This summer, I lived in and traveled around unfamiliar cities completely on my own. These experiences gave me a newfound sense of independence—I took the summer day by day. Though I had no clue how to speak French, I spent a month in Paris exploring, painting, reading, and taking in all the beauty. This is the National Museum of Natural History.
My best friend Montse is from Mexico. She was also traveling around Europe on her own for the summer, and the two of us happened to be in Paris at the same time. Here she is in the lobby of Grand Trianon, King Louis XIV’s personal getaway at Versailles.
We pretended to be Marie Antoinette in the incredible gardens of Versailles.
A building in Montmartre, where Amélie from Amélie lived!
Paris is expensive. I cooked at home and walked as much as I could. I also learned that many museums in the city are free to those who have a student ID from most high schools and universities. Here is the Thinker at the Musée Rodin.
The crowd at a music festival just outside the city.
Monet’s Gardens in Giverny, about an hour north of the city.
Two friends of mine, Nik and Nanna, visited Paris for a weekend from their hometown of Copenhagen, Denmark. We met up for an afternoon coffee, and Nanna brought her grandmother’s camera.
The crowd at an Unknown Mortal Orchestra concert.
Beach House is probably my favorite band of all time. It was really special seeing them play in the city where Victoria Legrand was born.
Skyler Skjelset opened for Beach House. I can’t wait for his album to come out!
Montse and I reunited in Lisbon, Portugal. She carried this delicious half watermelon around the city for an entire day.
Montse at the Botanical Gardens in Príncipe Real, Lisbon.
Cascais, a beach town just a short train ride away from Lisbon.
The Boca do Inferno, some magical rock formations on the Portugese coast.
Montse prancing around Lisbon.
I met Ivi, my best friend from middle school, in London, where she studies. Here she is in Peckham.
The amazing Dev Hynes performing as Blood Orange in London—his first hometown show in years!
Bea1991 opened for Blood Orange in London.
Dev brought out Adam Bainbridge aka Kindness. So. Good.
Ivi and I traveled across the entire city to get to a cafe lit entirely by neon signs.
My final stop was Copenhagen, where I reunited with Nanna and Nik. Nanna drives the most adorable vintage car.
At the Louisiana Museum of Art in Humlebæk, Denmark, where Nanna works as an assistant.
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11 Comments
alex are ya KIDDING me with these. so so good/dreamy/I wanna live in ’em!
Ah Savana you know how I feel about your work. Thank you!!!
I love 29, it looks like an album cover. This whole diary is so dreamy.
Thank you thank you!!!
Ahhh you visited my hometown, Lisbon! I love your photos, they’re beautiful representations of this beautiful country!
Thank you! Lisbon was an absolute dream; you are SO lucky to live there!
these are GORGEOUS, i want to live inside this magical photo world!
your photographs are sooooo beautiful!
These photos are beautiful! They make me want to travel even more.
oh my god these are so dreamy and SO amazing!! im in love
This is really cool, I wish I was brave enough to travel abroad on my own. Btw, your pictures are amazing!