It's Monday!

Good morning and happy Monday!
Now, I know that Monday is probably one of the worst words out there but you can either:
a) Be grumpy and sour all day
OR
b) Make this Monday the start of something new; see it as a 'fresh beginning', so to speak.

Today, instead of choosing choice a)- which I usually do- I decided to go with choice b).
So, just what does choice b) entail?
Well, this morning I woke up feeling productive. I honestly have not felt productive since mid-May, so the last several months were spent just being lazy and not doing much at all except sleeping and catching up on TV shows. Today, however, I decided I am going to begin posting regularly on TWW again.

I guess it's a good day, eh?

Also, some friends and I are going to explore a park outside of Prague called 'Velka Amerika', which in English translates to 'Big America'. Why is it called this? Apparently, from what I have heard, it is because the park resembles the Grand Canyon in Arizona. I suppose we shall see, hmmm.

Of course I will post pictures and write about it, so expect that post tomorrow morning (well, morning in Europe).

I'm off to explore, travel on wanderlusters!

I'm Dreaming of New Zealand

I've always been fascinated with the idea of moving to Australia or New Zealand after graduating university. There's just something about those accents and the way of life there. I feel that it's more my style of living than in America. I can't say in Europe because Europe IS my style of living and I love it but I just don't picture myself living and working there forever.

Recently, I've become romanced by New Zealand though, especially Queenstown on the South Island. All of the mountains, lakes, nature and photos I see that convinced me it was the place I will settle down one day. I've never been there but I just have that sure feeling. I'm actually hoping I can make a trip to New Zealand either this December or January 2015.

Fingers crossed!

But anyways, I am wondering if any wanderlusters have been there and what they think about it, even better if you live there!

Well, I'm back to dreaming about New Zealand, travel on wanderlusters!

TWW- Under Construction + BIG Changes

Traveling with Wanderlust is about to become more of a personal blog with a little bit of fashion, a lot of travel, some opinions on various subjects/current events, along with random writing pieces and what not...a little bit of everything!

So, with that said, the TWW site will be under construction for the next few days but when it goes live again, I will make sure to inform everyone via a new post and there will also be several exciting posts which will follow!

I'm really looking forward to sharing my latest wanderlust adventures (and some other stuff) with fellow wanderlusters + anyone who wants to read about my life...good luck with that...I'm actually laughing out loud right now so I guess it's appropriate to write "lol".

Travel on wanderlusters!

The Resurrection of TWW

I couldn't take the absence from writing about travel and life in general anymore.

So, with that being said, commence the resurrection and relaunch of Traveling with Wanderlust. 

Passports and Coffee is now a separate website- www.passportsandcoffee.com- which is being constructed and put together at the moment.
However, I'll bring back Traveling with Wanderlust to this blog and redesign the page and come up with some exciting new posts for you all to start reading regularly again.

This is exciting stuff! I am so happy to be back and writing again.

Travel (and now read on) wanderlusters!

INSTAGRAM

Follow us on Instagram: passportsandcoffee

Travel on wanderlusters!

MAJOR CHANGES

The first change is the title: Traveling with Wanderlust is now Passports and Coffee. 

I've been so M.I.A. lately because I started not one but two new projects. One is a magazine. It's always been my dream to work with a magazine however I found myself not content with any particular magazine so I figured, why not make my own? It'll combine a little bit of everything and it'll be about REAL people not just models, 5-star chefs, popular globe trotters, celebrity interior designers and what not. I'm so excited about this and am taking the time out of my fall break to really get this thing going. I'm hoping to have the first issue available by January 2014 and keep it going as a monthly publication. More on that soon though!

The second project is, well, Passports and Coffee. It'll be like the older, more advanced version of Traveling with Wanderlust. The URL will still be traveling with wanderlust (on Blogspot) but on Wordpress, it will be Passports and coffee and I am hoping I can buy it so it will be officially mine and only mine. I'll write a separate post about this and it will also be on the Wordpress site in coming days. 

I hope no one is too upset over the changes and well, advancements, but I'm working really hard to get the ball(s) rolling and make something big of this. I need all my wanderlusters to support me by checking out the new site- which I will post when it is live- and spread the word! 

As always and forever, travel on wanderlusters!

INTERIOR/EXTERIOR DESIGN FAVORITES OF THE WEEK

Travel on wanderlusters!

THE WORLD'S BEST DRESSED COUNTRIES

As an avid fashion lover, I was excited to read this article. They also give "essential items" for each country.

8. United States

• Essential item: sweater dress

7. Brazil

• Essential item: bikini

6. Australia

• Essential items: dress (Alex Perry) for women and for men, a paisley shirt. 

5. United Kingdom

• Essential item: slim pencil skirt

4. Japan

• Essential item: flannel long sleeve tunic

3. France

• Essential items: cotton tweed culotte skirt (women) and leather jacket (men)

2. Sweden

• Essential items: long knitted polo neck jumper (women) and Royal Blue Johnny sweater (men)

1. Italy

• Essential items: Miu Miu bag (women) and tailored Zanetti blazer with pocket square (men)

Travel (and from this post, fashion) on wanderlusters!

BEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD TO GROW OLD

If you are like me, a college student who is trying to figure out their life after college while trying to make it through university and graduate with a degree, the question of "where am I going to live after I graduate" probably crosses your mind a lot. At least, it does for me. So, if you are in the same boat as me or you are getting to that age where you are getting ready to retire but want to experience more of the world, then you should take a look at this list:

15. Finland
14. Australia
13. United Kingdom
12. Ireland
11. Austria
10. Japan
9. Iceland
8. United States
7. New Zealand
6. Switzerland
5. Canada
4. Netherlands
3. Germany
2. Norway
1. Sweden

The countries in bold are the places I am seriously considering moving and settling down in after I graduate from university.

You can read up all you want with this.

Travel on wanderlusters!

HRADEC KRáLOVé

This weekend I took a trip with some friends to visit two friends who live in Hradec Králové  a small city in Moravia about 1.5 hours away from Prague. We arrived on Saturday afternoon (which was sunny and beautiful, yay!) then went to lunch at a restaurant called Satlava. The restaurant was started in 1538, I believe that was the year, and have been restored over the years to what it is today. I can honestly say it was the most phenomenal place I have ever eaten- the food was incredible, service was good, prices were cheap and the interior and exterior (outdoor seating with beautiful) was lovely. I lunched on a full plate of trout, green...mashed potatoes, veggies, a cappuccino and for dessert I devoured a caramel mascarpone biscuit dessert dish. Amazing.

After lunch we explored Old Town and then headed back to the flat to get ready for the house-warming party. The night was spent meeting medical students, sipping cocktails and snacking on delicious mini pizzas. After a few hours of schmoozing and what not, we headed back out to Old Town to go to Xtreme, a popular bar among students in the city. Spent a few hours there and then around 3 am it was finally time to hit the hay. It was amazing walking home because it was so silent, something you don't get here in Prague. It was incredible that no other living things were out at this hour, especially in a "college town/city". The next morning we enjoyed a great breakfast (well, not me for I drank too much the night before) and then in the afternoon, we walked through Hradec and to the bus station to catch the bus back to Prague.

Even though it was a very short trip, the city is beautiful and definitely a "hidden treasure" of the Czech Republic. We will be returning- and for a longer period of time. If you ever come to the Czech Republic, make sure to stop in Hradec Kralove, even if it's just for an afternoon. You won't regret it! A round-trip Student Agency bus from Prague is 200 korunas all together, that's about $10.

YAY, FRIDAY!

Loving these inspirational articles lately, makes my day a little brighter than it already is- despite Prague's notoriously gray, depressing fall and winters.

This article is one of my favorites so far, it's ''22 Things Happy People Do Differently":

1. Don't hold grudges.
2. Treat everyone with kindness.
3. See problems as challenges.
4. Express gratitude for what they already have.
5. Dream big.
6. Don't sweat the small stuff.
7. Speak well of others.
8. Never make excuses.
9. Get absorbed into the present.
10. Wake up at the same time every morning.
11. Avoid social comparison.
12. Choose friends wisely.
13. Never seek approval from others.
14. Take the time to listen.
15. Meditate.
16. Eat well.
17. Exercise.
18. Live minimally.
19. Tell the truth.
20. Establish personal control.
21. Accept what cannot be changed.
22. Nuture social relationships.

Most importantly, happy Friday and have a lovely weekend! I'm off to Hradec Králové for the better half of the weekend to celebrate life with some friends!
Travel on wanderlusters!

6 AFFORDABLE EUROPEAN CITIES

When I came across this list, I have to admit I was slightly surprised to see some of these cities suggested as "affordable European cities". Then again, being a university student means I have a different approach towards what is affordable and what is not. So, maybe they are in fact affordable for the working class wanderlusters.

1. Birmingham, United Kingdom

2. Antwerp, Belgium

3. Porto, Portugal

4. Milan, Italy

5. Split, Croatia

6. Hamburg, Germany

In fact, I might be planning a trip to Hamburg, Germany soon so we will see just how "affordable" it is!

Travel on wanderlusters!