Scotland enchanted me from the first glance. E had been there before me, and had talked it up so much, I was pretty scared I wouldn’t love it as much as he did. Luckily, he knows me well, and I was so happy I loved it too. Edinburgh is by the coast, it’s where Harry Potter was created, it has this gorgeous castle and fascinating Old Town…I don’t know why I was concerned (except that’s just me, baby).

Scotland is at the top of my “must-return” list, especially the rest of the country besides Edinburgh. We took a quick day trip to see Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond and taste some whisky, but I’d love to rent a car and roam the country to my heart’s content. There’s just something magical and mysterious about Scotland that I can’t wait to experience more.

Linking up with Instagram Travel Thursday.

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Now that I’ve been to Belgium twice, I can say that my love for this little country is true. We spent a fairy tale few days in Bruges in the summer of 2013, and then traveled this past Christmas to Brussels, Bruges and Ghent. Going in the height of summer and in the middle of the Christmas season were fairly different experiences, but a few things were constant: the waffles, the fries, the beer, the chocolate, the charm, the friendly people, and the fact that Bruges is a fully discovered tourist spot (and will be crowded even in winter).

I feel that Belgium is often overlooked for nearby biggies Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Now that I’ve traveled in all of those countries (although only to Valkenburg in the Netherlands!) I think that Belgium still holds its own. Every time I visit Bruges, I don’t want to leave, and I after exploring more, I feel that way about the rest of Belgium, too. And not just because of the fries (but seriously, the fries).

Linking up with Skimbaco Lifestyle!

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p.s. I’ve been nominated to participate in bab.la and lexophiles.com “Top 100 International Exchange and Experience Blogs” competition! Click the image to vote for me, if you’d like.

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For the past few weeks, since I left Denver, I’ve been traveling to Montana, Washington, and even California for a few days to see as many friends, family, and favorite places before we leave! It’s been fun, stressful, happy, and sad–we haven’t been able to fit everyone in, and it’s also sad to see someone for what feels like an hour before saying farewell once again!

I’ve included my favorite Instagram shots of both Montana and Washington State. They are in no particular order and span several years and seasons! I’m already homesick looking at these pictures as we leave in just two days…!!!

^^the Puget Sound area of Washington (including Seattle) is kind of gorgeous, no?

^^Montana vistas are some of my favorite things.

^^fur babies!

^These flowers are from Pike’s Place Market in Seattle. They have the best flowers there!!

^^Olympic National Park and Orcas Island are some of my favorite trips we’ve ever taken.

^^we go to Montana for a lot of events, like weddings, graduations, and bachelorette parties. It seems like most of my friends have had their weddings there!

^^a throwback just for you of my siblings and me. I’m the one cheesing it up for the camera…can you tell?

^^A few shots from the past Christmas in Olympia and Leavenworth, Washington.

Linking up with Skimbaco Lifestyle!

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Snapshots and Snippets is a series I try to do about once a month, showcasing some of my Instagram travel photos and giving you a brief glimpse into the country/state/city/town of choice! 

TODAY is my last full day in Colorado. We drive out tomorrow for two weeks in Montana and two weeks in Seattle, from where we’ll fly to Prague on August 2! I still can’t believe how soon we leave.

Sadly my last day here isn’t full of my favorite Colorado things, but these past few weeks have been chock-full of friends, food, sunsets, and a few too many goodbyes.  Instead, I am frantically packing and donating everything we have left that didn’t sell. I’m obviously really frantic as I leisurely write this post…but that will happen.

I will miss Colorado. It’s a beautiful state, but most of all, I will miss the wonderful people we’ve met here (and our perfect little apartment). We have spent a solid three years here (well, just under three if you want to get technical) and my life is moving in directions I would have imagined when I first arrived.

I moved to Colorado, the Denver area specifically, from my hometown of Bozeman, Montana. There was an adjustment period, as E and I moved in together for the first time, I was permanently moving away from my hometown for the first time, and I started my AmeriCorps position, which was a year of ups and downs. I started graduate school right after completing AmeriCorps, which felt like a giant blur, and decided to move overseas while living here.

I didn’t love Colorado right away, and there is a part of me that doesn’t think we will ever move back here, at least not permanently.

I think the moment I moved here I sensed that it wouldn’t be a permanent home for us, but I have loved living here. I’ve loved my friends, the people, the experiences we’ve gained. I’ve loved our Colorado road trips, our camping excursions, the ski days, the cabin weekends. Even if I don’t move back here, I will be back to visit, someday! And sadly I wasn’t able to complete my Colorado Wish List, so we definitely need to come back for that!

I hope you indulge me as I share my favorite Instagrams from this great state! (I should probably have an entire post dedicated to just Colorado sunsets…just to warn you!)

Lots of love, Colorado! We’ll miss you. XOXO.

Linking up with Skimbaco Lifestyle!

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Oh, Iceland.

Even though we only spent one day there (less than one day!) we were both enchanted. Part of it is that Iceland seems, to be cliché, off the beaten path. It wasn’t overwhelmed with tourists, like both Scotland and England had been before, even at the most popular sites.

(Hello Blue Lagoon!)

I was also really tired by the time we made it to Iceland. After several stressful (and interesting!) months in China, and a whirlwind trip through Belgium, France, England and Scotland, I needed a rest. Our original plan was to just hang out at the Blue Lagoon, but in my usual fashion, I found another tour that included a few more sights along with the Blue Lagoon.

Even after scant hours of sleep, we didn’t regret that tour, or our layover, and we’re scheming ways to get back to Iceland.

Our small glimpse of the culture, the unusual and gorgeous landscape, the many thermal areas and hot springs…plus that coastline!…makes Iceland a must-see destination. 

Once again I am THRILLED to be joining Skimbaco Lifestyle for Instagram Travel Thursday! Add your link below and join in the fun. Instagram Travel Thursdays are hosted by Skimbaco Lifestyle, an online magazine, both in the form of a weekly link-up for bloggers, and through the hashtag #IGTravelThursday. I’m so excited to join them in sharing some of my Instagram photos again this week, and hopefully will again in the future.

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While I am over the moon to be moving to Prague, I am going to miss having these mountains a short drive away. While Colorado was an adjustment population-wise after my home state of Montana (where it is ridiculously easy to escape everyone), it still is easy to get away, and we’re spoiled. I am lucky to have spent a few years here and most of my life in the West!

In case you don’t know, Rocky Mountain National Park is located right here in Colorado. We stayed outside the park in the town of Estes Park. Both Estes and RMNP are great places for beautiful views, for wildlife watching (we saw elk and bighorn sheep right by our little cabin), for hiking, other outdoors activities, and just relaxing. We mostly wanted to get away from the rush of Denver…so we found a Groupon (more on that later!), I finished my finals (!!!) and off we went!

Read on for a few snapshots from our travels. 

{Lake Estes, right in the town / Bighorn Sheep, a a baby “littlehorn” sheep! / the little back porch of our little cabin / walking on a frozen lake (I don’t think Colorado has gotten the “spring” memo yet) / two killer vistas / driving slow on icy roads}

Once again I am THRILLED to be joining Skimbaco Lifestyle for Instagram Travel Thursday! Add your link below and join in the fun. Instagram Travel Thursdays are hosted by Skimbaco Lifestyle, an online magazine, both in the form of a weekly link-up for bloggers, and through the hashtag #IGTravelThursday. I’m so excited to join them in sharing some of my Instagram photos again this week, and hopefully will again in the future!

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Today I’m taking a visit back to merry old England.

England was familiar, and yet different from I expected. London is a huge, metropolitan city–not exactly the the quaint city you see in the movies–but nonetheless that charm can still be found when you look for it, through the classic red telephone boxes and during a sunset on the South Bank. I was surprised by how much I loved Big Ben (also known as the Elizabeth tower), London’s most iconic symbol. I had to hold myself back from squealing with joy every time it popped up around the corner. (Full disclosure: most of the time, I did squeal…I’m sure I’m a fabulous travel partner…).

I was also surprised at the food!! English food doesn’t have a great reputation, nor does it always sound so appetizing…I mean, mushy peas? Fried fish and soggy chips? No thanks. Yet, we didn’t have a meal I didn’t at least enjoy–and those mushy peas can actually be delicious! Who knew.

Although we did not get much time in the countryside of England, this is what I loved the most, which is typical as I’m not a city girl. The sheep, the rolling green hills, the adorable villages…talk about movie-worthy!

Overall, my visit to England merely added more places to my list. A week there was just long enough for me to decide where I want to spend more time–like Oxford, the British Museum, and the Cotswolds, to name a few. London, too, would make that list, as there is so much to see and do there! We tried to cram in everything, and therefore, we got a quick taste of many things, such as Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park, and the National Gallery. London taught me to travel at a more leisurely pace, and to pick a few top sites to thoroughly enjoy. The many famous sights of London and England make this extremely difficult! I wanted to see it all, and my feet did not thank me for it.

However, I can’t say I regret one minute of riding around in double-decker buses, slowly creeping to the top of the London Eye, or running to catch the Tube. It’s also so very British, after all, and isn’t that why we were there?

I hope you enjoy a few of my pictures from the trip–I can’t wait to go back!

**Instagram Travel Thursdays are hosted by Skimbaco Lifestyle, an online magazine, both in the form of a weekly link-up for bloggers, and through the hashtag #IGTravelThursday. I’m so excited to join them in sharing some of my Instagram photos again this week, and hopefully will again in the future! If you’d like to, link-up below!

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As you may know, I was in China as part of an internship program for my master’s degree from June to August 2013, along with two other ladies from school (who you will spot in the photos below). I have to admit, I’m not sure I’ve completely processed China yet, even though it was months ago now (ah! the ever-turning wheel of time!). When people ask me how China was, I always answer “intense!” and leave it at that.

(Maybe they just want to hear “awesome!” or “life-changing!” or “fine, how are you?” but if I’m going to answer in one word, that’s the word I pick!).

It was certainly intense. It was hard: crowded, polluted, stressful, busy, sad, confusing, overwhelming, and just gigantic. However, I also enjoyed it. The people were fun, generous, incredibly hospitable and just happy to have us there (see the pictures!). Despite the massive language barrier, I feel that I made true friends there, and it was with tears I said farewell.

The language barrier was a large part of feeling confused and overwhelmed. I’ve done my fair share of traveling, but I’ve never experienced the lack of communication I did in China. In Peru, I was enrolled in Spanish classes, and was able to communicate rather quickly, albeit simply. In Thailand, my friend Liz, a Peace Corps volunteer there, was almost always with us, translating everything she could. But in China, even our appointed translators struggled to keep us informed, or were told not to keep us informed as we were guests. Even though I tried to learn some Chinese, the only phrases that stuck were “watermelon,” “I love you,” “thank you,” and “you’re welcome,” as well the type of words you learn playing games with children. This left me often silent and confused, two unnatural states for me.

Despite this, or maybe because of this, China was an important learning experience for me. I felt both completely welcome and very unwanted, often at the same time, which taught me to be grateful for the kind of government I live with now, as stressful and frustrating as it may be. I learned that the world is still giant, and while globalization is rampant, there are parts of the world it’s merely glazed over. China taught me what a true disaster situation looks like, should I decide to follow that career path. China forced me to “go with the flow” and accept confusion, and tried to make me comfortable with the unknown.

Often, when I’ve traveled, I’ve found that there are so many things to see, and just not enough time.

I was not expecting this to happen to me in China, however. I went into China with few expectations, other than seeing a panda and the Great Wall, because I knew I would be devoting most of my time to work. I also mistakenly believed that the China of my imagination would be right on the surface.

Instead, you have to hunt for it. China is in the midst of an Industrial Revolution of sorts, and the China you expect to see has been buried under this progress. It’s not impossible to find–I found it on the Great Wall in a thunderstorm, in a small mountain village, at an old temple in Beijing. The China of my mind and the China in reality left me intrigued, and confused. Even though I was ready to leave when the time came, a part of me still left, wanting more.

So, China, if I have one thing to say to you, it’s this: I think I’ll come back someday. It may be awhile, and who knows how much you will have changed. But, as my translator informed me, “China will still be here, even if you come back as an old lady.”

**Instagram Travel Thursdays are hosted by Skimbaco Lifestyle, an online magazine, both in the form of a weekly link-up for bloggers, and through the hashtag #IGTravelThursday. I’m so excited to join them in sharing some of my Instagram photos this week, and hopefully will again in the future! If you’d like to, link-up below!

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