Of canals and bridges - Venezia

Oh Venezia! One of my dream cities to visit in Europe, and I can't believe I'm here! It's a city surrounded by water, places linked by probably hundreds of canals and bridges. You can either get around by water bus or by foot through the bridges. The moment we arrived, I was already captivated by the beauty of this island. I guess one reason why I instantly fell in love with Venice is associated with my love for the water and beautiful scenery. Everywhere you look is just so dreamy and magical in Venice. We stayed in an inn just a few steps away from Ospedale station. We chose this place to avoid dragging our luggage and stuffs up and down the bridges of Venice. Well we succeeded in doing so, but to our surprise when we got to the inn there was no one to assist us personally. It was like an airbnb type of accommodation. We rang the doorbell and a man spoke through the intercom, informing us of our room number and that he would see us tomorrow. He spoke really fast with an accent that I wasn't able to follow everything he said. The door opened and a stairway welcomed us. I was shookt and got to my usual "praning" mode and asked my mom to stay outside and keep the door open while I check on the place in the fear that we might get stuck inside if we both go in together. I went upstairs, tried to remember the instructions the owner gave and finally saw my name signage in our room door. Well that was a relief! Next dilemma is how to bring our luggage up the stairs! There were like around 15 to 20 steps and it was just me and my mom. With teamwork in around 10 mins or so, we brought everything up! Finally got to settle down in our room and get some rest! We started roaming around the city by foot as I can't really wait to explore! We passed by several bridges and canals and everywhere is just so picturesque. We had lunch at a local pizza and pasta place and my mom ordered the best clam pasta I ever tasted in my life! I had bolognese which is also good, but I always end up liking the order of my mom better haha We then went on too St Mark's Basilica and met with my aunt and uncle. Checked on some stores in the area then finally off to explore the canals this time by a gondola ride! It cost 100 euro but it was worth it as it gives a quick tour of the city in a very cool and unique manner. Of course we took hundreds of photos, our gondolier was also kind enough to show us around. Learned afterwards that he was actually a Fil-American! Born and grew up in Bacolod city! What a small world. After the gondola ride we just roamed around a bit more, and finally called it a night. The next day we bought Alilaguna tickets to visit the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. Our guide was so amazing as she can speak several language! English, Spanish, German, French just to name a few! At first I thought that the audio was pre-recorded but turns out we have an actual guide in the boat! It's a timed tour so we had to mind the time but we were able to chill and enjoy the vibe of the islands. My favorite is Burano, an island filled with colorful houses and known for lace products. We also got to try their local delicacy which is like a baked pastry stick, forgot what it's called. We were also able to see how Murano glasses are made in the island of Murano. It was cool and fascinating as everything was handmade. From the shaping of the glass figure to putting it into the heat. In Torcello, we visited a church and got time to pray and rest. It was cool to see actual residents travelling by waterboats and just chilling in local shops - it was like a scene taken out of a movie. After the island tours, we're back in Venice in no time. As it was already late in the afternoon, took the opportunity to take hundreds of photos by Piazza San Marco overlooking the grand canal. I didn't want to leave as the view was just really jaw dropping! On our last day in Venice, we went inside St Mark's Basilica and Doge Palace. We almost got lost inside Doge Palace, the prison area seems like never ending. There were a lot of beautiful and interesting art pieces in the palace too, felt like you're transported back in the past. To cap off the day, we had some gelato and just sat down to admire the beauty around us. You've been a dream, Venice. Grazie Mille! Arrivederci alla prossima!

Renaissance Florence

Next stop on our journey is the classic city of Florence. We got on an Italo train from Rome and at first I thought we were really going to miss the train. Long story short we left our hotel in Rome quite late since they can't find us a cab. We just opted to drag our luggage down the cobbled streets to the train station and transfer to the main station to catch the train going to Florence. We couldn't locate our platform number and was already panicking. A kind lady sensed we were a bit lost and offered to help. When we boarded the train I was already worried on where to leave our luggage since I can't lift it to the space above our seats. Actually thought train rides with our luggage I'd be all anxious hoping there will be a luggage space for us! Upon reaching Florence we were so happy to figure out that our hotel was very convenient to access. The room was also so huge! It even has 3 beds since they gave us a free upgrade yey! Total days we will be staying in Florence is 3 days and 2 nights and the receptionist was baffled to hear about may planned itinerary which includes a trip to Siena. We'll he recommended that we just stay in Florence cause of the little time we have. I was defensive and annoyed at first with his suggestion but realized that he was actually right. For our first afternoon we went to The Mall around an hour or 2 ride from the city. It's an outlet mall which houses lots of highend brands. What I love about the trip was the ride to The Mall. We got a good view of the city relaxed in a comfortablle and spacious big bus. On our second day its when we got to explore the heart of Firenze. We started the day early and went on to The Duomo. The vibe was so serene and peaceful despite having jampacked tourists in sight. It was also very cold this day that I was having a hard time distracting myself from the cold. There were also lots of stalls along the streets. We were able to find some unique finds to bring home. Lots of alley stores selling leather goods can be found and everything was just so pretty for me. Again we had pasta and soup for lunch and it was heavenly. Continued our walk afterwards and found ourselves in a huge plaza near the Uffizi gallery. Lots of art statues can be found. It's a city really full of arts and culture. We were able to see some Greek mythology monuments and of course the statue of David by Michelangelo. Despite the cold we couldn't help but try the gelato since this is another thing they are known for. It was of course really tasty and superb!

A Journey to the Vatican City

Without knowing much how to get around Rome, we managed to arrive at the Vatican City. It was a good decision to avail of a guided tour. At first I was sceptic with the tour cause it was offered by a guy claiming to be working as a volunteer helping tourist. I guessed he sensed that I was not buying it at first hearing a lot of stories to be wary of people just like them. But turns out he is helpful and we got into a guided tour in no time.

Our guide was a local who's  been working  for more than 5 years I think already. She's full of energy and very witty and got everyone listening to her as she shared facts and stories about the Vatican and its art pieces. 

I guess an all time favorite of many is the Sistine Chapel painted by Michelangelo. Learned from Kiara our guide that not all of the Sistine Chapel was painted by Michelangelo, only the ceiling. We enjoyed just staring at the walls of the Sistine Chapel appreciating every picture the painting depicts. Such immense talents from the artist!

After the tour we went on to St Peter's Basilica by ourselves. Felt very blessed to be able to pause for a moment and say a prayer, thanking God for letting us be in this very meaningful place. We weren't able to see the Pope during our visit cause He usually appears to the people on Wednesdays only.

Well I couldn't still believe we were in the Vatican! Going in we went through the back areas so we saw the entrance and front area for the first time on our way out. A huge plaza welcomes its visitors with a grand and glorious view of the Vatican. 

Roaming in Rome

And so our journey continues, in the next stop we say Ciao to Italia!

From Paris we took a plane to the city of Rome and enroute we were able to have a glimpse of the majestic French Alps! I was already feeling a bit sleepy when the captain announced that on the right we can see view of Mt Chamonix.  It was breathtaking for a person who dreams of seeking the alps! Upon arriving in Fiumucino airport, we decided to take the train to get to the city to save on cost. But, a big but! Instead of saving, we ended up spending more since we got penalised! What a way to welcome us to Rome I thought in my head. I suddenly felt scared and got worried that the trip might go downhill. Well, we got penalized because our train tickets were not validated. We just scanned the ticket and the gate opened so we thought that it was already good. When the conductor of the train approached us and asked to see our tickets, his face turned to sour and started talking to us in a slightly angry voice. At first I was really baffled cause we have tickets! I didn't understand what he was talking about. I was already feeling a bit nervous when he said that we'll be penalized 100 Euro each for not validating the tickets! I was like what the hell is happening?! Turns out tickets can be bought in public places in Italy like in newstands and convenience stores and before you use them you would have to insert it in a machine so that it would be stamped on with the date of use, otherwise without the stamp the ticket could actually be used again. To cut the story short, the penalty was reduced to 100 Euros for the both me and my mom already but it was still a big sum of money considering we were trying to save on cost! At the back of my mind, we should have just took the cab! Anyways, just sharing on our experience, so remember to have your tickets validated when in Italy. I tried to let it go and not to let what happened ruin the trip, but boy it wasn't easy!

After getting off in Roma Termini station, the quest to find our hotel begins! We stayed in Best Western Hotel Picadilly and we were challenged this time by our luggage! We had to carry it since there's no elevator insight in the station then we had to drag it along the cobbled streets of Rome! It was already past 12 when we arrived and we haven't had lunch yet so my energy is really down and my crankiness going up! Finally we found our hotel, checked in, and rested for a while. After which it's the start of my dream to eat pasta everyday! We had a late lunch. Mom even dozzed off while waiting for the food to be served! We had pizza and pasta and it didn't disappoint, nothing compared to the pastas we have here in Manila. 

Full and ready to explore, we're off to the famous landmarks of Rome. Our first stop is the Colosseum, a grand structure and a sight to behold. Just near it is the Palestine Hill where in you'll see ruins from before. It was amazing how they were able to preserve such historical places. Getting around Rome wasn't hard, in fact we mostly toured by walking. Every corner will put you in awe as you pass through more preserved ruins, it was like a history book transporting you to another era. 

We then continued exploring by foot, passed through lots of restaurant and gelato shops. It was already getting dark and we were still trying to find our way through the iconic Trevi Fountain. After some turns here and there we began to hear music signalling we're getting close. True enough at the end of the street awaits a wonderful plaza where people just chill, pause and soak in the good vibe the place exudes. Took some photos but since it was already dark promised myself that we have to see it in daylight as well. We did the next day and were still put in awe. Rain then started to pour. Good thing a good pasta restaurant was nearby and we decided to dry ourself first and have some delicious pasta and soup.

We also visited the famous Spanish Steps when in Rome. High end shops can also be found here. People were everywhere.
We squeezed in some time for shopping. There were lots of street shoes with good unique finds. I got a jacket on sale. Fitting good and is really comfy. I wore it almost everyday during the trip!

It was a short but worthwhile stay in Rome despite our first day encounter. I'm glad that everything still worked out well. In the next post I'll write about journey to the smallest country in the world, the Vatican.

Paris is always a good idea

Definitely a long over due blog post. But here I am finally writing about that dream Europe trip that we embarked on 3 months ago! It was the most memorable and adventurous trip yet of my life. I'm so thankful and happy that it happened!

So let's start with Paris, France!

We are going to Paris! I'm definitely all excited but I guess it just really sinked in when we were on our transfer flight from Oman to Paris. Our plane's arrival to Oman got a bit delayed so we needed to rush, literally run. since the flight from Oman to Paris was already on its last call. The ground crew were randomly asking passengers of their connecting flight to help direct correct gate numbers. When a crew approached me and asked where to next, I said Paris. I suddenly felt that happy feeling inside, that this is it, we're really going to the city of love, Paris!

After that almost 16 hour flight, we finally landed in Charles De Gaulle international airport! Still can believe that we're already in Paris. It was chilly outside and it took some time before we got a cab since we're four in the group. We went straight to our hotel and checked-in, called it a night even though we weren't sleepy yet because of the time difference. I was definitely looking forward to the next day, very excited to explore the city!

For our first day in Paris, we woke up really early like 3 to 4AM! We went out to buy breakfast and it was still a bit dark. Thanks to jetlag we were able to start the day early. After this day our normal wake up time is around 8AM. Excited to explore, of course. first on our list is to see the Iron Lady, the Eiffel Tower! We hopped on the train and got off at Trocadero station. It was still a chilly morning but thinking I can withstand the cold I just went out with a light jacket. Just a few steps out of the station, we were welcomed by a grand plaza with classic architecture of two buildings facing each other. In the middle of it was the beautiful Eiffel Tower! Another check in the bucket list! and one of the happiest moments of my life -  The Eiffel Tower in front of me and in such a beautiful setting! We took tons of photos and just enjoyed the view and the moment for quite a time. After which I started to feel the cold, realizing that my jacket wasn't enough to keep me warm.

So our Paris adventure continues, we were blessed to see the Notredame Cathedral and got to attend a mass one Sunday... The wall carvings are very intricate and exceptional. We availed the service of a hop on and off tour bus and were able get a good tour of the city! It was definitely breathtaking seeing places for the first time. Another beautiful church we were blessed to visit was Sacre de Coeur, it was situated on a high area and gives a good view of the city. The church was grand and we got to explore its surrounding area as well.

And when in Paris, you'll never get enough of museums to visit! To be honest, I'm not really a fan of museums but I did enjoy visiting the Lourve,, Museum de Orsay and Palais de Garnier.
The most visited artwork in the Lourve is the Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo da Vinci but I enjoyed seeing other precious collections of the museum like Napoleon's and the Egyptian art pieces. It was also good that we visited early to get good pictures of the well known facade. Palais de Garnier was fairy tale like it was like being on the castle of Beauty and the Beast. Interiors were extravagant and the place was full of gold interiors. Since we went on a weekend, we met a lot of students with exceptional artistic skills!

Let's not forget about Paris' shopping area along Champ Elysee where high brands reside! After a lot walking, we had afternoon tea at two macaron places since I love macarons! In Pierre Herme and Laduree! At the end of the long shopping street is the iconic Arc de Triomphe landmark. We wanted a good photo and took one in the middle of the wide busy road!

For the love of the Eiffel Tower, we went back this time to get a closer look and got a good spot in Rue de Universite to take photos! Some say the Eiffel Tower is over rated and I almost thought so too! But once you're in there you would really love to see it again and again! We waited til evening to even see it sparkle! It was really a sight to behold!

After days in the city, we opted to go somewhere a bit far to visit yet another jaw dropping place - The Palace of Versailles. A massive estate where kings used to reside. Good thing we got a fast pass to skip the really long crazy line. We went in to see the Hall of Mirrors and the Versailles Garden. The place was so grand that we didn't get to finish walking around it!

So our Paris adventure is about to end,  seems like a week just flew by! We met with my uncle's family who were also in Paris for a vacation and got treated to a very sumptuous French dinner for our last night in Paris! They knew how to order and it was a good break from the Chinese food we usually have just outside our hotel.

Paris was the beginning of our Europe adventure and we had an amazing time exploring this city so rich in arts and culture at the same time buzzling with modernity and life! Before going to Paris, we got tons of warnings to be wary of our belongings especially in tourist spots. We are thankful that througout our Paris trip we just met warm and kind people who helped us in one way or the other. But of course we still took care of our belongings, ensured that the important ones are kept in very safe places. Very grateful to God for being with us the whole journey and for making this dream come true.

Merci beacuop Paris, hoping to be in your beautiful city once again soon! <3