One of Europe’s best hidden treasures…. Well the secret is out, It is the Island of Mallorca.

Mallorca.. an island off the coast of Spain, apart of the Balearic Islands and only a thirty minute flight from Barcelona.

It is where the world’s ultra-rich, socialites, and celebrities hide out to keep their vacationing under wraps and remove themselves from the spotlight. It is hard to remind yourself this island isn’t made of money considering the world’s largest yahts are stationed in the stunning ports that outline the island.

 Plain and simple, this island is pure gold.

Arriving at the St. Regis Hotel just outside of the island’s capital, Palma was nothing less than lovely and honestly, mind-blowing.

The hotel was prestige, warm yet conservative and POSH.

The service was perfection and the food was even better and fresh as can be.

During the day time, you could relax on the sun beds that just happened to be warming water beds. The Mediterranean ocean was glittering just beyond the cliffs and the sun was brighter than ever.

Mallorca was what I would consider, heaven on earth.

Look who we woke up to outside our door every morning :)

Some of our day trips involved visiting the charming ports that hold these mega yachts, and just with our luck, we happened to be in Mallorca during the international boat show.

The ports were something that I would imagine a quaint European port to be like. Little boutiques and restaurants lined the marina and the sailboats were coming in and out of the marina as the day led on.

I know I use the word posh very frequently but when I would describe posh to someone, it would be the Ports in Mallorca. Mallorca is the Aspen of Europe, and obviously the beach version.

The fashion was incredible. Men strolled around with bright colored slacks, button-ups, and dress shoes as they left their yachts. The women shuffled off their yachts in their sky-high Louboutins and Dolce & Gabanna yacht wear.

I was so incredibly intrigued by the charm of this destination spot for the world’s rich and famous but I was more intrigued by the fashion.

Wearing haute couture and high-end brands while boating? Am I dreaming or is this real life? UNBELIEVEABLE.

I couldn’t get enough.

I was addicted.

One night we attended flamenco dancing to get a taste of the Spanish culture which was entertaining to say the least. The costumes were beautiful and didn’t only extenuate the women’s beauty but showcased Spain’s history and authentic culture.

At dinner we dinned on fish and seafood that was caught just hours before they were placed on our table, the Mallorcan wine was as sweet as could be.

The little night clubs that over looked the marinas were filled with socialites, and heavy hitters that were in a trance from the deep house music that filled the room and the Dom Perignon that was in every champagne flute.

The architecture was beautiful, especially the Palma cathedral. It is hands-down the most underrated and breathe-taking cathedral I have ever laid my eyes on.

The turquoise blue water in the Mediterranean and golden beaches were unbelievable.

All together, Mallorca is posh, beautiful and some where I would absolutely die to visit again soon.

Having my family there, our best family friends, and good company made this trip one we will talk about for eternity and an inspiration for what I hope to work towards so I can have a future just like the people I admired those days I spent in the ports.

Back to the Balearic Islands in a week …

For the one and only…

IBIZA.

X,

A

Dublin, Ireland. Famously known for their Irish pubs, Irish lads, leprachauns (trust me we saw a few), Jameson, and Guinness beer.

Dublin was just that and more. The city was more of a town, no sky scrappers, just pubs for miles.  There were jolly people with funny Irish accents roaming the cobble stone streets and no shortage of the color green.

When I arrived in Dublin, I felt comforted because I was finally back in the UK. Ireland wasn’t as much as a culture shock and the people were much nicer there. 

After getting unpacked we headed over to the the most popular pub in Dublin, the Temple bar. Every single pub was packed to the rim. There was literally lines out the door to get in because every one was in town for St. Patty’s weekend, naturally.

The bars were so much fun, definitely different than what I imagined them to be…there was live bands in each pub and if it wasn’t live bands they had DJ’s spinning to give the pub a more club-esque feel. 

Our favorite pub that we could just not get enough of all weekend was “Fitzsimmons” the pub was three stories with a rooftop bar. Each floor was a different scene. The first floor had more of a hipster feel, with a live band playing 90s throwbacks.. think Goo Goo Dolls & Red Hot Chilli Peppers. 

And the Guinness… oh my the Guinness. I have never drank it before coming to Dublin but when I tried it for the first time at a pub there.. it was amazing, straight from the factory just down the street! And how could I forget, Irish Cider. My favorite!

After a night out in Dublin, we woke up at 5am the next morning to catch a tour bus that drove us across the country to see one of the seven wonders of the world… The Cliffs of Moher.

The Cliff trip was one for the books and one touring experience I will never forget for the rest of my life.

We got on the bus at 630 am, when we went to bed at 330am. Normally, you can imagine the atmosphere on the bus would have been hostile, tired, and grumpy, which in reality is was the exact opposite. The party must have never ended from the night before because the bus was filled with laughter, excitement, and an outburst of energy which was coming from the back of the bus, the U of A crew.


And let it be known... that was only the beginning of the little game we like to play, Smirnoff Icing.

All of our friends from UA who are studying all around Europe met in Dublin for the weekend. It was a mad house. Everyone brought a party favor on the bus whether it was wine, Jameson, Smirnoff ices…..well, you get the point.

On the way to the cliffs our 3 hour trip quickly turned into a 5 hour trip because of one little problem….

Our bus was ON FIRE AND SMOKING.

We pulled over on the highway and found ourselves to be in the middle of absolutely no where surrounded by fields of ultra green farms and cows.. usually people would be angry or annoyed.. well we couldn’t be happier.

We ran out of the bus and ran around the farms for an hour and a half until the next bus came to pick us up…pure comedy and actually the most fun we had the entire tour.


Frolicking in the countryside of Ireland? 
Since when is that normal and who ever does that?

Learning about Irish worms?

After a 5 hours we finally reached the cliffs.

Wow.

The view was absolutely breathe-taking. It is no wonder why the Cliffs of Moher is one of the seven wonders of the entire world.

600ft. up we looked over the North Atlantic ocean with our feet hanging over the cliffs. It was such an incredible life experience. Being at the Cliffs of Moher with all of my favorite people in the world, even my best friends who were visiting from Arizona.

The pictures can’t do the Cliffs justice so if you ever get a chance, I recommend you visit this miraculous place and I promise you will never forget it.

Afterwards, we stopped at a few more landmarks that are famous in Ireland, one being an ancient chapel in the middle of no where, so eerie yet so intriguing.

After 4 hours on the bus, we finally made it back to Dublin and the St. Patrick’s day festivities were quickly beginning.

St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin..

Every year, all over the world, this day is dedicated to two things: The color Green and Guinness beer.

Being in the center of Dublin for St. Patrick’s day was a celebration I will always look back on.
Whether people were wearing outrageous leprechaun outfits, four leaf clover body suits, painted in green from head to toe, it was absolutely insanity.

Guinness was rushing out of the kegs, Irish car bombs were on every bar table and the mood in the streets was...I don't even have a word to describe it, basically it was complete and utter madness.

The energy through out Dublin that day was contagious. Everyone was so happy, even the police officers were having a good time! The parade kick-started the festivities with authentic Irish traditions being displayed on parade floats. The Irish pubs were over-packed but it didn’t even matter, the party on the street was bigger than the party that was going on inside anyway.

My first authentic St. Patrick’s day was no upset, and every St. Patrick’s day from this point forward will never be the same.

After a day of Irish madness and stories that are better left unsaid, the holiday didn’t end until the early hours of the next day.

Our last day in Dublin, we strolled over to the Guinness factory. It was SO cool to see. It was so interactive, you make your “perfect pint”, shop for their authentic Guinness gear, walk through the Guinness making process, indulge in some delicious Guinness beef stew and a pint of Guinness that was brewed earlier that day. Not to mention that Gravity bar that was on the rooftop of the factory which gave you a 360 view of the entire city.

Gravity Bar

St. Patrick’s day in Dublin was epic.

Absolutely insanity, and I loved every second of it.

Now back to Barcelona to give a warm welcome to my family & family friends and off to Mallorca!

X,

A

Amsterdam.

Famously known around the world for the city of legalized sins. Some would even call it an adult’s Disney world which in many cases I fully agree with.

Every thing I imagined Amsterdam to be was that and so much more and to be honest this city kept me on my toes this entire weekend because it surprised me in every aspect and I left wanting more.

When we arrived in Amsterdam I was instantly charmed by the Dutch culture and the Holland-esque architecture. It was every thing I imagined Holland being like, how did I have a pre-meditated image of Holland? Austin Powers Gold Member, as ridiculous as it sounds.

The buildings were so precious, they weren't too tall but incredibly narrow. The multi-colored buildings, cobble stone streets and canals between every street lined with large trees was a sight to see. Not to mention Heineken every where, you would be blind not to realize that Heineken is a huge part of Amsterdam, considering it originated there.

As soon as we arrived in Amsterdam we settled in at a cute bar for brunch followed by a visit to the ever so famous tourist spots; a “coffee shop”.

It was very interesting to see how liberal Amsterdam is, if that is even the word to describe it. Many locals I talked to said that the citizens in Amsterdam had a different outlook on life, a lot more open minded and free than the rest of the world. I was very intrigued by the mind set of the Dutch. They are the nicest people in Europe that I have come across, hard workers, and just full of life, not to mention their traditional culture.

I felt completely safe the entire time, Amsterdam was just stunning and ever so charming.
After meeting up with our guy friends that are studying in Prague, Madrid, and with us in Barcelona, we wondered over to the Red Light District.

The Red Light District was much more than I could ever have ever imagined and even sitting here now I still can not wrap my mind around that district of town. I will keep what I saw to myself, but let’s just say there is a reason why the Amsterdam flag has triple X’s on it with red and black stripes. I was appalled at what I saw and once I saw it I didn’t need to go back again.

After bar/coffee shop hopping, exploring in Vondel Park and many more activities we ended our Saturday night and started our Sunday morning at the Energy Music Festival at the Ziggo Dome.

DJ’s such as Martin Solveig, Arty, Deniz Koyu, Otto Knows, Shermanology, Danny Avila, Showtek, and many more took  the stage and put on an incredible show, one I will remember for years to come. The dome was packed with 15,000 people. It was such an epic night, to say the least.
Just unforgettable.

The last day we strolled around town and indulged in Dutch fries (to die for), home made crepes, and Heineken beers. We just took in every last second of being in that beautiful town and I am so happy we did so.

The weekend was epic and it could not have gone any more perfectly.

It reminded me how blessed I am to have the friends that I have, especially out here in Europe and to have such an amazing family to support me in these adventures I have been taking these past few months.

Amsterdam was one of my all time favorites.

Next Stop: Dublin for St. Patrick’s day!

One life. Stay Tuned.

X,

A

I'm going to take a risk and predict that Switzerland will be our best trip we take this entire semester. After visiting this country I would be more than content with taking zero trips for the rest of the time I'm in Europe.  Switzerland was mind-blowing in all aspects. From the breathe-taking views of the alps, to the world-famous skiing, and the charming personality of Interlaken. We could not have asked for a better weekend in Switzerland. Purely Perfection.

We arrived in Geneva, Switzerland. We couldn't see the night sky because we arrived in the mixed of a snow storm. Our drive from Geneva to Interlaken was long but you could still see the beautiful glaciers, monstrous Swiss alps and tiny lights coming from mountain side cabins.

Waking up the next morning was spectacular. We took a train from town to the top of the mountain. At the top of the mountain there is the tallest point of Europe, Jungfraujoch. This peak draws in millions of tourist each year and it is no secret as to why. Being tucked in the Swiss Alps, skiing powder up to my waist (yes that was the case at certain points) was like a dream come true. Switzerland has the best skiing in the world, and I dare to say even better than Aspen.

The second day was indescribable. Not exaggerating, literally heaven on earth. The sun was shining intensely, the skiing was magical yet again and every bar and restaurant on the mountain was packed to the rim with people celebrating life accompanied by Swiss beers, and brats. If people weren't partying at the top of the mountain they were laying in the sun chairs taking in the Swiss beauty right beside the commotion of party-goers.

After a long day of skiing we decided to celebrate the amazing weekend by going to an Irish pub, after that we strolled over to the one mini club/bar in all of Interlaken, "The Metro". It was nothing like Barcelona nightlife but it was better that way, it was true to the Interlaken charm.  After an unforgettable night and endless laughs we roamed the town the following day and came across the lakes that surround Interlaken hence the town's name which means "between two lakes". I will never be able to describe the beauty I witnessed that day, all I can say is Switzerland is effortlessly the most beautiful place I have ever been to in my entire life.

and the Swiss chocolate? yep, it's all its cracked up to be.

While myself and my two roommates were skiing, our fourth roommate, Emily, was sky diving. She said it was the best experience of her entire life and I can only imagine so considering she dove out of a plane over the UN-touched Swiss alps alongside the crystal clear lakes.

Possibly the best trip I've ever taken in my life.

Between the posh lifestyle of being Swiss, the Swiss Alps, the traditional charm, I fell in love with Switzerland 10 times over.

Until next time....

Off to Amsterdam!

X,
A

Our weekend in Madrid was a cultural experience that I will never forget. Madrid was what I would call, authentically Spain. Sometimes we forget that Barcelona is a city in Catalonia which has a strong sense of Nationalism. This has a strong influence on the culture of Barcelona and commonly we find ourselves feeling like we aren't truely in Spain because Catalonia (a region of Spain)has a different language, culture, traditions, and a different history than the rest of Spain.

Madrid revealed what Spain has to offer and what this amazing country was built on, all the way back to the early 1400's! This city was full of rich history, great nightlife and deep-rooted Spanish culture starting with the architecture.

The museums are world famous as well. We didn't get a chance to wonder over to the Museo Nacional del Prado, instead we toured the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía which held art treasures from Picasso, Dali and many more. The picture above is a photo with the Don Quixote statue, Don is a famous fictional character in the novel The Ingenious Gentlemen Don Quixote of La Mancha which is the second most famous novel in the world following the Bible. 

During the day we wondered down the secret alley ways of this incredible city. The fashion was different than Barcelona in the sense that people are more conservatively dressed. The shopping was phenomenal because little Spanish boutiques and American brand stores (that we have missed so much) lined the main roads. Based off observation, Madrid has a much older demographic than Barcelona. The capital of Spain did not let us down with cuisine either. We wondered over to the "Mercado de San Miguel" market where within a glass and cherry-wood building there was fancy stands that offer tapas, calzones, wines, cheeses, seafood, etc. We all agreed this market offered the best food we have eaten so far since being in Europe! Along with a rich taste in cuisine, we visited Las Ventas which is the home of the bull fighting in Spain, this arena seats 25,000 people and is still one of the few places in Spain where you can see an authentic bull fight. 

The people in Madrid were so incredibly nice and I was surprised to see such a busy and bright city based on the state of Spain's economy, and Madrid being at the center of that crisis. Madrid is also the center of the political corruption in Spain, we saw few protests but for the most part it was a peaceful weekend with Carnaval parades taking the streets.

One of the nightclubs we hit was Kapital, it was unreal. Seven stories tall! Each floor had a different vibe, one floor was blasting hip-hop music and the next was be house music. It was SO much fun and such a fulfilling experience. It was one of our favorite nights because it was such a pleasant surprise that the club was filled with locals instead of abroad students. 

Madrid is an absolutely amazing city, I loved every second of the weekend.

Until next time...

X,
A

I think it is safe to say our weekend trip to London was my favorite weekend yet. Back to the city I would love to call home some day and where I left my heart just 5 months ago. With the best entourage in town, we had the most perfect weekend I have ever had in London to date. 

With 7 guys and 4 girls all staying in the same hostel room, we started the weekend off in pure madness mode. To celebrate our arrival, we enjoyed Magner’s ciders, which is the drink I missed most.

The next morning we all woke up in excitement to explore the city. This summer I never got the chance to be a tourist, so luckily this time around I was able to see the big landmarks and take them in as one just visiting London to sight see. Our first stop- Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard’s parade! The changing of the guard’s parade consisted of a guard marching band, guards on horses, and a march around Buckingham Palace. With hundreds of people standing around the Palace in hopes to witness the changing of the guards, it made me realize that maybe there is more to London than I was even aware of.

After the changing of the guards we made our way over to West Minister Abbey, where Kate Middleton glided down the aisle in her iconic Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton wedding gown and where the Royal wedding watched by millions around the world took place.

Next to West Minister Abbey we saw the Supreme Court of England, the absolutely stunning architecture of the Parliament building and of course the ever so famous- Big Ben!

After taking in the must-sees of London’s historical monuments we wandered towards the London eye. From the London eye we strolled along the River Thames and saw a little bit of everything. From the eye-catching London street fashion which included Punk inspired outfits, vibrant hair colors, Doc Martens, etc. to the Mayor’s office to numerous pubs, charming alley ways that reminded us of Harry Potter, and most excitingly a famous girl band, The Atomic Kittens signing autographs on their way out of a recording studio. The boys were stoked on finding the graffiti filled skate park that is embedded beside the River Thames.  It was such a euphoric experience. Never in a million years did I imagine myself being with 12 of my best friends walking along the River Thames in London seeing the most beautiful things this city has to offer. It was just incredible and I will never forget that day.

After exploring, we stumbled upon the pub "Thirsty Bear" that is in the Oxo Tower Wharf area.  It was hands-down the coolest pub I have ever been to.  Each table has their own keg of Amstel, Heineken, and English Ale. You use an ipad to turn on the kegs and fill up whenever you want instead of having to ask a server. Also, you use the ipads to order your food, go on the Internet, order cocktails, turn on music in the pub, etc. SO COOL! I hope they have this in the States soon.

The boys were also excited to stumble upon this pub because they finally got to try fish and chips, London’s famous dish! 

Later that night I took the crew to Piccadilly Circus so they could experience the more touristy side of London because I feel like if your in London, Piccadilly is a must.

We went to “Zoo Bar” which is a bar upstairs and the basement is a club. We had an incredible night until it was time to catch a cab. Since it is off-season, there are barely any cabs to be found. We waited an hour and a half to catch a cab for three of us and that was after we hopped on a bus to head into a less populated part of town. Just insane!

DAY 2

Waking up was hysterical, no one was in the right bed, everyone was confused but nonetheless we all got up and started our day early once again.

Us girls were overwhelmingly excited to spend our money at the most amazing market in the entire world- Portobello Road Market which is just north of Notting Hill. This was my absolute FAVORITE place to shop and spend my Saturday mornings this summer because I found one-of-a-kind vintage, clothing from up and coming designers, records for record players, exotic food such as alligator, kangaroo, the list goes on!

The one thing I wanted at this market was a new feather headpiece because the one I bought this summer was just exquisite but unfortunately ruined over Halloween weekend in Vegas.

I ended up finding Julia, the woman who makes these priceless head pieces. Fortunately, she remembered me from this summer! We chatted about her new pieces that she has made since last time we met and she even offered me new items from her collection that she wasn’t even planning on selling! I was so honored.  I ended up picking out a green and gold headpiece and a white and silver one, which I wore to Ministry of Sound that night.

She was such a gem and I promised her to go back to her stand every single time I visit London. She makes her headpieces with vintage cloth from the 1920’s and colored feathers. She hand stitches the beads and buttons and wah-la! She makes head pieces of perfection.

After we spent too much time and money at the markets, I had one more thing on my list that was an absolute MUST HAVE. A Boy London shirt. I have been waiting to purchase one of these swagged out designer shirts for too long and now I finally could! Before we headed over to Selfridges to do so we needed to make a stop at my favorite store in the entire world- The TOP SHOP flagship store in Oxford Circus. It was just as fabulous as I remember it being. It is so massive! There is a hair salon, frozen yogurt stand, cupcake stand, walls and walls of accessories, floors and floors of fantastically trendy clothing and lines of people for days. The shoe section is the best selection I have ever seen in my entire life. It did not disappoint lets just say that.

After a long day of shopping we got ready for what we have been anticipating for all weekend… Zedd @ the Ministry of Sound. The Ministry of Sound is one of the most famous clubs in the entire world, it hosts the world’s most famous DJ’s and it is where I met Steve Angello from Swedish House Mafia.

Before we made our trip to Ministry we made a stop at my Aunt Jackie and Uncle David’s flat in Islington, London. Not exaggerating, it was the highlight of every one’s weekend. We enjoyed “nibbles and fizz”, took in the views overlooking the canal and enjoyed the most delicious food we have eaten since being in Europe. I will leave most of what happened under wraps but I would say it was more fun than most college parties I have ever been to.

After a fabulous party at Aunt Jac and Uncle David’s flat we headed to Ministry to see Zane Lowe and Zedd. Luckily, thanks to Lindsey’s connections we were able to score VIP treatment and we were casually on stage. So much fun. It was a spectacular night with many memories that are better left unsaid.

Coming home at 6am was great until half of the group had to head straight to the airport to catch their flight home to Barcelona. After a long weekend and an unforgettable night it was easy to conclude that weekend was the best weekend ever.

The city of magic was just that.

Off to Madrid!

X,

A

Back to the my absolute favorite city in the entire world; London, England.
Be back Monday.

Cheers.
X,
A