MURCIA

It's been a longggggg time, but I am restarting my blog! I haven't used this blog since my European backpacking trip almost 3 years ago, and a lot has happened since then, namely -

- I graduated college!
- actually went on the backpacking trip 
- worked in Marketing for Fado Irish Pubs
- spent a year living and teaching English in Madrid

And now I'm back in Spain for a 2nd time to live, travel, soak up more of the culture, improve my Spanish and of course teach English! This time around I'm in Murcia (in the south of Spain) and sharing this experience again with my best friend (now more like sister), Ms. Chelsea Cufaro. 

I'm hoping to get back on the blogging wagon and chronicle my upcoming year in España through photos and posts!

Salzburg, Austria

I am so excited to visit Salzburg! I am definitely the one who put this city on the list and I have to admit, my main reason for doing so is the movie “The Sound of Music.” I have loved the movie since I was a kid, when my little sister and I would perform all of the songs from the movie together in our living room. After watching the film time and time again, I decided that I had to visit the beautiful city of Salzburg one day. I have heard several times that the movie is purely an American thing and while “The Sound of Music” tours are offered in Salzburg to please American tourists, the movie isn’t a big deal to Austrians and other tourists visiting from around the world. While I would like to say that I am not going to be the typical American tourist singing and searching for every sight from the classic movie, I know that’s just not going to be possible. However, I am still very excited to see and appreciate what Salzburg has to offer apart from one of my favorite movies.

Salzburg is also the birthplace and former home of classical composer Mozart, who was born in Salzburg in 1756. Many sights around the city are related to Mozart’s life and music. While at first I was picturing Salzburg as a city swarming with Mozart fanatics and “The Sound of Music” lovers, the more I researched the city I realized that I think I am going to enjoy Salzburg even more than I originally planned. Pictures of the city look even more beautiful than I remember from the movie and the history in Salzburg goes much farther back than Mozart’s days.

In addition to The Sound of Music tour, which yes, we will spend one of our days in Salzburg on, here is a list of other top sights we plan to visit:

Hohensalzburg Fortress – Also known as “Salzburg Castle,” this castle/fortress (not quite sure exactly which one it is, looks more like a fortress to me) is the most dominant feature of the city’s skyline. The fortress sits above Salzburg offering great views of the city below it. It also features a couple of museums, but I am more excited to explore it and check out the view.


Hellbrunn Palace – Known for its gardens, "trick fountains" and the famous gazebo scene from “The Sound of Music” where Liesl sings “16 going on 17."


Hellbrunner Allee – I hope to take a walk down this charming alleyway which connects Salzburg with Hellbrunn Palace. Also off of Hellbrunner Allee is Schloss Frohnburg Palace, which was used for the exterior shots of the Von Trapp residence in the movie.


Salzburger Dom - The city's beautiful cathedral and one of Salzburg's top attractions.


Mozartplatz Square – A memorial to Mozart in the heart of the old town of Salzburg. Since I am not quite sure if we will have time to make it to the birthplace of Mozart, I would at least like to see the statue of the composer which stands in the middle of the square. Also in the square is the Salzburg Museum which exposes visitors to the history, arts and culture of Salzburg.

Residenz Palace - Once the palace of the Prince Archbishop of Salzburg, now a magnificent palace open to the public in the old town of Salzburg.

Mirabell Palace – The palace is famous for its flowers and gardens, for fellow Sound of Music lovers, Mirabell gardens is where Maria and the children sing “Do Re Mi” on the steps of the garden, around Mirabell's famous fountain and run through a hedge tunnel.


Before we leave Salzburg we will have to try a "Mozartkugel" or a "Mozart Ball," a delicious dessert made of pistachio, marzipan and a nougat core coated in milk chocolate. These treats are extremely popular in Salzburg!


And of course, after we have the chance to visit a German beer hall in Munich, we will have to visit an Austrian beer hall in Salzburg to compare! I hope to visit Müllner Bräu, or the Augustiner Brewery which is supposed to serve Salzburg's most delicious beer!


For more information on what to do and see in Salzburg, Visit-Salzburg.net has a lot of great information and is where I did most of my research on Salzburg!

Munich, Germany

After our time in Italy, we will head into Germany. I am especially excited to visit and plan Munich, the capital of Bavaria which brings to mind beer, the beautiful Alps and Oktoberfest. I don’t know much about the city of Munich, but nearby are some places we’ve always wanted to visit. Because our interests will put us in the heart of beautiful Bavaria, it only makes sense for us to also explore the cultural and historical city of Munich while we are in the region for three days.

Day 1 - Explore Munich

We will kickoff our time in the capital of Bavaria with a visit to the oldest church in Munich, Peterskirche (St. Peter’s Church), a 13th century gothic church in the heart of the city.

From there we will head to the nearby Viktualienmarkt, an open-air market known as the “stomach of Munich” with its fresh produce, wine, meats and cheeses.

We will stop by and check out Odeonsplatz, Munich’s most beautiful square near the Residenz (Royal Palace), which I am anxious to see.


If we have time we will visit the grounds of the historical 1972 Olympics, now known as Olympiapark.

We will spend the evening in one of Munich’s famous beer halls, I would really like to get the Bavarian beer hall experience at Hofbräuhaus am Platzl, which holds 4,500 singing and shouting beer drinkers. From there we will head out to experience Munich’s eclectic club scene.


Day 2 – Neuschwanstein

I am extremely excited to visit Neuschwanstein, Mad King Ludwig II’s fairytale castle, which is a two-hour trip from Munich in the medieval town of Füssen. The castle overlooks Füssen in the picturesque Alps and was built in the 19th century by the mad King Ludwig. The majestic landmark is known as the inspiration for the castle featured in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty and for its role in the classic movie “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”


Day 3 – Dachau

We will spend our last day in Bavaria visiting Dachau, the Nazi’s first concentration camp. We really want to visit a concentration camp and since Dachau is only a 45-minute trip outside of Munich, this is the perfect opportunity. Dachau, which operated as a concentration camp from 1933-1945 is now renovated and preserved as a memorial. Two barracks remain to give visitors insight into the once horrible conditions at Dachau, which also now features a museum.


For more Munich travel information, Frommer's guide to Munich is a great resource!

And as always, suggestions are invited and welcomed!

Naples and Capri, Italy

After Lisbon we will be heading to Spain and then into Italy, getting into Chelsie and Chelsea’s planning of the trip. Chelsea studied abroad in Spain so we’ve decided she is going to plan our time there and Chelsie studied in Italy so she will be taking care of most of our time in Italy. However, none of us have ever been to or know much about Naples and Capri. My aunt and uncle spent their honeymoon visiting the Amalfi Coast and have told me how gorgeous it is. After seeing pictures, I’ve always wanted to visit Capri and the more I hear about Naples, the more interested and curious I become about the city. When I first brought this up to C and C, they were a little hesitant because Naples seems like it is so far down there! I’ve heard its only a two hour train ride from Rome, but it seems so removed and different than most of the places in Italy we will be going. I’ve also heard so many contrasting opinions on Naples, I don’t really know what to expect! But, I think that’s all the more reason to go. Italy is one of the destinations we are most excited about on this trip, so why not get a feel for a totally different region of Italia???? And besides, Naples is the birthplace of pizza! How could we not?

Naples

Also referred to as "Napoli," we will only be spending a day here before heading to Capri. I’ve heard Naples is the kind of place you either love or hate. It gets a bad rap for its corruption, congestion and of course the Mafia. Yes, all pretty bad things I suppose, but yet some people say its their favorite place in Italy! Why? Well there’s the….

Pizza! Napoli is the birthplace of pizza and I have heard it is amazing here. There are even rules in Naples governing how pizza in this city shall be made! I’ve decided we will be eating at Da Michele Pizza, the world famous restaurant mentioned in the book “Eat, Pray, Love” that started serving pizza in 1870! They only serve two kinds of pizza, Margherita and Marinara and I hear they are both Benissimo!


We will also visit The National Archaeological Museum of Naples. One day won’t leave us a lot of time for visiting sights, but I’ve heard this one is a must. We also won’t have time to make a day-trip to nearby Pompeii, so we can get a feel for the ancient Greek and Roman roots of the area by visiting this museum filled with ancient artifacts, many excavated at Pompeii and Herculaneum.

We will have to make a stop at the Duomo, Napoli’s most famous cathedral.


Most importantly, I want to get the feel for Naples by wandering through the city’s historic center, stopping at sights that interest us and taking a break to enjoy a cappuccino and a sfogliatelle, a clam shaped flaky pastry filled with sweetened rictotta cheese. These sweet treats are a staple in Naples and I am already excited to try one!


Capri

We will take a ferry from Naples, which will be about an hour and half ride and will surely include some incredible views!


There are two towns on the island of Capri, Capri and Anacapri. I am just going to go ahead and plan on us staying in Anacapri, which is located on a plateau above the town of Capri. I say this because it is less popular with tourists and therefore cheaper. But, it actually sounds better to me because it is quieter, more relaxing and includes some amazing views since it sits above the lively town of Capri. Also, since the island is so small, it’s still not very far from the excitement below it.

While on the island we will have to take the chairlift up to the top of Monte Solaro where we will enjoy the amazing views. Another must is to take a boat trip to the Grotta Azzurra, the legendary blue grotto, a cave which reflects blue light that illuminates the cavern and must be entered by rowboats of two to three passengers.


I think our two days on the island will be about relaxing from the craziness of our journey while we enjoy a limocello and simply enjoy the Mediterranean feel of the island with its abundance of lemon and olive trees, flowers and scenic views. The island is supposed to be easy to explore by foot since it is only three miles long and offers many hiking paths. We will take advantage of this by doing some hiking and enjoying the natural beauty of the island. Of course, we will have to spend one night experiencing the famous nightlife of Capri!

LISBON, PORTUGAL

The next stop on our trip and my next location to plan is Lisbon, Portugal. Before we started planning this trip, I didn’t know much about Lisbon and even after doing some research, I still feel like I don’t have a clear image in my head of what Lisbon will be like. I don’t know anyone who has been there and it isn’t one of the first major European destinations that comes to mind. While we were making our list of places to go, Chelsea suggested we include Lisbon because she had heard great things about it. At first I thought it seemed kind of random, but the more I’ve researched Lisbon, the more convinced I’ve become that we cannot skip this city.

Also, if there are any other Bachelorette fans out there, this past season the show filmed an episode in Lisbon. After watching that episode I became even more convinced we had to go! The city looked beautiful with its many hills and cobblestone streets. I also distinctly remember Ali and the guys visiting a gorgeous castle I must go to while I am in Lisbon! Ali and Roberto had so much fun in Lisbon, they even started dancing in the street!

Researching Lisbon I realized that I must not be the only one who doesn’t know much about Lisbon or consider it a top European destination, there isn’t nearly as much information on the web about Lisbon as there is about every other major city in Europe. However, I came across the website golisbon.com and it is a great resource for anyone traveling to Lisbon! I got all of my travel information for this leg of the trip solely from this website and they offer detailed information about the various districts of the city, attractions, top ten lists, suggested itineraries as well as interesting information about Lisbon. A few facts from the website solidified my need to visit Lisbon and might just convince you of the same!

Lisbon is known to be pretty inexpensive compared to most other major European cities.

It has a mild climate year round and even during winter temperatures rarely go below 50 degrees! We are going to be very thankful for this come March!

The beach! Beautiful city and the ocean, does it get any better?

It is smaller than most European capitals! Considering it will be up to the three of us to find our way through these cities, the smaller the better in my book!

Great nightlife!

Great wine!

(Those last two points are all I really need to convince Chelsie and Chelsea)

So here’s how I am thinking we are going to spend our three days in Lisbon:

Day 1 – We will spend our first day exploring Alfama, one of Lisbon’s most popular districts. This part of the city is known for its amazing views of Lisbon and its medieval history. It is a village within a city which features narrow streets, tiny squares and beautiful churches. While here we will visit Saint George’s Castle (which overlooks the entire city of Lisbon) and explore the district, stopping in its many churches and museums.

Also in the Alfama District is one of Europe’s top clubs, Lux, so if we are feeling a little adventurous that night we might as well give it a try while we are there!


Day 2 - We will spend our second day exploring the city's best attractions:

Belem Tower – Known as an icon of Lisbon and a symbol of the age of discovery, this fortress was once the starting point for many voyages of discovery, including those of Prince Henry the Navigator, Bartholomeu Dias, Ferdinand Magellan and Vasco da Gama.


We will have lunch and maybe a glass of Portuguese wine at the Santo Amaro docks, a collection of former warehouses now transformed into some of the city's best bars and restaurants.

Then visit some of Lisbon’s most important monuments and museums – the Berardo Museum (collection of modern art), the Discoveries Monument (the world’s explorers carved in stone), the Maritime Museum (tells the story of Portugal’s role in world sea exploration), Jeronimos Monastery (the resting place of former explorer Vasco da Gama).

We will spend our evening in the Bairro Alto district, the nightlife mecca of Lisbon known for its cobblestone streets and lively restaurants, bars and fado houses.


I want to spend our last day outside the city, however after doing some research I am still down to two great options:

Sintra – This seems to be a popular recommendation and I can understand why, it sounds amazing! It was once the summer residence of Portugal’s royal family, features several fairytale like palaces, beautiful views and museum collections and its only a 40 minute train ride from Lisbon.


Cascais - Also seems like a great option, a colorful seaside town known for its surfing, great beaches and beautiful views. Even though it will be quite cool when we go, it might still be nice to spend a day at the beach!


Most importantly, I want to leave Lisbon being able to say I enjoyed some authentic Portuguese custard tarts, took in the sunset from the top of the hills, appreciated the history of Lisbon and its influence on the age of discovery and enjoyed the weather as I strolled through the picturesque streets of Lisbon.

FRANCE

No trip to Europe is complete without a visit to France… the wine, the cheese, the romance, haha… however, as I mentioned in a previous blog post, we decided to forgo Paris on this trip. Not that I don’t want to go back to Paris, believe me I do and I will one day, but we want to see a different side of France on this trip. We’ve all been to Paris, but this time we want to go off the beaten path. We want to stay in the French countryside, have a picnic with some fresh cheese and a local bottle of wine, bike ride to the nearest chateau, you get the picture. The only problem is figuring out where exactly to go for this experience. Here are the options I have been entertaining:


The Loire Valley – This region is referred to as the “Garden of France” and boasts vineyards, flowers, chateaux and rolling green hills. Sounds exactly like what I have been looking for…. what makes this choice difficult is that there are several towns to choose from in the Loire Valley, the most appealing options seem to be:

Bourges – Paved stone streets, Medieval and Renaissance architecture, a beautiful gothic cathedral overlooking the town, nearby chateaux and vineyards….

Chambord – Home to the largest castle in the Loire Valley and I’m guessing it is also the home of Chambord, I’ll take a glass of champagne with a splash of Chambord while I tour the castle please…..


Tours – University town and known to many as the hub of the Loire Valley, features Renaissance mansions, museums, wine, nearby chateaux and castles, oh you know just the same old same old in the Loire Valley….

Amboise – Known for its beautiful castle and white stone houses, this town was also once the home of Leonardo Da Vinci….

Many great choices, they all sound amazing and pretty similar, however I don’t want to let my travelmates down and choose the wrong Loire Valley town! Tough decision I must face, I know…. Any suggestions?

Outside of the Loire Valley I am considering:


Bordeaux – Much larger than the towns of the Loire Valley, this port city is located in southwestern France on the Garonne River and is known as a university town. What caught my eye about Bordeaux is that it is the heart of France’s wine industry, but I guess also known by some for its art and history.


Lyon – One of the largest cities in France, a major industrial city, but more importantly, the gastronomical capital of France, need I say more?

At this point, the Lorie Valley is sounding like the place I want to be. As much as I love food and wine, I am sure the Loire Valley also has some fabulous food and wine to offer along with its smaller towns, wineries, castles and chateaux. Any suggestions about where to stay in the Loire Valley or about our other options are welcome! Too many choices.....

LONDON

“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”
- Samuel Johnson


Trying to plan a backpacking trip definitely presents its challenges. The whole point of the trip is to pick up and go whenever and wherever we choose. However, we can’t just head over to Europe without some kind of plan. We have an idea of how long we are going to be in each place and the route we are going to take, but right now it is impossible to plan an exact itinerary and accommodations for each location. So, we decided the best way to start planning would be to divide up our destinations between the three of us (about 5 places each) that we will each tentatively plan. The first location to plan on my list is…..LONDON!

We decided that I would plan London because I am the only one between the three of us that has been there and because I just love London. At first, we actually debated if we would even visit London on this trip. I was just there a year ago and Chelsie and Chelsea didn’t seem like they were dying to go. Luckily for me, the cheapest place to fly in and out of is London, so I will get to return to London with my best friends and I am convinced they will leave London loving it as much as I do! Growing up, two of my favorite movies were Peter Pan and Mary Poppins, so for as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to go to London. When I finally got to visit, it was everything I expected and more. There are so many things to see and do and I just love the feel of this beautiful city.


We will be flying into London and spending the first four days of our trip there!

Some of the things I did last time that I think we must do again are:

Cruise down the Thames – you get to see so many great sights and get an idea of where some of the most important landmarks in the city are

Westminster Abbey – this time though, I would like to go for Evensong rather than the traditional tour

Harrods – even if you don’t buy anything, you have to go look! My mom and I especially enjoyed the pet section, the Christmas section (which goes up in July!) and of course, the food hall

Buckingham Palace – you have to see it, but surprisingly I don’t think I would go again during the Changing of the Guard, it was too crowded and honestly not too exciting

Walk through Hyde Park – one of my favorite memories in London was getting lost in Hyde Park at dusk

Visit one of the many markets around the city – great food, clothes and interesting souvenirs

Things I didn’t do last time that I must this time around:

St. Paul’s Cathedral – I know, I talk about how much I love Mary Poppins and I didn’t even get to this beautiful cathedral where the “Feed the Birds” scene takes place, also where Princess Diana married Prince Charles

Take a ride on the London Eye – It costs more than $20 dollars a person to ride but I am sure you can’t beat the view

Visit a few of London’s many museums – I am ashamed to admit this but I only visited ONE of London’s many museums while I was there (the Imperial War Museum) and entrance into many of them are FREE! There are so many to choose from too, the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, even the Sherlock Holmes Museum!


We are definitely going to spend one of our days taking a day trip out of the city, but I am trying to decide where we will go. I would really like to go back to Oxford because after spending six weeks there I would love to go reminisce and show Chelsea and Chelsie around! And there are so many things to do and see in Oxford. I would love for us to tour some of the colleges, I stayed at Trinity so we would definitely go there and Christ Church is where a lot of Harry Potter filming took place. Of course we would stop at the Covered Market for its many great shops and eats (Ben’s Cookies!). Another must in Oxford is to have a drink at the famous Eagle and Child, once frequented by J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.


However, some other possible day trip options are:

- Cambridge – another great University town
- Windsor Castle – the official residence of the Queen
- Canterbury – a picturesque town that includes Leeds Castle

There are so many things to see and do in London, 4 days just isn’t enough! Whatever we end up doing though, I am sure we will have a great time. Please let me know any suggestions/comments you have about our trip to London. Any other ideas or places I overlooked? I want to plan a trip that includes all the best London has to offer!