🌍 My Study Abroad Diaries: 4 Months Across Europe

From the colorful cliffs of the Cinque Terre to the festive streets of London, here is exactly where my semester took me.

September: Coastal Bliss & Italian Sun

The first month was all about the Mediterranean lifestyle and soaking up the last of the summer heat.

Arrival (Aug 28): Touchdown in Florence!

Weekend 1: Coastal trekking through Cinque Terre. Based in Vernazza, with train hops to Monterosso, Manarola, Corniglia, and Riomaggiore.

Weekend 2: Island hopping to Elba Island via Piombino.

Weekend 3: A French Riviera moment in Cannes and Antibes.

Weekend 4: Hosting my first guest (Tara!) in Florence with a salty day trip to Quercianella.

Weekend 5: The Adriatic coast in Sirolo and a dreamy boat day.

October: Family & The Deep South

October was for rolling hills, family reunions, and discovering the rugged beauty of Sicily.

Week 5: Mom and Dad came to town! We stayed at the stunning Hotel Plaza Lucchesi and caught the views in Fiesole.

Weekend 6: A massive Tuscany road trip with the parents. We hit the fortified walls of Monteriggioni, the thermal waters of Bagno Vignoni, and the "ideal city" of Pienza.

Weekend 7: Biking in Lucca and seaside vibes in Forte Dei Marmi.

Weekend 8: A Sicilian adventure. From the volcanic grit of Catania and the Alcantara River to the heights of Taormina and Castelmola.

November: The Grand Tour & Fall Break

As the air got crisper, the travels got bigger. I covered the Iberian Peninsula and some Northern favorites.

Fall Break: A whirlwind through Portugal & Spain. Highlights included the surf in Ericeira, the palaces of Sintra, and the historic streets of Seville and Madrid.

Weekend 11: Back to Portugal to sip wine in the Douro Valley and explore Porto.

Weekend 12: Canals and culture in Amsterdam and Eindhoven.

Weekend 13: A full house in Florence with Dylan, Chris, and Jamie.

December: Christmas Markets & Grand Finales

The final stretch was all about festive magic, alpine peaks, and iconic capitals.

Weekend 14: Vienna, Austria. Christmas markets, grand architecture, and a Hozier concert at Wiener Stadthalle.

Weekend 15: Swiss Alps. Based in Interlaken, we explored the peaks of Grindelwald and Männlichen... pure winter wonderland.

The Final Sprint: One last week in Florence with Masha before hitting the big two:

Paris: The Louvre, hot chocolate at Carette, and the lights of the Eiffel Tower.

London: Ending the journey in the heart of the UK.