Europe Tour (mini guide included)


I'm based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and been wanting to travel to Europe for awhile already. Then my friends and I managed to plan out this trip. This blog is to show some of the beautiful sites in the 5 countries we've visited in Europe and also a mini guide for my fellow kababayans who are planning to travel to do the same. We didn't have any tourist guides which means there is no exact itineraries which made it more fun.





TRAVEL BUDDIES



Joan Puntay



Also based in Dubai, part of my barkada the "Zoyla and friends", traveler by heart. He basically planned out our itinerary and researched all the necessities for our travel. Thanks to him we learned how to read the complicated metro stations in the countries we've visited.



Cristy Villanueva

Part of Zoyla and friends who loves to shop and never leaves a country without any souvenir, with her generous heart she opts to buy for others first before buying for herself. She is our alarm clock since she is the one who wakes up the earliest. 


VISA PROCESS


You have to have the following before going to apply for your Schengen visa.



  • Flights was booked through Emirates airline with the help of our dear friend Ms. Haidee Rose Rosano. Thank you again!
  • Since our point of entry is France, we searched for the necessary documents in their website at http://www.vfsglobal-fr-ae.com/. All the details necessary can be seen in this site and please follow accordingly (i.e. photo size, photocopies and the like).
  • Book your accommodations first, we booked our hotels from www.booking.com where you can find hotels or bed and breakfast which are affordable and will fit your budget.
  • Purchase a travel insurance, we've purchased ours at https://www.dnatatravel.com/insurance/
  • Book for an appointment on their website. Please take note for your point of entry as you may need to visit a different location and different requirements.
  • Advise: They approve easily when your travel by group.
  • Voila, approved for 1 month multiple entry tourist visa.
CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHTS / TRAINS

We also need some cross country flights besides our flight from and to Dubai.

We have all booked it at the famous EXPEDIA. (www. expedia.com)

We used ALITALIA airline for these flights, we even have one flight upgraded to business class maybe because we've booked several.


We also used trains going from one place to another which is a lot cheaper than flights. English was not widely spoken in these countries which means you have to learn to read train timings and fares. Some train have wifi and they also have electricity outlets for charging. When you travel by group, you won't even know you're already there because either you are sound asleep or just merely chatting about everything under the train roof.


When we went to Salzburg, Austria, we don't have plans to stay for a night, we just had a few hours stopover before heading to Vienna. Fortunately, train stations in Europe have big lockers for transit passengers. This is really convenient for us especially that we have like big luggages to store and the fee is very reasonable.


WEATHER


Since it's still in the middle of October, the weather would range from 20 degrees to 24 degrees apart from Italy, which is quite humid. We've also experience a little bit of rainfall.


ITINERARY


We went there from Oct 11-23, 2015 with the following Itinerary:


Oct

11 - 14 > France (Paris and Versailles)
14 - 16 > Rome, Italy
16 - 19 > Germany (Leipheim and Ulm)
19        > Salzburg, Austria
19 - 20 > Vienna, Austria
21 - 22 > Prague, Czech Republique
21 - 22 > Milan, Italy
22 - 23 > Venice, Italy

It was hectic, but fun and fulfilling.



SKIP THE LINE

Queues are everywhere in Europe so it is beneficial if you really want to visit a specific place that you don't what to miss, better yet skip the line and buy a ticket ahead of time. 


My friend Craig who really made time to make a PPT presentation and his wife Anne suggested to book through VIATOR (http://www.viator.com) for sightseeing tours, activities and any other things to do.


If you don't have plans to do so, better check with some tourist booths in the Train stations or Airports or in even in their street stands.


ACCOMODATIONS


IBIS STYLES - Paris, France (Republique area), it's a budget hotel which is good for just short term stay. Breakfast is included although if you're a heavy breakfast eater (i.e. rice since I'm Filipino), please don't expect too much, this is Europe after all.  


PRATINN VATICAN - Rome, Italy, this is a B&B guest house. It's a cozy place for backpackers because of its homey feeling. Please don't expect that it has a very big sign because it's like a 6 bedroom flat used for business. This place though is very close the St Peter's Basilica as part of the Papal Audience which is our main goal why we went to Rome.


OBINGER's Place - Leiphem, Germany. This is now a real home courtesy of my good friend Carmen Obinger. We do suggest that in order to have more fun in a certain place, search for friends because they will not just be happy to tour you around their place they could even offer there place for you for a couple of nights especially that Filipinos are known for our hospitality. My friend from my hometown is half German half Filipino and now working in Germany. Special thanks to her family who did not just offered their home but even the love and care of a family.


INTERCITY HOTEL - Vienna, Austria. This hotel is really clean and the location is near the main train station if you arrive through train. They have taxis, trams and trains, so you can easily go around  the place.


IBIS HOTEL PRAHA - Prague, Czech Republique. Prague consists of the old and new town, this hotel is part of the old town. Close to the train station and just outside the mall Palladium. This is also a budget hotel similar to IBIS Styles.


Milan, Italy. I forgot the name of B&B guest house. Similar to Pratinn Vatican but the toilet is only one for all the guests.


HOTEL MARCO POLO - Venice, Italy  This hotel is quiet far from the grand canal but can be travelled by bus. The good thing is it's close to the airport which is convenient for us because we are now heading back to Dubai. 



PLACES VISITED


All photos are taken by either IPHONE 5s or GO PRO Hero 3 and background history are based on WIKIPEDIA.


FRANCE

Paris (UK: /ˈpærɪs/US: Listeni/ˈpɛərɪs/French: [paʁi] ( )) is the capital and most populous city of France. Situated on the SeineRiver, in the north of the country, it is in the center of the Île-de-France region, also known as the région parisienne. The City of Paris has a population of 2,249,975 inhabitants (January 2011), making it the fifth largest city in the European Union measured by the population within the city limits. Paris and its suburbs have a population of 12,292,895 inhabitants, making it the second or third largest metropolitan area in Europe, with London and Berlin, depending on the area measured.



BUFFALO GRILL (first meal)
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Paroisse Saint Laurent, Paris, France

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The Place de la République is a square in Paris, located on the border between the 3rd10th and 11th arrondissements. The square has an area of 3.4 ha (8.4 acres).[1] It is named after the French Republic and was called the Place du Château-d'Eau until 1879. The Métro station of Républiquelies beneath the square. (wikipedia)
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The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile (French pronunciation: ​[aʀk də tʀiɔ̃f də letwal], Arch of Triumph of the Star) is one of the most famous monuments in Paris. It stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle (originally named Place de l'Étoile), at the western end of the Champs-Élysées.[3] It should not be confused with a smaller arch, the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, which stands west of the Louvre.  (wikepedia)






If you want to see the whole of Paris, this place is the place to be. Take note, there are 284 steps to climb before you can reach the top so better have your water and strength with you, but I can say it's all worth it. You should go there before sunset so you can see the view while it's still bright and then the transition where all the lights of Paris lit up.





Below are the photos taken at the top of the arc.









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The Eiffel Tower (French: La tour Eiffel[tuʁ ɛfɛl]) is an iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. It was named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower.  (wikipedia)




We went to the second floor of the tower to experience the beautiful view of the City of Paris, it is indeed 
the CITY OF LOVE...


Check the beautiful lights of the EIFFEL TOWER

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Notre-Dame de Paris (IPA: [nɔtʁə dam də paʁi]French for "Our Lady of Paris"), also known as Notre-Dame Cathedral or simply Notre-Dame, is a historic Catholic cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of ParisFrance.[2] The cathedral is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture, and it is among the largest and most well-known church buildings in the world. The naturalism of its sculptures and stained glass are in contrast with earlier Romanesque architecture. (wikipedia)








The place is packed by tourists which sacrifices the solemnity of the Church. If you want to really pray without hearing a lot of camera clicks, better go to a certain corner where no one could interrupt you.




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The Louvre or the Louvre Museum (FrenchMusée du Louvrepronounced: [myze dy luvʁ]) is one of the world's largest museumsand a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, France, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement(district). 



When we arrive at the airport, we have met a kabayan Sharon, also coming from Dubai and by fate we met her again at the Louve.





The queue here is also very long but we really didn't plan to go in because for I'm really not into art although it would be interesting to see the MonaLisa or other Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpieces. 




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The Tuileries Garden (FrenchJardin des TuileriesIPA: [ʒaʁdɛ̃ de tɥilʁi]) is a public garden located between the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde in the 1st arrondissement of Paris







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The Place de la Concorde (French pronunciation: ​[plas də la kɔ̃kɔʁd]) is one of the major public squares in Paris, France. Measuring 8.64 hectares (21.3 acres) in area, it is the largest square in the French capital. It is located in the city's eighth arrondissement, at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées.








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The Panthéon (LatinPantheon,[1] from Greek Πάνθεον meaning "Every god") is a building in the Latin Quarter inParis. It was originally built as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve and to house the reliquary châsse containing her relics but, after many changes, now functions as a secular mausoleum containing the remains of distinguished French citizens.








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The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, commonly known as Sacré-Cœur Basilica and often simply Sacré-Cœur (French:Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, pronounced [sakʁe kœʁ]), is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in ParisFrance. A popular landmark, the basilica is located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city







In Paris, they promote exercise everywhere that's why we have to climb 270 steps before reaching the Basilica and its drizzling.









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Moulin Rouge[1] (French pronunciation: ​[mu.lɛ̃ ʁuʒ], French for Red Mill) is a cabaret in Paris, France.
The house was co-founded in 1889 by Charles Zidler and Joseph Oller, who also owned the Paris Olympia. Close to Montmartre in the Paris district of Pigalle on Boulevard de Clichy in the 18th arrondissement, it is marked by the red windmill on its roof. The closest métro station is Blanche.
Moulin Rouge is best known as the spiritual birthplace of the modern form of the can-can dance. Originally introduced as a seductive dance by the courtesans who operated from the site, the can-can dance revue evolved into a form of entertainment of its own and led to the introduction of cabarets across Europe. Today, the Moulin Rouge is a tourist attraction, offering musical dance entertainment for visitors from around the world. The club's decor still contains much of the romance of fin de siècle France.


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The Paris Opera (FrenchOpéra de Paris) is the primary opera company of France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the Académie d'Opéra, and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and officially renamed the Académie Royale de Musique, but continued to be known more simply as the Opéra

Here, students of the Opera are strutting there stuff, entertaining passersby.



With a local photobomber..





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Versailles (French pronunciation: ​[vɛʁˈsɑj] or [vɛʁˈsaj]) is a city in the Yvelines département in Île-de-France region, renowned worldwide for its château, the Château de Versailles and the gardens of Versailles, designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. According to the 2008 census, the population of the city is 88,641[1] inhabitants, down from a peak of 94,145 in 1975.







Another city in France which is a must see place because of it's wonderful architectural structure and much suburb type. More peaceful and clean.



With Louie XIV Statue



The Palace of Versailles (English /vɛərˈs/ vair-sy or /vərˈs/ vər-syFrench: [vɛʁsɑj]), or simply Versailles, is a royal château inVersailles in the Île-de-France region of France. In French, it is known as the Château de Versailles.


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Disneyland Paris, originally Euro Disney Resort, is an entertainment resort in Marne-la-Vallée, a new town located 32 km (20 mi) east of the centre of Paris, and is the most visited attraction in all of France and Europe.[1] It is owned and operated by Euro Disney S.C.A., a publicly traded company in which The Walt Disney Company owns a minority stake.[2] The resort covers 4,800 acres (19 km2)[3] and encompasses two theme parks, several resort hotels, a shopping, dining, and entertainment complex, and a golf course, in addition to several additional recreational and entertainment venues. Disneyland Park is the original theme park of the complex, opening with the resort on 12 April 1992. A second theme park, Walt Disney Studios Park opened in 2002. The park is the second busiest Disney park by number of visitors with 15.6 million visitors in 2013 placing it in between Disneyland Anaheim in California, USA, and Walt Disney World in Florida, USA.


The resort is the second Disney park to open outside the United States, following Tokyo Disney Resort, and the first to be owned and operated by Disney (through Euro Disney S.C.A.). The resort was designed specifically to follow the model established by Walt Disney World in Florida.







It's Halloween season, scare Disneyland. 
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ITALY


Rome (/ˈrm/ItalianRoma [ˈroːma] ( )LatinRōma) is a city and special comune (named "Roma Capitale") in Italy. Rome is the capital of Italy and also of the Province of Rome and of the region of Lazio. With 2.9 million residents in 1,285.3 km2(496.3 sq mi), it is also the country's largest and most populated comune and fourth-most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. The urban area of Rome extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of around 3.8 million.[2] Between 3.2 and 4.2 million people live in Rome metropolitan area.[3][4][5][6][7] The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, within Lazio (Latium), along the shores of Tiber river. Vatican City is an independent country within the city boundaries of Rome, the only existing example of a country within a city: for this reason Rome has been often defined as capital of two states.[8][9] (WIKIPEDIA)

Piazza Barberini is a large piazza in the centro storico or city center of Rome, Italy and situated on the Quirinal Hill. It was created in the 16th century but many of the surrounding buildings have subsequently been rebuilt.

Via Vittorio Veneto, colloquially called Via Veneto, is one of the most famous, elegant and expensive streets of RomeItaly. The street is named after the Battle of Vittorio Veneto (1918), a decisive Italian victory of World War IFederico Fellini's classic 1960 film La Dolce Vitawas mostly centered on the Via Veneto area.






Trevi Fountain (ItalianFontana di Trevi) is a fountain in the Trevi district in RomeItaly, designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Pietro Bracci. Standing 26.3 metres (86 ft) high and 49.15 metres (161.3 ft) wide,[1] it is the largestBaroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world. The fountain has appeared in several notable films, including Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita, and is a popular tourist attraction.


The fountain as of this time is under construction but since it's famous, there is still a queue for a quick groupie.


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Below are photos from a Church we stopped by to pray. The beautifully detailed church is really pleasing to the eye and soul. Unfortunately, we didn't get the chance to know the name of the church.








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The Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland) also known as the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II (National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II) or "Il Vittoriano" is a monument built in honour of Victor Emmanuel, the first king of a unified Italy, located in RomeItaly. It occupies a site between the Piazza Venezia and the Capitoline Hill.




This is just a quick shot because there are a lot of people looking at me since its taken fronting a restaurant. Please don't mind the plastic bag. :-)

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The Spanish Steps (ItalianScalinata della Trinità dei Monti) are a set of steps in RomeItaly, climbing a steep slope between thePiazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the Trinità dei Monti church at the top.








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Piazza di Spagna, at the bottom of the Spanish Steps, is one of the most famous squares of Rome (Italy). It owes its name to the Palazzo di Spagna, seat of the Embassy of Spain among the Holy See.







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The Temple of Hadrian is a temple to the deified Hadrian on the Campus Martius in RomeItaly, built by his adoptive son and successor Antoninus Pius in 145 and now incorporated into a later building in the Piazza di Pietra (Piazza of Stone – derived from use of the temple's stones to build the piazza). It was once erroneously known as the Temple of Neptune.





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The Pantheon (/ˈpænθiən/ or US /ˈpænθiɒn/;[1] LatinPantheon[nb 1]) is a building in RomeItaly, commissioned by Marcus Agrippaduring the reign of Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) and rebuilt by the emperor Hadrian about 126 AD.[2]








You might be wondering why Cristy has her eyes closed for some of the photos. She is very sensitive to light which means flashes from camera could make her blink any time.








St. Peter's Basilica (LatinBasilica Sancti PetriItalianBasilica di San Pietro in Vaticano) is a Late Renaissance church located within Vatican City.
Designed principally by Donato BramanteMichelangeloCarlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, St. Peter's is the most renowned work of Renaissance architecture[2] and remains one of the largest churches in the world.[3] While it is neither the mother church of the Catholic Church nor the Catholic Roman Rite cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, St. Peter's is regarded as one of the holiest Catholic sites. It has been described as "holding a unique position in the Christian world"[4] and as "the greatest of all churches of Christendom".[2]

By Catholic tradition, the basilica is the burial site of its namesake Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and, also according to tradition, the first Pope and Bishop of Rome. Tradition and strong historical evidence hold that Saint Peter's tomb is directly below the altar of the basilica. For this reason, many Popes have been interred at St. Peter's since the Early Christian period. There has been a church on this site since the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great. Construction of the present basilica, replacing the Old St. Peter's Basilica of the 4th century AD, began on 18 April 1506 and was completed on 18 November 1626.[5]







The Pietà (1498–1499) is a world-famous work of Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarroti, housed in St. Peter's BasilicaVatican City. It is the first of a number of works of the same theme by the artist. The statue was commissioned for the French Cardinal Jean de Bilhères, who was a representative in Rome. The sculpture, in Carrara marble, was made for the cardinal's funeral monument, but was moved to its current location, the first chapel on the right as one enters the basilica, in the 18th century. It is the only piece Michelangelo ever signed.


I'm so privileged to be able to be part of the Papal Audience. Being part of it is technically free but if you want to know where the best seats, a little bit of history and skip the line, get a guide which is advised by my friend through VIATOR.com.

We're so close where Pope Francis have passed by and you can't imagined the holiness you will feel. 
So sureal, so magnificent.
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The Colosseum or Coliseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium; Italian: Anfiteatro Flavioor Colosseo) is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of RomeItaly. Built of concrete and stone,[1] it was the largest amphitheatre of the Roman Empire, and is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering. It is the largest amphitheatre in the world.[2]


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The Arch of Constantine (ItalianArco di Costantino) is a triumphal arch in Rome, situated between the Colosseum and thePalatine Hill. It was erected by the Roman Senate to commemorate Constantine I's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge on October 28, 312.[1] Dedicated in 315, it is the latest of the existing triumphal arches in Rome, and the only one to make extensive use of spolia, re-using several major reliefs from 2nd century imperial monuments, which give a striking and famous stylistic contrast to the sculpture newly created for the arch.




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The Roman Forum (LatinForum RomanumItalianForo Romano) is a rectangular forum (plaza) surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum.



Unfortunately, when we arrived there its already closed. But still we managed to get this shot from the outside.


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Piazza Navona is a city square in RomeItaly. It is built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, built in 1st century AD, and follows the form of the open space of the stadium.[1] The ancient Romans came there to watch the agones ("games"), and hence it was known as "Circus Agonalis" ("competition arena"). It is believed that over time the name changed to in avone to navone and eventually to navona.







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The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as Castel Sant'Angelo (English: Castle of the Holy Angel), is a towering cylindrical building in Parco AdrianoRome, Italy. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The building was later used by the popes as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum. The Castel was once the tallest building in Rome.


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GERMANY

Germany (Listeni/ˈɜrməni/GermanDeutschland), officially the Federal Republic of Germany (GermanBundesrepublik Deutschlandpronounced [ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant] ( )),[7] is a federal parliamentary republic in western-central Europeconsisting of 16 constituent states, which retain limited sovereignty, and covering an area of 357,021 square kilometres (137,847 sq mi) with a largely temperate seasonal climate. Its capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany is a major economic and political power of the European continent and a historic leader in many cultural, theoretical and technical fields.

With my friend Carmen who graciously with her family offered their home for me and my friends. Thanks MEN!









Ulm Minster (GermanUlmer Münster, literally: minster) is a Lutheran church and former Roman Catholic church located in Ulm,Germany. Although sometimes referred to as Ulm Cathedral because of its great size, the church is not a cathedral as it has never been the seat of a bishop.






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Legoland Deutschland is a Legoland park located in Günzburg in southern Germany, roughly half way from Munich to Stuttgart, which opened in 2002. It is 43.5 hectares (107 acres) in area, and it is one of the four most popular theme parks in Germany.[1] The Miniland contains Lego reproductions of various German cities and rural landscapes.[2]


I didn't realize that Legoland is soooo much fun! honestly! besides the discounts from their souvenir items and the free entrance courtesy again of Carmen who is working in Legoland, the magic of lego's are simply detailed amazing. 




Cities of Europe made by Lego, Nice huh?


3D painting

Starwars X-Wing fighter Jet made up of 5,335,200 Lego's.

And the rides are so exciting!

My favorite is the next one also from starwars.
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Dinner with the beautiful OBINGER family.
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AUSTRIA

Salzburg (/ˈsɔːlzˌbɜrɡ//ˈsɔːltsˌbɜrɡ//ˈsɑːlzˌbɜrɡ//ˈsæltsˌbɜrɡ/,[2][3] /ˈzɑːltsˌbɜrɡ/ or /ˈzæltsˌbɜrɡ/German pronunciation:[ˈzalt͡sbʊɐ̯k] ( )BavarianSåizburg; literally: "Salt Fortress") is the fourth-largest city in Austria and the capital of the federal state of Salzburg.
Salzburg's "Old Town" (Altstadt) is internationally renowned for its baroque architecture and is one of the best-preserved city centers north of the Alps. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The city has three universities and a large population of students. Tourists also frequent the city to tour the city's historic center, many palaces, and the scenic Alpinesurroundings.
Salzburg was the birthplace of 18th-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In the mid‑20th century, the city was the setting for parts of the musical play and film The Sound of Music.
We just went to visit Salzburg for about 8 hours just to see its scenic view and we availed the SOUND OF MUSIC tour through a tourist booth in the train station.

Picture below is not edited, it's just a really wonderful view.

Leopoldskron Palace, the lake where the famous boating scene was filmed. You will see the Captain´s backyard and private palace gardens.


Below is from the scene from the movie

Hellbrunn Palace, Gazebo
Visit the gardens of Hellbrunn Palace and find the gazebo which was rebuilt especially for the fans of the movie - I certainly remembered the song "16 going on 17" scene and the kissing scene of Maria and Baron von Trapp.


Quick trivia though, this is just the replica of the real one, the original was already closed because it is already abused buy tourists who have visited.
from the original scene 
Nonnberg Abbey, the leg of the mountain, to get a view at Nonnberg Abbey which is still an active convent today. This is where "real" Maria was a novice and where she and Baron von Trapp got married in real life.
above is Maria in the movie

 Mondsee - Wedding Chapel
In Mondsee where we had the chance to see the famous church, where the wedding of Maria and Baron von Trapp was filmed in the movie The Sound of Music. Afterwards we had a little break to explore this little town. We also met a new friend Moon.

below is the wedding scene



Salzburg Lake District Area - St Gilgen


This is where panorama shots and scenes of the picnic were filmed. Really enjoyed the wonderful view down on to St. Gilgen and Lake Wolfgang! 

from the movie

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Vienna (/vˈɛnə/; German: About this sound Wien  [viːn]) is the capital and largest city of Austria, and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.757 million[5] (2.4 million within the metropolitan area,[4]more than 20% of Austria's population), and its culturaleconomic, and political centre. It is the 7th-largest city by population within city limits in the European Union. Until the beginning of the 20th century it was the largest German-speaking city in the world, and before the splitting of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in World War I the city had 2 million inhabitants.[6] Today it is the second only to Berlin in German speakers

St. Stephen's Cathedral (more commonly known by its German title Stephansdom) is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna and the seat of the Archbishop of ViennaChristoph Cardinal SchönbornOP

The facade are not vandals, those are lights reflection from a projector only.
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Vienna Opera House

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The world-famous waxworks museum Madame Tussauds is a highlight in the Vienna Prater.
71 wax figures can be seen at Madame Tussauds on Riesenradplatz in Vienna's Prater. Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Sisi, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Falco, Maria Theresia and Gustav Klimt are just some of the local personalities and historic people to be seen on 2,000 m² of exhibition space (spread over three floors). In specially created interactive settings, you can also take an intelligence test against Albert Einstein, conduct the "Blue Danube" waltz with Johann Strauß or try to beat football legend Hans Krankl in a penalty shoot-out.

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CZEQUE REPUBLIC


Prague (/ˈprɑːɡ/CzechPraha pronounced [ˈpraɦa] ( )) is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. It is thefourteenth-largest city in the European Union.[5] It is also the historical capital of Bohemia. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava River, the city is home to about 1.24 million people, while its larger urban zone is estimated to have a population of nearly 2 million.[6] The city has a temperate climate, with warm summers and chilly winters.

Praha Municipal House - Old Town
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Praha Old Town
 (please don't mind the distorted picture, this panorama mode is for the whole structure to be shown)
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Old Town Square
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Eating Trdelnik - sweet roll bread famous in Czeck
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National Museum

View from our chilly Dinner Cruise around Prague.
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ITALY (Part2)
Milan Cathedral

Milan (/mɪˈlænˌ -ˈlɑːn/,[5] ItalianMilano [miˈlaːno] ( )LombardMilan [miˈlaːŋ]) is the second-most populous city in Italyand the capital of Lombardy. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area is the 5th largest in theEU with an estimated population of about 5,264,000.[3] The massive suburban sprawl that followed the post-war boom of the 1950s–60s and the growth of a vast commuter belt, suggest that socio-economic linkages have expanded well beyond the boundaries of its administrative limits and its agglomeration, creating a polycentric metropolitan area of 7[4][6][7]-10[8] million people, stretching over the former provinces of MilanBergamoComoLeccoLodiMonza and BrianzaPaviaVarese,Novara. It has been suggested that the Milan metropolitan region is part of the so-called Blue Banana, the area of Europewith the highest population and industrial density.[9]


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 Milano, Piazza Duomo with Kuya Jeff


Milano, Piazza Duomo with a Malaysian Tourist

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Had a coffee and croissant with my good friend from Dubai who is now based 
in Milan, Ate Nenz..missing the good old days.
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Venice (English /ˈvɛnɪs/ItalianVenezia [veˈnɛttsia] ( )[1] alternative obsolete form: VinegiaVenetianVenexia [veˈnɛsja];LatinVenetiaeSloveneBenetke) is a city in northeastern Italy sited on a group of 117 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges.[2] It is located in the marshy Venetian Lagoon which stretches along the shoreline, between the mouths of thePo and the Piave Rivers. Venice is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture, and its artworks.[2] The city in its entirety is listed as a World Heritage Site, along with its lagoon.[2]
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The famous Grand Canale of Venice


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Venizia Morning canal strolling 




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Our travel buddy Joan is a collector of any hard rock memorabilia's, we did managed to visit a few branches.






Hard Rock Cafe International, Inc. is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Isaac Tigrett and Peter Morton inLondon. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2007, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.[1][2] Currently, there are 191 Hard Rock locations in 59 countries including 145 cafes, 21 hotels and 10 casinos.

PARIS, FRANCE


ROME, ITALY

VIENNA, AUSTRIA



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Over all, the trip was a fab and I didn't really got to spend that much. It really helps if you have good friends, life is indeed beautiful and all the more God's creations so better keep exploring it. Message me if you want suggestions.


Livin Mi Vida Loca :-)


God Bless everyone!


Below is the summary of our tour, Enjoy!











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