Tomorrow morning I will wake up, pack the last items in my suitcase, and head off on a flight to Miami. I wasn't expecting to spend the second week of 2012 in Florida, but I am going to join my mother, older sister, and two nieces at my grandmother's house for an impromptu reunion. While I am excited at the thought of sun and sand, living abroad means that time with family is rare. I can hardly wait to spend time talking with my abuelita, swimming with my nieces, hugging my mom, and laughing with my sister, cousins, and aunt. Farewell to cold Amsterdam for the next week.
Painting by Christopher Scott (via)
The month of November is here and I have several trips ahead of me. Friday will take me on a short trip to Groningen, in the north of the Netherlands. The following week I'm off to London. The third week to Portugal, my first time in the country! Upon my return, I will spend one night in Amsterdam before heading for a weekend - and hopefully the Weihnachstmärkte, Christmas markets - in Cologne. And the final trip at the end of the month will take me to Berlin.