Marathoning Europe: Venice 5/12

Now we reach the third stop on our rapid fire trip through Europe: Venice. This city was both exactly what I expected and nothing like it. We saw the signs of the city's dependence on tourism while also seeing evidence of the locals' lives scattered amongst the chaotic, winding streets. We had so much fun here getting a little lost, exploring the bridges and canals, and taking in its beauty and history.

Top sight: Day trip by boat to Murano and Burano

While Venice itself is lovely, I was blown away by our outing to the local islands of Murano -- famous for its glass blowing tradition -- and Burano -- famous for its colorful houses and lace making. The boat trip on the public transport ferries was refreshing as we passed the graveyard island and several other island stops until we reached Murano. This island town was quieter than Venice, and we got to stop to watch workers craft glass-blown items live in their factory. Next in Burano, we enjoyed the colorfully painted homes, flower gardens along the walkways, and quiet park by the water. 

Top meal: Cicchetti and Aperol spritz on the canal at Osteria al Squero

While other meals were somewhat disappointing, this local spot was a great end to our time in Venice. Here, we enjoyed a typical Venetian meal of crostini options -- shrimp with zucchini spread, dried fish, and more -- and polpette with cups of Aperol spritz and chardonnay. We ate on the canal and hid our meals from swooping seagulls.

Katie's tip: Take a gondola ride (despite the cost) for a relaxing perspective of the city and ask your driver many questions -- they know a lot about the city's history!

Marathoning Europe: Florence 5/9

Welcome back to my highlights of my postgrad trip to Europe! Our second stop was in Florence, Italy. This was a beautiful city, super walkable to all its sights and corners, and full of delicious food at every turn. Definitely one of the best stops of the trip! We spent 2.5 days here and managed to fit in a lot without feeling rushed. Here are the highlights!

Top sight: The Uffizi

The Uffizi is an incredible collection of religious and Renaissance artwork collected primarily by the Medicis. It features some beautiful works by Botticelli, da Vinci, Michaelangelo, and Raphael. We used the Rick Steves online audio guide for about a 1-1.5 hour view of the museum’s highlights with some great historical context. My favorites are below: Botticelli’s Calumny of Apelles and da Vinci’s unfinished Adoration of the Magi. 

Top meal: Wild boar stew and polenta, ravioli, tiramisu, and limoncello from Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco

This beautiful meal was recommended to us by a girl from the US studying abroad in Florence. The wild boar was so flavorful and tender, the tiramisu covered in espresso powder, and the Montalcino wine did its work. The meal made me so giddy that I had one of those "I can't believe this trip is really happening!" moments in the bathroom.

Honorable Mention: Boboli Gardens

Boboli Gardens were a beautiful reminder of the power and cultural influence held by the Medici family. The Gentleman's Pavilion offered a lovely view of the Tuscan countryside among hydrangeas, and the Fountain of Neptune held adorable ducklings and cool koi.

Katie's Tip: head towards Piazza Sant'Ambrogio for some restaurant options off the tourist path, where the locals dine out.

Marathoning Europe Stop 1: Barcelona 5/7

Welcome to the first of 6 stops on my trip as I marathoned Europe with one of my best friends, Abby! We kicked off this entire trip (and its planning) with a one-way ticket to Barcelona. I've wanted to visit Barcelona for more than 6 years, since all my Spanish teachers in middle through high school made me fall in love with it and its history in class. 

In our 2.5 days to visit, we hit the top tourist sights and one or two local highlights for meals. While I value finding local treasures on my visits, I just had to see some of these places that I've been hearing about for years. To summarize the trip, I've collected the highlights for each city: best sight, best meal, an honorable mention for the uncategorized activities, and a special tip for anyone thinking of going here.

Top sight: La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia is the kind of place that you can't take in over a picture on the phone. It's one of those places that you have to be in to admire, introspect, and appreciate. I was impressed with Gaudi's reflection of nature throughout the design, the incredible stained glass windows, and complex stonework on the facades.

Top meal: Paella de Montana y Mar and Cava Sangria from O'Toxo Tres Hermanos

I was excited to try paella for the first time and I wasn't disappointed! The rice was creamy and savory, the muscles and shrimp succulent, the chicken right off the bone. We had the best patatas bravas of Barcelona and pan con tomate as appetizers -- delicious -- and cava sangria with our meal. I was surprised and delighted by cava, a Spanish sparkling white wine, and believe this is the best drink of my life. 

Honorable Mention: Cable Car to Montjuic

Montjuic is an incredible spot for a lovely walk, to see the castillo, museums, and gardens, and visit the Olympic Stadium. The cable car ride up to the castillo is a lot of fun in itself! There are some great views of the city and the sea. 

Katie's Tip: watch out for bird poop. the pigeons do not care what color shirt you're wearing.