spidermiss - Dawn Smallwood

My name is Dawn and I am of Leeds, UK. My plans over the next few years is to see more of the World including a big trip out! Watch this Space!

I'm returning to Paris at the end of this month.

In 2010, I plan to do some travelling bearing in mind I need to save up for my career break for the year after and focus on my personal goals. In January, I'm off to Argentina; my parents are taking me on my very first cruise in April; and at the end of the year, I'm off to Costa Rica to improve my Spanish.

Update on my Career Break: Ive begun saving and my goal date is August 2011! I plan to travel to Costa Rica (depends on my 2010 trip), Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina (where I plan to volunteer and improve my Spanish), New Zealand, Australia (where I plan to visit family) and back to South America to travel around Patagonia. Im hoping to be away for six months in total. Wish me luck!

Chile & Argentina 2008
October 30th 2008 -» November 23rd 2008

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Joined on: June 22nd 2008
Last Login: November 5th 2009

Blog Entries: 35
Photos: 243
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Blogs & Travel Journals

by spidermiss, order by Date newest first.

By spidermiss
September 8th 2009

Seeing Alicante, Tabarca Island & Elche Europe » Spain » Valencian Community » Alicante

Explanada de Espanol
Alicante, Spain

Sightseeing Highlights from my stay in Alicante Alicante One afternoon, we went downtown to Alicante. Alicante is the gateway to Costa Blanca and its popular beach resorts including Benidorm, Altea and Santa Pola. Me not being a big beach fan, I was not worried visiting the resorts where many travellers flock to. It was very hot exploring Alicante and we took a couple of breaks for drinks and icecream. We explored the old town (El Barrio) including Santa Maria Basilica and we saw some interesting historical buildings. We wandered along the Explanada de Espana whe [View Full Entry]

By spidermiss
September 6th 2009

Back to Class and tuvo mucho calor! Europe » Spain » Valencian Community » Alicante

In Class!

With my end of course assessment looming for my beginners' Spanish course, I wanted to consolidate what I learnt so far. This gave me an opportunity to travel to Alicante where Spanish Intensives run one week courses at different levels for students during the summer. I signed up for a beginners course (starting on the 29th August 2009) and hoped this would give me the confidence for the assessment. We had 4.5 hours of Spanish classes each day. There were 15 of us and we were split into two groups. I was in the "advanced" class and some other [View Full Entry]

By spidermiss
August 1st 2009

Visitng Monet and Eiffel Europe » France » Île-de-France » Paris

The Japanese bridge and waterlilies pond
Monet's Home, Giverny

Giverny As far as I can remember, I always wanted to visit Monet's house. I am a big Monet fan and love his landscape paintings. One of my favourite paintings is of the waterlilies pond in the Japanese gardens of his home. I was very excited seeing the spot where he painted this! I decided to join a tour one afternoon. There were six of us in the minibus and we made our way to Giverny. I got chatting to Gisele, from Brazil, and Francie, from New Zealand, on the tour. It took us around an hour to reach the village. [View Full Entry]

By spidermiss
August 1st 2009

Breaking an eight month travel drought! Europe » France » Île-de-France » Paris

Notre Dame

It has been eight months since travelling abroad and a trip was well overdue. So after an hour and a half flight delay and bumping into two old friends, Suzette and Wanda, we eventually got into Paris late. I travelled with Suzette and Wanda on the RER train to Gare du Nord where I got off and walked to my hostel. Fortunately, the hostel is open 24/7 and had no problems checking in. I booked myself in a dorm to save costs and shared the room with two friendly Korean girls, Soo-yeon and Yu-na. Despite not sleeping well throughout the trip [View Full Entry]

By spidermiss
June 28th 2009

Travel Update 2 Europe » United Kingdom » England » West Yorkshire » Leeds

Home Sweet Home!
My Garden in winter.

Yesterday, I got my new travel money card to use on my forthcoming Paris and Alicante trips (and also for future trips). It is just under a month that I am off to Paris. Lately, I have been thinking where I would love to travel on future trips. The list is so long!!! I come to a realisation that it would not be possible to see everywhere and do everything in my life so I have to prioritise. I know where I do not want to go but the list is too short with just three countries! I have been doing [View Full Entry]

By spidermiss
May 27th 2009

Travel Update 1 Europe » United Kingdom » England » West Yorkshire » Leeds

My Work Place
Where I obtain funds for my travels and beyond!

Today, I purchased my annual travel insurance with The Post Office. Originally, I was going to purchase it just for Europe but because of my travel plans for Europe and beyond over the next couple of years, I decided to extend it worldwide (except North America and the Caribbean where I do not intend to travel to). I got a good deal with The Post Office and it works out a lot cheaper than purchasing insurance for each single trip I plan to make. Their policy is very good and is more generous in comparison to other insurances policies I looked [View Full Entry]

By spidermiss
March 29th 2009

An European Affair Europe » United Kingdom » England » West Yorkshire » Leeds

Alexander Bridge, Paris
From my last trip to Paris in April 2008

It has been a while since I last made an entry to my blog. Finally, I have got round to booking flights and making travel plans for this year. I have decided to stay in Europe and explore more of the continent. At the end of July, I have booked a trip returning to Paris coinciding with my birthday and having opportunities to explore more of the city. I would like to revisit some of my favourite sights, visit some art museums and check out some sights I have not yet seen. I had an amazing time in Paris last year [View Full Entry]

By spidermiss
November 23rd 2008

Home Sweet Home! Europe » United Kingdom » England » West Yorkshire » Leeds

After a very long, uncomfortable and uneventful flight including a change of plane in Paris, I finally made it to Manchester Airport where my parents met me and took me home. The hero returns scene. I was looking forward to my home comforts in the days to come. Looking back, this has probably been the best trip I made up to date. There has been a lot of highlights and a lot more than I anticipated. The big highlights were seeing Volcans Osorno and Villarrica in Chile and Cerro Aconcagua in Argentina. There has been some challenges especially with myself and [View Full Entry]

By spidermiss
November 22nd 2008

The Heat is on in Mendoza South America » Argentina » Mendoza » Mendoza

Plaza Independencia, Mendoza
I love the trees and the green there.

I remember the wonderful time we had in Mendoza last year and I was hoping to replicate this. However, my mood on this occasion was low. It all started with the Argentine Border Police not fully completing my entry formalities (so I need to explain that to them when I leave Argentina). On settling into the hostel, I lost my personal keys. I think I threw them away by accident. So I am getting copies organised for when I return home. The main issue was the hostel I stayed in. The Mendoza Inn is the worst hostel, in my opinion, I [View Full Entry]

By spidermiss
November 22nd 2008

Vuelvo Chile! South America » Chile » Santiago Region » Santiago

Leaving Mendoza for the "Promise Land"

After uncertainty and definitely anxiety of a strike threat involving Chilean immigration and customs staff, the day came when I would get the bus back to Santiago for my flight home the following day. I was very concerned because if the strike happened the consequences I would face would obviously seriously affect my plans returning home such as missing my flight! The threat did not help my issues I had in Mendoza. However it turned out not to be any problems at all. I got the bus OK and the bus was half empty. I think many travellers have deterred travelling [View Full Entry]

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