Euros spent and recorded throughout the trip.

Eurail 1400
Flight 700
-Cab 1, drink 4, castle 4, dinner 20, palace 5, bus 5, tren 7. 3 days 46
-Lunch 8, party 10, drinks 2, food 4, Hostel 12, food 3, train 11, hostel 27, food 10, flamenco 28, tren 9
10 DAYS= 170€
Food 18, tren 16, hostel 54 (nice)
Food 7, tren 10, hostel 34(Florence), Hostel 18, food 8, Hostel 66(roma)= 231
Colo- 12, vatican- 5, food 16, sis- 8,
Food- 9, ferry- 22, Zeus- 20, yacht- 45, food 30, 20 tren, 8 museo, transport 12, food 5, (Venezia), tren 10= 453
Have 315€: CT- park 5, hostel 52, tren 20, food 10,
SF- Tren 51, food 30, hostel 54, sb 64, ice 180, hg 268
Munich- hostel 20, food 6, castle 20, Prague- hostel 20, food 10, club 20, Berlin- hostel 20, food 15, koln hostel 12, amsterdam- hostel 20, food 20, Rotter- hostel 13, jazz 86, food 20, Paris- hostel 60, metro 13, food 10, Pamplona- outfit 25, tix 5, hotel 83, Barci- hostel 50, bike 5, food 10, Valencia- bike 15, museo 10, food 20, Malaga- hostel 27, morocco 80, food 20, Granada- 35 hostel, food 20
= 1977 , 2000 with trains
Total 4077€ or about $5060

Eurail
7 (35)
10 (122)
9 (20)
19 (64)
16 (50)
10(65)
10(51) Rome-Bari
22,22 each ferry (80,80)
20 Bari- Venice (49)
10 (50) Venice- CT
Total= 155 (670)
Switz 56 (75), free (160+)
Free (300)
36 + 39 (200)
6 (45)
26 (80)
4 (30)
=322 (1560)€
So, the Eurail pass for 1130€ + 322= 1450 where if we had to pay full out would have been about 1560€. Didn't save much, but at least a little!

I was not expecting to find enough leisure time, especially to read. Book exchanges in the hostels allowed me to explore new and exciting novels & authors!Summer books

All Things Hidden
-Heather Gudenkauf
One that I can't remember and had two twin horses & a little girl.
-Unknown
In the Eyes of the Dragon
- Stephen King
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
-Ian Flemming
The Gift
-Daniel Steel
Elijah
-Jacquelyn Frank
The Night Listener
-Armistead Maupin
Happy Ever After
-Nora Roberts
Nat Geo March 2011
Room
-Emma Donaghue
Bag of Bones
-Stephen King
50 Shades of Grey
-EL James

Departed from Porto, Portugal on Jul 31, 2012 8:59am WEST. Arrived at Sebastian, FL on Aug 7, 2012 3:35pm EDT.

We caught the last train for the coast, or down the coast to a Spanish town called Vigo. Another beautiful ride into another beautiful city. A port city, where we saw the neatest outside parks and playgrounds, and decided that seafood was going to be lunch. We ate a nice restaurant near the water and shared the largest meal ever. We stuffed our faces with a clam, a veggie soup and calamari- all separate appetizers. Proceeding that was a ginormous pot of paella mariscos, steaming and smelling delicious. Somehow, and with the help of some card games, the stew was finished. Wait, there's more! We also got a complimentary bottle of Albariño wine, and some pear gelatins deserts.

We couldn't move. Foot by foot, we made it to the park across the street and killed some hours with our books and music. Then a few drinks- mango mojito for me- and headed down to Porto, Portugal.

Staying in the Magnolia Hostel, the city center was pretty close. While passing a multitude of bakeries and markets, we saw the Majestic Cafe, the main train station- Estação de São Bento- that has 20,000 gorgeous tiles in it, the tower- Torre de Clégicos, some churches- like Sé Catedral, the old bookstore with the magical winding staircase- Livraria Lello, and the Palácio da Bolsa. Plus a tram ride on those old wooden things along the city to the Atlantic- Porto is definitely one of my favorite cities.

Then we crossed Ponte D. Luis I into wine town. We passed some of the more recognized wineries such as Sandeman, and made our way up the hill toward Graham's, where we enjoyed a free tour and free tasting! Wine making is interesting and hard maintenance, although it looks like loads of fun. My favorite was the smooth and decadent ruby (which is kept for shorts amount of time in large barrels); we also tried tawnies (lighter wines kept for 10-40 years in smaller barrels, which gives them a more oak-flavored taste) and a couple whites- all good!

Across the street from the stairs under the bridge, we had a Porto specialty sandwich called Francesinha. It's like a grilled cheese with melted cheese on top and a few different kinds of meat in the middle, all sitting in a tomato based "secret" sauce- Mmm. Something else I'll be adding to my -must make at home- list.Tired and so full, we went home, or the hostel rather, and I read and conked out. I love Porto!!

I just woke up with the realization that I will only be in Europe for about 24 hours more. I'm very disappointed about that even though it's been a long and somewhat stressful trip. I feel like I live here and am completely used to moving around every day, learning histories and seeing amazing sights- it has been a spectacular trip. Nevertheless, I miss my parents and puppies and friends and FSU...so for now I guess if I have to. But I am definitely coming back!!

Departed from Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain on Jul 29, 2012 9:25am CEST. Arrived at Porto, Portugal on Jul 31, 2012 8:56am WEST.

Note for self- when I go to the World Cup in 2 years, stay with Manoel & Leandro! :)

After a bit of a rough stretch, we finally reached the smaller town of Santiago de Compostela in the corner of north-western España! A 7hour delay in Madrid, a 9hour train ride through the night, a bus dropping us off on the highway of hills of who-knows-where, and napping in a park waiting for the reception to open that turns to not even be the right place. However, at the top of Monte de Goso, closer to the city of San Marco, we found our hostel. Nice little rooms right on the side of fields and trees and a great view of the nearby neighborhoods.

This town is run by hundreds of backpackers, reaching their destination in the center of Santiago. Starting from a few points in Europe, the hike is 800km, and it just went in my bucket list. Through the most beautiful regions of Spain, in my opinion, Christian pilgrims traveled this route for over a thousand years. It began in the medieval times and was called the Way of St. James, and to this day, people turn away from modern life, grab a pilgrim stick, follow the sign of the sideways sun and hike their way.

So, the campsite we're staying at is where the pilgrims gather, and we've seen many groups come in and go out, chanting words of encouragement for their next hike, and walking together carrying large packs and walking sticks toward the city center.

The city of Santiago is gorgeous! and reminds me a little of a Cinque Terre in the mountains. It's set up in a medieval circle, With the most fantastic cathedral we've seen. In the shape of a cross with huge towers, it is definitely the thing to see, and inside is the largest and most stunning organ! There was a stone carving completion going on, and the Apostle festival as well.

This is one of my favorite places. The smells of fresh air, manure, good food, pastries and wood & fire lit up my senses. I got up for early hikes both mornings, and enjoyed the end of the sunrise on the second. AND, the raspberries began to ripen! The perfect little break from our vacation. :)

Departed from Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain on Jul 27, 2012 7:37pm CEST. Arrived at Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain on Jul 29, 2012 8:53am CEST.

Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain from 5:40pm to 7:37pm CEST (1 hr, 56 mins).

Departed from Madrid, Spain on Jul 26, 2012 8:46pm CEST. Arrived at Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain on Jul 27, 2012 5:40pm CEST.

Madrid, Spain at 8:46pm CEST.

Departed from Sevilla, Andalusia, Spain at 3:01am CEST. Arrived at Madrid, Spain at 8:46pm CEST.

Struggle to sleep, and wake up early- that's been my routine over the trip. So, still tired, Zach and I took Yet another wonderful walking tour in the up town part of the city- which just means the older part that is located on the hill. We learned that Carmen & Maria are the most popular names, and Carmen is also a vine in which streets are named after. Muslim families were judged by the kind of garden they kept, and how private their house was; women and property were treated similarly. Also, when you see 3 balls at the top of a building, it's a mosque; when you add a cross and fill the top with bells, it becomes a church.

At the top, we saw the old protective walls, churches and a few mosques, and the well known Alhambra, which we visited later. It took about 3 hours to properly see all of it. The ancient fortress & palace is vast, and beautified with many luscious gardens around the historic constructions. My favorite garden was the Jardines bajos de Generalife because of its reflection ponds, fountains, endless vines, and sweet roses. Maybe, better than the Versailles... The architecture was incredible in every one of the buildings. Each featured complex carvings, some detailed with a little color, and all of them with Arabic style and shapes. The Palacios Nazaríes was the most extravagant and unlike anything I've seen. I was not expecting all the attractive designs and muslim cultural influence in Spain, and it's definitely a sight to see.

Beautified by the surrounding mountains, Granada showed us a little of its country side when we went with a group to the waterfalls. It was actually with a guide, but there was no need for him at all. From Plaza Nueva, you walk to the bus stop to catch 183 to Monachil, then follow the trail up and through the fields toward the sound of rushing water. It was a great hike, but the sun was scorching; once we stopped for lung at a water hole I dipped right in. We passed by many climbers daring to reach the top of the rocks and walked on swinging bridges high above the water. At the larger falls, we stopped again for a swim and quick cool off under the raging pressure of the falling water. While our tour guide smoked a few joints, we all exchanged travel stories and I made friends with one of the climbers' dogs. The rock formations were outstanding and the area is definitely worth stretching your legs for. On our way back, we stopped for tapas- I got my favorite sumo de melocotón and with it came a potato & veggie tapa. We were all enjoying the conversation, when our guide suddenly stands up saying we're going to be late for the bus! And we missed it- had to catch another an hour later and figure out how to get back since our guide decided to go home. Like I said, the guide was unnecessary. Oh well.

Exhausted from the hot and adventurous day, we only went out for a couples tapas once the night hit. The sunset, by the way, isn't until 10 over here. With 3 of us and Reneé, whom we me on the tour, our tapas plates were deliciosos.

We thought our hostel in Málaga was cool, but the one on Granada is even better. It's a colorful little hang out spot called Funky Granada, and I spent all evening singing and playing guitar with a few new friends. There are street markets close by AND they have gelato in the flavor of buenos (my new favorite candy bar here)!

Day one at Funky Granada Hostel was spent satisfying my hunger for music. Rocked out with the guitar and sang some Spanish songs with this kid named Ricardo, I think. The city is one of my favorites; there are huge cathedrals with baroque towers, small streets with markets of food, spices or gypsy clothing & trinkets, and tapas restaurants everywhere. Granada is also unique for its location in the middle of the Sierra Nevada range.

Departed from Granada, Andalusia, Spain on Jul 23, 2012 10:05am CEST. Arrived at Sevilla, Andalusia, Spain on Jul 26, 2012 2:46am CEST.