Destinations

Top 5 Things to do in Lisbon

Top 5 Things to do in Lisbon (if you’ve never been)

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Top 5 Things to do in Lisbon

I haven’t thrown together one of these “Top 5” lists in a while, but I’ve got Portugal so much on the brain lately so I figured now’s the time to share what you should do in Lisbon, ESPECIALLY if you’ve never been!

Lisbon was one of my favorite stops on my last Europe trip. After a month traveling through Europe, Lisbon was our last stop. And I was frickin’ exhausted by the time we arrived. But, when I got to Lisbon I was immediately revitalized by the city’s vibrant culture and bright, sunny landscape.

After visiting Lisbon, I’ve come to realize that Portugal may just be one of Europe’s most underrated countries. It’s pretty cheap, there’s so much to do, and it’s obviously beautiful. Lisbon specifically is such a feast for the senses.

Although I wasn’t in Lisbon for long, I managed to do some amazing things! So if you’re ever in Lisbon and have absolutely no idea where to begin, or if you only have a short time there and want to make the most of it, here are my recommendations of the Top 5 things to do in Lisbon, Portugal!

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Expat Life in Ireland // Month #11 recap and photos

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Irish Life Month #11

Another busy moth of Irish life as an expat in Dublin, Ireland! Well boy, my March was FUN. It could definitely be considered the month of concerts.

Between seeing ADELE, Grimes, and The 1975 in concert, there were a few pretttty big events in Ireland. A little something known as St. Patrick’s Day, and the 100th Anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising.

So, it was definitely an fun and busy month!

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1916 Easter Rising Centenary

Dublin and the 1916 Easter Rising Centenary

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1916 Easter Rising Centenary

Right after the craziness of St. Patrick’s Day, Dublin went right into full-on 1916 mode – something that had been building up all year.

Easter Sunday 2016 marked the 100 year anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising. In 1916, Irish republicans wanted to end British rule in Ireland and establish an independent Irish Republic, so they strategically planned the Rising while England was really distracted by being involved in WWI. Although it didn’t “work” in the sense that it wasn’t successful in completely throwing off English rule, it was the most significant uprising in Ireland since the rebellion of 1798 and kicked off the struggle for Irish independence.

So there’s a short history lesson, and a little glimpse just as to why the 1916 Easter Rising centenary was such a huge deal not only around Dublin, but around the whole of Ireland!

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St. Patrick's Day 2016

St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin

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St. Patrick's Day 2016

The day of all days to be in Dublin….the day I’ve been waiting to experience since moving here almost a year ago…

ST. PATRICK’S DAY!

Or, Paddy’s Day, as the Irish call it.

(And just a PSA for all fellow Americans…it’s not St. Pat or St. Patty’s Day. It’s PADDY, with D’s. And saying/spelling it otherwise is a bit of a pet peeve for many Irish people. It’s OK, I was guilty once too.)

Although it involved a lot of crowds and a lot of chaos, it was something that every avid traveler should try to experience at least once in their life. Ya know, just for the craic!

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4 Must-See Summer Events in the UK

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4 Must-See Summer Events in the UK

Summer is arguably one of the best times to visit the UK. Like Ireland, the UK really comes alive in the summer. Not only are the British Isles blessed with beautiful countrysides and delightfully temperate weather in the summer months, they’re also home to some of the best summer events and festivals in the world. These are just a few picks from my own bucket list of fun, must-see summer events in the UK that everyone should check out on their next visit!

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Irish life month #10

Expat Life in Ireland // Month #10 recap and photos

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Irish life month #10

Although February is a shorter month than most, I managed to squeeze in a lot in these 28 29 days. Life as an expat in Dublin is still going extremely well. There’s never a dull moment and I’m loving every second.

From saying goodbye to a friend moving to Canada, to birthdays and house parties, to roommate dinners and work nights out, to moving apartments, to exploring more of Dublin and its thrift stores.. OH, and of course, a quick but fantastic little getaway to Strasbourg, France.

So yeah, one could say this month of Irish life was pretty dang epic.

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Camden Market

Marvelous Markets, pt. 4: Camden Market – London

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Camden Market, London

Ah, Camden Market. Where do I even begin? Oh, I know…this is one of my favorite things to do in London. I make sure to stop by every time I’m there. Honestly I’d go as far as saying it’s the best market I’ve ever been to. And that’s saying a lot, because I’ve been to a LOT of great markets. London has a lot of amazing markets which are all great if you’re looking for free activities in London. But Camden Market is one of my favorites!

A maze of food, souvenirs, vintage, trinkets….my actual happy place. There’s something for everyone here, and you could all day wandering around the web of vendor stalls and shops.

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Irish life month #9

Expat Life in Ireland // Month #9 recap and photos

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Irish life month #9

Ah, what I’ve been secretly dreading…2016 in Dublin. The year when my life as an expat in Ireland could come to an end, with my visa expiring in May of this year. But I don’t want to be sad and think about it too much. Instead, I’m going to continue sharing what life is life as an expat in Dublin!

Of course I had SO MUCH FUN ringing in the new year in Dublin, and there’s a lot of things I’m looking forward to in the next few months. But, it being 2016 means I’m even closer to having to leave this wonderful life behind. It means the end of my year of being an expat in Ireland.

That’s right. My Irish Working Holiday Visa officially ends at the end of April of this year. So I’m currently trying to figure out a way to stay. I’m even looking into some classes to be able to stay as a student. Because I REALLY want to stay.

But other than that semi-stressful endeavor, life here is (of course) wonderful. January was yet another great month on this beautiful island I’ve been lucky enough to call home for the last 9 months.

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Winter Wonderland – Hyde Park, London

Walking in (Hyde Park’s) Winter Wonderland // London

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Winter Wonderland – Hyde Park, London

Dublin is currently rainy and miserable due to the leftovers of Storm Jonas and getting warmer the day. So, I can’t stop thinking about drier and colder weather not too long ago during my Christmas trip, and how much I want to go back!

I already gave a bit of a spiel about my wonderful Christmas holiday in London. Bbut I thought I’d hone in on one particular activity a little more that was a highlight of the trip. And that is Winter Wonderland in Hyde park – an absolute necessity for anyone visiting London over the holidays.

With carnival rides, ice villages, Bavarian beer gardens, market stalls, and food offerings, it’s the perfect way to spend a crisp day in the capital city, and definitely a fun thing to do in London if you’re there around Christmas!

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The Best Holiday in the Best City // Christmas in London

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Christmas in London

I’ve probably mentioned this many times before, but London truly is my favorite place.

I know it’s expensive…super expensive. I know it’s crowded. That housing is ridiculous. That living there probably isn’t as glamorous as it’s made out to be.

But still, there’s just something about it that I love. The history, the beauty, the parks, the accent. It’s all just perfect. And that is my honest opinion, as a tourist wearing rose-colored glasses of course.

I’ve been to London 3 times previously, but always during the summer. So this was my first time visiting not only during the winter, but during the holidays. And it’s no surprise at all that it’s just as wonderful, and even more magical, during the holidays. There just isn’t anything quite like Christmas in London.

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