I was accompanied by my girlfriends two little sisters and we went on an adventure of our own.
We started in Lisbon but then traveled to Barcelona and Italy thereafter.
Barcelona was an incredible trip! It was fantastic revisiting one of my favorite cities in the world, and this is some of the footage we have to show for it. Enjoy.
As soon as the airplane started to descend I felt a sense of nostalgia and excitement because I was returning to one of my favorite cities in the world, Barcelona, Spain. I do not know what it is about this place — the atmosphere, nightlife, people, siestas, or maybe even the sangria that puts it in a group amongst very few other cities in the world.
Situated on the north-eastern coast of Spain, this city offers respite to destination travelers, connecting tourists, and also some of the world’s cruise ship connoisseurs. It exudes culture like Paris through the likes of the Sagrada Familia and everything Gaudi, gastronomy like it’s neighboring Italy, and the liveliness of an island just off of its coast, Ibiza.
This is why I chose to study abroad in Barcelona during the summer of 2008. I suffered from a grueling schedule which incorporated morning classes and afternoon lectures all the way to midday siestas and the nightly fiestas. It was hard, but someone had to do it, and that summer it was me.
Cut-scene: Barcelona 2014
I got the chance to spend a few days in paradise with two of my princesses (Camila and Kesia — mentioned in the previous post), unfortunately the queen remained in Lisbon for work, but I wasn’t complaining … 😉 Upon our arrival, we checked into the W Barcelona where the adventure truly began.
The W Barcelona is a newly constructed beauty. It had gone up after my time studying there, but it made me always want to go back. It looks like a colossal mirror-like structure situated right next to the water. It truly stands out, and is a must see. Per usual, we met with our W Insider team to plan a memorable trip— restaurants, lounges, events, excursions, you name it. After about 1 hour I was emailed a detailed list of everything worth doing and we were off.
We explored through typical Catalan cuisine through recommended local restaurants and countless tapas. Indulged in dishes like traditional paella, seasoned rice with an assortment of seafood, pan con tomate, bread with a delicious tomato spread, the world renowned, Serrano Ham, and a myriad of bocadillos, or sandwiches.
When we chose to go out on the town we went to some pretty interesting spots ranging from local bars, one named Dow Jones, which attempted to mimic the US stock market for drinks using tickers calculating cocktail prices based on supply and demand, to posh sky-lounges with views of the entire city.
The highlight of our trip to Barcelona was not a conventional one at all. We did something that I have never done before, and never really had the desire to do, but being that I was with two other lady-adventurers we went on a hot air balloon ride around the mountainous region of Mount Serrat. As we ascended through the rocky weather, I was scared like a little girl, but it was well worth it because what we were about to see was something I had never expected.
For a few minutes I felt that I was still dreaming. The nasty weather we had previously witnessed was the staging for something surreal. We were on top of the clouds and when we looked below our little basket in the sky there was nothing else to see other than a pillowy-white snow-like surface that covered the ground. It was incredible.
We felt that we were at the top of the world. And, with that feeling we knew we had to keep the adventure alive. Next stop — Rome.
Life is all about the people you meet.
–Holstee Manifesto
Before:
To say that my life has changed drastically would be an understatement. Over the past few months, I have completely uprooted my life from a 9-5, or more like 7:30am-6:30pm, desk-job-robot life to one where I now enjoy every single day by seeing new things, meeting new people, and creating new stories. My “previous life” is what made me be able to afford my current one, and is the sole thing responsible for all of these unforgettable stories I am able to now document. Everything happens for a reason, I am glad I did what I did, and learned the things I was able to learn, but I am also glad about the exact position of my life at this very second!
Now:
So far, this european expedition has been great for a multitude of reasons. For the many new people I have met and the unforgettable experiences I have been lucky enough to have, but even more so because of how much stronger my existing relationships became.
I have been living for 3 months in a european country in a place where I don’t even know the language, and it has been an incredible adventure. I live in a great apartment in the center of Lisbon with my other half, Gesy, and another couple, Guilherme and Guta. We truly have become the best of friends and are even going to play big parts in their wedding in 2015, which will prove to be very exciting! 🙂
Enter the princesses: Camila & Kesia (My Girlfriend’s Two Little Sisters)
Camila and Kesia. The two girls that make me smile the most in my life. I actually did not know Kesia prior to this trip, and, oh my … It has been such a treat to finally meet this creature (featured in the images below). And, well Camila, you may remember her from older posts such as S. Korea, or Thailand, but now we are reunited in Europe. They are incredible people both inside and out, and let’s just say that my camera has never worked so much…
The Queen: Gesy
This past year I have spent more time with Gesy than anyone else, more so than my family, friends, and even myself — if you know me, I value me-time very highly, so to be able to say that means a lot. She truly resembles my better half and I do not know what I would do without her. She is my everything, and I thank god that she can put up with my antics so well.
I’m just living and learning — that’s the name of the game … Isn’t it? Stay tuned.
This is our attempt in summarizing our weekend in Monte Carlo in 4 minutes!
Hope you enjoy!
Remember when you were a little kid using snow globes? And, when you shook the globe it seemed so majestic and the place inside always looked so perfect?
Well, in a nutshell that is Monte Carlo. Subtract the liquid substance and the snow, but add beautiful people and a hefty price tag — and there you have it. A utopia for luxury-seekers.
From talking to many people who have visited Monte Carlo, you will either love it or hate it and there is no in between. This place cannot be taken lightly, is not for the feint hearted, and unfortunately (… or fortunately …) only appeals to a very small audience of ‘adventurers‘ so to speak.
Well, I have been lucky enough to have been raised under two amazing parents, and, believe it or not, they had actually taken both my brother and I to Monte Carlo before! Having been to Monte Carlo already, I was well accustomed to the excessive price tags and shiny cars — but, it was something I have been looking forward to return to after reaching ‘adulthood’, even though I truly just think that I am a big kid.
The city was as glistening, shiny, and tempting as ever; from the halls of the Royal Casino to the dining rooms of some of the world’s best restaurants, Monte Carlo does not leave much to desire. In fact, it would be in most peoples’ best interest if it did.
We were never shorthanded when it came to finding a destination to celebrate my birthday in Europe. In fact, none of us could agree on a set place and/or a time to go anywhere. The notion of ‘there’s always tomorrow’ was one that was used all too often, up until the point where tomorrow was that actual day.
Waking up the day before my birthday, we decided to hit the ground running with making the plans to celebrate, and Gesy, my better half, was the person who hit the nail right on the head. The plan was to do it in style: Monte Carlo, but the catch: we had a 14 hour layover in Geneva. We booked the tickets, secured the hotels, and, that night, we were off.
Switzerland … The land of chocolate, world famous jewelry, and “unique” banking practices. We arrived late at night and were really only able to take advantage of the hotel, but the following day was when we were able to “explore” the cityscape in just 3 hours before our flight out to Nice, France.
Long story short … Geneva was absolutely beautiful, but we did not get to enjoy it enough. I will be back Geneva, I promise. Stay tuned for the Monte Carlo post!