It seems so long since I have been in Prague. I just got back from a 10 day trip to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. It was my first trip outside of Prague since I have been here. It was wonderful and full of adventures. I have to say that I cannot believe how convenient it is to travel once you are in Europe. \u00a0There are so many inexpensive ways to travel whether by bus, train, or discount airlines. I \u00a0can only urge you to save up as much as you can and \u00a0jump on a mode of transportations and see as much of Europe as you can. \u00a0Here is a little overview of some of the things that I did.<\/p>\n
Paris- It is truly a beautiful place and words cannot describe all the splendor that it has. I knew I had to go here on my European tour so \u00a0I made it my first stop. I saw Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris<\/em> right before I moved to Prague \u00a0(which I am obsessed with by the way, I just love Woody Allen films) \u00a0and I was literally counting down the days until I would be there. Plus, There is so much history and architecture not to mention the plethora of museums, pastry shops, art exhibits, tourists, shops, and more.\u00a0My friends and I tried to cram as much as we could into our days. We visited the Louvre, which I can proud say we went in for free because we spoke in Czech and used our transportation passes as IDs which made us look like we were EU students. \u00a0I could have spent all day there because I adore art, but I settled for 5 hours of glorious art viewing. We went to Notre Dame, Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es, \u00a0Arc de Triomph, Le Petit Palais, the Eiffel Tower of course, Moulin Rouge, Sacr\u00e9-C\u0153ur Basilica and meandered along the quaint streets. My favorite part of Paris is the neighborhood called Montmartre which is on the Right Bank of the River Seine. It is an area frequently inhabited by artists with the like of Salvador Dali, Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, Matisse, Degas and \u00a0Renoir all \u00a0having called it home at one point. Now, there are street performers at every corner and local artist still flock to the hill that overlooks the entire city. \u00a0This neighborhood is not as congested with tourists so you really get to know Parisians. Plus Amelie and Moulin Rouge take place there, need I say more.<\/p>\n Here are a few notes \u00a0to keep in mind. \u00a0Paris is the most visited city in the world, hence it is swarming with tourists. The amount of people can be overwhelming and this is coming from a city girl herself. With the high traffic, there are places in Paris that can be kind of dirty. Also, be aware of pickpockets. Unlike in Prague where they do not approach you head on, in Paris they are aggressive and even touch you fairly forcefully. \u00a0Just be extra cautious. Overall, my time in Paris was heavenly and I would go back in a heartbeat.<\/p>\n Brussels- As much as I loved Paris, this medium sized city \u00a0and capital of the EU \u00a0stole my heart. It is so international which I adore and they are super friendly. It is a walkable city and the tourist crowds are in control and very manageable. \u00a0We met translators from Malta, students from Poland and Ireland and many more people from all over the world. The city is broken into three districts; we spent the most time in the old city center and we ventured into the EU district as well. \u00a0The streets are a maze of shops, chocolate shops, \u00a0cafes and resturants. The town square which is called the Grand Place \u00a0has a unique mix of gilded baroque, Gothic and Louis XIV buildings. \u00a0This city has a unique charm that I personally loved and Belgians have a very interesting sense of humor. \u00a0Of course, I could not resist the \u00a0luxurious chocolates and literally sampled some from every shop and I had to buy some. Also, french fries were actually created in Belgium not France, and they have tons of stands that fry them freshly for you. \u00a0They speak both Flemish,which is extremely close to Dutch, and French. \u00a0Overall, I love Brussels and highly recommend it.<\/p>\n Amsterdam-This picturesque canal city of Northern Europe is certainly a gem. First of all, the canals make you feel like you are walking on a movie set, they are so beautiful. The shopping is perfect. There are thousands of small quirky shops that have unique gifts. The people are extremely friendly and are very eager to talk and give advice about their city. I went to the Van Gogh museum and Anne Frank’s Secret Annex. The Secret Annex was a great museum and (as most WWII spots are) an emotional place. I remember reading her diary as a young girl and I was so glad that I was able to visit the exact spot that she had hidden in for years. \u00a0 Bicycles rule the land here. They have their own traffic lights and lanes. Amsterdam is infamous for its Red Light District and its coffee shops, but there is so much more to this quirky city. \u00a0I am very glad that I took the trek to the North and saw this wonderful city.<\/p>\n I was surprised at how much I missed Prague. \u00a0When I met people along the road, I felt like I bragged about Prague like it was my child or something. Traveling really made me appreciate my choice to study in Prague and I literally felt like a small anxious child waiting to return.<\/p>\n In other news, I got a job. I teach English to a 3-year old girl or rather I babysit her and teach her basic English words. I go every Monday to her house located on the other side of Prague and for four hours chase the little rambunctious girl around. \u00a0I also love talking to her mom and learning about the Czech Republic.<\/p>\n I am going to Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava this weekend. I will update soon with more updates.<\/p>\n Happy Reading!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It seems so long since I have been in Prague. I just got back from a 10 day trip to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. It was my first trip outside of Prague since I have been here. It was wonderful and full of adventures. I have to say that I cannot believe how convenient it … <\/p>\n