My first week in Swansea was a hectic and overwhelming one, yet exciting nonetheless! I was running on a mere hour and half of sleep and a bunch of nerves when I first arrived. My mind was filled with questions: What are my classes going to be like? My roommates? My internship? I had no means of communication with anyone as my US phone didn't work outside of WiFi, and was so confused about the bus system as I hadn't ridden one since elementary school. I got into a cab from the bus station and when the driver dropped me off at the Student Village, I juggled through my wallet as I tried to differentiate between pounds, pence, and remaining American change.
I laugh at myself now at how nervous I was, as I have adjusted perfectly. I'm a borderline bus station professional at this point with the timetables memorized, and I can almost do the British pound to US dollar conversion in my head. The fear of being the only American in my classes was eliminated when I realized they all consisted of a big melting pot of international students. The professors are very understanding of the language barriers (yes, even though it's still English there still is some confusion) and have been a great help as well.
My six British roommates and I get along great and they have been a huge help since I've arrived. They have showed me around the city of Swansea and the campus. Even though I go to school on the coast in North Carolina back home, Swansea Bay Beach was a breathtaking sight to see. It was unlike any beach I had seen before. Even now, being here for almost two months, I still find myself admiring the view from the bus ride to school and my Wednesday morning lecture. It's since become my favorite running path and Sunday adventure spot.
Aside from being shown around the area, my roommates have taught me all of the British ways of doing things, which places serve the best fish and chips, what brand of tea to buy, and all of the British sayings, "Cheers" being my favorite. I have likewise taught them the sayings the American south, "ya'll" being their favorite. We have learned so much from each other in the time that I've been here. Sometimes I feel like I've learned it all but then I hear a phrase I've never heard before, or been introduced to a food I've never tried. I hate to sound like a study abroad brochure here, but the culture really is endless!
Cheers!
I laugh at myself now at how nervous I was, as I have adjusted perfectly. I'm a borderline bus station professional at this point with the timetables memorized, and I can almost do the British pound to US dollar conversion in my head. The fear of being the only American in my classes was eliminated when I realized they all consisted of a big melting pot of international students. The professors are very understanding of the language barriers (yes, even though it's still English there still is some confusion) and have been a great help as well.
My six British roommates and I get along great and they have been a huge help since I've arrived. They have showed me around the city of Swansea and the campus. Even though I go to school on the coast in North Carolina back home, Swansea Bay Beach was a breathtaking sight to see. It was unlike any beach I had seen before. Even now, being here for almost two months, I still find myself admiring the view from the bus ride to school and my Wednesday morning lecture. It's since become my favorite running path and Sunday adventure spot.
Aside from being shown around the area, my roommates have taught me all of the British ways of doing things, which places serve the best fish and chips, what brand of tea to buy, and all of the British sayings, "Cheers" being my favorite. I have likewise taught them the sayings the American south, "ya'll" being their favorite. We have learned so much from each other in the time that I've been here. Sometimes I feel like I've learned it all but then I hear a phrase I've never heard before, or been introduced to a food I've never tried. I hate to sound like a study abroad brochure here, but the culture really is endless!
Cheers!
The first two weeks in Swansea, I took a pre-session course on British Culture with my fellow Americans. It was very interesting - we had discussions about British politics (which I knew barely anything about before coming here), watched British films, and even had a whole day focused on the Beatles! Another perk was that a couple of trips were included with the class! The first was the Gower Peninsula, a surreal group of cliffs overlooking the channel, appropriately named one of the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK! We were even lucky enough to see some sheep that had jumped the fence to frolic on the cliffs! (There are sheep everywhere. One even decided to walk in the dead middle of the road in front of our coach bus, slowing our travels! My British friends laugh at me for how much they intrigue me, but a suburban American like myself had not seen sheep outside of a petting zoo before this.)
It was gorgeous at the Gower, and I am definitely going to take a trip back there when it gets warmer! My favorite trip, however, was to Bath, England. We got a tour of the famous restored Roman baths, along from a little museum of Roman history connected! The weather permitted and it was such a beautiful day for exploring. After the Roman bath tour, I spent my day with a group of friends shopping, getting distracted by street performers, and admiring the amazing architecture of the city. I felt very English when I got to experience my very first tea room, complete with chocolate dessert!
The trips were great, especially since they were planned for us. Trip planning may be one of the most stressful things in the world: trying to decide between the fastest flight or the cheapest bus, the safest hostel in a good location, how much spending money to bring, what to wear, the list of worry is endless. But with help from the Travel Agency on campus and even professors' travel tips, a group of friends and I booked our trip to London! This was our first big trip that we planned (partially) on our own, and it was great! We had a hostel in a good location, and got to see many attractions, my favorite being the Harry Potter Studio Tour! (Very touristy, I know.) We were lucky to see Big Ben, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, the London Bridge, and Trafalgar Square all in one weekend! London was a much bigger city than Swansea and had a completely different feel to it. While I had an amazing time, I was so happy to get back after our 5 hour bus ride, into my own bed, back to my roommates and on a regulated sleep schedule. It was funny how in just a month, Swansea had taken on the meaning of "home".
Big trips like London are an amazing experience, and I wish I could them every weekend. But on a college student's budget, it's obvious that can't happen. Spring Break is soon, and since it is so long, I will be doing most of my big trips then, which means I have to save up for them. Although it isn't as big as London (or even close), spending the weekend in Swansea is far from boring. It goes without the business of London, which I prefer, making for a relaxing weekend. A trip to Mumbles, the neighboring town, has been one of my favorite things to do so far. You can get there by bus, but it's only four miles, and with the scenic view of Swansea Bay Beach, there isn't a better way to get there in my opinion. Mumbles's biggest attraction is its lighthouse, but is also famous for delicious ice cream and quaint restaurants on the water!
Last weekend was another relaxing weekend in Swansea. I spent Friday walking around Wind Street, one of the most popular streets for nightlife. However, before all of that emerges, it offers many good places to eat. I was surprised to see a T.G.I. Friday's there - it may even been more popular here than the States. My flatmates and I had Nando's for dinner - the best chicken restaurant in Swansea and possibly the world, in my opinion. On Saturday was St. David's Day, and the City Centre was a lively place to be. St. David Day is a celebration of the patron saint of Wales and basically all things Welsh. There were booths set up with Welsh food such a pasties, jams, cheese, as well as crafts and live entertainment. The fountain in the middle of the City Centre was even dyed red (which turned out pink) to represent the country's colors! People were dressed up in traditional Welsh outfits, performers crowded the streets, and even campus held a fair with rides and games! I left St. David's Day with a Welsh flag and dragon stickers in my possession, a belly full of pasties and Welsh cakes, and a new sense of what it means to be Welsh.
Last weekend I spent the day in Cardiff, one of the biggest cities in Wales and the capital! Most of my roommates are from there, so I got some insight on what to see when I went! After about an hour ride on a MegaBus early Saturday morning, my friends and I finally arrived! It was beautiful city with lots of shopping, restaurants, scenic parks, and the Cardiff Castle! My favorite part was the waterfront of Cardiff called Mermaid Quay, which we got to by boat taxi. A lunch of croquettes, tortilla omelets, fried fish balls, complete with Sangria and Welsh cakes for dessert proved to be the best meal I've had so far! We spent the day just walking around the city window shopping and cafe hopping, and we finished our night in a pub with a live band before heading back to Swansea! Cardiff was such a great place, and I will definitely be back!
This past weekend, I watched my very first rugby match! It was a Six Nations game, a tournament where Wales, England, Ireland, Scotland, France, and Italy play! This one was Wales v. England, a major rivalry. I was so intrigued by it and got really into the game. It was like football, but more fast paced and thankfully, no commercials. I was a little intimidated at first due to the intensity of the bar crowd, the fact that I knew nothing about rugby, and me being severely under-dressed (my jeans in comparison to red jerseys, daffodil hats, face paint, and Welsh flags that doubled as capes). But, by the end of the game, I was just as let down as the lifelong fans when Wales lost to England.
Day light savings in the spring would usually mean an hour taken away from a good night's sleep in the US, but here it just means a couple more hours of daylight to explore! The weather has been warm and sunny, and I couldn’t have been more excited to venture out without a jacket. Swansea in the sunshine calls for trips to the beach at least once a day. I’ve also been back to the Gower, and a bunch of sheep were out sunbathing on the cliffs! Rhossili Bay was beyond gorgeous in the sunshine; the photos I took don’t even come close to doing it justice. Fingers crossed for more weather like this!
Day light savings in the spring would usually mean an hour taken away from a good night's sleep in the US, but here it just means a couple more hours of daylight to explore! The weather has been warm and sunny, and I couldn’t have been more excited to venture out without a jacket. Swansea in the sunshine calls for trips to the beach at least once a day. I’ve also been back to the Gower, and a bunch of sheep were out sunbathing on the cliffs! Rhossili Bay was beyond gorgeous in the sunshine; the photos I took don’t even come close to doing it justice. Fingers crossed for more weather like this!
April 4 - Dublin was an amazing first trip! I went with my two American friends from my home school, University of North Carolina Wilmington, and we met up with their friends from New York. We got a nice, clean hostel, with friendly roommates (a couple of really sweet girls from Czech Republic and a girl from the States I soon figured out I had a mutual friend with…small world!). It was also in a perfect location, right on the water and within walking distance Temple Bar. That was our first stop after dinner since we got there so late. The pubs and streets were filled with live music and energetic Irish people step dancing!
The next day, we got up early and walked on Grafton Street, a shopper’s paradise. Unfortunately, even with the exchange rate from euros to pounds, I made the decision to save my money for other touristy things. The Guinness Storehouse was a really cool experience! The tour included a free pint….and a beer never tasted so good on the top floor of the factory, looking down on all of Dublin! We also toured St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Dublin Castle within the next few days, and I definitely was not prepared for how big both of them were. I was used to all the old architecture in Wales and don’t even think twice about seeing a castle in town anymore. But both Cathedral and Castle blew me away. I could’ve stared at them for hours…and I nearly did. Thanks to the free Wifi, stainglass, and endless benches, they were both great places to rest after admiring them. Cheers, St. Pat.
Realizing I was on a student budget that was quickly decreasing before my own eyes, we decided to take advantage of all of the free things Dublin had to offer. We went to two big parks, St. Stephen’s Green and Phoenix Park, both of which had beautiful gardens. They were relaxing places to walk through when it wasn’t raining and when the pigeons weren’t swarming, which was usually followed by our embarrassing girl screams. We might as well have had a stamp reading “tourist” on our foreheads.
Dublin was my favorite place so far. By the end of my trip there, I knew exactly where I was going, where the good food was, where I could shop if I wanted to go bankrupt, and where I could by for some good live music. Which isn’t saying much, considering you could achieve at least one of the above in every place in Dublin. It was a big city feel without it being geographically big. I think we circled the city at least twice while we were there and I could’ve done it a thousand more times.
The next day, we got up early and walked on Grafton Street, a shopper’s paradise. Unfortunately, even with the exchange rate from euros to pounds, I made the decision to save my money for other touristy things. The Guinness Storehouse was a really cool experience! The tour included a free pint….and a beer never tasted so good on the top floor of the factory, looking down on all of Dublin! We also toured St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Dublin Castle within the next few days, and I definitely was not prepared for how big both of them were. I was used to all the old architecture in Wales and don’t even think twice about seeing a castle in town anymore. But both Cathedral and Castle blew me away. I could’ve stared at them for hours…and I nearly did. Thanks to the free Wifi, stainglass, and endless benches, they were both great places to rest after admiring them. Cheers, St. Pat.
Realizing I was on a student budget that was quickly decreasing before my own eyes, we decided to take advantage of all of the free things Dublin had to offer. We went to two big parks, St. Stephen’s Green and Phoenix Park, both of which had beautiful gardens. They were relaxing places to walk through when it wasn’t raining and when the pigeons weren’t swarming, which was usually followed by our embarrassing girl screams. We might as well have had a stamp reading “tourist” on our foreheads.
Dublin was my favorite place so far. By the end of my trip there, I knew exactly where I was going, where the good food was, where I could shop if I wanted to go bankrupt, and where I could by for some good live music. Which isn’t saying much, considering you could achieve at least one of the above in every place in Dublin. It was a big city feel without it being geographically big. I think we circled the city at least twice while we were there and I could’ve done it a thousand more times.
APRIL 9 - VARSITY
This is the day that all Swansea Uni students look forward to come spring. It is a massive, all-day event where Swansea's sports teams play our rivals, Cardiff. Every sport on campus is involved. The day starts out getting a bus to Cardiff, after face paint and digging out everything green you own to show Swansea support. The day is filled with sports playing in different areas of Cardiff, so it's easy to get lost but also easy to find your way back with the giant sea of green and all students wearing matching Varsity shirts. My favorite was the rugby - first the fresher's game, where I proudly cheered on my two roommates playing! They took the victory and we stormed the field, and finally, it was time for the Varsity rugby to play in Millennium Stadium. There were nearly 14,000 people in attendance: students, alumni, and stuff, so the stadium filled up. I was lucky enough to get a seat pretty close to the front near all of my friends. It was an eventful game, and in the end, it was Swansea for the win! People were running around the streets celebrating, screaming Swansea chants, and we all took buses back home for more celebration later that night! It was a perfect end to my last night in Swansea before a month long Easter recess.
This is the day that all Swansea Uni students look forward to come spring. It is a massive, all-day event where Swansea's sports teams play our rivals, Cardiff. Every sport on campus is involved. The day starts out getting a bus to Cardiff, after face paint and digging out everything green you own to show Swansea support. The day is filled with sports playing in different areas of Cardiff, so it's easy to get lost but also easy to find your way back with the giant sea of green and all students wearing matching Varsity shirts. My favorite was the rugby - first the fresher's game, where I proudly cheered on my two roommates playing! They took the victory and we stormed the field, and finally, it was time for the Varsity rugby to play in Millennium Stadium. There were nearly 14,000 people in attendance: students, alumni, and stuff, so the stadium filled up. I was lucky enough to get a seat pretty close to the front near all of my friends. It was an eventful game, and in the end, it was Swansea for the win! People were running around the streets celebrating, screaming Swansea chants, and we all took buses back home for more celebration later that night! It was a perfect end to my last night in Swansea before a month long Easter recess.
APRIL 10-21 SPAIN
My first Spring Break destination was Spain! I first arrived in Valencia, and stayed with my friends from my home uni who are studying there. I was used to all the walking as a means of transportation, but the bike system was very new to me. They unfortunately reminded me how out of shape I was, but the rides around the city were so scenic. We rode through the Rio, once a river but was recently drained and transformed into a park. I went back there a couple of times throughout my stay to walk around, admire the scenery, and take siestas. We also had to ride through it to get to the central market, which was located in the city centre in a massive building, filled with mostly food: meat (chicken with the heads still on and bowls of hog feet….yum) and fruit and vegetable stands, but also some souvenir places. My favorite thing was the freshly squeezed juice for a euro a glass, perfect for hydrating after the ride there.
I also spent a good amount of my time at la Playa del Malvarrosa, the beach in Valencia. We would stop by the Fruiteria, where you could get 5 kilos of oranges for one euro. Amazed at how cheap it was, I stocked up on a bunch of fruit for beach snacks and happily paid 50 cents for them. We did this almost every day, and I was so happy to finally be in bathing suit soaking up the Spanish sun rays!
The spontaneous day trip to Alicante: we packed snacks from the fruiteria, rented a car, and drove 2 hours south. The drive was gorgeous, and again, a view that really can’t be represented by an Iphone snapped photo in a car going 70 mph. We walked around the town and laid out on the beach all day, devoured some churros, and then had to go back to Valencia to return the car. We went out for a late (normal time for Spain) dinner at 10pm, where we ordered a massive portion of paella with rabbit and chicken. Normally I wouldn’t ever think about eating rabbit, but i had already tried shark earlier that week so I figured when in Spain. Weirdly enough, those ended up being my two favorite foods I tried there.
My first Spring Break destination was Spain! I first arrived in Valencia, and stayed with my friends from my home uni who are studying there. I was used to all the walking as a means of transportation, but the bike system was very new to me. They unfortunately reminded me how out of shape I was, but the rides around the city were so scenic. We rode through the Rio, once a river but was recently drained and transformed into a park. I went back there a couple of times throughout my stay to walk around, admire the scenery, and take siestas. We also had to ride through it to get to the central market, which was located in the city centre in a massive building, filled with mostly food: meat (chicken with the heads still on and bowls of hog feet….yum) and fruit and vegetable stands, but also some souvenir places. My favorite thing was the freshly squeezed juice for a euro a glass, perfect for hydrating after the ride there.
I also spent a good amount of my time at la Playa del Malvarrosa, the beach in Valencia. We would stop by the Fruiteria, where you could get 5 kilos of oranges for one euro. Amazed at how cheap it was, I stocked up on a bunch of fruit for beach snacks and happily paid 50 cents for them. We did this almost every day, and I was so happy to finally be in bathing suit soaking up the Spanish sun rays!
The spontaneous day trip to Alicante: we packed snacks from the fruiteria, rented a car, and drove 2 hours south. The drive was gorgeous, and again, a view that really can’t be represented by an Iphone snapped photo in a car going 70 mph. We walked around the town and laid out on the beach all day, devoured some churros, and then had to go back to Valencia to return the car. We went out for a late (normal time for Spain) dinner at 10pm, where we ordered a massive portion of paella with rabbit and chicken. Normally I wouldn’t ever think about eating rabbit, but i had already tried shark earlier that week so I figured when in Spain. Weirdly enough, those ended up being my two favorite foods I tried there.
Barcelona was my favorite part of Spain. Our train was only supposed to take 3 hours, but unfortunately it took much longer so we didn’t get there until 6. A birds eye view of the entire city right at sunset after a hike through the scenic Park Montjuic made the frustration from the extra travel hours completely disappear. We stood right in front of the National Museum of Art and could see all of Barcelona. It was such a breathtaking view and I couldn’t wait to explore all of it the next day.
We properly spent Easter Sunday morning touring the Barcelona Cathedral. After that, we saw the Arc de Triumph, walked through the Gothic Quarter (a massive shopping center full of restaurants and souvenir shops), and to Barcelona’s port. We got lost on the way there, and ended up walking two miles in the wrong direction, so by the time we got there, we were exhausted. But what better place for a siesta than a beach, even if it was a bit chilly? I look back to a couple months ago and laugh at myself for struggling to sleep on a Megabus, because now it only took a backpack propped up against some rocks leading to the ocean and travel fatigue for me to pass right out.
When we woke back up, we were fully energized and ready to explore some more. We went to some more parks, Parc Guell and Parc de la Ciutadella. You’d think they would get old after the second or third, but they were all so different and I could’ve spent hours in each of them without getting bored. Parc Guell was a long hike, but the view at the top made it all so worth it. There was a stone cross at the top over looking the city, which made for a good end to Easter Sunday. The only thing that would’ve made it any better would be having my family there to spent it with!
I had to make my last day in Barcelona an early one because of an early flight to Paris, but I am so glad I got to spend as much time in Spain as I did!
We properly spent Easter Sunday morning touring the Barcelona Cathedral. After that, we saw the Arc de Triumph, walked through the Gothic Quarter (a massive shopping center full of restaurants and souvenir shops), and to Barcelona’s port. We got lost on the way there, and ended up walking two miles in the wrong direction, so by the time we got there, we were exhausted. But what better place for a siesta than a beach, even if it was a bit chilly? I look back to a couple months ago and laugh at myself for struggling to sleep on a Megabus, because now it only took a backpack propped up against some rocks leading to the ocean and travel fatigue for me to pass right out.
When we woke back up, we were fully energized and ready to explore some more. We went to some more parks, Parc Guell and Parc de la Ciutadella. You’d think they would get old after the second or third, but they were all so different and I could’ve spent hours in each of them without getting bored. Parc Guell was a long hike, but the view at the top made it all so worth it. There was a stone cross at the top over looking the city, which made for a good end to Easter Sunday. The only thing that would’ve made it any better would be having my family there to spent it with!
I had to make my last day in Barcelona an early one because of an early flight to Paris, but I am so glad I got to spend as much time in Spain as I did!
APRIL 21-24 PARIS
Flying by myself from a Spanish airport into a French one not knowing either language at six in the morning was a little nerve-racking to say the least. Luckily I met people from my Barcelona hostel who split the cab with me, learned that everyone speaks English in airports, and navigated the Paris metro just fine.
I wasn’t meeting my friends until later that night, so after I got into my hostel I had some self reliant exploring to do. I walked through Montmartre, got a baguette - the first of many carbs I would eat, and toured the Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart) Basilica. By the the time I got back to the hostel, my friends were there, and I was so excited to see them! We got dinner, swapped study abroad stories, and went to the top of the Sacre Couer where we could see all of Paris lit up at night with the Eiffel Tower in the distance.
The next day was full of touristy site seeing in Paris - the Love Lock Bridge (my favorite of the day), Arc de Triumph, Notre Dame, Tuileries Garden, and Champs-Élysées (luxury shopping avenue of Paris). We took frequent breaks to sit, overload on bread and Nutella crepes, and enjoy the views of Paris in the springtime. My friend the history major acted as our tour guide the whole time, which was good because there was so much to see in the short time we had there.
We had been getting glimpses of the Eiffel Tower all day in windows of trees or peeking over buildings in different parts of the city, and seeing it head on was nothing less than amazing. It was even bigger than I expected and I would’ve been content just sitting there staring at it all day. After passively aggressively fighting other tourists for the best photo op spots and taking some typical touristy pictures, we went to the top. Somehow, without timing anything, we were able to watch the sunset over the whole city.
Flying by myself from a Spanish airport into a French one not knowing either language at six in the morning was a little nerve-racking to say the least. Luckily I met people from my Barcelona hostel who split the cab with me, learned that everyone speaks English in airports, and navigated the Paris metro just fine.
I wasn’t meeting my friends until later that night, so after I got into my hostel I had some self reliant exploring to do. I walked through Montmartre, got a baguette - the first of many carbs I would eat, and toured the Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart) Basilica. By the the time I got back to the hostel, my friends were there, and I was so excited to see them! We got dinner, swapped study abroad stories, and went to the top of the Sacre Couer where we could see all of Paris lit up at night with the Eiffel Tower in the distance.
The next day was full of touristy site seeing in Paris - the Love Lock Bridge (my favorite of the day), Arc de Triumph, Notre Dame, Tuileries Garden, and Champs-Élysées (luxury shopping avenue of Paris). We took frequent breaks to sit, overload on bread and Nutella crepes, and enjoy the views of Paris in the springtime. My friend the history major acted as our tour guide the whole time, which was good because there was so much to see in the short time we had there.
We had been getting glimpses of the Eiffel Tower all day in windows of trees or peeking over buildings in different parts of the city, and seeing it head on was nothing less than amazing. It was even bigger than I expected and I would’ve been content just sitting there staring at it all day. After passively aggressively fighting other tourists for the best photo op spots and taking some typical touristy pictures, we went to the top. Somehow, without timing anything, we were able to watch the sunset over the whole city.
The next day, we went to The Louvre, where we fought our way to see the Mona Lisa. The art was definitely interesting, but I was more amazed by the fact that the Louvre itself had previously been a palace and the painted ceilings had been there for over 500 years, not to mention we were now walking where royalty had. Pretty posh stuff. Instead of splurging on another overpriced carb centered lunch, we all got baguettes and Brie cheese from the grocery store and had an authentic French picnic on the grass in front of the Eiffel. I was tired from the minuscule amount of sleep I had been running on for most of break, but I couldn’t bring myself to close my eyes because the view was that good. We left at dinner time only to find ourselves back in the exact same spot after our meal for the midnight lighting of the Eiffel, where we stayed until 2am despite my 6 o’clock flight into Rome. Even though I had literally had just spent the entire day there, I didn’t want to leave it. It was a perfect end to my Paris trip.
APRIL 24-28 ITALY
I got in late to Sorrento after a 3 hour bus ride of catching up with my American friends from Swansea. We immediately went to bed since we had an early start the next day at 6am, a boat tour into Capri. The colorful houses and crystal clear blue water were everything the brochures had led me to believe. We saw massive grottos (blue from the reflection of the water, green from the seaweed, and red from coral), lighthouses, and island houses one can only dream of affording one day. When we got to Capri, my first purchase was a granita, an authentic Italian Ice made with freshly squeezed oranges. Minute maid will never taste the same. The day was filled with souvenir shopping, pizza, Lemoncello and chocolate tasting, but the best part of the trip was the chair lift to the top of Anacapri. After the hour bus ride and a 20 minute hike all uphill, I didn’t see how we could get much higher. The 15 minute chairlift took us to the top where we were literally looking down on clouds and the crystal clear water of the Mediterranean from the top of Mount Solaro. It was breathtaking as yachts looked like ants from 1,932 feet. From all the birds eye views I had experienced, this was by far the best one.
The next day was a trip to Positano, where we explored, collected sea glass on the beach, and ate the best paninis in all of Italy for lunch. Unfortunately it ended up raining, but we made our way into cafe that overlooked the water and served the best hot chocolate. It being our last night, we went to a beer garden near our hotel and cheersed (“Salute” in Italian) to yet another adventure for the books.
I got in late to Sorrento after a 3 hour bus ride of catching up with my American friends from Swansea. We immediately went to bed since we had an early start the next day at 6am, a boat tour into Capri. The colorful houses and crystal clear blue water were everything the brochures had led me to believe. We saw massive grottos (blue from the reflection of the water, green from the seaweed, and red from coral), lighthouses, and island houses one can only dream of affording one day. When we got to Capri, my first purchase was a granita, an authentic Italian Ice made with freshly squeezed oranges. Minute maid will never taste the same. The day was filled with souvenir shopping, pizza, Lemoncello and chocolate tasting, but the best part of the trip was the chair lift to the top of Anacapri. After the hour bus ride and a 20 minute hike all uphill, I didn’t see how we could get much higher. The 15 minute chairlift took us to the top where we were literally looking down on clouds and the crystal clear water of the Mediterranean from the top of Mount Solaro. It was breathtaking as yachts looked like ants from 1,932 feet. From all the birds eye views I had experienced, this was by far the best one.
The next day was a trip to Positano, where we explored, collected sea glass on the beach, and ate the best paninis in all of Italy for lunch. Unfortunately it ended up raining, but we made our way into cafe that overlooked the water and served the best hot chocolate. It being our last night, we went to a beer garden near our hotel and cheersed (“Salute” in Italian) to yet another adventure for the books.
Our bus was dropping us back off in Rome, so we decided to stay the night and explore the next day. We did a lot of sight seeing the next day, with lots of pizza and pasta in between. I wished in the Trevi Fountain, which was my favorite part of the day! The fountain was a lot bigger than I expected and it took awhile for me to make my way to the front because of all the other tourists. I also saw the Vatican, the Pantheon and Rafael’s grave, the Colosseum, and had the best gelato in all of Italy. It was a struggle trying to fit everything in a day, but we managed, even though we were exhausted. The airport floor that night might as well have been a Tempurpedic I was so tired.
APRIL 28- MAY 1 BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
Brussels greeted me with a Nutella covered waffle at the airport. It’s hard to be in anything but a good mood after one of those, even after spending 7 hours on the Rome Ciampino airport ground. Our hostel was in Grand Place, the center of Brussels surrounded by shops and restaurants. After catching up on some sleep, we spent our night walking around there, admiring the architecture and souvenir shopping!
We continued our self led Belgian food tour with another waffle for breakfast the next day, and frites (fries) with Brazilian sauce. Obviously chocolate sampling was on the to do list, which did not disappoint. We went to a place called Le Comptoir de Mathilde, where we indulged in more chocolate, and all of it was up to my standards. When in Belgium!
We did do more than eat in Brussels, like see the Mannequin Pis, which was a little disappointing and more comparable to the souvenir keychains than an actual statue. Still, it’s amusing that a naked baby peeing in a fountain is one of the biggest attractions there and we still had to fight for a photo spot. We park hopped, my new favorite thing to do since Barcelona, and found ourselves in Parc de Bruxelles in front of the royal palace. We sat and ate our frites while enjoying the day, until it was time for another all nighter, this time on a 14 hour bus back to Swansea.
Brussels greeted me with a Nutella covered waffle at the airport. It’s hard to be in anything but a good mood after one of those, even after spending 7 hours on the Rome Ciampino airport ground. Our hostel was in Grand Place, the center of Brussels surrounded by shops and restaurants. After catching up on some sleep, we spent our night walking around there, admiring the architecture and souvenir shopping!
We continued our self led Belgian food tour with another waffle for breakfast the next day, and frites (fries) with Brazilian sauce. Obviously chocolate sampling was on the to do list, which did not disappoint. We went to a place called Le Comptoir de Mathilde, where we indulged in more chocolate, and all of it was up to my standards. When in Belgium!
We did do more than eat in Brussels, like see the Mannequin Pis, which was a little disappointing and more comparable to the souvenir keychains than an actual statue. Still, it’s amusing that a naked baby peeing in a fountain is one of the biggest attractions there and we still had to fight for a photo spot. We park hopped, my new favorite thing to do since Barcelona, and found ourselves in Parc de Bruxelles in front of the royal palace. We sat and ate our frites while enjoying the day, until it was time for another all nighter, this time on a 14 hour bus back to Swansea.
I left Brussels wishing I could’ve stayed longer because I still wasn’t tired of the waffles or warm weather, but it had been over three weeks since I had been in Wales and I was missing it. Spring Break was eventful and I traveled to so many places I hope to find myself in again one day. There was never a dull moment with all the beautiful sights, new languages, delicious food, and meeting people from all over the world. It was so exciting always being on the go and seeing all these places I’d only seen in movies, but I was homesick for Swansea by the end of the trip. My roommates, a normal sleep schedule, a bus system I’m familiar with, and the English language, to be more specific. Words cannot describe how relieved I was to hear my Megabus seat buddy say “cheers” in that wonderful British accent I hadn’t heard in weeks.