Belgium & Amsterdam!

The end of my eurotrip is upon me as I wait at the airport for my flight back to Ireland. I spent the last few days in Bruges, Belgium and Amsterdam, Holland. As always, it was a never ending adventure. I mentioned in my last post that getting to Bruges wasn’t the easiest journey. Delayed trains lead to missed trains so my plan of arriving in Bruges around 2pm didn’t happen. I got in around 8pm, dropped off my backpack and went straight to the Bruges Christmas Market! Most European cities have “Christmas Markets” from the end of November until Christmas time. It’s basically just a little holiday festival – ice skating, music, vendors, traditional food, mulled wine and LOTS of Christmas stuff! I missed the markets in the other countries that I’ve visited so I was happy to see this one.

After wandering around for a couple of hours I made my way back to the hostel pub and tried my first Belgian beer. If you aren’t aware, Belgium is known for their beer selection. Some of the pubs have over 2,000 choices! There were far too many for me to choose from so the bartender helped me pick one. I took a seat next to two German guys that ended up being my buddies for the night and following day. Their names are Chris and Jan (pronounced “Yon”).

Chris just finished his master’s thesis so they decided to take a road trip to celebrate. In a short time we got to know each other well and they invited me on their day trip to Gent, Belgium. So the next morning I rolled out of bed extra early to get my laundry done (I had no clothes left. Literally, none. You should have seen the outfit I came up with to wear to the laundry mat!) and then we crammed into the Minicooper for our little road trip. Gent is a small city about 40 minutes from Bruges. Like Bruges, it was very old and clean. In both cities there are no stop signs or street lights. The cars, trams, cyclists and pedestrians all work together to make sure there are no accidents. It is important to be cautious though!

I really loved the old architecture. Many of the churches and buildings looked like they hadn’t been touched in centuries. We wandered around the city for a while, relaxed in the coffee shop for an hour and then went on a mission to find traditional Belgian fries, which is one of the most traditional dishes in Belgium.

They were delicious if you were wondering =) After a nice day with Chris and Yon they dropped me off at the train station. I was very thankful to have met both of these guys. It’s always nice to meet and get to know down-to-earth people on the road. Casual conversation with strangers is enjoyable but meeting people that you actually connect with is much different. So, thank you Chris and Yon!

Three train rides later I made it to Amsterdam. I know that Amsterdam has a reputation – prostitutes and pot. Just like every city in the entire world, there are good and bad aspects and I hope that no one is naïve enough to think that the only thing that exists is Amsterdam is drugs and hookers. Amsterdam is a city that is rich with history, delicious food and beautiful scenery. It was in Amsterdam where Anne Frank hid from the Nazis in an attic for three years with her family and where many Dutch residents lost their lives in attempt to defend the Jews. It is a city filled with beautiful canals, 1000’s of cyclists and the best pancakes in Holland!

Some people say that Amsterdam is not a safe place and I beg to differ. It is not any less safe than Syracuse or Albany, the cities where I am from. The infamous Red Light District is home to “coffee shops” and prostitutes but this district is part of the city just like Times Square is part of New York City. As I walked around the district there were people on their way to work, shopping or sitting on a bench enjoying the view (of the canals!). I will say that it was definitely an odd feeling to have women dancing in windows and hearing church bells ring at the same time. But this is just one of the many beauties of traveling – every place you go is different.

After a night out with two Mexican girls that I met at my hostel and then a full day of strolling the streets of Amsterdam, I found myself in bed around 9pm last night (I know, shame on me…). I was originally planning on staying in Dublin for the next two nights until my flight leaves on Monday to come home but I can’t stand the thought of being in Ireland and not seeing my Irish family. So I am flying to Dublin and catching a bus to go visit them. I don’t think there is a better way to end my trip =)

Solo Wondering in Paris!

I never thought I would say this, but I’m ready to come home. I have left Paris and I’m now en route to Bruges, Belgium. One of my connecting trains arrived 10 minutes late and I missed my last train to Bruges. So I am stuck at the train station for the next few hours. Overall my trip has been amazing, but at this point the missing trains/getting lost/nobody speaking English has lost its glamour. I’m more than ready to see my family, friends, bed and country!

Okay, my rant is over. Now I must tell you about beautiful Paris! After getting much needed rest in Switzerland I arrived to Paris on Monday super energized and ready to see as much as I could. When the receptionist at my hostel gave me the map of Paris I quickly learned just how big this city is. As this was my first time in Paris, I of course made the Eiffel Tower my first stop. You can either pay €4 to take the stairs or €13 to take the elevator. Anyone that knows me knows that I love a bargain and €13 to take an elevator ride is certainly not a bargain! So I took the 40 flights of stairs to the second floor of the tower and boy was it a breathtaking view of Paris from up there!

After taking the journey back down the stairs, I walked around the Champs de Mars, which is the park in front of the Eiffel Tower. There were a lot of people but I was starting to feel like I was the only person there alone. Traveling solo undoubtedly has its pros and cons but this time was one of the more discouraging ones. In a crowd of people I noticed a guy that looked about my age that was also alone and speaking English. I immediately walked over his way and started up a conversation. Before long we were exploring the streets of Paris together. Damon is from San Francisco and is actually on his 20^th month of traveling! He has been Couchsurfing for close to two years while visiting over 40 countries. For those of you that don’t know what “Couchsurfing” is, it is basically a network of people that share their couches with travelers for a night or two. It’s a great way to save money on accommodation, get to know the locals and have a genuine experience wherever you are. I do have a profile but I have yet to use it. The website also has “Couchsurfing Meet-ups” in every city. Damon was headed to a meet-up at a pub close by and invited me to come along. After getting majorly lost for a couple of hours, we finally found the pub and spent the rest of the evening hanging out with over 100 Couchsurfers. I was having such a good time that I forgot to snap some photos! But it was definitely an amazing experience!

I arrived back to my hostel quite late so I attempted to get ready for bed in the dark so I wouldn’t wake anyone up. During my attempt to “be quiet” I flung my phone from my top bunk to the bottom bunk, where a large, older woman was sound asleep. I’m not sure why I thought this was a good idea but I began searching for it. She must have felt my hands in her bed and quickly woke up. I started to explain what happened and she said “No, I don’t think so” and fell back asleep. I figured I would just wait until the morning so I got back into bed. And then I realized I needed to go to the bathroom. I didn’t want to disrupt her again so I decided to jump from my top bunk onto the floor, completely disregarding the chandelier hanging in front of me. As I jumped I smacked my head on the light fixture VERY hard. Within seconds the chandelier was hitting the ceiling and I was on the floor.  When I finally got back into bed this woman under me was snoring so loud it sounded as if she was hanging on for dear life. I didn’t get a wink of sleep that night but I did find my phone the next morning – in her bed, under the blankets. I requested a room change for the following night.

Despite my lack of sleep I woke up at a decent time and went out to explore the city. I was supposed to meet up with Damon again but we just couldn’t get on the same wavelength so I found myself solo yet again! I’m not going to lie, strolling the streets of Paris alone was a very gratifying experience and I loved every second of it. I indulged in a French treat every time I passed a pastry shop, took a tour of Notre Dame, walked along the Seine and visited some more famous sights. For dinner I went to a traditional French restaurant and had probably the best meal I’ve eaten yet! I started with Medaillon de Bloc de Foie Gras de Canard and then Tartiflette and finished with Tarte Tatin.

I had plans to explore more of the city but I found myself in food-coma after this meal and decided it was best to head back to the hostel. I got a good night’s sleep and started my day bright and early! I will be in Bruges for one night, Amsterdam for two nights and then back to Dublin for a couple of days before my flight leaves on Monday to come HOME!

                                                         Notre Dame 

Although my shoulders hurt, my feet are throbbing, I haven’t had a proper shower in weeks and I’m overall just exhausted, I am going to suck it up and enjoy my last few days in Europe! A week form now I will be relaxing on my parent’s couch sipping my coffee and being waited on hand and foot, right mom? =) 

Castles & Camels

Hello all! I am writing from snowy Switzerland =) Although it is beautiful here, it has been a long few days. After Prague I made the journey to Munich, Germany on Thursday morning. As I mentioned in my last post, the nonstop travel has really started to get to me. I have felt absolutely exhausted and I feel like the further into my Eurotrip, the less welcoming the people are. Simply put, I just haven’t felt like myself at all! So when I arrived to Munich around 6pm all I wanted to do was get into bed and sleep. I quickly learned that wasn’t going to happen when I walked into my 40-bed room on a Friday night. I decided to walk around the city for a few hours and I’m glad I did. It was another beautiful city AND I tried my first German sausage!

One thing I’ve learned about European food is that they do not feel the need to make it pretty. There are no ketchup designs on the plates and it’s not served in $50 portions that would fill a mouse. It is simple and delicious. Oh and the sausage was only €2.60! I will also add that I had a cinnamon bun the size of my head after…

When I got back to the hostel I was quite positive I was going straight to bed but of course I convinced myself out of that idea. As tired as I was, I can’t justify going to bed at 8pm on a Friday night while I’m traveling in EUROPE! So, I decided to hang out in the lounge area and before long I was having drinks with new friends. I ended up meeting some really amazing people that night.

Around 1am that night, this Asian woman came out of nowhere. I’m not exactly what it was about her that had everyone cracking up. It could have been the fact that she was hitting on all of the young guys OR possibly the 8 stuffed camels she had hanging around her neck. Either way, we all had a good laugh!

On Friday I took a day trip to Fuessen, Germany and visited the Neuschwanstein Castle. Yes, this is the “Disney Castle!”

I spent most of the day with four American guys that are in the Air Force and are currently stationed in Germany. It’s always nice to meet Americans. The story behind this castle is actually very interesting. King Ludwig II wanted a place far away from his people so he began to build this castle in the Bavarian Alps in the summer of 1868. Ludwig lived in a fantasy world and dreamed of building a holy empire. Although he did have some power, it was very limited. During the last years of his life he spent a lot of time alone, fantasizing about his ideas. In 1886 the government declared the king as “insane” and was forced to step down. The following day King Ludwig and his psychiatrist were found dead at a nearby lake. They had apparently drowned. It was clear that the king fought for his life but to this day it remains a mystery as to what happened to the two men.

I made it back to Munich just in time to make it to the Ballet! I have been trying to do something new in every place that I visit. I really enjoyed the orchestra in Prague and the Ballet was even more spectacular!

When I showed up at the Opera House for the Ballet  I was yet again very underdressed - even more so than the orchestra. When I got to the box office the worker told me that they were sold out. I was really disappointed and then an older woman came up to me and said, “I have an extra ticket, my friend wasn’t able to come tonight. Do you want it for €10?” It was such a blessing! I ended up having a great seat at one of the most beautiful opera houses in Europe!

I don’t think my 39 other roommates were very happy with me when I woke up around 7am on Saturday morning to catch my train to Interlaken, Switzerland. I am becoming an expert at packing and getting ready in the dark! To avoid an entire paragraph of what sounds like complaining, I will keep it simple and just say that Saturday was a very long day. About half way through I found myself fighting back tears at one of the train stations. When I got to my hostel I was exhilarated to hear that I was upgraded to my own room for free. A good night’s sleep was definitely necessary!

Traveling certainly has its ups and downs and yesterday was definitely the lowest I’ve felt since I arrived in September. As I was wandering around in the snow I was hoping to find somewhere to eat (at a reasonable price!). In the distance I saw a little place lit up and as I got closer I realized it was a little Irish pub. I couldn’t have been happier. I walked in with a huge grin and was welcomed by the friendly staff. All I kept thinking was this is exactly what I needed. Switzerland is outrageously expensive. The cheapest coffee I’ve seen is 5 Francs (about $5.50). The grocery store had very few items under $5. My simple chicken sandwich ended up being 18.50 Francs! I was okay with that. Finding that little pub definitely turned my night around.

This morning I planned to take a day trip to see some of the Swiss Alps. When I got to the train I was informed that my train pass wasn’t valid for the train I needed to get on and I would have to buy a ticket. I decided to just go back to the hostel. I think this was a blessing in disguise because I desperately needed rest. I ended up sleeping the entire day! Normally I would have felt guilty. I hate taking naps and missing daytime, even when I’m home. But I feel much more refreshed and ready for my last week. Tomorrow I head to Paris bright and early! And a week from tomorrow I will be on my way home. I am starting to get excited! Have a good week everyone =)

Austria & Prague!

I am about half way through my Eurotrip and I am definitely starting to feel it! Between the long train rides, heavy backpack (that just keeps getting heavier!), sore feet, sleepless nights and nonstop travel I am quickly getting exhausted. Although my body is just screaming for a day off, I refuse to waste any time! So the adventure continues..

I arrived in Salzburg, Austria on Monday evening. I left a semi-warm Italy, fell asleep on the train and woke up in the snowy mountains of Austria! Oh yes, the hills were alive with the sound of music! (Salzburg is where the Sound of Music was filmed). They speak German in Austria – a language that I know nothing about. I somehow managed to find a bus that took me to my hostel. When I opened the door to my room I met one of my roommates who quickly went from roommate status to friend status (Yes, it’s even Facebook official). It didn’t take long for us to bond, as we are pretty much living the same life! Amber is from LA and is also on a journey across Europe. It is astonishing how parallel our lives are. Everything from leaving the jobs we hated to our family background, our interests, our future travel plans and even our favorite musicians were eerily similar. We had a blast exploring the city of Salzburg – sipping on warm “syrupy drinks” in Mozart Square, eating cheeseburgers with new friends (even though we insisted on sausages!), shopping – when in reality neither of us should have been spending money, indulging in our new favorite drink – a mixture of beer and lemonade and talking about our future travel plans. I can honestly say I left Salzburg with not just a new acquaintance, but a new friend =)

I am quickly learning that city travel might not be my thing. Although every new city has its own appeal and sights to see, I’ve actually found myself leaving for the day to explore the nearby countryside. When I was in Naples, I went to the Amalfi Coast, when I was in Rome I went to Tuscany and when I was in Austria I took a day trip to Hallstatt.

This place was completely off the beaten path, as was Positano and Cortona in Italy. If you’re wondering how I find these places, it’s quite simple – I just Google “the prettiest places in ______.” And then I go! Don’t get me wrong, European cities are full of charm and should definitely be visited but these small towns in the middle of nowhere should not be missed either.

Again, I found myself speechless as I got off the train in Hallstatt. It was basically a lake village built into the side of a mountain so from the train station we had to take a short ferry to the village. Traveling right now is considered the “low season” so more often than not a lot of the major sites are closed. After walking around the village for a while I found a restaurant (the only one open!), got a seat next to the window and enjoyed a glass of wine while looking over the lake. A perfect day in my book =)

On Tuesday I was planning to take the first train to Prague, Czech Republic. Despite giving myself some extra time, I got on the wrong bus, missed my train and didn’t end up arriving in Prague until about 8ish. Czech is definitely the most difficult language yet! As a result of this and bad directions, I was lost in the city for close to an hour before finding my hostel. I spent the rest of the evening walking around the city and trying my first traditional Czech meal – pork trotter and pig tongue!

Although the entire meal was tasty, I just couldn’t get over the fact of what I was eating. I managed to eat most of it, but did leave a little bit of tongue behind… HAHA

I spent all of Wednesday walking around the beautiful city of Prague. It was a cloudy, damp day but that didn’t take away from the breathtaking architecture in this city.

I found this hole-in-the-wall café on the other side of the city that served traditional Czech crepes and other treats. I got a homemade apple strudel and cappuccino for 99kč (about $5)!

Another thing that took some time to get used to was the currency in the Czech Republic. I usually take out about $100 every two days, which equaled 2000 kč. I had this feeling like I was rich! I finally downloaded a currency exchange app on my phone to dissolve any further confusion. At this point in my trip, I am the farthest thing away from rich!

Prague is home to some of the best music in the Czech Republic. I was hoping to see the opera but due to my late arrival on Tuesday, I missed it. I did get to the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra though! The city has many student programs so I got my ticket for about $7. I know, I know, I’m not a student anymore. But I’m young enough to look like one =) To my surprise, I found myself quite underdressed for the occasion. Men were in full suits and women wore long black dresses. Unfortunately, the dressiest thing my backpack has to offer is leggings and a black sweater. So yeah, I stuck out like a sore thumb. The orchestra was absolutely amazing. The symphony that I saw isn’t too old. I believe it was written in 1948. The composers, Amadeus Hartmann and Dmitri Shostakovich, took poems written during the Holocaust and turned them into a symphony. There is only one word to describe this performance and that is powerful. Just imagine a full orchestra and about 50 baritones singing in Czech. I think this was the best $7 I have spent yet! I wasn’t allowed to take pictures but I did snap a couple. Oops!

I woke up early this morning to catch the first train to Munich, Germany! I will be spending the next two days in Bavaria. Happy Thursday!