When I arrived in Mallorca, I was able to understand why my friends had recommended the place to me and I was able to discover so much more than the beaches. Castle Bellver is one of the few circular castles in existence and overlooks the port city of Mallorca.
Sites to see:
-The Old Town
-Cathedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca (La Seu)
-Plaza Mayor
-La Playa
-Castle Bellver
On the Tower Bridge in London, the London bridge that actually falls – not the London Bridge – is next to the fabled London Tower. I was able to get a free tour by Yeomen Warders of Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and see the Crown Jewels that are on display – a must see if in London. Across the river a circular-shaped building is City Hall and beside that is the Shard – fourth tallest building in Europe.
It was a surreal experience to see many landmarks that had been in movies. And to be in the place where iconic events unfolded. In addition, I was able to understand the culture more than other places I had traveled because I was fluent in the language.
London is a place that is on my list to travel to again.
Things to see:
-Parliament Square
-Westminster Palace
-London Tower
-St. Paul’s Cathedral
-Shakespeare’s Globe
-Trafalgar Square
The other day I saw a post on LinkedIn by a CEO and it asked what advice you would give him in five words or less, I thought about it for less than a minute and settled on the words “have an adventure.” It doesn’t seem like the first choice and it probably wouldn’t have been 2 short months ago before I got to experience a great adventure in Ireland.
Sure the idea of an adventure appeals to everyone but the real adventure is when you dive into the unknown, you actually do something about the idea and act on it. I have never seen myself as the type of person that takes a lot of risks sure I have plenty of ideas but I never seem to act on them but that has changed. I now carry a little more experience and I have a little piece of Ireland close to my heart that I hope inspires me against all odds or reason to continue having adventures. In my time abroad I visited 3 countries, quintupled the number of times I have flown (it was 5 flights this time, including 2 that were 7hrs, my previous experience just one that lasted about 2hrs—and that was nearly a decade ago.) I have set foot in 6 castles, heard the tales of Irish folklore, met some great new friends, talked to some of the nicest locals, and it all went by so fast.
I have been back in the states for two weeks and I have been putting off writing this blog, not because I’m not exactly sure what I want to say but because this feels like an end to an amazing experience and I’m not ready for that. This was one of those things that you don’t want to end, it was hard enough leaving all the friends I had met a short month ago which seemed like only days. And now Ireland stands out in all the little details I have heard more about Ireland in my everyday life now than I ever have in any year before. Don’t get me wrong it’s great to be home, but an experience like that is something you don’t just take for granted. I will always remember my time in Ireland, and hope I can return some day.