Remember how in my resolutions post I mentioned wanting to travel more? I’ve made a list of the places I’d like to go to in order to help me organize myself. These are my top 5 travel destinations in Europe (I had to limit myself to Europe because if I didn’t, instead of a top 5, it would be a top 20):
1. Italy
I’m actually going to be checking this one off my list during semana santa! I will be spending all of semana santa exploring Pisa, Florence, and Rome! I’ll be travelling with one of my friends who is also a language assistant, which marks my first non-solo trip. I’ll also be meeting up with a friend from MD in Rome! It’ll be so nice to see a familiar face again. My wanting to go to Italy is a surprise to no one that knows me. I love food. I love Italian cuisine. My friend and I were joking about how we’re more excited about all the things we’re going to eat than the sights we’re going to see. That being said, I am insanely excited to see the Duomo, Colosseo, and Fontana di Trevi! I have a feeling this trip is going to be of epic proportions!
2. France
I know, I’ve been to France before…but that trip was not enough! I was in Paris for three days when I went in November and it was not enough to satiate me. My plan is return to Paris again during the long weekend in May. I LOVED Paris! I could honestly spend an entire month there and never be satisfied enough to want to leave. So for now, my goal is to have more time in Paris. However, there are several other cities in France that I’d love to explore in the future!
3. Ireland
I don’t know what it is about Ireland that appeals to me so much, but I am dying to see if it is as magical as I picture it to be. I think a lot of Ireland’s appeal for me is that I love medieval history and Ireland is full of gorgeous medieval castles like this one:
Another thing I really want to do in Ireland is kiss the famous Blarney Stone. And, alright, I totally want to go to the Guinness Storehouse.
4. Germany
I mentioned above how Ireland holds a lot of appeal to me because of the castles…well, Germany is like the holy grail of gorgeous castles! I think I would need at least a month to see all of the castles I want to visit in Germany. I’ll leave this link to a wikipedia page with the castles here. Aside from the castles, I would also like to visit some of the concentration camps. I remember going to the Holocaust museum in DC when I was a sophomore in high school and I can say with all certainty that it really changed me. I’ll never forget walking through the room that had the shoes of victims from a concentration camp, breaking down in tears (I mean, I lost it when I saw the baby shoes) and being comforted by my religion teacher, Mr.Mac. I will always remember what he said to me as he hugged me, “This is one of your best qualities: how deeply you feel things and how much you empathize.” Sometimes I feel it can be more of a curse than a blessing. While I know walking through a concentration camp will be difficult for me, it is still something that I would like to experience.
5. Spain
The beautiful El Escorial monastery.
Source
I am well aware of the fact that I am currently living in the aforementioned country. However, Spain has a lot of places I would still like to see. I want to travel to locations like Galicia, Barcelona, Seville, Granada, Cuenca, and Salamanca. Oh and Mallorca and Ibiza. As you can see, there is LOTS I still want to see in Spain. Even within Madrid, there are still museums I’d like to visit and I am determined to go to El Escorial before the beginning of summer.
So for now, these are my travel goals. There are, of course, many places outside of Europe that I’d like to visit, but I’ll save that for a different post. What are your top 5 travel destinations?
Lady in Spain 
Mar 03, 2013 @ 02:21:56
I took the same Rome-Florence-Pisa trip in Italy last year when I was studying in Spain. You will love Italy! It is beautiful, but I was totally more excited about the food than the sights too, haha.
If I’m limiting myself to just Europe, my top 5 travel destinations would have to be France, Germany, Scotland, Czech Republic, and Spain(even though I studied there and am going back, I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of Spain!)
Mar 03, 2013 @ 19:15:13
I am sure I am going to love Italy. I have yet to speak to someone who has been there and not loved it!
Are you coming back to Spain with one of the auxiliares programs? Where were you in Spain when you studied abroad?
Mar 04, 2013 @ 02:28:35
I studied in Sevilla in the Spring and Summer of 2012, and I’ve applied to Beda and the ministry program to come back and work as an auxiliar. I’m really hoping for Beda but right now I’m just waiting to find out about placements !
Mar 03, 2013 @ 23:09:58
Oh I recognise the Ireland picture – it’s Ashford Castle in Co. Mayo! My childhood home is about eight miles away from there. My mother, then an organic market grower, used to sell vegetables to the castle kitchens! 🙂
Mar 09, 2013 @ 18:44:26
Italyyyyy! Are you ready for real Italian cuisine? You’re going to fall in love with the country! Ireland is definitely on my list for this fall. If you’re staying in Europe this summer or again next year, I encourage you to explore Eastern European countries. I’ve seen some of the most spectacular views along the coastline of Croatia. And the traditional food of Slovenia definitely excites the taste buds ^_^. Thanks for posting this, love it! Can’t wait to read about your experiences in these countries!
Mar 12, 2013 @ 18:03:13
I am so beyond ready for Italian cuisine! People always think I’m joking when I say I love food, but I am being entirely serious. Have you heard anything on the programs you applied to? You applied to both BEDA and the ministry right? Maybe we’ll be able to meet next year if you’re in Madrid!
Mar 18, 2013 @ 08:12:04
Haha yes! food=true love. Samantha from BEDA had me email her more information last week, haven’t heard anything since. Placements for NALCAP begin in May I believe. Regardless I’m coming to Spain halfway through the summer, should have my VISA by then! Are you planning on being there this summer, experiencing Ibiza and trekking through Europe a bit more?
Mar 18, 2013 @ 15:13:43
I ended up having my visa around mid-July. I went in June to file the paperwork and it took exactly 4 weeks for me to get it.
I actually will be returning back home as soon as I’m done here. Our last day is June 17th and I fly home June 19th. Since I’ve decided I’ll definitely be doing a second year, I want to spend as much time with my family and friends as possible before heading back to Spain in September.
Mar 18, 2013 @ 17:05:39
Ah I see! To make your annual trip to Puerto Rico? (read that somewhere in your blog lol), wow I feel like a stalker saying that but it’s almost as if following a blog is getting to know somebody haha
Mar 18, 2013 @ 21:43:53
Haha yes! I will be going back just in time for my family’s annual Puerto Rico trip 🙂
And I know what you mean, I follow so many bloggers and YouTubers that I feel like I know them lol
Mar 11, 2013 @ 16:14:05
I did the same Italy trip that you’re doing hen I studied abroad in 2010, except I flew into Milan, stayed for 10 hours, and took the train down to Florence because it was cheaper for whatever reason than the flight into Florence. I’ll be teaching in Spain next year and am really excited to get to travel again. Other than traveling within Spain, I’d love to get to Germany for the exact reasons you mentioned even though I know I’d break down at the concentration camps, just as I did in the Holocaust Museum in DC. Two other places on my list would be Copenhagen, Denmark and France. We”ll see which ones I’ll be able to make it too
Mar 12, 2013 @ 18:06:53
Any tips for me regarding Italy? I have been told to brace myself for madness and disorganization at the airport and train stations…is that accurate information or are people exaggerating? I always try to take what other travelers say with a grain of salt because no one’s travel experiences are ever the same.
What program will you be teaching in Spain through? I know so many people from various programs (BEDA, Ministry, UCETAM, Franklin).
Mar 12, 2013 @ 19:19:51
I’ll be doing the Ministry program. As far as Italy goes, I didn’t have any problems with airports or trains stations. They’re a little chaotic but as is any new place with a language barrier. I just made sure to leave enough time and not rush myself too much. Italy itself was great, especially the food. I really enjoyed Florence. Pisa didn’t have too much to see other than the leaning tower, but it was neat seeing a smaller town. Rome was like most major cities, tons to do and tons to see. I found it very walkable though, which was a great relief as I prefer to see places on foot.
Mar 12, 2013 @ 19:34:15
I’m glad to hear that Rome is walkable. When I went to Paris, I tried to walk as much as possible…sometimes, too much. I ended up walking from the Musée d’Orsay to the Arc de Triopmhe because I thought it didn’t seem that far…I was wrong. It took me about 45 minutes to get to the Arc and I was so exhausted that I just grabbed a quick bite to eat and headed back to my hotel afterwards lol
Mar 27, 2013 @ 17:34:51
How about Croatia? It’s a small (mostly tourist-oriented country) with 79 islands, 525 islets and 642 rocks and rocks awash, with amazing sites, yet it’s fairly unknown.