Joseph Michael is a student at University of Colorado Boulder and an ISA Featured Photo Blogger. He studied with ISA in Barcelona, Spain.
It’s noon and you just left the on-campus study abroad office after getting your ISA acceptance e-mail to study abroad in Barcelona. Did your advisor tell you about what excursions are included? If not, let this post give insight as to why you should start looking into these amazing trips if you haven’t already. Although you and your friends may have started planning trips like Prague, Amsterdam, or maybe another city to visit during this weekend, I highly suggest reconsidering your travel plans for one particular trip: the South of France. ISA takes you to some of the most incredible small towns and cities that I would have surely never put on my list of places to visit while abroad, that most of you are starting to compile now.
The photo above shows you one of the many breathtaking views you will experience on this trip. Here is Girona, Spain, the medieval capital of the Catalonia, where you will walk through tight cobblestone-filled quarters feeling as if you are in an episode of Game of Thrones – which by the way was filmed here.
After visiting Girona you may think to yourself ‘what could top those views?’ Well, the city of Toulouse is breathtaking in its own right. A vibrant city filled mostly with students, Toulouse, France truly has it all! Whether you’d wish to spend time at the river by day, or perhaps dine in a traditional French restaurant by night, the options in Toulouse are endless. The city is also full of history from the middle ages! You will find that the time spent here just isn’t enough to fully experience the great ambiance of this quaint place – leaving you wanting to come back for another trip.
Positioned perfectly on the Mediterranean, Collioure, France is famous for its seafood – particularly the mussels! The people in this small town truly know how to take full advantage of the beauty outside by closing doors in the afternoon. After going from door to door I learned that there are places in the world with restaurants and shops that completely shut down before 2:30 in the afternoon. Don’t miss out on the delicious food and be sure to make an early reservation!
The world awaits…discover it.