So let's quickly recap what happened last year. The months I skipped means nothing really happened or I've forgotten whether something significant happened (clearly it wasn't significant enough to remember).
Year 2016
January
New year, new you, new me, you know the gist.. We all know it isn't true and truthfully I don't really make resolutions. Why do we need a New Year to make ourselves this better version of ourselves. I do like to set goals at the beginning of the year though. Obviously I do not remember them one year later, but I am pretty satisfied with 2016 (despite what actually happened in the world).
February
Took a trip to New York City! Although it wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be. I had this romanticized idea of New York City after watching so many movies and tv-shows featuring it as a setting. Then again I didn't really manage to see the museums and cafes I was hoping to, and I learned going on trips with people that have similar interests is very important!
New York City - Times Square
March-July
Truthfully nothing extremely exciting happened. I worked a lot on my research, I got 3rd place in Ontario 3 Minute Thesis which was a really cool, yet a stressful experience, and I worked more on my research. Science.
Being Sciencey.
Just talking about some big fruit fly testes.
August - September
First half of August I worked some more. Damn virgin collections aren't fun with Drosophila (aka fruit flies). Especially when they are every 6 hours. 6 hours is not enough to sleep... for me anyways...
BUT the later half of August and part of September Den and I took a trip through Portugal and Spain!
Lightning round in pictures of the places we went and things we did:
Conquering Lisbon - Portugal
We were really pleasantly surprised by Lisbon. We did not get to spend much time here
but the time we did spend was really lovely. Except that one time they forgot my food at
the restaurant and overcharged us for the wine...Apart from that, beautiful city!
Lagos - Portugal
The city we came to "relax" in. This was also the only city were we did not have our own
room in the hostel. But it was so worth it! We had a really great time meeting people, drinking, eating, and relaxing on the beach. Funny thing about Lagos: if you want to go to the good, secluded,
non-touristy beache you will have to climb down their cliffs-of-death.
There is a beach down there, and yes, we climbed down. I have a fear of heights so you can imagine
my excitement. Unfortunately, when we were in Lagos (3 nights), it was the ONLY 3 nights that Lagos was so wavy! Lagos usually has very calm beaches. Nope, not when we were there. We still greatly enjoyed our time, it just would have been even better if any time you'd want to go swimming
you wouldn't have to fear for your life that waves would take you deeper into the ocean/ shoot 1
meter waves of salty water in your face.
Seville - Spain
Why the 34 degree Celsius weather Seville?? Why?? It also did not help that our airbnb had no air conditioning and it's only window opened into the a weird opening that the buildings were all built around (area where people would hang their clothes and talk to each other from the windows).
But Seville was so beautiful! Their history, their architecture, THEIR FOOD! Wow! Probably my
favourite city that we went to. Do not miss it if you are ever in Spain. But maybe go when it's a bit cooler. Otherwise be like the Spanish, take your siesta (because in such heat you don't want to do anything anyways, and there's only so much shade you can find).
Sort of forgot about our conquering plan, but remembered in Malaga- Spain
Also a beautiful city! And some really nice people. We had no idea how to get around the city when we got off the train into Malaga. We also could not figure out how to buy the bus tickets when no bus terminals were available and it's impossible to do it at any bus stop. We went to this lovely Spanish man who luckily spoke French (my French came in handy in Spain, more so than English sometimes). He tried to find us some change for our 20 euros, then told us the bus driver might let us go and break the 20 euro bill. Turns out he tricked us and ended up paying for us instead! What a wonderful man! Thank you kind stranger.
Malaga was one of our favourites for Tapas. We found our favourite place there and would go there every day for lunch. If you are every in Malaga check this place out:
Best price, best quality, and tons of food! It's small, they only speak Spanish, and their food is so delicious; Especially if you like seafood!
Conquering Barcelona in style - Spain
Barcelona is a really great place to visit, but because of it's touristy nature you really did not get to feel like you were in Spain. Mainly it felt like we were in Russia... because Russians were everywhere. But we did meet a lovely Russian couple that we got to hang out with after our free walking tour (always suggested in every country)!
In Barcelona, similarly to Malaga, we got ourselves our own little restaurant that we'd go to for lunch and our own server! The place was tiny and served Pinchos (similar to Tapas but you pay for each small individual item) and our server was seriously the best. We connected over a song and then we danced and sang some more. It was such an amazing way to finish the trip.
I cannot live without adventure of some kind in my life. I cannot sit in one place at all. I love change. I even love moving apartments because to me that is a new exciting change!
September-December
We have made some lovely friends from Germany who are just some of the most wonderful people to hang out with. We celebrated the New Year at their house and it was a really great send of to 2016 and beginning to 2017. Although all 4 of us have noticed when ever we all hang out, our rendez-vous will always last past 2am in the morning. December was a great month for all the Christmas parties we attended/hosted. Just a lot of drinking and dressing up in December.
Christmas with Cleo is the best Christmas.
Den was there too. Oh and also we won the grand prize at this Christmas Party! It was hilarious because we were the "plus two" and did not know anyone at this party... yet happened to win their Grand Prize. There were a lot of jealous people...
So that was a fast wrap up and so on to 2017! I already have my first adventure booked and good to go. Mexico in February. Not only is this the perfect time to get out of bi-polar weathered Canada, but also it's my first travel of the year. I predict more, but we shall see how life pans out. Not going to lie a little freaked out about this whole graduating Masters thing and starting a life... oh wait... or just going back to school for further studying, because who doesn't love school?! (I'm serious).
Happy New Year!
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