stacylaughs

[stacylaughs]

I’ve been tweaking this recipe for Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad for ten years now. (Note: It’s similar to this recipe!) A simple bag of ingredients and three directions for a group gathering favorite.

INGREDIENTS

1 pound bowtie pasta

1/4 pound Genoa salami, chopped

1/4 pound pepperoni sausage, chopped

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan

1 (6 ounce) can black olives, drained and chopped

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 can artichoke hearts, drained

3 tomatoes or 1 cup grape tomatoes, chopped

1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix

3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons dried oregano

1 tablespoon dried parsley

1 tablespoon granulated garlic

Salt & pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiled water until al dente. Drain and cool under cold water.

2. Whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, oregano, parsley, granulated garlic, Italian dressing mix, salt and pepper in a large bowl.

3. Add the cooked and cooled pasta, salami, pepperoni, Parmesan cheese, black olives, artichoke hearts, red bell pepper, green bell pepper and tomatoes. Cover, and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

#kitchentips #pastasalad #kitchen #recipe #food

[stacylaughs]

January 22-24, 2020

I was going to Vegas for a friend’s wedding, so I decided to fly in early to see some national parks. The most convenient option for me was to book a private car three-day tour ($549.00).

This was our awesome itinerary:

Wednesday

7AM - Leave Vegas and head to Boulder City, Nevada and Lake Mead Outlook.

10:30AM - Stop at Good 2 Go in Kingman, Arizona for snacks and coffee.

Noon - Williams, Arizona and Route 66, for lunch and take some time to explore the Gateway to the Grand Canyon, the Visitor Center, the famous Train Station, and the old locomotive. 

3PM - South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Mather Point, named after Stephen Mather, first director of the National Parks

Grand Canyon Desert View Watchtower - This was our second stop at the Grand Canyon from a different perspective, climbed the watchtower and took in the view of the Colorado River.

Cameron Trading Post - We stopped at this 1916 trading post and explored goods handmade by the Navajo and Hopi people. 

We slept at Quality Inn at Lake Powell for the night. 

Thursday

Antelope Canyon in the morning to see slot canyons, formed by flood waters. These amazing formations create art through pictures.

Noon - Carl Hayden Visitor Center to check out the dam, built in only 3 years from 1960 to 1963.

3PM - Bryce Canyon National Park, a sprawling reserve in southern Utah, known for crimson-colored hoodoos, which are spire-shaped rock formations. The park’s main road leads past the expansive Bryce Amphitheater, a hoodoo-filled depression lying below the Rim Trail hiking path. 

We spent the night at Comfort Suites in Kanab, Utah.

Friday

We spent the day at Zion National Park, hiking the Emerald Pools trail to view a waterfall. 

Then, back to Vegas!

#utah #vegas #lasvegas #arizona #nevada #travel #travelusa #bloodsausage

[stacylaughs]

November 8-10, 2019

A one-way flight from Medellín to Chicago was $356.75 on Spirit Airlines. Chicago is an awesome city that I’ve chosen to move to, in part because of its close proximity to other fun cities. It was my first time visiting St. Louis and the 4-1/2 hour drive was even easier than I thought it was going to be.

Here are a list of some things I really like in the Gateway to the West:

The Gateway Arch! Previously, I never knew that you could go up it! It's pretty dang neat. Even if you don't want to go up, the park there is pretty neat with the opportunity to look up at the arch.

Within walking distance of the Arch park is Citygarden (small park with big sculptures) and Imo's pizza (which is St. Louis style pizza, which tastes a lot like frozen pizza...).

St Louis Public Library (Central) has some pretty architecture and small exhibits I liked looking at.

The City Museum is repurposed architectural and industrial objects that you can climb on and around, housed in the former International Shoe building. It’s hours of climbing and crawling while you stare at the wonder of these great objects with so much history.

Blueberry Hill has so much fun memorabilia. If there's music while you're there, and you're into small concerts solo, go check it out!

Depending on the weather, Forest Park is huge if you want to go for a long walk.

I didn't get to try them all, but Bogart's Smokehouse, Pappy's Smokehouse, Salt + Smoke, and Sugarfire Smoke House have very yummy meats.

Tivoli Theatre and the Fabulous Fox looked like fun, small theaters to watch movies in.

#travel #usa #travelusa #stlouis #missouri

[stacylaughs]

October 5-16, 2019

Fourteen hours from London to Medellín, Colombia on Air Europa ($606.46) and I was back in North America! It was a 75,000 Colombian pesos (~$22 USD) from the airport to Diez Hotel Categoría ($90/night) --where I really enjoyed the breakfast each day. 

This trip was work-focused so the accommodations were beautiful, and there were lots of fun things to do, like:

Eat at Mondongo's! Named after the traditional Paisa dish, a soup made from slow-cooked diced tripe (cow stomach) with cilantro and vegetables. It’s comfort food at its best.

Classy dinner at Carmen, with phenomenal food and excellent service. Everything was delicious and hard to say if the wine or crafty cocktails were better.

Plaza Botero is home to 23 of Fernando Botero’s larger-than-life sculptures. This plaza can be reached easily from the Parque Berrio metro station. When here, make sure to step inside the Museo de Antioquia, which faces the plaza. Entrance is free, and you can see paintings by Botero as well as other Latin artists.

Parque Berrio is across the street from Plaza Botero. This small park is always filled with juice vendors and local street performers playing traditional Colombian music.

Escaping east over the mountains to one of the region’s largest

nature reserves at Parque Arvi is as easy as jumping on the metro system. A regular metro ticket will take you as far as Santo Domingo. Once you exit the metro, buy another ticket for the separate metro cable that runs from Santo Domingo to Parque Arvi. The cost is 4,200 pesos (~$1.80 USD).

We visited a coffee farm, led by Urbania, an Airbnb experience. It’s ketchy and I learned a lot about the coffee process, as well as drank a lot of coffee.

We took a long day trip (lots of windy roads) to Guatapé, a colorful pueblo located about two hours by bus from Medellín. It’s situated on the edge of a lake, and it’s possible to take tours of the surrounding area by boat. You’ll see the remains of one of Pablo Escobar’s former homes from the water. We also climbed El Peñol, a granite monolith with over 700 concrete stairs etched in its side. At the top were breathtaking 360-degree views of the region. 

Of course Pablo Escobar is part of the history, but I did not do any sightseeing or tours including his neighborhood or prison.

I do wish I had gone paragliding, one of the most popular tourist activities, especially among backpackers, thanks in part to dependable thermals and incredibly low prices. You’ll be hard-pressed to beat 95,000 pesos ($30.00 USD) for a 15- to 20-minute tandem flight anywhere else in South America. The action takes place in the mountains north of the city, about an hour’s bus ride from the Caribe bus terminal. Flights are weather dependent, but otherwise available every day of the week from several companies.

Another thing I did not get time to do was to go on a Comuna 13 graffiti tour, which includes discussing the painful past of la Comuna 13, and also visiting Independencia 2, which includes the largest mass grave.

I flew into Santa Marta (343,465 COP) on eDestinos and stayed in a small villa for $134/night (for three rooms) with friends. A 30-minute taxi from the airport was $10. It’s a small, sleepy, kinda dirty beach town. Lots of seafood (some of which, admittedly, made us sick). But, we did an all-day Airbnb experience to Gairaca ($44), which made the trip worth it.

#schedcation #travel #colombia #medellin #travelcolombia

[stacylaughs]

September 15 - October 5, 2019 

A one-way on Ryanair, from Kiev to London cost me $323.31, which seems steep, but it is what it is. Also, a stay at the Mercure London Kensington Hotel started at €95/night for the world’s smallest room, but no one ever said London was affordable. Staying in Shoreditch was the same price but a bit more comfortable.

Work was pretty busy during this time but there are still loads of fun things to do in the UK, such as:

Drinking delicious BrewDog beers.

Admiring the Sunken Garden while walking through Hyde Park. Go through Serpentine Gallery while you’re here too, if they’re open.

Having some great breakfasts, such as the best pancakes at The Breakfast Club and best eggs at Eggbreak.

If there’s a live show at Rough Trade, check it out, as they have great music taste (obviously).

The Science Museum is free and fantastic during the day. Additionally, on the last Wednesday of every month is an adults-only, after-hours night with themed talks, workshops, and the best silent disco in town. You just need to reserve a free ticket here. 

Make the 3-hour drive one-way to Alton Towers, hands-down the best amusement park in the UK. Ideally, you drive up the night before and stay at the resort there, or at nearby(ish) Crown Hotel in Stoke On Trent for £110/night per room.

#london #uk #travel #traveluk #eurotrip

[stacylaughs]

September 3-15, 2019

A one-way Ryanair flight ($204.71) from Athens to Kiev, Ukraine, a ₴394.35 (Ukrainian Hryvnia) Uber from airport, and I was at DREAM House Hostel ($14.45/night). I loved this country for its affordability, beauty, and ease of getting around. Majority of the locals’ English level is low, but it’s safe, and with the help of the internet, it’s a blast. I hope I have the opportunity to return soon. 

If you’re curious, here’s an excellent article on how to pronounce the capital of Ukraine.

Here are some things to do:

I went to the dentist. I highly recommend Dr. Yarema Miklosh (068-479-97-77 or email [email protected]). His business hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm, and Saturday 10am to 3pm. A cleaning was ₴1400 ($60). 

Traveling around Kiev is so easy. You can use Apple Pay on the metro, or take a Uber, each trip ranging from ₴56-94 one-way.

Get a glass of cherry wine at Drunk Cherry (П‘яна вишня).

No surprised but I had the best chicken kiev in downtown at a place aptly named Chicken Kyiv. I love the pop-up menu with photos.

Get beers and groceries at Silpo, and have an impromptu “picnic” at the square/park across the way, Сквер Сагайдачного.

Puzata Hata (Пузата Хата) is a chain restaurant all over Ukraine. It means “Hut of the Pot Belly.” It’s a cheap place to sample traditional Ukrainian cuisine in a cafeteria setting.

Kiev has a beautiful downtown with dramatically colored cathedrals. And, yes, Sofiyska Bell Tower is worth paying to walk up to the top for the view.

Cross the bridge (which you can also bungee jump off of!) to Trukhaniv Island (Труханів острів). Gorgeous, especially at sunset, and you can drink beers while sitting on the sand.

Chernobyl tours are quite popular, starting at €79. The tour routes in the Chernobyl Zone and Prypiat town are designer to grant absolute radiation safety. To control radiation safety, each group has a Geiger counter on the route. You can also order a personal dosimeter for yourself. It makes the radiation level “visible” and shows your exact radiation dose at the end of the trip. I was told that a one-day tour radiation dose is equal to the dose of a 1-hour airplane flight. 

I took an overnight sleeper train from Kiev to Odessa (₴656.15) and then flew back (Odessa to Kiev) one-way (₴967).

It was ₴810/night for a private room at the nearly empty DREAM mini Hostel Odessa. This location will likely be closing soon. 

Zheto (Жето) is a quaintly decorated cafe to have coffee and cake. 

Take an Uber to Arcadia Beach, pay for exclusivity at a club, or just dip your toes in the Black Sea -- up to you!

Lots to see in the town centre, such as the Odessa City garden or Potemkin Stairs.

I was eating late night fast food wraps called VLavashe at the 24/7 chain, ВЛаваше. Don’t knock it ‘til you try them; they’re addicting.

#ukraine #kiev #kyiv #odessa #travel #travelukraine #eurotrip

[stacylaughs]

August 12 - September 2, 2019

I flew from Athens to Cape Town, South Africa on Qatar Airlines (€633.30 roundtrip), which required an annoying but fast credit card verification at the airport. I heard that flying on your birthday might be worthwhile, but literally nothing happened.

I was really lucky to have a friend in town to drive me around this big, beautiful country, and also just be wonderful, smart company. 

Here are a few of the wonderful things to do:

Drink Steri Stumpie flavored milk and green creme soda!

Massage at Pure Day Spa.

Dress warmly for the winds at Big Bay Beach and then have a meal or drink nearby.

Go up the Table Mountain Cable Car (students for R150, regular R290). The views are the best I’ve ever seen and I love how the cable car spins around so you can see everything as you go up. 

Go up to Signal Hill and watch the paragliders jump off the mountain. 

Buy Nice Ice Cream and walk across the street with your ice cream cone for some perfect beach views. 

I really, really enjoyed wine tasting in Stellenbosch, with Delaire Graff Estate being my favorite place in South Africa. The mountain views and the wine are incredible and unlike any other place I’ve been.

Be sure to stop by Root 44 Market for lamb shank, bunny chow, or any other delicious local foods.

We stayed at Knysna Elephant Park for two nights ($180.40) to see elephants sleep and also to have a private moment with them in the morning. It includes breakfast, as many "Meet Our Herd" daily guided tours as you’d like, and an early morning experience with the elephants for about an hour. The morning experience is only available for lodge guests. 

Prices have recently increased drastically for tourists at Boulders Beach Penguin Colony, and you’ll see more penguins outside of the paid area, but I would pay if you’d like to be on the beach or in the water. 

It’s worth driving through Simon’s Town to check out the antique shops and also have breakfast in Kalk Bay. 

Cape Point is the south western most tip of Africa. It is R303 for international visitors, and R70 for locals. Cape of Good Hope has a wealth of small animals such as lizards, snakes, tortoises, and insects. Small mammals include rock hyrax (lassie), striped mouse, water mongoose, and Cape clawless otter. If you want whale viewing, the southern right whale is most likely to be seen in False Bay between June and November.

It was really amazing to disconnect for a week at Kagga Kamma, where we did a number of guided excursions. My favorites being the rock art tour (R385) to see cave art dating back approximately 6,000 years, stargazing (R90), sundowner picturesque viewing (R385), and quad bike safari (R300). 

On my next trip, I’d like to try: seal snorkeling, Franschhoek Wine Tasting Tram, Lions Head Hike (early morning or sunset), Houtbay lunch, Llundudno beach, Camps Bay cocktails and dinner, Bo-Kaap museum and neighborhood, Charly’s Bakery, Castle of Good Hope, The Ladbia Theatre, Whatiftheworld Gallery, Cape Town Red Bus City tour hop-on-hop-off, and shopping (Matsidiso shoes, Titch bags).

#southafrica #capetown #traveling #eurotrip

[stacylaughs]

August 8-11, 2019

The Aegean Airlines flight from Istanbul, Turkey to Athens, Greece (€129) might be the easiest flight I’ve had this trip. Metro from the airport to the city is €10, but it seems crowded at all hours and reading Greek is really difficult for me so I went the wrong direction the first two times I used the metro. 

The city is very walkable, and the city’s major landmarks (Acropolis and Lykavittos Hill) serve as good reference points as they’re visible from most places. My Schengen visa was close to expiring so I didn’t make time to visit other islands, but Athens very much feels like a jumping-off point for some beautiful islands.

Some things to check out while you’re there:

Eat all the things. Don’t miss must-eats like Greek salad (Horiatiki Salata), moussaka, gyros, and Greek yogurt with honey and nuts.

Begun in the 6th century BC, Greece’s largest temple, Temple of Olympian Zeus, took more than 700 years to build. It’s impressive for the size of its remaining Corinthian columns, 17m high with a base diameter of 1.7m. Small fee to view up close, or see it free from the gates by Hadrian’s Arch. 

The Parthenon epitomizes the glory of ancient Greece. 

The Caryatids, six maidens who support the southern portico of the Erechtheion, have their originals in the Acropolis Museum, open until 7pm. The museum discourages photo-taking so embrace things with your eyes.

You can walk the steps of past Olympians at Panathenaic Stadium.

Take the metro to Faliro and walk or taxi to beaches on that side. Some have entrance fees but you can get a voucher with the purchase of a coffee. Others are free but you pay for loungers and/or umbrella. These aren’t beautiful beaches, but it’ll do when you want to be in the water on a hot day.

You can also take the metro to Kalamaki to see Bolivar / Poseidonos Avenue for a more party-like atmosphere in the water.

Hike up Lykavittos Hill/Mount Lycabettus to get panoramic views of Athens. Or, just walk up Areios Pagos/Areopagus to get a good view of the hill.

Every Sunday morning at 11 am, people gather in Syntagma Square to watch the official changing of the guards, the military unit whose members stand proudly in perfect stillness in front of the Hellenic Parliament.

My initial thought would be not to visit the Central Municipal Athens Market unless you want to buy a large quantity of raw meat, olives, or spices, but I bought some of the best dried (sugary) fruit I’ve ever had there.

I walked for at least an hour in the National Garden, watching turtles swim in the small pond.

The Theatre of Dionysus Eleuthereus is a quiet place to rest, but also the oldest theatre in Europe.

Buy sandals from Melissinos art.

Play games all day for €10 at the Athens Pinball Museum.

#eurotrip #greece #travel #athens #travelgreece

[stacylaughs]

July 25 - August 8, 2019

I struggled leaving Kraków, missing my 5:30am flight on Ukraine International Airlines ($184.24, $64.24 refunded), so I booked the next flight out on LOT Polish Airlines ($438.52) to Istanbul, Turkey. The mistake cost me, but after a video chat with Nick, and knowing I’d see my friend, Marcus, when I arrived, I resolved to move forward.

I did need to apply beforehand for an e-visa ($20.55), which was immediately approved and very flexible within the 90 days. It costs 110₺ to taxi from the Istanbul airport, or 24₺ by bus.

Here are a few of my favorite things to do in Istanbul:

I love to stay in the Beyoğlu district, so I can have breakfast each morning at Doğacıyız Gourmet or Van Kahvalti Evi. It’s easy to get around by walking, Metrosu (assisted by the Google Maps app), or the BiTaksi app to call a taxi.

Watch the movie, Kedi, to learn more about the many cats in the area.

There’s so much amazing food. If you’re nervous about going to a random restaurant, find one online that is recommended. Then, go there and ask them what to order. 

It’s a huge metropolis with lots of history, so we started with a free walking tour with Tolga, which walks through so many places, like Grand Bazaar, Sultanahmet Square, etc., and then additionally saw Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia and Sultanahmet Camii (“the blue mosque”) separately.

Marcus and I both booked last minute flights to Kayseri ($117.89), roundtrip on Turkish Airlines to check out Cappadocia (Göreme). We stayed at Panoramic Cave Hotel ($82.45/night). It’s 50₺ a person, one-way to or from the airport, set up by the hotel. 

Cappadocia, a semi-arid region in central Turkey, is known for its distinctive “fairy chimneys,” tall, cone-shaped rock formations clustered in Monks Valley, Göreme. Other notables sites include Bronze Age homes carved into valley walls by troglodytes (cave dwellers) and later used as refuges by early Christians. The 100m-deep Ihlara Canyon houses numerous rock-face churches.

We booked everything through Shah Mat Travel, including:

A one-hour balloon ride for $160, which would be a shame to not do in this area. It was my first hot air balloon ride, since bad weather canceled my last one in Bagan, Myanmar. Even on days when we didn’t have a ride scheduled, we woke up at 5:30am to watch the balloons float in the sky, it was so magical.

I enjoyed a few hours at the Turkish bath, Elis Kapadokya Hamami (€20/157.50₺). You can pay extra for the massage (€14), swim in the pool (women) or steam in the jacuzzi (men), and linger with an apple tea.

The North (”Red”) tour (157.50₺), which was a bit too long for me, as it included taking you to shops where I didn’t want to buy anything and the sales tactic was cringey. But, it’s cheap and easy to see many things in one day.

Goreme Panorama is a panoramic point over Goreme town with its cave houses.

Goreme Open Air Museum is the first and biggest monastary where religious education was started. Churches, chapels, and monasteries carved into the fairy chimneys with frescoes painted on the walls from the 10th to the 13th centuries.

Devrent Valley and Pasabaglari (Monks Valley) have several types of fairy chimneys.

We watched a belly dancing show with dinner (280₺), which I don’t necessary recommend, but it’s unlimited drinks so you can make your own fun.

Go out to the Ihlara Valley. It's beautiful and only about 1-1/2 hours by car. Be sure to give yourself some time to walk through the valley.

#turkey #istanbul #travel #travelturkey #eurotrip

[stacylaughs]

July 20-25, 2019

At this point, I’m a little burnt out on traveling so I miss my train to Kraków, Poland ($48.97, no refund) and take a 9-hour bus ride as penance (€32.53). Should have researched flights more, as it’s only zł39 ride from the airport to/from town.

And, even though Poland takes up days on my Schengen visa, it doesn’t use the Euro (like I’ve been used to), and the currency is instead the Polish złoty. A friend along my travels recommended the Greg & Tom Hostel (zł65/night) for the meals alone, and yes, they were really good. Another good recommendation is Atlantis, for half the price, but none of the meals.

It was a quick, cheap trip, but here are some things I recommend:

I walked through Planty Park at least a dozen times. Great walk, and also, as the royal capital of Poland until 1596, Kraków is packed with attractive historic buildings and streetscapes. 

Check out the stunning Wawel Castle and Cathedral. Just walking up to and around the area is nice, in my opinion.

Walk Bernatka footbridge to get to Old Town. Lots of fun restaurants, bars, and cafes in the area too. 

Just outside the Old Town lies Kazimierz, the former Jewish quarter, its silent synagogues reflecting the tragedy of the recent past. The district’s tiny streets and low-rise architecture make it an interesting place to explore.

If you want to visit Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory, keep in mind that the museum is less about the factory and more about the history of Poland and the town. To avoid all lines, you should buy the memorial trail ticket (zł32) at Muzeum Apteka Pod Orlem to have entrance to three places total for seven days.

I booked a tour with Cracow City Tours for a morning trip and guide to Auschwitz (zł119). Personally, I found the guide really beneficial and the experience moving. 

I enjoyed eating the street food oscypek, pączki, obwarzanek, and zapiekanki. Oh, eat sausages and pierogies. Be sure to have some beers too!

The Kraków Pinball Museum is less of a museum and more of an arcade with unlimited play for €10/day. It has pinball machines from many decades.

Make a 1-3 day trip to Zakopane by bus (zł20) to visit Tatra National Park and go up Kasprowy Wierch (hike or cable car). The water park is apparently one of the best.

Kopiec Krakusa is a mound in the middle of a grassy park, further south, that has a very nice scenic outlook. Its highest point is 16 meters tall and offers panoramic views of the city. 

Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCAK)

Check out the university, Collegium Maius, where Nicolaus Copernicus went. 

Pomnik Elvisa Presleya is statue remembering the late Elvis Presley. This statue is at the edge of the park. See it on your way to Zakrzówek Lake. It’s an old quarry filled with perfect blue water, but I don’t think they allow people to swim in it anymore because it’s a bit dangerous if you’re not a good swimmer.

#krakow #poland #travel #travelpoland #zakapone #eurotrip

[stacylaughs]

July 9-19, 2019

I took a five-hour Flixbus from Prague Main Railway Station to Berlin central bus station for €21.90 and stayed at Grand Hostel Berlin Classic for €33.46/night. Sometimes I wonder why I don’t spend more money, but then I get all my work done on the bus and spend €200 on new clothes in 30 minutes. 

I loved my time in Berlin and long to be back there. Here are some things to do:

Taking a moment at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and Topography of Terror are well worth a visit; both moved me to tears. 

Urban Nation is a free gallery of street art. 

You’ll learn so much about Germany at the German Historical Museum. The layout was confusing to me though so give yourself at least 3 hours to enjoy.

I had the best duck in Berlin, especially at Zur Gerichtslaube.

Local (sometimes vintage) shopping was great. Pink Cadillac, Sing Blackbird, and 24 Colours were my favorites.

Norman Foster’s Reichstag dome, Peter Eisenman’s Holocaust Memorial, and Brandenburg Gate are all within a few blocks of each other, so you should go have a look at them all.

Other Nature is a feminist, queer, sex-positive, eco-friendly, and vegan sex shop. Definitely go visit.

Go check out the art at Haus Schwarzenberg. While there, you can visit the Museum Blindenwerkstatt Otto Weidt for free.

YAAM Cultural Center may charge you a small fee to enter, but I found it to be a chill spot to eat Jamaican or African street food with beers.

The night life is unlike any I’d experienced before, where you can party all days of the week, but also as easily at Friday night as Sunday afternoon. I didn’t experience them all, but it’s worth dressing down and educating yourself about the music playing to get into Griessmuehle, Sisyphos, Berghain, Musik & Frieden, Paloma, or KitKatClub.

Get a good view from the Berlin TV Tower.

I heard Markthalle Neun (Market Hall Nine) also referred to as Street Food Thursday, but regardless, you should just check it out.

So many places to get good beer, but you could check out Hopfenreich if you’re struggling.

Walk through Viktoriapark and check out the waterfall.

I should have made the time to go to Sachsenhausen for a few hours but I didn’t as I wasn’t in the mood for such a sobering experience.

#eurotrip #berlin #travel #germany #travelberlin

[stacylaughs]

July 2-9, 2019

I took the 4-hour bus from Vienna Erdberg (VIB) to Prague Main Railway Station on Flixbus for four hours (€17.90). There’s a lot of joy that comes from getting your remote work done on a bus.

You can walk from the main train station to Old Town Square in around 10 minutes. And, as weird as it is to cross the train tracks, you can do it, if you are headed away from old town, like where I stayed.

Brix Hostel was 528.57 CZK (currently $23.28 USD) a night. Public transportation is easy to take, but I only walked and took Ubers around town. Each ride cost me Kč102.20 - Kč211.78.

The past of Prague with its artistic and architectural heritage is fascinating, as well as its small museums, lively restaurants, bars, and cheap prices. The seasonal legions of tourists can be tiring -especially the British bachelor and bachelorette parties- but a quiet walk at dawn or glass of Bohemian lager outside of Old Town is worth the trip. And, I was so lucky to have my friend, Johanna, visiting from Ireland at the same time as me! I could easily spend another week here.

Things to see:

The elegant Charles Bridge was built in 1357 and is ordained by 30 statues dating from the 18th century. Try and visit at dawn before the hordes arrive. It’s an unavoidable people nightmare during the day.

Check out the clock tower of the Old Town Hall, where the astronomical clock (from 1410!) entertains crowds on the hour (from 9am-9pm) with its parade of apostles and a bell-ringing skeleton. 

Josefov was once the city’s Jewish Quarter, and its fascinating monuments now comprise the Prague’s Jewish Museum. Highlights are the Old-New Synagogue, Pinkas Synagogue, Maisel Synagogue, and Old Jewish Cemetery. 

Go to New Town (Nové Město), founded in 1348. The broad, sloping avenue of Wenceslas Square is lined with shops, banks, and restaurants. Beneath is a shrine to the victims of communism, including students Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc, both of who burned themselves alive in 1969 in protest at the Soviet invasion.

Take a picnic and the metro to Vyšehrad, on the southern edge of New Town. This ancient hilltop fortress has superb views and a cemetery with some surprise finds.

Traditional Czech cuisine is strong on meat, dumplings, and gravy. Bohemian beer is one of the world’s best. The most famous brands are Budvar, Plzeňský Prazdroj (Pilsner Urquell), and Prague’s own Staropramen. Have a drink at BeerGeek Bar, Lokal, Letna Beer Garden, Pilsner Urquell Original Restaurant, U Veverky, and Klasterni pivovar Strahov. Cocktails are great at Hemingway Bar, Tiki Taky Bar, and Cash Only.

I had so much fun playing video games late night at Joystick Arcade Bar.

Couldn’t keep me away from the Korean food at Bibimbap.

Walk up Vitkov Hill for the views and walk under it to visit Eska Restaurant.

There is a lot of fun art around Prague, but none quite as mesmerizing as the Head of Franz Kafka. I stood and watched that one for a bit.

I enjoyed visiting the Apple Museum, for a walk down memory lane with all the devices of my childhood.

Go up to Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral.

Honestly, Lennon Wall and Lovers’ Bridge were a miss for me, but I just walked through to check it out. 

Prague is really into trdelník, a doughnut style ice cream cone, which I found a big mess and just alright tasting. The street sausages are tasty, though.

We took an Uber (€25-50 one way) to Kutná Hora, but be careful as you might need to take a train back if you can’t get an Uber trip back to Prague. It’s famous for its Sedlec Ossuary, Kamenna kasna stone fountain, and Cathedral of St. Barbara.

I had a shellac manicure (300 CZK), shellac pedicure (500 CZK), and lash extensions (850 CZK) at Victoria Nails & Lashes. Another place to go is Chic & Grace for a shellac manicure (299 CZK) and shellac pedicure (549 CZK).

Mozart had the premiere of his opera, Don Giovanni, at the Estates Theater in 1787, and I think you can still see it performed there.

#prague #praha #czech #travel #travelczech #czechrepublic #travelprague #eurotrip

[stacylaughs]

June 27 - July 2, 2019

A 2-1/2 hour train ride from Salzburg to Vienna West Station ($22.09, usually €33.50) brought me within walkable distance of Hostel Ruthensteiner (€26.77/night), which has some of the nicest late-night staff ever. 

There’s lots to do in Vienna, but I think it’d be better in the winter rather than the hottest week of the year. It’s a city that straddles the past and modern present. And, honestly, I think if we’re comparing the two, I prefer Salzburg for the beauty and quaintness. But, I spent some very good times with some very good friends in Vienna, so for this trip, the people made the city a lot of fun. 

Some things I enjoyed doing:

I really enjoyed visiting the Tichy ice cream parlor. Good flavor and consistency, on par with soft serve. There’s no English menu so good time to look up and learn some German.

You can swim in the stretches of water known as the Old Danube (Alte Donau), located northeast of the Donaustadt island, and also in the New Donau (Neue Donau), which runs parallel to and just north of the Donaukanal (Danube Canal).

Riding an electric scooter for the first time. What a fun way to get somewhere quickly! Cheaper than Uber, but please, don’t ride while drinking or at night.

Gothic St. Stephen’s Cathedral is free to enter and I didn’t feel it necessary to pay to see more, other than the €6 elevator up to the north tower for the view. I paid another €6 to see the Stephansdom Katakomben. You can ask the front desk when the next catacomb tour is leaving. The guide will give you some good info and answer any questions you have. It’s interesting that there are organs of princes, queens, and emperors as well as skeletons of victims from bubonic plague there. 

I really enjoyed visiting the outdoor Naschmarkt. There’s a cheese place where I had a plate made with many servings of wine. .

Fun places to drink: Das Torberg (gin), Matiki (tiki), and Travel Shack (shots)

I was into the chain “fast food” restaurants, Trześniewski (small sandwiches) and Željo Grill Burek (burek, a filled filo pastry). 

Make a reservation at Figlmüller for wienerschnitzel if you can.

The Vienna Technical Museum is good for 2-3 hours if you’re into science.

Some things I did not get around to this trip:

Visiting the capital of Slovakia! Bratislava is a quick day-trip away and a few folks told me it was fun, but I didn’t make it there.

The cemeteries, St. Marxer Friedhof (Mozart’s final resting place) and Zentralfriedhof (memorial tombs of Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, and Schönberg).

Standing room tickets for the Vienna State Opera.

The Belvedere palace and garden, where you can see The Kiss.

Baroque Schönbrunn Palace.

Kunst Haus Wien and Hundertwasserhaus.

Albertina.

A full Before Sunrise tour of all the cafes and the Zollamtssteg bridge.

#vienna #austria #travel #travelaustria #eurotrip #schedhang #schedvisit

[stacylaughs]

June 23-27, 2019

I missed my FlixBus ($24.09, usually €29.99) -completely my fault- leaving Milan and had to rebook for $96.98. Expensive mistake but I did have a chance encounter and was able to help an Iranian family of three. Once I arrived in Salzburg, Austria, I walked from the main train station (Salzburg central station [Lastenstraße]) to Yoho International Youth Hostel (€26.67/night).

A guidebook I read said, “The joke ‘if it’s baroque, don’t fix it’ is a perfect maxim for Salzburg, the tranquil Old Town burrowed in below steep hills looks as much as it did when Mozart lived here 250 years ago.”

I had some really good beer and a lot of filling food in my few days there. Here are some of my favorites:

Walk around to the touristy shops along the cobbled streets and 17th-century buildings. It has some of the best examples of Baroque architecture in the world. I really liked browsing at Christmas in Salzburg, which has uniquely painted eggs, and Hanna Trachten, which has beautiful local dresses.

Walk up to the medieval Feshtung Hohensalzburg (fortress) high above and pay €10 to go in to see the museums and outstanding view. The puppets were a personal favorite of mine.

Across the fast-flowing Salzach River, is the baroque Mirabellgarten, surrounded by gorgeous manicured gardens. Nearby is Zwerglgarten, a dwarf garden, which is better seen than explained.

Great coffee and internet at both Afro Cafe and 220 Grad.

Have a sit in Furtwänglerpark to see the large pickle statues.

Have a beer and rich food at Die Weisse / Sudwek. You’ll find big schnitzels, hearty pork knuckles with sauerkraut, spatzel, and traditional soups in the winter. For something sweet, try a strudel or the national favorite, nockerl.

Mozart has two museums here, including the house he was born in, but I did not check out either.

I followed these great instructions to go to Hallstatt for the day. I took the 90-minute bus 150 from Salzburg to Bad Ischl (leaves the from Stall ‘F’ at the bus depot in front of Salzburg’s central train station) for €10.80. Then, a 30-minute train (€5.50) and 10-minute ferry (€6 roundtrip) to Hallstatt. It’s a beautiful place to walk around and go up to the Skywalk (€18 roundtrip). 

If I return, I would consider going from Bad Ischl to Obersee instead, as it looked beautiful as I passed on the train. Also, other nearby places to see include Mondsee, St. Wolfgang, Fuschlsee, and Königssee.

#salzburg #austria #travel #travelaustria #eurotrip

[stacylaughs]

June 19-22, 2019

I literally ran to make it to my Flixbus on time from Venice to Milan ($18.99). Thankfully, Queen Hostel in Milan (€27.77/night) gave me excellent directions on how to take the metro, as Google Maps was little to no help for public transportation. A short trip, but probably one of my favorite stays so far.

Things to do:

See the Last Supper at the Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie, which tickets sell out quickly, so here’s a guide to help if you didn’t think ahead.

Eat pasta, pizza, and gelato along Naviglio Pavese and Naviglio Grande.

Go shopping! The vintage shops Pourquoi Moi, Bivio, and Cavalli e Nastri were my favorites.

With a capacity of 40,000, Milan’s landmark Duomo is the world’s fourth largest church.  

Right next to it is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, which has some of the most expensive and elegant shops and restaurants in the city. I went to Marchesi myself for a pricey coffee break. Also, have a Campari drink, standing with unlimited snacks, at Camparino.

The churches of San Maurizio and San Satiro aren’t impressive on the outside but the fresco art inside is great. 

From the 13th century, Milan flourished under the rule of two powerful families, the Visconti and the Sforza. Be sure to check out Sforza Castle!

The Cattelan's provocative L.O.V.E ("The Finger") is a funny thing to see. 

Visit the park, Biblioteca degli Alberi to see the apartments covered in plants (Bosco Verticale).

A day trip to Lake Como is really easy. Buy a €4.80 one-way train ticket from Milano Cadorna to Como Nord Lago, and you’ll be there in one hour to walk around. I followed these instructions.

Other awesome day trips include Bergamo (€5.50, 50 minutes), Bologna (€9 bus or €16.80 train, 60 minutes), Turin (€9 bus or €12 train, 90-120 minutes), Lake Maggiore (€10, 120 minutes), and Lake Garda (€9, 75 minutes).

#milan #milano #italy #travel #travelitaly #eurotrip

[stacylaughs]

June 14-19, 2019

If I had looked at a map more closely, I would went to Milan at this point, but we’ll get there.

Flixbus from Siena to Venice, 12:15pm-7pm, with two hours in Bologna, for $24.98. And, then, Gio’s Place/House cost me €28.44/night, so for being Italy’s most expensive city, it started off right for me. Though, I would say accommodations were a lot like staying at your grandma’s messy house with 40 strangers, half of them being mosquitoes.

Walking around Venice (aka Venezia) is surreal, with no cars, tiny streets, 117 islands, 150-odd canals, and 400+ bridges (78 of them being private). With more than 20 million visitors a year, on average throughout the year there are 73 tourists to 1 resident in Venice each day. 

It’s impossible not to get turned around and/or lost in Venice, but it’s also very walkable, even though the water buses (boats) are really fun, which you can use to get near or far. 

Maybe it was a combination of many people, hot days, and cobblestone streets, but I saw some people break their faces, bloody noses and blood splatters on their shirts, from falling. When people fall, they can’t seem to get their hands out in front of them and they land right on their faces. This reminds me of when I split open my knee in Barcelona and I’m again grateful it wasn’t worse.

Anyway, some things I enjoyed:

Spend some time taking in the atmosphere of St Mark’s Square, watching the people and the pigeons. Get lost wandering the winding cobblestone streets. 

For €7.50/75 minutes or $20/24 hours you can get a ticket with Alilaguna to just get around nearby or also explore some of the outer islands of Burano, Murano, or Lido to see a different side of Venice. The brightly colored homes of Burano and swimming in the ocean in Lido was my favorite day. People also like buying lace in Burano and you should eat at Trattoria Al Gatto Nero da Ruggero if you can.

Murano is a cluster of 8 small islands linked by bridges crossing the canals separating them. In 1291, Venice required all glassmakers to relocate to Murano because of the risk of fire to the city. The island thus became famous around the world as a center for masterful glassmaking of fine glass beads, mirrors, chandeliers, and other luxury creations, if you’re into that.

Mercato di Rialto is a great place to buy fruit, with my favorite fruit stand being at 220. See the nearby seafood market as well.

The European Cultural Centre (Palazzo Michiel) has free modern art to view and I was really into it.

Libreria Acqua Alta is a bookstore (mostly of Italian books) which stacks books in gondolas and bath tubs, with cats running amuck. 

The Penny Guggenheim Museum exhibits some of the most impressive early modern artworks in Europe. You can also take the Vapretto Line to see some of the best sights of Venice from the water.

People are always queuing for this gelato, but I liked SuSo a lot.

Pizzeria Napule restored my belief in pizza again.

Caffe Ai Crociferi is the best place to work on your laptop in Venice. It feels like an outdoor co-working space but you can easily sit inside as well.

Osteria All’Alba and Ruga Rialto are fun dive bars to go to late night. Ask for ombra, a small glass of house wine, red or white. Ombra means shadow, as wine used to be sold in the shadows.

Surprising to me, private gondolas cost up to 100€ for an hour! 

The free walking tour, Venice through the centuries (South) with Ricardo.

I also went on a Venice Food Tour: Rialto Market, Cannaregio, Gondola, Food & Wine for $85.83, which was alright but I think you’d be just as well-off finding any Prosecco joint with cicchetti (finger food like tapas) and then al nero di seppia (squid ink pasta) at any restaurant. Afterward, you can have spritz, a popular cocktail with white sparkling wine, sparkling water, and Aperol (sweet) or Campari (bitter and a bit strong) or half & half (mezzo e mezzo).

#venice #italy #Venezia #travel #travelitaly #eurotrip

[stacylaughs]

June 10-14, 2019

I took a painless 3-hour FlixBus from Rome Tiburtina Bus station to Siena (Stellino) for €9.99. The only hostel in the area, Siena Hostel Guidoriccio, canceled on me last minute (and didn’t give me a refund on my initial deposit), so I stayed at Alfredo II (€55.81/night). Very nice people there with very simple accommodations. Walkable from the bus station to 33 Passaggio Di Doccino, but I couldn’t figure it out the first day so I took a taxi (€12). 

Siena, a city in central Italy’s Tuscany region, is distinguished by its medieval brick buildings. It’s small and you could see the major sights in a day. It’s fun to walk and get lost in thought with its walled centre, a beautiful preserved warren of dark lanes punctuated by Gothic palazzi, piazzas, and eye-catching churches. 

Here are some things to do:

Check out the different districts’ flags and decorations around the city.

Hang out in Piazza del Campo (aka Il Campo), where people literally sit and lie on the sloping scallop. Here you can see Palazzo Pubblico, a magnificent example of Sienese Gothic architecture. I made the harrowing climb up Torre del Mangia (€10), where they allow you only 15 minutes at the top, but the view is beautiful. You could also pay to go inside the Museo Civico if you like frescoes. 

The Piazza del Duomo (€14) is a giant gothic masterpiece that took my breath away with its white and greenish-black marble in alternating stripes. Black and white are the symbolic colors of Siena, etiologically linked to black and white horses of the legendary city's founders, Senius and Aschius.

On the western edge of the walled city, the Chiesa di San Domenico is the last resting place of St Catherine’s head and thumb. Seriously, yes, you see her head. I was so creeped out at her head in a box, I donated money to try to will the image out of my head.

Have gelato at Grom; it’s the best.

This is not a town for remote working as cafes do not have wifi so make sure your hotel has a good space for you to work if you need to do that.

This would be a nice place to take a cooking class, amateur or professional.

Being in the Tuscany region, I definitely should have taken a wine tour, but didn’t arrange prior to have the hours off of work during the day.

#eurotrip #travel #italy #travelitaly #siena