Europe Trip

I had so much to tell. I had so much to cherish, and that is why I decided to blog about it. Who would not dream to have a trip in Europe in their life? I would always have to raise my hand if ever I would be asked if I wanted to do it again.

It was suppose to be our dream honeymoon destination. However, due to the hectic schedule, the tight budget and stressful life we've been after the wedding, we decided to postpone after some time. That "after some time" took about 11 months after. Madami nangyri. We lost our first baby, I was doomed. I never thought of being able to cope up again. And then it happened.

The first struggle we had was obtaining the Schengen Visa. Hindi naging madali. Gathering the documents, saving up for the "show money", and setting up for the planned leave and all that. It was a make or break feeling. And of course, when we got our visa, ang saya saya lang!

We then started to research about Paris. The weather, the outfits, the tourist spots. I have read so many blogs about it and realized that blogs could be something so useful especially for the first timers like us who became internet junkies because of researching everything that we need to expect. Of course, there were positives and negatives in every destinations. As much as I want to hook up with the good ones, I can't help but to worry about the negative ones.

I learned that in Paris, there are a lot of incidences of pickpockets, and manloloko. At the airport, the train stations and even on the tourist spots. Sinong d mappraning? But I tried to let myself believe that everything will be ok.

I forced my husband to watch movies like my all time favorite, "Chasing Liberty", "Monte Carlo", "The Tourist", and even the Jadine flying high in Paris tour, just to feel good about our upcoming vacation. This has been by far, the longest travel I ever had. 16 loonggg days! Wow! That's a lot of money to save up!

And here were the other preparations we made beforehand.
1. We bought a European adaptor so we can charge our phones and cameras.
2. We bought some pacsafe bags (better safe than sorry)
3. Packed up some medicines (incase of emergencies)
4. Downloaded some apps on our phones (Paris Metro, Maps, Google Maps, Uber, GPS, Italy Maps, Cleartrip Bookings, Booking.com)

Then finally the day has come. Of course, we had our obligatory airport selfie!

After 7 hours of flight, we arrived at Charles de Gaulle. Then na activate na ang aking pagiging paranoid. I felt like everyone around me was mandurukot. I kept on checking my belt bag and my passport, reminding my husband to take a lot of precaution! I was paranoid like that! hihi

Because it was already late, we decided to take a cab instead of waiting for the free shuttle to the hotel, since we were also very tired already to transfer to another terminal to take the shuttle. Finally, we reached the hotel. I was so excited. I wanted to feel what it's like to be in Paris. But of course, we were just 1 km away from the airport which was 1 hour away from the city. So what would I expect? Nothing to see.

The next day, we took the shuttle going to TGV (Paris Bullet train that runs 200km per hour) going to Bergerac. That was fast. Pero sa bilis na yun, it still took us 6 hours to reach our destination. That was how far it was from Paris proper.

Bergerac is a countryside of France. It is a charming city where you can have the most relaxing vacation you could ever have. And of course, it was so special to me because it is also where my aunt lives, and so we had a family to live in there. It was so homey in Bergerac. I loved the feeling of getting up and breakfast and delicious meals were ready. My aunt owned a 10 hectare land also which is surrounded with beautiful flowers, forests and animals. It was like a paradise indeed. I didn't even want to go out. Sa bahay palang, solved nako.

But we did a lot of things in just a week.


We visited Beynac Castle.

We went to the shopping centers

We did some picnic and camping together. Yes it was my first time to ride on a Camping car which was well equipped with almost everything. (bed, fridge, toilet, oven, kitchen and dining)

We tried on the fast motorbike of my uncle.

Airgun shooting...

And of course, a never ending pictorial in the beautiful garden of my aunt.

1 week was never enough. I wished we have stayed a lot longer but well, life- it goes on!

I will definitely miss this place.

Now moving forward to Paris! Yes, I think you guessed it right! We were so excited. Mga taeng tae lang kaming makarating at mameet si Pareng Eiffel.

Minsan, sinusubok ka tlga ng tadhanda. On the day we were suppose to go to Paris, there was a transpo strike (oo, lagi palang nagkakaron ng ganun sa Paris. You know, democracy problems).
Syempre, praning na nmn ako and my anxiety level was going up like crazy. Finally, we arrived in Paris Montparnasse Station and my cousin fetched us up from there.

It was awkward to meet my cousin for the first time after 20 years. I didn't know how to approach her, I didn't know what she's like. Then we stayed at her apartment for 3 days. It was not that bad at all. We got along well.

We had some dinners together, she took us to Paris nightlife, and some museums in the morning.

Then eto na, we had to find our way on figuring out on how to use their railways. Ang toxic! The good thing was, we already experienced a complicated train situation in Japan that we somehow managed to comprehend the railway maps in Paris. Yes, we got lost at first but we did it. And first stop, Eiffel Tower!

Kakaiba ang feeling! Yung first time mong makita na iniisip mo, dati, sa mga keychains, paintings and movies mo lang nakikita, then now nasa harap mo na. I kept on telling my husband to pinch me so that I will know that It is real. ( Alam kong OA na, but there's always a first time, and maiintindihan ko yung mga taong mga first time palang din ppnta dun. So sa mga nakapunta na, wag kayong mayabang. I know naramdaman nyo rin un dati. haha)

I don't need to elaborate the feeling when we saw the other tourist spots like

Arc du Triomphe,

 

Musee du Louvre,

Jardin du Luxembourg,

The Pantheon,

Notre Dame Church,

Sacre Couer,

We just encountered a slight problem here in Sacre Couer. While we were walking uphill towards the church, there were about 6-7 big black men who approached us. Sabi nila, they will just have to tie a thread on our wrist, and we need to close our eyes, and make a wish. Kinutuban nako nun. Alam kong there's something fishy going on. I have read it on other blogs that you should never entertain people like them. Lakad ako ng lakad pero hinaharangan nila ako until nakawala ako. When I was already far out, I realized that my husband was left there with them. Binalikan ko ulit and I grabbed him with me. There they forced us to give them money. I was firm to say NO! It was only then that they released my husband's hands. Mahigpit ang pagkakapit that it left a bruise on his hand. That was scary. Pinatanggal ko agad ung thread sa kamay nya because I know that there's something about it that is so strange. Yes, nabasa ko din un sa blogs before that they will put a mark on you, maybe sticker, or threads like that para palatandaan. On your way up, may mga kasamahan pa ulit sila. So you have to be very very careful. (super helpful to read blogs before traveling, for you to be well equipped with infos. And that is why I decided to write up this blog. Maybe it will help)

Moulin Rouge,

This place was one of my bucketlist before. I didn't know that this is the erotic place of Paris. On the side streets, you will find sex toys, and live shows. It made an impression to me not to come back to this place, especially at night. But I wished I have watched the Moulin Rouge show. Too bad it was so expensive.

Versailles,

During our last day in Paris, despite the super pagod from all our walks, we still decided to visit Versailles. It was about 2 hours from our hotel. Grabeng pagod ko na nun pero pinilit nalang tlga na makarating. I kept on praying na sana it will be worth it. Well, sulit nmn ang pagod. It was superb!

Champs de Elyssees

Pablo Picasso Museum,

Alexander Bridge,

Hotel Invalides,

Hmmm... the picture tells it all!

So much about Paris! Moving on to Italy!
Never did I think of making it to Venice! Honestly, I thought it was already too much to ask for. But I felt so blessed to witness my long time dream.

I remember when I was younger, I went to Macau and saw a Gondola. I was so eager to ride on it but I didn't have a money to afford, plus I thought that it was not the authentic gondola anyway. I promised then myself that one day, with my special someone, I will go to Venice to make my gondola  dream come true!

Then I realized that the "one day" I was talking about was happening already. I was having goosebumps (nakakakilig). Then of course, my Grand Canal Moment too! Gees, I was like living my dream! It felt so good!

There were other things about Venice that surprised me as well. The shopping was so great! I have made the best purchase of leather bags for me and my mom! The gelato was superb! Pizza, pasta, oh they were the best ones I have ever tasted in my life! How could their pizza taste like that?

Venice is sooo Romantic! Everywhere is love!

16 days was fast like that!

There were just few lessons we learned from our trip.

1. Travel light. Do not bring all your stuffs. Do not bring a lot of clothes. We carried 2 big luggages and 1 small handcarry. But they were so heavy. So isang malaking No-no and magdala ng madami on a travel. Andami naming damit na di nagamit. 1 day super lamig, the next day super init nmn. So just bring the basics.
2. Do not buy from street vendors who does not have stalls. They will only fool you. Some of them are snatchers pa.
3. Do not buy rosaries from Paris. Oh they are so expensive. If you plan to go to Italy after, well dun nalang. Malaki ang difference.
4. Do not buy stuffs right away. Scout on different stores and compare. Magsisisi ka pag dating sa dulo ang mura lang pala ng nabili mo.
5. When you go to other Schengen countries, better to take a skyjet than a train. Mapapagod ka lang. Save time, effort and money. Surprisingly, mas mura ang planes.
6. Give tips to restos. Di ako sanay magbigay ng tip so nakakahiya sobra na hindi ako nagtitip pag kumakain. Late ko n narealize. hehe (sorry nmn!)
7. Don't force yourself to speak french when you can't. Ma ooffend lang sila pag di mo na pronounce ng tama. Bonjour, Merci, Au revoir! Un nalang i master mo! (means hello/good morning, Thank You, Goodbye)
8. That's it!


I am just so happy that we were home safely. All those bad thoughts I had were replaced with good memories and stories to tell.

I would never stop dreaming.  And remember that, dreams will only make sense, once you make them come true!

Next Dream Destination: Santorini, Greece (cross fingers)