Travel Diary - Barcelona: 3 days 2 nights

Hola Todos!

I would like to share about my short trip in Barcelona. My flight back was on 31st January 2016. I went to barcelona on 27th January by train from Castellon de la Plana. I said goodbye to Ianthe, because she was also getting back to Belgium on that day. For anyone who wonder about Spain long distance and short distance train, I could make another post dedicated on how to commute from one place to another place in Spain.

The memorable part of the journey was our luggage. Like, seriously. We need to brought our luggage back and forth, get on and get off from one metro to another. I actually did not really bring too many stuff when I went to Spain, but when I got home, I filled my medium suitcase with gifts and souvenirs for my family and friends. My own belongings only in one cabin suitcase and one backpack! [check my packing adventure post here]

We stayed in an affordable airbnb accommodation. For a room of 3 people, we only paid around 60 euros for 3 days stay. The place is neat and clean and the owner is really friendly even though we went to the wrong floor when we first get there. I was glad that after an early morning train, jump from one metro to another one, grabbing our dear luggage, we could rest our body to a comfy bed. After took a rest and took a shower in a communal bathroom, we headed to the city center! Yeaah!

It was right the time of Rebajas! So, we went shopping! I bought several souvenirs from local shop, not to mention another postcards for me to collect and for people I knew. Rebajas is actually a time when discount held in almost every stores all around Spain for approximately three months. You will get super cheap Pull and Bear tees [I bought some for my family, cost around 1 euro for 1 tee! Can’t you imagine!]. Most of the items that is on sale is the last season items. But it is okay since in Indonesia, we only had two seasons, wet and dry, all the clothes fit all year round.

There is two things that stand out the most during my trip in Barcelona. First, Kebab Alhamdulillah, it is a MUST TRY. I said, a must try! I am so in love with foods from this restaurant. The places is always packed and the food is in huge portion. It is another restaurant that makes me wants to go back to Barcelona. The price is affordable and the service is quite good. If you are super hangry, you will find this place a safe haven. Second one is the city. Barcelona is known for super blocks, where city divided into bigger blocks where it allows more priority to people and pedestrian within the super blocks. Because the blocks, it is easy to getting to know the city, you know it is hard or I don’t know maybe it does not exist in Indonesia [correct me if you know more about city planning in Indonesia]. The atmosphere is nice, like Castellon but more crowded.

I should definitely going to back to Spain someday, and I could go to any other stores and places I wish to see when I am there for example such as Montjuic, La Playa, and Gothic Quarter, also going back to Park Guell and Sagrada Familia. There are several things I need to reconsider everytime I travel, less stuff to brings is way better. You can explore more when you less worry about the things you bring with you. See you in another post about my old travel story!

Cheers

M

MUST SEE: 5 Fascinating Places in Pisa

Hi, again!

I haven't talk much about how I spent my time while I was an exchange student. I had a chance to travel for a little bit. One of the place I have been to is Pisa. Even though I spent only two days in this beautiful city, I wanted to share with you which part of Pisa you should take a look when you visit it. 😉

Here is 5 interesting places you could visit while you are in Pisa.

Vintage Market!

I put this first because I love vintage things and the place is amazing! I think personally, that the traditional market is one of attraction that I would never want to missed while in Europe. The vintage market open every Saturday, located in of Piazzas called Piazza dei Cavalieri. I regret many small things I ended up not buying, so better look up for pretty and cheap vintage goods. Mark your calendar and enjoy a fine and fun weekend in this event.

Vintage Books.  Photo courtesy: Meyda Bestari

Piazza dei Cavalieri.  Photo courtesy: Meyda Bestari

Giardino Scotto Garden

Giardino Scotto Garden located near the Arno river. It was once a fort built in 1468 then later made it as palace surrounded by many green spaces. Unfortunately the fort and palace was destroyed and garden is the only thing that survived.

 Photo courtesy: Meyda Bestari

 Photo courtesy: Meyda Bestari

It is a really great place to enjoy a stroll with friends after exhausting day getting around Pisa. The garden open until around 7 p.m. You can find a big tree standing tall within the garden. I enjoy the attraction of small playground with my friends. It was indeed a great day.

Botanical Garden of Pisa

Botanical Garden of University of Pisa is one of the garden that you need to visit while you are in Pisa. Actually we accidentally found the entrance to this botanical garden. I have read about it before, but since we do not have any internet balance, we just walk around the city with maps in our hands.

Again, Pisa is a small beautiful town and spending an afternoon in this garden is worth it. The entrance fee is 2 euro, if you are student it will reduced to 1, 50 euro.

Green house full of little cactus! Wish I could bring them all home.  Photo courtesy: Meyda Bestari

The leaning tower area

This is a must see sites while you are in Pisa, the Leaning Tower! I did not enter the tower since it was closed during winter, and only some building around it that open. I only walking around the sites while enjoying the sun in the green grass spreads around the area.

 Photo courtesy: Meyda Bestari

Leaning Tower Pisa. Photo courtesy: Meyda Bestari

Sightseeing along the Arno River

To finish the day, you can walk along the Arno river to admire the beauty of this city. If you had a chance, you could visit the well-known mural by Keith Haring

Alongside Arno River.  Photo courtesy: Meyda Bestari

Colors!  Photo courtesy: Meyda Bestari

Here is Italian Gelato to ended the post.  Photo courtesy: Meyda Bestari

That is the end of this post. Hope it will help you guys out. Enjoy your day in Pisa! Ciao!

Packing Adventure!

Here I am, sitting in my rent room looking at the pile of clothes and stuff lying around my floor. Being away for a semester abroad is definitely a new thing for me. Once a year I will pack for getting back to my hometown, I bring a medium suitcase and a backpack, almost every year like that. Now, I need to decide which shirts, or simply which jeans I will take with me for my study. I have to fill my Delsey medium suitcase and a backpack for a five months travel abroad. See? It will be crazy. 

Hola! Actually, those line already expired since I am in Spain now! I haven't finish the post before take off to this beautiful city of Castellon. I manage to bring my medium suitcase, a backpack, and a sling bag to began my journey this year. There are things I regret and glad about bringing those items.
So, let me start this post by making a list what inside each bag I bought.

The Suitcase:

1. Pack of Underwear
2. 2 pair of jeans
3. 1 pair of formal pant
4. 1 Batik Skirt
5. 2 lounge pants
6. 1 Sport pant
7. 1 Blazer
8. 1 Coat
9. 1 Windbreaker
10. 2 Sweaters
11. 6 shirts
12. 3 t-shirts
13. 3 undershirts
14. 3 scarves
15. 15 headscarves
16. 3 inner headscarves
17. 2 pairs of shoes (Flat Boots + Wakai)
18. 3 socks
19. 1 pattern tight
20. 1 school backpack
21. Jarik
22. Bed Sheet
23. Souvenirs
24. Make Up
25. Toiletries
26. 2 Towels (Big + Small)
27. Stationary
28. Traditional Spices Paste
29. Extra Ziploc Bag
30. Small Hanger

The Backpack:

1. Laptop + Charger
2. Camera + Charger +USB
3. USB Drive
4. Important Documents
5. Stationary
6. Watercolor pad + Watercolor
7. 1 Bag of Clothes (in case)
8. 1 zipper bag of toiletries
9. Empty Water Bottle
10. Extra Locks
11. Small make up bag
12. Eye Mask

The Sling Bag

1. Passport +Visa
2. Ticket + Boarding pass
3. Wallet
4. Glasses + Case
5. Headset
6. Mobile Phone
7. Notebook
8. Tic Tac
9. Tolak Angin Candy

So, that is the list of things I put on my suitcase, backpack, and sling bag. I am glad I bring some of my small hanger, so I could wash and hang things on it. I regret, I do not bringing much spices, snacks, and other foods from Indonesia because you know what even though the price of groceries here are affordable for European city and there are a lot kinds of yogurt, milk, butter, cheese, and bread. You will still wanted to feel the taste of your home town so bad (I already spent 4 days here and I want to eat Nasi Puyung so bad!) I am glad I bring some of my organizer box, so that when I unpack some of my necessities, I could put them nicely. :)

I do not pack so many clothes, it is only taken a half of my suitcase. There are some other stuff I decide to throw out of my suitcase the last minute before I go, it gives more space for things I probably bring back home later on (yay!)  I suggest you bring power strip, so that you could charging some of your electronics at the same time. I manage to put all of the stuff in my bags, thanks to Ziploc bags!, there are vacuum bag out there of course with more expensive price if you prefer, but the regular Ziploc bag help me a lot to save space and organize my suitcase. It is so bad that I do not take the picture of my suitcase after I put all of my stuff. Maybe I will update the post, when I pack home (still in January though :p)

Good luck on your packing adventure!

Here, you can download packing list that I make.

Xoxo,
M