A City with Everything!
The most impressionable visits to a new city for me are when I come to it without any expectations! Embarrassed to say that I don’t have much knowledge about life and culture in Spain. Hence, the interest in visiting! How surprised was I to find how much art and “individuality” influences this city. Barcelona is the largest city in the Catalan region. Catalan is another surprising culture within Spain that I did not know about! So how lucky am I to have a cultural history lesson using all of my senses??? Art, Culture, Food, Sport, Open-air Museums, Beaches, and Nightlife! ALL in Barcelona!
Art
Crazy or Genius? I used to think Picasso and Dali were the former… but now I think they are genius! For me to come to this conclusion involved me going to their museums that exhibit their works the way they would like it and preferably with a guide.
Culture
Derived from the art history and strong Catalan pride, you wouldn’t really know what that all means until you visit. It sounds like a cop-out but isn’t that how you experience “culture?” Walking through thousand-year-old streets, looking at buildings that go from Gothic to modern and finding yourself in prime fashion shopping districts makes you forget how you even got there!
Food
Tapas! And my new favorite… Catalan food! Another unfortunate thing as a lone traveler is that eating alone is a reality. However, the wonderful thing is meeting new people to eat with! I really didn’t get a true taste of as much as I wanted because my last day in Barcelona was when I really tasted traditional Catalan cuisine in the best way possible… with friends outdoors. Something to try… Pa amb tomàquet
Sport
How can we forget that there was the 1992 Olympic stadium erected here. Like many modern Olympic stadiums of the past… it becomes transformed into a ghostly “museum.” More interesting is the sports complex in the center of town. I happened on a free World Woman’s Beach Volleyball competitions. Under the hot sun, I watched the Spanish women play their Japanese competitors.
Open-air Museums
Not to be missed is the open-air opportunities! Famously, Gaudi’s civic park design Park Guell is a must. Art you can touch and be fully encompassed. Your sense of hearing gets a fill from all the street musicians that obtain permits to play through out the park finding places where their music can be best expressed. In an amphitheater or outdoor concert park, you can bask in the beauty of Barcelona!
Beaches
Swim the Mediterranean! Again lucky to meet people to enjoy the warm waters not alone! The 1st dip into the Mediterranean off of the shores of Spain were with 2 German guys I met at the hostel! We jumped waves and swam in the most beautiful water that I had EVER seen! Yes! Why? It sparkled! As if some fairy magically filled the water with shimmery fairy dust! We were further East along the shore away from the party seen. The waters much cleaner and less infected with people! Although several days later I did spend a couple hours in on the busy West end of the beaches. And as expected… crowded and dirty.
Nightlife
Bars, Clubs, Cafes, Outdoor markets, & Street Shows! A European town open late with lots to do and see! Foreigners don’t feel lonely here as one can find parties with locals, transplants, and tourist from all parts of the world.
January 31st,2010
Spain |
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FINALLY !!! Some rest time for ourselves !! Hey guys, I’ve updated the Gallery page for Switzerland – This was the last country I’ve visit with Jen’s Travels – Switzerland became one of my favorite countries because of the People, Food, and the Scenery – It was a great trip! I hope everyone enjoys the pics – any feedback will be great – we’re trying our best !! Thanks for supporting Jenny all !! – David
–Updated 01/23/2010
January 23rd,2010
Japan |
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How can a country be so naturally beautiful and be equip with all the modern technology people yearn for? From green mountains with fresh flowing alpine water to the sleek designs of their watches on the wrist of the drivers of the most expensive cars in the city… Switzerland seems like it is the perfect place to live! Is it the standard of living? Attitude on life? Neutrality?…
Whatever it may be… it makes for a wonderful holiday/vacation in every spot the train may leave you! And who needs to get off the train to see everything… even the trains have cars that have windows that extend to the roof! Who needs a sunroof!? The only regret David and I had was not having enough time to spend here so that we can don our snowboarding boots!
Days Spent in the Country: 10
Number of cities visited: 5
English spoken: Yes. Most of the time you can find someone who speaks a little English as the country officially speaks 4 different languages. German, French, Italian, and Romansh.
Most common phrase heard: Danka (thank you)
Food: Almost everything you want to eat you can find here. However, they are famous for their cheese(guyere, emmental, “Swiss”), Chocolate, and fondue.
Drink: Rivella… a strange soft-drink of sorts that is derived of lactose or milk. Some wines are produced here and were not expensive. Not too bad!
Funniest/Strangest thing: Missing our stop in Zurich. Meeting a college girl on the train that offered to have us stay in her apartment in Fribourg(a city we were planning to stay in several days). We stayed and had a wonderful dinner on her balcony! CouchSurfing old-school style!
As beautiful as this country is and as much as I would love to live here, there is this funny mish-mash of culture. Landlocked and having 3 very dominating countries on its boarders, Switzerland has an interesting culture with a touch of German, French, and Italian. And their people recognize the non-committal qualities of this countries past and present. Nevertheless, you cannot deny that it is a country with the means and opportunity to conduct themselves the feel best with a quiet smile on their faces! After our time in Switzerland, I felt we went through some sort of detox just breathing the air, drinking the water, and engaging with the the friendly locals!
Where Dreams are Made Reality
Did I ever tell you I have dreamed of hiking the Swiss Alps. Cliché? Sure. But I Did It! With my favorite person to bat! I can have it all here in Switzerland! 
After days of no plans and whimsically letting the train take us through amazing parts of the country… we arrive to a (relatively) planned destination! Easy was it to arrive to one of the most tourist-ed spots in the Switzerland… Interlaken! After some window shopping and gaga-ing over Swiss time-pieces… we quickly move to higher elevations to better appreciate what Switzerland is mainly known for of people of all ages. The Trails! Finally, a major hike in Western Europe! Trekking poles, hiking boots, backpacks, trail mix… David and I are at home here!
Trails for Everyone!
The trails are maintained so well and well marked that it makes it easy for children just starting to walk and older folks refusing to stop walking to trek the Alps! I cannot explain how much beauty surrounded us! Even during short threats of rain… it only made for a wet walk for dinner. We were so lucky to have beautiful rides on the gondolas and trains to help us cover more ground within these valleys of trails!
After starting the day right with a decent breakfast at our guesthouse, we are packed for a day of trekking. Meeting fellow international dreamers… we stop at lakes,
by cows,
to smell the wild flowers,
and to just enjoy all the sights and sounds(or lack there of) of paradise. But some how, David and I cannot avoid my overzealous nature to keep trying to get to the top of each trail. But as grey storm clouds start to loom over us… we try to out run it to stay dry. Failing miserably, we were fortunate enough to reach a shelter to wait out the worse part of the rain.
Onward!
After the rain passes the skies open up more blue showing more brilliant colors throughout the land! Jealous are we of the locals and transplants as we admire their traditional wood homes decorated with native flowers and cow bells. Its easy to talk about liquidating our life in the USA and move here!
We don’t stop dreaming for a while…
January 6th,2010
Switzerland |
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Gruyere
Many things come to mind when we think of Switzerland. Swiss banks, watches, chocolate, cheese, alpine mountains, Aliens, or political neutrality? Whatever it may be, we will cover all of those in our trip. In Gruyere, we find a historic town infused with traditional food and modern art!
Castles and Fondue
Gruyere is our introduction to the major players that make this town famous. The grass and the cows!
Castle View into the Valley
Well, also things like flowers and a perfect environment where the cows can produce the most wonderful milk and cheeses in Europe! Enclosed within city walls, Gruyere is undoubtedly a tourist attraction that is worth being a tourist for. David and I learn about the town in this interactive presentation in the castle. The castle provides visitors with history, architecture, beautiful gardens and alpine views, and modern art. Making up our plans as we go, we take our time to really soak in what a small walled town can offer. Beautiful views, yummy cheese fondue, and cool art.
Aliens
After a day of nature and history… we spend the early evening at the H.R. Giger Mueseum Bar for drinks before our fondue dinner. A stark contrast from the week of culture. Industrial and dark, this man is ahead of his time. Who knew Aliens came from a guy who grew up in a place like this…
Bar
The contrasting experiences made for an interesting day!
December 31st,2009
Switzerland |
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Don’t Be Afraid to Ask!
We fly to Zurich to save time so that we can enjoy the trains throughout Switzerland! Our expectations were to enjoy some amazing alpine hiking and enjoying the famous dairy based cuisine that is imprinted in our minds when we think of Switzerland! After purchasing a 1/2 fare card we start to make some impromptu plans! No… we have no booked places to stay and a bare-bones plan for what activities or even which cities to hit! Sometimes no plan is a good plan. And it seems to serve us well this time!
After booking a hotel in Zurich for a night, we hop on the train from the airport to check-in. Now mind you, the “eurorails” are different in each country so I need to adjust to language and systems. So we settle in the train and chat about our plans. In our excitement, we realize that the train is not stopping and is going on twice as long as expected. Fearing we missed our stop, David asked some passengers about our next destination. The girls kinda giggled and said we just missed it and will be on our way West for another 1 1/2 hours!! Laughing as we discuss our at our situation, one of the young girls offered to host us at her college apartment! Couchsurfing the old fashion way! David is all for it! Ironically she lives in a town we planned to be in 2 days from now!
Fribourg
Fribourg
In return of her kindness, we go to buy groceries so that she would cook us a traditional meal! Treated with a short tour of Fribourg, we had a quick authentic tour of this old town!
Mari guiding us on our personal tour of Fribourg
The evening ended with a wonderful dinner on her balcony over good wine, clean air, and good conversation! We ended up staying another night and exploring the town leisurely on our own. That evening we met one of her roommates. So not to overstay our welcome, we booked a nice apartment/guestroom for the next few days so we can visit some other nearby attractions.
We learn that Fribourg is is an old town that has turned into a quaint college town. We learn that in Switzerland there most people speak French and/or German. Many can speak English or even Italian. Located on the Swiss plateau extending on both sides of the Saane/Sarine River, Fribourg is less touristed and maintains some charm of a small town. Perfect for David and I to leisurely explore and enjoy more cafe time!
No plan is a good plan indeed!
December 19th,2009
Switzerland |
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France is one of those countries I have dreamed of visiting despite all the bad press about it in the USA. Even though I am not as good with my French after 4 years of education in high school, I was still able to understand and communicate better than in other lands where English was not the dominant language. At least, David was impressed with me… France can be seen as a great world power with loads of sophistication and style in much of what they do. Whether it food, clothing, or lifestyle, France does it well and enjoyably so. Me, being some sort of purist and lover of the entire art of food and drink, France is very appealing to me!
Time Spent in Country: 7 days
# of cities visited: 3
Most used phrase(s) heard/used: Bonjour(Good morning/Hello). …S’il vous plait…(please)
English Speaking Locals?: Yes, many do know enough to get through basic communication issues. But it is best to start by using some basic French phrases and then asking if the person speaks English. Using the word “please” is always helpful.
Shopping: Yes, fashion is great here! No doubt that things here in Europe is still rather pricey.
Food: Where do I begin? If you are not the least bit adventurous beyond french fries and hamburgers… I can’t help you. But, again, baked goods(esp. breads) are wonderful. Therefore, you can get good sandwiches in the least! Sauces are wonderful! And yes, Escargots are good!
Drink: Wine, coffee, and sparkling water was my major staple fluid. And Wine is can be found reasonably priced. Of course you can find the pricier types. And remember, if you want to fly out with your bottles… pack them well and DO NOT CARRY-ON! We made a pricey mistake with that!
Funniest/Most Interesting thing: Honestly, nothing really happened that was really funny. I guess the most interesting thing was that we stumbled upon was that the French were rarely rude and snobby.
David and I really took our time going through France and had no burning desire to see ALL the famous sites. We wanted to get the feel of living there. As we gently went through France, we saw all good things there. Good people, good food, good places to hang out, and just a good life. Now all this comes with a price as things are up there in price. Again, I am in Western Europe so I expect it. Though, it does not mean that we could not find a reasonable stay and meals. The funny thing is that I am to enter France again on my way to the UK at the last leg of my trip. So I have time to plan whatever last minute visits and pieces of France I want to take in before I end my European tour! 
Être Parisian
Most people have a pride and sense of Nationalism for their country. Even to the point where they think they are better than another or that where they live is the “best place to live.” As an American, I can say that in recent years, France is increasingly getting a bad rap for their love of their own country. And Parisians have a special pride for living in Paris! Having said that there is good reason for all of this. Paris is a vibrant city with a distinct culture unique to Paris. For David and I to have spent only a few days in Paris we know that we want to come back. The love for food and drink is world renown here. How can you go wrong at a bakery or boulangerie? Or a cafe where you can have wine or coffee while enjoying the company of people you have with you as you watch life moving around you?
Cafe Breakfast
Then there are the numerous amounts of museums and cultural venues around the city… so many to choose from with artists works that would give you chills when you see pieces of work right there in front of you! And if meandering through mazes of marble flooring is not your style, there are parks where you can bring lunch or a snack and casually sit and relax with your favorite book or person! Here you can see all ethnicities mingling together as friends or family. It is amazing to see so many interracial couples in a city outside of the United States! And at night… oh, the lights give another life to the city that you cannot see in the day!
Eric's night tour of Paris
So doesn’t this sound kinda like another city that I love and hold dear to my heart…? New York City! So there is my bias. If one of these two cities top your list of places to hang out, then you must visit the other!
What Made Paris Better?
Parisian Friends! I have the luxury of having a friend to meet up with for a home cooked meal and good conversation! Myriam was the French Exchange TA at my college where we became friends who still keep in touch with! In addition to the hospitality and the meal, her and her boyfriend, Eric treated us to a tour around the city by car at night and to have drinks at a bar/club on a boat docked on the Seine River. To see how she lives and her views of life is another treat for me to have an authentic view and about life as a Parisian. What’s more is that I was able to ask her opinion concerning Parisian pride.
The Truth: French Snobby?
She told both David and I that she thought it only fair that when a visitor comes to one’s home country that there should be an effort to communicate with the locals using the local language. She felt that learning simple and necessary phrases such as various greetings and the word “please.” As in most cities, a high frequency of tourist bombard the streets and locals must encounter scores of tourist, who may have less manners in trying to quickly get their bearings in a lively city. I found Paris not much less snobby than some other big cities I have been to in and out of the USA. So my advice would be to take 10 minutes to write down and learn how to say key phrases, be patient, and smile whenever you are a visitor in any place! And if you get a “snobby” response… fugetaboutit!
December 2nd,2009
France |
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David’s Last RTW Visit
Paris is an appropriate place for me to meet David for his last visit to me on my RTW trip. But we immediately go to rent a car to get out of the city and head to the countryside to enjoy the spoils of the soil. Wine and Champagne!
Epernay
There is nothing like driving through a region to get a feel for what the environment is like. Learning the rules of the road, watching life passing in the background, and eying the motorized vehicles on the road. With the French vineyards as our backdrop, we had a great time just soaking up the environment.
Moet's Vineyards
Forgetting that champagne is not our favorite celebratory drink, we go to taste and see what the culture of champagne is like anyways. Unfortunately, we discover that Sundays and Mondays are really dead in town and at the wineries. So we spent one of the days hiking and picking wild blackberries the region.
But besides that… those few days allowed us to appreciate the fabulous baked goods that France has to offer! When places opened up and we had a chance to taste, we found champagne not to be so bad to drink and understand the history and appreciated the drink. Moet is a popular place to visit and has a well organized tour!
Dijon
Mustard. Isn’t that what you think about? How about Burgundy wine? Some of the finest red wine, Pinot grape variety, produced in France! 
Now, for you wine newbies… Wines in France are labeled by the region it is produced and harvested from. Whereas, in The States and many other countries, name is based on the grape utilized by the producer. I have to say that I am not a big Pinot Noir fan, but the wines produced in France seem to be more palatable to me. An interesting article about the site’s opinion of the differences between Pinot Noir Wine in France and the USA can be found on Pinot Now. Also, and informative video of various varieties of Pinot Noir at eHow.com. The great thing about visiting the Dijon/Burgundy region, is the world of food and drink in France as it is popular for! Dijon is also famous for escargots(b/c of the vineyards they live in). Which, I found good to eat! Oh, yes, an the Mustard! Yes! Good mustard, and mustard of all sorts! Maille is the famous shop that is now owned by Unilever. Dijon was such a friendly place that I visited again before I left Europe! It is a wonderful place that you cannot get sick of visiting.
Antique Streets of Dijon
Ready to Empty My Pockets in Western Europe!
Prepare to spend the same amount of money in the next 2 months in Western Europe as I did East of there! I anticipated spending loads more than I had been even though I have always wanted to spend months “Backpacking Europe.” Already was the shock of getting out of Serbia by train to get to Austria so that I could take more trains to get to Paris to meet up with David. When I got to It was a whole day of travel and meeting loads of people on the way. Here is the breakdown of my 1st experience on European Trains and some helpful info to get you started!
Swiss Train Running Through the Mountains
My favorite resource for all my train traveling needs. He lists in detail all the ins and outs of what you need to know about each country or region.
Eurail… Summarized
Fortunately, I had some time to think about which Eurail pass would be good for my type of travel and for me not to spend a fortune. When I got to Austria, it was wonderful that at the station there are service counters and travel agents that can help you make a decision if you cannot decipher it from the info online. Eurail passes are not cheap. Some of us Americans would immediately jump at the unlimited Global Pass trying to jam every stop in the time allotted. However, if you want to take your time in a country and plan to only hit a few… there is the Select Pass where you can pick 3-5 adjoining countries. Also many countries have their own country pass and regional passes that makes it cheaper to travel within an intimate area. I opted to get the 4 country Select Pass and then get a pass in Switzerland. Take the time to price compare if you have a plan.
Facts:
Min/Max time for a pass: 15 days/3 months
Overnight trains need reservations
You pay supplements for reservations and overnight trains
No supplements or reservation for open seating(so you can jump on a valid travel day)
Must validate in within 6 months
Conductors do not keep track of your stop so you must be aware of the time and listen or watch for announcements
Conductors DO check for valid tickets and passes
There are often lockers big enough for backpacks/luggage at main stations
Truths:
Sometimes the conductors don’t check for “validated” dates(or dates written in…wink wink)
It is wonderful to travel on a train…to have time to yourself and see the country
Trains DO leave on time(I know… I’ve missed a few)
It can be confusing upon entering each new European country so pay attention to changing connections
You can ride the Eurostar from Paris to Calais enroute to London included in your pass. But to get to London you can pay additional fees to ride it all the way through!
Loved the trains by the end of my trips. I even had the luxury of some premium seating with a nice breakfast into Paris! But the real luxury of trains is the time to yourself while enroute to your next destination! How many times do you really listen to yourself and then get to ponder those thoughts deeply? My favorite part of trip… And of course the traditional benefit of seeing the countryside without the worry of driving and freedom to roam in the cab if you like.
Any questions? …
November 20th,2009
Resources |
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