Tag Archives: Solo Travel

Euro Vacay Day 10-13: New Year’s Eve in Paris!

Posted on January 2, 2021 | Leave a comment

Okay, so I’ve been posting these throwback blogs I’ve been meaning to share pre-pandemic, and I know that we’ve just welcomed the new year, but let me still share with you my very short Paris adventure when I welcomed 2020! I know, who knew that it would be such an eventful year!

After returning from my visit to the Auschwitz–Birkenau camp, I immediately took a hot shower at my hostel and booked an Uber to take me to Krakow Glowny, from where I would head back to the Czech Republic for my flight to Paris. The FlixBus trip back to Prague took around six hours, and from Prague Zličín, I had to take another Uber to get to Václav Havel Airport for my flight via Czech Airlines to France

I arrived at Charles De Gaulle Airport around nine in the morning on the 31st of December, so I really had all the time in the world to make it to my hostel before the celebrations began in the evening. I was expecting a lot of people to be at the airport, but surprisingly, there were just about the usual number of people I see in some of the busiest airports I’ve been to, considering it’s a holiday. It was very easy for me to navigate, and you can also ask for assistance, particularly regarding which train is heading to Paris!

Ah, Paris! I’ve been dreaming of visiting this place for so long, and I was just very anxious and excited to explore the city since I’ll be spending four days here! Too short, I know, but I’m pretty sure there’ll be a next time. I booked my accommodation at the Perfect Hotel & Hostel located on Rue Rodier. Making sure I wouldn’t get lost, I opted to walk there from the Gare du Nord station. It wasn’t that far, and I was able to easily navigate the streets of that part of Paris using Google Maps. You see, I really do prefer walking when traveling overseas! Hah!

The hostel was very quaint and clean, and the room wasn’t so bad. After spending days with other people at night, I was already used to sharing space. After lying down for a bit, I decided to walk around the neighborhood while the sun was still out. It was still very cold, mind you, but the day was just beautiful!

That night, I introduced myself to one of my roommates, a guy from Spain who teaches English in Colombia and was spending the holiday in Paris. I asked him if he’d like to go out together. He and I decided to head to the area near the Eiffel Tower to celebrate New Year’s Eve, but unfortunately, the traffic was terrible, and it would have taken us forever to get there. So, we decided to celebrate at the Arc de Triomphe instead. It was a very exciting and unforgettable experience, to say the least. I had a blast waiting with everyone for the clock to strike midnight, marking the dawn of the year 2020.

In my next post, I’ll be sharing my little walking tour in Paris. I didn’t get to see everything because it was cloudy, wet, and cold, but it’s still an experience that I’ll treasure forever.

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.

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!)