Fast Facts

Coming soon- my Barcelona post on what exactly Nicole and I did! For now, here are some quick tips on how to spend your time in Barcelona!

WHERE TO STAY:

• St Christopher’s Inn Barcelona– My sister and I loved our experience with St. Christopher’s in Paris, so we decided to stay with them in Barcelona as well. By booking directly through their website, you get free breakfast and 25% off food and drinks!

THINGS TO DO/PLACES TO SEE IN Barcelona:

• The Paella Club Cooking Class – The first day in Barcelona, the weather called for rain. Nicole and I would not let it ruin our trip, so we signed up for a paella cooking class, and it ended up being our favorite part of our trip. The staff was so much fun, and we loved that we had our own individual cooking station. We heard a rumor that they are looking to open a D.C. location. You can be sure I will be one of their first customers!
• Palau de la Música Catalana – Wow. Just wow. This place is beautiful. It is definitely worth the admission. Words cannot describe how beautiful this location is. I would recommend signing up for an early self-guided tour, so that you can take pictures without fighting other tourists for the best shot.
• La Sagrada Familia – Again, words cannot describe. This place is incredible, and learning the work that has gone into (and is still going into) building this place was so cool to hear. Again, worth the admission price.
• Wander around La Rambla – Okay, this is tourist central, but still cool to walk around. I wouldn’t recommend eating here, but if you have some time before dinner one night, definitely take a stroll along this street.
• Arc de Triomf – This is a great place to go when you need a break. Directly behind the Arc, there is a cute little park. Nicole and I stopped here to sit and talk, while enjoying the sunshine.
• Mercado de La Boqueria – I love food markets, so I knew I wanted to go here. I recommend trying one of the fresh smoothies! Prices tend to be higher on the stands closer to the entrance, so make sure you walk in for better prices!

FOOD/DRINKS:

First things first- Drink sangria. I don’t care where you eat, just make sure to order some yummy sangria with your tapas.

• Carabela Café – Yummmm. This place is great for outdoor seating. They also have fair prices, and damn good burritos. Nicole and I wanted to eat here twice, but unfortunately we didn’t have the time.
• The Paella Club – They are worth mentioning twice in this post. Not only do you get the awesome experience of cooking your own paella, but you get food, drinks and dessert. This was definitely the best meal we had in Barcelona.
• Bunsen – I ate here when I was in Dublin, and was so excited to see they had a location in Barcelona! Yes, we understand that we were two American girls, in Barcelona, eating cheeseburgers. Cliché or not, those burgers were delicious.
• La Pepita – This place is great for Tapas. The hard part will be deciding which tapas to get!
• DeLaCrem – This place earned it’s name. They are definitely the Crème de la Crème of ice cream shops. Nicole and I went here twice, it was so good!
• Alsur Café Llúria –  This place is right across the street from Palau de la Música Catalana, so I recommend heading there after your morning tour. If you are like Nicole and me, you will leave here ready to lay down, so you might not want to plan anything after you are done eating.
• El Árbol Brunch – This was another great brunch spot. They have amazing smoothies, so make sure you get one with your meal!
• Flaherty’s Irish Pub Barcelona – Nicole and I have a tradition of visiting an Irish Pub in every new country/city. This one was so much fun. They have a photo booth, so make sure you snap a picture with your friends before you leave!

IF YOU HAVE TIME TO LEAVE THE CITY CENTER:

• Telefèric de Montjuïc – Ride a cable car to the Montjuïc Castle and enjoy a great view of the Mediterranean Sea.
• Tibidabo Amusement Park –  Go here and ride the Ferris wheel for an awesome view of the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Then make sure you go to the top of the church. Nicole and I went here and watched the sunset while talking about life. It was my favorite memory from our trip.
• Park Güell – I have mixed feelings adding this to the list. This might be an unpopular opinion, but I found Park Güell to be underwhelming to say the least. Those cute pictures you see on Pinterest is all you get. One colorful bench with hundreds of people fighting to snap a pic. Definitely not worth it (to me).

TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM THE AIRPORT:

• AEROBÚS – The AEROBÚS connects the Barcelona airport with the center center. It runs every 5 minutes and takes about 35 minutes to travel to/from the airport.

Berlin Fast Facts

While living in Berlin, I tried to explore as much as possible. Here are some of my favorite places, and things to do.

Quick Eats

• Dolores – I love Berlin, but I have to say it- their Mexican food is terrible. That being said, when I have a craving for Mexican (which is basically always), Dolores is always a good spot to grab a burrito.
• Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap – Most locals will tell you this is a touristy spot, but it is still worth trying. Just make sure you get there early- the line can get pretty long.
• Burgermeister  – One of my friends recommended this spot to me. They make a great burger. Their original location is under the U-bahn in an old toilet (which is super cool). I would definitely try the original location if you can!
• Takumi NINE Sapporo – If you are in the mood for Ramen, this spot is great. This is my go-to place when I am craving some hot soup.

Dinner

• 12 Apostoli – My family took me here when I first moved in with them. The pizza is good, just make sure you bring money with you- they are a cash only restaurant!
• Markthalle Neun – I love food markets, and this place never disappoints (except when they are closed on Sundays!). You can be sure to find tons of yummy food options.

Sunday Activities

• Mauerpark – This is literally the best place to spend your Sunday (weather dependent). They have a flea market, food trucks, beer gardens, and open-air karaoke. Honestly this is a MUST if you’re in Berlin on a Sunday.
• East Side Gallery – This is not limited to a Sunday activity, however, since most shops are closed on Sundays, this is a great time to walk the East Side Gallery (and of course snap some pics).
• Sony Center – Potsdamer Platz – When the weather is not so great (hello winter in Berlin) I love going to see new movies. The CineStar in the Sony Center plays movies in English, so you don’t have to miss out on the openings of your favorite movies (like when you are living in Berlin for the release of Avengers: Endgame).
• RAW Flohmarkt – Honestly, flea markets are my Sunday go-to. Who doesn’t love finding great European fashion for ridiculously cheap prices? RAW is also next to a lot of cool bars and beer gardens. You could spend the day shopping (or selling) and then treat yourself to a drink in a cool bar.
• Tempelhof Airport/Tempelhofer Feld – This is an old airport that is no longer active. You can do a tour of the airport or head to the field for a picnic or a bike ride…or if you are like me, bring your roller-blades and skate along the runway. They also have mini-golf and different areas for sports or grilling.
• Zoo Berlin – Being an Au Pair, I spent many afternoons with the kids at the zoo. This is a great place to spend a sunny day. They also have a great playground, so if you are traveling with little ones, they can take a brake from walking around.
• Karl’s  – I would say this is a strawberry field, but it is so much more than that. It’s a strawberry world. Name literally anything, and they probably have it in strawberry flavor/scent. They have restaurants, play areas, go-karts, horses, and a giant slide (that to be honest, I don’t know who had more fun on- me or the kids). It is also free to get in, so it’s possible to spend the afternoon there without spending any money (which you know I love).

Breakfast

• Coffee Drink Your Monkey – This is a great coffee shop for working on your computer (plenty of space inside) or meeting new friends (they have a ton of cute tables outside). If you’re looking for a coffee and a light breakfast, this is a great spot.
• Café au Lait – This is a cute little breakfast spot in Charlottenburg. A great spot for catching up with friends.
• Rose Garden Berlin – This place is absolutely adorable. I would recommend going here for brunch, so you can order a cocktail with your breakfast.

Beer Gardens

• Café am Neuen See (CANS) – This is one of the first beer gardens I went to with my family. They have a restaurant with pretty good pizza. They also are right on the water, and have cute twinkly lights (can you say adorable date spot?). If you want to sound like a local, call it CANS (thanks Jessi & Max for keeping me hip).
• Prater – This is right by Mauerpark, so feel free to stop by here after shopping at the flea market.
• Schleusenkrug – This place is a bit smaller, but they have a small play area for kids. I would recommend this place if you are not a fan of larger/more crowded beer gardens.

Night Out

• Clärchens Ballroom – This old ballroom is now a nightclub and restaurant. I went there with my family for dinner and dancing, and it was a great night out.
• Irish Pub (Europa-Center) – It is probably not a good sign when they bar tenders know your name, but how many bars can you say feel like home? This is the oldest Irish Pub in Berlin. They imported all their decor from Ireland, so you get an authentic feel when you are there. They also have live music every night, which is what brought me to them. I have spent more night than I can count singing, dancing, and of course drinking with my friends and family.
• Klunkerkranich – This place has a great view of the city. You do have to pay to get in, but if you are a sucker for sunsets, then it will totally be worth it.
• Birgit & Beer – This club is so cool. I love the old carnival vibe that they have outside. They also offer different rooms with different music to cater to many musical preferences.
• Bohnengold – This is a small, hole-in-the-wall type bar. They have movie theater seats and video games. You could probably find many bars like this in Berlin, but this is one I loved.
• Dead Chicken Alley – This is not really a bar. It’s an alley full of graffiti, restaurants, bars and a movie theater. Definitely worth a visit while you’re in Berlin…unless you don’t like the hipster vibe, then it’s probably not for you.

Museums

• Museum für Naturkunde – Nerd moment: The Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin (The Natural History Museum) has one of the three most complete T. Rex skeletons in the world (Tristan)! The museum also exhibits many other skeletons in its Dinosaur Hall and an interesting collection of preserved animals (included some extinct species). If you have some free time in Berlin, I definitely recommend adding this museum to your list!⠀⠀
•  Pergamon Museum – This museum literally has buildings inside of it. Really, like full buildings. Maybe I am just a nerd, but I thought it was so cool. They also have a lot of Islamic art that I thought was so beautiful.

Day Trips 

• Treptower Park – This park is located along the Spree, and a great place to walk around on a sunny afternoon.
• Potsdam – Sanssouci Palace is beautiful. If you have time to take a day trip to Potsdam, it is worth adding it to your itinerary.

 

I am always adding new places, so make sure you check back to see more recommendations for Berlin!

I moved to Germany for one year to be an Au Pair in Berlin in March 2019. One of the biggest reasons I chose the Au Pair option to live abroad was so that I could truly experience the culture by living with a German family (Parents: Jessi & Max, Kids: Nicki & Ella). As I talked about in my 5 Ways to Travel on a Budget post, there are a few options I was looking into when I decided I wanted to live abroad for the year. Ultimately, I am so glad that I chose to be an Au Pair. I could go on forever talking about why this was the right decision for me, but I will save us all some time, and just hit on some of the highlights:

1. Cultural Immersion
   • One thing I did not know about Berlin before moving here was how many expats I would meet. I have met friends from all over the world (like really…Hungary, Holland, South Africa, Australia, USA, Scotland, Ukraine). Honestly, if I was not living with Jessi and Max, I think it would have been totally possible to live in Berlin for the year and have friends from everywhere except Germany. When I see the people my friends hangout with, they are also expats from all over the world. While it is super cool to have such a diverse network of friends, I would have been really upset with myself if, at the end of my year in Berlin, I did not get to experience German culture. Living with Jessi and Max, I had people to tell me about events, festivals, and places that I needed to be a part of while I was here. They also gave me tips on how to avoid looking like a tourist (like how long my Dirndl should be or how to properly hold a beer at Oktoberfest). Finally, as you all know, I love exploring new cultures through food and drinks. Living with a German family meant that I was able to eat more German food than I would have been able to on my own. Aside from the actual food, I was able to learn to appreciate a German breakfast. Not just what we ate for breakfast (seriously though, Americans are missing out…breakfast is a true meal, not just pancakes and a yogurt), but also the experience of being together. In Germany, sitting down for breakfast is a special time to be together, and can be a two-hour event. While Jessi and Max will tell you, I am not a big breakfast person, and am not the best at sitting down for too long before wanting to clear the table, this is something that I would love to do with my family one day.
2. Learning German
   • When I was in school, I took the bare minimum requirements for my foreign language. Now that I am older, this is something I definitely regret, so I knew when I moved abroad I wanted to move to a non-English speaking country. Learning a new language is definitely something I have struggled with. Not only the language, but putting in the time outside of class practicing that language. As an Au Pair, I was forced to practice my German with Nicki and Ella. On top of that, I had access to two people who could clarify things that did not make sense to me or correct me when I wasn’t pronouncing things correctly. A lot of my classmates would talk about how lucky I was that I had people in my daily life to practice my German with. I also think this served as a motivation to keep up with my German courses. If I had been living on my own, it would have been so easy to quit when the courses were too hard (which, to be honest, I thought about A LOT). I was lucky to have a family to constantly reassure me that I was getting better, and encourage me to keep up with my courses (who also threatened to only speak to me in German if I quit).
3. Less Stress
   • As I mentioned, there are so many expats living in Berlin. This causes a major issue as it relates to housing. There are more people looking for housing than there are apartments in the city. This is true for people with money, who can afford to pay more. I can only imagine the stress I would have gone through trying to find a place to live for the year (all before even moving here and knowing the different neighborhoods). I also would have had to find a job that would have allowed me to sign a one-year contract (many of my friends living abroad are on two-year contracts and would be penalized for leaving early). I know me, and I know that I would not have been able to do two years away from home. The biggest stress relief was having someone else to help me with the visa process. I honestly do not think I would have been able to have such a stress-free visa application if it wasn’t for Jessi’s help.
4. My Second Family
   • The biggest benefit of going the Au Pair route is the family I gained. Jessi, Max, Nicki, and Ella helped Berlin feel like home. I am not going to pretend that moving abroad is all sunshine and butterflies. It’s not. It can be really hard. Especially in the beginning when you are alone in a new place, missing family, and have no friends. If I was not living with people who really cared about me, I think it would have taken a lot longer to adjust. I should clarify that some Au Pairs are working with families who do not have interest in them becoming part of the family, but that has not been my experience. Jessi and Max wanted someone who would become a part of their family, who they could maintain contact with, even after they are gone. After my year in Germany, I know that I have a second family and a second place to call my home forever.

In my time in Germany, I tried to make the most of my experience by exploring as much as possible. To see some of my favorite things to do in Berlin, check out my Berlin Fast Facts.

My sister recently moved to Paris to be an au pair, so I decided to make a trip to see her during my week vacation in Amsterdam. I flew into Charles de Gaulle Airport from Amsterdam. Getting to my hostel was super easy (HostelWorld provides you with directions from the airport to your hostel).

It took about 45-minutes to get to the hostel. When I got to the train station, I told one of the employees that I needed to get to Gare du Nord. Luckily, they recommended I take one of the faster trains that made less stops. I would definitely recommend buying your ticket from an employee, rather than the ticket machine. This will save you time and stress (you don’t have to worry about the angry people judging you for spending 15 minutes trying to figure out how to navigate the ticket machine, ultimately resulting in you needing to ask an employee for help anyways). So skip this, and go straight to a real-live person.

Anyways, I took the RER B toward Saint Remy les Chevreuses. After about 20/30 minutes, I got off at Gare du Nord (Paris Nord).

Then I walked to the metro and took line 5 toward Bobigny-Pablo-Picasso. I rode the metro until Laumiere station, and then I was only about a 5-10 minute walk to St Christopher’s Inn Canal. The public transportation in Paris is really easy to navigate (even as a DC native I would say Paris is much more intuitive).

As I have said before, I definitely recommend downloading offline maps for any city you visit. You can do this in GoogleMaps or use HERE WeGo. This provides you with peace of mind in case you get lost and do not have access to WiFi (although, even if you forget to do this, in most cities, it is easy to find WiFi).

Day 1:

Once I got to the hostel, Nicole (my sister) was already there. As per usual, I arrived out of breath and sweating from carrying all of my stuff (and some of Nicole’s things that she had me bring over…okay let’s be honest, more of Nicole’s things than my things). Nicole saw me first and ran up to me, and was just as excited to see me as I was to see her < 3. This was the first AdventuresWithAlexa that I was sharing with another person (and so glad it was with my favorite little sister). Once we were all checked in, we both showered and lounged around a bit before our Free Walking Tour (of course I signed us up for one of these). I booked our tour through SANDEMANs NEW Paris with Zach (I found out in Amsterdam that you collect stamps with each SANDEMANs NEW Europe tour in each city, where you can earn rewards like discounts on some of the paid tours). We met our group by the fountain on Place St Michel. Just like other SANDEMANs tours, it was easy to find – you just look for the people in red SANDEMANs NEW Europe shirts. Zach walked us through the city, and shared his vast knowledge of the history of the different buildings, landmarks, neighborhoods and more.

I will say that Nicole and I were not as into this tour as other free walking tours I have been on, but I think this was less of a reflection of Zach, and more about Nicole and I being more interested in catching up and taking pictures at each location (this is where I discovered how amazing portrait mode is on Nicole’s iPhone 8 Plus…I may or may not have bought myself a new phone when I got back home from my trip).

After our tour with Zach, Nicole and I were cold and hungry (we definitely did not dress in warm enough clothes). I am sure that many of you would agree that two sisters being cold, a little tired, and heading quickly towards hangry (for those of not familiar with the term it is hungry + angry) is a deadly combination. We were past the point of making an informed decision about where to eat, and ended up picking some random restaurant. While I do not remember the restaurant that we went to, I remember exactly what we ate. We split croque madame (a ham and cheese sandwich with an egg on top), a cheese & meat platter and wine (I also ordered my beloved Aperol Spritz).

Croque madame or croque monsieur (ham and cheese sandwich without the egg) are definitely a must try while in France. Once we finished eating, we took the metro back to our hostel.

Both of us were pretty tired, so we decided to relax before heading to Gare Jazz to listen to some live music (recommended by our tour guide Zach). This place was so cool! You walk up a long driveway that has tables, chairs, stringy lights, and a food truck. There were a ton of locals outside enjoying a cigarette while talking with friends. When you get inside, there is a small bar by the door, followed by some plastic chairs to sit in while you watch the band. The employees are super strict about being quiet and respectful to the performers (which I loved). Nicole and I hung out, enjoyed some drinks, and talked to some locals (Nicole did most of the talking, and really got to practice her French). Another bonus for this place is that there seemed to be an endless supply of attractive people- so for those of you who are single and ready to mingle, this is the place for you! After we finished our drinks, we made our way back to our hostel.

St Christopher’s Inn Canal hostel had a pretty cool bar with a ton of activities. People from all over the world were drinking, playing games, watching football, and talking. Nicole and I hung out downstairs and had a couple more drinks before heading to bed (and took some more pictures because why not?).

Day 2: 

As much as Nicole and I hate waking up early, I convinced Nicole that the best time to get pictures (without having to fight other tourists) was early in the morning. While we were less than enthusiastic about this at 7:00AM, we were both glad we did! We started at the Louvre Museum, where we took all of the touristy pictures with the Louvre Pyramid.

We decided that we would walk from the Louvre to the Arc de Triomphe (about a 45 minute walk). This was honestly such a beautiful walk- you pass through three gardens (Carrousel Garden, Tuileries Garden, Le Jardin du Carrousel), then walk straight on Champs-Élysées avenue until you reach the Arc de Triomphe. Nicole and I are HUGE Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again fans, so we listened to the soundtrack while we walked through the garden from the movie (the scene where Harry asks Donna to move her purse to her other shoulder so he could hold her hand ❤). The walk took us longer than 45 minutes because we stopped for some shopping along Champs-Élysées avenue. The best purchase of the day was definitely my new black bag from Longchamp (only $95 versus $145 in the states).

After we finished shopping it was about 12:00PM, and there were tourists as far as the eye could see. When we got to the Arc de Triomphe, we waited for our turn to snap a photo, and followed the lead of tourists before us by stepping into the street to get the “perfect shot.”

This time of day was super busy with people and cars, so if you want a shot with the Arc de Triomphe, I suggest getting there as soon as the sun is up, so that you are free to take as many photos ask you want.

At this point, Nicole and I were starting to get hungry, and decided it was time to find the perfect spot for a picnic. On our way to the store to get food and wine, we passed through the most beautiful outdoor market.

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Fast Facts

My sister decided to move to Paris to be an au pair for a year. Since I love to travel, I used this as an excuse to visit her in the city of love. Read my Paris post to see exactly what we did!

WHERE TO STAY:

• St Christopher’s Inn Paris Canal – My sister and I had a great time at this hostel. I booked through the HostelWorld website, but I wish I had booked direct. By booking directly through their website, you get free breakfast and 25% off food!
• St Christopher’s Inn Gare Du Nord – I stayed here with my brothers when we were visiting our sister for Christmas/New Years. We booked directly through their website, so we were able to eat breakfast for free each day, and we got a token for a free shot. I was just as satisfied with my stay here as I was with the Canal location.

THINGS TO DO/PLACES TO SEE IN PARIS:

• Shopping! How can you visit Paris and NOT go shopping?
  • Longchamp – I got the Large Le Pliage tote for $95 (typically $145 in the states!)
  • Louis Vuitton – The line was too long for us to wait, but it would have definitely been cool to go inside!
• Photo shoot – Paris is honestly the perfect city to wander around taking some awesome shots!
• Have a picnic – One of my favorite memories from my trip to Paris was sitting on the grass with my sister, looking at the Eiffel Tower, while enjoying a picnic with wine.
• Visit the Catacombs of Paris – I 100% suggest buying a Skip-the-Line pass before you head to Paris. These passes sell out on each day, so you will want to at least buy it a week ahead of time. Without a skip-the-line ticket, you can wait up to 4-hours in line (and there is so much you can do with that time!). Trust me, it is worth the 25€ for the faster entrance.
• Ice skating in the Grand Palais – If you find yourself in Paris for Christmas/New Year’s Eve, this is a MUST. I have a large family, so it is hard to find something that everyone enjoys, but this was a hit with the whole family! I felt like I was at a rave with all the lights, music and dancing <3

I booked our tour with the SANDEMANs newEUROPE Free Tours of Paris. We enjoyed talking to our tour guide Zach, and were excited to learn that he was originally from the U.S. The Free Tour of Paris started by the fountain on Place St Michel. Similar to most SANDEMANs tours, it was about 2.5 hours total. The tour was quite extensive, and included many of the places on my list to see including:

• Saint Michel Fountain
• Notre Dame de Paris
• Tuileries Gardens
• Assemblée Nationale
• The Louvre
• Palais Royal
• View of the Grand & Petit Palais
• Haussmann’s Paris
• Incredible views of Eiffel Tower
• Latin Quarter
• Pont Neuf
• Place de la Concorde
• Ile-de-la-Cité
• Palace of Justice
• Sainte Chapelle
• Musée d’Orsay
• Carrousel Arch

If I am being honest, my sister and I were more interested in getting pictures of Paris than we were in the history of the different buildings, but this was still a great way to see the city and get the lay of the land.

MUSIC:

You know that one of my favorite things to explore (outside of food) is music! While visiting my sister, we found the coolest “underground” music spot:

• Gare Jazz – This was one of my favorite spots in Paris! This music venue it set-up in an old warehouse with a food truck, bar, and plenty of locals!
• Cave du 38 Riv’ – We didn’t get a chance to make it here, but it is definitely on my list for my next trip to Paris!

FOOD:

In France, I think it is less about where you eat, and more about what you eat. No matter where you find yourself, here are things you MUST try:

• Croque Madame- This seems like just a ham and cheese sandwich with an egg on top, but it is so much more! Trust me, try it 🙂
• Macarons – Honestly, try any flavor…shoot, try EVERY flavor. My sweet tooth was thoroughly satisfied
• Chocolate-Almond Croissants – I am literally drooling thinking about these.
• Cheese – All of it. Eat all the cheese
• Wine – Same as cheese. Try various types of wine!

When my family and I visited my sister for the holidays, we ate out quite a bit, here were some of our favorites:

• La Droguerie – My mouth is literally watering thinking about this place. Best crepes ever. I repeat, BEST CREPES EVER. My brother and I walked almost 2 miles to eat here last time we were in Paris. I will definitely be back!
• Café Chilango – Holy guacamole…seriously, their guac was heavenly. They also had super amazing tacos. Definitely go here if you find yourself craving Mexican food
• Amorino – You all know I CAN’T go anywhere in Europe without getting some gelato. This place has the CUTEST gelato flower with a macaroon on top that is totally Instagramable! (I went to the 16 Rue de la Huchette, 75005 Paris, France location)
• La Corde à Linge – This was hands down the best food I ate in all of France. If you make it to Strasbourg, you definitely need to splurge for dinner here. Honestly get anything on the menu and you will be satisfied.
• Brasserie de la Lanterne – Okay, technically I didn’t eat here, but this bar in Strasbourg was so much fun, and was full of locals. They have a ton of local beers to try as well!

IF YOU HAVE TIME TO LEAVE PARIS:

• Visit the Gardens of Versailles – For 30€ you can rent a golf cart that includes a map and an audio tour. The property is HUGE, so this is a fun way to see as much as you can. If you prefer to walk, you can also download Rick Steve’s Free Versailles Palace Tour (under the “Listen” tab).
• Visit the Strasbourg Christmas Market – Strasbourg is such picturesque town with an interesting history and a I loved all of the German Influence. The Christmas Market was adorable, and definitely worth the trip from Paris.
• Mont-Saint-Michel – You will need to take a train and a bus to get here from Paris, but the view from the top of Mont Saint Michel Abbey is incredible.

When I traveled to Amsterdam, I was only in the city for 4 days/3 nights, but I made the most of my time!

I booked my ticket to Amsterdam in June when my supervisor sent me information about a sale that IcelandAir was having on their site (shout out to my supervisor for supporting my travel addiction). After looking over all the deals, I decided to book a trip for one week in Amsterdam. After booking my trip, my sister moved to Paris to be an au pair for a year. I decided to change things up and book an additional ticket to Paris in the middle of my trip. I spent the first 2 days/2 nights in Amsterdam, flew to Paris for the weekend, then finished my trip with 2 days/1 night in Amsterdam. This break in my trip allowed me to get two different experiences in Amsterdam because I was able to stay in two different neighborhoods.

Day 1:

I flew into Schiphol (Amsterdam’s airport), and arrived early in afternoon on Wednesday. I took the train from the airport to Amsterdam Central Station. From there I took the Metro one stop to Nieuwmarkt, which was right across the street from my hostel. I stayed at the Shelter City hostel, which was right next to the Red Light District. After checking into my hostel, I walked around the neighborhood and explored the Red Light District (during daylight hours so that I knew where I was when I walked around later that night).

After getting the lay of the land, it was time for me to head to the National Monument in Dam Square for my SANDEMANs NEW Amsterdam Free Walking Tour. I did the tour with Kendra, and I thought she was hilarious. The tour was about 2.5 hours total, and included many of the places I already wanted to see, while also teaching me so much about the history of Amsterdam.

After finishing the tour, I decided to do some shopping (I basically only packed summer clothes and it was FREEZING in Amsterdam). There were a ton of stores across the street from Dam Square, and I ended up just buying some jeans and boots from H&M.

After shopping, I heading back to the hostel for a nap (jet-lag was finally hitting me). When I woke up from my nap, I headed out to explore the Red Light District to see what it looked like at night. If I am being honest, when I first starting walking along the streets, it took me a few minutes to adjust to seeing people “window shop” for sex. However, after walking around, I realized that this was not a place full of creepy dudes, drooling over half-naked women. I saw couples, bachelors, and other young people. I even saw a family with their son walking past the street.

I was almost tempted to go see one of the live sex shows (hey, when in Amsterdam), but I decided to instead find an Irish pub (always my favorite spots abroad). There was an Irish pub called the Temple Bar right across the street from my hostel, where I ended my night watching football while drinking Guinness.

Day 2:

I wanted to make the most of my full day in Amsterdam. I woke up early on Thursday and tried to score one of the “day of” tickets for the Anne Frank House. I was told I had to buy tickets at least two months before my trip. You all know I am more of a “go with the flow” kind of girl, and I don’t plan my trips out months in advance (if you are like me, don’t panic!). The museum releases 80% of tickets for any date two months in advance, but the remaining 20% are released on the website each day. Unfortunately, when I first woke up, there was a long wait on the website, and when I finally got to the ticket page, it said the tickets were sold out.

I was a little bummed that I did not buy my tickets in advance, so I left the hostel and began to explore the city. It was such a nice day out, that I figured I could still have fun getting lost in the city.

After walking around all morning, I signed up for an afternoon canal cruise. It was honestly so much fun seeing the city from the water!

There are so many different companies to choose from when it comes to canal cruises. It really doesn’t matter who you pick, just make sure you do one! I recommend Boat Amsterdam – they offer a 70-minute tour with drinks included! What better way to see Amsterdam than cruising along the canals, enjoying a Heineken or some wine? They also have smaller boats, so there are less people on each tour.

After my cruise I headed back to my hostel to change into some warmer clothes, then planned to head back out for dinner. When I got to my hostel, I decided to check the Anne Frank Museum website one more time, and I am so glad that I did! I ended up getting a ticket for the 20:30 entry (8:30PM).

The Anne Frank House was an unforgettable experience. It is honestly something you need to see to understand. When you enter the museum, you get a headset that provides you with an audio tour throughout the museum. You can also go at your own pace, so you decide how long you would like to spend in each room. Prior to my trip to Amsterdam, I heard mixed reviews from people on their opinions of the Anne Frank House, but for me, it was definitely worth the visit.

After I finished visiting the Anne Frank House, I knew that I had to be up early for my flight to Paris on Friday, so I decided to head back to the hostel and get to bed early.

Day 3:

I returned back to Amsterdam from my weekend in Paris early in the afternoon on Sunday. This time I took the train from Schiphol Airport to Lelylaan station, then took to Tram 17 to Ten Katestraat. The tram dropped me off one block from the CityHub hostel. This hostel was a little more pricey, but DEFINITELY worth every penny! Honestly it was in the perfect location,and the amenities were great!

When you book your stay at CityHub, you get your own “hub” that includes a full-size bed, bluetooth, AC, bathrobes, towels, and color changing lights. Each hub is $100, but you can sleep two people per hub (whether this is someone you’re traveling with or someone you just met 😉 this hostel is a no judgement zone). They also give you a wristband that gets you into the hostel, into your hub, and can be used to charge food and drinks to your account. The best part? They also provide you with a mobile HotSpot that you can take with you throughout the city! I honestly cannot rave about this place enough. I was talking with one of the CityHosts, and I was super excited to learn that they plan to open more CityHubs in other major cities across the world.

After I was done drooling over my new hostel, I remembered that I still needed to take my obligatory picture with the “I amsterdam” sign, so I headed to the Rijksmuseum.

After playing on the “I amsterdam” sign, I was starting to get hungry. One of my friends recommended that I check out De Foodhallen (which ended up being right next to my hostel!). This was definitely my favorite place from my trip (thanks Craig for the recommendation!). I wish I had gone here sooner, so that I could have tried all of the restaurants.

I started with Taqueria Lima and ordered the Chipotle Braised Beef and Chipotle Chicken tacos. One of the chefs at Tequeria Lima recommended that I try Viet View and said I needed to order the Hanoi Chicken. Unfortunately, they were out of the chicken, so I was told that the next best thing would be The Ugly burger from The Butcher. If you like spicy food, then I definitely recommend you try this burger!

I ended up hanging out at De Foodhallen all night,and met some really cool people from all over the world. Since this was right next door to my hostel, I felt comfortable staying out late and having some drinks with my new friends. Once the restaurants began closing down, I headed back to my hub.

Day 4:

My flight wasn’t until later in the afternoon on Monday, so I still had plenty of time to walk around and explore for my last day in Amsterdam.

The first thing I did was head to Van Wonderen Stroopwafels for some yummy treats.

I wish I could have ordered every flavor. I ordered three of the small stroopwafels to take home, and one medium stroopwafel to eat there. The small stroopwafels are pre-made, so I would say that you should order a medium or large one so that you get to eat it fresh and warm!

After eating my delicious stroopwafel, I took the tram back to my hostel to pack my bags.

I will admit that I did not enjoy my first two days in Amsterdam as much as my last two days after I had returned from Paris. While it was fun being near the Red Light District on the first trip, that is only a small piece of the culture. I really enjoyed the location and feel of my second trip to Amsterdam. My first two days felt like a tourist experience, and I honestly did not really interact with anyone. In contrast, I met so many cool people and had so much fun when I was staying at the CityHub hostel. If you ever make your way to Amsterdam, I highly recommend staying farther out from the city center and exploring the city with locals!

Fast Facts

Read my Amsterdam post to see exactly what I did!

Where to Stay:

• Shelter City– Right next to the Red Light District, good experience.
• CityHub – A little more pricey, but DEFINITELY worth every penny! Perfect location!

Things to do/Places to see in Amsterdam:

• I amsterdam sign – This is right behind the Rijksmuseum on Museumplein. I did not get a chance to see the Rijksmuseum on my last trip, but it is definitely on my list!
• Canals – Get lost in the city! I loved walking along all of the canals, taking pictures of all the flowers and the bikes.
• Red Light District – My first hostel was right next to the Red Light District. I remember my first night out, I went to find dinner, and before I knew it, I turned the corner and boom…there I was…right in the heart of the Red Light District. Coming from America, it took me a few minutes to adjust to seeing people “window shop” for sex. Honestly though, the Red Light District is just one small piece of Amsterdam’s culture. Walking along the streets, I saw couples, bachelors, and other young people. I even saw a family with their son walking past the street. Some advice for those of you planning a visit: Remember that these are people. Do not stare or try to take pictures (seriously, no cameras allowed). All in all, I had an interesting time walking around, but there were so many other parts of Amsterdam to enjoy.
• Canal Cruise – There are so many different companies to choose from. It really doesn’t matter who you pick, just make sure you do one! I recommend Boat Amsterdam – they offer a 70-minute tour with drinks included! What better way to see Amsterdam than cruising along the canals, enjoying a Heineken or some wine? They also have smaller boats, so there will be less people on each tour.
• Anne Frank House – I was told to buy my tickets at least two months before my trip. You all know I am more of a “go with the flow” kind of girl, and I don’t plan my trips out months in  advance. If you are the same, don’t panic! They release 80% of tickets for any date two months in advance, but the remaining 20% are released on the website each day. When I first woke up on the day I wanted to visit the Anne Frank House, the tickets were all sold out, but I checked throughout the day, and after lunch, I was able to buy tickets for the 8:00PM entry. If you plan to go with a larger group, or have a specific date/time you want to visit the museum, I suggest buying your tickets in advance.

I suggest the SANDEMANs NEW Amsterdam Free Walking Tour. I did the tour with Kendra, and I thought she was hilarious. The Tour began in front of the National Monument in Dam Square. It was about 2.5 hours total (with a short break to use the bathroom). The tour included many of the places I already wanted to see and taught me so much about the history of Amsterdam including:

• Anne Frank’s story
• The Dutch East India Company
• The swampy foundations of Amsterdam
• Hidden churches
• The Miracle of Amsterdam
• Widest Bridge and the smallest house in Amsterdam
• The Begijnhof Convent
• Canals and locks
• Rembrandt van Rijn
• Multatuli’s giant head
• Leaning buildings and gable stones
• The Jewish Quarter
• Dutch bike culture

All in all, I had a great time on this tour and learned so much. This was a great way to see the city and get the lay of the land.

Food:

You know that one of my favorite things to explore is food! Here are some places that I HIGHLY recommend for your trip:

• De Foodhallen (Amsterdam location) – This was definitely my favorite place from my trip (thanks Craig for the recommendation!). I wish I had gone here sooner, so that I could try some more of the restaurants, but here were my favorites:
  • Taqueria Lima – Eat all the tacos
  • Viet View – Try the Hanoi Chicken
  • The Butcher – If you like spicy food, get The Ugly!
• Winkel 43 – Apple Pie. Enough said.
• Van Wonderen Stroopwafels – I wish I could have ordered every flavor. I would say to order a medium or large, so that you get to eat it fresh and warm!

If You Have Time to Leave Amsterdam’s City:

• Visit the Keukenhof! The Netherlands are famous for their tulips. If you plan your trip between the end of March and the beginning of May, this is definitely something you should add to your list!
• Visit Rotterdam. I wish I had time to head to Rotterdam for my recent trip to the Netherlands! The unique Cube Houses are definitely something I want to see one day! If you visit, make sure you grab some food at the Markthal.

Venice is one of my favorite places on earth. One of the best things about Venice is the total lack of cars on the roads. Part of the charm of Venice is being able to explore the entire city on foot. While I was only in Venice for 4 days/3 nights, I was able to make the most of my time.

Day 1:

As I mentioned in my Florence post, had to cancel my trip to Cinque Terre because of strikes that canceled all of the trains to Cinque Terre. This caused me to come to Venice earlier than I anticipated. Cinque Terre was the part of my trip that I was looking forward to the most. I was upset about my plans not working out, and  decided to splurge on a single room in the We_Crociferi hostel. I cannot say enough about this hostel. It was so perfect, and definitely put me in a better mood.

After having diner in the courtyard of the hostel, I decided to walk around Venice. I loved getting lost in the streets of Venice. While wandering around, I followed the signs to St. Mark’s Square.

Once I finished walking around the square, I followed the signs to the Rialto Bridge and walked into all the little shops.

Walking around Venice, I fell in love. Every street was so pretty. I honestly could not stop taking pictures.

Eventually, I headed back to the hostel to plan the rest of my time in Venice.

Day 2:

I woke up early to catch the water taxi to Murano (famous for Murano glass). Once I got to the island, I headed towards the Glass Museum. This museum was so pretty, I loved exploring it’s collection.

After exploring the Glass Museum, I went on a hunt for some mosaic jewelry. When my grandmother was in Italy a few years back, she brought me back this beautiful mosaic ring, and I wanted to find more to bring back to my family.

I was surprised that I only found one shop on the whole island that sold what I was looking for. I honestly wish I had bought more of the jewelry. It was all so beautiful!

Once I was done shopping, I grabbed a table outside of a restaurant by the water taxi and ordered an Aperol Spritz.

When I got back to Venice, I decided to head back to the Rialto Bridge to look into a gondola ride. While I was looking at the price of a gondola ride (so expensive if you’re traveling alone!), two couples asked me if I was alone. They needed one more person to fill their boat, and said that I could join them for €10. I eagerly said yes, and just like that, we were climbing into the gondola.

This was so much fun! One of the couples on the boat brought wine and strawberries and offered to share. Not only did I get to enjoy a glass of wine and a snack while cruising through the canals, but I also got to have my own little photo shoot. All for just €10. Venice was good to me.

After my perfect day, I went back to grab my thing from the We_Crociferi hostel and headed to the hostel I originally booked for my stay in Venice (remember that I had to get there a day earlier than planned). I took the water taxi to the Generator Venice hostel. Once I checked into my room and put my things away, I grabbed dinner from the hostel restaurant, and took my pasta and wine outside to watch the sunset.

 

I can’t imagine a more perfect ending to the perfect day.

Day 3:

Having an extra day in Venice meant that I had time to visit Burano. This is literally the cutest place on earth. Every house is brightly colored, and has it’s own unique character.

I decided to try to take a picture with all of the different colors.

I could have spent forever on that little island. I stayed as long as I could, and took the last water taxi to Venice. When I got back to Venice, I enjoyed one last pasta dish by the water, enjoying one last Venice sunset.

Day 4:

I woke up early, and had a cappuccino and a croissant. I walked the streets of Venice one last time, then hopped on a train to Milan.

I am absolutely in love with Florence. While I only spent 3 days/2 nights in the city, I will definitely be back!

Day 1:

I stayed in the Santa Monaca Hostel. This hostel was in a great location, but unfortunately it did not have any AC. I decided to save money when booking my trip, but looking back I wish I had paid a little more for AC.  As soon as I got out of the shower and dried off, I was immediately covered in sweat again. To cool off, I left the hostel in search of some gelato down the street at Gelateria La Carraia.

Once I finished my gelato, I was not eager to go back to the hostel. With the sun down, it was cool outside. I decided to walk to Piazzale Michelangelo to see the last bit of the sunset, and to see the city light.

This was my favorite place in all of Florence. As I have said before, I am a sucker for views, and nothing beats the view from Piazzale Michelangelo. After the sun had gone down completely, I walked back to the hostel. I bought a bottle of wine at the market next door, and had a few glasses to help lull me to sleep.

Day 2:

I woke up early and headed to the Leather Market. The leather market is so much fun, part of the experience is trying to bargain with people. Just have fun with it! I ended up buying a brown leather purse that I bargained for €20 (originally prices at €45).

After shopping, I headed to Santa Maria Novella church for my Florence Free Tour. This tour was great for giving me a lay of the land. We also stopped by Club Culinario Toscano da Osvaldo, which is a great place to grab a bite to eat. The tour ended at the Church of Santa Croce.

Once my tour was finished, I headed back to the Duomo. I recommend climbing Giotto’s Bell Tower rather than the Duomo. They are basically the same view, but when you climb Giotto’s Bell Tower, you can also see the Duomo.

Once I finished snapping 1000 pictures of the Duomo (with a view like that, how can you stop?), I decided to walk around the city while I killed time before my Tuscany Sunset Vespa Tour.

Walking around made me work up an appetite. I decided to stop by All’Antico Vinaio. Their sandwiches were so good! It honestly does not even matter what you get, everything is so delicious. It’s a little hectic but worth the wait.

After finishing my sandwich, it was time for me to walk to Tuscany Cycle to meet for my Tuscany Sunset Vespa Tour. Unfortunately when I arrived at the Tuscany Cycle shop, they told me that I was the only one signed up for the tour, so they had to cancel it (one of the downsides of solo travel). I will admit that I was pretty upset about my tour being canceled. I was leaving for Cinque Terre in the morning, so I could not sign up for their Tuscany Vespa Tour for the next morning.

It was only 4:00PM, so I decided to grab dinner and a bottle of wine and headed back to Piazzale Michelangelo. While I was upset about not getting to ride Vespa’s through Chianti, getting to watch the sunset from start to finish definitely made up for it

I sat there for two hours, simply enjoying the view. On my way back to the hostel, I stopped by Gelateria La Carraia for one last cup of gelato.

Day 3:

I woke up early to catch my train to Cinque Terre. What I did not know about Italy, was that they frequently have strikes which can impact the train schedules. Unfortunately for me, this meant that all of the trains to Cinque Terre were canceled.

After waiting for “the next train to Cinque Terre” that never came, I decided that I needed to adjust my plan. Instead of spending an extra night in Florence, I decided to head to Venice early. Read all about it in my Venice post.