Italy Itinerary

Italy Itinerary   

Here it is: the second and final travel guide for my Europe trip. Italy was an amazing time but I did learn quite a few things in my time there so I'm here to share them with you. First of all we stayed in two different locations: Naples and Rome. First up, Napoli! We flew from Barcelona to Naples and used it as a home base to do some day trips. Naples itself is not a beautiful place to be honest. It is dirty, gritty and the people are rude, but that is what some people find so charming about it. Leon and I quickly learned that the touristy area, which is more well-kept, is along the water, which is where we stayed. From Naples we did a day trip to Pompeii and one to Positano, which makes them the first two things on our to-do list.

1. Pompeii 

This was a huge MUST for me. I grew up learning about ancient civilizations due to my mom's love for history. What i did not realize about this city is that it is expansive. It took us a whole day to walk only two streets in the whole place. My one major piece of advice for this day if you choose to go is wear comfy shoes!! I went with my go-to Skechers. A lot of people make fun of this brand, but they have some adorable styles and memory foam soles! I will link them below because I am obsessed (also this is not an ad, I wish it was, Skechers hit me up). Some extra fun: if you go super early there's a bus that will take you over to Mt. Vesuvius. You can then hike all the way up to the caldera! 
We got there by: Circumvesuviana

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2. Positano   

There was no way we were going to Italy and not visiting the Amalfi Coast! My one complaint was that it was not easy to get to from Naples. I would recommend staying in the town for maximum time. We woke up nice and early to get in a full day and were very content. The landscape is stunning, the food is delicious, the shops are quaint and the sun is hot. Make sure you try the limoncello if you visit (ask a local where the best is). 
We got there by: Circumvesuviana & Bus

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I included the jumpsuit in multiple patterns, it is my favorite piece in my wardrobe at the moment! 

After We left Naples we took a train to Rome. I highly recommend this method of transportation. It was relaxed and enjoyable. Check out what to do in Rome Below:

3. Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain & Villa Borghese   

We took the first day to simply explore. These were the main three points we made it to. We stayed in Piazza del Popolo which was a great location. Nothing was more than a 30 minute walk. We headed off to Piaza Navona (incidentally passing the iconic Spanish steps) where I swooned for beautiful paintings and architecture. On our way back we stopped by the iconic Trevi Fountain. We tossed in coins, made our wishes and quickly escaped the crowds. For a prime photo opportunity, arrive at Trevi before 6 am. If that's too early for you, opt to cut everyone out like I did. 

Our last stop was Villa Borghese. After climbing about 100 stairs, you'll get a full view of the city. Wander into the gardens and bring food for a lovely picnic. The villa is huge and you would need hours to get through all of it. We settled for a spot about 15 minutes in.

We got there by: Walking

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4. Pantheon, Roman Forum and Colosseum 

These things are so easily done in one day! We walked to all of them because the city is too beautiful to miss. Get your tickets to the Colosseum and Roman Forum in advance, they are available as a combo and you'll be stress free from fake ticket scalpers. This day is a lot of walking if you truly want to explore the Forum so wear comfy shoes!

We got there by: Walking

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5. Vatican City   

A very, very relaxed day for us. We showed up, wandered the plaza and waited in line to visit Saint Peter's Basilica. The church was impressive and massive. It took a few hours to do all of that. Make sure you arrive in appropriate attire. Clothing must reach below the knees and cover your shoulders. It is also possible to visit the museum and the Sistine Chapel, which Leon and I opted out of. If you choose to do these things, buy your tickets in advance and arrive early! Another cool possibility is the Scavi tour, a highly coveted excursion below the basilica. In order to score a spot, you must contact the Excavations Office at least 90 days in advance of your tour. I'm keeping this in mind for next time!

We got there by: Walking

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6. Trastevere & Aventine Hill   

We spent our last day wandering around Trastevere, the more bohemian, less touristy side of the city. The streets are windy and covered with vines. The shops are small and welcoming, the restaurants that speckle the streets are all fun and delicious. Take your time to find cute spots and get a little lost in the city's charm. Around sunset we headed over to Aventine Hill, a spot known for its view of the city. As you walk down the park's path you'll see the skyline from above. The magic does not stop there. Keep walking past the park to the dead end. You'll most likely come across a line of people waiting to look through a keyhole. Wait your turn to get the most stunning view: a perfectly framed look at Saint Peter's Basilica down a row of neatly trimmed hedges. The view is famous for a reason, do not miss it!
We got there by: Walking

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Places to Eat and Drink

Pastasciutta - Fresh hand made pasta...TO GO!
 Armando Al Pantheon - Potentially our best meal. Opt for the cacio e pepe. Make a reservation in advance!

Giolitti - An old school gelato shop with a million flavors

Sant'Eustachio Il Caffè - Best coffee I have ever had. Hands down.

Freni e Frizioni - The best drinks in Trastevere. The place is hip-happening and there's a buffet!

Pico's Taqueria - I know, why am I putting a Mexican restaurant on this list? Because it was delicious and fun! They will hand out shots to take all together throughout the night. The place is bright and exciting and the food was to die for.

That's it for my Europe trip! As always feel free to ask any and all questions! 

Spain Itinerary

Spain Itinerary    

Hi friends! Long time, no blog. If you missed it, I spent the past few weeks exploring Europe, specifically Spain and Italy. While I was there, I had limited access to internet which is why you're getting these blog posts in a delayed fashion. This post covers where we went, what I wore, how we got there, plus some food and drink suggestions. I also want to answer any questions you might have, so feel free to ask away in the comments! We spent six days in Spain, all of them spent in Barcelona with the exception of one day trip. Tune in below to check out some of our must visits!

1. La Sagrada Familia

Fresh off the plane, Leon and I dragged our luggage to our hotel and dropped it off pre-check in just to head over to this magnificent church. One of Antoni Gaudí's most famous works, this building began construction in 1882 and is expected to be finished in 2026. You cannot imagine the grandiosity of this structure until you see it for yourself. The stained glass windows create a kaleidoscope effect inside as the sun sets that cannot be missed.
We got there by: Taxi

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You can use my code SHUCK15 for a discount on this watch!

2. Castell de Montjuïc and La Barceloneta

This was one of our favorite days of exploration. We truly loved La Barceloneta and its easy-going, beachy vibes. We first hopped on the cable cars over the Castell de Montjuïc, an impressive fortress built high on a mountaintop. There are two sets of cable cars that will take you to the top, get off at the first one and explore the gardens and fountains that lead up to the fortress (but be warned it is an uphill walk). Cable cars stop early, so be aware and arrive early enough to make it back on. 

Once your reach the bottom, the beach is right across the way. We instantly fell in love with the small tapas bars that spotted the coastline and the vendors that peddled mojitos and tapestries among the sunbathers. As you head back to the metro (which we took EVERYWHERE I cannot stress how easy it was) you might come across a fun pop-up farmers market. We found churros, craft beer and yummy sweets before heading home.
We got there by: Metro

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3. Park Güell and Bunkers Del Carmel

These are absolute MUSTS. Park Güell is famous for Gaudí's iconic works. You would probably recognize his serpentine tiled benches that overlook the city (notably featured in the Cheetah Girls 2). There's a catch: to get to the most famous areas, you have to pay and wait in line. Here's how to get around it: the park is free everywhere before 8 am and after 9:30 pm. Plan accordingly!

The bunkers are a small but unmissable part of Barcelona. Now just graffiti-covered ruins, they are home to many a picnic. Bring your own lunch and wine and sit among locals as they chat, skate and roller blade among the rubble. The view is unbeatable and the wildflowers are stunning. 

We got there by: Metro

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4. Tossa de Mar

This is the place that stole our hearts. Nestled somewhere between Barcelona and France in Costa Brava, Tossa de Mar is the most idyllic spanish town I could have imagined. We bought bus tickets a day in advance, although it is cheaper on certain days so keep that in mind! After an hour long ride, we were dropped in a small seaside town. We walked 15 minutes to a maze of small shops, gelato places and tapas restaurants that lined the beach. As you walk onto the sand you are met with booths selling tours on glass bottom boats. While we did not do those, they were very popular and looked amazing. A glance to your right will reveal a stunning castle bookending the beach. Not just a pretty sight, you can climb the winding ramp into the castle to reveal a perfect, ancient town. Filled with winding cobblestone streets, overflowing flowers, and intricate, colorful wooden doors. I was immediately in love. We spent hours wandering those streets, taking in stunning views of turquoise waters framed by bright yellow blooms. If you day trip anywhere from Barcelona, please, please, please let it be here.

We got there by: Sarfa Bus

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5. The Gothic Quarter

We visited the Gothic quarter to start of a 10 course tapas tour that I purchased Leon for his birthday. To keep it simple, the architecture and the history was amazing. It is a lovely place filled with quaint squares and churches. It is a lovely historical place in the middle of a bustling city.

We got there by: Walking



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6. Parc de la Ciutadella

This gorgeous park was not far from our hotel and was an obvious last stop on our trip. We stopped by a local market, picked up ham, cheese, fruits and soda and headed off. We stopped first at the Arc de Triomf, whose arch paves the pathway directly into the park. We wandered until we found the iconic fountain and sat down to enjoy our last meal in Spain. The fountain is stunning, more beautiful than any other I have ever seen. We could have spent all day staring at it, always finding new things. However, we chose to take a rowboat out onto the lake. Our last few hours in Barcelona were relaxing and wonderful.

We got there by: Walking

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Places to Eat and Drink

Teleferic Barcelona - Tapas and pinchos. Delicious, affordable and fun. Try the mojito!

The Alchemix - Our favorite stop! An alchemy themed restaurant and bar with delicious cocktails and amazing workers. We went 3 times in our 6 days!! Have Nacho make you a drink of his own creation.

La Boqueria - The famous marketplace along La Rambla. Go and snack on lots of different things!

Espit Chupitos - A fun bar that serves only shots. The wall is covered in different shot names with no explanation. Pick one and hope for the best!

Napar BCN - A fun steampunk themed restaurant. Tapas were delicious and drinks were STRONG. Order any drink and they'll bring the bottle and you get to say when they stop pouring!

Bling Bling - This is the club we went out to for Leon's birthday. It was a lot of fun! We showed up around 2 am and found quite the line but it moved fast. This is a great spot of you're looking for more locals and less tourists.


That's it for Spain! Once again, let me know if you have any questions. ¡Adios mis amigos!