2015 Destinations On My Radar

New year, new adventures! While I don't have any trips set in stone yet, I've got quite a few places in mind that I'm dying to get to this year. I spent 2014 getting to know Europe better, so this year I'd like to focus on traveling more throughout Spain. (Though I'll still throw in a couple of international trips, just for good measure!) 

Although I've seen a good portion of the country, I feel like there's still so much more to be discovered and enjoyed. I'm not sure when my days of teaching English in Madrid will be over, but at the end of it all, I want to walk away knowing that I took full advantage of life in Spain. It would be foolish to turn down any opportunity to explore this gorgeous country! So with all that in mind, here's where I have my heart set on going this year:

Cádiz - 2010

It's about time that I make my return to the first Spanish city I fell in love with... which I subsequently ended up hating just a couple of months later. My time studying abroad in Cádiz was less than ideal, but through the trials and tribulations I ended up learning a lot about myself. And while living there wasn't necessarily a good fit for me, it's still a beautiful place that's perfect for visiting. I know returning will bring back a lot of intense emotions, but at this point I feel ready to face those demons and fully embrace everything wonderful about this charming southern town. 

Lisbon - 2010

Portugal is calling my name, and it'd be rude not to answer. After falling for Lisbon four and a half years ago, I'm ready to see what else Portugal has to offer. I've heard Porto is colorful, gritty and decidedly picturesque, so I'm hoping to seriously improve my photography skills before going!

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This has been my top destination in Spain for quite some time now, and there's really no question as to why. Widely regarded as the culinary capital of the world, San Sebastián was also chosen as the European Capital of Culture in 2016. Breathtaking scenery, distinct culture, world renowned gastronomy... what more could you ask for?

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One of these days I'd like to travel all throughout Scandinavia, but for now I'm enchanted by the idea of Copenhagen. I'm not sure what about it specifically attracts me, I just know that I've wanted to go for the longest time. I'm enticed by the potential of getting to know a part of Europe that I've never explored before, and from what I've seen on the blogosphere, Copenhagen looks absolutely darling.

 Luanco, Asturias - 2014

I fell in love with the north of Spain last spring when I traveled through Asturias, and I've been yearning for more ever since. My top destinations include Oviedo, Gijón, Santander, Girona, or pretty much anywhere in Galicia. I'll probably wait to go until May or June, in order to avoid as much rain as humanly possible. (After 20 years of living in Seattle, you'd probably feel the same way.)

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I think I've made it pretty clear that my survival depends on a lot of Vitamin D. A sunny weekend in Mallorca sounds like the perfect island getaway with a necessary Spanish twist. Palm trees and beaches by day, tapas and vino by night? Yes please.

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Depending on my summer plans, I hope to make a stop in Iceland on my way back home this July. Not only is there a direct flight from Reykjavík to Seattle, but Iceland Air also offers free stopovers for up to seven nights. Score!

Awestruck in Istanbul

This past November I journeyed to Istanbul to meet up with my best friend of 18 years and her husband, who were spending half a year traveling and WWOOFing around Europe. Istanbul was at the top of my 2014-2015 travel bucket list, and as it just so happened, it was also the most convenient place for them to meet me. Needless to say, booking a spontaneous ticket to Turkey took no convincing.

After what felt like the longest travel day ever (which was thankfully mollified by a delightful layover in Paris, filled with many macarons from Ladurée, French cheeses, and half a bottle of Chardonnay before noon - oops), I finally landed in Istanbul and began navigating my way towards the city center. As I stepped off the tram and began dragging my luggage through the dark streets, I turned a corner and immediately saw the Blue Mosque lit up in all its glory. Seeing the gargantuan mosque in person for the first time absolutely took my breath away. I took a few steps closer, and suddenly a hauntingly beautiful prayer call began echoing from its minarets. In that moment, I knew I was going to fall in love with Istanbul.

Between the charisma of the city and the company of my dearest friends, my visit to Istanbul turned out to be one of the best and most memorable trips of my life. We wandered aimlessly through the bustling streets, sipped on apple tea and freshly squeezed pomegranate juice as we explored, made friends with all of the street cats, tried as many exotic and delectable dishes as we could, and reveled in the city's vibrant personality and fascinating culture.

Admiring the exterior of the Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque's mesmerizing interior

Thanks to the gregarious nature of my friends, we also met a lot of delightful Turkish people. We ended up making friends with the owners of an antique rug shop, who sell their fine carpets to some of the world's top interior designers. They gave us a tour of their shop - which was really more like a museum - and we enjoyed a few beers and glasses of tea as they taught us more about their country and culture, reminisced about their travels, and shared stories about their families.

The more I got to know the city, the more it enchanted me. It soon became clear that four days wasn't nearly enough time to explore everything that Istanbul has to offer. As we hit all of the major attractions - all of which were breathtaking and undoubtedly worth seeing - I kept wishing I had time to experience more. I could have spent all day wandering through the Spice Bazaar, hours gazing at the mesmerizing ceiling of the Blue Mosque, and weeks trying to understand Istanbul's enthralling history. By my last day in Istanbul, I was already planning my return to Turkey.

Hagia Sophia at dusk

Inside Hagia Sophia

By making new Turkish friends, attempting to hunt down the best local eats, and seeking out authentic experiences (like going to a Turkish bath, which is worthy of a blog post within itself... yikes), our visit felt genuine and personal. (And traveling with my very best friend certainly made it all the more enjoyable!) The city absolutely captivated me, and every moment of my trip to Istanbul was memorable and awe-inspiring.

Tea time with a view | Where men wash their feet before entering the mosque

My Istanbul Picks:

Best Views: The rooftop bars of Sultanahmet

Must-Try Dishes: Kebaps, dolma, pide and Turkish Delight

Favorite Restaurant: Imbat, Palatium (located above the Great Palace of Constantinople)

Can't Miss Sights: The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Spice Bazaar and Grand Bazaar

Most Memorable Experience: A Turkish bath at Çemberlitas Hamami

Best Tour: A Bosphorus river cruise 

2014 Travel Highlights

What a year! I think it's fair to say that this has been my most memorable year of travels yet. Twenty-fourteen brought me to 10 countries and almost 30 different cities, each of which captured my heart in a unique way. I've savored many mouthwatering meals, had countless laughs with friends while on the road, and fine-tuned my ability to cram as much stuff into one carry-on as humanly possible. As I look back on the past 365 days, I feel ridiculously blessed. I can only hope that 2015 will be just as legendary! So without further ado, here are my favorite travel memories of 2014:

Discovering my Dutch roots in Amsterdam

Getting my first taste of Eastern Europe in Budapest

Uncovering the hidden gems of Northern France 

(And seeing Disclosure in Lille!)

Visiting fairytale Prague with my momma

... and then continuing the mother-daughter bonding in Vienna

Fulfilling my childhood dreams in Bavaria

Falling in love with Northern Spain in Asturias

Soaking up the sun and stuffing my face with feta in Greece

Spending the summer back home in Seattle

Eating and drinking my way through Spanish wine country

Exploring Istanbul with my best friend

Spending time with family and friends in San Francisco

Cheers to a 2015 that's just as epic! Happy New Year, everybody!