Finally Touched The Continent

Visiting Africa has been on the top of my travel bucket list for a couple of years. Before then I was as afraid as many other Americans to visit any country south of Morocco. I don't know what did it but I am glad I got over my fears and made visiting a priority.

In early 2018 I began planning my trip to Kenya. I was going to spend some time in Nairobi and Mombasa but when I ruptured my achilles on the 4th of July, just weeks before my departure date, I had to cancel. Once I was out of my splint, then cast, then boot, I began planning my trip again. A friend of mine invited me to visit South Africa with her for her birthday and after some back and forth I decided to visit  Ghana and save Kenya for another trip. This trip turned into two and a half weeks of solo travel, I will explain more in a later post.

Even though nothing went as originally planed as they say, everything happens for a reason. Even though the injury was a hard time I am so grateful for the was my trip turned out and I could not have asked for a better experience. I look forward to sharing my experiences with you all in future post. Until then, safe travels!

Accra, Ghana

My Travel Bucket List

Vatican City

1. Treat my parents to their dream vacation

This will be half way done come January, I'm taking my mom to Europe!! I still need to do some research on what my dad's dream vacation is but it feels great to give back to them after all the unmeasurable things they've done for me. 

2. 30 countries by 30

I wanted to say 25 by 25 but that would only give me two years to get 15 countries and for some reason 20 over the next seven years seems more realistic...

3. Work Abroad

I am currently in school working on my masters degree in counseling psychology and would love to one day work abroad with MFS a.k.a Doctors Without Borders. This is very far in the future because you have to be licensed and I'm only in my first year of school but it is still my #LongTermGoal. For now I would love to be in Au Pair during my school breaks #MoreRealistic

4. Learn another language in a different country

I did have this opportunity in the past when I studied German in Vienna but I am sad to admit that I put very little effort into learning the language. This time I want to try with a language that I love and one that would be more useful for me in California. I have found a program in Cordoba, Argentina that looks amazing but if life were to take me to Brazil, South Korea, or back to Austria, I want to learn from my past and take full advantage of the opportunity. 

5. Visit the home of my ancestors

Last but certainly not least, I would love to one day visit the mother land, Africa, but for know I want to go to the home towns of my grandparents and do more research about their families. I want to go as far back on my family tree as possible but the hardest part now is choosing where to start.

Comment down below letting me know whats on your travel bucket list!

Safe travels,
Cirrena  

Three Tips for Saving Money at a Giants Game

This past weekend I watched the Giants play the Phillies and it was a great game! The Giants won, which is always great, and I picked up some new knowledge that made my experience even better. So I wanted to share my secrets with you. 

AT&T Park

1. Cheap Seats

Depending on who the Giants are playing you can find tickets as cheap as $10 but keep in mind these are the nose bleeds, the highest and the farthest seats in the park. To enjoy the game at a lower altitude but comparable savings look for bleacher seats. These seats are located in behind outfield with a clear view of home plate, you'll be close enough to read the numbers on the players jerseys for just a few dollars more. Keep in mind these seats are not covered so there's no protection from the elements so keep your sunglasses, baseball cap, and sunblock near by.

2. Cheap Eats

Although hot dogs and Gilroy Garlic Fries are a delicious SF ballpark staple these treats add up quickly.  To save a few dollars pack your own lunch! If you don't want to carry food all the way from home there is a grocery store one block away from the ball park and a sandwich shop across the street, Bacon Bacon, that makes excellent sandwiches. Eat well at the game without breaking the bank by bringing your favorite snacks but remember bringing liquid are not allowed.

3. Cheap Beer

Beer and baseball go together like peanut butter and jelly but as we all know beer at a baseball game can set you back $13 for a Bud Light. So to help you and your wallet make it through nine innings here is a tip that true Giants fans(my brother included) are not aware of: if you enter the stadium through the Public House, a bar located at Willie Mays Plaza, you can get a beer for the same price as outside of the ball park and bring it to your seat in a plastic cup.  Their beer is cheaper and they have a better larger selection of beer. 

Safe travels,

Cirrena

My Top Five Favorite Cities(So Far)

The hardest part about being in graduate school is not being able to travel at the drop of a hat. I've been fighting the urge to book the next flight out of SFO for months but patience is a virtue. For the next two months I'll have to sit in class and daydream about my next adventure in January but who knows what surprises are in store for August. I guess we will just have to wait and see. Until then take a look at my top five favorite cities so far, in no particular order. Leave a comment letting me know some of your favorite cities. 

1. San Francisco, California, USA

Fort Funston, San Francisco, California 

2. Prague, Czech Republic

Old Town Hall, Prague, Czech Republic

 3. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 

View of Melbourne from the steps of the Shrine of Remembrance

4. Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico

Playa Zicatela, Puerto Escondido

5. Budapest, Hungary

Chain Bridge, Budapest

Safe travels,

Cirrena

3 Free Things To Do in Melbourne

Even though I was more than willing to spend all of my money on experiencing Melbourne to the fullest I knew that I wouldn't last long with that mindset. So, to help you avoid going broke, I've put together a list of three places to go while visiting Melbourne that are completely FREE. You're welcome. 

1. Melbourne Library

Melbourne Library's Reading Room

I went for the reading room, but was drawn back again for the exhibits. I'd heard about Melbourne's library with it BEAUTIFUL reading room, my photo does not do it justice, but I was not told of the amazing exhibits located on multiple floors of the library. The library is also in the free tram limits so if you stay at Melbourne Metro YHA, like I did, then even getting there would be free!

My favorite piece, Melbourne's old and new trams in front of the Flinders Street Station

2. Shrine of Remembrance

The Shrine of Remembrance

I thought I knew where I was going when I left North Melbourne for the Shrine of Remembrance, but I had no idea where I'd end up. When I stumbled upon this glorious place I had the honor of watching a brief demonstration of their annual Ray of Light ceremony, honestly I teared up a little bit. It is a beautiful place made to honor the Victorian lives lost during World War I and all of those who have fought since then. It is truly an honor to witness and I highly suggest putting it at the top of your list. 

  

 3. Botanical Garden

Entering the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne

One of the best things I did was walk through the Royal Botanical Gardens. It was a beautiful day and a great opportunity to spend someone time alone (shout out to all of my solo travelers!) and enjoy my surroundings. This is a great place to flee the hustle and bustle of the city, take your lunch or a good book and enjoy the great outdoors for a couple of hours. You don't want to miss this on a sunny day, trust me.

Safe travels,
Cirrena

Excitement and Worries of Traveling Alone

This weekend I will be visiting Zagreb, Croatia, alone. When I decided to take this trip a few weeks ago I was very excited. I looked forward to getting out of Vienna, to experiencing a new language and culture, and doing so on my own. As the weekend creeped closer, and I realized I need to buy my bus ticket and book my hostel, I became very nervous. All of the excitement disappeared and I started to worry. Why am I worried?

Lets go back up a little bit. I began traveling alone when I was in middle school. My dad moved to Sacramento, so I would catch the train to see him whenever I was out of school. This prepared me for all of my solo trips to and from college during holiday breaks. By my junior year of college I was pretty comfortable being in airports, so when I decided to visit my friends who, were studying abroad in Mexico, I was fairly confident that I could handle making the trip on my own. I was wrong. When it came time to return home I didn't have my exit visa so I couldn't board the plane. 

The only time I traveled outside of the country before this was with my class to Nicaragua my junior year of high school. I was unaware that I'd even received an exit visa when I arrived in Mexico. When planning for this trip I didn't know I needed an exit visa in order to leave. I was just very ignorant about the whole situation. Luckily, getting another exit visa was simple. If I had known earlier I wouldn't have missed my flight but unfortunately I was stuck in Mexico City for the night.

That experience has caused a bit of worry about my upcoming trip. I don't speak any Croatian, I don't know anything about the culture so to be doing this alone is kind of scary. But this is the moment I've been waiting for. All I want in life is to travel, to see and experience new things.

I'm going to take what I learned in Mexico and apply that new knowledge to all of my future travels. In the future things may not go as planed but I will take the set backs in stride and learn from them. I am very excited to be doing this on my own and I will be very proud to say that I did it on my own. I think being nervous about things like this is normal but I can't let that stop me from creating new experiences for myself.

 I've realized that sometimes you're going to be ignorant about things, until you know. Until you're in a situation that teaches you otherwise, you aren't going to know everything. I can't wait to share my time in Zagreb with you all! If you have any tips for me please leave them in a comment. Wish me luck!