"Between every two pines is a doorway to another world."-John Muir
Portugal: Sardines, Roosters, and Peacocks, Oh My!
However, my favorite thing about the city was the unashamed amounts of blue tile that were EVERYWHERE. My heart leapt out of my chest when I saw churches COVERED with murals of blue tile on the outside.
“London Calling” – The Clash
As they say in Sweeney Todd: "There's no place like London". It is a bustling city like New York, but without the cranky attitudes, griminess, or pollution.
When In Rome…Do As Romans Do!
I was able to see so much of the natural beauty (and avoid the ghastly traffic/crazy driving situation) by taking a "safari jeep tour" of the island. The most unique thing I ate on my entire trip was rabbit heart, as part of the traditional rabbit dish(it tasted like the rest of the rabbit, because the heart is all muscle).
Jamaica: Paradise in January
Actually, you're probably waiting for the beach pictures. Let me leave you with these images of paradise, one of a beach we went to and others of the sea coast. Truly, you feel amazed how such a place could exist.
The French Finale
For hundreds of years, it's been everything from a pilgrimage site, prison, abbey, and inspiration for Joan of Arc. Worth noting are the powerful tides which can appear in the blink of an eye to make this an island, and washing away to make it a long beach. In addition, the winds are so strong, my friend worried her 1 liter bottle of water would BLOW AWAY.
Back to the Riviera
Monaco is both a well-known yet hidden gem. It did not have a single speck of trash on the ground. First we toured the Prince's Palace, which is still inhabited by the Royal family. Afterwards, we took a couple hours to count the yachts in the ports, tour the gardens, and stare at the crystal clear water. Of course, we went to the casino and toured the inside.
It’s all Greek to Me
Another note-worthy element of Greece is the flowers. They are everywhere and plentiful where they appear. I couldn't help but pose in front of every crop on the island. On Mykonos island, the smell of syrup was in the air around certain patches of flowers.
Sunny Spain
This city has my heart. Not only is it stunningly beautiful, but I enjoyed it a lot more than Barcelona because it was more laid-back but still bustling with activity. It has the largest central market in Spain and an intact silk market building. I got to make it to the beach, where the soft sand felt wonderful on my aching feet. A cool thing the tour guide told us is that every Thursday for the past 1000 years, there has been a public meeting outside of the cathedral where cases about misuses of the irrigation water have been settled. This activity has been declared a UNESCO world heritage tradition. Here, we were told to drink the "agua de valencia", which is orange juice, gin, vodka, and champagne.
Castles, Cathedrals, and Carnivale
What impressed me the most about the festival was the passion of all ages for the festival. People in their 70s were on the trams, completely dressed up, being playful and singing the drinking songs as if it was a completely new experience for them. At all times of the day, you could hear the drinking/Cologne Carnivale song either sung or being played. People chanted and yelled the phrase "Kolle Alaaf", said to mean "I love Cologne!".
AMERMINFRANCE 