New Blog Series - Traveling Europe

Hello All,

Madrid, Spain - Admiring the sunset at Temple Debod after my first day of class in Madrid.

I am starting a new series on this blog! Now that my travels in Asia have been fully documented, now it's time for me to reflect on my weekend trips I took while studying abroad in Madrid, Spain in the Spring of 2023. My love of traveling was blooming, and at my feet was an endless list of places to visit, tour, and admire. I had been to Europe only once before in my life, and truly it was a dream. I made the most of the five months I spent in Europe, and here I will include my stories, experiences, and recommendations if you find yourself planning a trip to Europe, currently studying abroad, or would like to reminisce with me as I share about my time there, this is for you.

I hope to gear these posts more around planning tips, best tricks, and must dos and sees. I plan to include some stories, but if you want to read about a more involved reflection on my time while traveling, visit my SE Asia stories and hear about my travel stories there!

As an American, it is the dream to go to Europe at least once in our life, and if we are lucky enough, to see as much of Europe as we can. There is so much to do in this continent alone, therefore this list of what I saw is no where near inclusive of all I have left to do and see. But, as I begin my tales and sharing my trip plan recommendations to you, I will start at my first city I visited in Europe, Lisbon.

Milan, Italy - One of my first weekend trips and truly the best photo of me taken abroad.

For context, before my semester studying abroad in Madrid, Spain, I went on a 12 day, 4 country European tour with 9 other friends. This was my great entry into Europe, and truly just the start. I will never forget when I was having my first breakfast in Lisbon, sitting around a table with some of my best friends, in the midst of architectural beauty. This was a type of travel I hadn’t done before, but excited me more than you know. I stopped, took a moment to appreciate living a dream of mine. Having the courage to say yes and the gratitude to relish each moment and memory that was created while I was there set the path for doing so everywhere I traveled.

This was the birth of my love for traveling, and you will soon see how my time in Europe encouraged me to backpack SE Asia for three months. These trips taught me travel tricks, things to keep in mind, and best practices when visiting a new place. I hope you enjoy these tales and tips, and can relive a sweet time in my life, a season that I reflect on as one of the best.

Thanks for reading and enjoy :)