For the previous two months I’ve been hip-hopping round Europe by prepare with my Eurail pass, in a brand new metropolis on daily basis or two. Normally I’m so drained I can’t even bear in mind my very own title after I go to mattress at evening, to not point out my again is so sore from hauling round my obese backpack. Significantly kicking myself within the ass proper now for packing for two months in half an hour. Tremendous fail.
My grand ol’ tour of ye olde world started again the primary week of June, after I kissed my household goodbye and hopped on a flight to Toronto and the good white north for TBEX, an enormous convention the place journey bloggers converge for a weekend and discuss enjoyable issues like website positioning and content material creation, no matter which means.
After recovering from an intense six days of hardcore networking and even hardcore partying, normally on the similar time, I grabbed a flight again over to London with Icelandair to start the Nice Euro Adventures of 2013, aka Liz’s farewell tour of Europe earlier than I transfer right down to New Zealand in August.
Earlier than I knew it, two months had passed by although it felt like years. It was each the most effective summer time of my life and probably the most intense summer time of my life, and all I do know now could be it’s going to take a short time to each course of all the pieces that occurred and get well.
Whereas I’m getting ready the primary couple posts about my epic badass solo journey in Europe proper now, I spotted I owed you all a large replace! Issues have been a bit of too quiet right here on the weblog (interpret that nevertheless you’ll) and it’s excessive time I start tossing out some mysterious hints and
Currently (and by currently I imply the previous 8 months) I’ve been on an enormous Instagram kick. I’m addicted. I’m obsessed. Each time I take a photograph with my iphone (which if you realize me is fairly frequent) I be sure that it is going to slot in a sq.. I eat photographs for breakfast. This photograph sharing app was made for me.
I’ll take this chance to shamelessly self-promote and ask you to go forward and provides me a comply with on Instagram @YoungAdventuress when you don’t already. Don’t hate the participant!
And what higher approach to offer you an replace and inform a narrative than to do it visually? To offer you some concept of what I’ve been as much as together with some sneak peeks of enjoyable adventures and misadventure tales which can be popping out within the subsequent few months, I’ve compiled some (means too many) of my favourite instas of the summer time up to now!
Toronto, Canada
To be completely trustworthy, I didn’t love Toronto. I needed to like her, I actually did, but it surely simply didn’t occur within the week after I was there.
Granted, I barely received to know town whereas I used to be there for the convention, however I did take just a few excursions round city which all had a really comparable theme: lovely, Victorian downtown Toronto was ripped to items just a few many years in the past to show this massive metropolis into the monetary capital of Canada.
Now there are some issues I can forgive, however destroying lovely previous historic buildings within the title of banks is just not one in every of them. Til subsequent time Toronto!
Brighton, England
I had just a few days to kill within the UK on my means right down to Puglia in southern Italy for a weblog journey, so I made a decision to trek right down to Brighton on the south coast, about an hour-ish from London the place my favourite Brit lives.
Brighton is vibrant, younger, hip, stylish, lovely, and nicely, to be cliche, it’s vibrant. If you happen to’re trying to see a special aspect of England that’s not London, I recommend you hop on the following prepare to Brighton. I’ve been coming to Brighton nearly each time I fly by way of the UK and actually, it by no means will get previous. I may see myself dwelling there, I do know I say that lots, but it surely’s true right here!
If it wasn’t for the overall crap climate, stringent visa laws and a delicate air of anti-American snobbery, I’d transfer there in a heartbeat.
Brindisi, Italy
Although I’d been to Italy many instances through the years (I can solely go for thus lengthy with out correct Italian meals), I’d by no means strayed too far off the crushed vacationer observe. When the chance arose to take a look at Brindisi within the southern area of Puglia, I jumped on the probability. I used to be prepared for a special aspect of Italy.
In and round Brindisi took me by full shock. Within the quick week that I used to be there, I really feel head over heels for lovely southern Italy. For these of you on the lookout for a real “genuine” Italian expertise, wave goodbye to Rome and the north and head on down south to the pristine seashores and historic olive groves across the port city of Brindisi.
Corfu, Greece
Trying again I don’t know why it took me so lengthy to haul myself right down to Greece. For some unearthly motive, it was by no means on my radar till now. And after this summer time, all I can take into consideration is after I can return. Our Brindisi journey led to Corfu after following alongside on a well-known crusing regatta, and we had just a few days of enjoyable on the island earlier than my insane backpacking journey resumed.
My reminiscences from Corfu are magical. Orange sunsets. White sails. Blue water and all of the greek yogurt and honey you may presumably need. I used to be in heaven.
Did I point out I received to journey round on Vespas exploring the island with two Italian boys? Women, goals do come true.
Paxos, Greece
If you happen to go wherever in Greece, go to Paxos. Proper now. Please.
Significantly, this was one in every of my favourite locations I received to discover this summer time. After a tragic farewell of all my new mates in Brindisi, I boarded a small ferry out to the island of Paxos. Comparatively unknown to the remainder of the world, it’s an island of crystal clear water and the laidback way of life all of us think about Greece to be. With few vacationers!
I can’t start to inform you what number of instances I ended up having a seaside to myself! It was excellent! If I ever return to Greece, I’ll head straight right here.
Meteora, Greece
Meteora was on my radar for a lot of causes, however principally as a result of it was on the quilt of my Lonely Planet. In Central Greece, it’s well-known for having lovely previous monasteries clinging to the tops of pinnacle-like rocks. It’s like nowhere I’ve ever seen earlier than. It was undoubtedly value climbing all the way in which to the highest of all them.
I’m an enormous fan of touring to locations in contrast to another, and Meteora tops that checklist, particularly for Greece. The small city vibe has but to be ruined by an inflow of vacationers and each evening I used to be graced with a ridiculous sundown. I may simply have spent every week right here climbing round and testing all the journey actions.
Delphi, Greece
Being the full historical past nerd that I’m, a visit to Greece can be incomplete with out visiting Delphi, the house of the well-known historic Greek oracle. Having made visiting as many historic websites as attainable my very own private life mission, to say I used to be excited to go to Delphi is a large understatement.
Although it was hotter than Hades (see what I did there?) I had a good time exploring the location.
Hydra, Greece
I hoped for one final seaside hurrah earlier than crusing again to Italy, and the island of Hydra close to Athens appeared like the proper place for me. No vehicles are allowed on Hydra, solely approach to get round is on foot, boat or donkey. Although means overpriced for absolutely anything, I nonetheless had a good time exploring the previous city and crusing round to hidden seashores. I even made mates with just a few Athenians, making the journey much more memorable.
Athens, Greece
I hated Athens, to place it mildly. I wasn’t even planning to cease right here in any respect, besides I figured I might hate myself afterward in life if I missed out on the possibility to go to the Acropolis. Although means overcrowded with huge tour teams, I lucked out and the late afternoon sky handled me to an superior present, illuminating town in probably the most lovely mild. I assume it wasn’t so unhealthy in spite of everything…
Matera, Italy
Whereas I used to be laying on a seaside in Paxos, I met two {couples} touring round from Australia. Someday over lunch on the seaside between the tzatziki dip and seafood pasta, we received to speaking about lesser-known spots in southern Italy. making an attempt to choose their brains for concepts, they ultimately introduced up Matera, a spot I had by no means heard of.
HOLY CRAP MATERA BLEW MY MIND. Significantly, this needed to be the largest shock of my journey. I used to be in love. I by no means needed to depart. Speechless.
A fast background into this metropolis was that folks had been dwelling within the caves (Sassi) on the town for 1000’s of years. It’s one of many oldest constantly inhabited cities on the earth. Till the 1950’s when the federal government realized folks had been nonetheless dwelling in these caves in squalor and forcibly eliminated everybody into new housing outdoors the previous quarter, leaving the Sassi deserted for many years. These days, these homes and caves are being renovated and individuals are transferring again in.
Mainly, which means Matera is probably the most traditionally well-preserved place I’ve ever visited. Strolling across the Sassi actually appears like I’ve stepped again in time 1000 years; it’s simply unimaginable. In truth, it’s fairly well-known as a result of Mel Gibson selected to movie the Ardour of the Christ there.
Salerno, the Amalfi Coast, and Rome, Italy
After a tragic farewell from Matera, I hopped on the prepare to Salerno and the Amalfi Coast for just a few days, exploring the cities and seaside that I fell in love with again in 2008. Positano nonetheless must be one of the crucial lovely cities I’ve ever visited in Italy, however let me simply say that visiting in July, everybody has the identical concept.
I used to be excited to go to the seaside city of Salerno for the primary time and get to know a extra native aspect of Italy. The spotlight there needed to be the meals. ALL THE FOOD. SO good.
On my means north, I finished in Rome for just a few hours solely to satisfy up with mates and see Muse in live performance. After a annoying month of journey, it was nice to rock out subsequent to the stage and get a bit of wild. Although I’m undoubtedly not 17 anymore and it took me a full two days to get well. But it surely was value it.
Tuscany
Tuscany, Tuscany, Tuscany. That is what I consider after I consider Italy. Me and about half the ladies in America, to make certain. Tuscany is heat mild, wheat fields and olive groves; it’s pink wine and Cyprus timber. There’s a motive Tuscany is timelessly fashionable. It’s ridiculously charming and lovely.
And like so many different issues in my life, my love for Tuscany began nearly a decade in the past after I watched Below the Tuscan Solar for the primary time. For years I had been making an attempt to make the journey to Cortona, the place the writer Frances Mayes lives but it surely by no means labored out. Till now.
My goals got here true a month in the past, sleeping in a restored medieval farmhouse outdoors Cortona and getting to go to all of the locations impressed by the books. It was perfection.
Did I point out I shot a video in Tuscany? Extra on that quickly.
Florence
After a tragic goodbye to Tuscany, I headed as much as Florence for just a few days to recoup. And let me simply say, Florence in the summertime was brutal. SO MANY PEOPLE OMGZ! I couldn’t cope with the crowds. It was hell. Plus the wet, humid climate made it fairly uncomfortable. Fortunately, Florence is such an impressive metropolis, you may’t assist however find it irresistible, it doesn’t matter what.
From sunrises on the Duomo to sunsets from the highest of town, my reminiscences of the fabulous Florentine structure and gardens are excellent. If something my few quick days in Florence jogged my memory I would like to go again for an extended journey quickly. Simply not in summer time.
Switzerland
Then I went to Switzerland, the place this occurred. Extra coming quickly.
Iceland
The grand finale of two months in Europe was our #IcelandChallenge with Tiny Iceland and Icelandair, taking of their transatlantic 7 day free stopover. How a lot are you able to see and do in Iceland in 7 days?
A complete hell of lots, that’s what we shortly came upon.
I took so many iPhone images in Iceland, I may write a dozen posts about simply that. However in an effort to exert some semblance of self management, I simply selected my 5 favourite pics from our week in Iceland driving across the complete nation. From big waterfalls to glacier sunsets to inexperienced mountains and black seashores, Iceland seems to be like no different place on this world. Why it isn’t everybody’s number one journey vacation spot proper this minute, I’ve no clue.
All I do know is that 7 days wasn’t sufficient, and I’m going to spend the following yr determining a approach to snag a long-term visa to Iceland. Anybody know a blonde viking eager to get hitched?
Nicely I’m residence now, and starting to get well and course of what has to have been one of the crucial intense and epic journeys I’ve ever undergone. Give me just a few extra days, and I’ll begin resembling a human being once more.
Within the meantime, all these images had been taken and edited on my iPhone 5 (besides the one in every of me skydiving, that was on my GoPro Hero 3). I get requested fairly ceaselessly what apps I exploit for my images so I figured I’d go forward and share my favorites:
- Professional HDR
- Snapseed
- Picfx
- Lovely Mess
- Pic Faucet Go
- Insta Collage for collages and Shade Cap for writing phrases on the images
I’m all the time looking out for brand spanking new enjoyable iPhone photograph apps, have any suggestions for me or ones I ought to attempt? Spill, would you want to go to any of those locations? Have you ever ever thought of backpacking round Europe with a prepare cross? What’s on the prime of your bucketlist?
Now I’m residence to those smiling faces. After two months on the highway, all I would like is a few TLC and pet kisses