Venice- The floating city

Day 12 : November 20, 2009

Doesn’t he look so stylish?

I've been Prague-d

You’ve been what? Bet you were tempted to look up the dictionary, weren't you? Well, it’s not a real word. It’s just what I’m using to express how I love my trip to Prague. So, I’ve been pragued. Have you?

Day 9: Nov 17, 2009

Day 10: No 18, 2009

Day 9: November 17, 2009

It's 2107 local time. And I'm in the hotel room in Prague enjoying what I believe to be locally produced seedless grapes. Let me start from our arrival at Prague.

Unlike Brussels, nothing significant happened to welcome us. But we did meet this Chinese/Taiwanese lady at the train station, about mid 30s (or younger), who had also just arrived in Prague on a solo trip for 5 days. She had no idea about her itineraries, or whatsoever, and kept on repeating she was a tourist. Did we even remotely look like locals to her? If yes, she was so so sadly mistaken.

The only thing she had was a printed copy of her hotel in Google map. Assuming that she knew we were also tourists, she asked us how to get to her hotel! What?! The thing was she kept approaching tourists to ask for help. Also, when I said, "tourists", I meant Mongoloids. We weren't the first she approached.

Being nice people that we are(ahem!), we taught her to the best of our knowledge on how to get tickets for metro from the ticket machine. When we told her that the machines seem to only be able to accept coins, she exclaimed in a very Chinese accent, “Oh my God! I don’t have any. How?” Erm, go buy something and get some change, woman! I’ve always thought that Chinese were good with money. How stereotypical of me. This woman just proved me wrong.

Anyway, enough said. Good luck to her!

We jumped into the Metro, head to I.P Pavlova (I.P. pronounced as ee-pay) and navigated our way to Miss Sophie's Hostel.

Tip: Of all the places we went this Eurotrip, if I had to choose one place I liked best, it would be Prague. Because, like I've said, I've been pragued. And if I have to choose my favourite hostel, coincidentally it has to go to the one we stayed in in Prague: Miss Sophie's. If ever, no,correction, when ever, I go back to Prague, I won't want to stay anywhere else other than Miss Sophie's. NB: I have not been paid to say this ;)

We left out bags in the room and went out. Although it was already pitch dark, around 1730, we walked towards our planned destination- National museum. Boy, was I glad that we went! On the way, we stopped at Tesco Express along Belehradska and bought a bottle of fruit juice for the journey (as though it was very far). Just down that same road was the National museum.

That very day was actually a public holiday to commemorate 2 incidences that took place on this very same date, 50 years apart. They called it the Day of a Struggle for Freedom and Democracy. A lot of history there.

When we reached the museum, the area was all beautifully lighted up for this celebration, with a big crowd gathering in front of a big screen, situated across the street from the entrance of the National museum.

Above: The National Museum

Above: Blending in with the crowd. The bright white light was the big screen, with the National museum as the backdrop.

At the museum, we bought tickets for a classical concert, scheduled at 1830 in the museum itself. While waiting for time to pass, we bought pizza and sat outside the shop, as we watched the locals came together to commemorate their struggle in the past.

Above: The interior of the National museum. The main stairway of the central hall, was where the concert was staged. Doesn’t it just take your breath away?

Above: Our 1st class seats. Cushioned stairs steps.

Above: Tada! Prague String Soloists Chamber Ensemble. *Applause*

Below: Just to share the atmosphere of that brilliant night. Here's a shortened video of one of the pieces played- The 4 Seasons- Spring by Vivaldi

The one hour concert was none stop with famous pieces by great composers, namely J.S. Bach, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Vivaldi, and appropriately ended the concert with their very own Czech composer, Anton Dvorak.

What a magnificent night! I felt like crying. I felt so “cultured”! *sob*

Above: The crowd, after our concert.

On the way back to the hostel, we dropped by Tesco again for some food. That was when I bought the seedless grapes (which I am eating now, as I jot all this down), baguettes and pre-made salad filling with ham and pickle, and bottles of water.

Back in the hostel, we had our baguettes in the kitchen, which is connected to the TV room, both located in the basement. Very cozy. We went back to our room for a shower and getting ready to bed now.

Good night, Prague! We’ll be looking forward to see what more you have to offer us tomorrow.

The city of romance

It's 1455 local time and I'm in the train to Brussels. Au revoir, Paris! I'll be missing you. Call me.

Let's travel back to:

Day 3: November 11, 2009

Day 4: November 12, 2009

Day 5: November 13, 2009

Day 5: November 13, 2009

Our train was leaving for Brussels at 1455.

Initially, we were going to rest and relax in the hotel room until check-out time. But we were getting quite restless not doing anything. And there were no English speaking channel on the TV, other than BBC (That’s so much of news you can take when you are on your vacation!). Everything was dubbed into French. So, we left about 10-ish to stop at another landmark on the way to Gare du Nord station.

Above: With all our property.

Above: Check out the sky as we were heading to the metro station!

Day 4 : Nov 12, 2009

Absolutely nothing can stop me from exploring this city of romance. Although, the Moroccan man we met in the train yesterday, in some ways, had dampened my spirit for Paris. It was because I believed that we have to mingle with the locals to actually understand their culture and their thinking, and the fact that he had stayed here for so many years, that was why his comments affected me in some ways.

Nevertheless, bonjour, Paris! Here we come!

We had bread and fruit juice in the hotel for breakfast. Without further delay, first destination: the Louvre.

Above: Musée du Louvre entrance

Above: The most important masterpiece that we came for. The Mona Lisa painting was so far away, we could hardly see it. See? See?

Above: Art student. Doesn't she look like Emma Watson? Maybe she is?

After we exited, we walked across the street towards Arc de triomphe du Carrousel and had something to eat, while we sat and absorb all the culture.

Above: The arch in the background.

There is a nice park where you can see the Eiffel Tower. If we had more time, we would have hang around there. But we were rushing. We were rushing to climb the Eiffel tower!

So off we headed towards the Eiffel tower.

Above: Excuse me. If you don't mind, your head is blocking the church.

Above: Dôme de l'Hôtel des Invalides. Can be seen on the way to the tower, by foot.

Here we are!

We bought tickets to go all the way to the top. You can choose to buy tickets to climb up by stairs or take the elevators. Since climbing was told to be only to the second floor, and then take the elevator up to the top (7EUR/each), why not? I mean it was just 2 floors, how hard could it be right? Wrong. The so called 2 floors were probably 15 floors up! Because by the time we reached the "2nd floor", we could see at the whole of Paris!

Above: Taken from the "2nd floor".

Above: On the way to the top. By the way, that was just a mannequin.

On top of the world! erm... Paris!

It was such a wonderful feeling to be on top. Maybe because of the "2 floors" climbing. The exhilaration and satisfaction that came with it, to be on top of one of the wonders of the world. I felt so "high"..

Because it was all fenced up, it wasn't scary at all. MV is afraid of heights. But look at all his funny faces. No fears there. The wind was so strong, it could push you a little (depending on how heavy you are, I guess). I'm not gonna type out my weight here for the world to see! If the wind pushed you too, meaning it's around there, plus or minus.

Above: Champagne at the top of the Tower anyone? The man in suit, behind the counter was meddling with his computer or something, and did not look up once. But from that angle, he reminded me of those pretty-boy characters in anime.

NB: If you were working there at that time, and recognise that that person is you, why not drop me an email. We'll talk further. ;)

Above: By the time we came down (using elevator all the way), we were hungry again from all the adrenaline rush. Bought a sandwich from one of the stalls underneath the Tower.

Above: Opposite the Tower, across the Parc du Champs de Mars.

Tips: There is a metro station at the end of this park, on the left, across the street. So it's a good direction to head to after coming down from the Tower. If you want to take good pictures of the Tower, you can do it from the park, as well. Also, as you leave, you can still turn back to bid your farewell. I did. ;)

Above: The arch at Avenue des Champs-Élysees

It was already getting dark. Next on our itinerary was to walk along La Siene river, and then head to Notre Dame Cathedral.

Below: With the accordion music in the background, enjoy the 360° view of the bridge near Notre Dame cathedral.

Above: Notre Dame cathedral at night.

Below: Inside the cathedral.

Above: The Choir. The vocals, good sound system and the echoes reflected from this magnificent building made it all sound so grant and enchanting.

Above: Some modern day confession room. The priest was inside with another person and this lady was waiting for her turn. Where is the privacy?

You can’t really see the faces, because of the design of the glass. But from the silhouettes, it looked like they were sitting in the classical doctor-patient arrangement- Priest behind the table, Man on his right, beside the table. More like a counselling room, if you ask me.

Had Subway sandwich for dinner, somewhere after the cathedral and then head back to the hotel.