#travelspiration

[galina]

My bonne adventurer

[viesurlamidi]

some skies

[viesurlamidi]

introduction !

To go on a year abroad is many things. It’s studying. It's independence. It's mastering a language. Above all, it’s a time of continuous pompous self-congratulation about how amazing it is that you, yes, you, are going to a different country and isn’t it so beautiful and aren’t you going to make so many multicultural friends and have so many wonderful stories to share on instagram!

It is, to use a pretentious quote I recently heard, 'not a year in your life, but a life in a year'.

Well, who knew life could get so absolutely dull?

Granted, as with everything in life, I shouldn’t have expected that it would all be one long party as soon as I set foot on French soil. And yes, it's hard to call the pastel skies, the greenery, and the warmth of the Mediterranean, 'dull'; but it is possible when you're stuck in a flat with no wifi and a flatmate who's always out, and the only exciting things to look forward to this week are two meetings where you're stuck in a sweaty room filled with a hundred people who are all clawing at an explanation of what the hell you're supposed to be doing in a place that appears to have taken Kafka as a user's manual on how to coordinate a bunch of uni students.

Perhaps it's just the more 'relaxed' way of life that seems to permeate everything here. The same way my flatmate forgot to actually tell me the address when I wanted to come collect the keys, obliged to forgo any explanation of how said keys function - or anything else in this flat - nor has managed to yet fix the wifi. The same way the university decided that to not tell us how to actually do anything until a week before we're due to start classes. The same way I was made to wait 2 hours in a queue to get a tram pass. Yes, the English are meant to be good at waiting in line, but what gives?

Something someone said to me on a night out recently: "You're here for the whole year? You're going to be so bored, there's nothing to do!". That this quote was said to me on a night out is also telling. Often I think I am too quick a judge of character, but after experiencing this city's nightlife offerings twice, I think I can say I'm Good, Thanks. 14€ for a double vodka mixer in a bar-trying-to-be-a-club-with-a-clientele-of-mainly-office-workers-on-a-Saturday-night-blasting-Rihanna is an interesting aesthetic to go for, but one that's not really to my taste. Not that I haven't seen it before, especially in London - I just thought, or maybe painfully wished, that wouldn't be the case in a town made up of one third students. However, I am from Oxford, and thus any desperate longings of that sort should've been bashed out of me as soon as I turned 18.

I can't complain, though, not really - Montpellier is honestly beautiful. Beautiful weather with beautiful architecture and beautiful trams. And I did decide to come here on the basis that if I ended up having a completely shit time, at least I'd have a shit time in the sun. There is also the faintest undercurrent of something-going-on round here. Of what nature, I'm not quite sure, and I may have to wade for a while in the overcurrent to find it, but this city sure has the character to end up surprising me. And if not? Then it has some beautiful artwork. And some beautiful side streets with beautiful boutiques. Let me become a flâneuse protagonist in a Woody Allen film for a bit. If I'm going to be an Erasmus student - which is to be a cliché in and of itself - I'm going to do it the right way. (Including writing a blog about it!)

Peace and goodvibesonlyyyy

[bright-vachirawit]

Wherever this is it looks gorgeous. Exploring the unknown has never been so captivating. This stunning view speaks for itself.

[williesparks]

As much as I enjoy taking photos & posting content, sometimes I struggle to live in the moment. 🌴I went to one of the San Blas islands during my time in Panama, and I had no electricity. No way to check social media, emails, etc. Simply relax on the beach and really enjoy my vacation. Could you stay on an island with no electricity? #SanBlas #islandhopping #SparksNTheCity ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #travelgram #travelspiration #blacktravelfeed #travelblogger #gaysofinstagram #blackmentravel #blackisbeautiful #lifewelltravelled #blacktravelers #blackswhotravel #travelgoals #worldtravel #travelphotography #sayyestotheworld #beautifuldestinations #luxurytravel #travelnoire #mensstyle #igersla #menswithstyle #guyswithstyle #igersla #passportheavy #blackandabroad #lablogger #luxurylife #luxurytraveller (at San Blas Islands Panama) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co5nDK7PuDQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[williesparks]

On today's episode of places I’d rather be.🇩🇰 #SparksNTheCity #Denmark #copenhagen ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #travelgram #travelspiration #Healthandwellness #blacktravelfeed #travelblogger #gaysofinstagram #instapassport #travelgram #blackmentravel #blackisbeautiful #gaytravel #blackgay #blacktravelers #blackswhotravel #travelgoals #travelnoire #travelinspiration #travelinfluencer #travelspiration #menstyle #passportheavy #blackandabroad #thingstodo #latinxtravelclub #blacktravelfeed #visitdenmark #visitcopenhagen (at Copenhagen,Demark) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch2PYEDLWcH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[syneraviatges-blog]

Japón. . . Al pasar por una tranquila zona residencial en la prefectura de Shizuoka, ¡de repente te topas con un pequeño pueblo que parece salido de las páginas de un libro ilustrado! ¡Esta pequeña ciudad forestal, Nukumori no Mori, está llena de restaurantes y cafeterías, tiendas en general e incluso lugares para observar búhos! ¿Por qué no disfrutar de un paseo por este mundo de cuento de hadas? #japan #japantravel #visitjapanjp #visitjapan #travelspiration #traveling #travelgram #instatravel #travelpic #doyoutravel #japantrip #landscapes #naturephotography #japanlovers #seetheworld #experiencejapan #discoverjapan #kawaii #shizuoka #hamamatsu #nukumorinomori #shizuokaprefecture #retro #animestyle Reposted from @visitjapanjp (en Nukumori no Mori) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9JYjYyCdvX/?igshid=1h7xhz6w5minm

[azizdogdu]

I❤️🇯🇵 repost @visitjapanjp ・・・ Happy New Year from everyone here at JNTO! 2020 is going to be an incredible year for Japan, and we're excited to share it with everyone! Do you have plans to visit the Land of the Rising Sun this year? If so, we want to hear them! Here are some essential ways to celebrate New Year's Day in Japan! 1) Hatsumode: join locals for the "first shrine visit of the year." You will see people getting in line at shrines before midnight to pay their respects to the gods. If you are lucky, the shrine might even serve some warm amazake (an non alcoholic rice drink) or sake! 2) Omikuji: find out your fortune for the next year! These little paper fortunes (like the one in the picture) are usually in Japanese, but Sensoji Temple in Tokyo, Naritasan Shinshoji Temple in Chiba Prefecture, Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto, and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura are known for providing English versions. 3) Osechi: this Japanese cuisine contains assorted traditional dishes, and is served in a box similar to bento. Each ingredient holds a particular meaning and symbolizes good fortune for the year ahead! 4) See the sunrise: active types might want to hike up to one of Japan's many mountain shrines to see the first sunrise of the year. Just be sure to bundle up to keep warm! Watching Mt. Fuji appear in the sunrise is another popular option. Incredible photo courtesy of @ko_ion9117. Follow @visitjapanjp for your daily dose of Japan travel inspiration. Tag your own photos of Japan with #visitjapanjp to give us permission to repost! #japan #japantravel #visitjapanjp #visitjapan #travelspiration #traveling #travelgram #instatravel #travelpic #doyoutravel #japantrip #landscapes #naturephotography #japanlovers #seetheworld #experiencejapan #discoverjapan #nagano #newyears #newyearseve #newyearsinjapan #mountfuji #sunrise #welcome2020 #yearoftherat #happynewyear https://www.instagram.com/p/B6y0BreAaQ0/?igshid=1il2jrkxagx6l