The Girl Who Goes

independent, intentional travel

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5 Unique Things to Do in Seattle, Washington

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Keep reading to figure out how to get this view 😉

After my first year working as an English teacher in Madrid, I had the opportunity to spend about nine weeks at home in the U.S. I definitely enjoyed the time with friends and family — but the last two weeks of my “summer” were a whirlwind of travel. And I like it that way!

The second-to-last week of my U.S. visit, I spent Monday-Friday in Seattle with Matt, who was there on a work trip. I had visited Seattle for the first time about two years before, but it was only for a few days. This time, I was able to explore some things off-the-beaten path since I’d already seen the “big” things. So, here’s a list of 5 unique things to do in Seattle! [Read more…]

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A Day in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

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Tubbs Hill, Lake Coeur d’Alene

Now that I’m back in the U.S. for the next couple months, I’m taking every opportunity to keep traveling and keep exploring. Two weeks ago, I flew to Spokane, Washington, to meet up with Matt since he was there for a work trip. I was super excited to spend more time in Washington after traveling to Seattle and a few national parks up there in the past few years! But I actually didn’t stay in Washington for long — we took a quick day trip from Spokane over to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. [Read more…]

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A Review of Norwegian Air – LowFare Ticket

Author’s Note: This unedited article was written live during my commute from Madrid to Boston last week. Please forgive any additional attitude or sarcasm. 🙂

It’s 9:45pm in Madrid and 2:45pm in Kansas City. I’m two hours into my Norwegian Air flight back to the United States. Though I downloaded the entire new season of Stranger Things, I’ve already watched two episodes, and we’ve still got five hours to go until landing, so I’m trying to pace myself.

Also, there’s some sort of altercation taking place about two rows in front of me. I’m happy to have an aisle seat/front-row view to this drama. [Read more…]

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How to Spend 48 Hours in Rome, Italy

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Do you recognize this famous icon? 48 hours in Rome was plenty to ensure I saw all the major sights.

Despite having lived in Europe for more than a year, and despite having visited Italy three times, I’d never been to Rome before. For some reason, I just hadn’t made it over to “The Eternal City.” Well… after my first visit, I decided I officially blamed all my friends who had been and never told me how amazing it was. I went for the first time in July 2019, and it was MAGICAL, even though I was only able to spend 48 hours in Rome.

My parents and sister ventured to Europe for the first time, stopping in Madrid to see me before heading on to visit our exchange student from last year, Gaia, in Sardinia. Then, they continued to Venice, Florence, and Rome. I met up with them in Rome, where we spent two days all together at the conclusion of their trip.

Anyway, though my time in Rome was short, I felt like I really got to see most of the things that Rome is famous for. So even if you only have 48 hours — like me — you can still check out these 7 must-visits and 3 bonus items!

[Read more…]

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Day Trip: Madrid to San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain

If you go from Madrid to El Escorial, you’ll be rewarded with this view

During my first visit to Spain in 2016, San Lorenzo de El Escorial was one of my three day trips from Madrid. (Segovia and Toledo were the other ones.) If you’re interested in Spanish or European history — history that certainly goes back further than the United States’ 200-something years — San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a good place to visit. It’s also the starting point for the journey to the Valle de los Caídos, or Valley of the Fallen, if you’re planning to make that trip independent of a tour group.

Learn everything you need to know about this popular — if slightly underrated — day trip. Here’s how to get from Madrid to El Escorial. [Read more…]

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The 7 Best Summer Drinks to Try in Europe: Italy, Spain, & Beyond

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Keep reading to find out why these are some of the best summer drinks in Europe…

My first summer living in Madrid, it didn’t take me long to realize that I was in deep trouble when it came to the fact that my apartment didn’t have air conditioning. In June and July that year, Spain was part of a record-breaking heatwave — though I’m sure those records have continually been broken every year since.

With a high of 109°F (109°C), I was spending my dates bouncing from one air-conditioned cafe to another, chugging iced coffee by the gallon where I could find it and trying to avoid my stifling 4th-floor piso. Iced coffee isn’t a particularly Spanish drink, though. But it got me thinking about the summer drinks that are popular throughout different European countries. So if you’re visiting Europe this summer, here are some of the best summer drinks in Europe that will hopefully help keep you cool — air conditioning or not. [Read more…]

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Day Trip: Madrid to Segovia, Spain

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Segovia Cathedral crowning the city

I actually can’t believe I hadn’t written this post yet! The first time I visited Madrid — back in 2016 — Segovia was my first day trip I took out of the capital. I’d learned about this impressive city during one of my college Spanish classes, and I knew I had to see it for myself. Once I moved here in the fall, it was again the first day trip I took. I couldn’t wait to see it again. When Matt came to visit, I took him. And I’m planning to bring some of my future visitors there as well!

Along with Toledo, Segovia is actually one of the fastest and easiest day trips from Madrid. So if you want to plan your own trip from Madrid to Segovia, here’s everything you need to know! [Read more…]

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7 Best Things To See in Madrid, Spain

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Puerta del Sol at puesta de sol (sunset)

In the first nine months that I lived in Madrid, I had my fair share of visitors. First was Carson and Natalie, then Matt, then Morgan, then Matt again! After all that, I felt like I had a formula down when it came to knowing all the best things to see in Madrid. I knew exactly where to take my tourists so that they had the opportunity to really experience the city.

So I put it all together into a list. Some of these are “duh” items; some of them are just my personal opinion of things that make Madrid special and interesting. This list also is great for anyone planning a visit to Madrid, even if you’re not showing tourists around!

Here are the seven best things to see in Madrid.
[Read more…]

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Side Trip: Madrid to Valladolid, Spain

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A bright side street I saw during my trip from Madrid to Valladolid

Valladolid was a city I’d been hoping to visit, sooner or later. It’s the city where my favorite Spanish professor, Heidi — the one who had the greatest impact on my Spanish history, culture, and language education — had studied abroad during college, and she’d always talked about it during class.

Well, guess what? Heidi’s husband, Tony, also a Spanish professor, is leading a study abroad group in Valladolid this summer! Which meant that Heidi, Tony, and their 5-year-old daughter Rosalie would only be a few hours away from me for the entire month of July. I hadn’t seen Heidi since my graduation 4 years ago, so I knew we needed to meet up. Also, I’d been telling my friend Sarah — who is about to start a Master’s program to become a Spanish teacher — about Heidi all year. Heidi told me she’d be happy to meet the two of us in Valladolid and give us a tour! [Read more…]

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Visiting Morocco: Expectations vs. Reality

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Just a desert country… right?

Going to Morocco for the first time, I knew that it was going to be different from other places I’d visited before. Other than figuring out the dress code and using it as an excuse for a new wardrobe, I didn’t do much research. I relied on what I’ve head from friends and other travelers when setting my expectations. Although of course I keep an open mind, as a usually-solo female traveler, I’m generally extra cautious and I have to somewhat prepare for the worst.

However, the Morocco I experienced was different from the one I expected. If you’re thinking about visiting Morocco or just want to learn more, here are some of the expectations vs. realities from my trip! [Read more…]