Travel Archives - Page 2 of 2 - shm notes & posts

Travel

A panorama of Havana [Cuba part 1]

1 December 202223 December 2024

In which I detail my trip to Cuba. Open for Cuba in the eyes of a tourist.

Though my preferences and history trend towards solo-travel, I cannot do everything on my own. The week prior to Thanksgiving, I had the opportunity to attend the REMIX CAPITALISM tour hosted by Bravely Go’s founder Kara Perez in the beautiful country of Cuba. This tour was jam-packed with enough information, sights, and conversations for a whole saga, but I will condense down to two posts. This post is about the more touristy parts of my trip. Looking for the economic parts of my Cuban trip? Check out Cuba part two. . First impressions Maybe it’s because Cuba reminds me of...

Travel

There’s no place like Rome

18 September 2022

In which I recount my summer trip to Rome. Open for good times and begrudging respect for Italians and their food.

Full disclosure: I was biased against Rome from the start because of their attempts to colonize my homeland of Ethiopia. That said, the city pleasantly surprised me. It wouldn’t be the worst thing to return to Rome, perhaps in addition to other Italian cities. Though I only spent five days in the city, it felt satisfactory without being tiring. A family friend also did a lot of the heavy lifting when it came to planning activities. Plus, I’m definitely a “one activity per day” type of person, with the rest of the time being for relaxation/wandering. So getting into the...

Travel

A time in Turkey

21 June 202219 August 2022

In which I detail a week-long trip to Turkey from May 2019. Open for my take on some Turkish delights and sights.

Turkey was my first international trip as an adult that I took after losing my precious airline benefits. It was awesome travelling as a working adult! No more hostels! ~Exotic~ destinations! Enough mobility to run around! In order to make the most of my trip I booked a tour package with Tours Turkey for May 2019 that included the following: admission/tours in sights, solo hotel accommodations for 8 nights, internal Turkish flights, daily (MASSIVE) breakfast and lunch, airport pick-up and drop-off, and someone to ask all my burning questions to! For all of that I paid only $1200 USD, which is money...

Travel

One month as a Lisboeta

24 May 202219 January 2023

In which I detail my efforts cosplaying as a Lisboeta. Open for observations, insights, and struggles on adjusting to life in Lisboa.

Time flies when you upend your life, let me tell you. For the last month I’ve lived, worked, and navigated Lisbon, primarily in the neighborhood of Alfama, where I live. It still feels insane to say that. Even though I don’t feel like I know enough about Lisbon to have been here a whole month, I’ve learned quite a bit. . Accessible? More like ascend-the-hills Now this one is partially on my landlord for not informing me. In order to get to my apartment from the car-accessible main roads, I need to climb NINE flights of stairs. Eight flights of stair are...

Travel

An overnight layover in Dubai

22 May 202119 August 2022

In which I spend an overnight 15 hour layover in Dubai. Open for fun observations and cool views.

On my way to Ethiopia, I had an overnight 15 hour layover in Dubai. While long layovers aren't ideal, we make do with what we have when traveling! Naturally, I ventured out of the airport and into the city for a quick look at what this city has to offer. There are plenty of tours and recommendations for a layover, but the unfortunate timing of my 15 hour layover (7 pm - 10 am) meant that they were not options this time. One notable exception was 24/7 personal guided tours, which is something to consider for multiple travelers as it...

Travel

Eurotrip review, winter 2017-18

19 October 202015 October 2021

In which I recount my first venture to Europe. Open for a brief overview of an exhausting month and (as always) some cool pictures.

Taking a break from all the real issues, I’ve decided to recount my first backpacking trip and some of my favorite parts. I also do want to use this blog as a travel diary, especially for when we can travel again. For now, let’s take a trip down memory lane. I always make a point to try as much local food as I can when I’m visiting a place, but unfortunately I can’t remember all the food off the top of my head. Read about how I packed for this trip here. STOCKHOLM I cut it real close by booking...

Travel

Planning for a month in wintry Europe with only a carry-on

28 September 202022 June 2022

In which I plan a winter vacation in Europe with just one carry-on and a college student’s budget. Open for insight on minimalist travel.

Planning is honestly one of my favorite parts of a trip. Honestly, I enjoy it almost as much as the trip itself for the pure anticipation it brings. Even with a plan, I frequently end up on unexpected adventures. I learned a couple years back to build in some flexibility, because even the best planner can’t anticipate everything. Also that I will always need a day/night to recuperate after travel. FLIGHT LOGISTICS In summer of 2017, I was interning at UTC Aerospace while all of my friends were gallivanting around Europe, and I had some severe FOMO. That’s when...

Finance Travel

How to travel on a budget

10 January 202024 January 2023

In which I recount my tips for traveling on the low. Open for ways to cut costs on the road.

If one thing in life keeps me going, it's travel. The sights, sounds, and tastes of different cultures energizes me. From eating in churrascos in Buenos Aires to breaking Ramadan fast in Turkey to bungee jumping off the Auckland Harbor Bridge, I live for all the world has to offer. Even and especially when it scares me. Flights Working for an airline, as I did in 2018, is the best way to get cheap flights. For the rest of us plebians, we must find deals. My favorite methodology to find cheap flights to a destination is as follows: Check which...

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