Backpacking through Europe and beyond.

I know I haven’t updated this in a while, but no need to worry, I am still alive and breathing in Spain! I have been on many adventures in the past couple weeks and I haven’t had much access to a computer while I’ve been away. From September 26th to October 6th I backpacked around Europe with some friends since we had a break from classes in Spain. Then, I came back, started my first 2 days of my semester classes, then left again for Morocco on a trip with my program from October 10th through the 15th. All of my trips have been so amazing, and I’ve had so many experiences that I never expected to have at all in my life. I feel so fortunate for everything I’ve been able to do, and I’ve learned so much through everything I’ve seen! Here’s a short summary of everything I did in all the places I went.

Paris, September 26-29
I traveled through Europe with 3 other girls—Andrea, Angela, and Amen—and our first stop was the beautiful city of Paris. Paris was one of my favorite places we visited. The city was absolutely amazing. It was beautiful, grand, fashionable and everything else you would imagine Paris being. The first night there we took a guided 4-hour bike tour through the city where we saw some of the main attractions, ate the best ice cream in Paris, and ended with an hour boat ride through the city of lights. The rest of our time there we crammed in all the sightseeing we could. We toured the Notre Dame cathedral, Saint Chapelle, and the Louvre. We walked the beautiful and famous street Champ de Elysees from the Louvre to the Arc de Triumphe, hung out at Trocadero Square, went to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and even did a little bit of shopping. How could you not in Paris? I absolutely loved it and I can’t wait to return, hopefully sometime soon!

Switerland, September 30-October 2
Our next stop was Switzerland where we met up with another friend of ours from ISA, Elizabeth. We flew into Geneva, and just finding our way to the hostel that night was an adventure in itself, but we got there safely and were able to check in that night, even though I had accidentally made reservations for another night! The next day we walked around the city, which was very relaxed and quiet, quiet a change of pace from Paris. There’s not too much to see in Geneva, but we saw the major spots, including the tallest fountain in the world, the famous flower clock and the wall of reformation. Quiet an exciting day! My favorite thing in Geneva was the park around the wall of reformation with giant chess and checker boards painted on the ground. The chess pieces are so big they almost reach up to your waist. All the old men were out for some intense games of chess, and we enjoyed our very intense game of checkers as well. That night we took a train to my favorite city in Switzerland, Interlaken.
Interlaken is, without a doubt, the most beautiful place in the world that I have visited. It’s a city in-between and right next to the Alps. I can’t even begin to describe the beauty and tranquility of the Alps. The grandeur is something that has to be experienced to be understood. I’m almost certain I will make another trip out there during my life. Sadly, we really only had a day there, but it was my favorite day of our entire trip through Europe. We almost attempted riding scooters up to a hiking trail in the Alps, but then when we tested them out at the rental place, and the lady started talking to us about insurance, and we realized we would probably die if we rode them up there, we chose to take the bus instead. So, we took a bus to the train station, a train up to the alps, then a trolley up higher, and then hiked back down. Unfortunately, we didn’t time our trip well and ended up finishing our hike, walking down a steep mountain for at least a half hour in pitch darkness! Thankfully, we all made it alive, and it is definitely an experience we will never forget!

Rome, October 2-5
Our next stop was the amazingly historic and amazingly dirty city of Rome. I have mixed feelings about Rome. I loved it and hated it at the same time. Maybe hate is too strong of a word. I just found it somewhat depressing. I loved all the history we encountered in the city. Rome is a place I have always wanted to visit simply because of it's history. I was so odd that everywhere we walked around we saw remains of what the city once was. It felt to me like Rome wasn't really much more than a memory, that the city that exists now is something the people don't care about that much. At least that's how it seems with the trash lining every street and the scribbled grafitti on literally every building. It was quiet a shock from clean and pristine Switzerland. Despite all of this, I loved seeing what I saw in Rome. It was so amazing that after all this time, pieces of the old city remain, and we actually got to see it! Two places that I've wanted to see my entire life, the sisteen chapel and the colosseum, I saw. We toured these two places as well as St. Peter's Basilica, the Roman Forum, and Pantheon Hill. We also took our own walking tour of the city and got to see many other historic sights, including Trevi Fountain, probably the most beautiful and most touristy spot in Rome. The only two things I regret not being able to see are the Pantheon and the Spanish steps. But we did a lot for only 2 full days in Rome! We took one of the nights to enjoy ourselves at an Italian restaurant and a busy square. the food was good, but I have to admit I was a little disappointed after hearing as many excellent things about it that I did. It just didn't meet my expectations. All in all, our time in Rome was very fun and I wouldn't change a thing.

Venice, October 5-6
Venice was the perfect place to end our backpacking trip. By the time we made it there, all the clothes we brought along with us in our tiny backpacks were getting a little smelly, and most of us were more than ready to return to Spain. But Venice was amazing, and so unlike any other city we visited on our trip. I guess no city was like the next, though, so that doesn't really say a lot. Venice, like every other city, was beautiful, and a very relaxing way to end our trip. I think our hostel was part of the reason it was so great. It used to be the living residence of one of the overseers of the city, so it had an antique feel to it. It was beautifully decorated, and very peaceful, like a haven from the rest of the world. We didn't realize it was an all-girls hostel until we got there, and this was a nice change from our co-ed room in our hostel in Rome. Meals were served with everyone together in the dining room siting at one long table, and during these times we met so many other interesting travelers. It was so homey feeling! We explored the city for a day, walking to so many small shops that were everywhere in Venice. We ate lunch out during the day and at night visited San Marco's square and rode a water taxi around Venice. After that, it was kind of sad to leave Venice, but I was ready to return to Spain.

I loved that when I returned to Spain it felt like I was returning home. I guess that means Granada is actually becoming another home for me. It feels good to be settled here.
I tried posting pictures today so that you could see them as you read about my trip, but yet again, they weren't working!! I'm so frustrated. But, I will try again tomorrow so you can see them as soon as possible. I'm retiring from writing for today, but tomorrow when I post my pictures, I'll post another blog about my trip to Morocco!
I hope all is well and I miss you all so much! I only have about 2 months left to go, so I'll be seeing you all again soon!