2015 Archives - Expedition Erika

Being Bohemian: A Prague Adventure

January 20, 2016 3 Comments

After Christmas 2015, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Prague in the Czech Republic. Prague always seemed like such a mysterious and exotic place to me. We learn about it briefly in history when it was referred to as Bohemia, but we never really know much more about it. In reality, we are exposed to Prague more often than we know. Prague is the backdrop for many movies and TV shows, but it is often disguised as another country. The TV shows Outlander and The Musketeers both recently shot in Prague with the setting in Paris in the 1700s and 1600s, respectively. The most recent version of Casino Royale was also shot in Prague, with the airport and a casino disguised as Miami and the National Museum disguised as James Bond’s hotel in Italy. Sneaky sneaky!

United Kingdom

Sight-Seeing London

January 19, 2016 1 Comment

There are honestly so many things to do in London. I was there for six days and there are still so many things I didn’t get to do. But here are somethings I did do that I recommend seeing (that weren’t a part of my Harry Potter, Royal London, or football game posts).

United Kingdom

Harry Potter’s London

December 29, 2015 1 Comment

For fifteen years now, I have been in love with the Harry Potter series. Harry Potter is actually the reason that I became an Anglophile back in June 2004, coinciding with the release of the third Harry Potter film. Eleven and a half years later, I finally made it to my favorite city and I was chock full of Harry Potter trivia and tidbits.

United Kingdom

Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur

December 28, 2015 1 Comment

December 26, or Boxing Day as it is commonly known in the UK, is the day known for shopping, and of course, football. I’m not talking about passing the pigskin around, I’m talking REAL European football. I was lucky enough to get tickets to see my favorite team, Tottenham Hotspur, play at White Hart Lane, in November, and I had been counting down the weeks ever since.

Germany

Dos and Don’ts of Berlin

December 10, 2015 2 Comments

Last week, I got to check off another city that I’ve wanted to go to for some time off my list: Berlin. I found it to be quite an interesting city – the city is over 750 years old, but so much of recent history affects the way the city appears today. I kept thinking about how the Berlin Wall still existed just twenty-five years ago, with reminders all over the city. You walk through the city and see things that were rebuilt because of bombs dropped during WWII. You see DVDs with Nazi flags covering the landmarks of Berlin. It’s crazy to think that less than a century ago, people were actually seeing these things in the city I was visiting. Berlin is a great city, but there are definitely things you should do and shouldn’t do to maximize your enjoyment.

Catalunya, Spain

Tarraco Tapes: Tapas Fiesta

November 9, 2015 No Comments

I haven’t gone on any amazing trips yet, but I did do something pretty cool. Everyone knows that Spain is known for its tapas: little bites of food like appetizers. My friend and I went on a tapeo: going from restaurant to restaurant eating tapas. The city I live in, Tarragona, hosts “Tarraco Tapes” every spring and fall, perfect for bingeing on tapas.

Catalunya, Spain

More Than Barcelona: Traveling Around Catalonia

June 2, 2015 No Comments

Over these past nine months, I have been to many different cities and countries, which has been an unbelievable experience. However, I have also seen some really breath-taking places right here in Catalonia. These are the places that are just day trips, but have really awesome scenery and fantastic backstories.

Sweden

Sweden: Discovering my Roots

May 16, 2015 1 Comment

When people see me, they often ask me where I was born or where my parents are from. They are always surprised to hear that I’m American. People think I’m more Latina that I am. The truth is, I’m actually quite a bit Scandinavian. My great-great-grandmother immigrated to the US when she was just 15 years old. My mom and grandma had contacts with our Swedish family, so I decided to take a trip to meet my family and learn about the past.

Netherlands

Amsterdam: Canals to Tulips

April 29, 2015 1 Comment

Our final stop on our Benelux tour was to the infamous city of Amsterdam. If I’m being upfront and honest, I have no desire to return to Amsterdam ever. Saying that, it is something that is interesting to visit at least once. Their culture is definitely different, but that is not necessarily a bad thing! So let’s see what makes up Amsterdam beyond what it is known for.

Belgium

Antwerp: Port to the World

April 27, 2015 3 Comments

Antwerp was the last leg on our tour of Belgium before heading to Amsterdam. It’s a short train ride from Ghent, and it’s possible to see almost everything in a day. Antwerp is home to one of the biggest ports in the world, renown for its shipping; it’s the second largest in Europe. It’s also got quite an interesting backstory to its name.