teacher) and as a fellow foodie here are a few things you MUST EAT while in Paris. I’ve included approximate euro prices as well:
1. Angelina’s – FAMOUS hot chocolate, it’s a little pricey but Coco Chanel spent her Sunday afternoons there! Just go for a cup of the hot chocolate, it will blow your mind. (~12 euros).
2. Nutella and Banana Crepe – get this from any street vendor/place. Sweet or savory they cost less then 10 euros.
3. Cafe Trocodero – There’s actually a metro stop right there. You can get a great view of the Eiffel Tower while it twinkles if you sit on the patio. French onion soup is soooo good. About 10 euros.
4. Cafe de Flore – I’m an American Lit nerd, go hang out with the ghosts of Hemmingway, Stein, and Fitzgerald.
5. Wander around a market and make a picnic for yourself! Baguette, cheese, fruit, wine… yumm!
Have a wonderful time!! I could have given you a crash course in French if you weren’t leaving so soon!
Thanks for all your tips! And I know a little french, I took it 7 years when I was growing up. Thankfully I remembered a good bit!
Hope you have an amazing trip. I would be scared to death to fly alone and stay alone in a city where I didn’t speak the language fluently. But sometimes it’s good to do something that scares us right?
I’ve not done Europe yet, but I lived in Japan for a year and a half, and traveled through SE Asia. Just a couple recommendations –
1) Do the tourist things, but also do something random. It could just be stopping at a coffee shop that you walk by, or following a path down by the water…but just get off the well-worn, beaten tourist path for awhile. Trust me: Seeing a city through the eyes of a local is just as amazing (if not moreso) as seeing the well-known sights. Of course, do that during the day when you feel most safe. =)
2) Unplug on the bus/train, etc. I mean yes, your music is your best friend for keeping calm and zoning out/passing the time, but just keep one ear open. Those are some of the best times to people watch and to learn about what other cultures are like!
3) TAKE YOUR CAMERA EVERYWHERE. Or camera phone. Seriously. Even the bathroom. The best stuff happens when you least expect it, and even the mundane stuff that you’ll be seeing everyday (train stations, etc.) are great pictures to look back on when you want to relive the experience. When you’re back stateside and already going through travel withdrawal a couple months later, you’ll be really happy that you documented everything.
4) Have a blast!!
Haha I’m already going through a travel withdrawal!!! Thanks for the tips!
How cool!! I too have never really left the USA besides a bit of Canada. It’s definitely something ya gotta do- so cool you were able to make it cost effective and do it now! Maybe you can buy pepper spray just to feel safer for those alone times?!
Have fun and eat delicious food!!
I’ve never been to France, but Sarah Fit just came back and wrote a few posts based on advice people gave her, definitely check them out.
AMAZING opportunity! I’m so excited for you! It’ll be so fun to hear about all of your adventures when you return. 🙂
So exciting!!!! You are going to have a blast. Traveling in Europe is really fun and I love Spain! You’ll be fine in the hostels by yourself since there are so many other young travelers there. Have fun!
I’ve never been anywhere in Europe before but that sounds so exciting! The only countries I’ve been to outside the US are Canada, Cambodia, and Thailand. I would love to visit our countries around the world! I hope you have an amazing time!
That’s so awesome!! I’ve spent a lot of time in Paris for work, and I’m sure you will absolutely love it. I know you’re gluten free like me though, which can be especially challenging… people literally walk around carrying baguettes! BUT there are a few amazing GF places that you have to try. Helmut Newcake- 100% GF patisserie with any French pastry you could want, Thank You My Deer- Teeny little cafe with some of the best GF bread I ever had, Breizh Cafe- amazing buckwheat crepes, Cafe Pinson- vegan cafe great for lunch. Also most macarons are naturally GF! Pierre Herme are the best in my opinion 🙂 Naturalia organic grocery stores also have a great selection of packaged products, lot of different things than we have in the USA. It’s obligatory to do all the major tourist attractions in Paris on your first trip but try to leave time to just wander and explore the little side streets of the Marais and the left bank, there are so many fun discoveries off the beaten path. Hope you have a wonderful trip!!
Thank you for all the great tours! I checked out the Naturalia grocery store and Breizh cafe was AMAZING!!!!
So awesome!! I’ve never been to Europe… maybe someday. But I did travel to Nicaragua in college, and that was quite the adventure. I got to swim in a volcano 🙂
Hope you have an amazing time! I’m so jealous!
Um this is the coolest thing ever. I went to London this past February, and my friend actually won the trip through Keds and we got to see Taylor Swift in concert. It was one of the coolest experiences of my life. Food was pretty expensive in England, but hopefully it’ll be better for you in PARIS (omg so jealous). Have the best time ever!!
WOW! Sounds like a wonderful trip! In Paris, I’d recommend just wandering around, and soaking up the atmosphere and views. I stayed in a lot of hostels in Australia, and they were good, and a great way to get chatting to other people. Just keep your valuables safe, and you’ll be fine! One thing I worked out when I was travelling was to find the local supermarket, you can still enjoy local food, but without the restaurant prices. A bit of cheese, some french bread, a bottle of wine, and you’ve got yourself a meal! Take it to one of the gardens or down to the river, sit down and enjoy it! Have a wonderful trip!
We definitely did a lot of local shopping when I was in spain – SO much less expensive
I’m so jealous! Have a great time on your trip! Staying in hostels is a blast 🙂
Wow! So exiting! I can’t wait to hear all about your trip. I haven’t been to Europe since college. I worry about going now with my food intolerances. Not sure how strict you are about yours but document food stuff if you can. I traveled alone to Europe in college (met up with friends) and that was a bit scary as it was before the days of everyone having a cell phone (I sound old!). Anyway, have a great time!!