The Final Four Days

As the end of the course approached, my heart was racing. Anxiety was building and the new normal that had come to comfort me was about to be disrupted again. Life at Oxford was a dream and so many moments felt unreal. My worry about finances and what would come next made my jaw tense in the final week. Unfortunately, I often let my anxiety eclipse living in the moment.

And our last three days of lectures did feel a bit anticlimactic after completing a week of workshop. Yet we still were learning and had interesting presentations on topics that we hadn’t encountered before then. It’s incredible how many aspects of the industry we learned about and what more there remains to learn about. Our most interesting final lecture was about audiobooks. It’s one of the fastest growing parts of the industry and people that aren’t normally “readers” have been devouring audiobooks, myself included. 

I started preparing for job hunting by making a spreadsheet Monday night. The promise of production helped keep the anxiety at bay. My final evening walk on Tuesday before dinner was overcast and drizzly, a reminder that autumn was truly on the way now, snapping final photos of the sites I’d gotten to be so fond of. We spent a rainy evening watching the Shrek movie in the JCR. The sound of our laughter swelled in the cozy room as we sat on couches, bean bags, and the floor.

I sent my final thank you emails to our guest speakers too. The excitement was starting to eclipse the anxiety in these moments. Soon I’d be working in publishing. Soon I’d get to work with books full time. 

After an early lecture Wednesday morning some of us went up the tower at University Church of St. Mary the Virgin. We picked a beautiful, clear day to wind our way to the top. And wind our way we did, up the narrow one way staircase. The stone steps were steep and slick, rubbed smooth by centuries of visitors.

The narrow balcony that surrounded the perimeter was not forgiving either and my fear of heights was put to the test. It was two feet wide and only on the corners could you pass others. But the view over Oxford was breathtaking. The famous city spires cut through the red and gray roof tops like serrated knives. 

That week was filled with not one, but two sherry hours. We had our workshop evaluations Wednesday afternoon and everyone from our imprint was nervous. But our nerves we unfounded because the agents that evaluated our catalogue were impressed by the sheer volume of work and creativity we had executed in just a week. It’s still something I’m extremely proud of, having all of our knowledge of publishing put to the test in such a tangible way. That sherry hour was pleasant as we thanked the guest speakers and evaluators one last time.

We graduated the next day in an exercise after lunch. We had done it. We had completed an intensive four weeks of learning about all things book publishing and it was time to take all the knowledge and networking back home to get a job. 

Brittney and I went our for drinks before our final sherry hour. We split a dome of cocktails when a scheduling snafu (our last!) let us linger over them a bit more. At golden hour, we made our way back through the construction walls to the fellow’s garden. Yellow light draped over the grass and tickled the tree leaves with its dappled warmth. 

This sherry hour was for friendship. Everyone was taking pictures and talking about their upcoming plans. We confessed what our dream jobs would be and what we hoped would happen after the course—dreams becoming reality. 

Sherry hour was followed by a three course farewell banquet. If the food that we had that night was served every day at Exeter, no one would be complaining about the dining hall. Lamp light carried the glow of the sun indoors and cast our faces in a cozy flush that might have had a little to do with the alcohol but everything to do with the feeling of being at home.

Goodbye for Now

The last couple days of the course were bittersweet, everyone counting down the hours until their plane flights, travel plans, and imminent reunions. As I packed my belongings for my upcoming travels, it’s a miracle I only came home with four books. Well, four books for myself. I bought two extra copies of Babel and a wellness book for one of my friends. 

The final day felt like we were leaving Hogwarts. Everyone had their piles of luggage in the quad, saying goodbye with hugs and promises of reunions. The gray stone of Exeter that had bound us together within its old walls stood witness like it had for 400 years. Students waved as they dashed to leave. 

A couple of us that we traveling to London dragged our suitcases, laden with more books than when we arrived, over cobbles stones one final time. Sitting on the train to London, I wondered what the future held. 

Little did I know how disrupted my life would become after returning home, i.e. moving. (Which is maybe why it’s taken me months to upload pictures and hit publish on these blog posts. Although, it’s been lovely to revisit my time in England many, many months after the fact.) I moved out of the Pink Apartment and into my parents for two months and then into a new apartment in a new city with my partner. While all of these changes we good, it’s still hard to be in the midst of it. So much change so suddenly affects your body and my mental health definitely took a dive as I juggled job hunting with apartment hunting and the holiday season. 

I have worked harder post course than I did during it. While the journal of my weeks in Oxford is over, my journey in publishing is only just beginning. My next post is a reflection a year later, the advice I’d give to incoming CPC students, what I learned, and whether it was worth it. Because despite the romance of living and learning at one of the worlds oldest universities, the course had its problems. You can probably guess some of them because they are a reflection of what is wrong in the publishing industry—the course is just a microcosm of the business of books. Because, at the end of the day, publishing is still a business. And businesses exist to make money. 

Another famous Oxford author, C.S. Lewis, gave this advice in the Chronicles of Narnia, courage, dear heart. That’s what I need for the days and months ahead. Courage to continue networking and putting myself out there. Courage to continue taking leaps of faith, again and again, when rejections pile up. Courage to continue to be optimistic that the course will be worth it and I get the job of my dreams. Courage, dear heart, to hold onto hope.

Happy Day-

The second week of my time at Exeter rolled into week three after the reveal of our book workshop project at the end of week two. The Columbia Publishing Course (CPC) is famous for its intensive book workshop week. Post pandemic, the assignment has evolved but the vigor and the deep-dive into all aspects of publishing has not. The days were long at times, but for me at least, it was a reassuring exercise that proved yes, I really do want to work in publishing.

After two weeks of lecture, I was ready for a change of pace. Even if there is a deliberate veil of secrecy shrouded over the assignment, I was excited. We worked for seven days straight on the assignment which means my third weekend in Oxford was spent in the tent meeting with my mentors and group members under the drafty plastic ceiling of the marquee. 

It didn’t take me long to buy a reusable mug so I could sip tea as I worked, cursing at the lack of wifi connectivity. The first few days were spent with our heads down focusing on our individual work before later in the week we started to collaborate a bit more and bounce ideas off of one another.

Unlike other CPC classes, we had a small break in our book workshop week for the Queen’s funeral. We didn’t get a full bank holiday, but Monday we had the morning off to observe the funeral. So with less pressure on our Monday morning, a couple of us went out for a pint on Sunday night. 

Some of us went to the Head of the River Pub along the Thames. We had passed it on on our bus back from Bath the weekend before and had been meaning to check it out. I finally had my first Pimm’s. Even though I’ve been to England before, I had never heard of the cocktail (shame on Tom, apparently.) It’s a sweet gin cocktail and it tasted like a fruity, less bitter Aperol Spritz. It was a delight. The bartender garnished it with a slice of cucumber and I ventured out by the water to sip it, bundled in my coat. 

We drank in the cool night air and chatted about life and anything other than book workshop. At 8 o’clock the pub (and all of England) had a minute of silence for the queen. We did a cheers to her honor and got ourselves another drink. Before long, two drinks turned into three and we ambled back to Exeter with warmth in our bellies.

As we tapped our key cards and went through the door within the gate, the quad under dusty stars greeted us. The chapel blushed from within, lights twinkling through stained glass. We snuck through the chapel door and were greeted with the smell of roses. White flowers lined the aisles and two half arcs of orchids and dahlias framed the altar, set up for a wedding.

Sasha started singing the song Jenny of Oldstones. There’s a line that goes, “and she never wanted to leave. Never wanted to leave.” I couldn’t help but join in. As our voices echoed in the two hundred year old chapel, the shivers that traveled down my spine had nothing to do with the cold. The words rang true and it became one of my favorite memories of Oxford. Pure, simple, human magic.

Life and Death

We’ve been no stranger to weddings during our stay in the college. The chapel, dining hall, and tent have been used for ceremonies, reception, and parties every weekend we’ve been here. All of us did our best to keep away during the afternoon and evenings for those weekend weddings but it was hard to not walk through the party when it’s the only way to our rooms. 

What takes the cake (pun intended) for weirdest wedding, occurred the Monday of the queen’s funeral. Yes, there was a wedding in Exeter the day of the funeral, hours before the funeral. I have no idea why there was a wedding at nine in the morning on a Monday during a bank holiday no less. But there was. It made since why the chapel was resplendent in white flowers the evening prior.

All of us continuously crossed paths with the bride. They set up the projector in the tent the students to watch the coverage. (Why we couldn’t watch the coverage on the TV in the JCR is a story for another time.) As I sat in the marquee watching the coverage before the funeral, the bride exited the chapel with her new husband on her arm. 

I was glued to the coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral service. I find it so fascinating to witness a sliver of history unfolding, watching all the crowds gathered on The Mall. But before I knew it, the procession was over and students starting filling into the tent to work on the book workshop.

The next day, I went out to get stationary so I could write thank you cards for my mentors and peaked into an antique shop down the way on Turl Street. I had been telling myself that I would buy myself a ring when I finished writing my current novel and I had been browsing pearl rings for months now. I even saw a beautiful pearl ring at the Jane Austen Centre in Bath. 

And then I saw it. A beautiful silver ring within my price range. Two black stones framed a gorgeous fresh water pearl. Three parts for three parts of my novel. Black and white. The night and day. It’s slightly art-deco in design and I knew I couldn’t pass on getting it. I’ve loved being able to collect rings in countries I’ve lived. I have one from Spain and now one from England. Places that became home to me, if briefly. Walking their footpaths and watching their sunsets. 

In the middle of such a grueling time, Lee sent me flowers. They made my little convent room smell pleasantly of roses. He called me late at night to tell me to get something that should have been delivered. Already in my pajamas, I slipped on my new Oxford sweatshirt and went down the winding stairs and across the quad to the porter’s lodge. 

I was still on the phone with Lee and I tried—unsuccessfully—to sneak the flowers back to my room without anyone noticing. My neighbor Peyton squealed when she saw me carrying them up the stairs, her bubbles of delight resounding and making me blush.

Wednesday was a busy day as our group prepared our presentation for the mock sales conference happening the next day. We wrote and practiced our 30 second pitches and put together our slides. This is the point where our projects were almost complete and the most nerve wracking part of the book workshop week. In celebration of our mentors and their hard work, they joined us at the King’s Arms for drinks with the rest of my group. It was lovely to get to know our mentors in a more intimate setting without talking nonstop about workshop week.

On Thursday morning, we presented our books and finally got to learn what the other groups had created and hear a pitch of their ideas. This was the perfect climax to a week of tedious editing and constant reworking of titles. I absolutely loved hearing what everyone created. The sheer range of ideas and brilliance among my classmates was exciting to witness. 

A resolution in the story arc of this week was handing in our projects on Friday before noon. In a week’s time, we had created a 143 page PDF with all of our books. After four days of lecture and then seven and a half days of workshop with only one morning off (for the funeral), after lunch on Friday I crashed. Weeks two and three of the course blended together and I needed a nap. Even more so because of what was planned for the night—a secret sherry hour in the fellow’s garden.

Before the party, Brittney and I went to Christ Church meadow to read but ended up just talking about the books we created and the presentations. My copy of Babel sat on our picnic blanket enjoying the scenery along with us. Then we went to the store to grab wine and snacks before getting ready.

We celebrated our twelve days of class with a party, the Radcliffe Camera as our only spectator. I walked down the concrete path with a bottle of red wine in hand and emerged to a seance of celebration. A hundred tea lights doted the picnic tables while a bluetooth speaker played music.

Brittney had a fabulous idea (credit where credit is due) to have everyone sign a copy of a book as a sort of CPC class year book. I brought my copy of Babel, of course. People signed my copy as the night went on and bottles were finished. There is still wax dripped onto the pages of the end paper and it is my favorite souvenir. I’m sure you can predict how the rest of the night unfolded. Let’s just say that I paid for my sins in my convent room the following day.

On Sunday, I spent the day on my own doing all of the Oxford things that I hadn’t managed to do yet. Mainly the Ashmolean Museum. How I hadn’t managed to go there already was quite the miracle. I rather enjoy going to museums alone (which would become the theme for my last week in England). Their collection of artifacts and artwork was astounding and I enjoyed taking a break by going to the museum cafe for a cuppa.

Then I went to Oxford’s largest college, Magdalen. The day was overcast and chilly but the rain never came. I spent hours walking around the college and taking pictures of the breathtaking medieval buildings. There is a whole ass deer park in the middle of the college too of which I had no idea. I walked the grounds next to the River Cherwell where people can rent boats to go punting.

Brittney and I meet for high tea afterwards. I was the curmudgeon who didn’t want to go punting, who would rather eat scones and have an early night in. Which is what I did, picking up some soup to take back to my room for dinner. It was a peaceful day, a peaceful final weekend in Oxford.

It was hard to believe there were only a couple of more days in the course. The workshop challenged me but assured me that I am on the right path. And maybe we are all a bit mad—singing in empty chapels late at night, creating an entire book project in a week, and drinking into the late hours in one of Oxford’s oldest colleges. Mad with creativity and hope for the future. Thank you for reading my very belated diary, and until next week.

Happy Day-

Another week has passed and I am already halfway through my time at Exeter College in Oxford. While the days can be full and long, time has gone by quickly. 

It’s hard not to think of the countless books and authors that have been products of this small island. Call me basic, but Jane Austen is my favorite author from England. She wrote about love, friendship, family, and home so tenderly, and I just adore her books. And yes, I have read all of them plus the collection of her letters.

Last time I was in England, I went to South Hampton where she went to school and lived for a time, Chawton Cottage where she lived for the last part of her life and published four of her novels, and Winchester Cathedral where she was buried. This was 2018 and I was lucky enough to visit almost all the significant places of Jane Austen. Almost all of them except for Bath. 

My only travel priority this trip was to go to Bath. For five years Jane Austen lived in Bath and two of her novels, Persuasion and Northanger Abbey, were partially set there. With such historic ties to the city, Bath hosts a yearly Jane Austen festival. In September. When I would be in England. Learning about publishing. It was meant to be.

The Long Trek to Bath

So during the second weekend, I got to get a taste of Jane Austen’s Bath. Of course, I didn’t have to go alone. Plenty of other people in my program wanted to go too. There was a group of five of us that went on the nine o’clock train so it would give us enough time to get there before the start of the festival which opened with a parade at eleven.

We walked to the train station with extra energy, excitement building. I bought my ticket and a cup of tea and we went to catch the replacement bus. Because it was the weekend, not all of the trains were running so we had to catch an express bus to the connecting train station. Although we didn’t catch the express bus. I’m still convinced there wasn’t a direct bus, but it took us an hour to get to the train station instead of a half an hour. Tania did give us a glorious summary of Northanger Abbey on our way which was hilarious and passed the time. But that was just the start to the our transportation woes. 

Once we got to Dicot Parkway, we didn’t have to wait long for the train to Bath, but every single carriage was full so we had to stand. At least, I was near the door where I could watch the countryside whoosh by, dotted with fields of sheep. Two hours later, we came screeching to a halt at the train station. 

The city of Bath was a lot bigger than I expected and puts Oxford to shame with its cascading hills dotted with homes and picturesque river flowing through the center. We only explored about a ten block radius of the city but there was so much in that little amount of space that I truly felt like I got to experience Bath even if I didn’t take a turn around the entire city.

Tania, Sienna, Thea, Brittney and I rushed to see the parade. Okay, maybe I rushed us all to see the parade but I was excited to see what the festival was all about. We reached them just as they came over the Pulteney Bridge, a quaint old bridge lined with shops. 

The regiment marched down the promenade, their arms wrapped with a black cloth to signify they were in mourning for the late queen. Fine gentlefolk in full costume of the regency time period walked behind them. Ladies were resplendent in empire waistline dresses and lace bonnets. The gentlemen in pattered waistcoats with starched cravats. I wished I could sew my own dress and join them. Next time perhaps, and I now have plenty of ideas for how I would design my regency era costume.

After the parade we wandered back to the main down town area where we set off to judge for ourselves which cafe has the best buns. Walking along the River Avon, everyone (except me) got some freshly squeezed lemonade. This is the start of me being a little sour. I probably should have gotten some to help my sugar. 

We divided and conquered getting buns from two “rivalry” bakery cafes with sweet buns. But it turned out not to be any real animosity as we all ended up in Sally Lunn’s basement shop/museum with the buns from the cleverly named The Bath Bun. It was the cashier that told us the buns from Bath Bun were baked with a sugar cube.  Sally Lunn Buns (say that five times fast) are huge and came in a charming box. 

We took our abundance of buns and had a picnic at Parade Gardens which was open to the public free for charge because of the queen’s passing. They had a dedicated place for people to leave flowers and notes to the queen. The Bath Abbey was a strong presence over the garden.

We lounged into the grass and I dug into both, testing which was best. Besides the bun with a sugar cube making me feel like I was a bribed horse, the Sally Lunn buns had a great flavor. But in my mind they are quite tied. The bath bun was great to eat on its own (read: sugar) but the Sally Lunn would have been divine toasted and smothered in garlic butter. When judging savory or sweet, it’s too hard to compare. 

After walking—excuse me, parading—around Parade Gardens and the shenanigans that ensued, we went to a bookshop. Yes, how predictable that book people went to a bookshop. Topping & Company had large tables stacked with gorgeous first editors, most of them signed. It was hard to resist not buying everything with pretty end papers, sprayed edges, intricate foil and embossed covers. I couldn’t help running my hand over all the books with a longing sigh. But in the end, I couldn’t resist and bought a book that was clearly made for me. The cover is a photo of embroidery and the inside of the dust jacket is the underside of the embroidery. What sealed the deal was the novel is about Jane Austen’s family. When in Bath, buy the book. 

Afterwards, we made our way to the Jane Austen centre where we could enter the exhibition every twenty minutes. I was fading fast, so we wandered to a pub where ladies in regency dress had pies and beers in front of them. We were about to order but food was going to take over an hour so we changed gears and went into a small deli where we got toasties and sandwiches. We had another picnic in Queen Square. To be fair, I had devoured half of it before we made it to the park.  

We got our tickets for Jane and went to see the circus up the hill, a grand circle with stone townhouses and wrought iron fences. Past that was the Royal Crescent, an equally grand half circle of townhouses that really is from Jane Austen’s past.

Then it was the moment. The Jane Austen centre was the perfect amount of corny. It started with an animated talk about the Austen family before we went to the basement for the exhibition. There was a cheesy “places of Jane Austen’s Bath” video featuring two characters from Jane’s novels. I had the group sneak out of the video early so we could try on regency dress and pose with Darcy himself. 

Even if I missed my own Darcy back home, it was fun to be at the festival with people who were fans of Jane Austen too. To quote Northanger Abbey, “Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.” 

The exhibition also had other little displays like a millinery and a place to try writing with quill and ink. At the end they have a wax figure of Jane Austen, creating a lifelike portrayal of what she actually looked like. I loved to be able to stand next to her, author and author. There’s no doubt I’ll be known for my romance stories some day. Whether or not I’ll have a wax figure… Well, I’d rather not. 

It was off the Roman baths after that. Something I had little expectations for. But I knew from Jane Austen that many people would go to Bath to “drink the waters” for their health. Little did I know I would actually taste those very life affirming waters for myself. But I can’t spoil things too much even if it smelt spoiled with the sulfur hot spring. 

Having experience ruins of old baths in Cordoba, I expected similar underground ruins. But it a veritable museum with preserved baths and bath rooms. It was amazing to walk the upper terrace lined with Victorian statues that overlooked the green pool of the Roman bath. Continuing on, old coins and other ancient relics were on display. Stones from old temples made it feel like you could really picture just what this monumental site was like. An ancient hot spring, changing rooms, and saunas all of it was protected under the city of Bath for centuries until it was uncovered. 

Brittney and I got to the end together and each took a paper cup and held it under the stream of warm Bath water. We did a gentle cheers and drank to our health. And the water, full of minerals, tasted like blood. In Charles Dickens’ Pickwick Papers Mr. Sam Weller describes his experience: “I thought they were particularly unpleasant. I thought they’d a very strong flavour o’ warm flat irons.” Quite accurate if I do say so myself.

The evening was approaching and we decided it was time to head back and get dinner in Oxford. Bath was packed with people not only for the festival but for stag and hen parties plus tourists before the end of summer holiday. I was ready for the familiarity and quaint nature that was Oxford at night.

And then the train. The platform was full when we arrived and the train that was supposed to come a little after six never arrived. They announced a new train on the opposite platform so we rushed over to it and grabbed a seat only to be told it was a direct to London. We piled off and went back to the other platform, down the stairs, under the tracks and up the other side.

Eventually we got on a train but we had to stand the entire time again. I was hot and the only thing I wanted to do was sit and drink some water. I was able to talk to my partner Lee for a little while he was on the way to a bachelor weekend. It was nice to hear his voice even if I just wanted to rest my head on his chest.

We got the replacement bus to Oxford and surprise, it wasn’t direct and stopped constantly. From the time we initially walked from the Roman baths to getting off the train in Oxford was three hours. Three hours on tired feet and empty bellies. We all went to a Thai place and recounted our day over curry. Still managing to laugh despite the long day we had.

I Rather Have Nothing But Tea

After the adventures of the Jane Austen festival, I spent the Sunday after recovering. I didn’t leave my room until late in the day but the rest was much needed. I joined some other students for high tea at the Ivy on High Street. It’s an exquisitely decorated high end restaurant with tall ceilings and smart servers in formal black attire. Potted plants of all shapes and sizes sit on a ledge that wraps around the interior below the windows. 

Four of us split two autumnal high tea dishes which came delivered on a silver tiered tray. I personally loved the savory tea sandwiches the best—smoked salmon, chicken salad, and cucumber with cream cheese. Sipping on their signature breakfast blend tea, I also enjoyed a scone, cupcake, and madeleine with lemon curd.

Oxford had their annual open doors that day which I didn’t take full advantage of since I left my room so late, but I did get to see Lincoln College, Exeter’s neighbor with its two quads and actually green grass. Not to throw too much shade, I think Exeter boasts a better chapel and dining hall. But it’s hard to compare stunning building to stunning building when you consider the fact that Oxford is three times old than America as a nation. 

An American writer wrote a historical fantasy book called Babel when she was studying at Oxford. The book was published the week we arrived and it has been the thing to read while here. It takes place in Oxford and (in the seventeenth century but anyway) reading it while here is so magical. I recognize the iconic landmarks and street names. The historic buildings and anachronisms that I might have assumed were pieces of fiction if I didn’t know that they really are just quirks of life here.

Tori organized a bunch of us to bring our copy of Babel and after lecture one morning, we took a group picture in front of the Radcliffe camera with all of us holding it. We brandished our copies like shields in the bright sunlight. As I write this post, I’m sipping tea at her favorite cafe The Vaults and Gardens where she wrote a lot of Babel. I even brought my copy along for moral support as I attempt to get some words in. 

A Hint of Autumn Air

The weather turned quite suddenly this week and I realized I don’t have nearly enough sweaters for the weeks ahead. The same sort of routine has continued with insightful lectures and professionals with amazing bestselling books in their repertoire. 

I had a moment when I was taking my nightly walk after dinner where I realized my time here was already slipping away. Four weeks is really not that long a time and yet I already feel a sense of belonging here in Oxford. I know exactly where I am having wandered down almost every street. I’ve given directions to visitors when they assume I’m a student. I have my favorite loop to stroll and have tried many of the cafes.

Of course, there have been moments when I want nothing more than to be in my partner’s arms and chatting. I miss my cozy apartment with my own bathroom and a shower I actually fit in. But it’s the friendships I’ve made here that make those “pangs of disappointed love” more like aches than riffs of loneliness. 

The end of my second week was the start of the CPC infamous book workshop week. After the anti-climatic reveal thanks to slow technology, we made our way to the fellow’s garden for sherry hour. And this time it was actually in the fellow’s garden. The construction taking place carved a path through the restoration of the library towards the back corner of Exeter. It is a breathtaking space with towering trees and a wall covered in a lush carpet of vines. 

I climbed the steep stone steps up to the wall with wine glass in hand and gasped at the breathtaking view over Radcliffe Square with the iconic Radcliffe Camera, All Souls College spires, and tower of St. Mary’s Church all standing dignified on the cobbles. We cheered to the week ahead. I took my evening walk after dinner not knowing I wouldn’t be able to take many because of evening lectures and panels. 

Workshop started Friday morning with our mentors encouraging us to go to the bookstores (remember there are two within 200 yards of Exeter) to help us with our assignment. I went to my assigned section and browsed their titles to inspire me for my own idea. Maybe this workshop week wouldn’t be so bad. 

After our first official day, my evening ended with a bunch of us watching the movie Pattington in the JCR (Junior Common Room) and screaming with joy throughout. I won’t be able to see stuffed Pattington bears without thinking of my publishing friends. 

We’ve learned from many of the speakers that publishing is a relationship business. It’s subjective and creative and about the people in it. This experience wouldn’t be the same without the friendly predisposition of every person that works with books. Everyone loves books and ideas and talking about books and ideas. 

Publishing, like any other business, is not without its challenges but I feel confident that as the next generation of publishers, we will fight to make it better. To improve on a business that is about stories. Until next week, to being halfway through the course and to the people that have made it all worthwhile.

Happy Day-

My chest tightens every time I think about the fact that I am actually living in Oxford and residing in their fourth oldest college, Exeter. It boasts former students and fantasy writers Philip Pullman of His Dark Materials and J. R. R. Tolkien of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit (“All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost”). With every word I type of my own fantasy novel while here, it feels like I have their presence watching over me. Encouraging this story of my heart that I get to write in one of the most picturesque places. Learning and talking about books with every breath I take.

There have been so many moments when I have truly felt breathless. Most notably when I heard a woman singing Ave Maria in the Exeter Chapel. Tears sprung to my eyes and my skin shivered with goosebumps as her high notes lifted into the lofty ceiling. 

It’s been a week and a half since I arrived at Oxford and a week of classes. I’ve done so much in the short time I’ve been here. There’s something to be said about being in a place so you can truly get to know it. 

The Long Road to Exeter

As you may have seen in my last post, I was accepted into the Columbia Publishing Course (CPC) last year so attending this program has been a year and a half in the making. When the time finally arrived for me to start packing, it felt surreal. But honestly, I was looking forward to being off of work for the next six weeks. After years of teaching and then working in service, I was ready to be a student again.

Maybe because of the long road it took to get here, traveling to Oxford was uneventful. The most stressful part of my journey was the drive to JFK. The highways were congested and my anxiety was climbing with every delay. My partner kept asking me how I was feeling. FINE. I WAS FINE. 

After a short wistful goodbye to my partner, I dropped off my luggage and made it through security smoothly. I even had enough time to grab a quick bite to eat and write some. A gorgeous sunset sent me across the pond even if the sleep was restless. 

I landed at Gatwick airport early and there was absolutely no lines for any customs. My passport didn’t even get stamped. Just a lousy computer scanned it and a dodgy little camera looked at my face. I breezed through, got my bag, got the shuttle to the train station, booked my ticket to Oxford and had time to spare to catch what I thought would be the long-shot 9:02 connection to Reading. Again, the trains and connections were smooth and I was unceremoniously dumped at the Oxford train station right after 11. 

It was too early to check-in to my hostel so I left my things and walked around. It wasn’t what I expected with its bustling city life and modern shops. But the further I traveled, the more picturesque it became. Unlike American universities with a campus, Oxford is composed of a myriad of colleges. Each college has three stories of honey colored walls with a secret hive inside. The outside of which is nondescript but if you get a change to glance through an open door, you’ll see the flourishing courtyard and quaint passages within.

The first night, I met up with some of the other women in my course at the mall before I convinced some of them to join me at a pub for a burger and a cider. And so it began. Because I am attending a course about book publishing, there is something that instantly connects all of us on a passionate level. We are all deeply connected to books, reading, and recommending stories that move us. In truth, I’ve talked of little but books in the past ten days.

I met more of them the next evening at the park where we had takeaway meals while a couple of bottles of wine got passed around. Afterwards, we went to one of the oldest pubs, the King’s Arms, and continued to gush about books.

During the days, I wandered, trying to force myself to stay awake and adjust to the time zone. I didn’t follow a map but followed the cobbled streets and alleys tucked between beautifully carved architecture. I saw the iconic buildings like the Radcliffe Camera and went inside the stunning St. Mary’s Church. It really is the city of a dreaming spires and every time I glance up, they are just waiting for untold ideas to unfold. I got to know the city I would be living in and took pictures at every turn.

During the first two and a half days, there was actually a movie being filmed at Oxford (the upcoming thriller Saltburn). Of course, Harry Potter was filmed at many locations throughout Oxford and returning to being a student myself it makes it feels all the more nostalgic and special. In Exeter College, they filmed a show I watched called A Discovery of Witches. (I also read the series of urban fantasy books too.) It just illustrates that Oxford provides a beautiful backdrop to learning and reaffirms its long history as the place of academia. 

Curiouser and Curiouser

The day I moved into Exeter felt like a whirl wind. Me and some other girls that stayed at the hostel dragged our massive luggage through High Street. The porter gave me the key to my room in staircase nine and I climbed the flights upon flights of winding stairs. It left me breathless for an entirely different reason. 

My dorm is a quaint convent room with a small single bed, a desk, a porcelain sink, and a closet. Despite its small footprint, I love my desk in front of the window that looks out onto the Sheldonian Theatre and the corner of Broad Street.

We had orientation followed by sherry hour in the fellow’s garden. It sounds as quintessentially British as it was as we mingled with our fellow students. Dinner followed in the dining hall that is straight out of Tutor England. 

After an early night in, I woke up early the next morning for breakfast in the dining hall. It’s a continental affair with croissants, yogurt, and fruit. On the tables is little silver holders with slices of toast. I feel transported to another time where simple elegance is the order of the day. After three cups of tea, I head back to my dorm room to gather my things and prepare for the day.

Our schedule for the course is three lectures a day. The day is time blocked with our first lecture at 10, lunch at 12:30, second lecture at 2, last lecture at 4, and dinner at 6. The days feel full with the sheer amount of information we are absorbing at each lecture. Professionals from the industry have spoken to us about everything from rights, contracts, editorial, celebrity and non-fiction publishing, digital publishing, publicity, agenting, and pitching. I’ve meet one of the agents of Margret Atwood, a famous cover designer, and the editor of Call the Midwife (a star struck moment I can assure you). The director of our program has published such titles like Forrest Gump and Gone Girl. Our lecturers are professionals in the industry with years of insight and invaluable knowledge.

There is a certain routine that has evolved over the last week. I often send thank you notes to lecturers between meals and lessons. Hang in the quad and chat. Take walks after dinner, usually by myself but sometimes with a friend or two. I like the routine and I have walked so much every day since being here. Not to mention the endless set of stairs I have to climb to get to my dorm.

There has been some intensive assignments too which I work on throughout the day and focus on after my walk. Our first assignment was to read a manuscript (mine was a 260 page self-help book about stress) in a day and write what is known as a reader’s report on it. Our next assignment the following Monday was to produce three non-fiction book ideas on our assigned topic (mine was parenting).  

I had my first rainy evening in Oxford on Tuesday and it felt like a different place. The sky was gray. The stone cobbled roads wet and dark with rain. The buildings more saturated. The antique bubbled glass reflected the orange light of the street lamps. To me it felt like the magical dark academia I had envisioned. Nothing makes me more happy than a light drizzle where everyone else retreats inside and a calmness dampens the din.

Something that surprised me about Oxford is that it’s a bustling modern city. Most days, I feel very overstimulated by the crowds and noise. I’ve found myself retreating to quiet corners of parks at least once every day. When it rained, Oxford became less overwhelming and more like the scholarly city I had pictured. 

Exploring Beyond Exeter

During the week days when we have lectures, I often forget about the outside world. We are so secluded in our charming walls climbing with ivy and roses. During my evening walks or on a break between lectures to grab a latte, I am reminded of things existing beyond publishing. Of course, books are everywhere to be found. There are three bookshops within two-hundred feet of the college. 

During the first weekend, I saw the sights of Oxford. On Saturday, I visited Christ Church and did some shopping at a pop-up arts festival. The dean of Christ Church was the father of Alice who was the inspiration for Alice in Wonderland and little images from the novel can be seen in the dining hall windows at the college. On Sunday morning, we had a rude awakening when the fire alarms went off at seven in the morning. We all had to gather in the chapel of Exeter until they gave us the all clear. It seemed to be an accident but I couldn’t help falling asleep after it and I woke up much later than I wanted. I had a crepe for brunch before hitting the botanical gardens and visiting All Souls college. That night I had take out and wine in the common area and played banana grams with some other students. 

Because we are on an American schedule, we had Monday off for Labor Day. Brittney and I went to the Blenheim Palace, a stunning country house in Woodstock. We walked the gorgeously appointed rooms full of portraits of past residents and important figures. Each room was a treasure trove of perfectly preserved antiques. Former Prime Minister Winston Churchill was born in one of the interior rooms. 

I had the arguably best mac and cheese of my life at their cafe outside the stables. They had an exhibition going on in the stables where I finally got to try sitting side saddle! I had my own Princess Mia a la Princess Diaries moment. And it wasn’t as uncomfortable as I imagined. 

But the real gem of Blenheim was its expansive and highly curated gardens. It started to rain while we walked around the rose garden but I think it only added to the atmosphere. The roses were dotted with little droplets of rain that reflected the overcast gray sky. I drunk in the smell of their delicate perfume at every turn. 

Blenheim Palace even had an authentic hedge maze where I truly felt lost. It felt endless, I swear! They had a butterfly sanctuary too. The palace itself sat on a hill overlooking vast lakes with swans and ducks dotting their stormy blue waters. I was waiting for Mr. Darcy to pop up out after a dive and saunter over in a white blouse hugging his skin. Overall, it was such a pleasant little getaway to somewhere a little more green and a little less gold. Despite the resplendent gold gates that greeted us at the entrance to Blenheim. 

Last night with the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, I get to be a part of another moment in history. The news broke when we were all at dinner in the dining hall and the sounds of shock and surprise rippled out. It had only been that morning the palace had officially announced her declining health. When I took my evening walk, all of the churches were ringing their bells. They echoed a solemn call to mourn over the dewy meadows.

This all go to show that you never can predict what will happen and to live every day to its fullest. Embracing the mundane moments as magic. To do what is right, to do your best, and follow your heart.

I feel so grateful that I get to be learning so much in one of the most prestigious places on earth. A common lesson that has emerged over the course of our lessons is that the path to publishing in not linear. It meanders. Wanders. My path to get here was anything but linear as I floated between jobs and explored careers options. Every experience I have had offers transferrable skills that publishers will value. I’m excited to see where this course will lead me next. Until next week.

Happy Day-

The best time of the year to go is definitely late June/early July. This is when all the animals are still pretty active and not turned away by the surprisingly hot Montana summer. We went in August which is a nice time to go because it’s still hot outside and there are fewer crowds. But there is the danger of wildfires. We got super lucky this year that there were no wildfires nearby. Besides closing down areas, the fire smoke drifts and lingers, especially in the valley. This makes it hard to breath and will obstruct all those pretty views.

Iceberg Lake and West Glacier

The Iceberg Lake trail is a serious must for anyone visiting Many Glaciers in the western part of Glacier National Park. It’s about five miles to hike in but the trail is relatively flat and easy. We left early and made it to the pristine teal lake by lunchtime where we pulled out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and enjoyed the view.

The picture below is my favorite on this entire post! It’s just insane how beautiful the lake is tucked into the basin of mountains. There used to be actual icebergs floating in the lake all year round like ice cubes in a giant’s cocktail. But global warming has seen to them all melting during summer. There are still some patches of snow and glacier on the mountainside as you can see.

We finished the hike just in time because then it started to rain. As we were leaving the park left, the storm broke and it left us with this breathtaking view; the mountains seem to float among the clouds.

Flathead National Forest

Flathead National Forest is known for its abundance of lakes. Flathead Lake is a massive lake in the valley that stretches almost 30 miles long. A lot of Kalispell locals hike the Mount Aeneas trail that overlooks Jewel Basin. It’s my dad’s all-time favorite hike. And it does not disappoint!

Here is Jewel Basin from the top of Mount Aeneas:

And look! This wildflower is the same that I drew in my August bullet journal! I looked up some Montana wildflowers to draw in my mountain, pine, and floral bujo spread but I never imagined seeing the same flower in bloom while hiking.

All the snow-melt, glacier-filled lakes you can imagine lie tucked between the massive mountains.

We hiked down the other side of the mountain to get to the Jewel Basin lakes.

Kootenai National Forest

One day, we borrowed some ATV’s and drove through Kootenai National Forest where there are rivers where you can actually pan for gold! Yes, you can legally pan for gold in some of the rivers which seems like something from a bygone age. We didn’t try our luck but were observed all the gorgeous scenery driving on the back roads.

East Glacier

On the second to last day of our trip, we drove to East Glacier and hiked around Two Medicine Lake.

The hike around the lake took us to twin waterfalls tucked in the forest.

A small herd of big-horned sheep roamed the parking lot before we left. Here’s a cute baby ready to chase after its mama.

The lodge at Two Medicine is, in itself, a sight to behold. Here’s one of Glacier’s iconic red cars that shuttle people around the park.

Just driving around Montana gives such breathtaking views. There’s a reason they call it ‘big sky country’.

This trip was a great getaway and a nice detox from the hustle and bustle of suburban life. Nature is always relaxing and rejuvenating for me. How insignificant I feel compared to the glory of such sights.

Happy Traveling-

I traveled a ton last year when I lived and taught English in Spain. Yet, I traveled mostly by public transportation. Europe has some stellar train and bus services. But the US sadly doesn’t have the infrastructure.

Traveling less is the ultimate goal but I find it hard to balance living green and travel. Because I think traveling is so important!

If you can drive or take public transportation, that should be your number one choice. But it’s not always practical. My family and friends live all over the US and driving just won’t cut it. And not seeing them is also not an option in my book. So I’ve come up with some tips for traveling eco-friendly by air.

1. Bring a reusable water bottle

This one is probably the easiest the follow. I always bring a reusable water bottle with me wherever I go and traveling is no different! Make sure to go through security with it empty and then refill it after going through security. Many airports have bottle-filling station now which is amazing! If the taste of tap water might bother you, consider bringing a water bottle with a built-in filter.

2. Pack snacks and food

This one is a bit tricker, but planning ahead can help. If you have to buy food at the terminal (long layovers or the need for a full meal) try to eat at a restaurant. Or if getting it to go, get it wrapped in paper or put in your own container which can then be composted later.

Remember, that all carry-on liquids have to be under three ounces (or 100ml) so if packing meals, think of something without sauce or dressing. Sandwiches, sushi, or grain salads are all good bets. Avoid things like soup, salsa, and spreads.

I always pack a ton of snacks! My go-to snacks are nuts, dried fruit, granola bars, and chocolate. I have a crazy sweet tooth! Even fresh fruit is allowed through security. Although I’ve had some experience with squished fruit… Better stick with apples and other denser fruits.

3. Bring your own!

Pack everything that will help you avoid single-use plastic. I always bring my bamboo utensil kit, glass or bamboo straw, and a tote bag. If planning on buying food, consider bringing a cloth bulk bag. I also bring most of the things in my zero waste to go kit.

4. Pack light

I am quite a skilled packer if I do say so myself. I’m the queen of packing light. My first time to Europe, I fit three weeks worth of clothing in a carry on suitcase.

Logistically, the lighter you pack the less the plane has to carry and the less fuel used. Now, this seems a bit inconsequential. But if everyone packed light, then it really would make a difference to the amount of fuel used. Plus, packing light is less of a hassle in my experience.

5. Offset your carbon emissions and fly green

There are lots of organizations that you can donate to offset the emissions produced by your travel. I have even seen some airlines offer a “green” flying option where you can add the carbon offset to the price of your ticket. There are plenty of organizations out there where you can donate. Here are just a few:

Carbonfund.org: reduce what you can, offset what you can’t

MyClimate.org: calculate and compensate your emissions to protect the climate

CoTap.org: carbon offsets to alleviate poverty

Nativeenergy.com: a public benefit corporation

6. Download a digital boarding pass

This is convenient now with all the apps out there to help organize your travel tickets. Simply scan the barcode at security and before boarding. It’s easy to avoid a paper boarding pass.

7. Pack eco-friendly beauty products

This one is close to my heart as I love to talk about eco-beauty here on the blog. Packing your toiletries helps you refuse plastic samples in hotels. I’ll be posting my eco-friendly toiletries bag soon. But bar soap, zero waste shampoo/conditioner, sustainable makeup, dental tabs, dental lace, and a clear bag to store it all in.

8. Eco-friendly entertainment

We all have phones nowadays so staying occupied on the go is much easier. I always bring a second hand or a library book with me. Did you know most libraries have free audiobook and ebook apps? Just another way to get some free entertainment.

Overall, taking fewer flights is the best. Think of opting to stay longer in a location as opposed to flying to multiple locations in the same amount of time. I just love to travel but the impact it has on the environment is not ideal. Do you travel often? How do you stay sustainable at airports?

Happy Traveling-

On my Instagram, I shared some of my experience and my pictures of the event. I’m finally showing my nerd side a little bit. I preach a lot of zero waste and conscious living tips here on the blog but it’s not just a cool thing, it’s my way of life and my mindset. I try and approach everything with this in mind. Even my vacation!

My Second Hand Costume

Can anyone guess who I am?

I’m Padme from Episode II! I just love her costume from that movie. It’s iconic but also very easy to recreate. Adults normally are not allowed to dress up in costume at any of the Disney parks. But for this special event (and some other events like Halloween) you are allowed. So, of course, my best friend and I took advantage of the opportunity. Here she is as princess Leia! Oh plus us with Ewoks!

Zero Waste Cosplay Tips

Now, you may be wondering how I was able to recreate my costume. It was seriously easy! I did my own hair and makeup as well as my friend’s Leia buns. I had the scarf and the rest of it I purchased at my local thrift store. It’s not a perfect recreation but it’s pretty darn close I’d say.

It’s not about the details but the overall effect of the costume. The base is simple white pants and shirt. A tan scarf and belt help define the look as Padme’s. Even though her boots are tan, I bought these cute brown boots that fit the overall style and I can wear them this fall. The last touch was the armband that I used a scrap of thick silver ribbon.

Any real fans can tell who I am without all the perfect detail. And the funny thing is, almost no one was dressed up at the event! It was crazy! I was expecting a lot more people to be in costume. We got so many compliments on our outfits. And it was fun to be in costume to pose with all the characters.

Overall, what worked was the context of our costumes. Dressing up at a Star Wars event, it’s obvious who we are.

Star Wars Food

They had some special food available for the event. Here I am with a lightsaber churro! It came in a cool cardboard holder that can easily be composted.

Event Review

Okay, so the point of this post is not exactly all about my costume. It’s also about the event itself. I had no idea that Disney did these special events until my best friend told me to come down to Florida and celebrate with her. I was so in! These type of events are great for adults wanting to experience the park. We were able to get in early and go on some rides. But after the park “closed,” the rides had essentially no wait time and they had all these characters out that aren’t normally out.

I got a selfie with R2! He was made by a volunteer. It was cool to see someone’s talent and dedication on display. He was able to move and beep just like real R2 D2. Obviously, this post if a lot of me just being a complete nerd.

Many of the rides and shops were closed but all the popular ones were open. But I would definitely recommend attending an after hours events if you get the chance. I mean for a Star Wars fan, it was pretty epic. Too bad it wasn’t longer so I could have gotten a picture with my character husband Darth Vader. It would have been fun to confront him!

The Disney photo-pass photographers are seriously talented too! They captured this fun candid of us talking with Rey and Chewie. Chewie was telling Rey all about how I am her mom! It was just a unique experience that was possible since we came in cosplay! I hope you enjoyed a little insight into my mini vacation to Disney. I’d love to hear in the comments if you’ve ever experienced a Disney event after hours! Is this the first time you are hearing about it?

Happy Day-

Remaining zero waste while at the parks is not as easy. But it can be done! With some small preparation, managing to produce little waste is possible. It seems like a lot of zero waste bloggers live on the west coast. There are a couple of guides to being zero waste at Disneyland but here is your guide for Disney World. Your east coast, zero waste gal has your Florida guide to being eco-friendly in amusement parks that are not so eco-friendly. (Not yet anyway, there is hope that they will become more sustainable in the future!)

Before You Go

Every zero wasters mantra is to be prepared! By doing a little planning before going to Florida and before arriving at the parks, I was able to avoid a great deal of waste.

1. Pack all the essentials

I have a collapsible small backpack that I brought to Florida with me. I’ll be doing a comprehensive packing guide soon, so be on the lookout for that. In the meantime, here is what I packed the night before going to the park:

• Water bottle
• Utensil kit
• A straw (bamboo, glass, or metal)
• Metal tiffin container
  • For leftover food or compost. I ate all my food while at the park so I didn’t really need to bring this but you never know.
• A cloth napkin
  • For eating food on the go and to dry your hand after washing them.
• External phone charger
• Sunscreen
• Rain jacket
  • Florida always has rain! So come prepared with a rain jacket so you don’t have to buy a plastic poncho. It rained both days we were at the parks. It only rained for an hour each time but when it does rain, it’s a torrential downpour.

2. Download the Disney World App

Disney really has all the bells and whistles to make your life easier and to enjoy your time at the park. And their app is one of them! The app has a lot of features: you can view your tickets, reserve fast passes, make restaurant reservations, order food, and, my favorite feature, view the map! No need for paper maps anymore! The digital map has filters so you can view ride wait times, shops, attractions, characters, and much more. I created a Disney account to buy my park tickets so it was easy to download the free app and log in.

3. What to Wear

Make sure to look up the weather before packing! Go for lightweight fabrics and second-hand clothes. I wore a t-shirt (instead of a tank top) to cover my shoulders and prevent sunburn. I also recommend sneakers because of all the walking! But wearing a supportive sandal would work too because of the water rides and to keep yourself cool.

I was unsuccessful at finding any second hand Disney t-shirts at my local thrift store but I really want to rock a Tangled shirt. So before I left, I bought this cute cotton T from Etsy. It’s definitely not zero waste but I did support a small business and made sure the material was low impact. It’s made of cotton and the design is printed with sublimation printing technique, which is the best of the printing techniques in terms of sustainability.

But the rest of my outfit was indeed zero waste and perfect for the fickle Florida weather. I borrowed the Mickey ears from my friend who has a small collection of them. And both my jeans and sneakers were second-hand finds.

While at the Park

The biggest producer of waste while at the parks is food and drink. Most of the fast-food come served with disposable plates and most of the drinks come served in plastic cups. But Disney has now banned plastic straws! They are slowly but surely moving in the right direction. They provide paper straws at the parks which can be easily composted. Yet, there are not compost bins at Disney World, so you’d have to take it home to compost. But better still, if you bring your own straw you can avoid it altogether.

1. Eating meals at the park

My friend and I ate all three meals at Magic Kingdom on Sunday. We wanted to make the most of our one day at the park (arriving early and leaving late). Plus, there wasn’t a lot of options for dining between our Air BnB and the park.

My main advice is to eat at a sit-down restaurant with real plates. You might be worried that the price would be more but it can be reasonable. I’d rather sit down and enjoy a nice filling meal. And personally, some of the faster, cheaper meals are not as filling.

For breakfast, I had a muffin from one of their pastry stands. The muffin comes wrapped in paper which is easily compostable.

For lunch, we had reservations at the Be Our Guest restaurant! Besides the food being served on real plates, the atmosphere and decoration of the castle made it fun to eat there! But be aware, the drinks are self-serve in plastic cups so either bring your own or opt for simply drinking water. But just look at how fun the interior ballroom is:

For dinner, we ate at the Jungle Navigation Co. Skipper Canteen. I had the best curried vegetable crew stew! Opting for meatless dishes is another way to reduce your impact on the environment.

2. Snacks and concessions

There are some good snack options at the concession stands around the parks. Many of them come in simple paper or wax paper which can be composted. You just have to make sure to take it with you since they do not have compost bins at the park. They do have recycling though. So make sure to utilize the bins if you get something in plastic. I had a churro at Hollywood Studios and a Mickey pretzel at Magic Kingdom.

3. Water and drinks

I brought my own water bottle that was easily refilled throughout the day. The parks have plenty of water fountains (usually near bathrooms) where you can get a drink and/or fill up your bottle. The water in Florida tasted fine to me! Maybe a little bit like chlorine but if you are concerned about the taste, consider bringing a water bottle with a built-in filter.

At dinner that night, I decided to get a drink. When at the sit-down restaurants the drinks come in glass. Alcoholic beverages like wine or beer never come with straws. I had myself a cheeky glass of white wine to go with my curry dish.

4. Consider buying a magic band

If you go to Disney World often, I would consider buying a magic band. It links for life to your Disney account and can be scanned for tickets and fast passes. My friend has a magic band! And for her, it’s both convenient and sustainable because she can/will use it her whole life. She goes to parks often so she doesn’t have to get a card every time she goes to the park.

I decided not to buy a magic band this time around because my budget didn’t allow it. And I’m not sure when I’ll be returning to Disney. I’m sure I will go to Disney again in my lifetime and maybe next time I will invest in a magic band. But because I didn’t have a magic band, I was issued a plastic card. The card had my tickets and my fast passes. Being issued a card is not zero waste but I plan on keeping mine as a souvenir. I used the same card for the entire trip though. And I’m not sure if it can be reused… If it can, then I can produce a little less waste by refusing a new plastic card the next time I go.

But the main thing is to have fun! I tried not to beat myself up for not being completely zero waste. I went to Florida to see my friend and have a good time. Obviously, I could have not purchased a t-shirt. And I even accidentally used a paper towel to dry my hands in the bathroom. But these things happen. It’s all about being conscious of our choices in the first place.

I hope you found this helpful! How do you remain zero waste while traveling? And have you ever been to Disney World before? I’d love to hear about your experience below.

Happy Traveling-

Who else watches the HBO show Game of Thrones? I don’t want to brag but my brother and I have been watching the show since season one. Yup, we never had the pleasure of binge watching. We had to wait each week for a new episode and each year for a new season.

I’ve been lucky enough to travel to a few of the show’s filming locations. My first time to Europe was actually a study abroad trip to Croatia. They filmed a lot of the first couple seasons there! In some of the later seasons, they started filming in Spain where I lived and worked last year. While there, my family and I drove to Norther Spain to see one of Game of Thrones most iconic locations: Dragonstone.

My family and I visited here before they dropped off my brother and I to start El Camino de Santiago; read all about my first time walking the way of Saint James.

Gaztelugatxe, or the stairs above the sea, has a beautiful winding staircase from the mainland to a tall inlet. It’s located in the Basque region of Spain where they speak their own unique language. Gaztelugatxe translates to “the craggy fort” or “difficult castle” in Basque.

The inlet is called San Juan de Gaztelugatxe after the Saint. On top of the inlet sits a small hermitage to John the Baptist dating to (at least) the tenth century. The hermitage is stunning in the middle of nowhere. It’s quite isolated and has panoramic views.

Althought it had been made more popular by the show using it as a filming location. I still think it’s absolutely insane. It might even show up in the final season! If so, I will unabashedly fangirl. It’s just a lovely spot that I enjoyed seeing with my family but especially my brother. We were on the bandwagon before it was cool because of our mutual interest in fantasy. (Did you see I wrote a fantasy book? Fantasy is awesome!)

So without further ado, enjoy some pictures!

Happy Traveling-

Happy travel Tuesday! (I totally just made that up.) I’m still getting around to sharing some of the last pictures of my travels last year. Just a couple more (literally two) posts featuring some of my pictures.

My parents and neighbors visited me in Spain after I finished my school year in Córdoba. My parents then dropped my brother and I off in Jean St. Pied de Port and we walked El Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage across northern Spain. (Read my reflection here after walking 460 km!) In a nine-passenger van, we drove around Northern Spain, visited wineries, and ate pinchos. Here are some of my pictures of the region!

Segovia

La Rioja

As always, I wish there would have been more time to explore this rich region more. But it just means I’ll have to visit again to experience some more famous La Rioja red wine.

Happy Travels-