What's Next?

Happy June! It's hard to believe that I've lived in Spain for almost nine months already. Time has gone by way too quickly since Christmas, and I can't even begin to fathom how it's almost summer. How did that happen? After my trip to Germany in early May, I decided to take a break from traveling so I could enjoy more of what Madrid has to offer. After constantly being on the go, I was beginning to feel homesick for this city! Since then, I've been tapas crawling, enjoying picnics in the park, discovering new restaurants and rooftop bars, becoming a bandwagon Real Madrid fan, exploring different neighborhoods and going on epic adventures with my fellow expat friends. Every weekend seems to be more fun than the last, and my steadfast love affair with Madrid has yet to subside.  

But naturally I can't stay in one place for too long, so here's what's on my summer agenda:

photo via

I'm going to Greece!  I'll be spending 11 days in Athens, Crete and Santorini with my friend Jen in July. I couldn't be more excited to lounge on the beach, explore the picturesque hillsides and eat delicious Greek salads every day. So if you have any Greece travel tips to share, please send them my way! We're looking for all the advice we can get.

After spending a week and a half in paradise, I'm heading back home to Seattle for the summer. I'm beyond thrilled to spend two whole months going on Whole Foods shopping sprees, cuddling with my cats Tucker and Oliver (aka Chairman Meow and Kitty Purry), overdosing on brunch at Portage Bay Café, and hanging out with my fabulous family & friends. I'll also be spending a week in Arizona visiting my mom and trying not to melt. But as long as there's a pool and In-N-Out Burger, I can't complain.

Until then, I'll be watching and rewatching this amazing timelapse video of my gorgeous city:

Seattle Dream Pt. II by F-Stop Seattle. Makes me cry every time.
Once mid-September hits, I'm off to Madrid again for a second year of teaching English through the Auxiliares de Conversación program. While they sometimes drive me crazy, I can't bear the thought of leaving my adorable students - so I'll be staying at my same school in Galapagar. While I'm excited for Round Two of teaching, I'm particularly thankful for the opportunity to stay in Madrid another year. I'm not ready to say goodbye to this place anytime soon. I plan on focusing my 2014-2015 travels more on Spain, for there are still so many parts of this beautiful country that I have yet to discover. Awhile back I posted this 2014 Spain Bucket List, and I hope to hit many of those spots next year! But I can't ignore the rest of Europe completely, so I'm also hoping to travel to Istanbul, Dubrovnik, Copenhagen and possibly Iceland or the south of France. Who wants to come with me?
I can't wait to share my upcoming adventures with all of you, and feel free to follow along on Instagram (@courtneylikkel) and Twitter!

Vienna

Many years ago my dad told me that Vienna is his favorite city in Europe, and from that day on Vienna has been on my bucket list. I wasn't quite sure what was there, but I knew that I wanted to go. When planning my spring break trip with my mom, Vienna was an easy choice mostly because of its proximity to Prague. I honestly thought Prague would steal the show, but surprisingly it was Vienna that truly captured my heart.

Colorful tulips at the Naschmarkt

We found gluten free chocolate cake!

While Prague was undoubtedly fairytale-esque, Vienna was full of charm and sophistication that seemed a bit more genuine. Unlike Prague, its magic wasn't exploited by the tourism industry to attract more visitors. Although there are still plenty of sights to see, Vienna's character remains untouched.

Pretty cocktails at the Palmenhaus

One of my favorite parts about Vienna was its café culture. The city is abounding with elegant cafés, adorned with crystal chandeliers and waiters in tuxedos. While many regulars visit these cafés to order an espresso or traditional mélange and read the Sunday paper, many visitors are enticed by the mouthwatering variety of cakes and pastries. Of these, the most notorious are Hotel Sacher's Sachertorte, a decadent chocolate cake with apricot jam, and classic Viennese apfelstrudel.

Exquisite details inside the Opera House

Inside St. Stephen's Cathedral

Vienna embraces a fervent obsession with music, for many famous composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn and Strauss have called this city home. In order to bring music to the masses, the Opera House broadcasts its performances on a large screen outside facing the street. While there are plenty of classical concerts worth attending, you can also find many talented musicians performing on the streets or in the plazas. Needless to say, the city's passion for music is delightfully contagious. 

Vienna exudes class and sophistication. I was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of culture that this majestic city has to offer. This former Habsburg capital offers a plethora of first-class museums, lavish royal palaces, exquisite shopping, and not to mention the world's finest opera. Vienna is polished and refined, but not pretentious. In many ways, I see Vienna like I see Paris: enchanting, addicting, and brimming with unparalleled beauty. I could keep coming back here for the rest of my life.

My Vienna Picks:

Best People-Watching: Schönbrunn Palace Gardens

Favorite Museum: Collection of Historical Musical Instruments 

Favorite Tours: Vienna State Opera & Hofburg Palace Imperial Apartments

Best Views: The Sky Bar at Steffl

Favorite Restaurant: Palmenhaus

Must-Try Dishes: Apfelstrudel, Wiener Schnitzel and Sachertorte

Prague's Old Town Square

Although I was hoping to first experience Prague's Old Town Square a là Mandy Moore in "Chasing Liberty", being there in reality was still just as magical as any movie scene. The sounds and smells of the Easter market combined with the breathtaking architecture made for a delightful sensory overload. Amongst the candy colored buildings and horse-drawn carriages were vendors selling kitschy Easter decorations, aromatic grilled meats and traditional Czech pastries called Trdelník or Trdlo roasting over an open fire.

While I'm not usually one for crowds, I was instantly enamored by the elegant chaos of Prague's Old Town Square. We lucked out by coming the week before Easter so we could enjoy a festive addition to the lively square, and I'm glad I got to experience it in April rather than in the height of tourist season. Seeing as how magical this plaza was during Easter, I'd love to come back in the winter to see the picturesque Christmas markets.

For the best views of Old Town Square, soar up the Astronomical Clock or grab a drink & appetizers at Hotel U Prince's rooftop terrace.