Today’s tidbit: “Dare to travel on new paths.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita

So what happened?? Exactly one month full of unforgettable travel, although it feels like I was gone a year+… 3 continents, 3 islands, 5 countries, 13 cities, 5 flights, 4 airlines, 2 train rides, 1 cruise, many bus tours/transfers, thousands of pictures and countless memories! So grateful for this AMAZING adventure with my mom!

I am currently rebranding with a new website coming soon so instead of multiple posts, like I did with my South Africa and Australia trip, I will just be sharing a glance into the month now with much more coming on my new site/blog!

Be sure to click below to read more. Enjoy!

 

When you find a $400 roundtrip flight you take it, even if it’s a little out of the way…  we flew from New York City to Milan, Italy and then continued to Casablanca, Morocco. Flying over the alps was truly beautiful!

 

{MOROCCO: Casablanca. Rabat. Meknes. Fes. Sahara Desert, Merzouga. Ouarzazate. Marrakech. Essaouira.}

This trip all started with a ASTA travel agent conference in Marrakech. My mom was able to invite one guest, and lucky me I was able to join. We went on a tour before the conference with Yalla Tours that really allowed us to experience a lot of the country. I can’t say enough good things about Yalla and our tour guide, Moulay. After the conference we had a little time to explore Marrakech and went on a day trip to gorgeous Essaouira.

At a Glance:  Tour inside the magnificent Hassan II Mosque. Stood next to the Oudaya Gate, the Hassan Tower, and the Mausoleum of Mohamed V. Enjoyed the famous mint tea daily. Explored many old and new medinas in a handful of cities. Tour of the oldest tannery in the world. Spent some nights in authentic riads. Saw amazing pottery and crafts being made in person. Tasted a variety of tagine. Drove through the Middle Atlas and High Atlas mountains. Rode a horse in the snowy mountains. Camped in the Sahara Desert. Rode (and kissed) a camel at sunrise in the sand dunes. Attended conference sessions and met many amazing travel agents. Met some of the world champion Arabian horses at Selman Hotel. Wandered through white and blue Essaouira.

The list goes on and on. Below are a couple pictures to give you a taste.

 

 

{SPAIN: Barcelona} After Morocco we continued on to Barcelona for a few days.

At a Glance: City tour of Barcelona. Stood at the Olympic stadium.Gaudi day: explored Park Güell, tour inside La Pedrera-Casa Milà and Casa Batlló. Dali day: Dalí Theatre and Museum, afternoon in Cadaqués with a tour inside Dali’s home and studio. Tasted a variety of tapas. Tour inside the spectacular Sagrada Família.

 

 

{CANARY ISLANDS cruise: Madeira, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Malaga} Leaving from the port in Barcelona, we cruised to Casablanca and then continued to the islands.

At a Glance: NCL sailing. Cable car ride. World famous tobogganing down from the village Monte in the mountains. Explored Teide National Park. Saw volcanoes and craters feet away. Walked on black sand (from ash). Walked through a field of wild flowers. Got lost in colorful side streets. Tasted a variety of specialties.

 

 

{ITALY: Milan} Since our flight stopped in Milan we decided to take advantage and stay a few days at the end of the trip before continuing on home. Although it was rainy, that didn’t stop us from exploring and having a blast.

At a Glance: Ended the trip at the Park Hyatt (incredible 5-star hotel). Made a real espresso. Admired the Duomo during the day, night and on a rainy evening. Strolled through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Enjoyed flavorful risotto. Saw da Vinci’s masterpiece, ‘The Last Supper’ (couldn’t take any pictures). Tasted many gelato flavors. Learned a few italian words from a flower stand owner. Wandered the rainy cobblestone streets.

And that’s a glance at the month. As I mentioned there is a new website coming soon. Check back later this week for more on that along with a recap on an amazing conference I attended in Boston last weekend.