Spain
The Flamenco Dancer Emoji in Real Life
I woke up this morning around 10am. Knowing that I had another full day in Seville, I decided to have a slow morning. At 11:10am, one of the hostel workers came up to me in the common room and asked, "Is your name Meagan Tilley?" Ummm, yes .... "Check-out is at 11am."...
Shopping at an American Grocery Store in Seville
I started the day by taking the worst walking tour I've ever been on. In all fairness, it wasn't anyone's fault. It was my tour guide's first tour, and she didn't speak English very well. The weather was also scorching, and I hadn't slept that well the night before....
“Nail Salon” Is a Universal Language
Back home, I don't get my nails done a lot. Having a steady hand (and being really cheap), I always opted for doing my own nails. But after a long travel day from Valencia to Seville, I was looking for a bit of a pamper. For some magical reason, beauty salons are...
Never Goodbye, Just See You Later
Today was a very bittersweet day. Today is Bryce, Nicole and Mike’s last day in Europe. Nicole, Bryce, and I have traveled on and off together for two weeks. We definitely didn’t plan for it to happen, but we simply became friends and merged together as one travel...
A Bit of Deja Vu
Sometimes when a day is so great, you just have to do it again. And that’s precisely what we did today. We packed up our beach bags and headed back out for another day of salt water and sun. Because Valencia is relatively cheap, a lounge chair and beach umbrella cost...
One Big Paella For the Table
I’m going to be honest, we were super lazy today. And therefore, I don’t have much to comment about. Our goals for the day included: Go to the beach Get a tan Eat lots of ice cream Nap Jump into the ocean Get a huge dish of paella to share Check, check, check, check,...
Carlos Went Flyin’
Having now been in Valencia for a week, I feel like I’ve reached local status. I’ve scoped out the best restaurants and gelato shops, I’ve haggled for better deals, and I’ve frequented the laundromat more times than I would have preferred. So when the gang wanted to...
Feliz Cumpleanos, Mike
Earlier this morning, Nicole, Bryce, and Mike arrived into Valencia by train. It was Mike’s birthday, and we were almost ready for the birthday festivities to commence. However — none of us recovered from La Tomatina well. Still exhausted from the past few chaotic...
Throwing Tomatoes at La Tomatina Festival
La Tomatina Festival has been on my bucket list for years. If you’re unfamiliar with this festival, it’s pretty simple. You meet in a small town called Bunol (right outside of Valencia) and have a big tomato food fight. And yes, it’s as awesome as it sounds. When...
Movie Nights Can Be the Best Nights
A thunderstorm rolled into Valencia in the wee hours of the morning. Since my window was opened, I basically jumped out of my bed from the loud thunder, but I was later lulled back to sleep by the rhythm of the rain. It’s been a very long time since I’ve slept that...
I Actually Hate Siestas
Siestas are really awesome when you get to spend it eating, napping, or enjoying the company of loved ones. But siestas are kind of annoying when you're trying to run errands. Story: I really wanted to have my travel backpack cleaned as an extreme precaution against...
Biking Through the Streets of Valencia
Having traveled through 15 cities in 3 months, I’ve amazingly never seen any of them via bike. And man have I missed out. Sally and I decided to bike through Valencia on a lazy Sunday afternoon. The streets were quiet, and it was the perfect opportunity to randomly...
Seeing a Familiar Face
A very exciting day was ahead of me - a friend from back home was visiting me in Valencia. Being the little sister of a friend who I’ve known for years, I’ve been able to watch Sally grow up as I’ve grown up. We’ve always connected on things like travel, adventure,...
Muy Caliente, Por Favor.
This morning I got on train and left Madrid. I really enjoyed my time here mainly because of my simple routine. Don’t get me wrong - Madrid is beautiful, vibrant, electric, and complex. But I enjoyed it the most for the simplicity it offered me. Wake up, eat cereal,...
The End of an Era
When I basically only pack two pairs of shoes, I shouldn't be surprised when one wears out. But I mourned the loss of those trusty black sandals regardless. These sandals were troopers. Never once did they give me a blister or sore arch. Honestly, I would kiss them if...
I Miss Breakfast Smoothies
Today I didn't go to my cereal spot, and I didn't go to the pool. I've been feeling a little tired lately. I would venture to say that my current diet hasn't helped with my general lack of energy. If I'm being honest, I don't eat near enough vegetables. Back home I...
I Entrusted My Hair Into the Hands of Strangers
It's no secret that I'm a Dallas girl through and through. I like big, blonde hair, and I'm in a committed relationship with hairspray. Over the past couple of weeks, I've noticed that my dirty blonde roots were starting to grow back in. And for those who get their...
The Most Charming Trumpeter
Today was just a completely standard day in Madrid. I woke up, went to my cereal spot (had Reese's Puffs), and then went to the local pool. You see, it's warm in Madrid. Shocker, I know. So the idea of not going to the pool is too hard to handle. And with an entrance...
I Have a Problem
Since leaving the United States, I have developed a very serious addiction. To bubble tea. I look for it everywhere I go. Sniff it out and pounce. I just can't get enough. My current favorite flavors are vanilla, caramel, coconut milk, or chai. As I'm writing this,...
Everyone in Spain Has a Lisp
It cracks me up that people in Spain have a lisp. Ok, so maybe it's not an actual lisp, and more of a national accent. So for instance - instead of saying "grah-ci-ous" with a Mexican/Spanish accent, people in Spain would say "grah-the-us." And it makes me giggle. I...
When in Spain, Go Topless
With my cell phone still broken, my #1 priority of the day was to get it fixed. Luckily there was a repair shop with great reviews just 5 minutes away from my hostel. Quite perfect. I walked in and showed them my phone. They gave a very sympathetic "tsk" for me. They...
My Phone Broke … Again.
I had about an hour before I needed to leave my hotel for the airport. I was catching a flight from Budapest to Madrid, and I wanted to make sure I had plenty of time for check-in. I thought to myself, "You know, there's been that nagging notification about updating...