Back in Canada!

Oh my goodness! I am back from a crazy wonderful trip all around Europe! I have not posted in A MONTH! I do apologize for that – I am a firm believer in living in the moment and I couldn’t bring myself to to any form of work! I will be

Next Stop: London

I am preparing to head across the pond to London in about two weeks and I could not be more excited! I have been to London before but have never gotten to explore as much as I would like. Here are a couple of things I have planned for my time in London:

The Essential Backpacking LIST

I have named this the “Essential Backpacking List” for several reasons. First, I am a LIGHT packer. This list includes essentials, a few extras, and thats about it! Please note that what I consider essential may not be essential for you, so adjust accordingly! Secondly, I think that it is a great idea to look at what other people pack to give you an idea of what you will need for a trip, especially if it is your first time

Europe – 3rd Time is a Charm

I am in the midst of planning another trip to my favorite continent – Europe. For those of you who are curious, my first trip to Europewas exploring different parts of Italy. This included Milan, Venice (one of my favorite cities), Ravenna, Florence, Pisa, Cinque Terre, The Vatican, and Rome, as well as a brief stay in London, England. This was such an eye opening and beautiful experience, I needed to go back. I partially attribute this to throwing a coin the the Trevi Fountain in Rome. They say if you throw a coin in and wish to go back, you will.

Photo: Cinque Terre – travelwanderexplore.com

Since I knew I needed to return – I booked another trip over! Although it was several years later – the thrill instantly returned. My next trip was a solo trip. I was scared, anxious, excited, and simply teeming with energy as I boarded the plane from Canada. Little fact about me – I love planes, airports, packing – anything to do with travel! During this trip I expanded my comfort zone a bit and travelled to several areas.

Andorra – Europe’s Tiny Mountain Country

Now, when I was first planning my last trip to Europe about a year ago, I had never even heard of Andorra. But, with all the map searching and route planning I did, I “discovered” this tiny country nestled in the border between France and Spain. Located in the Pyrenees Mountains, this country Andorra is easy to miss if you don’t know it is there.I am not much of a shopper, but if you like to shop you will love Andorra. The country is a hub for ‘duty free’ shopping and boasts cheap prices and a ton of options.

Since I have a love for tiny countries (like Vatican City!) I knew I had to make a stop in Andorra. I am glad I did. Aside from the touristy shopping and markets which there are tons of, Andorra has some beautiful scenery. Take a walk in the foothills, or ride the ferris wheel in Andorra la Vella (the main city in Andorra) for some amazing picture – esque beauty. My favourite thing to do was just hike around the hills and take pictures of the tiny city surrounded be mountains. Andorra can be a day trip from Barcelona, Spain so if you are in the area, make sure to take a day to explore this awesome country (that sounds funny to say that you can explore a whole country in a day!). The drive up to Andorra is also beautiful and you can stop in Girona or Baja, Spain for some beautiful architecture and authentic more small town experiences with the locals. 

Seriously, if you are planning a trip to Southern France or Northern Spain you HAVE to go to Andorra. Even if you are traveling through this area, it makes a nice stop to take a break from travelling!

Happy Travels 🙂

Greece!

This past summer (2014) I travelled to Greece. I originally did not plan to go to Greece I just bought the ticket last minute. I knew I would be going to Europe so it worked out pretty well! I am so glad I decided to go to Greece! It was amazing. The first day I was there, actually within minutes of getting off the bus from the airport in Athens, I was lost. I have absolutely no clue how the Greek language works! So after several attempts to ask for directions, I ended up walking to my hostel and almost passing it! I just happened to stop and tie my shoe and I looked over and saw it. Had this not happened I would have definitely kept walking! It was so hot and humid outside so I was glad to get inside. Also the hostel I was in had a patio area with one of those water mister things.That was a life saver! the entire time I was in Athens it was above 40 degrees Celsius!

I absolutely love seeing different places and learning about the history behind such beauty. Greece is a great place to see ruins and beautiful architecture. One of my favourite places was the Acropolis. The Acropolis is a hill that sticks out of Athens. On top of that hill is the famous Parthenon and other temples and ruins. It is simply stunning, and with a beautiful view to match, if ruins and buildings aren’t your thing.

Even the water was warm! I am a baby for cold weather and cold water, and I never had to worry about that once in Greece. When I returned to Spain after visiting Greece I was actually thankful that Spain was cooler. Keep in mind this was in August, so it was still pretty hot 🙂

This is just a quick post, I will have more details about Greece soon!

xx