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My Little Plaça in the Gothic Quarter
I knew I wanted to stay in a rental apartment during my time in Barcelona. A hotel was never even considered. I easily pinned seven or more flats before committing to this particular one, from which I write this now. In addition to my desire for a space with a living area and the ability…
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My Unexpected First 72 Hours in Barcelona
I landed in Barcelona on Thursday at 9:45 a.m., and to say that my first 72 hours were unexpected would be an understatement. On Wednesday at 7:31 p.m. Eastern Time, I boarded what I thought would be the best flight of my life, ready to make my journey across the Atlantic. In January, I splurged…
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The Things I’m Most Looking Forward to in Barcelona That Aren’t on My Itinerary
Aside from the wary reaction I get from people when I tell them I am going to Barcelona for a month, their next reaction is usually to tell me how much of Europe I can see. “You should fly to the South of France, Portugal, England or Rome.” “You have so much time to see…
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How I Am Trying Not to Over-plan Barcelona
I am a self-proclaimed planner. I love Google Maps, whiteboards, color coding, notepads, and schedules. I excel at logistics, time management, and strategic planning. I am notorious for checking out the parking situation at a place prior to arrival—granted, I live in Los Angeles, a city even more notorious for its lack of parking. I…
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What I am Nervous About Before Going Abroad for a Month
When I initially booked my trip in January, I barely told anyone I was going for the first couple months. Partly because this trip feels deeply personal, but also because telling someone you are going on an extended solo trip opens up a floodgate of questions. “Aren’t you scared?” … “You don’t have anyone to…
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Questions I’ve Googled An Embarrassing Amount of Times Before My Trip
Google, and the internet in general, is a wonderful tool. It allows us to buy things we don’t need, date people we wouldn’t have known existed and ask questions we might be too embarrassed to ask of another person. While preparing for my trip, I’ve learned two things about myself: I ask endless questions and…
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A Solo Afternoon in Pleasanton, CA
This April, I found myself in the Bay Area for work, staying in San Ramon for two nights. Not sure if you’ve ever been to San Ramon, but it’s safe to say there won’t be a blog post featuring it anytime soon. I thought I would be inundated with work tasks but found myself done…