On The Move

Hey there! My name is Lauren, I'm 20, from Ontario, Canada and I have been traveling for almost two years. so I decided why not make a blog to share some of my experiences, tips on traveling, making friends, hostels, and everything in between. **Currently in Rome, Italy.

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TOLEDO SPAIN! This place felt like time travelling. Toledo - The city of 3 cultures, Christian, Jewish and Muslims all living in harmony. 

Toledo is about an hour by train from Madrid. Seriously worth it if you're looking for a day trip. The city is so amazingly old and well preserved that it’s a world heritage site and you’ll understand why when you go. With musicians all over the street and pastries to make you mouth water, it’s definitely the place to be on a spring day. 

You really only need a day to see the city but of course take your time in this ancient city. A must see for anyone traveling Spain!

** Taken by me in Toledo Spain May 1st 2016 

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DUBLIN!! Ireland, what can I say.. It’s amazing! I went to Ireland  for 10 days over Christmas and New Years with my Canadian girls as you can see haha. Man oh man is Dublin cold as you can see I always know how to dress for the weather hahaha (spot me middle right matching my friends with the cold knees). What an amazing place, the people were spectacular, ready to help you in a heart beat when you looked lost, which we did! 

We stayed in an air bnb for christmas day and a few days leading up to it. We decided to spend the money on this because for christmas we wanted to be with each other and make a nice meal, drink some wine sing some carols as opposed to being in a hostel. I do love hostels but I think it’s worth it to spend the money and just be with your loved ones on Christmas. 

We all skyped our families and opened the presents that we got each other and it was really lovely. Traveling over major holidays can be hard but just surround yourself with the right people and you can make a new traditions and memories. 

The day after Christmas we moved to the Generator Hostel which is still my favourite hostel I’ve been too. Amazing people, great common room, really good food and cheap bar. Expensive hostel but it has yet to fail me.

New Years in Dublin is NUTS! So much fun haha. The parties in Dublin are everything you would imagine and more. We went to the P.S I Love You bar (from the movie), Whelans! We all agreed that that was the best night out we had in Dublin. We also went to the famous Temple bar, expensive drinks but beautiful place. 

Of course we did all the tours as well, the bus tour, Guinness Tour, Dublin Castle, The Gaol Tour, we even took a bus to Belfast Northern Ireland for the day to see where my mum grew up! Belfast needs more time than a day, so I hope to make it back this year or next!

Even just walking around Dublin is spectacular, its such an amazing place. It did rain everyday we were there but for a place like Dublin you just have to suck it up and zip up that rain coat hahaha. 

**Taken by a stranger December 24th 2015 Dublin Ireland 

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PARIS! mmm Paris, my love! This place is something else. I’ve heard mixed reviews on Paris from friends and relatives that have traveled there, but I loved it personally. I went with my family in May and everything about the experience was beautifully memorable. We still talk about it all the time, from getting wine and baguettes on the street corner, the amazing flowered shaped ice cream to, of course, the Eiffel Tower and its views. I’ve found that the people in France are very nice and no one screamed at me for not knowing French (I was told that they sometimes get upset at tourists). Everything was picture perfect even when my brother ordered steak tartare and was sick for the rest of the day hahaha.

France is definitely on my list for places I have to revisit!!

**Taken by me on the top of the Eiffel Tower, Paris France May 2016.

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ROME! God I could go on and on about Rome. This place is beautiful at all times of the day but at sunset it is literally something from a dream. Musicians all over playing amazing tunes. I went and this one artist was playing only Beatles songs and I got to say, it was magic. 

This park is very busy, especially at sunset, but it’s worth it for the views and the beautiful spaces to lay down and relax. There is even a little space to row a boat for 30 minutes (or just row to the middle and eat cookies like me and my friends). There’s cafes in the park and many kiosks selling drinks and snacks, you really never go hungry in Italy, I swear! 

I could have stayed in this spot for hours on hours listening to that man play Let it Be watching the sun go down. If you’re ever in Rome, this place is a must must must see! 

**Taken by me in Villa Borghese Park Rome, Italy February 12th, 2017

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On top of the world! Once I made friends with locals on the streets of Madrid I started to see the city in a whole new light. This was a place I don’t think I could have found on my own, Uncle Pio Hill Park. The views are to die for and from what I saw, it is usually pretty quiet. People go to read their books, have a siesta, take a bunch of photos (aka me). The view is spectacular, every one needs to take the time to see this amazing park.

** Taken by my friend in Uncle Pio Hill Park, Madrid Spain in February 2016

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ROMA! I went to this amazing museum yesterday. I've been feeling a bit under the weather and when I feel like this (or when I don't) I love going to museums by myself haha. This beautiful chandelier and paintings are in the Musei Capitolini. It's huge and you have to take your time in there but it's an amazing place and I highly suggest it! ** Taken by me March 3rd, 2017 in the Musei Capitolini

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ROMA! This is my current home and I have to say, I am blessed! When I took my first outing in Rome on a sunny Monday, I must have appeared very lost haha. I befriended a local tour guide (travelling 101- - try and make friends with tour guides or locals they really know they coolest places and fun facts) and he took me all over in that first day telling me cool facts the whole day! I spoke no Italian and he spoke no english so we had to speak in both of our second languages, Spanish baby! 

Apparently back in the day they filled the colosseum up with water to play a real life version of battle ship...Could you imagine seeing that? Damn. 

All roads truly do lead to Rome and if you ever get a chance to make your way here please don’t let it slip through your fingers. I feel very Lizzie McGuire, dream come true. 

The people here are all amazing, I’ve never once felt unsafe or threatened. Of course be careful and trust your gut with everyone you meet, be cautious but also confident in yourself. It’s hard trying to make friends without your group of friends back home as a base, but trust me, most people I’ve met have the same mindset and would everyone loves a confident person!

**Taken by me January 2017

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Morocco, North Africa was a place in the world I never thought I’d have the pleasure of going to. I travelled here by bus with a group of fellow travellers from Madrid, Spain. I would also suggest going to Morocco with a group, not that I found it unsafe but as a solo female traveller it’s always good to have some people by your side in a place so male dominated. 

We travelled to Tétouan, Tangier and Chefchaouen. I spent about 250-350 euros on the bus, hotels, meals, camel ride and tours. All in all for all I saw it was a pretty inexpensive trip. Since it was with  group it was  definitely easier to save some money but I found Morocco to be pretty cheap and if you know how to bargain, then all the better! 

There were amazing markets and I saw some things that my Canadian self was shocked at haha. Stands asking what chicken you wanted, then killing it right in front of you, definitely something you don’t see at your local super market. The border security was intense as well, with locals seeing our European bus they ran trying to make their way underneath in hopes of holding on until they made it across the border. In fact, one man held on for an hour before we realized and he dropped his arms in exhaustion. It was insanely sad and I’m so blessed to say I’ve ever seen something like that in Canada. 

This was a crazy place with crazy experiences! From the loud chant through the city of people getting ready to pray, or the beautiful henna skills of the women I’ve met. It’s a place I would suggest for anyone looking for something unlike anything they have ever seen! 

**Taken by me in Morocco November 2015

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I believe that churros & chocolate in Spain is something everyone has to experience! I could eat these everyday of my life, I swear. These were from chocolatería San Ginés which has been serving churros since 1894! This place is gorgeous on the inside - green wood panels, green velvet seats and marble tables. I usually always sit outside though and trust me people watching on these streets is amazing. **Taken by me outside San Ginés in Madrid, Spain Feb. 24, 2017

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** Taken by me in the city of Valmontone, Italy. 30 minutes from Rome in the country side. Quietly beautiful. March 1st, 2017

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Check out my instagram for travel pics and what not!

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My most recent trip was with my friend, Katie whom I met about a month ago to Venice, Italy! It’s even more beautiful in person if you can believe that! Such a gorgeous place. We went during the carnival, so we saw all the people in their wicked costumes which was something I never thought I’d get to see in my life. I’ll upload pictures of people in their outfits to show you the true extent of it, people really go all out! 

Venice is one of my more expensive trips but completely worth it. We stayed  in the Generator hostel, which I’ve stayed at before in Dublin, Ireland. This hostel is a bit more expensive as hostels go, but completely worth it. You meet people quickly in the common room and everyone just hangs out together which is exactly what I look for in a hostel. The drinks (coffee, tea, water, etc.) are usually what get you. They are surprising expensive and a lot of places around Venice won’t post prices of certain items so be sure to ask! 

Before going to Venice I was told by few not to go on the gondola ride since it was too expensive and not worth the 30-45 minutes. I’m glad I didn’t listen to them and went because it was an amazing experience. We popped a bottle of wine and went through the canals...Beautiful! My suggestion is try to get the maximum 6 people in the boat, splitting the 80 euro cost is definitely easier that way! 

Let me know if want to know prices and other suggestions!

** Taken by me Feb. 21, 2017

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Berzocana, Spain is such a beautifully underrated place. Zero cell service but amazing people and views! I went for a week and completely disconnected and went on some spectacular hikes. It was sunny every day I went and I got to say, I ate quite a bit of tortilla de patatas. Crazy place, I’ll definitely have to make my way back to this old city.

**All photos taken by me in Berzocana, Spain in March 2016

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My first real trip alone was when I decided to move to Madrid, Spain to become an Au pair during the summer that I finished high school. I decided on Madrid because when I was 17 I went on a class trip to Spain (Granada, Cordoba, Seville, Barcelona, Madrid). I had such an amazing experience and it really sparked my love of travel and adventure. This trip made me think about options other than school after graduation. 

Moving to Madrid for 11 months at the age of 18 was the scariest thing but also most exciting thing I’ve done! This was the best decision I’ve ever made because it got me completely hooked on travel and meeting amazing people on the way. 

 You can get caught up in the idea that you have to go to school at the age of 17/18, finish a degree then get a job and “your life together.” I even thought that this was the way until I learned about Au pairing and other ways of budget travel. Au pairing is when you live with a host family and you receive room and board and an allowance once a week in exchange for taking care of their children for around 30 hours a week. I have found that this is the easiest way to travel for a long period of time on a budget. 

*This picture was taken not long after moving to Madrid during the summer of 2015 in Retiro Park and was taken by one of the amazing friends I met there.