It's so nice to be back home in Barcelona... I can't tell you how much I missed this place after being away for 7 months! My two weeks back have been full of castings and shooting so this past weekend I had a free day and decided to escape up the coast to one of my favorite beach towns in Costa Brava. As much as I love going to the beach in Barcelona, it's not the most relaxing as the sand is a bit dirty and it tends to be packed full of people the months of June and July. So instead I like to make the one hour drive up the coast to Platja d'Aro, where the beaches are a little less packed, and there's so much more to see and do. There are hiking paths all along the coastline that will take you to a variety of hidden coves/beaches, old ruins that still line the water and little beach bars to chill out at and grab sangria or cervezas.. It's no wonder why artists such as Picasso, Klein and DalĂ would frequently escape to Costa Brava to find inspiration for their work.. This place is truly magic.
Getting a one way ticket to Amsterdam was one of the best decisions I've made in a long time. I've been wanting to visit this place for years.. All I hear from people is, "It's the best city in Europe..." or "oh you think that place is cool, just wait 'til you see Amsterdam.." So with that in mind, a one way ticket seemed like the best option. :) Also, I have quite a few friends that live here, so instead of researching places to go or things to see like I usually would, I decided to go with the flow and let them show us around this amazing city.
My tips for anyone planning to visit Amsterdam:
Rent bikes and get lost riding through the canal mazes.
Visit De 9 Straatjes. My favorite part. Here you'll find streets lined with countless boutiques and amazing restaurants/cafes.
See the city from the water. Rent a boat with friends or jump on one of the tour boats. This is the best way to see the city. (oh and bring a bottle of Rose hehe)
Visit the W Hotel and head up to the top floor for drinks at sunset.
Have dinner at the Duchess. Share everything and order the Scallops and Lobster. ;)
I couldn't visit Lisbon without making a short drive to one of Europe's most charming medieval towns. Located near the coast in central western Portugal, Sintra is known for it's ancient royal history and romantic Moorish/Manueline castles that line it's foothills. Being a history buff and architecture enthusiast, I found myself overwhelmed by all of the perfectly preserved treasures this place provides. The town offers a visually stimulating mix of Moroccan, Egyptian, Gothic and Renaissance design that made me quickly realize where some of Sintra's first settlers originated from. It's no wonder this beautiful town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
And after spending half of the day roaming around castles, Jessica and I made the windy drive through the Colares wine region to the beach side city of Cascais. Unfortunately the weather was not in our favor to enjoy the beach but the charming little town surely made up for that. And come summer time, I know exactly where I'll be returning to! :)
Here's a few unseen pics from my trip to Vienna. I will surely have to visit this beautiful city again as I only had two days here. But between seeing the lipizzaner stallions, exploring the ginormous Christmas marts and spending countless hours at the Museum of Natural History (a must see for History buffs like me), I think I did well with the short time I had. Also, I know now that I have quite a few followers from Vienna, so I would love to hear any recommendations you guys may have as I would love to get back to this city ASAP!
Hey guys! Thank you for being so patient with me. I haven't had access to high speed internet for the past week BUT I finally found a great cafe here in Budapest with wifi and am now able to post! So, while I'm here in eastern Europe shooting for a few clothing companies, I decided to explore this part a bit more as I tend to never stray further than Spain, France or Italy... But this trip, I wanted to branch out and explore some new countries while I had the chance. Also, I am so excited to have my family here with me.. We figured what better time and place to have a little Christmas family vacation!
Three days in Capri was hardly enough.. This little mediterranean island, although small in size, has such diversity when it comes to scenery and things to do . Each area has it's own vibe and "local charm" that has stayed unchanged for centuries. But one thing that stays consistent throughout Capri, is it's natural beauty made up of limestone cliffs and lush gardens that will literally make you feel suspended over the ocean (not for the faint of heart).. Although my stay here was short, I am so thankful to have experienced this magical little island. And to all the beautiful souls I met along the way, thank you for making my trip that much more special!
The past three days in Florence have flown by.. but it was just enough time to reconnect with old friends and show my sister all the main attractions/hidden gems of this city... From spending an entire day exploring the Boboli Gardens, climbing the 463 steps of Giotto's Bell Tower for a 360 view of the city/Duomo, eating more gelato than I'd like to remember by the Arno, and watching the sunset on the Ponte Vecchio from the rooftop bar of the Westin, I think we did Flornece right with what little time we had here.. Off to Postiano we go! đź’™
I've only been in Paris for four days and it has already won over my heart.. I now understand why everyone raves about this city and I can't believe that out of all my travels, it has taken me this long to visit... Once I find a place that I love, it's hard for me to want to travel anywhere else... I am notorious for that... But now I will admit that I regret how long it's taken me to properly visit Paris. The quick layovers I've had here in the past just don't cut it. Also, I lucked out having the best Parisian tour guide by my side to show me all the beauty this place hides outside all the touristy attractions.. And honestly, at this point, as long as I have a croque madame in one had and a macaron in the other, I think I'd be a happy camper no matter where you put me. 🇫🇷
