Un Petit Picnic Parisien

While I was in Paris, my friend Mila came to visit and we rented the cutest apartment in the 15th arrondissement through Airbnb. On Mila's first day in Paris, it was pouring down rain. (Okay, so, it pretty much rained the whole week, but this day was especially bad.) We spent a good half of our day drenched and spiteful of the Seattle-esque weather. 

As we settled into our apartment, it became increasingly evident that wine was much needed. And since it's Paris, you can't have wine without cheese. And if you're going to buy cheese, you might as well try three different kinds of delicious French cheese. And if you're going to get that much cheese, you should probably also get proscuitto, caprese and sun dried tomatoes...

You see where I'm going here? 

So, we had the most delightful, mouthwatering, perfect little picnic on the charming balcony of our darling French apartment. Living like locals really isn't so bad.

Not Homeless

I think it's fair to say that apartment hunting in Spain is one of the most difficult and stressful things that I've ever done. But all that anxiety can finally subside - because I finally found an awesome apartment in one of the cutest neighborhoods of Madrid!

The outside of the building is charming and quintessentially Spanish, but the inside is recently remodeled and sparkling clean. Although my room is quite small, the apartment has all of the amenities that I was looking for: furnished, central heating, wifi, a clean kitchen, an oven (strangely a luxury here in Spain), a washing machine, and a window with lots of light. And not to mention, my roommates are awesome.

The room came furnished with modern Ikea accents (in other words, I would have never chosen red lamps or a red bookcase for myself), but I figured - hey, I'm only here for a year, I might as well embrace it. Insert red + leopard print pillows from Zara Home and a few mod frames & decorative accessories, and boom! I just created a "look" for my room. Kind of. The hardest part about being in Spain for only one year is trying to restrain myself from excessively shopping for home goods. I mean, can you blame me? I used to work at Pottery Barn for goodness sakes. Sorry I'm not sorry that I'm obsessed with interior decorating. 

Being a minimalist is hard. 

Yes, my new red Longchamp bag that I bought in Paris coincidentally matches my room. I promise I didn't plan that.

My window looks out onto a pink building! How perfect.

I know. It's really small, and it's certainly no Pottery Barn, but for a darling space in my favorite neighborhood of Madrid, it'll do just fine.

In Love with London

Despite starting off my trip as a hot mess of jet lag and scrapes & bruises from hauling ~150 pounds of luggage around with me, my week in London truly felt like a dream. Suffice it to say, I have fallen madly in love with London. I will even go as far as to say that it is in my Top 5 favorite cities in Europe. Perhaps I'm just nostalgic for a city where everyone speaks English, but I'm already dying to go back.

Changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace

The city itself is stunning. Every corner you turn is filled with incredible architecture and beautiful sights. The enthralling history emanates from the people and culture, enriching one's experience of the city. One cannot cross the Westminster Bridge and not be profoundly moved by the breathtaking view of Big Ben & Parliament asserting a regal presence over the bustling city. From the red coat pageantry of the changing of the guards to tea time at Harrods, soaring up the London Eye and delving into medieval times at the Tower of London, this city embraces an elegant juxtaposition between a glorious past and a colorful present.

Picadilly Circus

Tower Bridge, often confused as "London Bridge"

The people are passionate about their history, their queen and their traditions. This makes for an even more fulfilling experience as a foreigner, for the people's love for Britain is contagious. It's hard to wrap my head around the fact that so many important historical events happened in the exact spots that I stood in. Time certainly hasn't stood still here either. London pulses to the rhythm of a vibrant energy, intoxicating all who are lucky enough to pass through this magnificent metropolis.

St. Paul's Cathedral

Tower of London

Massive crowds watching the changing of the guards

Before I even left, I was thinking to myself about how excited I am to come back someday. It may be in a few years, it may be in a few months. Either way, I feel an inexplicable pull towards this city - an insatiable hunger to keep coming back and experience all that London has to offer.

St. Paul's and the Millennium Bridge

View of the city from the London Eye