The Best Place to Get Discount Hiking Gear

We are mere weeks away from our Grand Canyon trip so we are taking inventory of our hiking gear. Now, we will be "car camping," so we don't need to worry too much about the weight of our packs. That makes life much easier! When we go on over night hiking/backpacking trips every ounce counts, but in this case, we will be just doing day hikes with smaller packs and leave our big gear behind at our campsite.

Day hikes or not, you still need good gear. Your body will thank you for it! I have a bad knee, so I pay special attention to things like hiking shoes, knee braces and trekking poles. Fortunately, I've found great ways to avoid going broke trying to acquire the gear you need. Here's my secret: REI. And, no I am not sponsored by them, nor do I work for them. I'm just a big fan!

When I first got into hiking, I was rather broke. So naturally when I heard that REI had a "garage sale" I was all about it! This sale happens periodically and essentially they take very lightly used gear and drop the price like CRAZY. I'm talking I found a pair of hiking shoes for $10! These are high-quality shoes that ordinarily would cost at least $100, and I got it for 90% off!! I was thrilled! Now full disclosure - these are not the cutest shoes in the world. I would much prefer a more sleek version, but for $10, I was sold.

Next up, my knee brace. I originally tore my MCL in high school and then again in college. It's been a long road and unfortunately, my doctor-prescribed knee brace bit the dust after a particularly tough soccer match. Now this is no way medical advice, but if you find yourself in need of a general brace, I've found you can pick up perfectly adequate braces at your local drug store. Every situation is different, but I love drug store braces! And it's especially great if you can use a coupon and get it for a discount.

Finally, I got a screaming deal on trekking poles! My husband is an REI member (I know, I know. I'm repeating a source, but it's how I roll!), and he gets notifications of sales and at the end of the year he gets a dividend. We use that dividend check and try to combine it with other discounts and save up for when we need a big ticket item - like trekking poles. We've done it a few times for things like our tent and sleeping bags.

Quality gear can make a huge difference in your hiking experience. Before you buy a knock off version or a slightly sketchy item, try to find a creative way to buy a better product at a lower price. It's worked for me! And I can't wait to put my gear to the ultimate test next month at the Grand Canyon.

This Valentine's Day, Fall in Love With Travel - Single or Not!

February means it's the season of love, what with Valentine's Day being the main focus of the month. I thought I'd dive into why you should fall in love with travel - whether you're single or not!

Why I LOVE to Travel - and Always Have
I'm still a twenty-something, but I'm "settled down" married now. However, that doesn't mean I don't still travel. My love of exploring a new city and going on an adventure is something that has always been near and dear to my heart. I traveled constantly as a young child with my family, and sometimes it feels like I've just never stopped. I love to travel with friends and family, but I definitely have never been put off by traveling solo. In fact, I've backpacked through Italy for a few weeks completely on my own. It was one of the most exciting and empowering experiences of my life! Anytime I'm traveling, solo or with others, I'm learning, growing and exploring - my 3 favorite things! I'm lucky to have found a partner not only in life but also in my travels. I know my husband is always up for some adventure, but if the right opportunity presented itself I wouldn't have any problems traveling on my own again.

Don't Let a Lack of Travel Buddy Stop You!
Solo travel sounds scary, but I promise you it's not that bad and is absolutely worth it! As long as you are cautious and take a few safety precautions, there is nothing to keep you from seeing the world. Traveling by yourself is one of the most empowering thing you can ever do. You learn to  be self-reliant and nothing else compares! Don't sit back and wait for someone to come along who would be willing to travel with you, take control of your life and do it for yourself!

Make it Happen
So many people live their whole life wondering "what if?" Obviously, travel is not something that everyone can afford to just dive into on a whim. It often takes careful planning and determined saving. Great things take time and hard work, but as someone who has lived a life full of beautiful experiences, I can tell you that it's worth the fight.

If you need a little help in the planning process, I'd love to help! MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com

How to Actually Get Some Sleep On a Plane

If you're anything like me, overnight flights are your worst nightmare. Luckily, I've had my share of overnight trips and have become a bit of an expert on sleeping in awkward positions - I was even quoted in Readers Digest! How cool is that?


Tip 1: Win the airplane lottery. 
By this I mean getting 2 or more seats in a row all to yourself! I myself have won the airplane lottery exactly twice - that should be a decent indicator of how rare this actually happens. I must say though, when I had those seats....It. Was. Amazing. I am a fairly small person and am able to curl up in a ball easily so I just stretched across those seats and made it work. 2 seats can be a little tight, but if you somehow manage to get 3 seats to yourself, you are golden! Just be respectful and keep your feet and head out of the aisle and other people's space! Also, don't be afraid to take advantage of a half-full plane. You can politely ask your flight crew if it's alright to move and odds are they will not have a problem with it. Use that space!

Side note: I once saw someone who had an entire MIDDLE ROW to themselves. They slept sitting upright. They even sat in a middle seat so I couldn't even use the outside few seats to lay down. It was torture. THEY WON THE LOTTERY AND COULD NOT CARE LESS. Anyway.

Tip 2: Use a quality eye mask and/or ear plugs
As I talked about in Reader's Digest (did I mention how cool that is?), I'm a firm believer in an eye mask that soft, comfy and fits snuggly around your nose. Other eye masks can let in light through that little gap and make it much harder to sleep. Also, if you need complete silence, don't be afraid to spring for some quality earplugs or even noise-canceling headphones.

Tip 3: Experiment with sleeping positions (respectfully)
Always, always, always be respectful of other passengers, but don't be afraid to get creative when it comes to sleeping positions! Two of my favorite are: Knees up with blanket over head and facedown on tray table. A few things to keep in mind - It's definitely possible the passenger in front of you can feel your knees so be aware of that. If you feel the seat is thick enough they won't notice, be gentle and don't fidget. It doesn't hurt to just ask them if they can feel it. As for the head-down-on-tray position, WIPE THAT THING DOWN FIRST. Seriously. People change their baby's diapers on it so there can literally be fecal matter on that tray that you are shoving your face on. Don't be afraid to be that person wiping down their seat area. That's what I do!

Tip 4: Plan your pillow
Sleeping on overnight planes can be really difficult, and a lot of people like to use travel neck pillows; however, I've found that unless my head it lower than my body, I really can't sleep. Thus I tend not to use those. I have, however, used my sweatshirt or a spare blanket as a pillow, because let's be real - those tiny pillows they give you are kind of questionable. Just know your sleeping style and  have a game plan going in.

Almost no one emerges from an overnight flight well-rested, but whatever you do, try to avoid weird naps! I'm talking a nap at 8am or a 6-hour long nap. Try your best to adjust to the new time zone and enjoy your trip!

Check out my company at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com. I'd love to help you plan your next adventure!

Malena

City Highlights - London

London is a beautiful city and one worthy of exploring! Over the past few years, I've found a few of my favorite spots:

Starting out with the classics - first up, The London Eye. This ginormous ferris wheel is absolutely worth a ride. Each capsule is fully enclosed in glass and unless you pay through the nose for a private ride, you'll be sharing the experience with at least 20 or so other people. Like most major tourist attractions, I recommend buying your ticket ahead of time online and skipping the line. The ride lasts about 30 minutes and it provides some of the most amazing views of the city. 

The London Eye

The London Eye affords a magnificent view of Big Ben, but it's definitely worth checking out up close as well. It's absolutely beautiful, especially at night! Something to note - you won't actually be able to go up inside Big Ben, so just be ready to enjoy the splendor of the clock tower from down below.

Big Ben across the water

Finally, I recommend just exploring the city and soak in the culture. Ride in a black cab, visit Harrods, take a bus tour and find yourself a telephone booth!  I made some truly amazing memories just by wandering through the streets of London with friends and family and seeing what we stumble across. We've found amazing little pubs with huge, amazing English breakfasts , unique specialty she eps and even found hole-in-the-wall museums!

A fun shot of me by the classic telephone booth! Although inside was a little gross - I'm talking needles, beer bottles and who knows what else! Be careful.

London is an amazing city with plenty of sites to see! You can't forget to make a pit stop to places like the London Tower, The Globe Theater and Buckingham palace, but the London Eye, Big Ben and general exploration are my top three must-do's while checking out London.

How to Become a More Confident Traveler

Traveling, particularly when traveling abroad, can be stressful for anyone. When you have anxiety the experience can be particularly stressful. I've got a few tips and tricks that can help calm your nerves and make traveling just a little bit easier.

Tip 1 Plan Ahead

If there are clear stressors for you, like flying, plan for them! If you are a nervous flyer, it may be a good idea to practice a few calming techniques before boarding. Do a face mask, meditate, listen to soothing music, maybe even have a glass on wine. It may not take the stress away completely, but it will help. 

Tip 2 Schedule Down Time

I personally like to schedule down time when I travel. A free afternoon to nap or shop or hang in a cafe, anything! Having a time when you don't feel like you HAVE to be somewhere is a truly wonderful thing! It leaves room spontaneity and can really help you recharge. This is especially important for people who are introverted. Quiet time can help you recharge and be ready for the next adventure.

Tip 3 Take Breaks As You Need Them

During your vacation, remember it's supposed to be fun! If you start to feel overwhelmed, take a break! It's allowed! Don't work yourself up trying to make it through the day - you'll enjoy the experience much more if you take a few minutes to relax and gather yourself before finishing out the day.

Tip 4 Communicate with your Travel Buddies

COMMUNICATE! If you're traveling with someone, chances are good they are your friends. Friends are there to support you, so let them know about your anxiety and stress. Talk with them before the trip so they aren't blindsided, and keep talking with them throughout the trip. Don't be afraid to speak up and let your friends know when you need a break. With everyone on the same page, the trip will go much smoother and more fun will be had by all.

Anxiety, stress and worry are definitely real factors for many people when they travel, but they are nothing to be ashamed of. Open communication and plenty of planning can really make a difference for your trip! If you want some help with planning your next adventure, check out my company at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

My Favorite Hostel in Florence

I've stayed in hostels all over the world, but the one that sticks out the most is the Hostel David Inn Florence in Florence, Italy. Florence itself was beautiful and my experience was made even better by staying at this particular hostel. Nadia greeted me by name with cookies at the ready. She was very welcoming, the beds were clean, the people were nice and there was a kitchen available for my use. I personally like to have a kitsch available so I can save some money and cook my own dinner

I really connected with the other guests and actually wound up going out to eat with people from Canada, Japan and Korea too! It was a really amazing experience. It almost felt more like staying at grandma's house than a hostel.

Here I am (right) with Nadia (center) and a new Canadian friend!

The hostel was much smaller and intimate than most hostels I've stayed at. I actually found that I liked it! The only downside was there weren't any lockers available and I tend to like to lock up my bag before heading out for the day. Other than that, it was great! It definitely helped that I was staying with a great group of travelers, but Nadia (the host) was very sweet and even offered to do my laundry at no charge because it rained and I got soaked! I ended up just line drying my clothes, but it was a very genuine and kind gesture.

The hostel was also remarkably close to several must-see sights! It was a short walk away from the legendary Duomo and it was literal steps away from the museum where the Statue of David was housed. Nadia was always ready to offer advice on where to go, what to see and of course, help us find the best gelato!

All in all, Florence was a wonderful experience, and I'm lucky to have found such a welcoming and affordable place to stay. If you'd like to plan your own adventure to Florence (hostels or hotels) I'd be happy to help! MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

How To Pack Carry-On Only

With airlines charging more and more for checked-baggage, many travelers, myself included, have opted to just pack in carry-on luggage whenever possible. I've had years of practice and have legitimately packed for a month-long trip doing carry-on only. Here are my top tips for avoiding those baggage fees and packing light!

1) Try to minimize the number of shoes you bring. I know it's tempting to bring a different shoe for every outfit, but instead try to pick just a few shoes that are more versatile. My go-to shoe packing tends to be one pair of running shoes, my Sperrys and a pair of flip flops that can get wet - for the shower, pool, walking in the rain. etc I also shy away from boots or other bulky shoes as they take up quite a bit of space in your luggage. If you do need to bring a pair of boots, I recommend wearing them on the plane. They may be a bit of a hassle going through security, but they will save you weight and space in your luggage.

2) Wear bulkier layers on the plane. Planes tend to be cold anyway, so if you are bringing a big sweater and a puffy jacket, wear them! Packing them will take up valuable space. Not to mention, they'll keep you nice and warm during the flight and can even double as a pillow. You can always take them off and stuff them in the overhead bins if you get hot.

3) Bring re-wearable items go together. I highly recommend packing a pair of durable jeans and a favorite hoodie or sweater. These items can be worn multiple times and re-worn with different outfits. By color-coordinating majority of your clothing items, you'll be able to mix and match and save yourself quite a bit of space as a result! Same goes with accessories - I recommend picking jewelry that goes well together and that you don't mind wearing multiple times.

4) Bring "small" items of clothing. By bringing items such as dresses (which are an outfit all by themselves), leggings and t-shirts, you'll save room! If you bring several pairs of pants and a sweater for each day, you'll run out of space quite quickly.

5) Pack travel-size toiletries. You'll be limited on space an
d will have to keep your liquids to a minimum. I recommend little things like using a powder foundation and bringing a shampoo bar, because those things will add up and save you quite a bit of space!

It may not be the most luxurious way to travel, but I personally prefer packing light. I like knowing that my luggage is going to make it to my destination and that I won't have to wait at baggage claim. It also makes me really think through my packing. I tend to forget less things and have more coordinated outfits than when I just throw things into a bag.

Here I am on my backpacking trip through Holland and Germany. It was amazing to be able to just pick up my things and move on to the next town so easily. All in all, I highly recommend packing light!

If you're up for some adventure  I'd love to help you plan - MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com

My Solo Backpacking Trip Through Italy

With Valentine's happening this week, it made me realize how nice it is to have an awesome fiancé  who is willing to go on adventures with me. It also made me think about how much fun you can have traveling on your own. One of my all-time favorite trips was my solo backpacking trip through Italy a few years ago. I was completely by myself, took trains and stayed in hostels - the whole nine yards.

I started in Venice. Coming off the plane and making my way to the hostel was a little nerve-wracking, but I did it! One thing I will say is, Italy is COLD in January. Way colder than Spain and other parts of Europe! I was definitely glad to sit outside and enjoy the boat ride, but I could have really used another layer or two.

I'll go more into the cities another time (or else this post would be ridiculously long), but Venice was beautiful, and my hostel was even on an island! The only downside of that being, I had to take a boat taxi to get anywhere which was quite pricey. But the hostel itself was pretty great. I had so much fun chatting with people from all over the world! Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Canada, Japan, Korea even some from somewhere in Africa (couldn't quite fully understand their accents, but they were nice!). I had done quite a bit of research ahead of time, so I felt safe in this hostel. I'm not much of a partier, but the atmosphere of the hostel was so fun I actually wound up staying down in the bar for quite some time. It was in the bar that I actually got tips on my FAVORITE book store in the entire world, Aqua Alta. Hostels are wonderful places.

Aqua Alta - Venice, Italy

Next up was Florence. Florence was a very special experience. The train ride down was easy, finding my hostel went fine and I was excited to be out exploring! My hostel was not what I expected - I was greeted by name with homemade cookies. The owner of Hostel David Inn Florence is quite the person. Her name is Nadia and it was like your mom was there, but in a cool way. She really helped bring us together and I found myself enthralled with her story. I bonded with my fellow hostel-goers and actually wound up going out for pizza and even attending museums and shopping with a few! It was amazing to meet new people and have adventures together. To this day, I'm still friends with several of them on Facebook. This hostel also had a kitchen which was nice. I opted to cook dinner at the hostel several nights to save some money.

My new friend Carmen and the host Nadia!

My hostel-cooked dinner of Italian pasta and sauce!

While in Florence, I opted to take a day trip out to see the leaning tower of Pisa - it was worth it! While I ended up having to wait around a bit to catch my train back, I shamelessly asked other tourists to take my picture (classic holding up the tower pose etc.) and then relaxed at a nearby cafe who served me what I'm convinced was just a bowl of melted chocolate. DELICIOUS.

Being touristy in Pisa

"Hot Chocolate" - Pisa, Italy

Finally, I ventured onwards to Rome. Once again, spectacular. I liked that the hostel had a kitchen so I could cook my own meals. I also tended to pack my lunch, so I could save some money while in touristy areas. Yet again, I wound up venturing out with fellow travelers whom I met in the hostel. They showed me where the best gelato was and how to avoid paying extra fees at attractions. I even befriended the hostel worker (named "Blue" for her blue hair) who wound up walking me back to the airport when I left. Once again, I made friends.

The BEST gelato!

My favorite reading spot in Rome - on the Spanish Steps!

Even if you aren't the most sociable person, the beauty of a hostel is there is a built in conversation starter - Where are you from? How long are you here? Where are you going next?

Don't be scared to take a leap and venture out on your own. Just be smart and careful when you do. I avoided going out at night (I'm not big on the night scene anyway) and I always locked up my belongings when I left the hostel. I did plenty of research ahead of time to make sure where I was staying was safe - hostelworld.com is great for that! The world is huge, so get out and explore - with or without a travel buddy.

Oh and it's a good idea to work on your selfie game, or else you'll end up with pictures like this one:

CHEESE! #Fail

If you'd like help planning, I own a travel company called MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com and I'd love to help you out!

How to Save Up for the Trip of a Lifetime

Love to travel? Have no money? I feel you. Luckily, over the years I've found ways to work around that problem and I'm here to help you out.

Step 1: Set a goal amount. This amount is calculated based off of flight, cost per day in the city you want to travel to, and any major attractions you want to visit. It's also a good idea to consider how to travel cheaply - look at hostels rather than hotels, trains over planes and remember to pack your lunch!

Step 2: Set a realistic monthly savings goal (and set up a budget!) Set aside a little bit each month. I know that seems obvious, but it can be very difficult to maintain! By building travel into your monthly savings goals, you are making it a real priority. Each month you'll be able to see that number grow and get one step closer to your goal.

Step 3: Stay motivated! Pick a target date and make a count down. I personally like to write a literal count down along the bottom of my agenda. Seeing that trip inch closer each day keeps it in the forefront of my mind. I also stay motivated by planning! Picking out which attractions you'll get to see and what you'll be doing on your trip is always so exciting and sure to keep you motivated.

Step 4: Buckle down and do it! Take a look at your life and see where you can cut back. Saving for big things like retirement, a house or a car are obviously important, but it can definitely help you save faster by cutting down on things like movies, shopping and fast food. At the end of each month, see where you have spent the most money and brainstorm ways to "beat" that number the next month. Turn it into a game or challenge amongst your friends. You'll be sure to save money in the future.

You'll be on the adventure of a lifetime before you know it!

My sister and I having a BLAST in Cape Town, South Africa!

If you need some help planning it, we can help you out at Miles Into Memories Travel.

Where to Honeymoon?

I'm engaged!

My boyfriend of 5 years recently proposed and we can’t wait to plan our wedding and, of course, our honeymoon! There are several locations we are considering including Greece, Iceland and New Zealand.

We know we’ll want to slow things down a bit for our honeymoon since we’ll be exhausted from our wedding. That said, we are thinking somewhere warm, maybe with a beach nearby. So naturally, I immediately thought of Greece! The buildings are beautiful and the water is incredibly blue. – it truly is paradise! We are considering Athens or Mykonos (and a few other cities too!) – it’s just so hard to choose. Greece would let us still see some museums and architecture, but we have the added bonus of getting to lay out on the beach whenever we want a break.

Going in a completely different direction, we would love to visit Iceland! I’ve always wanted to climb a glacier and adventure across Iceland. I love adventure travel and Iceland has been on my bucket list for the longest time. The only thing is, adventure doesn’t lend itself to relaxation. We might decide to just come back another time.

Finally, we both want to visit New Zealand!.The only problem is it sure is a hike from the US! We are concerned that one week wouldn’t be long enough for that particular trip, and it’s looking like one week may be all we have. We would be able to still relax on some beautiful beaches, but see some amazing sights!

A lot depends on what time of year we get married. At this point we have no idea! There are so many things to consider! If you have any favorite honeymoon spots, let me know!

Don’t forget to check out my travel company at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

Safari in Pilanesberg

I've always wanted to go on an African safari, so naturally it was a top priority for us while we visited South Africa. Of course, we wanted to do it responsibly and ethically. We had no interest in hunting, so we opted for a reserve. The animals are technically enclosed, but you would never know it except for when entering or leaving. We drove around for hours and hours and never saw a fence. It was pretty spectacular!

We had the chance to get up close to all kinds of beautiful animals! We had a wonderful time and got to ride in an honest-to-goodness safari jeep. 

We managed to catch some elephants getting a drink! We were a ways off, so the picture is a little blurry, but still rather impressive. So cool!

This guy came right up next to our jeep! We would stop whenever we saw an animal and the driver would pull around for us to admire the beautiful animals.

We even got to see some cats! We caught some lions on the prowl. Hard to tell in this photo, but definitely some lions. It was pretty awesome. We also got to see a cheetah eating its prey! Didn't manage to get a photo of that one.

We had an amazing time on the safari. They even stopped half way through for a quick bathroom break, some beers and a snack. Truly a memorable experience and I'm so so so glad we were able to fit it into our schedule! 

Don't forget! I can help you with your dream vacation, too! Check out my travel company at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com!

Table Mountain - Cape Town, South Africa

Our trip to South Africa was pretty jam packed, so we wound up only having a few hours of free time in Cape Town. We put that free time to good use by visiting Table Mountain! It was absolutely beautiful and the views were amazing.

Essentially, you can either hike or take a cable car up to the top. Then, up at the top there are some beautiful trails for you to hike!

On one side of the mountain is the ocean and on the other are some pretty spectacular views!

The Ocean Side of the mountain

My sister and I on the city side of the mountain

You can even see the world cup stadium! So cool!

Cape Town has a bit of a reputation for being dangerous, but we kept our wits about us and didn't go out after dark. We, thankfully, never felt unsafe and had no problems when traveling through this beautiful country.

Our trip was a blast! And don't forget, if you're loving these travel posts to check out my travel company at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

Raleigh to Dallas to Albuquerque to Santa Fe All in One Day

This week is a very exciting week for Schuyler and I. We are taking a week long vacation in New Mexico before finishing out the week celebrating his sister's wedding. We left home this morning at 3:30am to catch our early morning flight to Dallas. After a brief and uneventful layover (my favorite kind of layover) we were on our way to New Mexico!

Upon arrival we picked out our rental car (which I can totally drive now #RealGrownUp) and headed to meet up with Schuyler's sister and her soon-to-be-husband for a nice lunch. They gave us some tips and what to see and then we were on our way! We decided to take the scenic route from Albuquerque to Santa Fe, AKA the turquoise trail. We kicked off our mini road trip on route 66! We even got to go over the singing highway which was cool, but not quite as big as we thought it would be. We ran over the rumble strips and heard America The Beautiful, so that was neat.

We made a few pit stops along the way, but stopped to walk around properly in a little town called Madrid. No, not that one. This one is actually pronounced Mah-dread. It drives me nuts, I'm not going to lie. The emphasis goes on the first syllable.
Anyway, moving past the pronunciation, the town was super hippie and artsy. There was a store with a zebra on the roof that sold a 4 stringed instrument made from a cake pan cut and shaped to look like a moon (definitely almost bought it). It was phenomenal. I picked up a little $1 knick knack box as a momento. Oh and we definitely got to witness a random customer talk about how he played the saw. Yes, the saw. He convinced the shop keeper to lend him her saw and did a demonstration right there in the middle of the tiny shop. An awesome experience.

We also had some fun looking at all the funky jewelry and I even bought a pair of really pretty earrings! After a quick perusal of a chocolate shop with unique flavors (and the owner was rocking a raven's jersey and had articles from the Baltimore Sun on the wall!) we were off towards Santa Fe! We made a few stops at scenic pull offs to enjoy the view before arriving at our  hotel.

We basically then just planned out our day tomorrow because it's supposed to rain on Tuesday which messes up our hiking plans. Let's just say tomorrow is going to be intense. I. Can't. Wait.

I'll keep you posted as I can!

Malena

New Adventures!

Hello again everyone!

I know I haven't been updating this lately, but that's because I have had so much going on! Not the best excuse, I know, but there it is.

Anyway, back to the point of this post - I am going on an adventure! I will be taking a very last minute work trip to Europe for 5 weeks! 5 weeks. Dude, I know. 

I will fly out Wednesday evening, stop in Copenhagen Thursday morning before making my way to Manchester. I have some business there, then I'm off to Dublin to meet up with the team! The first part will be training, so I'm only around for half a tour. I will be with the team in Dublin, Manchester and London but then I'm off to Barcelona. 

I did not think I would be back in Barca so soon, but hey! I'm not complaining. From there I'm off to Lake Como, Venice and Milan in Italy. 

I close out my trip bopping back and forth between Barca and Madrid. Craziness.

This trip is coming up so fast and I still have a lot I need to do. I worked a ton at the radio station this weekend and its my last weekend with my boyfriend for a good long while so I've been trying to find a balance. Ah! Oh well. I know it will all come together soon. 

I am currently trying to figure out if I want to pack in carry-on only or if I should just bite the bullet and bring a bigger bag. It is 5 weeks after all.  My plan is to just figure out what I need to bring and then pick a bag based on that. I want to be comfortable, but not overloaded because goodness knows I won't be in one spot for any length of time.

Malena

Roman Recap

My time in Rome flew by! I had no trouble navigating the trains but I had one heck of a time finding my hostel. I don't know what it is about Rome but I found it quite hard to navigate the city. I can find my way around just about anywhere but I don't know if it's because I was tired or what, but eventually I found my hostel.

The hostel was rather small and unremarkable. It had a kitchen which is always a plus in my book. I saved quite a bit of money by packing my lunch and cooking my own dinners. I basically just bought gelato food-wise.

I hit pretty much all the major attractions in Rome - The Spanish Steps, The Trevvi Fountain, The Roman Forum, The Coliseum, The Vatican City among others.

The Spanish Steps were far and away my favorite spot to visit. I loved to find a nice perch and read my book and watch the sun set over the city. I went back there three different days just because I absolutely enjoyed my time there. Reading in a new environment, especially in a fulfilling cultural space, is something that I absolutely love to do. I think its important to not just tick the boxes when you travel, but take the time to stop and appreciate the culture and the atmosphere.

The Trevvi fountain was under construction so that was very underwhelming. I'll need to go  back for sure.

The Coliseum was so cool! I had managed to go the whole trip without waiting more than 10 minutes for an attraction, but alas the Coliseum got the better of me. I had to wait a whole 30 minutes. It was packed and not very well organized outside, but once you get inside it was quite amazing. I opted for the audio guide just to try to be able to understand what I was looking at a little bit better. It definitely was worth it, though the stops weren't well marked so that got confusing sometimes. I spent the better part of the day wandering through the Coliseum and the Roman Forums. It turns out my ticket for the Coliseum also got me into the Forums! Sweet!

Another notable stop was of course The Vatican City. I toured through the museum with an audio guide (again, very useful) and had a lovely morning just exploring. I ended up coming back later to see St. Peter's Basilica. I must say it was totally worth coming back for. That is probably my favorite church I've ever been to. I had a great time just taking it all in.

Anyway, I will probably go through eventually and up date all my recent posts with pictures one of these days!

Lots of love,
Malena

Florence Fun

I had a blast in Florence. I think if I did it again I would leave more time. I was already cramming four cities into a little over a week so I only stayed in Florence for two days. One of those days I actually spent the afternoon out in Pisa!

I stayed at the most adorable little hostel called The David Inn. It's run by this lovely woman called Nadia. She really takes care of everyone who comes through. She was there to greet me by name with a plate of cookies. She is so sweet and personable. I highly recommend the hostel for anyone staying Florence! 

The first night I just tried to get a feel for the city and ended up buying myself a lovely leather jacket. I'm very  happy with my "big souvenir" of the trip! It is so soft and fits me perfectly. I went back to the hostels and met some very nice people. One was from Canada and two were from South Korea. We had a great time getting to know eachother.

The next day I got up early and went and saw the Statue of David! It was really pretty incredile. I learned about it in depth in middle school and I always wanted to go see it for myself. 

Right afterwards I found the grocery store (finally!) and bought myself some food for the next few days. I sort of followed this sweet old italian lady around and picked the brands of pasta and sauce she did... slightly creepy but it totally worked! They are delicious! And both the Florence and Rome hostels have kitchens so I'm set :)

I then hoofed it to the Ponte Vecchio bridge and the Michelangelo square for a pretty view and some shopping. The bridge was a little pricey for me and it turned out there was a crane in the way and a BILLION steps so I ended up just going halfway to the Michelangelo square, but it was still beautiful.

I then booked it across town to catch my train to the leaning tower of Pisa. It was pretty wonderful. I took some funny pictures ( I mean you have to right?) and then I went to a cafe that had a lovely view and ordered a hot chocolate. The hot chocolate was so so good. Basically they just melted a chocolate bar in a cup and served it. Hey man, no problem here.

I caught my train back to Florence and wandered back to my hostel. We ended up going out as a group for the world's biggest pizza! It was so delicious We ordered some pasta for the table as well. It was a good authentic Italian meal and I got to share it with some new friends I met in the hostel. It's been great so far with hostels!

This morning I got up early and me and a girl from the hostel went to the Iffuzi museum. It was beautiful and I enjoyed just soaking up the atmosphere. We made a quick stop back at the Ponte Vecchio bridge for some perusing then I went back to my hostel to grab my bags and hug Nadia goodbye.

I made it to the train station and had an easy ride to Roma! The walk to the hostel wasn't my favorite. I got turned around a bit and was too stubborn to catch a cab. I got here eventually, but boy am I tired.

Tomorrow I'm off to the Vatican!

Lots of love,

Malena

Venice to Florence 1/5

Today was the greatest. I managed to navigate my way through the city and find the most beautiful bookstore I have ever seen. It was just absolutely unbelievable. I can't believe how many books there were! They were stacked all over the place! They were stored in random things like bathtubs and gondolas! This may be my favorite part of my whole trip. I grabbed me a beautiful old book by Sinclair Lewis as the perfect souvenir. When I went to cehck out there was a cat eating breakfast where you should pay and a very Italian man smoking away. He told me "If women are flowers, you are a bouquet." Craziness! There was also a weird erotica section... It was quite the experience and probably my favorite part. It was quirky and literary! There was even a staircase built of books out back so you could climb up and watch the gondolas go by! BEAUTIFUL. You could also watch the gondolas from the best reading nook in the world...

Anyway, afterwards I husteld back to my hostel and grabbed my stuff and headed off to Florence! I got to the train station alright and boarded with no trouble at all - except apparently I left my toiletry bag... Womp Womp. I have everything else including my makeup and liquids. I'm really just out my shampoo bar (Which wasn't all that great actually - I don't think I like this variety as much as the green kind), my deoderant, tooth brush and toothpaste, and my hairbrush. All in all less than $10 worth of stuff. Hey if I have to lose something that's the bag I would choose to lose. I must have missed packing it in my bag. You can bet I'll be triple checking when I pack up from Florence!

Once I was in Florence I got to my hostel, no problem. My first stop was a grocery store to stock up! Now I won't have to buy breakfast, lunch or dinner for several days. That will save me a ton! I wandered about the Duomo and even bought myself a nice fancy leather jacket! I'm so excited about it. I have been trying to figure out what I want my big souvenir to be and I think I found the perfect. one ;)

Anyway, I go to see the statue of David first thing tomorrow morning so it's bed time for me!

Lots of love,
Malena

Venice Day 2

 Today was a pretty great day. I started off on the right foot by going up the Campanile Tower with hardly any wait. I got some pretty phenomenal photos! Afterwards I headed over to Doge's Palace and again had no wait because I booked online. I had a wonderful time. I just went my own pace and took in the beautiful art. On top of that I got to go to 3 more museums for the cost of the one! And even then it was discounted because I'm under 26. SCORE! One of the bonus museums was even a historical library which is pretty darn awesome in my book. I definitely enjoyed today. I came back to the hostel for dinner and ran into some nice girls from South Korea and Michigan. The Korean girl had had her entire luggage stolen! But from the street, not the hostel. She left it for just a few minutes to get a coffee and it wasn't there when she came back. I felt bad for her, but hopefully she learned not to trust cities! She still had her passport and she has a friend in Milan who speaks Italian so she has some help in filing police reports. 

Me and the girl from Michigan tried to help her out a little - she had just been in Australia and South Africa or something so she had a skirt and flip flops in her purse which she had with her. So she has that and what she was wearing and that's it. The other girl gave her some pants and a flannel and the hostel even let her dig through their lost and found so that was really sweet of them. I luckily had an unopened toothbrush that I gave her so I'm glad I could help at least a little bit!I felt so bad for her. At least she had her passport in her purse. That would have been a disaster.

She also had her phone and charger so that's good! The Michigan girl told us about this beautiful bookstore in Venice so I think tomorrow we are going to try and go find it!!

I need to leave the hostel for the train station by 11am so hopefully we can make it!

Hostels are really a wonderful place.

Malena

Venice Adventure

I woke up mad early but successfully navigated my way to Venice! It was a little confusing but I got the hang of the water taxis soon enough. I checked into my hostel and dropped my bags to go explore until I could get in my room at 2. I really just wandered around and got a feel of the city. It's beautiful here. You know when something just feels right? That's how it feels. I have missed being on boats. I used to spend a ton of time on boats when I was little and it brings back great memories.

At 1:30 I came back to the hostel to gameplan and move my stuff up. The hostel is pretty nice - the shower door is see through. That's not so great.

I was very strategic about when I wanted to do certain things. I noticed the lines were really long for a few things like the Basilica, the Doge Palace and the Campanile Tower so I devised a plan - I would hit the Basilica just before it closed (totally worked), buy a ticket for the Doge Palace so I could skip the line and wait until first thing in the morning for the tower. 

I wound up going to the Basilica at the perfect time and went up to the museum/upper level, It was a great 5 euro spent. I absolutely loved just sitting and soaking up the culture. There were signs everywhere asking you  to respect the holiness of the place but there were an unbelievable amount of people taking pictures, so that was a little annoying, but oh well.

I had an awesome time wandering around the city afterwards and even found the cutest little book store. If the books hadn't been so ridiculously overpriced I totally would have bought some. As it is I bought some beautiful street art as my little souvenir from Venice.

I caught my boat back to the hostel (it's on an island!) and met some people from Australia, China, and Brasil. We hung out and talked over some really yummy drinks at the hostel bar. A good time was had by all, but I peaced out early to head to bed. I'm still exhausted from last week!

Lots of love,

Malena

Spain: The Recap

Once I landed in Barcelona it was quite a whirlwind... So much so that I hardly got a chance to sleep let alone blog. Basically the tournament went well, but as with any event, there were some hiccups.

Here are the tour highlights:

Park Guell was absolutely phenomenal. Megan, another staffer, came with me to help and it was a good thing too! We made it by like 30 seconds!  I had to run ahead but we got in. Park Guell has super strict windows of time for groups.

In the end the run was totally worth it. The sight was breathtaking. It looked out over the city and the wall itself was inspired by Gaudi. It was so beautiful. I had a great time taking pictures and helping the teams. There were little paths that went off that were fun to follow too!

FC Barcelona Stadium Tour 

I did this last year, but it was fun! It was really neat to get to go through it again. I do love soccer but what's cool is that it touched on other sports in the club as well - like hockey and futsal!

28-30 Tournament - Pretty much just worked!

30 evening - Outing to Girona

Girona was beautiful. It's a little town 45 minutes outside of Lloret de Mar which is where the tournament is. It has winding little streets and is definitely a place that I would love to get lost in for a day. The parents got to shop and the kids got some insight from an expert on futsal. I think we will probably keep this stop on the tour for next year.

31 - Today was mad busy. Training and transfer to Barcelona first thing, then we went on a beautiful bus tour that was truly phenomenal. I love to learn the history of things! Then we got to explore Las Ramblas which is always fun :) We ended the night in quite a fancy NYE party! There were 4 glasses - white wine, red wine, water, and champagne! The food was top notch for sure. It worked out very well!

1 - This was an easy shopping day - except that the soccer store wouldn't open. My goodness. Spanish time can be frustrating because they don't really pay start times much mind, but it all worked out in the end and I even wound up with 2 new pair of shoes! We capped off the trip with a stop at the Ice Bar for the parents. It was great last year and I'm glad we decided to go back! Everyone seemed to have a blast and I'm overall happy with how the trip went.

2 - NO SLEEP FOR ME. I was up late at the Ice Bar and got up to send off both teams at 4am AND 7am... needless to say I straightup slept till noon after I got back from the airport. I met up with the other staffers for one last night in Barca. We walked all over the place! I love to experience a city up close. We ate at Les Arenes which was neat - its an old bull fighting ring that was turned into a mall. The restaurants are on top of the mall on a terrace. We then explored around the Olympic Stadium before heading back to the apartment the group had rented. I managed to do my laundry and headed back for  bed - I had to catch my airport shuttle at 5 the next day... yayyy