My Favorites!

Throughout my travels in Africa, there were various places that were my favorite! :)

lebertech.com

providentialliving.com

1. The Sphinx (Cairo, Egypt): I loved seeing this! It was so huge and it was amazing! It was an awesome insight into Egypt's culture and I loved seeing the cool architecture. I think the best way to visit this is to take a walking tour of the area. Taking a walk throughout the area allows you to see every single detail of the structures up close and walking is just way more fun! :)

2. Soukhothai (Bamako, Mali): This is an awesome place to go if you are looking for home-grown ingredients in your meals. The prices of the food aren't too expensive, which is definitely good if you're looking for places of cheaper value, but still delicious food! :)

3. Gurgi Mosque (Tripoli, Libya); This is a really cool place to see because it has really beautiful architecture and definitely gives an insight into Libya's culture! The best place to visit this is by walking because walking is relaxing and since this building is in the heart of the historic district, it gives you easy access to other cool buildings! :)

Nouakchatt, Mauritania

Tafarit Sun House (www.tripadvisor.com)

I took another train from Bamako, Mali, to Nouakchatt, Mauritania. I stayed at the Hotel Halima for $108 per night. It was a really nice hotel. The structure of the building was very cool and each room had its own balcony. The staff was especially helpful while finding directions to the places that I visited. I suggest staying at this hotel if you are ever in Nouakchatt. The next day, I visited the National Museum of Mauritania. It was a really cool thing to see because I was able to get an insight into Nouakchatt's history and customs. There were exhibits with costumes worn in the past as well as historical weapons, such as arrowheads and sherds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Mauritania).This is definitely a great thing to see if you are ever in Nouakchatt. On the last day of my vacation, I went to a restaurant called Tafarit Sun House. It was so good! I ordered a fish dish and some veggies for around $20 (http://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationRentals-g293815-Reviews-Nouakchott-Vacation_Rentals.html). I for sure recommend this restaurant if you are looking for some delicious seafood. You will find it here! :)

Bamako, Mali

The Sleeping Camel Hotel (www.tripadvisor.co.uk)

I then took a train to Bamako. When I got to Bamako, Mali, I stayed in the Sleeping Camel Hotel for $20 per night. It has a very simple, yet beautiful decor throughout the entire hotel. It is a good hotel f you're trying to find a peaceful getaway. You can even get to the heart of Bamako by a 10 minute walk (http://www.thesleepingcamel.com/). I definitely recommend this hotel if you are ever in Bamako. It's perfect! :) The next day, I walked into town and visited the National Museum of Mali. It was really cool because it gave an insight into the culture and history of Mali. The museum contains historical dress, instruments, and various artifacts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Mali). It was a really cool experience! I would definitely suggest that you come here on vacation! On my final day in Bamako, I ate a restaurant called Soukhothai. The people who own the restaurant are Belgium and all of their recipes include home grown ingredients! Yummm... :) While I was there, I got the spring rolls and they were amazing (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293813-d1215474-Reviews-Soukhothai-Bamako.html)! The entire staff was especially polite. I suggest you stop by this place if you ever have the chance. It's something you don't want to miss. :)

Algiers, Algeria

Ketchaoua Mosque (www.tripadvisor.com)

After hanging out in Tripoli, I took a train to Algiers. When I arrived in Algiers, Algeria, I stayed in a really nice hotel called Hotel El-Djazair. It cost me $210 per night for three nights. The hotel was really nice and had a historical design within the decor as well as the structure of the building. The food that they had at the hotel was also very delicious which is a plus. I would suggest staying at this hotel if you are ever in Algiers for vacation or business. The next day, I went to visit the Ketchaoua Mosque which is an ancient building built during the 17th century and the Ottoman rule. This site gives a good insight into the culture of Algiers and I definitely suggest visiting this place if you ever have the chance. On my final day in Algiers, I ate at a wonderful restaurant called Wood Pecker (http://www.woodpecker-dz.com/index.php/pizza-alger-restaurants-nuit-jour.html) and had a Gallina pizza for about $10. It was so delicious and the environment in the restaurant was so nice. All the employees were kind and very polite. I recommend that you go to this restaurant if you are ever in Algiers because it is sooooo good! :)

Tripoli, Libya

Gurgi Mosque (en.wikipedia.org)

After I was done visiting Cairo, I took a train to Tripoli. When I arrived in Tripoli, Libya, I stayed in the Bab Al Bahr Hotel. It cost me $114 per night for three nights. The hotel was pretty nice! The staff was excellent and each hotel room had its own balcony. The hotel was also right next to the beach which was awesome because I could swim in the ocean all the time. :) I would for sure recommend this hotel to anyone who is coming to Tripoli for the first time. It is a very comforting and safe area to be in. On the second day of being in Tripoli, Libya, I visited the Gurgi Mosque. It was built in 1834 and is the heart of the historic district of Tripoli (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurgi_Mosque). The architecture in the building is very beautiful and I would suggest that if you are ever in tripoli to visit the Gurgi Mosque. The final thing I did in Tripoli was take a taxi to a wonderful restaurant called Athar Restaurant (http://www.ghazalagroup.com/atharmenu.htmlI). I had the lamb chops for about $30 and they were delicious! The decor was very fancy and at night, there are bright lights all over the restaurant. My waiter treated me with lots of respects which I appreciated. I definitely suggest that you eat here is you're ever in Tripoli. :)

Cairo, Egypt

The Sphinx ancientegyptamania.com

When I went on my excursion to Africa, I traveled by plane at a ticket price of about $, 800When I arrived in Cairo, Egypt, I stayed in the Semiramis InterContinental Hotel Cairo. It was $162 per night. The hotel had beautiful rooms with a classic room design. Each room had a personal balcony and I could see the Nile River from my hotel room. Everyone at the hotel was super sweet and very helpful whenever I needed directions. I suggest that you stay at this hotel if you are ever in Cairo because this hotel is amazing! The day after I arrived, I went to see the pyramids and the Great Sphinx of Giza. It really gives you a good insight into Egypt's culture because the Sphinx was built 4,500 years ago and it shows how society built their structures and how their society functioned. I would definitely recommend visiting the pyramids and the Spinx if you are ever in Cairo, Egypt. The final day that I was in Cairo, I took a cab and ate at a wonderful restaurant called Tabla Luna. The restaurant serves delicious Latin American cuisine and isn't extremely expensive. I had the empanadas with the homemade spicy aji dip (http://theculturetrip.com/africa/egypt/articles/cairo-s-10-best-restaurants-gourmet-dining-in-the-egyptian-capital/). I suggest stopping by this restaurant if you are ever staying in Cairo because it is so goooood! 

The Three Best Spots!!

After getting finsihing up my trip in Rome, I returned my rental car to the shop in Madrid, Spain. Overall, the entire trip was so awesome! There were so many awesome things I did that I will never forget! I do have a few favorites though!

1. La Corral de Moreria (Madrid, Spain)-This restaurant was so cool. I love the fact that while I was eating, I could watch people dance and sing on stage. It was an awesome experience especially because I love singing and dancing (dancing, I'm not so good at, haha) and seeing people do the things I love really speaks to me. It was an amazing experience, although it was slightly expensive, it was totally worth it!!

2. Eiffel Tower (Paris, France)-When you dream about visiting this one day as a child, you imagine it being super awesome, but seeing it real life is way better than awesome, it's magical... If you ever go to Paris, please go see the Eiffel Tower, and go visit it at night because you are able to see all the lights up and down the structure and they look like stars. This is one of the coolest things I've ever seen!

3. Belmond Hotel Caruso (Rome, Italy)-This was the most beautiful hotel I have ever stayed in. I loved having the view of the mountains and having my own patio with my own garden. And, OH! The infinity pool was the best thing ever! I had never been in one before and it was just amazing! Even though this resort was expensive, it is so worth it to stay here!!!!! :DDD

Rome, Italy

www.indagare.com

www.piercedhearts.org

My last stop on my amazing road trip was in Rome, Italy. I drove for 10 hours from Bern, Switzerland and eventually arrived at my hotel, the Belmond Hotel Caruso. It is a beautiful resort in the mountains. It cost me around $450 per night and I ended up staying in the exclusive suite. It had its own personal balcony and garden. I spent a lot of time in the infinity that over looked out into the mountains and environment below. It was so amazing and the staff was so nice! This is definitely a place that you need to stay if you are ever in Rome, Italy and on your honeymoon! The day after I arrived, I went to the Colosseum. It is a wonderful ancient monument made of marble in Rome where fights occurred as well as the killing of wild beasts (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187791-d192285-Reviews-Colosseum-Rome_Lazio.html). It was really cool to explore and it gave a really good insight to Rome's culture. On the final day of being in Rome. I ate at a delicious restaurant, called La Pergola. I ate a wonderful pasta dish for around $53 and had one of there many different types of water. They have 29 different types of water at the restaurant (http://travel.cnn.com/10-best-italian-restaurants-rome-920961). The view was very beautiful. It looked out over the city... :) I would definitely recommend going here if you are ever in Rome because it is so amazing!

Bern, Switzerland

 Schwellenmätteli (www.mytable.com)

Schweizerhof Hotel Bern (hotelsandstyle.com)

My next stop was in Bern, Switzerland! I drove to Bern and it took about 8 hours to get there. When I finally arrived, I ended up staying in a very nice hotel called the Schweizerhof Hotel Bern. It was so nice. It was like living in luxury!! :) I ended up staying at the hotel for three nights, for $445 per night. The decor in each room was so beautiful and the architecture of the building really represents the culture of Bern. There was a wonderful pool and the staff was so nice. They even had some staff that spoke English to accommodate for my needs, considering English is the only language I know. I would definitely recommend this hotel for anyone looking for a romantic getaway! The next day, I visited some cool places such as Old Town Bern, which is the historic district in Switzerland. I decided to walk around the town for a while and found a tour for $83 dollars. The architecture and shops in Old Town Bern really represent Bern's culture. I suggest coming here if you ever find yourself Bern, Switzerland. The next day, I took the train for around $7 to a really cool restaurant called Schwellenmätteli (http://www.schwellenmaetteli.ch/en/). It was built along the Aare River near Old Town. At night, the restaurant lit up with lots of beautiful lights, even colored lights in the water. The restaurant has Asian and Mediterranean food and it was really expensive (http://www.yelp.com/biz/schwellenmätteli-restaurants-berne). Even though the food was expensive, it was totally worth it to eat there! I definitely recommend stopping in if you are ever in Bern, Switzerland.

Berlin, Germany

 Hotel Aldon Kempinski (www.tripadvisor.com)

Restaurant Buntspecht (www.tripadvisor.com)

The next place I went to was Berlin, Germany. I drove my rental car all the way to Berlin from Paris. It took around 10 hours to drive there but seeing the cool environment around me made the drive worth it! When I arrived in Berlin, I stayed in the Hotel Aldon Kempinski. It was amazing! The hotel was really fancy and relaxing and had gorgeous architecture! It cost me $240 per night for three nights. If you are looking for something that is extremely luxurious, this is definitely the place to go. Although it was expensive, it was so worth it to stay here. The staff treats you like royalty! It was the best! The next day, I took a taxi to visit the Berlin Wall. It was pretty awesome considering how much history the wall has. The wall has definitely worn down a little bit, but the significance of the wall is till present. I would suggest that you go here for sure if you are ever in Berlin, Germany. The next day, after walking through the streets of Berlin, I decided to stop by a delicious restaurant called Restaurant Buntspecht (http://www.restaurant-buntspecht.de/). It was really nice and had some outside seating so i could view the city. I got the clams and a salad when I went there. They were so good!! I recommend coming here if you're ever in Berlin because it isn't super expensive and it has awesome food!!!

Paris, France

Hotel Le A (plus.google.com)

www.aviewoncities.com

I rented a car in Madrid so that I could drive to Paris, France. It was a really long drive but it was awesome to see all the scenery on the way there. When I arrived in Paris, I stayed at a very nice hotel called Hotel Le A. It was all white and had beautiful art throughout the hotel. In the dining room, a variety of colorful trees are painted on the walls. The hotel was $174 per night and I stayed for three nights. I would definitely recommend going to this hotel if you find yourself in Paris, France because the staff is very kind and it is like living in luxury. the next day, I visited the Eiffel Tower. It was amazing! :) I went there at night and all the lights on the tower were glowing. I climbed all the way to the top! Even though there were a lot of people there, even at night, it's definitely an experience that you shouldn't miss if you are ever in France. On the final day, I went to a really fancy restaurant in Paris called Le Meurice (http://www.dorchestercollection.com/en/paris/le-meurice/restaurants-bars). The building has a very historical structure and represents the culture through it's style of architecture, with mosaic floors and crystal chandeliers. I ended up getting the crispy green ravioli and spent around $100 because the restaurant was super nice (http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/may/06/top-10-paris-restaurants-dining). I would suggest going to this restaurant if you are on a romantic getaway. Although the restaurant costs quite a bit, it is sooooo worth it!!!! :D

Madrid, Spain

I wanted to take a huge trip across the world. I decided to fly with Air France. The flight there and back cost around $3,000. If you're looking for a flight that is very luxurious and if you want a lot of pampering while on the flight, I suggest that you use this airline. When I arrived in Madrid, Spain, I stayed in the Senator Gran Via 21 Hotel. It was very expensive, but the architecture was beautiful and the decor inside was simple, yet elegant. The staff was also very nice and helpful. They even gave me directions for traveling. The best part was the pool on the roof. It was awesome to swim up there at night and see all of the gorgeous lights in the city. I would definitely recommend staying in this hotel because it is so amazing. Although, it may be expensive, the building's structure and design really represents the Spanish culture. The hotel is also very close to the Plaza Mayor, which I visited the next day. The Plaza Mayor is a very old structure. It was built when Phillip III was ruling over Spain between 1598 and 1621. It is the main plaza in Madrid and has 237 balconies within it. It also has various shops and restaurants within it (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaza_Mayor,_Madrid). It also is a good representation of Spain's culture. The next day, I took a taxi to a very popular restaurant in Madrid called La Corral de Moreria (http://www.corraldelamoreria.com/). I had the chicken salad and the crab cream soup. It was very delicious. I suggest that if you are ever in Madrid, come to this restaurant because it is really cool! While you're eating, they have performances, such as singing and flamenco dancing on a stage in the back of the restaurant. It's very culturally awakening! :)

www.corraldelamoreria.com

en.wikipedia.org

My Trip to Europe and Russia!

www.lssu.edu

Three Best Spots to Visit!

There were so many great places to visit and sights to see but these three listed below were my favorite and are worth traveling back again to see them once more!

1. One of the best spots to visit was the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was really cool to be able to soak up a certain aspect of Brazil's culture. The statue is an image of Jesus and represents Brazil's main religion. I recommend visiting this statue if you're ever in Rio de Janeiro, and if you do visit, you should go earlier in the day because there aren't as many people there compared to later in the day.

2. The second place that I though was awesome to visit was the Parque de la Reserva in Lima, Peru. It is a really beautiful monument to visit, especially at night because of the light shows given off by the many fountains. The monument also shows a part of history where Peru fought during the War of the Pacific. I would suggest visiting this monument because it is really interesting and very beautifully designed. If you go, night time is the best to visit because of the cool lights! :)

3. The last place that was super awesome to visit was the 7 Cascades resort in Sucre, Bolivia. There were seven waterfalls and various water pools that people could swim in, but to get to the final waterfalls, you have to climb up the rocks. It may be difficult but it is totally worth it because it is so beautiful. I suggest visiting this place in you're ever in Sucre. Another good thing about this place is that there aren't a lot of people hiking with you which makes for a great, nearly private experience! :)))))

Quito, Ecuador

Mare Nostrum (www.tripadvisor.com)

Hotel Sierra Madre (www.expedia.com)

(http://www.hotelsierramadre.com/)

My second to last stop was Quito, Ecuador. I drove from Peru in my rental car and  ended up staying for three nights in the Hotel Sierra Madre. It was built in a Spanish Villa style. It is gorgeous and the entire staff and guests were all super friendly and hepful. If you're ever in Quito, make sure to check this hotel out because it is really cozy and only cost me $58 per night for three nights. The next day I walked throughout the city for around 30 min. until I found the perfect restaurant. It is called Mare Nostrum. It was so amazing! The whole theme of the restaurant was kinda based around the sea. They serve a lot of seafood and the prices are extremely fair. I ate the Pasta Marinera for only $15 and it was delicious. It was a seafood pasta. Yummmm... I definitely would recommend this restaurant if you're ever in Quito because it has decently priced food and it is sooooo good. If you can't make it to Quito, at least check out their website; it's pretty cool! (http://www.marenostrumquito.com/home.html) The next day I visited the Old Town which is the historic district in Quito. It was very beautiful. The buildings were made to have Spanish colonial architecture and really brought out the culture in the small town. Everyone was really kind while I was there and I would definitley recommend taking a walking tour of the historic district. It's only $99 dollars but you can also just walk around by yourself or with your family and have fun exploring on your own. When you have the time, please come to Quito. It is a really fun experience and I loved every minute of it! :))

Old Town (itsashtonelizabeth.wordpress.com)

(http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294308-d315636-Reviews-Quito_Old_Town-Quito_Pichincha_Province.html)

Lima, Peru

Don Fernando (www.donfernando.com.pe)

 I drove my rental car to Lima, Peru next and ended up staying at a hotel that was a little over my budget but it was filled with culture and it was a great experience. It was called the Tierra Viva Miraflores Larco and it was $140 per night. I ended up staying for three nights. The rooms were really nice and it was really cool to see the art in the lobby that represents Lima's culture. The next day I walked around the city and stopped at a restaurant called Don Fernando. It was delicious and well-priced food. I got the chicken, with fries, rice, and a salad and it only cost me $9.61. The two chefs at the restaurant are Fernando Arturo and Fernando Antonio. I even got to meet them and they were very kind. I suggest that if you are ever in Lima, go to this restaurant because it is fairly cheap and the staff is very nice. [Link to Don Fernando Restaurant-(http://www.donfernando.com.pe/index.asp)]
On the last day in Lima, I visited the Parque de la Reserva. It has various huge glowing fountains and the whole park was created in 1929 to remember the soldiers who fought for Lima in the War of the Pacific. It is really beautiful sight especially at night because of the awesome lights. If you ever get the chance to come here, definitely go to this monument because it is gorgeous. :)

Top: Tierra Viva Miraflores Larco(www.tripadvisor.com) 
Bottom: Parque de la Reserva (www.pirwahostelscusco.com)

(http://www.limaeasy.com/have-fun-in-lima/parks-gardens-lima/magic-water-circuit)

Sucre, Bolivia

Abis Patio [(www.tripadvisor.es) Website: (http://www.sucrelife.com/abis-patio-sucre/)] 

7 Cascades (caronterevista.blogspot.com) / citation: (http://www.7cascades.com/en/)

El Hotel de Su Merced (www.hotels.com) /Citation: (http://www.hotels.com/ho343048/hotel-de-su-merced-sucre-bolivia/)

I drove the rental car to Sucre, Bolivia and it was a beautiful drive. I suggest driving through South America because you get to see all of the beautiful cities and gorgeous mountains and deserts. I knew that I had saved a lot of money for the hotel in Brazil, so once I arrived in Sucre I found a decently priced hotel that was still really nice. I recommend staying at El Hotel de Su Merced. It was $210 for three nights and everything at the hotel was amazing, the staff, the decor, it was amazing! Just like the hotel in Brazil, this hotel also had a delicious buffet in the morning and an extravagant balcony. The next night, I had dinner at Abis Patio. It is a wonderful cafe that serves food all day. All the food is homemade as well. I had the Nachos Locos and they were decently priced for how tasty they were. If you're ever in Sucre, definitely stop by this place. It is very good! The next day I took a bus for a few bucks out to the The 7 Cascades resort where I climbed rocks and walked a long the trail
they had so I could see all seven waterfalls. I also was able to swim in the various pools created by the flowing waters. This is a must see if your ever in Sucre. It is so beautiful and allows you to have a little peace and quiet and gives you some time to think. :) The people in Sucre are very kind and traditional. A lot of the buildings are very old and have been there for a long time. In Sucre, there are many traditional shops as well. If you ever have the chance to go to Bolivia, this is the city for you. :)

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

While I was in Bogota, Colombia, I decided to rent a car because I knew I would be stopping in Bogota on my way back home. Renting a car is definitely the way to go because it allows you to soak up all of the beautiful sights around you. After renting the car, I headed to Brazil. I ended up staying in Rio de Janeiro at the JW Marriott Hotel for $216 per night. I stayed here for a few nights. I knew that this would be the most expensive hotel which is why I saved a lot of money for it. I recommend this hotel for anyone who wants to have a romantic getaway or wants to just have lots of fun on the beach. The hotel is right next to the beach. It has a pool on the roof and the hotel room had an ocean view. While I was in Rio de Janeiro I visited a lot of cool landmarks, but my favorite was the Christ the Redeemer. This monument is described as a huge image of Jesus Christ which strongly represents their culture. I might describe it as the "Statue of Liberty" of Brazil. It is a beautiful Art-Deco style piece of art that I suggest you see if you ever find yourself in Rio de Janeiro. You may have seen the statue in the beginning of the movie "Fast & Furious." I also went to a very beautiful restaurant called Aprazivel. I had the Spicy Salad which cost me $34. The food was super expensive but it was so delicious and the view from the restaurant was amazing. I suggest that you stop by this restaurant if you ever go on vacation here. It is gorgeous!

Christ the Redeemer (www.rio.com)

(http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1435544
/Christ-the-Redeemer)

JW Marriott Hotel (www.marriott.com)

(http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/riomc-jw-marriott-hotel-rio-de-janeiro/)

Aprazivel (www.aprazivel.com.br) - Website: (http://www.aprazivel.com.br/)

Menu: (https://www.zomato.com/rio/aprazivel-santa-teresa/menu)

Bogota, Colombia

Club Colombia (www.tripadvisor.com) 
Website: (http://www.clubcolombia.co/pages/validation?destination=/)

(http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294074-d806964
-Reviews-Club_Colombia-Bogota.html)

Mount Monserrate (www.flickr.com)

(http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294074-d552767
-Reviews-Mount_Monserrate-Bogota.html)

For the first part of my trip I went to Colombia. I suggest when traveling to South America, you take an airplane to get there because otherwise you would have a very long drive. I took the LAN airlines and it wasn't too expensive which was good because it left me with more money for hotels, food, and souvenirs. I landed in Bogota, the capital of Colombia. I stayed at the Sonesta Hotel Bogota. It was a pretty nice hotel. If you're looking for a nice hotel that is also decently priced, then this is the hotel for you. It was only $98 per night and had a beautiful lobby and wonderful food. In the morning I was able to enjoy food from the amazing buffet. I ended up staying at the Sonesta for three nights. After the first night I visited Mount Monserrate. It is a great place for hiking and I payed $64 for a walking tour of the beautiful landscape. I suggest that you come here if you ever visit Bogota, Colombia. It provides you with a very beautiful view of the city at night. The next day I took a cab to a wonderful restaurant called the Club Colombia. It was a very beautiful restaurant and the food was excellent. I had the Arroz con Pollo y Arvejas and I ate my meal in the gorgeous patio outside and was able to look at the flourishing streets. This is definitely the place to go for good food in Bogota. Overall, Bogota, Colombia was wonderful. All the people there were so nice. Their culture is so colorful; they love dancing and cherish family. It is very important to them. 


Hotel: (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g294074-d2091062-Reviews-Sonesta_Hotel_Bogota-Bogota.html)

South America Trip

geography.about.com