When it comes to travel, I had a busy year.

Still wen I thought: I'll put together a photo from each of the places I traveled to, I never thought it would take me as long as it has.  First I had a longer list to make than I originally thought. Then I had to look through all of my photos and re-live the day. Finally I had to pick which single photo I wanted to use to represent the city/trip/adventure.

In January, I went with friends to Rome, Italy. I ate lots of great food and played for a long weekend in Rome.

[caption id="attachment_4134" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="The Colosseum"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4134" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4134"><img class="size-large wp-image-4134 " title="The Colosseum" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_2080-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

For spring break I hit up Casablanca, Marrakesh, and Essaouira, Morocco with a friend. I've never been to a place like this before--the colors, foods, smells and sights were all incredible.

[caption id="attachment_4135" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Marrakech: Djemaa el Fna"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4135" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4135"><img class="size-large wp-image-4135 " title="Djemaa el Fna" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_3142-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4136" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Essaouira: Boats"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4136" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4136"><img class="size-large wp-image-4136 " title="Boats" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_3575-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

I hopped on a plane to spend an extra long weekend in Paris, France. Paris was pretty wonderful in the spring.

[caption id="attachment_4137" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Paris and the Ef... something"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4137" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4137"><img class="size-large wp-image-4137 " title="Paris and the Ef... something" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_4089-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

In July I went on a whirl-wind tour of the Balkans with my friend R. We met up in Budapest, Hungry.

[caption id="attachment_4138" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Budapest: Castle Hill"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4138" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4138"><img class="size-large wp-image-4138 " title="Budapest: Castle Hill" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_4900-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

An eight or so hour train ride later we found ourselves in Belgrade, Serbia.

[caption id="attachment_4144" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Belgrade: Museum "]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4144" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4144"><img class="size-large wp-image-4144 " title="Belgrade: Musuem " src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_4966-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

Then we spent a week by the ocean. This was one of the best parts of the trip. Kotor, Perast and Budva, Montenegro have rocky but wildly beautiful beaches.

[caption id="attachment_4147" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Kotor: Mts and Church "]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4147" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4147"><img class="size-large wp-image-4147 " title="Kotor: Mts and Church " src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_5003-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4148" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Perast: a town by the ocean"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4148" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4148"><img class="size-large wp-image-4148 " title="Perast: a town by the ocean" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_5141-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4149" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Beach south of Budva: Sveti Stefan"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4149" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4149"><img class="size-large wp-image-4149 " title="Beach south of Budva: Sveti Stefan" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_5169-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

From Montenegro we headed to Albania. This was a little bit of a shock to start with. Albania is not an outwardly beautiful country but the people we met were some of the nicest on the trip. There were few tourists in either Tirana or Berat, Albania which was a relief after a couple of days in Budva. Tirana is young, hip and modern while Berat feels older--classic Ottoman--and clings to a mountain side.

[caption id="attachment_4151" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Tirana: Rainbow Block Buildings"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4151" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4151"><img class="size-large wp-image-4151 " title="Tirana: Rainbow Block Buildings" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_5338-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4150" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Berat: White Houses at Night"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4150" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4150"><img class="size-large wp-image-4150 " title="Berat: White Houses at Night" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_5298-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

We crossed the boarder between Albania and Macedonia on foot after a crazy drive in a furgon and a longer than anticipated walk from the Macedonian side of the boarder (sorry R.). Luckily Lake Ohrid was great. Plenty of tourists but also some great beaches. From Lake Ohrid we checked out Skopje, Macedonia.

[caption id="attachment_4152" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Lake Ohrid in White"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4152" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4152"><img class="size-large wp-image-4152 " title="Lake Ohrid in White" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_5407-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

Then in the boldest part of our journey we crossed the boarder into Kosovo to explore Pristina and Prizren. It was totally worth it. And kind of strange to think about now that I am at home in Walla Walla writing this post.

[caption id="attachment_4153" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Pristina in light rain"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4153" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4153"><img class="size-large wp-image-4153 " title="Pristina in light rain" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_5413-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

Finally, in November, I met up with my friend D. in Madrid, Spain. Madrid was lovely and exactly the break that I needed in the middle of the first semester of school.

[caption id="attachment_4143" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Madrid&#39;s Palace"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4143" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4143"><img class="size-large wp-image-4143 " title="Madrid's Palace" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_6642-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]