There's just something in the Spanish/Valencian air that inspires lackadaisical relaxation. A carelessness falls upon me each time I attempt something productive, may it be studying some Spanish or starting my final assignments for my classes. Nevertheless, it is in my attention that the end is near (or drawing near at least).
In an attempt to summarize my travels and grasp the memories throughout my three weeks of vacation, I'll condense my adventures into abbreviated descriptions of each city. I am truly blessed to have had such a positive experience in each new city.
I can start in good ol' España:
Valencia: Departing home, I realize Spanish culture has gotten the best of me. After spending a rather difficult few hours condensing two weeks of stuff into one backpack, Andrew and I are running late to the airport (big surprise) and take a cab.
Then, Italy!
Milan: Visiting our fellow Terrapins Vince and Jess, we were fortunate to have great personal tour guides to Milan and Lake Como as well. Famous for fashion and the third largest cathedral in the world, Milan is a a bustling center of commerce. Our three day stay was well spent sightseeing, taking a day trip to Como, and catching up with our homedogs.
Venice: The beauty simply cannot be described in words. The entire city floats on water, with dozens of bridges connecting over 100 islands. Spending a day in Venice is like spending a day in a 13th-century Italy. The essence of the city can only be absorbed by aimless wanderings about winding footpaths. As touristy sightseeing found its way to the back burner, we took our time enjoying the unique beauty of this one-of-a-kind city.
Florence: Nestled in the Tuscan countryside, this city is small but rich in culture and art. The Duomo in Florence, detailed yet colorful, is by far my favorite cathedral of the my trip. Olive groves and sunflower fields dot the mountains around the valley in which Florence rests, making the hours on the regional trains pleasantly passed. We met up with the rest of our travel buddies, Allison, Caitlin and Catherine.
Cinque Terre: A string of five old towns located on the steep cliffs of the Italian Riviera, Cinque Terre is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Inaccessible by car or bus, one train runs through the lower coast connecting each town; you must hike the rest! Breathtaking views made me want to stay here for years.
Bologna: A novel city for me, as I had my first couchsurfing experience here. Famous for the food and the oldest university in the world, Bologna's unique covered streets offer a quaint and old-town feeling, all the while boasting a very healthy "botéllon" culture similar with the Spanish youth.
Back to Spain for a day, then off to Morocco! In transit, a night spent at the Madrid airport definitely sharpened my packing list and boosted my ability to sleep on benches.
Tanger: Quite developed, the port city offers a modern medina, great view of Africa AND Europe, and appears as a central for commerce. Also it is quite connected to the world, as 270 Dirham got us to Marrakech via a comfortable overnight train.
Marrakech: With a busy bustling medina, shops and vendors everywhere, Moroccan culture is at great display here. The main plaza Djemma el Fna is littered with fresh orange juice carts, snake charmers, spice vendors, and every Moroccan-made item you could imagine. Horse-drawn carriages cart tourists through the medina around beautiful mosques and castle ruins. At night, the plaza turns into a fiesta; street food, lamp vendors, performers and musicians make sure Marrakech doesn't sleep early. By far the busiest destination in my whole trip.
Atlas Mountains & Sahara Desert: A day was spent hiking the Atlas Mountains from a small town in the Ourika Valley. The views were breathtaking, and we were lucky to have a great guide, taking us deep through the range to the top of the mountains. The next day was spent driving through the mountains, stopping in Ouarzazate and finally arriving at Zagora, just north of the Sahara desert. Riding camels through the dunes was certainly an experience and sleeping in tents under the stars was a once in a lifetime experience. Never have I seen such a clear sky bright with stars.
Finally, after returning to Madrid, we head to Portugal:
Porto: A beautiful city on a river and the western European coast, Porto is famous for Port wine of course! It was incredible touring local wineries and wandering about the steep streets of old-town Porto. The city from the high bridge at night was one of the best views I've seen so far. We had a great time experiencing the wine, the food, and best of all, the hospitality of the Portuguese, who seemed to understand English perfectly (although we found it a great opportunity to practice our Spanish).
My first tour of Europe was more than I could ask for. What a marvellous continent!
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