If you’re new here, at the end of each year I do a travel round-up/recap to review the past year’s travels. (Click here to read last year’s recap). This year, 2019, I traveled more than I ever have before. During the spring semester, I studied abroad in London and being in close proximity to so many different European countries, I just had to visit as many as I could.
Buenos Aires
My first trip of the year was in January with a class at my school. The twenty of us traveled all the way to Argentina to explore and experience the culture. It was my first time in South America and in the Southern Hemisphere in general, so it was a super exciting trip for me! Surprisingly, the vibe felt a lot like Europe, so I didn’t experience much culture shock, but it was still an amazing experience.
Read more: 10 Reasons Why Buenos Aires Should Be At the Top of Your Bucket List
London
Like I said, I spent four months of the year based in London. Again, I expected a lot more culture shock than I ended up experiencing, but given that everyone speaks the same language in the UK as they do in the US, it didn’t seem much different. The main differences I noticed were that everything closed much earlier than it would in America, they drive on the other side of the road, and of course, the accent.
However, what I did love about London was the amazing cultural diversity, the stunning architecture, and of course, the proximity to other amazing countries to explore.
Blog posts:
Paris
Obviously, during my study abroad semester I had to travel to nearby countries! My first weekend trip was to Paris with a friend. While we had both been to Paris before, it had been quite a while, so we decided to redo all the touristy activities, leading to an absolutely jam-packed itinerary. Still was a really fun trip, despite being exhausted at the end of it!
Amsterdam
I visited Amsterdam for the first time the week after I visited Paris. We actually coordinated our visit to coincide with an EDM music festival called Don’t Let Daddy Know, so we weren’t there just for travel, but I did see plenty of the main tourist sites anyway. I loved Amsterdam; out of all the European cities we visited, I think it might have been my favorite.
Read more: A Weekend Guide to Amsterdam
Prague
Prague was the first city I visited in Central Europe. I went with a few friends to visit our other friend who was studying abroad in Prague for the semester. Honestly, my favorite part about Prague was the weather – it was such a nice escape from gloomy London!
Read more: The Coolest Cafes in Prague
French Riviera
For Spring Break, my friends and I decided to go to a nice sunny location for some beach time. Tragically, the one day we decided to spend in Nice was also the day the weather decided to make it cold and cloudy, so we didn’t exactly get to enjoy the beach. We also took a day trip to Monaco, and on that day it was sunny and bright so maybe we just f*cked it up.
Blog posts:
Rome
Continuing our Spring Break travels, my friends and I next went to Rome. Having already been to Rome two times, I had already seen most of the touristy sites, but it was nice to come again and visit some of the more local parts of the city.
Read more: What to do in Rome: The Eternal City
Amalfi Coast
The last stop of our Spring Break was the stunning Amalfi Coast. This was one of my top bucket list destinations, and getting to visit on my birthday was a dream come true. I can definitively say that Amalfi Coast totally lives up to the hype, and everyone should visit at least once in their life.
Blog Posts:
- How to Visit Positano on a Budget
- The Best Towns In the Amalfi Coast: To Stay and Play
- Amalfi Coast Travel Guide: 4 Days in Paradise
Barcelona
The last trip I took while abroad was to the wonderful city of Barcelona. I have been to Barcelona three times now, and honestly, it never gets old. I love how the city has so much character, how amazing the architecture is, how delicious the food is, and how great the weather is too. Really, I would never turn down a chance to come back.
Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Barcelona
New York
After my semester abroad came to a close, it was time to move back to New York. I’ve never missed a city as much as I missed New York during those four months, and I think that’s how I knew that I now consider New York my home. So I was thrilled to come back to experience summer in the city for the first time! It ended up being even better than I had ever expected.
Vancouver
I took a break from traveling after my semester abroad for a while, but I did squeeze in a quick weekend trip in August to Vancouver with my family! I hadn’t been to Canada since 2013, and I had never been to Vancouver before. It was so fun to catch up with my family, eat some poutine and Tim Horton’s, and experience life in another country for a bit (even if that country is right across the border).
Brisbane & Gold Coast
Right before the year ended, my family and I visited Australia for the first time! Australia has been another huge bucket list destination for me, and I have to say, it also totally lived up to the hype. The weather in Queensland was absolutely beautiful, the landscapes were stunning, the coffee and food were delectable, the people were friendly, what more could you possibly want?
Then, as December 31st approached, I flew to Sydney to ring in the new year. But that’ll have to wait for a separate blog post!
Looking back at it, I am so grateful to have been able to travel so much last year, and to places I have always dreamed of visiting. 2020 will not be as full of traveling, but for now, I’m okay with that, and still excited to see what the new year has to bring.
Where did you travel in 2019? Let me know in the comments below!
