belladonnalin

A very pretty hostel in Barcelona. The rooms are very affordable and the internet connection is free (though REALLY slow). I very much enjoyed this personal, clean, friendly hostel. The only drawback (for some) is the curfew and lights-out rules – curfew is at 3 am (I think?) and lights out was at 11 am, and was for the ENTIRE HOSTEL, not just the dorms. That was a bit disconcerting, but it was nice not to have people shouting at 2 am.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Boise when I went there a few years ago for a friend’s wedding. I pretty much hung out around the Basque Center and close areas and those were gorgeous.

San Francisco is the first city that, when I stepped off the plane, I let out a breath that I’d been holding since forever. It was like coming home and I’d never been there before.

I grew up in Kalispell, living there from 1988 to 1998. It is a beautiful place to visit, especially if you like the outdoors, and it’s an easy drive to a TON of lakes, a skihill, fishing, boating, hiking, and a beautiful national park.

Stay here, but I’d have to say that I’ll never LIVE here again. Visits are always amazing, though.

The beaches are gorgeous and the people were very friendly (though I was staying with a local and was not recieving haole treatment). However, the air in Honolulu was pretty disgusting and the ABC Stores made me cringe.

Go to Oahu. Just stay away from town as much as possible.

Only to the airport. But I really really really disliked Charles DeGaulle.

I’m hungry just thinking about it.

I could go on and on about Manchester. It’s one of those places that, as soon as I stepped off the plane, I felt at home. This is pretty impressive, considering my jet lag!

I lived in Ardwick, just off of Brunswick Street. Even the council estates in Manchester are pretty – the nosey old lady down the street always glared at me, a bit, until she realized I lived there.

I loved a lot of seedy little pubs, a few places in The Gay Village, and the jazz/blues club. Mostly, I hung about, eating chip naan and talking. Well, and doing my MA. This is a beautiful city and I desperately miss it.

Barcelona was the singularly most beautiful place I visited while in Europe. The best part was just wandering, going down Las Ramblas, meandering through the old neighborhoods, looking at the shore, visiting Sagrada Familia (which is really worth it). Take your time in Barcelona – it’s the only way to appreciate it.