You Only Get Ten Years To Be In Your 20s

Lemon Groves in Positano

I believe everyone should travel to a foreign country at least once in their life, no matter their age. But I don't think you need to (or should) wait until you retire to do so. Society often tries to push the idea that you must "earn your right" to do anything fun by working all day, every day, for years before you deserve to do anything for yourself. When you're in your twenties, you generally have less responsibility and more time for yourself. It's okay to be a little selfish and book that trip you've been dreaming of, even if it's just during your weekend off work. There are ways to travel and still hold a full-time job, but once you get older and have more responsibilities (a spouse, kids, etc.) your priorities will shift. That's okay, however, your priority until you have those responsibilities should be you.

Dalmatian Coast, Croatia

Your twenties are a very interesting decade, often filled with college graduation, truly being out on your own in the "real world," and figuring out who you are.

If there are things you want to do, then do then. Turn your dreams to reality (especially travel dreams!). If there's a will, there's a way. Sometimes you have to think outside the box and get creative. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices. Ask yourself if it's worth it - and in most cases, it will be.

When I was about to graduate, my main goal was to travel after college. My travel bug was acting up like crazy and I tried thinking of ways to go to Europe for a couple weeks with a friend. However, my budget didn't allow me to travel for even a short trip. And, my friend ended up having other commitments and could no longer go. So I got creative - I looked into travel jobs where I could live in Europe and also get paid.

vespas in italy - go seek explore

With hard work, a lot of determination, countless emails, and an interview later, I got a travel job and was able to turn my dream of going back to Europe for a couple of weeks into living in Europe for five months. I had the opportunity to see so much more than I originally planned, got to live in Italy when I wasn't traveling for work, and met a ton of people that I wouldn't have met otherwise.

Instead of being a dreamer, be a do-er. And once you accomplished what you've wanted to do, dream up new dreams and do them too. By pushing yourself out of your comfort zone you will learn and grow so much. By continuing to do this throughout your twenties, you'll gain more life experience than you ever would have had you not at least tried to make those dreams happen.

Krka Waterfalls

Now that I've returned from my job overseas, I'm about to leave in a few days for another quick trip to Europe. I'll be working short-term for a couple weeks at a different company and I am beyond excited. I'll have a weekend of solo travel before I begin work (my first solo trip ever, and man am I nervous). I wouldn't have had this opportunity had I just sat there waiting for my dreams to happen. I had to make it happen! And it all started with a simple job application...

Whatever it is - taking that trip you've always wanted to go on, moving to a new city, or switching career paths to get your dream job - take action! And take action now. You only get ten years to be in your twenties. Don't waste a single second.

5 Forgettable Things You'll Want To Pack For Long-Term Traveling

There are always those moments when you're traveling where you think, "Ah, I wish I would've remembered to bring that." Here are five slightly random items that are usually forgotten that you'll want to remember for any long-term trip, study abroad, or work abroad.

1. Medicine & Vitamins

Make sure you don't forget any prescriptions you regularly take, but it's easy to forget cold medicine and pain reliever. Especially if you're constantly traveling, you're more likely to get run down faster with all the flights, public transportation, late nights out, and switching hotels/hostels often. Hopefully you won't get sick, but if you do, you'll be glad you had it. Vitamins are also smart to bring to to help keep that cold at bay.

2. Extra Socks & Underwear

If you're nomadic or backpacking, this will help you stretch your wardrobe further in between trips to the laundromat.

3. Reusable Water Bottle

Hydration is important and buying plastic water bottles multiple times a day adds up. When you're at home or at work, you may not realize how much water you drink, but when you're traveling and are out and about all day, it will be nice to have (free!) water on hand.

4. Q-Tips

A random and easily forgettable item that I (and a few friends) have forgotten on a number of occasions. They're just nice to have when you get out of the shower and you have water in your ears.

5. Mini mirror

For the girls - if you're sharing a room with multiple other people with limited mirror space or if you're at a hostel that lacks mirrors even in the bathroom (been there) then it is very nice to have a small mirror you can bring with you to get ready. I like ones like this, where they're larger than a makeup pocket mirror but still small enough where they won't take up much room in your luggage.

I Want To Go On A Yacht Week

I recently heard of

The Yacht Week

, where you can rent yachts for far less than usual in Italy, Croatia, Greece, Thailand, and the Virgin Islands....and IT. SOUNDS. AMAZING. Especially Thailand (maybe that's me being a tad biased since Thailand holds a high spot on my bucket list). Personally, I don't have enough saved up to do something like this right now (#recentgradlife) but at least I can dream of the possibility of doing this one day.

Where To Find Good Food in Florence On A Budget

Florence is one of the best cities for food in Italy (the best in my opinion). The pasta is perfect, the pizza is topped with fresh mozzarella, and the panini are made with crisp bread.

Like any city, not all restaurants are budget-friendly, but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice quality for a cheap eat!

To find delicious Italian staples and save a few euros, go to these places to get your fix for pizza, panini, gelato, pasta, and chicken.

If you’re looking for some of the best Italian food for less…you’re in the right place.

Let's eat!

Pizza: Gusta Pizza | Via Maggio, 46r

It can be hard to find good Italian pizza under five euros, but you can find it at Gusta Pizza, located near Santo Spirito.

For 3.50 for marinara (just sauce and crust) or 4 for margherita (sauce, crust, cheese), the prices are hard to beat.

Pizzas with more toppings aren't even much more. What's even better is if you split your pizza with a friend, then you'll have some extra cash for a glass of wine!

Panini: I Due Frattelini | Via dei Cimatori, 38

Due Frattelini is always packed at lunch time and for good reason. Part of that is because it is a tiny walk-up kiosk, but mostly because the panini are just that good!

And inexpensive, too: 2.50 euro for most sandwiches.

The bread is the best part, warm and crisp. The ingredients are fresh - you see them cut up the tomatoes and mozzarella right in front of you. They serve wine as well!

Gelato: Gelateria La Carraia | Piazza Nazario Sauro, 25

You can't beat tasty gelato for only 1.50 euro!

My general rule is to only trust gelaterias that serve the small sized gelato for 2 euros or less. More than that, the prices are likely tourist-driven and the quality isn't as great.

The gelato at La Carraia is good quality and right across the Ponte alla Carraia bridge. Take your gelato with you to the bridge and enjoy the views while you eat.

Pasta: Osteria de' Peccatori | Piazza di San Firenze, 14

Osteria de' Peccatori is one of my favorite restaurants in Florence. We went there a number of times - it is great for a semi-large group of people or dining solo, whatever works for you.

There is a lot of selection on the menu, but the pasta has always been my favorite - especially the gnocchi al pesto or the tortellini labro di prete (7.90 euro each).

The service is really friendly and welcoming. (The dessert is beyond amazing, too)! I could sure go for their tiramisu...

Rotisserie Chicken: Ristorante La Spada | Via della Spada, 62

I'm not quite sure if rotisserie chicken counts as a staple Italian food, but if you need to take a break from all the carbs, head to La Spada for some delicious, juicy take away chicken.

For only five euros you get a half chicken and can add a side if you want - potatoes, vegetables, etc. You also have many other choices with the take away selection.

(Note that sitting down at the restaurant costs more than it does at the take away shop around the corner, but tastes the same all the less).

There you have it - the best places in Florence to get amazing Italian food at a fraction of the price.

These are a few examples of my personal favorite places to go from when I used to live in the city – I would often frequent these eateries at least once every other week!

I recommend these places and hope you enjoy them too.

Book a Place to Stay in Italy

My all-time favorite booking website is the well-known Booking.com - I’ve used it for years all over the world.

It is the easiest way to search and find the best hotels (hostels too!), especially based on reviews. I always check the reviews on Booking, even if it’s a name-brand hotel. You never know!

Why Oktoberfest Is The Greatest Thing, Ever

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If you want to go to Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany this fall, book your accommodations now. That's why this post is going up at the beginning of summer rather than closer to Oktoberfest, because, well, if you want to go, you'll need to make sure you have a place to stay (some hotels/hostels even sell out a year in advance). Make sure you do this soon so you don't miss out on it, because Oktoberfest is AWESOME.

Six million people attend Oktoberfest in Munich every year. Oktoberfest lasts for 16 days, starting mid-September and finishing the first weekend of October. Celebrate and party at the world's largest beer festival with people from around the world. I met people from all over including Brazil, Australia, a bunch of Europeans, and of course, some awesome Germans.

Now onto why Oktoberfest is the greatest thing, ever:

The beer is exclusive to the festival and is really, really good. Six Munich breweries brew their own Oktoberfest Beer. I didn't like beer until I went to Oktoberfest. Now I love it, and I have the beer from Hofbrauhaus and Hacker to thank for that. When you order beer, it comes in a stein: a large glass with a handle that holds 1 liter (34 ounces) and the beer must be a minimum of 6%.

oktoberfest beer

The food. Giant soft pretzels, sausage, pork knuckle, schnitzel, and sauerkraut are just a few of the traditional German foods you'll find  at Oktoberfest. They all pair really well with beer.

oktoberfest bretzel

People dress up in lederhosen and dirndls. And not just a few randos - you'll look more out of place in regular clothes than you will in lederhosen (guys) or a dirndl (girls). Pretty much everyone is dressed up in the traditional German outfits which only adds to the festive feel of Oktoberfest. You can find authentic, good quality lederhosen and dirndls at plenty of stores around Munich before you head to the tents.

Fun, lively atmosphere. Everyone is jolly and having a grand ol' time inside the tents. A lively atmosphere calls for great memories, possibly with new friends that you meet in the tents.

It's also a CARNIVAL. There's a reason they say it's like Disneyland for adults. How much more fun can it get when Oktoberfest also doubles as a carnival?! Outside the tents you'll find plenty of games and amusement park rides. The one that that goes up really high and does a big drop gives you a great aerial view of the festival grounds.

hofbrauhaus

Headed to Oktoberfest?

Book a place to stay, ASAP! Oktoberfest season in Munich sees a heavy amount of visitors from all over Germany and the rest of the world. The earlier you book your place to stay, the better - as availability for hotels, hostels, Airbnbs, and Couchsurfing can go fast.

I recommend using my all-time favorite booking website, Booking.com - I’ve used it for years all over the world.

It is the easiest way to search and find the best hotels (hostels too!), especially based on reviews. I always check the reviews on Booking, even if it’s a name-brand hotel. You never know!

The ABCs of Studying Abroad in Florence

A: Acqua - whether it's sparkling or flat, water is not free at restaurants, and sometimes more expensive than wine.

Florence Duomo from Piazzale Michelangelo

B: Bars. If you studied abroad between the age of 18-20, you got to enjoy the awesomeness of being of age and getting let in (legally) to a bar. If you were already 21, then you at least got to enjoy going to the bars with all of your friends without leaving out the youngsters.

C: Cooking. Italy is the food capital of Europe, and Florence is arguably the best city in Italy for finding the best food and fresh, high quality ingredients. Pesto pizza, pasta bolognese, or a tomato and mozzarella panini...yum.

D: Duomo. The most iconic church in Florence is enormous and beautiful. You'll never forget your first time walking up to the piazza and seeing it in person - it literally takes your breath away.

Duomo Florence

E: Experience. One that you'll never forget.

F: Florence! Where a majority of American students study abroad in Italy. Also, a small, gorgeous city with beautiful renaissance art.

G: Gelato. You know it's good when the smallest size still comes with two flavors.

H: Hostels. You'll always remember your first time staying at a hostel - bringing shower shoes, sharing bunk beds with other travelers...

I: Italy. While you spent most of the week in Florence, you likely got to see more of the country - the gorgeous Tuscan countryside, historic Rome, and the beautiful Amalfi Coast were musts. Maybe you made it down to Sicily, or up to Venice.

Florence, Italy

J: Just go. Your motto when deciding whether or not to do that last-minute weekend trip.

K: Knocking on the door to a secret bakery at 2am. Warm, nutella-filled croissants for a euro each was the best way to end a night out.

L: Language. The beautiful Italian language that flows up and down, and sounds almost musical when listening to locals converse.

M: "Molto delizioso" means "very delicious," which is what you answered when your host mom asked how the pesto lasagna she made for lunch was.

N: Never leaving. Or what you told yourself while you were in denial during the final days of your study abroad.

Oltre Arno Florence Ponte Vecchio

O: Oltre Arno. Heading across the Arno river to the less touristy part of Florence, where you could encounter some great cafes and shops, and take a breather from the crowds by the Duomo or Santa Croce.

P: Piazzas. Piazza Repubblica, Michelangelo, Santa Croce...

Q: Quotes. Hopefully you made a list of all the funny things people said so you can look back on it a few months later when you get nostalgic. #memories

R: Resume. Studying abroad is a culturally enriching experience that you should definitely put on your resume.

S: Studying. The actual reason you were there.

T: Tiramasu. A delicious Italian dessert.

U: Umbrella. Something you were so glad you had during the random late summer downpours and also so the guys selling umbrellas on the streets would stop bothering you about buying one.

go seek explore ponte vecchio florence italy

V: Vacation. Knowing that most people only have the opportunity to take a week or two of vacation to Florence, but you were lucky enough to live there for months.

W: Wine, and lots of it. Whether it's red or white, you drank way too much of it last night, vow never to drink it again, but then somehow find yourself at Dante's in Florence a few days later with your friends where you proceed to do it all over again.

X: X-change rate. Calculating it to see if those 80 euro ($110) shoes were really worth it.

Y: Year abroad. Those lucky enough to extend their summer or semester study abroad into a full year.

Z: Zero regrets.

8 Majestic Time Lapse Videos: Beauty in Nature

Over the past couple of weeks, I've posted 8 Majestic Time Lapse Videos of the USA and another one of World Cities. To complete this series, I've compiled eight videos of nature in time lapses. The world is a beautiful place, and if we stop to take a look around, we'll see that some of the most breathtaking places are in nature.

El Teide, Spain

This was filmed over seven days on Spain's tallest mountain. Noted as one of the best places in the world to photograph stars, the photographer captured some breathtaking footage while in the Canary Islands.

Yellowstone National Park, USA

The footage of the world's oldest national park is stunning. Scenic views of the park and wildlife are shown through time lapse and make you wish there was more to see than the five minutes presented.

Northern Lights, seen from Norway

Seeing the Northern Lights (or "aurora borealis") is definitely something on my bucket list. It's almost unreal to think that natural, colored lights like that actually exist.

The Nile/Egypt

While most of the video isn't time lapse (there's gorgeous starry night sky time lapse footage though), this video shows the inspiring journey of a man who kayaks up the Nile to the pyramids, as well as exploring some lesser-known, remote parts of Egypt.

Patagonia

"The end of world," Patagonia looms on the edge of South America. If you have dreams to backpack Patagonia, this video is sure to feed your wanderlust.

China and Pakistan

Part city and part nature, with snow-capped mountains, rice terraces, and more.

The Grand Canyon, Arizona

One of the seven natural wonders of the world looks absolutely stunning at sunset.

And lastly, Planet Earth

Earth, viewed from the International Space Station. It's crazy to think how much beauty there is within the world, but our little planet is just a small piece of the puzzle.