S

• Spain

I only made it to Barcelona, but my oh my, did I experience this Catalonia city for all it was worth. Paella, pitchers (and pitchers) of Sangria, beaches, fresh fruit markets, Gaudi, La Rambla, mountains. I would definitely say this vibrant, sleepless city is for the younger crowd. Anywhere with a 2 Euro shot bar and fresh strawberry mojitos are going to appeal to twenty-somethings. But drinking and sun-bathing is only half the story. Make sure to have a great pair of walking shoes as Barcelona lies in a valley of mountains and gorgeous, but steep, hiking. Here's a quick list of must does...

• La Sagrada Familia (has been under construction since 1882; probably Antonio Gaudi's most famous structure)
• Park Guell (will recognize this Gaudi masterpiece in an instant and will spend all day basking in its beauty)
• Olympic Stadium (not only is it really cool to walk around the facility but it lies on top of a mountain, so the journey to the top is simply amazing as well)
• Sitges beach (is not in Barcelona but it only takes 20 minutes by metro and is bigger and more pristine than the Barcelona beach)
• Gothic Quarter (the old part of town and if you go on the free tour will learn all about the history)

Barcelona, like many European cities, has tons of small alleys filled with wonders. Go explore!

Sidenote: I heard the south is the place to go with cities like Seville, Granada and Malaga awaiting tourists to see their magical beauty and unique qualities.

• Sweden

I have been waiting for this one! It was my home for 11 months and I am so attached to this country. Sweden, Swedish people, its food, its long winters, its nightless summers, its holidays and language. I could go on and on. But I shall not bore you with

useless facts and personal stories. When you go to Sweden, Stockholm is a can't miss. Since you will be flying into the capitol anyways, might as well and stay a few days. There is so much I want to say! Ok, deep breath. The Vasa Museum, Skansen, Gamla Stan (old town), Royal Palace, cathedral, Drottningholm, boat tour (in summer), Drottninggn street, the Ice Bar. Eat as many meatballs with lingonberry jam as possible. On Thursdays, always order peasoup and pancakes. The Swedes are so friendly and intelligent and once you get a few drinks in them, quite rambunctious. After you have exhausted your time in the city, explore another part of the country. You can go south, north, east or explore more of the coast on the west. Depending on what you want to do, each part

offers something exciting, though all are very nature-like. Up north, past the Arctic Circle and in Dalarna (central Sweden) spend your time hiking, picnicking and canoeing. Go south for warmer weather and beaches. No matter what city you visit you are sure to get a different experience as Sweden is broken up into 13 Nations that all proudly want to share their various histories and local cultures. I lived in Uppsala, which is mostly a student town, but Uppsala University is well-known and quite an amazing city to explore. Not many people travel that far North but I can tell you this, you will never regret your time in Scandinavia nor the experiences you have. Javisst!

• Switzerland

We all know about Switzerland's neutrality, their beautiful Alps, their delicious chocolate, their finely made watches and army knives, and those lovable St. Bernard's. It is quite a wonder to behold. I stayed in Geneva, right on the lake, in the French part of the country. Simply stunning but oh so cold. Let me just say, please come prepared. I stupidly was not thinking about the weather when I packed. Most of the cities in Switzerland are high altitude and thus, cold (if you travel in winter). Although summer nights can get pretty chilly as well. Anyways, the place to visit, so I am told, is Interlaken, a heaven on earth for outdoorsy people. Beauty does not even begin to describe Interlaken. You pretty much have to see it for yourself. And while you are at it, eat some pain au chocolat.

• Summer

Summer, for most people, is the time to travel. Though I believe in year-round travels, and that every month has something great to offer when seeing the world. Plus, I am not a big fan of

long lines of tourists or what we call "ugly tourists" (those who are loud, ungrateful and small-minded) crowding beautiful and historical streets. Also, prices sky-rocket and the weather tends to spike. The best times to travel are after late September all the way until beginning of June. That is a huge range of time and you get to miss the chaos of summer travelers. If you can only get time off in June/July/August, I suggest going to lesser known places (like Sweden or Eastern Europe). It is more important to miss the Eiffel Tower or Coliseum rather than stay at home. Safe travels!!