While I am an advocate for traveling to other countries while abroad, I highly recommend leaving amble time for exploring your host country. London is a multicultural city where numerous languages are spoken and diverse British accents can be heard. From Covent Garden to Maida Vale, Kensington to Camden, the neighborhoods of London have their own unique personalities and treasures to uncover. I have also had the pleasure of exploring England by venturing to Bath, Stonehenge, Oxford and Cambridge. Also, within the United Kingdom, I went up north for my birthday weekend to walk the royal mile in Edinburgh and see the dazzling landscapes of the Scottish Highlands. The Highlands (pictured above) were absolutely gorgeous; the land is beautifully preserved and untamed. I had the pleasure of visiting Loch Ness and Inverness, where the rolling green landscapes, pristine lakes, and mountains stretch on for miles and miles. The Highlands was such a calming and serene place, and I highly suggest taking a trip to the underrated countryside.
My last weekend trip outside of the UK was to Barcelona. Getting to Spain was the biggest challenge; my flight was delayed 12 hours due to an air traffic strike in France. My roommate Katie and I did not get to our hostel until Friday evening and were thoroughly exhausted but managed to get some sightseeing in before meeting our tour group. On our first night, we explored the Medieval quarter of Barcelona, took a stroll on La Rambla to see the Mirador de Colom, and saw the magic fountain show at Plaça d’Espanya. On Saturday, we took a tour of Barcelona’s modern architecture, went inside Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, spent the afternoon on the beach, and took an evening paella and sangria class at La Boqueria Market. On Sunday, before heading back to London, we went to Park Güell―an impressive public park also designed by Catalonia’s famous architect, Gaudi. To end our last day, we took a bike tour that stopped at the Arc de Triomf, Parc de la Ciutadella, and Barceloneta Beach. Being from Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, I really enjoyed getting in touch with my heritage while visiting Spain.
To get a glimpse of my travels, I have included pictures below of my weekend trips to Edinburgh, The Highlands, and Barcelona:
