So Belgium, we were only there for a day but I'll never forget the amazing taste of the truest Belgian/Nutella/powdered sugar waffle I have ever consumed. It was literally a piece of heaven (comparable to my amazing large and in charge pancake in Amsterdam) ! Bruges so beauuuutiful!! It's actually a very popular honeymoon destination and looks virtually untouched since 1709--or just really old. There were lace shops everywhere, so delicate and beautiful--and super expensive. So I just stuck to my waffles, I was quite satisfied with that :).
Divinity, in physical form. My Belgian Waffle.
Bruges (photo credit Alana)
Photo Credit Alana
Gorgeous Gothic. Photo credit Alana
Bruges Famous "Markt"
I love canal cities. Photo Credit Alana
Brussels is a very important European "Business" city. However, after seeing Bruges, I didn't really care for Brussels (eh), plus it was rainy and we were only there for a day. So we didn't have much time to do anything in Brussels except hate our hostel and frolick about the city at night, get stuck in the rain and eat. All in all we made the most of our time there. :)
I love them
How can I emphasize this enough..? do NOT stay here, I repeat do NOT stay at Brussel's youth hostel. period. No towels, who knows what was on the floor, and the floor got flooded when we showered so we had to use their cardboard sheets as towels, utter ew, just ew! We even put the sheets in the shower b/c the tile was too questionable.. but definitely made for a memorable experience. ;P
It was rainy, it was gross but it was fun
No umbrella? No worries. Naturally we used our mysterious Hostel sheets.
Brussels Cathedral. Photo Credit Adam C
Again, we were only there for a day, we did as much exploring as we could. I'd definitely love to return to Bruges. Very beautiful and untouched.
Oh Austria, how I miss your pristine beautiful self :).
The grass actually was greener on that side :) and the air was so fresh and crisp-tasty!
After departing Venezia/Venice we were off to Austria!! It was absolutely freezing! We arrived in a village outside of Innsbruck and it was one of the most quaint little towns I've ever stayed in. Our accommodations were very homely and cozy :) very comfortable.
But we wouldn't be true Americans if we didn't stop at McDonalds FIRST. Oh my gosh. Alana and I had many authentic European meals (split of course, balling on a budget) but when we weren't we were living off the dollar euro menu! Observe:
We also had fun in this Austrian McDonalds, impeccably decorated, obviously and with an amazing playplace!
Slidinggg. We were having so much fun we didn't realize our group had been waiting for the two of us on the bus (just like every country we went to, Alana and I-always late!)
But the Austrian McDonald's actually wasn't the highlight of Austria ;P .
First Glimpse-gorgeous
Spiros, our European Guide, our "fearless" leader ;)..not this day :))) hehe,
Claire and I in our rafting gear/wet suited up and ready for some rapids!
Group shot :). They made us get acclimated to the coldest water my body has ever felt!
Then they told us to fall straight back! It was soooo cold, never forget that sensation. Alana and I are in the middle. Alana's the one screaming haha.
So our tour guide assured us that, the rapids were easy going, around a level 3. AND he also assured us after he made each of us jump out of the raft then try to get back on w/ the help of our raft mates (to see if we could get back in, in CASE we flipped) that his rafts never flip. PLEASE within the first five minutes our raft was the first to flip. It was a horrifying/hilarious moment. Our raft when completely vertical on its side, called "dump trucking". It was a titanic moment, people were holding on, some had already fallen off, and our guide is yelling at us to jump, jump back into the knife-feeling cold water. Pandemonium ensued, we were swimming after gear, paddles and trying to catch up to the raft. It was still amazing. Our guide was literally grabbing each of us by the life jacket and throwing us back in on top of each other. It was crazzzzy! Crazyfun!
We hit a couple of fast paced rapids (SO FUN, i LOVE rafting :) ) and towards a calmer part he said if we wanted to jump out again we could for a light swim. At first I was like please the water was freezing and strong but then British Bradley, an amazing friend we made on the trip just jumped out- I told Alana we had to do it, when were we going to be in Austria again white water rafting looking at the Tirolean Alps and be able to jump into this European water?! So we did it! And I had never felt more alive, it was the biggest rush, just swimming in this powerful cold beautiful water laughing/smiling and looking up and seeing tall gorgeous mountains (not abundant in my flathomeland of Fla!).
rafting while seeing the Swiss Alps was jaw dropping and just magic!
I think that's British Bradley getting back into our raft, he jumped out voluntarily a few times
YAY we survived ;). I'm pretty sure this was one of everyone's favorite days. We all had an amazing experience and a ridiculous amount of fun together!
(Photos: Alana Bevan, Adam Carroll via Alana B.'s FB)
We were only in Austria for a day and a half and the full day was spent on the River. I definitely want to go back to Austria, back to Innsbruck because there is a lot we did not do and also go to the beautiful Vienna.
Leaving Germany was so sad because Munich had been spectacular. I was starting to feel like a local since our hotel (hotel Maria) was smack dab in the hustle and bustle (truly German) part of town.
Some Krons, you'd think I was rich! but sadly this is the equivalent of about $20 lol but you get around nicely with this.
Me at one of the many Gothic style Cathedrals
The sadness faded away when we realized the fairytale-esque town we were going to be staying in. Now, I can only speak for Prague because that's where we stayed but it was beauuuutiful and also a lot darker than the other cities-literally. It was significantly more cloudy and most of the buildings were very haunting in old town Praha.
Alana and I about to see a movie in Prague (we saw Angels and Demons-complete with subtitles lol that we didn't need)
on the Bridge, touching the golden dog will make your wish come true or bring good luck, one of those! (Alana Bevan photo)
The city is fairly large and can be sort of maze-y. Alana and I had the best gnocchi EVER better than in Italy then leaving the restaurant we got lost, i mean LOST. Separated from our group, no knowledge of Czech or the name of our hotel, no phone-nothing. After about 2 hours of walking late at night in and out of streets/dark alleys/and a mcdonald's (to seek help/refuge)/getting into a fight lol we hailed down a random cab and we happened to have the hotel card in our pocket (but we couldn't read it) and handed it to the driver. The tab ended up being around $20 but it was worth it! We made it back safely.
Charles Bridge Prague
We visited the Daliborka Museum/ Prague Castle (old torture location for prisoners) there we found a curious surprise:
Vin Diesel?! You decide. (Alana Bevan photo)
The next night after exploring the heart of Prague, the astrological clock, walking the bridge, going into even more cathedrals (not helping my chandelier obsession!) we went out, and BIG. :) After taking the subway to another part of the city we arrived at the coolest club ever complete with cheap beer lol called
>Karlovy Lazne night club, a FIVE story club with a different theme on each floor. We all had an amazzzzing time!
The Disco Floor!!!
Starbucks, we will always find you! located in the main square, by the Astrological Clock :) (Alana Bevan photo)
A beautiful Glimpse of the city, you have to remind yourself you're in the 21st century! (Alana Bevan Photo)
Reunion under le Eiffel Tower, how cinematic;) <3 amazing day
We have a secret..Paris we love you!
amazing aerial view only to be seen atop le eiffel tower :)
If he jumped it would've had a parachute of his jacket!
Yes, it was THAT windy!
The sun was glistening, the water, everything- it was perffffection!!
Conquering Paris!
Jose and Kaylyn :)
Bffls
Some of the group!!
Couldn't believe I was in the Eiffel Tower :) Taking it all in <3
Seine River Cruise :)!!
Under the bridge, the algae water marks are just a reminder to how historic Paris is
The Famed Versailles!!! One of my dreams coming true!!
Alana in the beautiful Hall of Mirrors
My turn :) I was in heaven I ADORE chandelliers :)
The romantic gardens. That day they were actually filming something there. They had actors dressed in Victorian appearing costumes. It was neat.
LOVED the checkered black and white tile. Such an amazzzzing experience. Alana and I almost missed the tour bus to go to Versailles. We somehow managed without knowing any French, waking up late and figuring our way out on their subway system! It was meant to be :)
Mark in awe of the beautiful structure glowing at night :)
Alana and I :)
At night they light up the tower for a bit. It's almost like a light show, with bursts of flashing light. So perfect!
Notre Dame, Quasi moto are you home?
Steve trying to figure out where to go next
I'm in Louvreeeee ;)
Mommy and me about to get our museum on!
Yup we saw her!
Breathtaking art from the floor to the ceiling.
Paris, France- said to be one of the most romantic & magical places on Earth! And I'd have to agree :). The first thing we did was go right to the Eiffel Tower. I didn't bring a phone so I borrowed my friend Adam's to call my mom and see where she was in France (she was there with a friend) and it turns out she was at the Eiffel Tower! It was such a special moment. We ran to each other literally under the Eiffel Tower. It was magic and I had missed her so much because I had been abroad for almost a month at this point, the longest away from her! And to meet up at such a famous landmark it was almost too much!
After our awesome cold windy Eiffel Tower trip we took a Seine river cruise but NOT before trying a deliciously divine nutella crepe (very Parisian) from a crepe stand on the river. Oh my gosh. Best chocolately taste. ever!! Everyone was quite satisfied and nice and full before our river ride:)
I have to say Paris has fascinated me really since I was in high school and learning about the "romantic" "passionate" French anti-monarchic Revolution. And of course you can't learn about that without learning about the magical Versailles King Louis the XVI 16th and Marie Antoinette's residence. I had heard about the famed hall of mirrors and gardens but to see something that you have wanted to see for a while in person was a wonderful experience. Besides those hallmark places of Versailles, Versailles as a whole was so over the top (although it has nothing on Russia's palaces!).
My mom and I went to the Louvre together that was amazinnnggg!! We saw the Mona Lisa (quite small in person btw!) Venus de Milo, Hammurabi's code!! So many iconic figures that have surpassed generations. ahh to go back. I loove museums and so does my momma (where I get my love for learning from). It was a magical day. I'll post more info and pics for Paris part duex..like I how I found my mom in Paris the next day sans French Lang knowledge and a phone :)..
MUST DOs:
-Versailles
-Notre Dame
-Sacred Heart
-Eiffel Tower (at night :)
-Champs elysees
-The Louvre
-Eat a Nutella Crepe
-Have French fries (hehe)
-Buy a beret (i wear mine when I paint for inspiration)
-Go to a cafe and people watch for a night (my mom and I and her friend had the best night doing just that)
-Take a Seine River cruise
-In Nice France. Hang in the square and go to the beach and beware the jellies but enjoy the life!! Definitely more laid back than Paris.
