So tour begins!! To top off my European travels I am doing a Topdeck tour around Paris, Switzerland, Florence and Rome! I am three days in but it feels like a lifetime! :) Already I have gotten to know the crew really well (comparatively small with only 24 people but nice)…and we have already done so much! Right now I am in Switzerland which has blown my mind more than I could imagine. We are staying in Lauterbrennan which is at the bottom of Juangfrau - the "Top of Europe". We caught a 2 hr train up there today and got to play in the snow and see the spectacular glory of the Swiss Alps! It was absolutely breathtaking….it blew me away more than Paris by miles. I have discovered that maybe I am just one for the scenery and nature! I love it!! We head off tomorrow nice and early for Florence! So excited!
Paris was OK! We began our tour at the crack of dawn to check in , catch a 2 hr bus to Dover (yet again - the white cliffs of Dover - spectacular), jumped on an 1 1/2 hr ferry to Calais and took another 4 hour bus ride to Paris. It was chatty cathys all the way as we had just met a bunch of new people so it was a good time to get to know everyone. Complete with introductions at the front of the bus with a list of questions to answer! I put on my best comedic effort!
The first night in Paris we did a city lights tour which is absolutely beautiful. Paris is all for the enhancement of it's architecture with lights. The next day was a free day to explore with optionals. We chose to do the Seine River cruise (which I fell asleep on - WHOOPS) and walked around Paris! It was kind of frustrating. Paris is not the romantic city it is portrayed to the world! Yes, the architecture is AMAZING! The history is fascinating and it is definitely worth a visit purely for these things….but between the tourists (Paris has the highest amount of tourists than any other country in the world) and the gypsies all swarming you to buy their crappy little trinkets and possibly steal your money - it really is a frustrating city. We also only had one full day to enjoy it so trying to cram so much into it probably added to the frustration. However, the night time brought a spectacular French dinner and a night time French Cabaret. Possibly one of the most entertaining shows I have seen. I highly recommend it to anyone who visits Paris. It was a really great night and most people from the tour came so we had a great time together and had a little karaoke session on the way home to top it all off!
The next day was a drive day which means we took the long trek from Paris to the Swiss Alps crossing the French/Swiss border. It was about a 10 hour drive but comfortable as there is so few people on tour. The long drive was well worth it when we started driving into the heart of the Alps and arrived at Lauterbrennan! This village is breathtaking. It is in a valley with vertically cut mountains as the valley walls. It is spectacular. And although there is snow everywhere up above the horizon it isn't that cold so it is adding to the attraction of the place. It has really been a ball here and am thankful for the opportunity. I suppose it isn't something I would do on my own agenda so I am happy I had the opportunity on tour. We are off to Florence tomorrow….I am so beyond excited and I hope it lives up to the romanticism more so than Paris.
I realised today that it is 1 week until I fly out to China…this is altogether scary and absolutely amazing! I can't wait to start this new venture but I can imagine it isn't going to be as easy as traipsing around Europe! But I have been so excited for Asia for a long time so here it is! I got a really good mark on my TEFL course final grade so clearly I am capable of teaching English to ESL students so fingers crossed I've got this!! :) Time is flying. I have been in Europe nearly two months! That is crazy!
I get to go back to Prague for one night before I fly out to China! I can't wait to go back and Hi to the guys still there! I realised how much I really did love Prague! It was a fantastic city! The tour I am on is going there in a few stops time (I am doing the short part) so I have given them a tonne of tips! I am so tempted to continue with the tour and do the whole leg but I have an itinerary to stick to for the moment and money to earn so off to China I go! Then in six months time I will start the travel thing all again!
It's my mummies birthday today! I just want to call her now but I am sure she wouldn't appreciate the 6am wake up call! Will have to get in mid day! :) Got to talk to a very close friend today. It's always nice to feel the support of the people you love!
I am completely on a high right now….life is exciting and the adventure is thrilling.
Love to you all…
HJ xx
No comments:
Post a Comment