Get to know me!
Hi everyone! I’m Crosby – a college student from Tampa, FL sharing my stories and advice from around the world. This fall I’m studying abroad in Seville, Spain and exploring Europe for four months. I hope you’ll stay along for the ride!
This past weekend I did something I’ve never done before: I traveled to a brand new city completely and totally ALONE.
Overall, my solo experience in Granada, Spain was exhilarating and enriching, but it did not come without its challenges. ⏩ There were two main things I found pretty difficult, the first centering around meals. Not only did I feel weird asking the waiter for “a table for one” (that was the only time I ate at a restaurant lol), but I truly missed the conversation and sense of community that you get when sharing a meal with someone. 🍽 I was surprised at how much I missed that – especially in a place like Granada that is famous for their fun tapas/ bar scene. 🍻 A positive was that I actually spent a lot less on food than if I was with friends!
The second challenge was a big one: SAFETY. When attempting to walk to a flamenco show at 8:30 PM (it was pitch dark out at this point), I found myself alone in a tiny road in the mountains. I was absolutely terrified and ended up turning around and hopping in a cab. Even though it was only half a mile from my hostel, I would so much rather pay 6 euros than risk my own safety – especially at night, alone, in an unknown city.
Stay tuned for an entire blog post detailing my entire time traveling solo through Granada ✨ – how I got there, what I did, who I met, and everything that went wrong (yes, there were quite a few things!) 😊 Super excited for this one! •
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📷 Ronda, Spain
“What is your favorite city you’ve visited so far?” This is a question I get asked a TON by my friends and family back home after seeing my many weekend adventures. 🌍 And coming into my semester abroad, I assumed there would be one place that really blew me away; one that would stick out as the clear winner.
But to be completely honest, my answer is still the same as the day I arrived on September 5: SEVILLE! ❤️🇪🇸 This vibrant gorgeous Andalusian heaven stole my heart immediately and has kept it ever since (cheesy I know). 🙈Maybe it’s because I’ve spent the most time here or because I’ve explored it more deeply, but Seville is by far my dream city… I seriously can’t believe I’ve lived here for nearly 3 months now – I’m SO freaking lucky!
This weekend, I FINALLY had a break from traveling and got to spend it exploring some new places in my home base, including this hidden gem: Casa de Pilatos! ✨ I literally could have spent all afternoon in this stunning tile-covered palace. 🙌🏼 The decoration was absolutely gorgeous and reminded me of a mini Alcazar – I’m OBSESSED! •
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📷 Casa de Pilatos // Seville, Spain
T R A D I T I O N.
I’m the type of person who LOVES holiday traditions, and I haven’t always reacted well to change. My struggle to accept new and unexpected things has been a personal challenge my entire life – even to this day. So as I “celebrate” Thanksgiving across the world from my family, my sanity is definitely being pushed to the test.
Thanksgiving without my family?! WITHOUT PUMPKIN PIE?? 😱 Even saying it out loud makes me cringe. But instead of letting this massive change dampen my spirit, I’m doing just the opposite. I’m choosing to look at it as a GIFT rather than a drawback.
Today, I am thankful that I am spending Thanksgiving in Seville, Spain; without my family; without my traditions. I am thankful for this because not only am I experiencing my dream of living abroad, but I am learning how to embrace change. I am learning how to spin situations for the positive rather than the negative. I am growing as a person and thriving on my own.
So while I may not be with my family right now as they celebrate one of my favorite holidays, I am improving myself and embracing something that used to genuinely terrify me. ✨💕 There is ALWAYS something to be grateful for – even if it doesn’t show itself at first! •
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• 📷 Chefchaouen, Morocco
The center of city life in North African countries is often found in the Medina – an area characterized by narrow streets, historical monuments and bustling markets. 🌟 It’s a place where everyone – regardless of background or social class – comes together to sell their products and make a living. It is truly a melting pot of all different types of people!
The Medina in Chefchaouen is one of the most unique places I have ever been. 💙 It invites you in with its gorgeous blue-white walls and ceramic tiles, and will entertain you for hours with countless vendors selling handmade textiles, ceramic kitchenware, and intricate jewelry. ✨ Oh and the countless photo ops in the blue wonderland is totally unavoidable, so have your cameras ready!
One of my favorite parts about the Medina was the bargaining game. 💰 While it may seem intimidating at first, don’t shy away from getting a good deal – the vendors are expecting it! 🌟 A few tips I learned is to 1️⃣ Don’t act too interested in anything. The price will immediately go up; 2️⃣ Always bargain with items upwards of 20 euros. You can offer 50% and go from there; 3️⃣ Stick to one form of currency. It’s easy to get confused when trying to pay with both Euros and Dirham (they take both), and some vendors will take advantage of that.
If you’re ever in Morocco, definitely check out the Medina in whatever city you’re in! 🙌🏼🌍 It’s the perfect place to become immersed in local life and observe the culture from an inside perspective. •
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The Medina // Chefchaouen, Morocco
I spent this past weekend soaking up the vibrant culture and gorgeous sights of CHEFCHAOUEN, MOROCCO! 🇲🇦💙 I have been looking forward to visiting the “Blue Pearl” of Morocco since I first decided to come to Seville, and I can’t believe it finally happened! 🙈 Even though Morocco is a quick one-hour ferry ride from Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar, the differences between the two countries are astounding. 🌟 Not only are there massive cultural and religious deviations, but geographic ones too! 🌍 The drive from Tangier to Tetuán to Chefchaouen was through rolling mountains the entire time, which provided some incredible natural scenery.
I’ll delve into more of the details of my trip in future posts, including the atmosphere of the Medina, the religious and cultural nuances, and the unique rich cuisine of Morocco, which were all SO striking. ✨ Speaking of rich cuisine, my sensitive stomach and I are currently recovering in Seville… 😬 While everything was absolutely delicious, the strong spices and heavy sauces got the best of me! The next few days will consist solely of bread, rice and tea. 🥖 Wish me and my intestines luck! •
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The Medina // Chefchaouen, Morocco
This past weekend was the epitome of YOLO. 🌟 You think I’m kidding? Go take a look at my bank account and I bet you’ll reconsider.
Never in my life did I expect to spend the weekend in PARIS with my four best friends (@sageedelstein @caseycarr13 @annalongsworth @isabellasaputo I love you all) drinking wine by the Eiffel Tower and eating macaroons for lunch. 🍷🥐 I was the most carefree I’ve ever been - with money, food, wine, EVERYTHING! 🙈 As someone extremely conscious of money and health, I rarely let myself go completely. But this weekend I did.
Sometimes you just have to let go and LIVE. ✨ My friends and I may not have this experience again - at least for a while - so why not ball the heck out and enjoy ourselves?! Over-indulging is okay sometimes... especially in the City of Love with your best friends. My bank account may be dented, but my heart is so so full ❤️🤗 •
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📷 Eiffel Tower // Paris, France
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