While we were planning our Christmas vacation in Italy, I threw out the idea of Rome. Why? There was one particular reason: Pompeii. I had wanted to visit Pompeii since learning about it in school. Little Erika could never have imagined actually visiting.
After finishing up in Milan, we took a train down to Rome. This was not my first time in Rome, but I wanted my family to experience Rome. Plus, it’s always good to see it again.
Milan is great, but there is also a lot to see and do in the surrounding areas. While we were in Milan, we took two day trips outside of the city. We rented a car, but it is also possible to go by train.
Happy New Year, everybody! I haven’t written since November – I needed some time off. Now, I’m back! I just returned last week from two and a half weeks traveling around Italy and Ireland. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!
My first stop over the Christmas period was Milan. After a small snag (my parents and grandmother getting stuck at the airport and not making their connection at JFK), things were smooth sailing from there. Even when my family wasn’t in Milan with me, I still made the most of it.
Denmark: Land of Vikings. I had been wanting to see Denmark for a while now since I have family that left there in the 19thcentury, but it was just so expensive. I’m not going to lie. It’s incredibly expensive. But taking a trip to Denmark is necessary, and Copenhagen is a great place to see.
Back at the end of March, early April, I took a trip through Austria and Germany. Well, life gets in the way (aka thesis time), and I never talked about my time in Munich. I did write about Neuschwanstein Castle, but never about the charming city of Munich itself. It’s only been four months, but hey! Better late than never!
Sevilla is a wonderful city, just see my last post. But sometimes it’s great to get out of the city and experience something more relaxed. On my last day in Sevilla, I went to Itálica, considered to be the first Roman settlement in Hispania. However, people today may recognize it more for being the Dragon Pit in Game of Thrones.
Let’s be real. The main reason I went there was because of its GoT connection. When I visited San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, it was full of fans playing the theme song and decked out in fan t-shirts. What a pleasant surprise when Itálica was nearly empty.
Andalucía: typical Spain. Tapas, hot weather, flamenco, palm trees. That’s what most people think of when they hear Spain, but really, those are more typical of the South. In three years of living in Spain, I had never been down there, making up so many excuses about needing time or the trains being too expensive. Finally, I decided to stop making excuses and just go to Sevilla.
Back in March, I entered my name into the lottery for the Champions League Final. I had no expectations of getting a ticket since I didn’t get picked for a single Euro 2016 ticket two years ago. Yet, on a cold night in Vienna back in March, I found out that got a ticket to see the Final in Kiev! I immediately called my dad. I was nervous because it was in Kiev, a city that was famous pictured for the riots just four years ago. This isn’t a typical “here’s what to do” post, but rather a “don’t believe what you hear” post about the lovely city of Kiev.
Part of the reason I waited so long to go to Lisbon was so that I could have the opportunity to go to Sintra. I wanted to really have an experience so I packed FOUR sites into my itinerary. Sintra is town just outside of Lisbon that is filled with mansions, castles, and palaces. It’s an easy day trip and it’s sure to take your breath away.