As fresh as my memories serve me... I planned the whole "backpacking" trip. We were on budget so I had to do quite a bit of research & also plan our itinerary since N is more a US-type of guy. Not really into museums, monuments & history.
We were to fly into Rome, make a day-trip to Pisa, en-route to Florence, head to Venice before chugging on a night train to Paris & lastly taking Eurostar to London, all in 15 days.
Booked hostels & budget hotels, train tickets etc all online before setting off. As is our first time in Europe, just wanted to make sure we will not go off schedule.
3 nights in Rome, 3 nights in Florence, 2 nights in Venice, Night-Train to Paris (got a glimpse of Swiss Alps in early morning of train ride), 3 nights in Paris & 2 nights in London.
In Rome, we walked alot, used very little of public transport... bad move coz feet ached badly.
Love Pisa, white & pristine building, sun shining in blue blue sky, makes pictures taken look really good & one of the best pasta we've eaten during entire trip was at a restaurant near the leaning tower :)
Florence was also one of my fave destination on the trip, quaint little town, very walkable from sights to sights. Shopping was fun as there were many small unique shops scattered all over... like little surprises popping round the corner en-route to our destination.
Loved the pink facade of the Duomo & waking up to the bells every morning.
Venice was a little under the weather, St Mark's Square was flooded on both our days there... we spent much of our last day seeking shelter in our hostel to wait for night train as rain was so heavy, you'll need boots to survive the flooding.
Night train to Paris was fun, in a bunk... though we arrived much later than expected due to strike in France.
Not very friendly Parisian at train station, as we needed coins to buy tickets to get to hotel, but no one wanted to help change our dollar notes. :( But that was the only negative experience.
Loved Paris, day & night, rather safe & clean, more urban-like, shopping along their shopping strip "Avenue des Champs-Élysées" All my fave brands lining up on both sides of the street.
Lourve was eye-opener & extremely big, could only cover a fraction of it in 1 evening.
Parisian ladies eat very little, I noticed that none of them ordered mains while we were dining in a restaurant. Maybe that is why they are so slim... all of them.
Finally to London, met Yen there :) Been talking about visiting for the longest time & I finally made it! We were covering the usual sights like Buckingham, Tower of London, London Eye, Westminster & Harrods.
We survived! with our rations of instant noodles (to save some $$ on meals), milo, cereal mix, bread & water from local supermarts. Not forgetting our maps & iPhone to guide the way.
Came home with lotsa shopping... snacks, souvenirs & most impt of all: memories of the luggage-dragging up & down trains & buses with my dear N.
Thank you for going along with me for the trip, N!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
More than 1 year since last post~
More than a year has passed... it has been a busy busy 2010.
Where shall I begin?
There was a big event every month: Trip in March, hiatus in April, Weddings in May, June, galfren gave birth in July, Wedding in Aug, Sept, Long-Overdue Honeymoon in Oct, Wedding in Nov & X'mas in Dec. :)
In March 2010, N's family & I joined my bro-in-law & soon-to-be sis-in-law in Taiwan for wedding photoshoot. Lotsa fun, esp seeing my in-laws all dressed up & posing for pics.
Of course not forgetting shopping & eating... & hot spring dip on cool Spring night.
We made plans to venture out of Taipei as the rest of the group have been to Taiwan previously. Due to an unexpected earthquake somewhere up north & we daren't venture any further, and spent the rest of our time in Taipei. I was surprised at how much I actually enjoyed myself.
April was my short break before the rest of the year's activities came bulldozing down on me... in a good way. I was definitely looking forward to the rest of the busy year, so many happy events were happening to those around me whom I love dearly.
I was one of the bridesmaids for my friend, Joan's wedding in the month of May, also happens to be her birthday month. To add to that, it is also N & my dating anniversary... 12 years, can u believe it?
June came & we welcomed a new member into our family, N & I gained a sis-in-law! N & I helped out with his bro's wedding.
My dear girlfriend, Von, bore the fruits of her labour, literally, in month of July. Little A was born :) She bears an uncanny resemblance to daddy.
August was the biggest day of one of my bestest friend's life... Ling got married! Bridesmaid for the 6th time. Also, it was the 1-yr wedding anniv of another friend in the group, Seahry.
Galpals got married in September... Dav & Derek (yes Derek, u r one of the girls :) ) & yes I was part of the entourage.
My long-overdue honeymoon came finally in October... that is a long story for another day.
Cin got married in November & baby L attended the wedding with her parents.
Came December & my 2010 drew to a close, with a little surprise of my own...
SURPRISE!
Where shall I begin?
There was a big event every month: Trip in March, hiatus in April, Weddings in May, June, galfren gave birth in July, Wedding in Aug, Sept, Long-Overdue Honeymoon in Oct, Wedding in Nov & X'mas in Dec. :)
In March 2010, N's family & I joined my bro-in-law & soon-to-be sis-in-law in Taiwan for wedding photoshoot. Lotsa fun, esp seeing my in-laws all dressed up & posing for pics.
Of course not forgetting shopping & eating... & hot spring dip on cool Spring night.
We made plans to venture out of Taipei as the rest of the group have been to Taiwan previously. Due to an unexpected earthquake somewhere up north & we daren't venture any further, and spent the rest of our time in Taipei. I was surprised at how much I actually enjoyed myself.
April was my short break before the rest of the year's activities came bulldozing down on me... in a good way. I was definitely looking forward to the rest of the busy year, so many happy events were happening to those around me whom I love dearly.
I was one of the bridesmaids for my friend, Joan's wedding in the month of May, also happens to be her birthday month. To add to that, it is also N & my dating anniversary... 12 years, can u believe it?
June came & we welcomed a new member into our family, N & I gained a sis-in-law! N & I helped out with his bro's wedding.
My dear girlfriend, Von, bore the fruits of her labour, literally, in month of July. Little A was born :) She bears an uncanny resemblance to daddy.
August was the biggest day of one of my bestest friend's life... Ling got married! Bridesmaid for the 6th time. Also, it was the 1-yr wedding anniv of another friend in the group, Seahry.
Galpals got married in September... Dav & Derek (yes Derek, u r one of the girls :) ) & yes I was part of the entourage.
My long-overdue honeymoon came finally in October... that is a long story for another day.
Cin got married in November & baby L attended the wedding with her parents.
Came December & my 2010 drew to a close, with a little surprise of my own...
SURPRISE!
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