The Girl Who Goes

independent, intentional travel

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A Quick Guide to Medellín’s MetroCables

medellin metrocable

Hi friends. This was originally not meant to be its own post — I thought I could contain it in the MetroCable section of my post about the best things to do in Medellín. But I forgot how wordy I can be when I write. Especially when I feel like I’m addressing a gap in knowledge that exists on the internet. So this one goes out to all the travelers planning trips to Medellín and feeling confused about the whole MetroCable thing.

Because a lot of the information out there just isn’t very clear. A lot of it is outdated, too. [Read more…]

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What I Miss the Most About Traveling

travel-italy

Last night, my family and I finally had our Christmas. Yes, on January 9. Most of my family, except for me & Matt, and my sister Carrie, came down with COVID, so we had to postpone our celebration until everyone was healthy again. Luckily everyone is doing well! And while we were all together, we also did one of our New Years traditions — we each write down as many predictions as we can for the new year. Then, we take turns reading the last year’s predictions to see how many we got right.

I was first up. As I scanned through my typed list, which I’d emailed to my dad since I was in Europe last year, all I could say was… “Wow. This is sad.” Because of course, at that point I had no idea we were two months away from getting hit with the pandemic that would be life-changing for the next year, if not longer. [Read more…]

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The 5 Best Places for Scenic Views of Madrid

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One of the best views of Madrid.

I’m always looking for scenic views. Not only do they make great pics for Instagram, but there’s just something about seeing a place from a different perspective. Especially in a big city like Madrid, it’s hard to fully appreciate the sheer size of the city when you’re simply walking the streets. So, if you like good views like I do — and assuming you’re not afraid of heights — I’ve put together a list of the 5 best places for scenic views of Madrid. [Read more…]

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Auxiliares de Conversacion Guide – Madrid 2019 (Part III)

Hi all! We’re t-minus 6 days away from the start of the auxiliar school year now… and I’ll be arriving back in Madrid on Monday! First, I’m going to a wedding in New Hampshire this weekend, which is going to be a great reunion with a bunch of friends I don’t get to see enough. And I’ll head straight to Madrid (via London) from Boston, and straight to work the next day 😉

I’ve had an amazing couple of months at home, but part of me is itching to get back to my constant jet-setting life and the stability of my daily life. Also, I’ve missed the kids A TON. I can’t wait to see how much they’ve grown! [Read more…]

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Day Trip: Madrid to Segovia, Spain

Segovia Cathedral

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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A Comprehensive Guide to the Madrid Metro

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Learn how to navigate the Madrid Metro!

The idea of public transportation can be daunting, especially if you aren’t accustomed to it. Even if you’re a frequent traveler, every city has its own system, which makes it even more confusing. Madrid is no exception; though I lived in London for a semester, the Madrid Metro is different from the London Underground in a lot of ways.

When I’m with a group of friends, I usually become the official trip navigator. My favorite app, Citymapper, helps with this important job. But I like to think I’ve got a good handle on public transportation in general. (Now, the Barcelona Metro? That’s another story. Despite my mastery of most metro systems, I managed to end up on the wrong train not once, but TWICE in three days.)

For anyone planning a visit to Madrid, I’ve put together a comprehensive guide to the metro. [Read more…]

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5 Surprising Things about St. Petersburg, Russia

Singer Building (left) overlooking Nevsky Prospekt

When I stepped off the plane in St. Petersburg, Russia, I really didn’t know what I was getting into. Other than booking transportation and a place to stay, I normally don’t plan or research much in advance when I travel. I prefer to make decisions once I arrive and let things unfold naturally.

That being said, Russia was a place unlike anywhere I’ve been before. Though I know St. Petersburg isn’t fully European, there were so many things that surprised me and were different than what I’ve experienced in any other country. Here are a few of those things! [Read more…]

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How to Plan a Day Trip to Teotihuacan Without a Tour

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Me at Teotihuacan without a tour in 2018

For those visiting Mexico City, you can’t miss out on a visit to Teotihuacan. This fascinating archaeological site is 25 miles from the city center. As with any day trip, you’ll have to do a bit of planning to get the most out of your experience — especially if you choose to visit Teotihuacan without a tour, like I did for the first time in 2018.

A couple of notes before I get into it. I’ve now been to Teotihuacan twice, with my second visit in 2022 — so as you can imagine, a lot has changed as a result of the pandemic. During my first visit, you could climb the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon, as well as the smaller buildings lining the long avenue. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case, as these are all off-limits due to preservation efforts.

With that in mind, I’m not sure I would recommend visiting Teotihuacan without a tour as highly as I did before these recent developments. That’s because it takes a lot of time and effort to get out to the archaeological site, and if you’re not able to climb, all you can really do is walk around, and it’s a looooong walk from one end to the other. (The pyramids are still really amazing to marvel at, of course!) But I personally feel that, now, it’s more worth it to join a tour — whether that’s a Teotihuacan hot air balloon tour like we did in 2022 (read my review here) or a different guided tour.

Anyway, if you still prefer to go it on your own, here’s how to plan your trip to Teotihuacan without a tour. [Read more…]

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The Ultimate Guide to Taxis in Bangkok

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There’s no shortage of taxis in Bangkok — you just have to know how they work.

Before going to Thailand, I could probably count on one hand the number of times I’d used an actual taxi. As a Millennial, I’m no stranger to Uber, which is similar in theory but totally different in application. When I’ve traveled abroad before, I’ve usually relied on public transportation. Although it may not be the fastest or most convenient way to travel, it sure is cheap. [Read more…]