Europe Week 5

Europe week 5 is at paris. Transportation is terrible but enjoyed my day at disneyland. Was super shock with the pricing of disneyland. SGD 150 entrance fee. But since im here in Paris must as well go. That's like my main purpose of my entire europe trip anyway. 

Took a few roller coaster rides. Which is super fun and thrilling. 360 degree. As it is disneyland so the thriller rides are limited. Only 2 of them are fun. The rest are like mostly kids ride. Also they are celebrating 30 years anniversary and the timing I went was perfect as they are having 40% off for the 30th years merchandise. 

Went to effiel tower saw this elevator to go up to the top. Wanted to go then I realize I forgot bring my portable charger. Even if I go up also cant take pictures. Plus I have to rush back before phone die as the transportation is unreliable. So got to scrape off the idea to go up. Anyway been there is already good enough. If I happen to be there again, I will take the elevator then. 

Among all the places I been to, Paris is the only one that make me miss going back to Singapore. The transport is the main factor. Unreliable train and buses. Google map shows bus will reach my destination. Halfway through, driver will tell u, this is end destination. No explanation, not even informing u where to take the next bus etc. Even the local got to keep asking around. 

Also due to train stop working as and when, I got caught up in almost a riot fight. Luckily nth happen. Just some police there to stop and prevent fights from breaking out. Ppl are squeezing and pushing one another in other to go up the bus. Even when the bus door arent open, they stick and hold on to the moving buses like magnets. Is scary even for the bus drivers to avoid accidents. Drivers will flash the torch requesting them to keep distance.

Ppl are screaming and shouting and some ppl started running away. I was also thinking if I need to run. Cant I cant see the front, was pondering if there is a gun or something due to the scream. Luckily nth happened.

Overall I still manage to go back to my airbnb safely. Notice ppl started boarding bus and those who board the buses are either woman or with kids, make my way into the sight of the police and they usher me up the bus safely. They give priority to woman, families and elderly. Lucky im born a woman then. Overall still took me 5 hours from disneyland back to airbnb which only need 45min if you drive. Cant imagine what will happen if I didnt get to board the bus.

Everytime i went out early and go back early in order to avoid stranded outside. But things always happen like unknown change of bus route, no buses, train stop etc on a daily basis. So got to preplan at least 1-2 hours more to reach destination or use transport 11 if possible. 😆 

Recommendation is to stay within 1-3 zone. Best within zone 1. Further you are from the city zone, more ex the transport is and more inconvenient when buses or trains stop working. Within zone 1 at the least u can walk. Either that or stay near disneyland if that is your main purpose. 

Everyday I worry about transport that I didnt ate much during my trip there. Mostly I tabao homecook food. If i stranded, at least got food to eat and drinks. Hahaha. Not joking cause u can be stranded anywhere in weird neighbourhood where there is nth in sight especially if u took bus. Some stations there are staff telling u where to go, what to take. Others really nth and u can just pray to god i guess. 

Though with the disastrous transport, happiest moment to go disneyland and visit the zoo. Worth the SGD 150 entrance fee for disneyland. And the zoo, get to see animals that you will not see in sg. Like Lynx, gazelle, wolf, fox, fossa, wolverine etc. Let me think about going shanghai next. Got disneyland and one animal that I wanted to see. Orca. Maybe next year that is where I will go. 😊

Europe Week 4

Was in Milan this week. Went to verona and lugano while in Milan. Both places are worth to go. 

There is market at Verona and nice fountain there. Cant remember where the market was but bought some cute pinocchio souveniors from there. Nth much to buy at verona but a nice place to take some photos. Especially the fountain, structure and bridges. The place is more of flower garden city type. Florence has more things to buy for me like central market and bazaar etc. 

Lugano ex place for food and everything. Bought a swiss made watch for my mum here. View is fantastic. The lake view and all. Could have swim in the lake for next time if i come. They have nice cute pedal boat and boat with slides that can slide into the lake. Recommended for new travel to lugano to have a few days there. Can visit other lake.

Nice good to have a little hike, take funicular train, swim. Boat ride across the lake etc. Both verona and lugano is a day trip I didnt regret going. 

Plan all the bazaar and market while in milan. Is nice to go to the bazaar. A lot of cheap goods. Clothes etc. Flea market not as much things to see unless you really into 2nd hand. Is very old school items. Shop a lot at milan. Bbt Frankly is quite nice. I ordered matcha latte with pearl and i like that is not very sweet. Is like 20% sweetness only. Didnt manage to eat the nice seafood and mistertea that was recommended. Maybe next time. But this xi er restaurant for buffet lunch is really quite worth it. Can go again. Though drinks separate charge. 

Didnt eat much nice food in milan though. Overall in italy i realize is best not to order gnocchi.  So far nv ate any that is nice. And it stick to the teeth. Can eat other nicer food.

Self cook my own pasta while here. Bought the pasta from supermarket and cook with sauce that i bought previously. The sauce is italy can be bought. A lot of variety. And the truffle items are also nice.

Sick and tired of eating pasta so during my time in milan i think i didnt really eat any pasta. Mostly fast food. There is this old wild west the steak is not bad which i tried. Price reasonable. They have burgers too which seems affordable and looks not bad. Also got this place 100 Montaditos at biococca village which looks good but didnt tried. Next time maybe will try. Bicocca is really good place to shop. Sinsay and ovs are cheap clothes place. 

Other than all the market, bicocca village and Fashion City Outlet San Giuliano have very cheap clothes. Both malls are good place to shop. Be careful of san giuliano though. Bus to return ends quite early and there is only one bus there. So got to take note. 

At bicocca village got go kart to. Around eur 30 to play and got compulsory membership. I didnt play. At central fs which is central bus and train station, there is this cafe napoli which has many variety of coffee and is not bad. Try the pistachio just warning is bitter. Also got this whole stretch of food area mercato centrale milano a lot of food variety and there is free toilet entry which is good. Realize this good place too late. Didnt manage to eat there but did a tour. Got affordable food. 

Europe week 3

Europe week 3, I am at Rome and Venice. Rome is a nice place to take pictures of fountains and structures. It is not very ex and have good place to buy souvenirs while walking to colosseum. There are many places to visit and take pictures. Went to the water city call Vicus Caprarius. Not worth it unless you are very into history or have nth to do. 

Im mostly there to shop for primark and help Dor bought her earrings. Didnt know going to the branded shop still need to q. So annoying and dont like the idea of their tactics to q. Sadly i didnt have time to visit the vatican city. I did ate very nice tiramisu here call two sizes. Highly recommended to eat. 

Visited the Borghiciana Pastificio Artigianale and ate their agrumi pasta which is nice and unique. Is like carbonara with lemon. Refreshing, light and is not salty. Only con about this pasta is there is no meat. Would be good if can add bacon. I was q-ing for this restaurant late at night. There was a guy in front of me also doing the same. He also alone on his trip then the restaurant owner sort of insist us to eat together. Trying to matchmade both of us.

He is from sydney. Open gym in sydney with his brother he said. Got 4 brothers. 😲 cant imagine. And coming europe is his first trip overseas and his first trip he already went alone. So brave. He say going overseas from Australia is not very convenient and not to mention ex. I ask if he travel interstate? He say nv. So weird staying in australia already have a lot of place to travel to. He say he is sick of seeing australian. Hahaha and he dont like Americans. Want to go to asia but afraid of being kidnap. 

Make me think about what media did. Asian afraid of going western countries scare to be kidnap. While western afraid to be kidnap in asia. 😆 what irony. 

Went to Venice next. Nice place also. Stayed at a convenient location which allow me to go venezia. The main town. I stay in mestre which is good. Less ex and more night life. 

While in Venice I travelled to Florence and trust me I will nv go there again. Those ppl there just want to chop tourist. I alight by bus. Board another to go to the main town. Bus Conductors came on board and insist to fine me for not validating tickets. No mercy or leniency to tourist. How am I to know that tickets need to be validated? So unfair. I didnt really fight. I just ask for leniency and she refuse. Guarantee the conductor herself earn from this fine. Another family from amercia also got caught. Worse is they didnt even purchase the ticket and the parents were fighting and arguing against the conductors. Failed still and got fined. 

They are really aiming on tourist only. Not recommended to go. Also nth there is really fascinating. Is similar to venice and rome has better things to take photo with. If really want to go, Piazza Santo Spirito Flea Market and central market is a nice place to visit. There is a nice fountain Sistema delle Rampe del Poggi which is very nice. Also one day trip is quite enough. 

In venice venezia, I ate a crepe which is quite nice by pepe. Took a boat ride but mainly is just walk. The boat ride is ex. Eur 9.50. But the gondola is worse at eur 80-100. Shocking. 😆 A boat ride is sufficient for me actually. Think i miss the rialto market cause i walked too much and got too late. But seems like a nice place to visit.

Saint mark Square is a near place to visit. There have water on the ground to play with. Quite fun and fascinating. Then we have all the shops and suso gelato is really nice although have long q. I like that the ice cream cup is a biscuit cup. Only con is that the biscuit cup is soft and not hard. There are very cute coin pouch souvenirs to purchase from there as well. Bought some shaped in a gondola design

Nina and friends have very nice choco and sauce though is quite overpriced. I bought the truffle sauce from there which can be bought another brand with cheaper price. Didnt manage to try the da michele there if got chance go again then try and didnt really have time to visit their local bazaar market. 

Next time if i go rome or venice again have to look into their local bazaar. Time in Rome was too short. Also overall Rome seems like less ex place in italy. 

Europe week 2

Europe week 2 Im at santorini. Sea view everyday calms my heart. Refresh and relief my mental stress. 

Every meal is at a place with sea view. Things are more ex there as it is a touristy place. Bought a necklace which is gifted there which is gold and really very nice which multiple ways of wearing. 

Im fortunate that I am staying at fira. All the buses arrive and depart from Fira. You cant go from red beach to oia. Everywhere you go have to depart from Fira. 

During my days at santorini, I went to the black beach, Oia, white beach etc. The best beach to swim would be Oia. Also there is cliff jumping at Oia beach which I did. 

The moment i hit the water, my butt hurts. Adrenaline rush. I wont mind to do it again. But cause it hurts when hit the water so i would prefer not to. 

Got myself dark that day as I waited in the sun to video for a lady to jump. She told me she was from Perth. But when we nake friends and exchange fb i realize she is from Russia. Not sure why the lie but feels skeptical if you are lying. She ask me out for a meal or drink say she wants to thank me. I told her is ok cause Im leaving. 

I also took a train in santorini. It was worth it. Can enjoy eat and drink on the train see the sea view and mountain without being in the hot sun. Didnt swim at the white beach though so dont know if it is good. Water look not bad. 

These are the more memorable things that happen to me. If I ever come go to santorini again. Rmb have to book hotel with caldera view and best to stay fira. Then can travel around. Also Naussa is not bad for its local food and environment. The ambience is lively at dinner. Aris seafood risotto is really nice. Iriana cafe has very good pancakes and view for sunset also.