My Nomad November

Hello, IES Abroad blog! November has been my busiest month yet—the Amsterdam weather is in full swing, the streets are adorned with beautiful lights and holiday decorations, and the Christmas market season is just beginning. And, as the blog title suggests, I have been doing Lots. Of. Traveling. 

This past summer, I spent a month in Siena, Italy, studying Italian Sign Language (LIS). My one regret was not traveling on the weekends, so I wanted to do just that during my time here. I am dubbing this month my Nomad November—keep reading for the highlights!

Barcelona, Spain

We kick off Nomad November with five days in Barcelona, Spain. I spent my days here wandering (and biking!) the streets of beautiful architecture, walking along the beaches, and enjoying more tapas, brunches, and cafe con leches than I can count. I also joined friends old and new to enjoy museums such as the Moco + Picasso museums, shopping in the charismatic, older neighborhoods in Ciutat Vella + Mercat de la Boqueria, and marveling at the works of architects such as Antoni Gaudi. On my last day in Barcelona, I was lucky enough to get a ticket for the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s crowning jewel of a basilica—if the outside is not impressive enough, the interior is absolutely awe-inducing. I remember feeling that the Basilica, alongside the other works by Gaudi such as Park Guell, Casa Batlo, and La Pedrera, gave visitors a feeling of intimacy with the architect—which, alongside the communal feel of the restaurants and bars I visited, brought Barcelona to life. 

Venice, Perugia, Siena & Roma, Italy

One week. One backpack. Four regions. Andiamo! I knew I wanted to come back to Italy after this summer, and I can say that this trip was one for the books. I flew into Venice, immediately exploring the canals and colorful buildings characteristic of the island. I adored the quaint neighborhood of Cannaregio, and simultaneously loved the busier shopping areas of Rialto Bridge and Strada Nova. While I did not explore the nearby islands of Burano and Murano, I was satisfied with my exploration of the main island—alongside the cuisine, which involved cicchetti and meat and cheese boards (and gelato, of course!). Additionally, my close friend Haley is studying abroad in Venice, so I spent my evenings cooking and catching up with her and others in her program.

One five hour train ride later, we arrive in Perugia, the landlocked capital of Umbria. One of my close college friends, Vicki, is studying abroad here—so I came to experience a slice of her life before heading to Siena and Rome. My 24 hours in Perugia were filled with the breathtaking mountainscape, eating chocolate, porchetta + (of course) pasta, and enjoying live music with a group of friends from Vicki’s program. I really enjoyed the quaint feel of Perugia and found that it reminded me much of my next stop—Siena! 

I was curious if returning to Siena was a valuable way to spend my time, or if I was going to feel as if I should have explored a new town instead. Call me a creature of habit, because I LOVED being back! In my journal, I wrote: “How lucky I am to be able to look at these streets I got to know + recall the memories I got to make there.” I hit all of my favorite spots from the summer—Torrefazione Caffe Fiorella for cappuccinos before class, Fonte Branda, Piazza del Campo, Fortezza Medici, a yummy new restaurant for pistachio pasta—to top it all off, I got to have tea + catch up with some of the school staff that I met this past summer. I felt so lucky to be welcomed back. It was truly magical—and it makes me wonder where I will be in life the next time I return. Until next time, Siena. 

Time to roam around Roma! This is the last and longest leg of my Italy trip, as Rome is huge + was the main city I wanted to visit while I was abroad this summer. There was something enchanting about Rome, and I felt it went beyond the centuries of history that were evident everywhere you went. I spent most of my time here wandering with my friend Haley, exploring markets, restaurants + cafes, and landmarks that seemingly appeared before us. Alongside The Vatican and The Colosseum, we visited the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, the Roman Forum, the Spanish Steps, and many other notable places to visit. And of course, we ate plenty of carbonara, gelato, pizza, cornettos…when in Rome! 

Edinburgh, Scotland

Time for our last trip of Nomad November! With some IES Abroad friends, we flew to Edinburgh to feel enchanted by the cozy city. The weather could not have been more conducive to this, as we spent our first day mesmerized by snow that blanketed Edinburgh. We alternated our snowy galavant with frequent scone and coffee stops, a traditional Scottish breakfast (minus the haggis…) and some pub hopping. Followed by venturing through Victoria Street, Dean Village, and Calton Hill, I feel we made the most of a picturesque weekend here.

I am more than thankful for all of the unique experiences that traveling has brought me. Now that most of my travels are behind me, I am confronted with the fact that I only have three(?!) weeks left in Amsterdam. I intend to soak up as much as I can of Amsterdam before leaving—so here is to saying yes a little more, exploring new cafes and shops, and showing up while I still can.