Istanbul

     Last week I went with some students from our school (from different classes) on a trip to Istanbul, from the 14th to the 18th of November. Despite being only five students from our own Tourism Management class (year 1) we had a great time together. It was maybe a little bit short but we pretty much used  all the time we had to do as much stuff as we could possibly do in three and a half days, including nightly recreation, to call it in a different way.

     Here are a few pictures of some of the places we visited in Istanbul, including a ferry ride to Kadiköy in the Asian part of the city (our hotel was in the European part).

Blue Mosque:

Ayasofia:

Basilica Cisterna:

Grand Bazaar:

Spice Market:

Kadiköy 

(ferry ride over Bosphorus, and fish market):

Eminönü:

View across Golden Horn:

     It was a very nice trip, with a little culture shock, at least for me who has never been further east than Istanbul. I loved the city´s variety of smells, colours, textures, tastes... maybe I´ll go back some day, who knows...

For ever and for always: Amsterdam.

     One week of vacation (or "self study week" how they call it at school) is coming to an end... After days of studying, which are still not over, it is understandable that we would feel the need of getting out of our apartment to take the bikes and to get some "fresh air" while cycling to the center. I don´t know what is going on but the weather feels like summer again... Anyways, it´s a good opportunity to enjoy some last warm temperatures before we actually have to stay at home because of the rainy weather. 

     Nighlty Amsterdam, we already had that previously, but this time with some attractions on Dam Square with breathtaking views. (Literally breathtaking: 60m high!).

Artis Royal Zoo

         I have to admit that school got me crazy already. Despite all the stress about projects, presentations, exhibitions, assignments and school assessments, I am still able to find some time to spend outside the four walls of my room. The cool thing about moving to a place you are not familiar with is that you will always find awesome people that are willing to show you around, and if that includes visiting attractions for free it´s even better! Good company + free admission = lots of fun and an unforgettable experience, it´s that easy! ...and besides all that you also save some money which for a student is quite important as you will be able to spend that saved money in food and drinks later on.

     Now, I have already done some stuff since I came to Amsterdam, such as a Canal Cruise, the Madame Tussauds and the Rijksmuseum. But lately I have also been able to visit the NEMO Science Center and the Artis Royal Zoo together with a friend, Marijke, who was willing to take me to these attractions with some free tickets she managed to get. Obviously, I was very grateful about that. Now here are some pictures taken at the Zoo I would like to share with you.

Nightly Amsterdam

       Now I can finally say: Welcome back to Amsterdam! ...It has been a nice summer at home on the Canary Islands, but now its time to start with school, again (sounds weird saying that), and its still hard for me to believe. I mean only one year ago I was travelling and working in Canada with completely different plans of the future, and now... now I am sitting in my room of the student accommodation in the south of Amsterdam, "waiting" to start on monday with classes and all that stuff people of my age usually do... 

       So before starting to study I thought that it would be nice to enjoy a little bit of the city where I'll be living for at least the next couple of years, specially if its such an amazing city as it is Amsterdam.

      So here are some nightly perspectives of the city, even though it's hard to capture the beauty of Amsterdam on a picture, as it is always nicer to enjoy it in person, at least you can get an idea of it:

Amsterdam

        It has already been more than a month since I left Canada, oh Canada... :'(  oh well, new thing are about to happen soon about which I am pretty excited as well: next month I will be traveling to Amsterdam in order to start my studies in Tourism Management. And as by the time I decided to study there I had never been in the Netherlands before I decided one month ago, when I was in Germany for a week, to travel for two nights to that city about which I had only heard good things (I know, it's pretty late to write about that now but I haven't really had the time since I got back home, to many activities with friends were waiting for me!) now here are some pictures I want to share with you from Amsterdam, and they were right, Amsterdam is awesome!! ...you have to travel there in person in order to see the beauty of this city.

Last but not least: Victoria

       Oh Victoria, capital city of Beautiful British Columbia, and my last stop in my Canadian adventure overseas. And finally I made it here! Since I came to Vancouver almost ten month ago I was planning and wishing to get till Vancouver Island and visit this beautiful city about which I only heard nice things! And even though I only planned three nights (today is my last full day and my last night) I believe I am doing most of it, obviously you can do more, but then you also need more money, and  I have already been one week in Vancouver and San Francisco so money is starting to get short. Anyways, it was completely worth it coming here. I don't know, I just love cities on the water. First thing I did when I came was visiting the Parliament (free guided tour, yess!!) and The Empress Hotel, both on the inner harbour. Very interesting too is going to visit Americas oldest Chinatown with a nice Chinese gate and the narrowest street in Canada: Fan Tan Alley (min. 0.9 meters) which still has shops and more! 

                              

         Yesterday I also went whale watching, I wasn't sure about it because it's kind of expensive but then I thought: once in a life time, so I did it. And it's true what people say, you end up enjoying more the speedboat ride then watching the actual orcas, the total was a 3 hours trip, two hours jumping over waves and getting completely drenched at some point (my recommendation: waterproof underwear). But yeah, completely worth it, almost funnier than a roller coaster, or maybe more fun? 

          Very important as well is to have a little walk through the city and the harbour by night, when you can see the Parliament lighted up with 3300 light bulbs like a Christmas tree (year round), bring a good camera and a tripod as well!