Travel

Tenerife, Spain

An Island off the coast of Africa, Tenerife is a typical travel spot for German and English vacationers in winter. Since the climate remains on average between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s essentially the European equivalent of the Bahamas. I was traveling, for the first time, with a friend! Molly and I are both Americans in Madrid, […]

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Travel

What Happened in Valencia: An Honest Account

This weekend was nothing short of a never-ending fiesta. While I generally try to include some iota of historic art or culture exploration into my travel itineraries, I genuinely can’t remember an hour on this trip where I wasn’t intoxicated (or severely hungover), and I think my photos from this trip accurately reflect that… Take 2: That being said, my […]

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Travel, Travel Tips

Navigating Culture Shock: An American Girl’s Guide to Madrid

I’ve never considered myself “super American.” In fact, I even left the States to go to university in Canada. Also, I call “college” “university,” see? Still, I was struck by many aspects of Spanish culture that made me feel like a true foreigner. Though a large city like Madrid is inherently international, I’ve noticed some many culture discrepancies between […]

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Travel

Toledo, Spain

If you’re looking for artistic inspiration, search no further. It’s no wonder El Greco was moved to paint the Toledo cityscape. Just take a glimpse at this view: The city, located an hour south of Madrid, is surrounded by the Tagus river. While the city has a rich history, I was too distracted by marzipan, cobblestone streets, […]

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Travel

El Rastro Market, Madrid: An Antique Adventure

On my third night in Madrid, some “flat mates” and I split a cab home. It provided the perfect opportunity to chat up a native, asking our cab driver for advice on where to go and what to see in Madrid. She recommended that we visit El Rastro, (a surprising first choice, according to some natives we met at […]

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