Finance Girl

While all things business, getting to know yourself has no deadline. 

[financegirlhere]

To the guy in the photo: I feel your enthusiasm to capture everything at this place. Casa Bonay Expensive and hipster hotel in the heart of Barcelona. Need I say more? I actually wanted to find out the interior design team and thank them each personally. I hate hotels. Especially big chain hotels. They give me this empty feeling and no-soul no-vibe in the room. But this one - I could live there for a while I think. Everything felt so homey, so comfortable and cool in general. Organic shampoos, recycled cotton laundry bags and ginger beer in the mini-bar. And all at the same time excellent quality and well priced. I feel this is a trip advisor post but just felt lucky to have ended up at this place for a short stay. I thought authentic and hip hotels were still a dream. P.S. They have the coolest merchandise store and a book stand in the garden with books for days - and interesting ones, not the drama bestsellers. So if you end up there, lucky you!

[financegirlhere]

Motivation is not the same thing as willpower, that’s what confuses us for reaching goals.

[financegirlhere]

I have been trying to take pictures lately as good as I used to sometime ago. Do situations have to do anything with the quality of captured images? I'm thinking it might.

[financegirlhere]

Paris again. This city with its hoarding amount of people everywhere and not the pretties sights - still never fails to amaze me. There is something about Paris, something different than other european cities. You just have to observe, listen to the local people around you and observe again. Cannot list everything I love about this city and its ways - just simply happy to visit it again and over and over.

[financegirlhere]

The best things in life are free and I could not agree with that more every day. The smallest gestures can have the biggest impact on someone's heart, mind and overall attitude. Even if it is expected or foreseen.. it never fails to make a person feel in a certain way. I know I have the best boyfriend in the world and I knew this would not be something unexpected but seeing these two cupcakes by 'Mommade'(yum) appear on my lap just when the clock struck 12 on my Birthday, made me smile inside out.

[financegirlhere]

If you have never visited Brugge, you should. You will find many strange shops as this, along with other typical Belgian 'things'. Chocolate stores, beer breweries, sex shops... *boudoirs* excuse-moi for the entertainment merely. Definetely had a good weekend. Stayed at a 3 star hotel with shitty wifi, ate an overpriced Japanese dinner, tried not to purge on sugar but still did and ended it all with the 'obligatory' boat ride. Which was definitely worthwhile, you get to see the whole town in under 30min. Might go back again if I miss hearing British accents.

[financegirlhere]

Despite the sunny weather, end of the summer months is upon us...

I am already getting in the atmosphere of autumn/winter trips around Europe. 

This picture was taken in Paris. Last winter. At some cafe - which had the best coffee I ever had in my life (and I have had a lot of coffees throughout my life and am continuing to do so..). 

I don’t remember the name of the cafe unfortunately. Nothing was entirely special about it, just that it had a terrace which happened to fall under the sunny side of the boulevard. 

Definitely would revisit again, I guess just like every city - Paris also has much more to offer than just typical touristic places. 

[financegirlhere]

Our trip to Barcelona was super. Got our flight delayed, stayed for an extra night, discovered new things about each other and had a great time with friends and family. After getting back, we moved into a new apartment and I started my internship. Has been only 1 month and a half but feels like a lot of things happened/changed. Will post about it soon... 👣

[financegirlhere]

Tomorrow, me and my boyfriend are heading for a much deserved vacation to Barcelona. This photo is from Palma De Mallorca trip however. I think watching the sea is the most calming and relaxing moments you can ever have (apart from watching crackling fire). I can still feel how peaceful it was to just lay on the beach and watch the small waves here and there. 

This trip will be the first vacation for us since we’ve been together. And I am aware that it will be slightly different than I am actually used to. But, I am happy with it. I think my interests are much diverse now - before it was only shopping, cocktail bars and dance clubs. Now I am open to more exploring the local areas, museums, park strolling, whatever it is. Honestly, I think these are the moments to capture and therefore - I am looking forward to it the most. 

Will be updating from there if I have time :) 

P.S. I plan to use as less social media as possible. 

[financegirlhere]

Tomorrow is the last day of my Master’s year at school. Fingers crossed. 

I am so, so, so ready to be finished with it. It has been quite draining, but obviously worth it. Just saying, I am very ready. 

[financegirlhere]

This is the closest you can get to having a ‘Gelato’ in Antwerp. 

The cheap & local pizza place in the Center of Antwerp, is always very busy especially during summer days. However, not only with students but just a general mix of all types of people. Sometimes it’s good to be surrounded by miscellaneous, and besides I believe everyone loves Italian food despite its calorie load.  

Anyway, it was delicious, especially after sunbathing.  

[financegirlhere]

0.0

Today was my thesis defense day. I passed obviously and was confident I would, but still feels so good to get it over with officially. 

Personally, I think it is the first serious accomplishment in life which has to be celebrated. I remember when I started it did not feel hard to do at first, but the more I wrote the more complicated it got. The final phase was the most complex. I kept re-reading, re-writing, re-checking almost 3 times a day. But in the end, I was pleased with it (happens rarely), so of course I was not going to let anyone today tell me otherwise.  

[financegirlhere]

Mallorca in April. These type of narrow local neighborhood streets are the best. Not too much tourists or souvenir shops. I could walk around forever here, being undisturbed and distracted from clothing stores, cameras, and couples with thousands of children.. 

Quick tip - It's very easy to get lost in these areas! The roads are very similar and houses also. Had to stick with Google Maps all the time but was worth it.

[financegirlhere]

Sangrias in Mallorca. This place was just perfect for a light dinner in the evening. Had some tapas and coconut fried banana pieces for dessert.

But most delicious are the cocktails in Spain..always the right amount of alcohol, not to sweet and refreshing.

[financegirlhere]

MAS Museum in Antwerp.

Getting a view from the museum’s rooftop is definitely worth it, especially if you have not been in the city for too long to explore it fully. 

You basically see everything, ranging architecture styles from North to South,  the historical city center, urban neighborhoods. 

This part of the view was the one I liked the most. Calm, beautiful boats, dim lighting and just local houses here and there. 

[financegirlhere]

Talking about Amsterdam...I took this photo at a local neighborhood, near the Van Gogh Museum. It was the perfect place to be. Quality cafes, many boutiques of all types of products, authentic hair salons, interesting book stores and beautiful Dutch type apartment-houses. And obviously, lots of bicycles and motorbikes.  I would live there any day. 

[financegirlhere]

Van Gogh's birthday honor 'shed'. With lots of paintings by him and of course the symbolic flowers everywhere. This was in Amsterdam, last July. The trip was pleasent, firstly because of the weather and for the first time 'degustation' of certain Amsterdam Specialties :)