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Around the Globe: Summer Travels

This summer, our team got to travel to some amazing places. I celebrated my sister’s graduation with a family trip to Europe, while my co-workers got to explore some major destinations in the United States. I thought I’d share our team’s globetrotting experiences with you to hopefully fuel your wanderlust and inspire your next trip. Summer may be coming to an end, but there’s always a new adventure on the horizon.

ITALY

Elizabeth, our marketing manager, traveled to Florence and Copenhagen in late spring with her husband, Kevin. Here are some photos and anecdotes about their experience.

“Climbing the Duomo in Florence, Italy was an experience. The tiny stairwells are packed with people and the curved shape makes for some crazy stair configurations. The view is completely worth it though.”

“Kevin eating Italian aperitivo. This is free snacks served at bars generally between 6-8 before dinner. It is such a cool benefit and I wish bars in the US would do it.”

DENMARK

“What do you do when you travel thousands of miles to go on vacation to Denmark? Go to Ikea! Everything, including the food, was exactly the same but we still had a great time taking the train there and walking around the cute neighborhood.”

FRANCE

Since I took French in high school, France held the top of my travel bucket list for the longest time. Paris was of course the first stop on my two-week vacation in Europe. As my family and I where taking a cab into the city, I was overcome with the most magical feeling ever.

Everything that defines Paris from the charming little streets to dramatic cathedrals came to life in front of my eyes. I was enchanted, and it was like love at first sight.

A spectacular view of the city of love from the Eiffel Tower.
Being in Paris, I felt like my world expanded. Holding a MOVA Globe near the Eiffel Tower summed up that feeling perfectly.
The Louvre is known for housing the famous Mona Lisa painting, but forget Mona, there was another lady I wanted to see! My favorite sculpture of all time is the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and it was glorious to see her in real life. The way they presented her in the Louvre is perfect, as you had to climb a sweeping staircase to reach her pedestal.

We also visited Honfleur, a picturesque town in lower Normandy. Although Paris is grand and beautiful, Honfleur was the perfect place to experience that small, charming European town feeling. We had some of our favorite meals there too (fresh-baked croissants and, believe it or not, fried chicken).

UNITED KINGDOM

Whereas Paris was a place for me to get swept up by grandeur and art, London was a place to see culture and urban life come together. I loved the diverse food and diverse people there, and seeing people relax and enjoy a beer at the many pubs throughout the city. And of course, who doesn’t love hearing English accents everywhere?

Hello, it’s me. I’m a typical tourist.
We had a WHALE of a time at the London Natural History Museum.
Lovely views in the port town of Dover.

SPAIN

The weather in France and the UK was pretty mild and even occasionally overcast, but Spain was blazing with heat the entire time. In Spain, we visited Barcelona and Seville. No one’s a fan of  sweat-inducing hot weather, but the endless sun made the cities vibrant and full of culture and flavor.

The Plaza Espana in Seville is known as the “Venice of Spain” with its grand pavilions, ornate towers and columns, and boat-filled canals. The sheer scale of the place took my breath away.
You can literally get lost in the narrow alleys and streets of Barcelona and Seville, but seeing details like potted plants, balconies, and hung-up clothing around every corner makes that an adventure in itself.
One of my favorite places in Barcelona was La Boqueria, a large public market. Filled with fresh food stalls and little bars to sit and dine at, it was a food shopper’s paradise. There were plenty of these stands that sold fruit juices in every flavor you could imagine and displayed them in all colors of the rainbow. I could NOT resist getting one with the intense summer heat.

A trip to Barcelona would not be complete without seeing a building designed by Antoni Gaudi, a brilliant architect who devised some of the most imaginative, unusual buildings. We got to see La Sagrada Familia – a spellbinding cathedral that has been in construction since 1892, and Parc Guell, a large garden complex that combines lush greenery and creative architecture.

Am I trying to hold up this column or just squatting and making faces?

NEW YORK CITY

Tori, our graphic designer and social media coordinator, had the chance to visit New York City for the first time. She couldn’t help but feel swept off her feet by the Big Apple.

Breathtaking view of the skyline from the Brooklyn Bridge.
Another view from Mr. Purple’s rooftop bar. Did you know that the One World Trade Center is 1,776 feet tall, making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, and the sixth-tallest in the world?
Checking out the New York Public Library and coincidentally stumbled upon an awesome display of MOVA Globes.
She bought a subway pass so she could travel like a local. Her favorite station? Grand Central Terminal, of course!

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Alex, my co-worker, hung out here in Southern California, messing around at Universal Studios Hollywood and geeking out with his nephews at Comic Con here in San Diego.

SEATTLE

After Europe, I got to visit another city on my bucket list, Seattle! While I didn’t have too much time to explore the city since I was exhibiting the Seattle Gift Show, I still got a good taste of what the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

Pike Place is certainly one of the highlights and was everything I thought it would be. I love seeing fresh food, produce, seafood, and flowers on sale in a bustling environment. It just felt so local, authentic, and full of character, which I love.

Because I was in Seattle, I felt that it was totally appropriate to pig out to lots of chowder and lobster and dungeness crab rolls.
As expected, Dale Chihuly’s glass-blown works at the Chihuly Museum are a feast for the eyes.
I got a beautiful skyline view of the city from Gas Works Park. It was the perfect way to spend my last night in this great city. I can’t wait to be back.

Where did you travel to this summer? Share your adventures with us using the hashtag #aroundtheMOVAGlobe.