my year in pictures according to my iphone

Hello everyone! I know the year is not finished yet but, as I started a new job, I feel like I have to make a balance of my year so far, especially as it has been the best ever :)

Jan - This was a stressful month but it was also when I happily discovered I was going to NY for 6 months!
1, 2, 3: In the neighbour country Spain, doing our last trip before my moving to NY.

Feb - Very happy but also very tired of looking for a place in NY.
1: First day - The City, gorgeous under the snow viewed from lovely Hoboken, NJ.
2: Cold requires creative dressing.
3: Goofing in Central Park.

Mar - Starting to live the life of a New Yorker
1: With friends after a party. I laughed so much and so hard that night!
2: First time in The High Line, it was love at first sight.
3: My lovely friends Guida and Luis making me feel at home during Easter.

Apr - Travel, travel, travel.
1: Washington, DC
2: Chicago
3: My favourite flowers in every corner of NY :)

May - Relaxing.
1: I discovered what is ever since my favourite little garden in NY.
2: Boston! (no bombs this time...)
3: The start of the amazing NY summer sunsets.

Jun - Boyfriend in town.
1: My flat friends and I only discovered our own building rooftop in June but oh did we use it ;)
2: My boyfriend came to visit!
3: Hanging in Hoboken with friends Guida and Luis.

Jul - July gets 9 pictures as it was impossible to have less: it was my birthday, my mom went to visit and it was the last month in NY.
1: Key West, Florida. My boyfriend and I did a roadtrip through Florida, I loved it.
2: My mom went to visit on the week of my birthday.
3: Top of the Rock. (Finally)
4: Breathtaking sunset from Roosevelt Island. It has no filter whatsoever.
5. The finished Freedom Tower.
6. The Hamptons!
7. Getting the most out of the outdoor benches that are in every café or shop in NY. Love those!
8. Outdoor film with a view.
9. Last barbecue in our rooftop. And saying goodbye to my dear friend Guida.

Aug - The return.
1: Sunset on the beach.
2, 3: Beautiful Lisbon by night.

Sep - New job, last days of holidays.

1: Lovely Amsterdam.

2: Hiking

3: Back to the hidden backyards of Lisbon.

Have a great week. I already feel more energised after writing this post. My year has been truly amazing. Thank you all that have been part of it and that have been making it so special :) You know who you are*

Maria Ana

Florida

Hello!

Remember I told you I had gone to Florida? Finally, I am showing you some photos.
We flied to Orlando, rented a car (it was a pain but we got it after half an hour of discussing with the salesmen that we indeed had money on our cards, his boss coming over and solving it in 30 seconds...), and drove to Clearwater. We couchsurfed at a lovely lady's house, we talked with her for hours and, I think, we made her want to visit Portugal and eat tons of Pastéis de Nata :-). The next day we went to Clearwater beach, a lovely white sanded beach with water at just the right temperature. What is it about the first dive of the year? So refreshing to the mind.
We continued to Sarasota and ended up in Fort Myers on yet another couchsurfing experience with a great couple.
Next day was all about The Everglades, one amazing natural park where we got to see some alligators. Not so many because it was too hot and they prefer to stay in the water. Nevertheless, I loved it :) In the afternoon we headed to Miami where we met and stayed with other portuguese that are doing the same programme as I am - Inov Contacto. We enjoyed Miami beach on a weekday and then parted to Key West, which is beautiful. Not only the beaches but also the little town. I forgot I was closer to the equator line than normal and got my bum and legs sunburnt because "it was already 5 p.m., no need to put sunscreen on the legs..." -.-'
We left the paradise for another day in Miami and Fort Lauderdale and back to Orlando and back to NY.

Florida is so different from the other parts of the US that I visited that I felt I was in another country. I heard more spanish and portuguese than english and you can see they have a lot of space as the construction is very low.

The bad side: it rained EVERY SINGLE DAY. Oh my. But we enjoyed it anyway :-)

Kiss

Maria Ana

Washington DC

Hello everyone:) how was your weekend?
I went to Washington DC and loved it. I had no idea it was so cute. I did not expect the small buildings and houses. I expected a city with skyscappers and all.
The zone of the The Mall is imponent but it was not my favourite. What I loved was the feel of the city. In one moment you are in Paris. Amsterdam. London. Brussels. The old part of town is like being in a village. I think it is smaller than my beloved Lisbon. Including in population. I have to study the subject;)
This time of year is that of cherry blossoms as well. Thousands were given to Washington by the japanese and these days they are blooming. It is beautiful!
Georgetown is gorgeous. So picturesque:) We saw an open house but did not have the courage to entre... Maybe next time! We also went to Georgetown University and it has to be an absolute privilege to study there. The space and buildings are amazing.
I will be back for sure!

Love 

Maria Ana

oh holidays!

As I am sitting here ready to write something interesting to you, I just remember the holidays. I guess it is because today is a bank holiday and it feels like holidays but just for one day. Too bad...

I started to browse this year's trips and I want to share some pictures with you, so you can feel my pain with me. Ha! :)

 Barcelona. I went there in January to visit one of my dearest friends that was living there. Although it was my forth time, I loved it as much as the first. Here I am at the top of the Parque Guell. Hello world :)

 Paris. March. I lost count of the times I went to Paris but it doesn't matter, I feel so at home :) This time my excuse was to visit a lovely friend. My favourite place in Paris is the Jardin des Tuileries.

 Madrid. April. Second time there. I went with 4 friends (I am the third on the picture in case you can't tell) to visit yet another friend working for a short period of time. I love these excuses!

Italy road trip from Milan to Rome. July. I intend to do a post just about my holidays but I can't get my camera to work and I don't have a card reader, so no photos yet. One month later...well...eventually I'll show them to you and explain the route we did!

And speaking of holidays (again?) I am loving my beautiful Lisbon at this time of year, so many tourists visiting and being amazed by my city! I love it :)