Move to La Rioja, 8 Reasons why you should

move to La Rioja

Several months ago, I made a move to La Rioja. I no longer live in the Granada.

You’re probably saying to yourself “okay where in the heck is La Rioja?” If you know me personally, you’re probably saying “okay I think that’s in Spain because it sounds like Spanish and I know Nina lives in Spain. But beyond that, I have no idea.” And if it just so happens that you’re a wine nerd, then you might have heard the name La Rioja somewhere as you did that swirl and sniff thing. Either way, the majority of you probably have no idea where or what La Rioja is.

First of all, La Rioja is located in Spain. It’s one of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities (basically like states in Spain). It is the smallest region and it’s largest city has a population of only about 150,000 people. That city is called Logroño and much like La Rioja, I doubt you’ve ever heard of it either.

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5 Best Language Learning Apps

best language learning apps

One big part of my life overseas in Spain is speaking Spanish. My move here would not be the same (and significantly a lot more difficult) if I hadn’t learned the language. To many people, the idea of learning a foreign language seems so daunting and complex. People often say “oh I wish I could, but I don’t have the time or money.”

However this is also 2018. It amazes me all the things that we can do from the comfort of our own homes these days. All we need is a computer or smart phone, and an internet connection. There are many apps that you can use to learn and practice languages, and they’re free!

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How to Spend 48 Hours in Zaragoza, Spain

48 hours in Zaragoza

Several weekends ago, I escaped to the fifth largest city in Spain. Have you got any guesses as to what that city is? While Sevilla and Valencia are great guesses, they’re wrong. Zaragoza is the answer. Have you heard of Zaragoza? If not, you will soon see why spending 48 hours in Zaragoza is an absolute must.

Zaragoza, Spain is located in the North of Spain in the region of Aragón. It’s just a few hours from Barcelona. If you’re looking for another city to add to your Barcelona trip, look no further. Zaragoza is your answer! With it’s rich history and beautiful architecture, it’s not a city you want to miss!

Several weekends ago, I spent the weekend in the city of Zaragoza with my friend Anjie. We absolutely fell in love with the city.

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A Weekend in the best Zaragoza Hostel

best Zaragoza hostel

As far as hostel experiences go (and I have had many hostel experiences over the past several years), we ended up in the best Zaragoza hostel last weekend. Zaragoza in October is cold, but the hostel was a nice, comfortable place out of the elements. A place to catch up on some rest and connect with other travelers.

Last weekend, I traveled to Zaragoza, Spain for a few nights with my friend Anjie. Since both of us work as teachers, we attempt to travel on a budget. This often means staying in hostels. When looking at the different options in Zaragoza, Albergue Zaragoza Hostel jumped out at me. It’s located in a historic building and houses a jazz club in the basement. Furthermore, it’s location is right in the middle of the city. It seemed to be the best Zaragoza hostel for what we needed that weekend.

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Key Canadian Events and Festivals

Canadian festivals

Canada is one of the leading tourist destinations in the world, given that it is the second largest country in the world in terms of landmass and this guarantees a superfluity of a lot of attractions. Besides, the sheer size of the country and the fact that it is an immigrant’s heaven guarantees the presence of a lot of events and festivals enjoyed by both Canadians, as well as visitors for all walks of life.

If you after a mad fun and you like being part of some of the top events in the world, then you should make Canada one top destination this year. Get your visa ready or go for the Canada ETA (if you are from the countries classified and visa-exempt by the Canadian government), because there are lots of events and festivals waiting for you in Canada. Here is a look at some of the key Canadian event and festivals you should strive to attend.

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7 Companies With Online Teaching Jobs

online teaching jobs

Online teaching jobs are the wave of the future. One of the ways I earn money each week is by teaching English. However the job doesn’t involve printing anything or going anywhere. Instead I simply log onto a website on my computer and teach classes over video calls. I love that it’s comfortable and that I can do it from anywhere.

I have been teaching English online for about a year and a half. It took me a bit to find the company that was right for me. The truth is, there are lots of companies with online teaching jobs. Each one is a little bit different than the other. I decided that instead of writing this entire post myself, I would interview people who work with different companies that offer online teaching jobs. Best of luck in finding that perfect online teaching job!

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Why Tourists Love National Day and Golden Week in China

golden week in China

Image Source: Chinese American Family

Since the year 2000, China has enjoyed a seven-day holiday period that includes three days paid holiday for Chinese workers and with weekend days thrown in, it adds up to a glorious seven-day long holiday. October 1st sees the celebrations begin with National Day, the founding of the People’s Republic of China and according to statistics, up to 700 million Chinese travel during this seven-day period.

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A Day Trip to Vitoria, Spain

day trip to Vitoria

Last weekend, I took a day trip to Vitoria, Spain. One of my favorite things about living in a new region is how many new places I have to explore! The lovely city of Vitoria is just an hour away from Logroño, making it the perfect day trip! So last Saturday, I got a group of friends together and we went!

Where is Vitoria?

Vitoria is the capital city of the Basque Country in the Northern part of Spain. The Basque Country is also famous for the cities of Bilbao and San Sebastian. It’s only about an hour drive from both cities, making a day trip to Vitoria the perfect thing if you’re already visiting the Basque Country. If you are unfamiliar with either of these cities, it’s about a 5-hour drive from Barcelona.

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Exploring Nájera, Spain this fall

exploring Nájera

I have spent the past month or so exploring Nájera, Spain. Have you heard of Nájera? If not, I’m not super surprised. Heck most people outside of Spain haven’t even heard of La Rioja, the region it’s located in. I would have never come to this town if it hadn’t been for a recent life change.

Those of you who read the blog regularly or follow me on social media know that I moved to Granada, Spain two years ago. You all probably also know that I love Granada. If you’ve been, you understand why. If not, you can probably tell from pictures why I love that city. However my teaching program only lets us live in the Andalucía region for two years. So I looked at that as an opportunity to move to a different region and see what Spanish life is like somewhere else.

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Traveling Sober: 10 Tips for a Great Vacation

When you are sober, the thought of taking a vacation may make you nervous. For many, travel is associated with relaxing and having a good time with a drink in hand. With these ten tips, you can have a wonderful vacation while continuing your sobriety journey.

1. Find Meetings Ahead of Time

As part of your travel arrangements, locate the closest support meetings to your destination. Be sure to put a file on your phone with times and directions. Plan to attend a couple, and you will have the information for the rest of them just in case you need to go.

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