Ashley

I was lucky enough to score a job in barcelona for about 3 months in 2005. I worked in a hostel in placa reial and was able to enjoy the city on a day-to-day basis, using my off-time to visit the museums, night clubs, and (most enjoyably) the bars, shops, and coffee houses tucked away in the alleys that aren’t on the map. Barcelona is a great place to visit no matter how much time you have, and while I would never define myself as a “local,” I’m glad I got a sweet little taste of what it’s like to live in such a fabulous city.

Kentucky is gorgeous, and Louisville is a great city to live in. Its location makes it a hub for many big businesses, and its attitude makes it possible for many independent businesses to flourish. And if you like horses, that’s a plus.

Get into the local music scene. Visit the Old City and stay away from Cumberland Avenue unless you actually attend UT. Kingston Pike has some good restaurants and shopping. Plan most of your travel time for hiking and camping, as some of the best sites in the Smokey Mountains are about an hour’s drive away.

While I really wanted to see the countryside, I did only see Prague. It’s very hard to leave once you’re there. My most memorable night was hanging out at a packed ex-pat bar watching the 2oo4 U.S. presidential election coverage, getting piss-drunk, and being taken care of by my newfound Australian friends who wiped my tears away when the results were in.

After leaving Koeln, a short train ride to Koblenz got me on the boat to travel down the Rhine and visit tiny towns I couldn’t find in my travel book. The best was Bacharach, where we stayed at a castle that overlooked the town and the Rhine vineyards, and doubled as a youth hostel/children’s school. The views were amazing, as was all the exploring to be done around the town.

Of COURSE you’ll have a great time. I flew into Amsterdam alone, after never having left the U.S. in my life, and instantly made friends…(there are so many youth hostels there). Finding English-speaking people was easy, too (which I desperately needed.)Amsterdam has a lot too offer, other than what it’s reputed for. Gorgeous architecture, beautiful walks, and don’t miss the Anne Frank Huis.

My happy place!!! After I had traveled in Europe for about a month, I visited Barcelona, ran out of money, and busted my butt to find a job so that I wouldn’t have to leave. So much about that city…so diverse, so magical, so weird, and so much fun to be had, makes you wish you never left.