Tag Archives: Euro Trip

Euro Vacay Day 8-9: Krakow In My Heart

Posted on December 29, 2020 | Leave a comment

I arrived in Krakow at the crack of dawn, still feeling a bit hazy from the lack of sleep inside the bus. The journey from Vienna to Krakow took more or less nine hours, and despite being very tired from my day tour in Vienna, I was too giddy to sleep right away. Who could sleep comfortably inside a bus, though? Haha!

Upon arriving at Krakow Dworzec Autobusowy MDA, I opted to use Uber to take me to the city center, where I had booked a couple of nights. Before that, I exchanged about 100 euros at the station for some Polish złoty. Just a little FYI—although Poland is a European Union member, they still use their own currency.

As mentioned above, I booked two nights at the Ametyst Hostel, and let me tell you, it’s absolutely my favorite hostel of the whole trip. Firstly, the guy at the reception allowed me to check in right away, thank goodness because I still needed a couple more hours of sleep. I stayed in a six-mixed dorm room, and everything was just perfect! I had my own locker, the bed was warm and comfy, and it didn’t feel cramped at all. Plus, their bathrooms were always clean! The most wonderful thing about it is that it’s just five minutes away from the main square! Seriously, it’s right in the heart of the city! I just know that I’ll definitely go back to Krakow and stay with them again!

I was assigned the top bunk near the window!

After getting a few hours of sleep and feeling refreshed, I embarked on my very first winter experience in Poland! Haha!

The weather was a bit overcast but thankfully, it did not rain. It was just too cold as usual!

Eros Bendato’ (Eros Bound) or ‘The Head’ is the work of Polish artist Igor Mitoraj (1944-2014). Situated in the western corner of the market square, this sculpture serves as a popular meeting place and is one of the most iconic landmarks in the city.

Adam Mickiewicz Monument in Kraków, is one of the best known bronze monuments in Poland, and a favourite meeting place at the Main Market Square in the Old Town district of Kraków. source

Mickiewicz is counted as one of Poland’s’s Three Bards (the others being Zygmunt Krasiński and Juliusz Słowacki) and the greatest poet in all Polish literature.

After Wawel Cathedral, St. Mary’s Basilica is the most important church in Krakow. Its construction began in the late 13th century on the foundations of a former Romanesque church. The new temple was consecrated around the year 1320. Over the centuries, the church underwent numerous reconstructions, both of its exterior and interior.

The atmosphere at the main square was heartwarming! After all, it’s still the holiday season.

Wawel Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church and cathedral of the Archdiocese of Kraków, located on Wawel Hill in Kraków, Poland.

Of course, I had to take a picture with one of Pope John Paul II’s statues in Krakow. This life-sized monument of the former local lad turned Pope turned Saint John Paul II stands across from Wawel Cathedral, near the entrance of the Cathedral Museum. Interestingly, the museum was opened by the man himself, then Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, back in 1978. Source

Christmas has just ended, and 2020 is fast approaching. How I wish I could go back to those days when we were all still unaware of Covid-19.

My dinner! Ugh! This was actually more than it looks here!

I’ve almost forgot about this but it’s good!

This was just a couple of blocks away from the hostel! Ugh! Seeing this made me miss Krakow even more!

I think I returned to the hostel after 11 PM. I still need to wake up early the following day for the Auschwitz-Birkenau tour I booked via Klook!

Krakow will always hold a special place in my heart. Ugh. Writing about this part of the trip made me emotional for some reason. I hope to come back here real soon.

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Posted in People, Photography, Places, Travel

Tagged Euro Trip, Euro Vacay, Europe, Krakow, Poland, Pope John Paul II, Solo Travel, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Travel

Euro Vacay Day 7: My POV of Vienna, Before Sunrise Style

Posted on December 29, 2020 | Leave a comment

Let me tell you that for most of this trip, I’ve relied on FlixBus to take me from point A to point B and vice versa. Now, here’s a little glimpse of my day trip in Vienna before heading to Krakow, Poland.

Similar to Prague, Vienna wasn’t on my original itinerary. But since it’s relatively close by, I thought I might as well take a look at this beautiful and historical city. It also happens to be the main setting of one of my all-time favorite films—Before Sunrise.

This was technically the first snow I’ve seen during this whole trip, and I was inside the bus heading to Vienna. According to my iPhone, we were in Ruda at that time.

I had to leave my luggage at Vienna West Station and only took a string bag and some granola bars. I also bought a one-day transportation ticket to explore Vienna for the whole day (which, by the way, I was not able to use extensively!)

Noticed this first inside the mall at the train station.

I walked my way to the Zollamssteg Bridge—this is where the protagonists Jesse and Celine from ‘Before Sunrise’ meet the guys promoting their play. It’s located alongside a railway station, as evidenced by the shot of the rail lines passing diagonally beneath the bridge. Since I was the only person there that day, I took the chance to do a bit of a photoshoot, with the help of my ever-reliable tripod, of course! 😅

I mean, I don’t really need to go inside a museum here.

Next stop: The Wiener Riesenrad, a giant ferris wheel at the western end of Prater Park. This is where Jesse and Celine shared their first kiss.

I decided to walk all over the city because I felt like I might get lost if I used the tram. It was definitely worth it, though, because I got to experience the city’s vibe much more.

In front of the magnificent St. Stephen’s Cathedral, which serves as the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna and stands as one of the most significant landmarks in Austria.

*Albertina Palais Museum.*
This is where Jesse recites part of W.H. Auden’s ‘As I Walked Out One Evening’ to Celine on the balcony of the museum: ‘O let not Time deceive you, You cannot conquer Time.

Ugh. I felt so kilig remembering the scene at this location!

By this point, it was getting late, and I was getting kind of tired. Since there was a line to get in, I decided to just take this quick selfie. This is where that iconic telephone game happened! I wanted to try it if only I had someone with me. Haha!

My final stop was at the 15th-century Gothic church of Maria am Gestade, located at Salvatorgasse 12.

I don’t pray often, but I found myself praying here. There’s just something about this church, being alone at the time, that allowed me to truly connect.

While it wasn’t a complete Before Sunrise tour, I realized that I may have to return next time. A day tour here isn’t enough to fully savor what the city has to offer.

So, for the record, this was the shortest stay I’ve ever had in any country. I cannot wait to visit again!

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Posted in Others, Places, Travel

Tagged Albertina Palais Museum, Austria, Before Sunrise, Church of Maria Em Gestade, Euro Trip, Euro Vacay, Europe, Schengen Country, Schengen Visa, Solo Travel, Sperl Cafe, Travel, Vienna, Wien Westbahnhof, Wiener Riesenrad, Zollamssteg Bridge

Euro Vacay Day 4-6: Praha In My Mind.

Posted on December 28, 2020 | Leave a comment

After spending Christmas in Berlin, I headed straight to Prague, taking the Flixbus from Berlin Central Bus Station to Prague (ÚAN Florenc Bus Station), which took about four and a half hours. I arrived in the Czech Republic’s capital city while it was still midday. I always tell everyone that Prague was the highlight of my trip in Europe. It’s unforgettable for me, especially because as I was about to board the train to my hostel, I suddenly got a very upset stomach. It felt like full-blown diarrhea, to be honest, and I was almost beside myself during that several-minute train ride. When I reached the station, I couldn’t find a restroom anywhere! I felt sweat dripping all over my body despite the cold and had goosebumps—do you know that feeling? Ugh, it was horrible. I even considered paying a hundred euros to any establishment that would allow me to use their restroom, haha! I kept checking Google Maps and realized it would take me another 20 minutes of walking to reach the hostel (I never considered taking the tram because I wasn’t confident there wouldn’t be an accident). It was really horrifying, but looking back, it’s actually something that made my trip even more exciting! Lol.

So, I managed to reach my beautiful hostel, the Czech Inn. I absolutely adored this hostel! It was very cozy, affordable, and the staff were amazing! After calming down from my rushed check-in, I realized that it was only a minute’s walk to Krymska Station (a tram station) which could practically take you anywhere in Prague. They also offered a buffet breakfast for 6 euros (though I’m not sure if they offer lunch and dinner too), and I’d say it’s definitely worth it. I wouldn’t mind staying with them again next time

This is my hostel, Czech Inn—I can’t wait to stay with them again the next time I visit Prague!

I was the first one there that day! This setup works fine for me. As a budget traveler, I enjoy meeting people, and their beds are just so comfy!

I never really planned much for my trip to this beautiful city. I mean, I had read a few things about it online, and since it’s only a few hours from Berlin, I figured why not visit, right? Little did I know, I would fall in love with the fairy tale vibe of the city, with its cobblestone streets, palaces, cathedral, and its beautiful people! Walking across the Charles Bridge, taking in the grandeur of Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, admiring the John Lennon Wall, exploring the Jewish Museum, and enjoying a lively concert in the Old Town Square—each moment was a treasure. I’m so grateful I didn’t miss the chance to visit this city. Strolling around felt like unwrapping a holiday gift. It was undeniably a worthwhile stop and a must-see city when you visit Europe.

Checking out the John Lennon Wall. I should’ve brought a sharpie!

Stopping by this beautiful scenery on my way back to my hostel!

I even bought a jacket a the Palladium because they were on sale!

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Taking a last look at this wonderful city!

Wearing the jacket I bought on sale at the Palladium! Haha!

Going to the bus station for FlixBus to take me to a quick stop to Vienna in the morning!

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Tagged Charles Bridge, Czech Republic, Euro Trip, Euro Vacay, Europe, Jewish Museum, Ondrej Glogar, Prague, Prague Castle, Praha, St. Vitus Cathedral

Euro Vacay Day 1-4: Berlin, Berlin…

Posted on December 23, 2020 | Leave a comment

I was very excited to finally set foot in Europe, and with Berlin being one of the must-visit cities on my bucket list, I’m really beyond thrilled! The immigration officials weren’t as stern as I expected them to be, based on the horror stories I’ve read and heard about some people’s experiences. They simply asked about the purpose of my trip and the countries I’ll be visiting. It took less than a minute, I think, and I was permitted entry to Germany!

After planning this trip for almost a year, you would think that I had covered all the bases already, but no—my Qatar Airways flight landed at Berlin Tegel Airport around 10 o’clock in the evening. Most, if not all, of the stores at the airport were already closed! And, stupid me, I was expecting the stores to be open 24 hours where I could buy an international SIM card for my data! So my only option was to ask the airport staff how to get to my hostel for my four days in the city! There were buses that could take you anywhere in the city, and a tram too. I mean, this is Germany after all, but I was still totally clueless since I had no internet to Google where I was, so I just checked my accommodation booking and prayed to the gods that I’d get off at the right station. Bad news, I did not. Haha. I was literally lost and walking aimlessly in the cold night of Berlin. And there were only a few people out and about. Remember, this was winter time, and I think it was already past eleven in the evening.

Thank goodness, though, because I bumped into Norah—a local from Berlin who helped me find my hostel. She was truly a godsend because I was just getting really cold by the time I ran into her. I told her the whole story about not being able to get a new SIM card at the airport, and I just showed her my booking printout. She took me to my hostel right then and there.

My accommodation in Berlin was at the St. Christopher Inn Berlin-Mitte. They were very gracious, and the hostel was actually quite nice for a solo traveler like myself. One of the staff members at the reception asked me where I was from, and when I told him that I’m from the Philippines, he smiled and mentioned that his mom is Filipino! It was an instant connection! I absolutely loved the location of the hostel—it was perfect because everything was within walking distance to all the tourist attractions! I swear, I didn’t have to use any transportation system during my 4 days in Berlin.

The following day wasn’t as eventful as I would have liked it to be because I was still adjusting to the cold weather! I simply went out first to familiarize myself—I visited the Berlin Cathedral, where I attended a mass on Day 3, the Altes Museum, Humboldt University, Alexanderplatz, and more. It was all so fascinating to me, and I still can’t believe that I made it here! While for some people, this might seem insignificant, for someone like me who grew up in the countryside, this is undoubtedly a whole new world!

Here are some of the pictures I took on my first foray into Berlin.

This was December 25th of last year! It marked my first time spending Christmas outside of the country, and alone, for that matter. While for some, this might seem like a sad setup since I’m usually with my family during this season, I was actually having the time of my life, so all’s good!