Now that 2018 is officially over and we are well into 2019, I have taken some time to really reflect back on my last year…and for me, my favorite highlights from 2018 have mostly been from trips that I have taken. Going into 2019, I have accepted that although I may not be taking as many trips, there will still be plenty of adventures awaiting me in other forms besides travel.
Appropriately enough, I thought that writing a blog about my favorite travel moments of 2018 would suit “Life on Molly” well for my first post in the new year. It was a year full of new faces and new experiences. 2018 forced me outside of my comfort zone and gave me the opportunity to see the world with fresh eyes repeatedly so it is only fair that I write a summation of a few of those experiences.
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain
So, here is a closer look…
Backpacking Andalucia
- From getting lost in the narrow streets of Cordoba to passing New Years Day on the beach in Málaga, it was a trip that helped me to start off 2018 in all of the right ways. Touring through Andalucia was full of unexpected surprises, people, and memories–ones that I often reflect back on. I explored Seville, Córdoba, Málaga, and Granada. If you ever get to visit Spain, I say skip Madrid and Barcelona and head down South (assuming you have limited time) because Andalucia delivers an authenticity that can’t be felt in other parts of Spain.
Wandering through Morocco
- Ah, Morocco. Although it is fairly touristy now, Morocco is one place in which I truly felt out of my comfort zone. It had been on my bucket list since I had moved to Spain in 2016 and honestly, it impacted me more than I ever imagined that it would. I fell in love with the people, the culture, and the colors. Every corner of the Medina was so different and unique that despite getting lost in it 1,000 times there was always something new to see. One of my favorite memories from Morocco was hiking in the Atlas Mountains and exploring an ancient Berber village built into the mountain. Even if Morocco doesn’t interest you, you should still visit just to experience the rich culture at least once. I hope that someday I can go back–for a little longer than a week.
Cruising all over Madeira
- After surviving the infamous landing at Madeira Airport, a group of friends and I rented a car and we were off to cruise the island. Definitely recommend renting a car when visit Madeira (or any island) because it allows for the ultimate road trip flexibility and you can see so many spots that public transport probably wouldn’t get you to! We made many memories on this trip and had many misadventures–including our car engine dying on us at the top of a mountain while we rolled backwards and showing up at a five star restaurant that was out of our league and trading it for a side of the road BBQ stand. We filled our days with enjoying the beautiful scenery that Madeira has to offer while making pit stops to enjoy wines and local cuisine (well deserved after long hikes).
Soaking Up the Algarve
- In an attempt to escape the Galician rainy weather, Gabi and I bought last minute flights to Faro, Portugal to spend a weekend soaking up the sun in the Algarve. If I ever had the ultimate beach bum weekend, this was it. I think for the first time in my life, I achieved a natural and glowy tan from all of the beach time. We literally did nothing but spend time out on the water and in the sand, but there are absolutely not regrets at all. We hiked along the famous coastline and took a boat tour through the Algarve caves. Our last day, we went on a spur-of-the-moment kayak tour and ended up spending the whole day exploring with two Portuguese guys until they dropped us off at the airport for our flight back home. When you’re in Europe and craving a beach weekend, the Algarve is a must!
Girl’s Weekend in Porto
- And finallyyy, but definitely not last in any ranking, is my girls’ trip to Porto with my friend Amber. She lived on the opposite side of Spain, in Mallorca and she had been wanting to come visit me for some time. I thought why not go to Portugal as I only live an hour away from Porto and she could just scratch another country off of her list. Amber is great travel buddy and we always have so much fun together, mostly due to her wild and carefree attitude! Although, I had been to Porto many times, this was a trip that was super memorable for me because we had such a great time. We took a day trip to Aveiro (another place in Portugal that has my heart) and we enjoyed brunch at the beautiful cafe, Zenith. One of my fondest memories was after the bars one night when we ended up back at our hostel and enjoyed the night with the hostel worker, Pedro and his band. They sang us traditional Portuguese music for hours while we enjoyed red wine. We even listened to some Cardi B and I realize that she is quite popular among the Portuguese (or at least these guys). Then for the rest of the night, I stayed up speaking with Pedro about life and drinking hot tea until the sun came up. Fun fact: Pedro is now on The Voice, Portugal so if you’re a fan of The Voice, send him some love!
Well, that’s all for this post! As always, I appreciate you all being and your continued support. I hope that maybe someday I will be able to talk more about the people that I met on my trips and how I met them and what their stories were, but for now, I keep those memories to myself as they are very special to me and it is nice to have something that for the time being is mine; and only mine. Maybe someday I’ll write a book 😉
Wishing you lots of love and positive vibes this year,
xoxo
Molly
