Bunkers del Carmel

City Walk

Font Màgica (The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc)

Warm ocean swim

Sagrada Família

Fiesta del Born y Sant Pere en Barcelona

Stairs of Montjuïc

03:00 (3AM) Metro

Me and everyone else trying to get home after a party of a party 03:00 (3AM)

Paella

Fresh water while watching a football match

Park Güell

Casa Milà, also known as La Pedrera, was the last private residence designed by Gaudí

Construction started on Sagrada Família on March 19, 1882. Completion of the cathedral will be in 2026. The architect, Antoni Gaudí, died after being hit by a tram in 1926

Brisk walk after watching the football match

I had wanted to visit Barcelona, for years. I wanted to experience the air, food, and most of all, the culture. So, I set my goal and started to look for flights that worked for me. Finally, I was able to find a responsibly priced ticket, so I booked it! No hesitation, no reconsiderations, I just booked it. Right after I booked, I thought to myself, “What have I done?!” Ha!

Once I got over the initial shock of booking a flight to a country I didn’t know much about, I started telling some of my friends of my Barcelona summer plans. Everyone had the same reaction, “That’s one of my favorite cities!” And now that my trip has concluded, I can now say the same…Barcelona is one of my favorite cities. Barcelona had parties and celebrations for nearly everything. Whilst I was there, I partook in a “Full Moon” party,  “Fiesta Del Born” celebration, European football game watching parties, then there were parties to recover from the previous party, and parties to celebrate the happiness you felt from the pervious party!  I enjoyed eating lunch between 14:00-15:00 (2-4PM) and dinner at around 21:30-22:00 (9:30-10PM). I walked and took the metro to all the places I needed to get to. The air was clear, the food was fresh, and the breeze was warm. I met some incredible people that I will never forget. This trip was by far one of the best I have had thus far. See you when I see you, Barcelona!

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Here I am in Iceland for a quick pitstop before I head to Barcelona. This spring/summer is one of the gloomiest Iceland has seen in many, many years. Odd, yes, since the rest of Europe doesn’t know what to do with all the heat and sunshine they have been getting.  Apparently, Iceland rained Every. Single. Day in the month of May, and here we are in June and it’s been raining ever since I have been here. Oh well. I suppose people don’t come here for the sunshine, do they?

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Entering Rauðfeldsgjá through the massive crack on the Eastern side known as Botnsfjall. -1C

On my way to falling down

Gerðuberg Cliffs were hard to get to, but totally worth the mini hike in the snow. 0C

Prepping to climb into the massive crack known as Botnsfjall.-1C 

Standing right in the middle of a road

My Atlantic Ocean view from the black rock cliff

 Such an adventure! I had the opportunity to visit a part of Iceland I had never been to. Starting off in the city, the weather was fine…about 2C (36F), but as soon as I made it in the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, temps dropped and a snowstorm presented itself!

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Gustavsberg, Stockholms Län, Sweden

Two adorable little summer houses in  Gustavsberg, Stockholms Län, Sweden

Skogskyrkogården is a cemetery located in the Enskededalen district south of central Stockholm, Sweden. It’s the most beautiful cemetery I have ever seen.

The interior of the Stockholm Public Library 

The exterior of the Stockholm Public Library 

Gamla Stan, Stockholm Sweden

Sodermalm market

Karolinska Institutet

At Vete-Katten, having a fika

The first day of the Christmas decorations on display at Harrods, Stockholm Sweden

Fotografiska (photography museum)

I was told by friends and colleagues that this is the worst time to visit Sweden since it’s the greyest most rainiest time of the year…The weather was in my favor as it didn’t rain at all, until the last day! It was quite humid and freezing though.  I explored the city and a bit of the countryside during my visit. I hope to be back during a summer!

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Ground floor indoor pool. You see this as you walk in from the entrance

One set of hot baths in the basement. There were many others

Aqua class

Outdoor rooftop/ street level swimming pools

This morning I treated myself to the Gellért Baths. The Gellért Baths are situated in a complex that consists of the Hotel Gellért in Buda, and other swimming pools that you may access with your one-day pass. There are baths in the basement, ground level, and rooftop. You can spend all day here. There are lockers and towels that are available to use for a small fee. I did my best to dip in all the baths before I left. This place is a must visit!

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My view of the Charles Bridge from, Letná Park. I was making my way from the city to get to the Prague Castle and stumbled across this view!

A tram

Oh my goodness, there are so many tourist-says the tourist. I mean, right when you step off the train and walk about 5 minutes into the Prague city center, it’s just a circus full of just about everything, street performers, children and well…tourists

Four Seasons-Prague

Prague Castle

The train station that I arrived and departed from

While I had told a few people of my summer plans, my friends suggested that I take a small trip, within my Budapest trip and go to Prague- The Czech Republic. I did my research and realized that it was only about a $50 USD round trip train ride, 7-hours each way with a few options for departure times each day. I decided to take the 5:25AM train so that I would arrive in Prague at about 12:30PM. I set my alarm for 4AM. Woke up. Fell back asleep. Then woke up in a panic at about 4:55AM…and it takes me 23 minutes to get to the train stop!!!!! Greg and I ran to the train stop, in some wild thunder and lighten storm weather. Stood there and waited for the metro (underground) that was suppose to take me to my 7-hour train. Greg was convinced I would miss it…but I was determined. He told me the only way for me to make it was to run from the track, upstairs, and onto the other track (which would normally take about 3 minutes). As soon as the metro doors opened, I rain straight and slightly confused to where I was suppose to go. And I actually made it on my 7-hour train with 2 minutes to spare! Why do I do this to myself….? Sigh.

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I passed by this place many times not realizing that it was the Great Market that I had on my list. It’s quite modest looking from the outside, but once you walk inside, it’s a hustling and bustling market place that accepts cash only from individual vendors. It’s full of people buying fresh produce, wine, sausages, small nicknacks, etc.

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A broader view of the beautiful stairs

One of the entry ways to the Buda Castle compound

The House of Parliament, behind me

Some of the homes at the Buda Castle

Dress-Revolve (here)

House of Harlow Tanta Crosshatch Pendant Necklace (here) 

Wanderlust + Co Delta Necklace (here)

This place is amazing!!! This is the  Fisherman’s Bastion, located on the Castle Hill in Budapest. It’s part of a large compound that consists of homes, shops, churches, and the Buda Castle. Greg and I arrived here early this morning and the view couldn’t be any better. Good morning!

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Grated butter, Large fries, Lamb + fig, Pimientos de Padrón (fried Padrón peppers, Maldon salt)

Morros de vaca en salsa almadeira (slow cooked beef cheek in madeira sauce)

Large fries

Anchoas (anchovy)

Gambas pil-pil (shrimp marinated in garlic chili olive oil)

Tonight, we visited Padrón, located right in the center of Budapest. It’s small, family run, and delicious! This was such a long, but lovely day-we walked all day long with very few periods of rest. We got home, rested a bit and left hoping this place wasn’t closed since they were soon closing for their summer holiday. We ordered an assortment of things, and nothing disappointed us. This is a must visit if you ever get the opportunity to come to Budapest.

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The colorful streets of Szentendre

Overlooking the village of Szentendre

Aerial view of a small shop

Fellini Római Kultúrbisztró

What a delight! Greg and I ventured out of the center of Budapest and made our way to Szentendre, his favorite town in Hungary! Szentendre is this lovely village that’s just a 40-minute train ride/ 15-minute car ride from Budapest. This little town is adorned with cobblestone roads and blissfully colored architecture. Later we took the train to Fellini Római Kultúrbisztró to have something to drink, and just relax since we had been out all day. Later we went out to eat at Padron. I’ll dedicate a post just for that!

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