Why You Should Visit Croatia ASAP

With over 1,000 islands and mainland stretching on the Dalmatian Coast of the Adriatic Sea, Croatia is definitely a place you should add to your European bucket list. It's increasingly becoming more popular, so it's best to go now before it gets overrun with tourists. Here are some more reasons of why you should visit Croatia ASAP:

Because it's gorgeous

Dalmatian Coast, Croatia

Because it's cheap - $1 = 5.56 kuna

kuna change croatia money

Because there are cool medieval towns, like this one (Trogir)

Split and Trogir, Croatia

Trogir, Croatia 2

Because A Game of Thrones films there

Game of Thrones Filming in Croatia

Because the seafood is authentic and fresh

Eating fish in Croatia

Fish in Croatia

Because the sunsets are breathtaking

Croatian Sunset

Because there are plenty of things to do:

...like white water rafting

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or driving along the coast

Driving in Croatia

Because the waterfalls are beyond amazing

Krka Waterfalls

Swan in Croatia Krka

...and you can go swimming near them

Krka waterfalls swimming

Need I say more?

Photos: Ally Archer

Custom Sandals From Capri

When I was in the Amalfi Coast in Italy last fall, I made sure to get a pair of custom made sandals from Capri. If you're headed to Amalfi, I highly recommend it - these are by far the most comfortable sandals I own, and knowing they're one-of-a-kind makes them extra special. There are plenty of custom sandal shops in Capri as well as Positano and  the surrounding area. You choose your strap color and the jewels you want on the strap as well as the strap design. Then the shoemakers create your custom sandal right in front of you. They cost between 70 euro for a simple pair and around 100-150 for pairs that have adornments. Mine were originally 120 euro, but I was able to haggle the price to 75 euro (score!).

After a month of almost daily use of the sandals, one of my jewels started to detach. I called the shop and asked them how to go about fixing it since I was back in my home base of Florence and wouldn't be returning to Southern Italy any time soon. The shop owner happened to be coming up to Florence later that week, and we met at the train station upon his arrival. He quickly fixed the jewel on the sandal for no extra charge. I was impressed by this customer service! It made my annoyance with the jewel detaching go away.

My friends and I got our sandals from Cuccarullo, located at Via Cristoforo Colombo 36 on the island of Capri. You can order them online, but it seems like the website is a little outdated in terms of sizing options. I'd recommend getting them in person anyways though since they size the sole and straps to your feet perfectly!

Stunning Time Lapse Video of Europe

Check out this beyond stunning video of time lapses taken throughout a photographer's trip to Europe. You'll see natural beauty like stars, the Northern Lights, and beaches as well as the incredible man made monuments like the Colosseum and the Eiffel Tower. Warning: you're going to have major wanderlust after watching this video.

8 Unedited Photos of Croatian Sunsets

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It's no secret that Croatia has some of the world's most beautiful sunsets. Here are 8 original, unedited photos of sunsets taken in Split and Trogir.

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Photos captured by Ally Archer

Europe on Instagram: Part 2/2

This is the second part of Europe on Instagram with more photos from Florence as well as Prague, Istanbul, and Rome during late fall/early winter of 2013.

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Europe on Instagram: Part 1/2

This is part one of Europe on Instagram: photos I've posted during my recent travels on the continent - by living in Florence and traveling to Milan, the Amalfi Coast, Munich, the French Riviera during late summer/early fall.

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The Beautiful Italian Island You've Probably Never Heard Of

When you think of Italian islands, names that often come to mind are Capri, Sicily, or Sardinia. While there are plenty of Italian islands, one of my favorites, Elba, lies in the Tuscan Archipelago. Think the bluest water you can imagine, delicious Italian food (one of the best paninis I've ever had was at Elba), and plenty of sunshine. Elba Island was an easy choice to choose for a weekend away during my study abroad experience, after a friend suggested it and we got a group together to go. Elba is a great place for a quick getaway, and close if you happen to be in Florence, like many students, or in the Tuscan region.

How To Get There (From Florence)

Take a train from Florence Santa Maria Novella to Pisa Centrale. From there, take a train or bus to Piombino. At Piombino, get on a ferry to Elba Island. We stayed in Cavo, which is a small beach town on the northeast tip of the island. There are only daily ferries to Cavo, but there are hourly ferries to Portoferrario, which is more of a common town for tourists.

The only English-speaking person we encountered in Cavo was an Australian man that owned a restaurant. This was refreshing because we had just spent the previous weekend on an opening tour in Rome, and while it was beyond incredible, it was nice to get away from the hustle and bustle and all the tour groups. We went up to Portoferrario during one of the days to relax on the beach, do some shopping, and grab a bite for lunch.

Oh, and did you know that Napoleon was exiled there in 1814?

Map: Wikipedia

Photos: My own