BUS 449 Post 7: Cancun, Mexico.

            Cancun, Mexico is one amazing tourist destination, for sure! I had always wanted to go to Mexico and I finally got to in the summer of 2012. My parents, my best friend and I vacationed in Cancun for a week and that trip will always be happily remembered. We stayed in a big, all-inclusive hotel, situated right on the beach, which had several outdoor pools, lots of palm trees around, and a great, friendly staff.

Every morning we woke up, got breakfast and went straight to the beach. The water was a warm and clean and a tranquil color. I love the beach so much and that beach we went to was just perfect! Cancun weather is tropical and humid with plenty of sunshine. Having ice cold drinks, while sunbathing in the sun or chilling in the shade was only part of what we got into while we were away. One of the days we were there, we went far into the Caribbean Sea on jet skis to go snorkeling. One guy was leading the way as we got further and further into the sea and several of us were following. At one point we were moving so fast, it almost felt like we were flying over the water. It was a bit of an extreme experience, but I cannot complain, I enjoyed the ride J When we got far enough, we stopped the jet skis and got to snorkel in the deep waters. I saw so many cute, little fishes, I was thrilled.

In the evenings, we normally went to the downtown area of the city, which was only a short bus ride away. It is very easy and cheap to get around Cancun. The city was buzzing; lots of people, lots places to dine, shop, and party. One of the nights we even go to go to a club. The music was good and they had a special dance performance with male and female dancers and part of the ceiling coming down as a special effect.

One of the days we rented a car and went to another extremely beautiful city, Playa del Carmen, which was a couple hours away. The beach was gorgeous and so was the architecture all around. We came across a wedding that was happeneing on the beach and had an awesome day.

The set up for the wedding.

With so many fun-filled activities and spots such as watersports, tours, zip lines, cruises, jungle adventures, shopping and dining areas, and spas, one could never be bored in Cancun! The city is home of the Mayan archaeological wonders, turquoise seas, a bountiful underwater world, and world-class vacation amenities. I would recommend it to anyone!

Sources: http://cancun.travel/en/

Right outside our hotel.

My friend and I in the pool.

The view from our room.

BUS 449 Post 6: Valencia & Gandia, Spain.

Hi there!

                 Today’s travel destinations I will write about are Valencia and Gandia, two great cities in eastern Spain, near the Mediterranean Sea. Valencia’s history dates back to the year 138 BC. There are many impressive remnants and architectures that are worth exploring. The city offers the perfect mix of culture, cinema, theatre, museums, and business. People go there to admire the fabulous avant-garde buildings and designs and enjoy the sand, clean waters and coastal mountains of the Valencian coast. Some worthwhile places to visit while you are there may be: the beaches and dunes at Canet d’En Berenguer, the beaches of La Malvarrosa and Levante, where people walk around, dine, and find great entertainment, and Saler Beach or the L’Albufera Nature Reserve, which is where you can enjoy the nature and take some time to relax.

Valencia City.
Photo courtesy: http://paradiseintheworld.com/valencia-spain/

                When I went to Valencia, even though it was only for a day, I had a great time walking around, checking out the city’s famous architecture, shopping and trying Valencia’s top rice dish, the “paella.” The rest of my stay in Spain, I spent in a much smaller town called Gandia. Gandia is the capital of the county of La Safor and is located between the mountains inland and the Mediterranean Sea. The strip of sand is almost five kilometers long, offering admirable beaches and good climate throughout the whole year. I stayed at a friend’s house, which was near the downtown area. We walked around every day, snacked at some lovely cafes, and shopped. Two of the five nights I was there, we went out clubbing. Spanish people are famous for their big “fiestas” for a reason, I must say. They do go all night to see the sun come up early in the morning and they do know how to have fun! I had a great time dancing the night away.

Sources: www.spain.info

A photo that I took in downtown Valencia.

Trying the Spanish paella. It was delicious!

Something interesting I came across while walking around Gandia. A guy had this set up on the street.

BUS 449 Post 5: Hawaii

Warm, tranquil waters, breathtaking, natural beauty – there is only one place this could be: Hawaii! The six beautiful islands offer distinct experiences for visitors of all ages. In this post I will tell you a little bit about each island and hopefully help you with the difficult decision on which one to go to.

Kauai is the oldest and northernmost island of the six. Outdoor adventures and romantic getaways are only part of what the incredibly beautiful piece of land has to offer. Some great, suggested activities include: the beaches of the Coconut Coast, the Waimea Canyon, "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific" and the towering cliffs of the Napali Coast, which are only a short boat ride away.

Oahu is the state capital of Hawaii and where most of the Hawaiian population resides. There you can find both, natural and cultural wonders. There are many historical memorials and museums to explore, fantastic mountain views, big waves for the surf lovers, and plenty of entertainment. This is the island I visited in 2010 when I went to Hawaii for the first time. I am saying for the first time, because I am most definitely planning on going back sometime soon. I went with my mom and a friend of ours. We stayed in a hotel just across the street from the main beach in Waikiki. It was my first time going somewhere tropical and I was truly amazed.The nature was incredibly beautiful, I had never seen anything like it: palm trees everywhere, cocouts, brightly colored fishies, coral reefs... all this left me speechless.

Hiking in the rainforest.

One of the days we were there, we went whale watching. A boat took us to Oahu's southern seas and we saw the majestic kohola (humpback) whale. From December to May, they go to the warm Hawaiian waters to breed and give birth to new calves.

On the boat when we went whale watching.

The next day, we rented a car, a red convertible, and drove around the whole Oahu Island. Half way through our adventure, we stopped at a food truck on the side of the road and had some delicious sea food for lunch. Driving around and passing by magnificent beaches with the wind blowing in our hair was amazing: it felt like we were in paradise!

The third island is Molokai. With half of its inhabitants being of Native Hawaiian ancestry, the island has preserved its connection to the past. Some interesting things to see are: the main town and seaport, Kaunakakai, the Kalaupapa National Historical Park, and one of the largest white sand beaches in Hawaii, Papohaku Beach.

Another unique island in the island chain is Lanai. There you can find opulent resorts for the perfect getaway. Treat yourselves well in luxury and privacy on your romantic escapade. Highlights of the island include: Hulopoe Bay, Lanai City, the rock formations at Keahiakawelo, and the Keahiakawelo (Garden of the Gods) landscape.

The second largest island is Maui. Some say that the island has some of the best beaches in the world. Whale watching takes place every winter in Lahaina, a historic hot spot. The Haleakala National Park is the scenic home to Maui’s highest peak and Hana is famous for its spectacular scenery.

The last island is the Hawaii Island (the Big Island). This one is larger than all the other islands combined and it offers lots of sandy beaches to snowcapped mountains. There you can see waterfalls, rainforests, botanical gardens, check out Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes and much more.
            Well, I hope this was helpful. I personally, would love to see all of the islands J The nature, the customs and culture of the Hawaiian people, the weather are out of this world. There is no place like Hawaii!

Sources: http://www.gohawaii.com/

The view from our hotel room.

This is how bright and colorful the fish there really are.
Photo: http://virtualenglishclassroom.blox.pl/html

BUS 449 Post 4: Niagara Falls

The Niagara Falls is a destination unlike any other. Located on the border between Ontario, Canada and New York of the United States, the incredible waterfall attracts many visitors every day.

View of the Horseshoe Falls as seen from Ontario.

The word "Niagara" is derived from the Iroquois Indian word "Onguiaahra" meaning "the strait." The three distinctive falls of this natural wonder are called the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls, and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.  The highest drop is about 176 feet (53.6 meters) high, but due to rocks at the base, the actual fall is 70 feet (21.3 meters). The Bridal Veil Falls is named for its appearance. It is located next to the American falls, separated by a small piece of land called Luna Island. What’s interesting is that almost 1/3 of the Canadian Falls lies within US Territory and Terrapin Point is in Canada.

When I was twelve or thirteen-years old, some friends, my parents and I visited the Niagara Falls. We toured the Canadian side of the Falls, meaning that we were looking at the falling water from across. The view was breathtaking! I am not sure whether the waterfall is considered one of the seven wonders of the world, but to me it undoubtedly is.

The most memorable moment of our visit was when we hopped on the "Maid of the Mist Boat” and enjoyed a ride from the docks past the base of the American Falls, then into the basin of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. Everyone on the boat was wearing raincoats because water was sprinkling everywhere. The closer we got to the Falls, the louder the roar of the water was. Being on a boat and seeing the falling water from below made me realize how extremely high the Falls really are. It was so exciting - a half hour thrill of a lifetime!

Photo by: Mahmoud Saati

Another amazing part of our adventure was when we went deep below and behind the heart of Niagara. An attraction called the “Journey Behind the Falls,” took us through tunnels as we stood in the mist where the magnificent Horseshoe Falls tumbles. It was quite a wonderful journey indeed! I wish I could relive the moment... I definitely recommend the Niagara Falls as a destination to all of you! No, seriously, it's a great place to visit with the whole family! :)

Sources: http://www.niagarafallstourism.com/http://www.niagarafallslive.com/facts_about_niagara_falls.htmPhotos: http://www.niagarafallstourism.com/image-gallery/

The waterfall is spotlighted with bright colors in the evenings.
Photo by: Volkov Mikhail

Photo by: Adam McInnis

Niagara Falls Skyline in the winter.Photo by: Joe Lewis

BUS 449 Post 3: The Best of Both Worlds

Dear friends,

I will now continue telling you my story. When I was in high school, I was still quite unsure of what I wanted to do with my life after graduation. I knew I wanted to go to college, but there were a million of possibilities… In the first semester of my senior year I started working on college applications; I sent out apps to several schools in California, some of which were close to home, and then to one which was much further away, the American University in Bulgaria.

My parents and I visited AUBG when we were visiting Bulgaria the year before and thought that going there was definitely an option. AUBG is a private, American-style liberal arts university located in Blagoevgrad. Blagoevgrad is a rather small city in southwestern Bulgaria that lies at the foot of the Rila and Pirin Mountains. There were a number of pros that we could think of that helped me make up my mind to continue my higher education exactly there. First of all, since my parents were thinking about moving back to Bulgaria, they thought it would be a good idea for me to try to catch up on the culture, traditions and customs of the country. Second, since I spent years missing my friends and family back in Bulgaria, they thought that sending me there would be the perfect opportunity to get reunited with all of them. Third, the financial factor surely had some influence on our decision. I got accepted to almost all the California schools that I applied to, but some were extremely expensive. Going to AUBG and getting an American education, while reconnecting with my roots, seemed like the perfect fit at the time. All my Bulgarian friends and family were happy to hear that I was considering coming back home for school and all my American friends thought that studying abroad was “so cool” and “an experience of a lifetime,” so I decided to got fot it.
            If you ask me whether I would make the same decision now that I’ve experienced AUBG and Bulgaria, I would still have a hard time making up my mind. The truth is that there are some things and people that I love here, in Bulgaria, and other things and friends that I miss every day, who are in the US. This is the thing about growing up in two different countries: I will never be one hundred percent sure which one I prefer. I like traveling from one place to the other; I like catching up with the important people in my life; I like getting the best of both worlds.

BUS 449 Post 2: Culture Shock

Hello Fellow Bloggers!

Last time, in my very first post, I briefly introduced myself and mentioned that I have lived in a few different places. I will now extend on the bibliographical information about me and tell you about the culture shock I had to go through, not once, but a couple of times in my life!
            I was born in a small town in Bulgaria, but only lived there for about ten years, because when I was eleven, my mom won a Green Card through the visa lottery and her, my dad and I immigrated to the US. The year was 2003 and I had barely finished the 4th grade when we moved to Detroit, Michigan. We chose Detroit, because we had some family friends living there and they lent us a hand in the beginning and showed us around. The change was dramatic! Everything was completely different from I had been used to. Although we were in the suburbs of Detroit, the city and its surroundings were much bigger than my home town. Everyone traveled by car and nobody ever walked. There was no public transportation and we couldn’t even go to the store without getting in a vehicle.

When I started school I barely spoke any English. I had to take special English as a Second Language classes and mostly hung out with one Bulgarian girl. She had moved there about half a year before me and was my very first friend and my mentor.  We were often observed by the other students and were known as “the Bulgarians, who barely speak English.” Talking to her in Bulgarian when nobody around understood us was kind of fun, I must admit. We could gossip all the time!  :D
            But even though I had picked up the language pretty quickly and had started to make some friends at school, the truth was I was very unhappy for the most part. I was feeling homesick, I missed friends and the rest of my family and it was very hard to get used to the new life.

Two years later, when I was finally starting to get used to the school and the city, my parents announced to me that we were moving, again! This time to California! Initially, I had mixed feelings about it… It wasn’t like I loved living in Detroit all that much, but starting from scratch all over again? Really?! I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea; I was scared and worried, but thank God my parents came through with the move, because moving to San Francisco was probably the best thing that has ever happened to me!
            At first I had no idea that I would end up loving it so much. I mean I always thought the city is extremely beautiful, but living there took quite a bit of getting used to. New state, new school, new people… it was pretty big of an adjustment, but it might have been a bit easier the second time around. Finishing middle school there was alright, but I really started loving it when I went into high school. Suddenly, things were getting better in every perspective. The language barrier was gone, I had become a fluent English-speaker, I made some great friends, I am still very close to today and the high school culture was much more fun in general. Every year was more exciting and fun than the previous one and by the time I was a senior I had completely fallen in love with San Francisco and the Bay Area. Now that I’ve said that you might wonder, how did I make the decision to move back to Bulgaria for college? Well, I will save that for my next post! J

Thank you for following!  

Going downtown on the ferry.

My parents and I by the Golden Gate Bridge.