My love affair with Europe

Traveling for me is not so much just being in a place and seeing what is there, although this is a part of it. More important for me is the experiences that traveling to a place brings (eg, the thrill that bunjee might bring, the lure of Las Vegas hotels, and the excitement of eating grasshoppers in the side streets of Malaysia). Each place is unique and has something to offer, and that’s why experiences are more important for me.

I’ve pointed out that my Europe trip has left a hole in my bank account. But this does not, in any way, suggest that I would rather have the money back than go to Europe. My trip to Europe is something I would not give up. It has opened new horizons, new perspectives, new experiences.

In general, I was ecstatic with experiencing the culture of Europe, especially of the five countries we went to: The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, and Italy–even if it was just a taste. I could say that I got out of the box (the Philippines) to see what was outside it, and I liked what I saw (but this does not mean I love the Philippines less!). Below are my most memorable and cherished experiences in Europe.

Warning: Expect more of me in the pictures!

5. Going around museums, especially The Louvre, and getting to, ahem, appreciate the arts. Wow! Coming from me? Yes, I did enjoy their museums. This maybe because we don’t have any decent ones here. It was fascinating to see the works of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rafael, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Bernini, etc. I only get to see them in pictures. I guess I might add here that I also loved looking at their buildings, which also provided us a good look at arts.

Rijk Museum in Amsterdam

Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam

 Who wouldn’t recognize this pyramid?

 The Louvre in Paris

 The Louvre was very tourist-friendly.

It was my favorite among all the museums we went to.

Vatican Museum in Rome (my least favorite)

4. Walking around. I can only provide hypotheses on why I loved walking around Europe. One, the most obvious one, it’s Europe, and there’s so much to see! Two, the weather was conducive to walking. So no matter how long you’ve walked, even if it was the whole day, you won’t feel the need for a shower at the end of the day (yes, you still feel clean). Third, as I have stressed before, I believe that you will learn more about and get to appreciate a place more when you walk…you get to see places you would get to pass by when not walking and, more importantly (and I had fun with this), you get to meet people! Fourth, I don’t get enough walking here in the Philippines (which, I’m glad to say, I am attempting to change). I might add also that getting lost (sometimes only) was also thrilling. I mean, getting lost is part of traveling, right?

 Walking with my siser, Gel, along Champs Elysees

 Sometimes, I had a companion to walk along with…

Other times, I was left to myself (and still enjoyed!).

3. Getting around through the very efficient transportation system. Amazing is the word I might use to describe the transportation system in Europe. Trains, trams, and buses were very “rideable” and easy to learn. Maybe I’m juts deprived of the chance to commute, but commuting in Europe was actually fun (and I believed that one does not need a car in Europe to go around). Trains and train stations and buses were clean and new (at least it looked to me) and were very efficient, meaning they’re reliable and there’s always something (a bus or a train) that will bring you to where you want to go. Grabe! In Paris, we had a separate map just for the metro system, so that we know how to work it out, which trains we needed to take to go to a certain place. It was all new to me, and it was certainly fun!

 I loved the trams of Amsterdam. It was on the ground.

Thalys train going from Brussels to Paris

I loved the metro system in Paris. Each station had its own character. My favorite is this one in Bastille (as well as the Louvre Rivoli station).

 Paris trains were underground.

 And we had fun learning the system and riding the trains!

 On the RER train going to Versailles.

On the Sienne Cruise for an hour-long ride going around Paris.

Trains in Spain were more high-tech and seemed to be new.

 A station in Barcelona…named after me?

In Rome, because of the inefficient (and dirty) trains, we used the bus more often.

In Venice, boats are the main mode of transportation.

2. Eating! One of my agenda was tasting the delicacies of each country, what their specialty was. Let me tell you that I was not disappointed. I tasted Belgian waffles and frites (fries) in Brussels–they were heavenly, especially the waffle! Of course, France is known for their breads, so I stuffed myself with different kinds of breads while in France. I was not disappointed. Hmmmm…. In Spain, we tasted authentic paella. Sarap, but we can do that here in the Philippines. Finally, in Italy, I loved their pizza and their gelato. Having resisted the temptation to buy gelato in Paris and Barcelona, i could say that it was worth the wait! Grabe! Heaven ang gelato. I became addicted to it! There is no word to describe how creamy and mouth-watering it was! THE BEST!

 Enjoying a hotdog in Amsterdam.

 Belgian waffles were very delicious.

 Gooo!!!! Take a bite of your shawarma!!! (Eating lunch around the Notre Dame area in Paris)

 Chocolate crepes in Paris were also delicious…hot off the pan!

 Dinner at Le Malakoff in the Eiffel Tower area.

 Authentic paella in Barcelona…yummieee!!!!

 Trying the pizza in Rome

Last, but certainly not the least, and I certainly saved the best for last: GELATO!

1. Meeting people and getting to use their language. I took up French lessons in college but never got to use it so I sort of forgot all about it. Little di I know I will have the chance to use it. My sister and I, as much as we can, tried to use the language of the country when using basic words…merci, merci beaucoup, pardon, bonjour, bonsoir, and si’l vous plait in France, hola, gracias, and adios in Spain, ciao, arrivederci, and grazie in Italy, etc. It was so much fun! I also had a blast meeting new people. They say people in Europe are basically proud people who do not want to “mingle” with tourists. Yes, I did meet one or two of those, but in general, they were such nice people! And there were a lot whom we met who made our trip more memorable.

Friendly captain of the Amsterdam cruise.

 The singer who performed in the celebration in Brussels. She told me were lucky that we came at a time that was not so cold, and I thought, “What? I don’t think I could stand n increase in temperature anymore!”

Kind souvenir man in Versailles.

Very nice French couple who taught us some French words (deux verre l’eau sil vous plait)

Itialian pizza man who gave us free samples of his pizza (we bought of course!)

I guess I also want to point out one specific experience that I can say is my favorite, and that would be seeing and climbing the Eiffel Tower. I guess it’s obvious that I loved the Eiffel Tower very much. The first time I saw Eiffel Tower, my heartbeat shot up to 200 beats per minute! Climbing it (well, not really climb, but going up) was also very memorable. The view from above was wonderful. You can turn around and see every inch of Paris and still be astounded by all that you see!

 With Lorraine and Gel at the second level of the Eiffel Tower

Center view of the Eiffel, looking up

I wish to stress that the list does not do justice to the wonderful experiences I had. I mean, I LOVED everything about Europe and my experiences in it (even getting lost in their airports). I cannot sum up in an item or two how much I had fun and what the experience has brought to my life.

And, as I have said over and over again, I can’t wait to go back!