A Day in Paris

As I'm going through my photos in Paris and writing this blog post, I can't help but wish I was back there. Much like my first trip there before, we only had a day to explore Paris but a day trip there is enough to make you realize that this city really is one of the most beautiful in the world.

From Brussels, we took an early morning train to Paris which only lasted about an hour and a half. Since we didn't have a guide to tour us around, we were supposed to get on a hop on hop off tourist bus that goes around tourist attractions so that we could cover as much ground in our limited time. We took a cab supposedly to go to the bus terminal at the Louvre but we were fortunate enough to have met the nicest taxi driver. He immediately recognized that we were Filipinos because he met some while working in Bangkok and Malaysia teaching French. When he found out our itinerary, he gave us a lot of helpful tips on how we can go to all of the major sites just by walking and short taxi rides instead of the tourist bus. It ended up being a great decision because we were able to leisurely explore the streets on foot and get a more local feel of the city.

He dropped us off at the Louvre Museum which was the perfect starting point for our tour. We didn't have enough time to go inside the museum but the exterior of the Louvre is already a masterpiece itself. We definitely spent too much time there taking pictures but you really can't help it because of how beautiful it is. 

From the Louvre, we made our way to Champs-Elysees. We had a choice between walking through the Jardin de Tuileries but we opted to walk along the parallel streets where the shops and cafes were. We also passed by the Luxor Obelisk at Place de la Concorde. 

We actually got a bit lost because instead of going all the way straight to find Champs-Elysees, we made a wrong turn but it was okay because we were able to walk along the River Seine. We also got a glimpse of the Pont Alexandre III (bridge), the Military Museum, and the Grand Palais and Petit Palais. That's one of the nice things about Paris - I feel like there's no such thing as getting lost because every corner you turn, there's always something beautiful to see.

After consulting google maps, we finally made it to Champs-Elysees and window shopped in all of the designer stores. A girl can dream right? At the end of the of the street, we were greeted by the Arc de Triomphe, which after our long walk was kind of like our pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. 

From the Arc de Triomphe, we walked going to the Eiffel Tower. It's my second time seeing it and yet I still found myself smitten with it. There really is nothing like seeing the Eiffel Tower to make you realize you're not dreaming, and that you really are in Paris. 

By the time we got there it was already past lunch time so we decided to grab some sandwiches and have a casual "picnic" by the river Seine where you'll find the Bateaux Mouches (boat tours).

We then took a taxi to go to Notre Dame Cathedral. I was actually more familiar with the Sacre Coeur than Notre Dame so I didn't really know what to expect but we I saw it, my jaw just dropped. It's probably the most beautiful church I have ever seen. I love how structure-wise, it's one of the largest cathedrals in the world, and yet the design of the carvings and stained glass are so small and intricate. Now I know why it's one of the most famous church buildings in the world. It's so beautiful I just couldn't stop looking at it.

As much as I didn't want to leave Notre Dame, we had to go our final stop - the Sacre Coeur Basilica in Montmartre. It's located at the summit of butte (hill) Montmarte, which is why aside from seeing the Basilica itself, it's the best place to get an overlooking view of the city. By this time, we were already so tired not only from touring Paris but from the non-stop travelling that we did touring other cities in Europe. Just as the sun was about to set, we found ourselves just sitting by the steps, looking out into the city, and feeling absolutely grateful for the amazing trip that we had.

To see more of our Paris trip, watch my vlog below!

The Grandeur of Rome

You have no idea how much I have always wanted to go to Rome, and in Italy in general. As a student who's favorite subject was world history, I have always been fascinated with the Ancient Civilizations, most especially the Ancient Roman Empire. The history, art, culture, architecture, food, and the basically the La Dolce Vita way of life - I could just go on and on about everything that I love about Italy. Being able to go to Rome was definitely a dream come true for me. It felt so surreal to see the grandeur of Rome in real life. 

As Catholics, naturally our first stop had to be The Vatican City. Since we went there without a guide or without doing enough research beforehand, we actually ended up cueing for four hours only to realize we were in line for the Vatican Museum when our priority was really St. Peter's Square and St. Peter's Basilica. Despite that unfortunate incident, everything turned out well, and we were even lucky enough to have gotten tickets to enter through the Holy Door which is only opened on a Holy Year (Jubilee) and only happens every twenty five years.

The moment I set sight on St. Peter's Basilica, what caught my attention was how beautifully the sun shines on Rome. The Basilica is enveloped in honey-colored light as if it had a halo around it. When I saw its interior, I honestly couldn't wrap my head around how such a structure could have been built. Every single inch of the Basilica was covered in artwork with such intricacy. I feel like no picture or video could ever do justice to its magnificence. It's something you just really have to see in real life.

After touring the Basilica, we went around St. Peter's Square to buy some souvenirs, and to try some gelato.

I've seen the Trevi Fountain so many times on travel shows and movies, but trust me, there is no show or movie that can ever prepare you for how beautiful it really is in real life. It's a lot bigger than what you would imagine it to be. We went there at night so it was already lit up which makes it look so magical that it's as if your wish when you throw a coin in it would surely be granted. It's one of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen.

From the Trevi Fountain, we walked going to the Colosseum and on our way there we passed by the Il Vittoriano which is a monument built in honor of Victor Emmanuel, the first king of a unified Italy. We actually didn't know what the structure was (I had to google it) but it's massiveness demands to be noticed.

Right next to it is the Roman Forum where you will find ruins of the ancient city. I was so giddy when I saw this because as I said, I love anything related to Ancient Rome. I'm just so amazed by the fact that these ruins have survived to this day despite being built as early as 7th Century BC. 

We only had a day to tour the city and since we lost a lot of time waiting in line at the Vatican, we didn't have enough time to see the other tourist spots in Rome. However, something I couldn't miss seeing was the Colosseum. I've watched the movie Gladiator too many times that I would be crushed if I didn't see the Colosseum in real life. It's one of the most iconic sites in Rome and much like the gladiatorial games that were held in it before, it truly is a spectacle to see. You just feel like you're transported back in time when you see it, and its presence is truly a testament to the greatness of the Roman Empire. 

Everywhere I looked in Rome, I honestly couldn't help but think "How were they able to build these beautiful grand structures way back when they didn't have the construction technology that we have today?" I'm so glad I have finally ticked Rome off my bucket list, and I really hope I can come back to explore the other cities of Italy as well.

Watch my Rome vlog below to see the grandeur of Rome for yourself!

Falling in Love with Prague

If you've ever wondered what it was like to live in a fairytale world, then I suggest you go to Prague. On our first night there, we went out to have dinner and what greeted us was the sight of the Prague Castle and Charles Bridge beautifully lit up. I felt like I was looking at the Disney Castle logo in real life. The architecture from the Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque eras found in the city's structures are so beautiful that it's a gift to the world that these were preserved over time.

We were all quite unfamiliar with Czech food and culture so for dinner we wanted to try something that was native to the place. Luckily, we stumbled upon a gem that was Casserol as we were exploring the Old Town. They serve traditional Czech dishes with a modern twist. We had the pork knee with potato dumplings and croquettes, and the duck breast with wild broccoli. The food was exquisite, and our experience was made even better by the restaurant's elegant ambiance and the staff's warm hospitality. It was definitely one of the best meals I have ever had.

The next day, we headed out early to explore the city. First on our agenda was visiting the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague located at the Church of Our Lady Victorious. 

We then made our way to the Prague Castle which is the official residence of the Czech Republic's President. The climb going up was so steep that we almost gave up (you'll see the struggle in the vlog below) but it was totally worth it once you see the view of the city from the top. 

We definitely worked up an appetite after climbing the steps of the Prague Castle so we had some lunch at Malostranský Hostinec located just at the foot of the castle. I absolutely love outdoor dining on beautiful days in Europe, and that partnered with good food made for a great day. We had their Caesar Salad which had the chunkiest slices of bacon and chicken on a salad I've ever seen (which was a great thing), Goat's Cheese Salad, and an assortment of Grilled Sausages with fries. I'm seriously salivating right now just thinking about it. While walking to the Charles Bridge, we bought some Trdelnik for dessert which is a traditional Czech bread which you'll find everywhere in the city. Seriously, if you want to eat amazingly delicious food at reasonable prices, Prague is the place to be!

We ended our tour at one of the most iconic landmarks in Prague - the Charles Bridge. It dates back to the early 15th century and crosses the Vltava river. Not only is the bridge an architectural wonder for surviving to this day, you also get a scenic view of Prague when you're walking along it. 

I honestly didn't know much about Prague and didn't know what to expect from our trip there but it has surprised me in so many pleasant ways. From the spellbinding architecture to the incredible food, our Prague trip has easily become one of the best I've ever had.

Watch our vlog below to see how magical Prague really is!