I’ve felt that pull to settle in Athens, Saigon, Taipei, and Amsterdam.

And now San Diego.

In some ways it was everything I’d hoped and thought California would be. I mean, like everyone actually surfs there. I thought that was just something us Midwesterners thought everyone in California did. And there Mexican restaurants everywhere and the highways are huge and crowded.

But in other ways it surprised me and charmed me. I spent most of the 4 days I was there thinking that if San Diego had some sort of public transportation, I would forego my travel plans and actually live in the US. (Maybe.)

A huge reason I feel so hard for this city was Jessica. She is probably the best tour guide you could ask for. It helps that we have similar interests, like drinking beer and stopping every two feet on a hike to take 70 photos, but she made sure we saw so much of San Diego, even if it meant she had to drive miles and miles every single day.

Why else did I fall in love with San Diego?

It’s the craft beer capital of the country

Okay, so it’s a self-proclaimed title, but it’s definitely more than deserved. San Diego is home to a whopping 96 craft breweries and we made it our mission to try beers from as many different breweries as possible while I was in town. (Yes, we were buzzed for the vast majority of these 4 days. Occupational hazard.)

We started off at Mother Earth Brew Co in Vista. Located in strip mall, it’s kind of the last location you’d expect to find a microbrewery, but when you step into their huge taproom you’re transported to another place. A place with beer and skateboards and dogs and an industrial feel. We tried a bunch of beers including their famous Cali’ Creamin’ Vanilla Cream Ale and the interesting PB&J Imperial Stout, but our favorite was the Kismet IPA.

The next day we stopped at Karl Strauss in La Jolla for lunch and some pre-hike IPAs we continued our sampling the next night at my new favorite place in the world, Barrel Republic. This craft beer bar has over 40 taps, but what makes it special is that you serve yourself. The taps line the walls of the bar and a magnetic bracelet keeps track of how many ounces you drink. It’s a great way to try a bunch of new beers as you can pour yourself a few ounces of each.

On Sunday, my last day in San Diego, we made our way to one of the pioneers of the American craft beer movement, Stone Brewing Co. Opened in 1996, it’s the largest brewery in Southern California, something that is immediately obvious when you pull into the parking lot of their Escondido-based brewery, bistro, and gardens. We sampled a bunch of IPAs, including their limited release Enjoy by 3.14.15, and while everything was good it lacked a bit of the homegrown “I threw this together with the last of my life savings” feel that I love about other craft breweries. I guess that’s what happens when you’re wildly successful.

We rounded out our weekend with a stop at Belching Beaver Brewery back in Vista. It’s location in an office park was a bit strange, but their beers (and outdoor space complete with fire puts) blew us away. We were originally drawn in by their Horchata Imperial Stout, but my favorite ended up being the Peanut Butter Milk Stout.

Even with all the drinking we did, I barely made a dent in the San Diego craft beer scene which gives me good reason to go back about 50 more times.

So much delicious Mexican food

I went to San Diego with one goal: to eat as many tacos as I could in 4 days. I did fairly well, even leaving the country one day for an attempt at a more authentic experience. But crossing the border isn’t even necessary, with plenty of Mexican-Americans living in the city, it’s possible to find great tacos, both traditional and the more California influenced, right in San Diego.

Right after picking me up from the airport, Jessica brought me to Las Cuatro Milpas, a tiny hole in the wall place in Barrio Logan. It was lunchtime and the line was long, stretching down the entire block, but with the smell of fresh tortillas and grilled meat wafting out the door I knew I couldn’t leave. We split a burrito, taco, and chorizo con huevos, a kind of sausage and egg stew and then I knew exactly why the line was so long.

The next day I tried something a little more California-esque at The Fish Shop in Encinitas. Jessica and I met my cousin and her family at this casual eatery before a night on the town. The fresh fish tacos were fabulous (and huge) and there’s a decent selection of local craft beers on tap, making this a nice stop for a low key meal.

The murals in Chicano Park

Right near Las Cuatro Milpas is Chicano Park, an almost 8 acre park located under the San Diego-Coronado Bridge. The park is home to the country’s largest collection of outdoor murals and was one of two places on my must see in San Diego list.

Barrio Logan, the home of Chicano Park, has long been the home of many Mexicans and Mexican-Americans and Chicano Park was the scene to many political movements as the people of this neighborhood struggled for equal rights and equal opportunities.

People began painting the murals, which have both political and religious significance to the Barrio Logan community and were an idea of art student Salvador Torres, in 1973 and since the 80s there has been continuous work to keep them restored. While I enjoyed wandering around the park and photographing the colorful murals, I can’t imagine how much they must mean to the Mexican and Mexican-American community, a group who has played such a role in this country but still struggled for the rights and recognition they deserve.

It was in the 60s in February

When I left Louisville it was 1 degree outside. 1 degree Fahrenheit. The ground was covered in snow and ice and the sun seemed like a bright yellow figment of my imagination. Seven hours later I landed in San Diego and it was 65 and sunny and I couldn’t get my coat off and my sunglasses on quickly enough.

Though the weather wasn’t perfect the entire weekend (it was kind of grey and blustery), I relished the fact that it was February and the heaviest outer layer I needed was a light sweater or denim jacket. Why the hell have I spent my life living in places with cold winters?

It’s, like, really freaking beautiful

California is one of those states that is very frequently talked about. The Golden Gate Bridge, Pacific Coast Highway, Napa Valley, Redwood forests, beaches, Hollywood, and so much more- California is quite possibly the most “famous” state, both in American and abroad. Until I visited San Diego, California was kind of like this American oasis. Could there possibly be this much beauty in one state?

Yeah, sure, like most American cities San Diego has its fair share of ugly suburban sprawl, but the city did a lot to show me that the California hype isn’t overblown. With everything from rolling hills and mountain ranges to deserts and sweeping sea vistas, San Diego has enough natural beauty to make you forget about all the ugly things us humans have built.

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, a 2,000 coastal state park, is the perfect place to bask in the beauty of Southern California. There are over 8 miles of trails in the park, and even though we only hiked for a couple of hours we still managed to pass through both ravines and badlands.

Oh, and you can see the Pacific Ocean pretty much the entire time. Toward the end of our hike the clouds finally parted for a bit and the sun finally made an appearance. It was…beautiful.

The seals and sea lions in La Jolla

On a grey afternoon in La Jolla I became a lover of seals and sea lions. We first spotted them lined up on a beach in a cover. Covering almost all the sand, they would wiggle their way into the water, play with their babies, and get into barking fights with each other. I couldn’t look away. I was mesmerized by these creatures and their funny little walk.

Then we found a beach where you could walk down and basically mingle with the seals and sea lions. Besides when I got growled at by a huge, old guy, I was as mesmerized as all the five year old children. I mean, how many places can you get up and close and personal with wildlife?!

What cities have you fallen in love with?

6 Reasons I Fell in Love with San Diego is a post from: Farsickness

Then I went to Portugal with two people who are confident drivers and can drive stick and my whole view of transportation while traveling changed.

Cars are fun! You can go wherever you want! You don’t have to wait for buses that might never come! You won’t be on a bus where everyone else speaks Chinese and you have no idea where you are or when you’re supposed to get off!

Having a car made exploring the region so much easier than public transport would’ve and while I eventually warmed to Albufeira, it wasn’t a place I wanted to spend every day of my vacation. It turned out, though, to be the perfect base for exploring the Algarve. We hit the road for two full days, the first day spent going west and the second going east.

If you’re wondering where to go in the Algarve, here are 6 town to check out.

Lagos

Lagos is everything I imagined a Portuguese seaside town to be like. I was no longer wondering whether I was in Florida. I was definitely now in Europe. Though Lagos is probably most famous for its beautiful beaches and distinctive karts, we stopped here for lunch and a wander through the historical center.

There are just as many tourists as Albufeira, but the architecture, both crumbling and restored, make it feel completely Portuguese. I fell in love with the brightly colored tiled buildings, laid back atmosphere, and tasty fresh sardines.

Sagres

Known as ‘The End of the World’, Sagres is a sleepy surf town at the southwest corner of Portugal and it’s home to some impressive cliffs and turquoise water.

We followed the signs to the praia and soon found ourselves overlooking a an almost empty stretch of sand. Gone were the chairs, umbrellas, and restaurants that line the beaches further east. Here, instead, there were a few sunbathers on sarongs, people practicing paddling out on their surfboards, and a dreadlocked American selling beers out of cooler.

Carrapateira

The Praia da Bordeira in Carrapateira on the western coast of Portugal is one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen. This isn’t a place to swim, though. This beach belongs entirely to the surfers. With cliffs and sand dunes surrounding the beach, this is rugged natural beauty that’s barely been touched. While there isn’t much to do here, it’s a great place to watch the waves crash and the surfers hang ten.

Monchique

From Carrapateira we headed inland toward the Serra de Monchique, a mountain range about 20 km from the sea. This area is popular for hiking, and there are also apparently some nice hot springs, but we were tired and short on time and didn’t really do any research so we pretty much only drove up to the viewpoint where you can see Foia, the highest peak in the range.

There are also some beautiful small villages on the way up to Monchique, that are worth a stop for a few snaps. These places were almost entirely deserted, except for a few locals who were wondering what the hell we were doing there. In the nicest way possible, of course.

Loule

Loule ended up being one of my favorite discoveries, somewhat surprisingly since it’s another town away from the coast. Home to a town market that’s over 100 years old, we arrived in the morning for some food sampling (a lot of piri-piri inspired products) and a cappuccino (with whipped cream, natch) and pastel de nata.

After filling up we spent some time walking through the narrow streets, chatting with some friendly locals, and climbing to the top of Loule’s 13th century castle from the Moorish times.

Faro

We hadn’t really planned on spending any time in Faro. It’s home of the airport and is filled with high rise apartments and American sized chain stores. But when you’re driving in unfamiliar places, sometimes you end up in the wrong place. Over and over again. We were trying to follow Google Maps to Quarteira and kept making a wrong turn at this one roundabout in Faro. Finally, we said screw it and parked at the first beach we came across.

All the beaches in Faro are ilhas, small sandbars that form the border of the Ria Formosa. While we were expecting the beach to be crowded and kind of dirty, we were surprised to find neither. We lazed away the day on the sand with breaks for ice cream and vinho verde when we got too hot. Doesn’t sound too bad, right?

Do you like exploring new places by car? 

Road Tripping Portugal’s Algarve is a post from: Farsickness

Then my flatmate peer pressured me into coming with her.

“I don’t have the money,” I said.

“You can pay me back,” she replied.

“I need to write this final project so I can graduate,” I said.

“They have Internet in Portugal,” she replied.

A couple glasses of wine later and I had confirmation of a flight to Faro in my inbox. I was going to Portugal whether I liked it or not.

With the stress of a project worth half the total grade for Master’s degree weighing on me fully I didn’t have time to do any research at all. I think I Google imaged search Faro once. I knew it was southern Portugal and I knew there’d be beaches. That was about it.

Our flight landed in Faro at nearly midnight and after waiting ages for our bags and wandering the airport looking for the company we’d booked our transfer through, we finally made it to the apartment we rented in Albufeira at nearly 3 am. Cloaked in darkness, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this seaside city.

A few hours later, sun light streaming through the windows, we woke up, threw on out bathing suits, keen on seeing what Albufeira was really like.

For starters, it kind of looked like Florida. Our apartment was between a large supermarket and a rather dated looking hotel and sat a few hundred feet off a six lane highway. It didn’t have the sort of European charm I was expecting. But I wasn’t deterred.

We began our morning with coffees and pasteis de nata, Portuguese egg tarts that became a daily part of my diet that week, and then wandered toward the beach.

It soon became apparent why people came to Albufeira. The beach, while crowded, was beautiful and full of amenities. We rented beach chairs and spent the day reading in the sun, eating ice cream, and cooling down in the frigid Atlantic. My heart was full of that happiness that comes from 8 hours spent in the sun and a warm ocean breeze.

While I spent most nights in our apartment researching and writing, I ventured out a couple times in search of good food and good times. There are two main areas of Albufeira where you can find bars and restaurants: Old Town and New Town. New Town has a very spring break in Cancun vibe and is filled with sunburned Brits and drink specials. While Old Town is similarly filled with foreign vacationers, there’s also a tad more culture. As the name suggests, the architecture is more traditionally Portuguese and this is where I found my European charm.

We happily wandered down narrow allows and up the steeps stairs that led to the top of the cliffs in search of fresh seafood and crisp vinho verde. Sure, maybe everyone else at the restaurant was a tourist too, but the service was friendly, the food was decent enough, and the views were killer. I was happy and on holiday. The worries about whether this was the most authentic cod preparation suddenly didn’t mean much anymore.

When I woke up on my seventh and last morning in Albufeira, I felt a little sad. Some of it was because the end of this vacation meant my days in Europe were numbered, but also because I’d fallen in love a bit with this seaside town. In a way it reminded me of childhood summers spent on the Atlantic beaches in the United States, and I’d gotten used to our laid back days on the beach and nights spent writing or wandering the Old Town.

And if nothing else, Albufeira also provided a great base for exploring some of the Algarve’s more beautiful and remote towns, something I’ll cover more of on Thursday.

Have you ever found yourself loving a place that is completely touristy and mostly charmless? 

Albufeira: An Interesting Introduction to the Algarve is a post from: Farsickness

It means living life on my own terms.

It means not missing out on the important life events of family and friends.

It means traveling slowly and giving myself time get to know the places I visit while being able to get work done.

It means making destination choices that make me happy, even if that means returning to familiar surroundings.

I decided that while I take my first steps toward a location indenpence and freelacing I wanted to give myself some semblance of stability and familiarity. I didn’t want to throw myself into the unknown. Thus, a lot of my travel plans this year involve long stays in places I’ve been.

United States: January-April

I’m going to spend the first four months of this year in the US while I get my freelancing career off the ground and save some safety net money. This doesn’t mean I’ll be completely stationary, though. I’m going to Chicago this weekend for a reunion with college friends (and a craft beer tour!) and next month I’m heading to San Diego to see Jessica. Keeping with my resolution to go somewhere every month, I’m in the process of planning small trips for March and April. Any suggestions?

Italy: May-July

In May I’m returning to my favorite country in the entire world: Italy! I’m starting my trip in Palermo and will spend the next two weeks traveling in Sicily discovering my ancestral homeland. From there I plan on traveling through Calabria and Basilicata before meeting my friend Claire in Puglia. From there it’s up to Rome for 3 weeks of writing, eating, and feeling the love of my former home. Besides discovering a few new regions of Italy, I also hope to improve my Italian language skills and will be doing a lot of couchsurfing and renting rooms in shared apartments.

United Kingdom: July-August

My friend is getting married in Northhamptonshire on July 11 so I figured that was the perfect excuse to spend a month in the UK. After the wedding I’ll be based in my old flat in London where I have plans to eat all my favorite food (Bao, Indian takeaway, my flatmate’s spag bol), try a few new places (the restaurant where I interned finally opened), and hang out at my old local. I also want to check out the craft beer scene in Cardiff, walk the Seven Sisters in Sussex, and finally take a street art tour of East London.

Iceland: August

I’m taking advantage of Icelandair’s free stopover and spending 3 full days in this Nordic country on my way back to the States. Because I’m visiting in the summer I won’t be able to see the Northern Lights, but I plan on taking advantage of the many hours of daylight exploring as much of this island as I can.

United States: August-October

I’m coming back to the US for two main reasons: a wedding and a friend’s 30th birthday celebration. (God, I’m old.) Almost as soon as my plane lands at JFK I’ll be driving up to the Poconos for a weekend of wedding festivities before heading back to New York where I’ll be basing myself for the next month or so. In late September I’ll probably fly to Minneapolis to visit my friend Heather before making my way back to Kentucky for some time with the family and Kasey’s 30th birthday bourbon trail extravaganza. Last but not least, a trip to San Francisco to see my friend Brooke on the way to that continent across the Pacific.

Asia: October-December

This is where my plans get a little less certain as I haven’t booked airfare yet, but I’d like to round out the year back in Asia. My plan is to finally make it to TBEX (a travel blogging conference I’ve bought tickets to twice before but never actually attended) in Bangkok mid-month and then spend a bit of time traveling in Thailand before moving on to Indonesia. I’d like to attempt Mount Rinjanu before wet season starts and then head to Gili Trawangan to get my open water diving certification. I’m hoping to end my stay with a visit to Jakarta before flying off to Seoul where I’ll obviously spend all my time eating. And noraebang-ing.

Where are you going in 2015? Will you be going to any of these places too? Any suggestions on must-sees?

Where I’m Going in 2015 is a post from: Farsickness

I quit my job to travel.

Again.

Five years ago I started working as a sales representative in an office outside of Philadelphia. I’d spent the previous four months drinking cappuccini and wandering the cobbled streets of Rome as an au pair. Transitioning from a carefree life of wandering Europe to answering sales inquiries at a call center was nothing short of my worst nightmare. Nine months later, unhappy with my stationery life, I quit my job moved to Korea to teach English and save money for a backpacking trip around Southeast Asia. About six months into what ended up being a two year stint in the country, I wrote a post about what initially spurred my decision to quit my job and travel.

Three months ago, after nearly four years of living abroad and traveling, I started working at a digital advertising agency. It was the start of something I thought I really wanted: a stable career in social media and content marketing and a place to call home. Soon, though, I began to feel stifled. Routine had a firm grip around my neck, slowly strangling my creativity and passion.

I didn’t hate my job, but I found myself crying on the drive to work or at lunch. I had all 13 vacation days for 2015 planned out two months before the year even started, with no leeway for being sick. For eight hours a day my desk was my captor, forcing me to sit and type the things it wanted.

My captor, though, couldn’t stop me from dreaming. And at that desk, and through those dreams, I realized I needed to create the life I wanted to live. That all the things I’d written about three years ago were still true.

I couldn’t spend the next nearly 40 years, save for two weeks a year, in shackles.

Millennials are often called lazy or entitled because we don’t that life, we don’t want to sit in an office and toil away day after day. We don’t want to answer phones and make copies and spend everyday wishing it was the weekend. Our grandparents and our parents worked long and hard, often at jobs they hated, so they could have a better life. To achieve the American dream. We are expected to follow suit. To put on our business casual clothes and spent 40ish hours a week in an office. To fully book our weekends with hikes, brunches, nights out, errands, and all the things we don’t have time to do during the week.  To maybe take a week of vacation so we can spend 5 days on the beach of some all inclusive resort in the Caribbean. To think about cruising around Europe or driving around the US in an RV once we retire and have time.

But for me that is not life.

I’m not living for the weekend.

I’m not waiting for the future.

Everyday won’t be a vacation. I didn’t quit my job for a life of poolside daiquiris and lighthearted beach reads.  I quit my job to travel, yes, but also to pursue a career that is both flexible and interesting to me. I will spend my days blogging. I will edit photos and do research and conduct interviews. I’ll also be working as a freelance writer and digital marketing consultant.

The difference, though, between that and the life before?

I can pick and choose clients. I can set my own hours. I can be location independent.

I quit my job to travel for freedom.

I quit my job to travel for happiness. 

Why I Quit My Job to Travel (Again) is a post from: Farsickness

Wondering how to travel Europe on a student budget? Here are some things I’ve learned after almost 2 years of shoestring European travels.

Plan your meals out carefully

For me, eating local food is a very important part of my travels. I’m never going to be one of those people who subsists solely on bread and cheese picnics or cooking pasta in the hostel kitchen. That doesn’t mean, though, that that I eat a huge meal out three times a day. I make a list of the dishes I really want to try in a certain location and then eat one good meal at a restaurant a day, usually at lunch when I’m out and about, and then eat cheap for breakfast and dinner. Cheap doesn’t always involve cooking at the hostel either, I like to grab a piece of pizza (or maybe a spinach pie if I’m in Greece) for a couple of euro.

Don’t go solo

While I’m a huge proponent of solo travel and would never tell someone to not go somewhere because they can’t find friends who want to join, traveling in a group can help save on accommodation costs. Even hostels are a huge money suck in Europe and I’ve found that renting an apartment with a few friends (through sites like Airbnb or GoWithOh) can be a great way to cut costs while living like a local. Not only will your per night cost be lower, but you’ll also have a great place to pregame before a night out and linger over long breakfasts the next day.

Balconies in Madrid near my rented apartment

Look for deals on drinks

Drinking in Europe is rarely cheap, but if you do some research you can have a night out without busting your budget. First, look around for happy hour deals. In Rome my friends and I would always start our night at The Yellow Hostel’s bar even though we weren’t staying there because the drinks were about half the price of most other bars. Also, check around for pub crawls as they often include drink specials or all you can drink hours.

I used to drink a lot of wine on a fountain near here to save money.

Walk

Most European cities are surprisingly walkable, even if they don’t look like it on a map. While there are some notable exceptions (Berlin, I’m looking at you), even places like London usually have a high concentration of notable places within easy walking distance from one another. Plan your days around places of interest that are close to each other and take public transportation only when absolutely necessary. I walked everywhere in Rome last winter and not only saved money, but managed to keep off the pounds after stuffing myself with gelato, pizza, and pasta.

You can walk from Big Ben to Trafalgar Square, the South Bank, Buckingham Palace…

Buses vs trains

There’s something romantic about the idea of traveling Europe by train. These days, though, train travel probably isn’t the most economical choice as more and more long distance bus companies enter the market. When I was traveling from Berlin to Warsaw last spring a train ticket was going to be about $60, so I started looking into other options. I found a bus for $15. Better yet? I had my own personal screen to watch movies airplane style and there was wifi to help pass time on the 9 hour journey.

Warsaw. Take the bus there.

Rome2rio is a great site to help you find the cheapest way to get from Point A to Point B and Eurolines, Megabus, Orangeways, PolskiBus, and Berlinlinienbus are some of the bigger bus companies. There are also often regional carriers, so seek those out for travel in and between certain countries. And don’t forget, if you take a night bus for those longer journeys you can also save on a night’s accommodation!

Pick and choose big name attractions

When I first started traveling I spent a lot of time and money visiting famous landmarks and museums because I felt like I had to. Usually, I’d pay the admission fee, spend a few minutes wandering around looking at things of little interest to me, and then leave feeling disappointed. I began to realize that sending money on attractions I didn’t care about wasn’t doing anything to enhance my travel experience. The Mona Lisa or the Acropolis are only must sees if you like art or ruins.

Churches, like the Cologne Cathedral, are often free

Now I save my money for the big name attractions that I want to see and spend most of my time searching out the best view of the city, people watching at a cafe, or visiting free sites. Not only am I cutting costs, I’m also enjoying my travels more.

The Reichstag dome in Berlin is free AND has an awesome view,

Spend time in less expensive countries

While I don’t think anyone should miss Europe’s most famous because of cost, also visiting some cities in less expensive countries can help keep costs down. I was shocked at how cheap places like Poland, Portugal, and Greece were compared to France, England, and Belgium. If you plan on spending a weekend in Paris indulging all your cliche European fantasies (we’ve all done it), maybe head on over to Krakow the next where beers cost a dollar and a hostel bed is only a few more.

Krakow: cute streets and cheap beer.

Do your research

Traveling without having much of a plan can be the best way to travel. I loved hopping around Southeast Asia with a lose itinerary. In Europe, though, not doing your research and not having a plan can be costly. Here a few few things to keep in mind when researching your European trip:

Flying a budget airline? Make sure you know which airport they are actually flying into as they are usually far outside the city center and you might end up paying an extra 10 or 20 euro on bas fare to get to and from the airport.

Will you be traveling the weekend of a festival? Hostel prices will probably double.

Are there free walking tours or discount transport passes?

Are flights and trains cheaper to book a few months in advance?

In Europe, research is key to saving those euros so you can see more places.

What are your tips for traveling Europe on a student budget?

How to Travel Europe on a Student Budget is a post from: Farsickness

I was never completely sold, imagining towns full of cruising vacationers and the stereotypical ugly American middle aged traveler. While neither of these are entirely untrue, Santorini is much more than that.

Officially called Thira, Santorini is the largest island in a circular archipelago that is the remnants of an island that was destroyed by a volcanic eruption. With cliffside villages looking out over the sea-filled Caldera, Santorini is postcard pretty. I exclaimed numerous times in the almost week that I was there that it may just be the most beautiful place I’ve ever been.

There’s a lot you can do in Santorini, but there’s also a lot not to do. With beaches and pools and sunsets, Santorini is the perfect place to zone out for a week and forget the Master’s dissertation you should be writing.

Here’s a guide on what to do in Santorini for blissful, stress free actual vacation.

Hit the beach

Don’t expect soft white sand and turquoise waters in Santorini, this is a volcanic island after all. Instead you’ll find beaches of all colors (well, a few) with dramatics cliffs rising behind them and the deep blue waters of the Aegean Sea.

The aptly named Red Beach, located near Akrotiri, is famous because of its vivid red sand and boulders. There are also a few black sand beaches scattered around the island, with Perissa Beach being one of the most popular. This was where I spent most of my beach time, mostly due the proximity to the place I was staying. Deck chairs can be rented for a mere €4 and the beers are just as cheap. Just be careful you don’t burn your feet on the sand.

See the world famous sunsets

Santorini sunsets are famous for being some of the best in the world. As a perpetual sunset chaser, this was a huge selling point for me. The village of Oia, located on the northwest edge of the island, is the most famous place on Santorini to see the sun set. Here you can watch the sun dip down below the horizon as the sky turns all sorts of orange and yellow and pink behind the oh so Greek blue domed churches, whitewashed buildings, and infamous windmill. I got to Oia a few hours before sunset ready to get the infamous shot only to find that everyone else on Santorini had the same idea. I didn’t want to fight the crowd just to get a spot to stand and wait and ultimately decided it just wasn’t worth it.

Sunset not in Oia.

Don’t want to battle the crowds in Oia? Don’t worry there are plenty of other places to watch this beautiful nightly occurrence. The island’s capital, Fira, is another village perched high atop the caldera. While maybe not quite as picturesque as Oia, there are plenty of places to grab a drink while the sun goes down without having to elbow masses of camera wielding tourists out of the way.

My absolute favorite place to watch the sunset, though, was Santo Wines Winery. With a large terrace overlooking the caldera and bottles of wine for as cheap as €12, this was the perfect place to hunker down for a few hours as afternoon became evening and evening became night. Tara and I ordered a cheese platter, watched a wedding party down below, and marveled at our first Santorini sunset.

Watch a film outdoors

Open-air cinemas are a long standing Greek tradition. While the digital age and economic troubles have forced many cinemas to close, there’s still a place on Santorini where you can catch a a flick outside. Cine Kamari shows movies in English with Greek subtitles, with titles rotating every few days. Admission is €8 and there’s a variety of snacks and drinks (including alcoholic) for sale at reasonable prices. We saw what was quite possibly the worst movie made in the past decade, but still had a wonderful time kicking back and listening to sea breeze rustle through the trees during this unique experience.

Climb a volcanic crater

Situated in the middle of the caldera, Nea Kameni is a small, uninhabited island that is home to a 130 meter high volcanic crater. The volcano last erupted in 1950 and today it is possible to climb up to the top. The island is pretty much barren, with brown sand and rocks, but that makes it even more interesting.

The climb isn’t too hard, and the landscape makes you feel like you’re walking on the moon. Walking the moon while staring out at turquoise waters and Santoini, mind you.

Take a trip to Therasia

Every hotel, hostel, and travel agency on the island advertises some sort of trip to Therasia. This island is the second largest of the island group after Santorini and is home to nearly 300 people, making it a quiet alternative to the hustle and bustle of touristy Santorini. The main village, Manolas, is located up a steep cliff and instead of making the walk Tara and I decided to park it a taverna near the dock for some mezze and beers before a quick swim.

Village hop

This 35 square mile island is home to many villages, each with their own unique personality. While you might want to dedicate your days to more relaxing pursuits, hitting up a different village in the evening for dinner is a great way to bliss out AND get to know Santorini. There is a bus system on the island, and while rides are cheap it can often be slow, crowded, or confusing. Having your own transportation makes getting around easier, but definitely isn’t necessary.

The two main villages are Fira, the capital, and Oia, sunset heaven. Both are built into the side of the cliffs and are filled to the brim with tourists, though this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Oia is everything you imagine Santorini to be and you’ll find yourself stopping every few feet to snap another beautiful church or tiny alley.

Fira definitely feels the tourist hub of the island, but that doesn’t mean it’s devoid of charm. If you get off the main drag of tourist shops and ice cream stores, it still retains some of that classic Cycladic feel.

Perissa is the backpacker haven, with cheap fish barbecue restaurants and pizzerias lining a long, dry stretch of road. While you won’t find much to photograph here, it’s a good place to grab a cheap meal and some drinks.

If you want to visit a village that’s a little more low key, make a stop in Pyrgos. This little village has the beauty of Oia without the crowds. I forgot my camera the afternoon I was there, but Alex took some photos that will have you adding this to your Santorini itinerary stat. Santo Wines sits at the outskirts of Pyrgos, making it the perfect place for a wander before some sunset wine.

Relax

Sometimes you just need to do nothing at all. I spent two blissful days lounging around the pool at my guesthouse. I’d read until it got too hot, then take a dip in the pool. Then repeat. When I got hungry I walked to the nearest bakery for a €1.50 spinach pie and then returned poolside until it was time to get ready for dinner. It felt nice not to worry about taking photos, or catching the right bus, or dutifully write notes for a later blog post and completely unwind.

How would you like to spend your time on Santorini?

How To Bliss Out On Santorini is a post from: Farsickness

It’s also a great time to make a plan of where you want to physically go in the next year. While my ability to travel is a little more up in the air than previous years, it doesn’t mean my mind is dreaming of far away destinations any less.

I’f I had my way, I’d be stepping foot in these 15 countries in 2015.

New Zealand

A few years ago, I’d never really thought about New Zealand. I mean, I knew it existed but that was about it. Then in 2013 I met a lot of Kiwis while traveling (all of whom I thought were Australian which is apparently offensive) and Liz from Young Adventuress moved there and started posting all these awe inspiring Instagrams of mountains and lakes and beaches. Now all I can think about is roaming through fields of lupins before hiking up Mt. Cook.

Indonesia

I’ve been to Indonesia once before. I spent a week in Bali about 4 years ago visiting my friend and former flatmate Claire at her parents’ place on the east side of the island and instantly knew that a week wasn’t enough for just Bali, not to mention the rest of this archipelago. A good friend of mine may move to Jakarta next year and I’d love to have a local show me around that bustling metropolis before relaxing on Gili Trawangan and taking on Mount Rinjani.

China

I spent two and half years in Asia but somehow never made it to China. It was on my original Big Trip itinerary, but eventually got axed because of time constraints. I still have dreams, though, of camping on the Great Wall, eating mapo doufu in Sichaun, and hiking through Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Mongolia

As a testament to how good she is at her job, Liz has convinced me that I not only need to visit New Zealand, but also Mongolia. Her posts about horseback riding through the country have me wanting to drop everything for a couple weeks of unconnected, simple living in yurts.

Iran

Iran is a country that gets one hell of a bad rap in the US. While the government maybe deserves a lot of it, the rest of the country doesn’t. Tales of Iranian hospitality abound and the thousands of years of history have me wanting to explore Iran probably more than any other place. While I’m not too keen on having to take a group tour, Becki’s posts about her trip earlier this year have me convinced that it’s worth the not being able to go solo.

Jordan

I’ve long been interested in the Middle East, but it’s a region that has just never been able to work its way into my travel plans. Jordan seems like the perfect introduction to the region. It’s perfectly safe and home to world famous places like Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea. There’s even a microbrewery! Sounds like the ingredients for an amazingly blog worthy trip.

Italy

This is the one country I can’t quit. As soon as I visit a new city, there are ten more I need to see. Southern Italy, especially, is high on my Italy to-do list. I want to visit my great-grandparents’ former homes in Sicily, explore the city of Matera in Basilicata, and soak up the sun on Puglia’s beautiful beaches. Oh, and eat. Eat a lot.

Spain

There’s one big reason I want to return to Spain- to walk the Camino de Santiago. Jessica spoke so highly of both the natural beauty of the walk and the emotions that surrounded the experience and it inspired me to one day follow this path.

Slovenia

I had planned to visit Slovenia last spring, but when I cut my solo trip short it didn’t make the final cut. Of course, now I can’t flick through Instagram or Bloglovin without seeing a mention of this country which has kind of made me regret my decision. Hopefully I’ll soon be able to wander through Ljubljana’s old town and relax around beautiful Lake Bled.

Iceland

Iceland is one of those countries that I feel like everyone in the travel blogging world has visited and LOVED. Like, there’s no one who’s been to Iceland and even only kind of liked it. I feel like a Ring Road road trip (with hot springs stops and hopefully a Northern Lights sighting) is necessary so I can see if it lives up to the hype.

Cuba

I’ve long wanted to visit this Caribbean island full of vintage cars and beautiful beaches, but it’s fairly inconvenient as an American. And, you know, illegal. Now that the United States is lifting sanctions and making traveling to Cuba easier, I want to get there before it becomes another characterless Caribbean cruise ship port.

(Before you accuse me of being selfish and heartless, I am very happy that economic sanctions are being lifted and hopeful that this means a better life for millions of Cubans.)

Nicaragua

I’ve long dreamed of traveling Central and South America, with Nicaragua topping this list of must visit countries for me. Not only is it cheaper than the ever popular Costa Rice, it’s also chock-full of natural beauty. My potential plans: surfing, yoga, Little Corn Island, Leon, volcano sand boarding. Beachside living paradise. Take me there now, please.

Panama

Two years ago Christine wrote a post about sailing the San Blas Islands and ever since then I’ve known I need to do this sometime in my life. Will 2015 be the year I make my living on a sailboat in the middle of the ocean come true?

Colombia

Colombia’s topped every “You Must Go Here Now” list for about the past 5 years, so obviously I need to go there now. With my chances of being killed or kidnapped by a drug cartel now almost nil, it’s the perfect time to lay on the beaches of Cartagena and go street art hunting in Bogota.

Bolivia

Salar de Uyuuni. The world’s largest salt flat where you can take tons of really cool photos. Enough said.

I know I won’t end up visiting all these places, or even any at all, but these are the countries that will be on my mind as I plan my 2015 travels. Where do you want to go this year?

15 Countries I’d Like to Visit in 2015 is a post from: Farsickness

I have to keep repeating this to myself otherwise I don’t believe it. My brain seems to be stuck somewhere around April or May.

But the calendar tells me there’s a little over a week left in 2014 which means it’s time to look back at what’s happened this year.

When I wrote my 2013 review I said that I couldn’t wait to see where I’d be in 365 days. Of all the ideas I had thrown around for possible places to live, I ended up in the last place I would’ve guessed- my parents house in Louisville.

In a way it kind of represents the kind of year I had. 2014 was, in a lot of ways, nothing like I imagined it would be. While I was right that my year would be far more stationary than the previous, I still managed to spend time in 10 countries (11 if you count Scotland) and travel 19,447 miles. There were points when I hated London more than I ever thought I could, and then times when I couldn’t picture myself living anywhere else.

When I decided to leave, I thought that settling down in the US and having a full time job in an office like a normal American person would bring me the feeling of calm that I’d been lacking due to my nomadic ways. Instead, it’s made me question everything even more.

That’s not to say 2014 was bad. It wasn’t. I passed my Master’s degree. I found a job in digital advertising. I had a wonderful time traveling around Europe, both solo and with friends. Even though a couple friendships fizzled out, I was lucky to meet a few new people I’m happy to now call friends, and I strengthened the bonds I have with others.

Like last year, this review covers my favorite memories of the year in photo form (though some have longer stories attached because I got carried away). Some are photos that I’m particularly fond of, and others are just shitty iPhone photos of things worth remembering.

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In February I attended Craft Beer Rising, an event at Old Truman Brewery in East London celebrating craft beer from around the world. With karaoke plans with a big group of friends for that night, I’d promised myself to take it easy while day drinking. But with so many free samples or paid for half pints it soon devolved into something else, and by the time the 5 pm session ended I was relentlessly flirting the married head of marketing of a rather large American microbrewery. Oops. One of my favorite London days, for sure.

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Walking along the south bank of the Thames was a favorite activity of mine, even on cold, grey winter days.

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In March I took advantage of the unseasonably sunny and warm weather with a day trip to Whitstable, a seaside town in Kent.

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Ashley and I went down to Brighton and had a wonderful time riding roller coasters on the pier and treating ourselves to a fabulous meal.

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#GirlsGoneMAD was one of my favorite weekends all year. I’m glad I found people who will dance all night, steal drinks from the bar, and then drunk eat arugula with me. (Oh, and they also like to travel and share their blogging, social media, and photo editing expertise!)

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Berlin was quite possibly my favorite destination of 2014. A lot of it had to do with the abundance of awesome street art.

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Spring in Krakow was truly beautiful.

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So was this sunset over the Danube on my last night in Budapest.

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I’ve discovered that a lot of time it’s not necessarily the place that makes a trip great, but the people who are there with you. And while Scotland was nearly perfect in and of itself, being able to explore it with 3 of my best friends from college made the experience even more special.

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Amsterdam. The most beautiful city where you can have the most ridiculous amount of fun. This wooden shoe picture never fails to make laugh and is a great example of why I rarely ask random people to take my photo. They always turn out way worse than you could ever imagine a photo turning out.

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In May my flatmate and I held a Eurovision viewing party (my first Eurovision!) at our flat complete with European themed food and drink. We also encouraged people to dress up in costumes based on different countries of Europe- I went with Greece (because it was easy to throw together at the last minute) and Claire donned her clothes representing her German-ness. Much fun was had.

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Cologne: The best dinner ever.

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My friends Brooke and Heather came and visited in June. This was Heather’s first visit to the English capital, so a visit to Parliament Square was the first stop on our one day LDN crash course. We emerged from Westminster Station and found ourselves in the middle of a very large crowd. The roads were blocked off and police were everywhere. I asked one what the hell was going on and discovered it was a parade celebrating the opening of anew session of Parliament. We apparently just missed the Queen, but did get to see some of her Guard walk by. Such an “only in London” moment.

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Potatoes are my favorite food, especially when fried. These frites in Brussels may very well be the best thing I ate all year.

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I really, really, really love sunsets. The ones in Santorini were unreal.

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On Saturday afternoons a bunch of South London microbreweries open their doors for a craft beer crawl called the Bermondsey Beer Mile and it’s pretty much perfect.

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PORTUGAL. My flatmate “forced” me to accompany me her to Portugal in August and, holy hell, it blew me away. The beaches in the Algarve are beautiful and the people are so friendly and everything is relatively cheap. Add this country to your 2015 travel list now.

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This year marked the 100 year anniversary of the outbreak of World War I. To honor those lost, artist Paul Cummins created an art installation project at the Tower of London called ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’. Poppies, each one representing a British military death in the war, were gradually added throughout the summer and up until Remembrance Day on November 11. I visited the site on my last day in London and was moved by the simplicity of the piece and all it represented.

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Back in the States I got to visit all the Northern Michigan landmarks I somehow missed as a child: Sleeping Bear Dunes in Traverse City, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and Mackinaw Island.

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Leaves in the UK don’t really change color in the fall (except to brown) so I took full advantage of all the orange, red, and yellow in Louisville with a couple urban hikes.

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I was a huge horse racing fan as a child and always dreamed of watching a race at Churchill Downs. Last month this came true! I got to hang out in a finish line suite right next to the famous twin spires, spend time with my family, and lose some money. It was a dream come true. Minus the money losing part.

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What’s your favorite memory from 2014?

2014: A Photo Review is a post from: Farsickness

Reliving these experiences while settling back into what is considered a normal American life has gotten me thinking about what I’ve gained from the last four years, and how these experiences have shaped me as a person. There is no doubt, I am a very different person than I was when I first moved abroad in January 2009.

Falling off a deck completely sober in Vietnam.

Throughout college I suffered from depression and anxiety, something I don’t often talk about on the blog, and in the months leading up my departure for Rome I was having very frequent anxiety atacks. I always say that Rome saved me and in a lot of ways it did. Living in a foreign country forced me to change a lot of things about myself, and the ways in which I thought about things, in order to do day to day things.

My journey since then- from living in Korea, traveling around Southeast Asia, and getting my Master’s degree in London- has continued this personal journey, each place presenting its own set of challenges that has allowed to grow into a happier, more confident person.

I’m still working on of things, including my chronic low level anxiety, but here are some of the ways traveling the world has changed me.

I am more laid back

I spent a large part of my life constantly on edge. I planned every single little detail of things and if something deviated from the plan I would feel sad, mad, or anxious. I hated when people canceled plans. I hated when things didn’t go my way. I built up expectations for things and then when they weren’t met I felt disappointed. As you can imagine, this isn’t a fun way to live. In fact, it was probably a key contributor to my depression and anxiety struggles.

Laid back in Laos

Living abroad, especially in Korea where I couldn’t speak the language at all, forced me to loosen my grip on the world around me. I couldn’t communicate basic needs or wants. My job was a cluster where things were cancelled, changed, or added at the last minute. In order to be happy I learned to just accept what I was given or what I needed to do. I soon realized that life was a lot more fun like that.

I didn’t need to plan everything. A trip was okay if I didn’t see every sight. If I ate at a restaurant I didn’t really feel like going to, I would most likely still enjoy my dinner. When I didn’t have really high expectations for people or places, I was more likely to find the little things that made them special.

Cracking open a beer on the night train to Chiang Mai.

I judge less

It’s embarrassing to admit now, but I used to be really judgmental. About a lot of things. I would judge people’s choice of clothes or hairstyle. I would judge people if I thought they were getting married too young or too fast, if they didn’t go to college, if they liked . One day a few years ago I thought about the life decisions I’d made, particularly the decision to live abroad and travel rather than stay in the United States and work toward a more traditional career path. This was met with a lot of questions and some pushback from people I knew. I thought to myself, “But if it makes me happy and doesn’t effect you, then what’s wrong with it?”

Proverbial light bulb.

If people want to get married at 18 or wear clothes I don’t like or only eat chicken because it makes them happy then who I am to judge?

I look like I’m judging you in Paris. But I’m not.

I am constantly restless 

While travel has changed me mostly for the positive, there is one negative: I can’t sit still. Even though I spent a lot of the last few years living abroad and not constantly traveling, I still spent a lot of time exploring new places. While living in London and Rome it was easy to take weekend trips in country or around Europe, and in Korea I spent a lot of time exploring other Korean cities when I had the time. I’ve been in Louisville now for 2 months and it’s the longest I’ve gone without traveling in years. When I spend a lot of time in one place I feel stifled and trapped. I sometimes wonder if I’ll ever be able to live in the constraints of 10 vacation days a year.

Walking in Burma

I care less about what others think about me

Do you know how exhausting it is to always worry that someone is judging you? Really fucking exhausting. Until my early 20s I was constantly worried about what people were thinking about me. Will that person on the street who doesn’t know me notice that I’ve doubled back two times because I’m lost and think I’m stupid? Does that stranger who I will never see again think these shoes are ugly? Does the waitress think I have no friends because I’m eating lunch alone?

I’ve learned that most people really don’t give a shit about you. In the best possible way of course. Most people in the world are friendly. People on the street will give you directions if you ask and not think you’re stupid and other hostel guests won’t think you’re a huge loser because you’re alone. Basically, I had to get over myself to realize everyone else never cared that much.

Sitting on a statue’s lap in Portugal and no one cares!

I am resilient

For most of my change crippled me. Anything from the change of a school year to the change of seasons caused me to become upset. When I moved back from Italy after being an au pair I was incredibly unhappy. I lived in Philadelphia, had no friends, and worked a job I hated. I couldn’t deal. I cried constantly. But I did nothing to really change my situation.

I then moved to Korea alone and started teaching, something I’d never done. I was scared, but I realized that I had the power to determine if I could make it. My trip in Southeast Asia had me constantly moving. I think the longest I stayed anywhere was 5 nights in Pai. This involved getting to know new cities, learning words of a new language, sleeping in a new bed, and meeting new people. I found out that I actually thrive in these kinds of situations. While they might be scary at first there is something rewarding about powering through, making the best of it, and finding it enjoyable.

Now, drop me off anywhere and I can feel at home in a few days. I didn’t want to move to Louisville and I thought it would be hard. But because I know I can survive anything I went into this with the right attitude and I’ve thrived. Thank you, travel.

How has travel changed you?

How Travel Has Changed Me is a post from: Farsickness