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Exploring Bruges

November 3, 2014

For years I’ve seen blogger after blogger visit the tiny town of Bruges when passing through Northern Europe. For some reason, it’s always stuck with me and remained high on my travel list for a long time, so when we were planning this trip and we happened to be taking the train straight through Belgium anyways, we decided it was time to see Bruges for ourselves.

We had arrived in Brussels the previous evening on the Thalys train from Amsterdam, stayed the night at the fabulous Pullman Brussels Midi and woke early the next morning to hop on one of the first trains of the day to Bruges. Since we literally stayed at a hotel at the train station, it was so easy to just walk downstairs, buy our train tickets and head out.

We jumped on the the 8am train and arrived in Bruges around 9am, then walked into the city center to the Markt area of Bruges. We happened to be there on a Wednesday, which is the day they open up a huge open air food market for the locals. It was divine, fresh Belgian waffles, fruits and meats, we wandered through and just took in the whole scene, so old world and so European. Shortly after we finished our walk through the market and had grabbed a table at a cafe for breakfast, the rain started and didn’t let up the rest of the day. And by rain, I mean down pour and freezing cold. Luckily, we’re used to that and have had our fair share of rainy travel days in the past and at home, so after a wonderful omelet and tea at a local cafe, we headed out into the rain to explore more of Bruges. We spent a few hours just wandering through the town, taking in the tiny canals and the cobblestone streets.

Bruges is one of those places that you feel transported to another time, a mixture between the architecture of medieval times to the sound of modern day French being spoken around you, the whole place feels like a juxtaposition of eras. It’s a town that just begs for you to wander, to get lost (which we totally did), to imagine people hundreds of years before you wandering those maze-like streets just the same. I loved our day in Bruges and would love to go back and explore another time in better weather, however the rain did add a sort of eerie quality to our visit as well, that made it that much more surreal. Soaking wet, we eventually headed back to the train station and back to Brussels, but Bruges is a place I’m sure not to forget anytime soon.

Tips for Bruges
-If you’re day tripping to Bruges from Brussels like we did, just buy your tickets at the station, don’t pre-buy them online as that way you can gauge how much time you really need and aren’t rushed or waiting around for your train if you’re ready to go.
-The trip itself takes about an hour from station to station, but then it’s about a 20 minute walk from the Bruges train station into the city center.
-If you’re going in the Fall/Winter, dress warm. Our day there was really wet and freezing cold, gloves and scarves are a must!

Traveling to Bruges?

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Cruising the Canals in Amsterdam

October 29, 2014

Our second full day in Amsterdam and day 4 of our trip was a cold rainy Fall day. When we woke up and saw the weather, we immediately knew it would be perfect to do a canal cruise to see more of the city but be out of the weather. So we headed out that morning, grabbed breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien and bought our boat tickets. We chose the See Amsterdam canal cruise, out of pure luck walking by the ticket shop, but there are lots of companies to choose from that do the cruises. The Amsterdam canal cruises aren’t just a great way to see more of the city, they are also a great way to escape inclement weather. Our boat happened to be the first of the day and was almost totally empty which made it even nicer. We spent an hour and a half riding around the canals of Amsterdam and taking it all in. When we were done mid-day, we headed back to our hotel, packed up our stuff and checked out. We left our bags with the hotels and grabbed a fantastic lunch at the restaurant in our hotel, Izakaya, just as a major rain storm started down pouring. Enjoying a long leisurely lunch with amazing Japanese food (their Udon was incredible), we headed back out to explore the “I Amsterdam” sign and wander around the Museumplein area.

For our final day in the city, we then enjoyed another leisurely walk through the Jordaan, then towards the central flower market and circled back to our hotel to pick up our bags, jump on the tram and head to the train station for our Thalys train to Brussels. Overall, Amsterdam was a place I know we’ll be back to many times. It’s such a lovely, thriving city that you can wander for hours and never get tired of it!

Tips for Amsterdam
-Use the trams as transportation if you don’t want to walk, they are cheap and easy. Just pay the driver when you get on.
-Lots of hotel have bikes to rent if you want, had the weather been better we probably would have done it, so take advantage!
-Stay out of the way of bikers when you’re walking in Amsterdam, there are bikes and bikers everywhere so be aware of your surroundings and don’t block the bike lanes.

Traveling to The Netherlands?

See all of my posts on the country!

Travel Tips : Tips for Traveling Through Europe

October 23, 2014

Europe is one of those places in the world that will always be a tourist destination, whether for the history of the continent or the cities that are famous for so many reasons, Europe has it all. But with all the glory of visiting Europe (and believe me, it’s amazing) it also has its quirks and things that many people, Americans especially, have a hard time getting used to. All those quirks however are some of the best things about the continent if you can accept them and enjoy them. So today, here are my top tips for visiting Europe and how to get the most out of your stay there.

Enjoy the wait.

You will wait a lot in Europe, waiting for a server to bring you menus at a café, waiting in lines for public transport or waiting in a car in traffic. But waiting is all part of the European experience. For one, most of European countries are small but jam packed with people and cars and bikes and everything in between, there isn’t a lot of space to hold all the people that live there, so there is a lot of waiting. For another, waiting is often part of the ambience of European lifestyles, such as living at a slower pace and enjoying the moments while you wait. This is especially true at cafes and restaurants, you’ll wait a while for a server and a while for your food and then a while for your bill. But that’s part of the experience, sit and talk, sip a cup of coffee or just admire your surroundings, because they are well worth your admiration.

Ask for the Bill or Menus.

Europe, as I mentioned above, is about a slower pace and that includes having to ask for things at restaurants. In Europe it’s sometimes the opposite of the US, when we’re being rushed in and out of restaurants as fast as possible. In Europe, waiters don’t want to bother you while you eat and people linger longer. Don’t hesitate to ask for what you need though, like menus or the bill when you’re done. And don’t feel like it’s bad service if you have to ask, that’s commonplace in Europe.

Venture off the Beaten Path.

Europe is a master at “off the beaten path.” That’s often where you’ll find the best restaurants, the most picturesque scenes and the best spots to really take in whatever European country you’re visiting. You’ll be shocked at how different the “local” areas of Europe are from the tourist areas and you’ll be so glad you ventured away from the tourist sights for a bit to explore.

See what you want to see.

I hear from a lot of people often that they come back from a trip to Europe and are totally overwhelmed the majority of the time they are there because they are trying to fit in everything they are “supposed to” see, instead of just taking it in and enjoying the areas. The key to a great European experience is to see what you want to see and not worry about seeing everything. This is especially true in the big cities like London and Paris and Rome, which all have so much to see and do. Pick a handful of sites to see or things to do and don’t worry about doing everything in the guidebook. The key to Europe is to do as the Europeans do and enjoy life, take in the scenery around you and just be.

5 Places That Will Change Your Perspective

October 9, 2014

The world is full of places that change you as you travel, places that you remember for different things or that move you, but certain places change how you see the world entirely, how you look at things in your own life or those around you. Certain places in the world make you see things in an entirely new light and those are the places that though are often harder to travel to, will change you in more ways than one. I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing lots of places like this, but these five in particular are places that once you visit, you’ll certainly look at things differently afterwards.

While Asia is such a broad category, I hesitated using it in this list but what I think is so life changing about visiting Asia, particularly SE Asia and the Eastern side of the continent like Korea is how millions upon millions of people live. There is nothing quite like Asia to burst a Western bubble in terms of space, as you walk down the sidewalk or eat at restaurants, Asia is packed with people and many of these countries don’t have very much land space, so everyone is packed in together. It’s a concept that takes some getting used to and one that really changes your perspective if you’re from the West, where we tend to like a large bubble of space around us.

Iceland is one of those places that will leave you breathless, literally. One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen, Iceland is a country that feels otherworldly, a place that makes you stop and really think about this planet we call home. It will change how you see the environment, how you see this planet because there is no where else I’ve ever seen like Iceland, a place so untouched and small, yet so vast and intoxicating. Iceland will challenge what you thought to be beautiful, what you thought this world looks like and have you questioning what we can do to protect it when you leave.

India is one of those places in the world that is entirely its own. It has specs of Asia and specs of Europe, its food is known the world over and I think everyone traveling to India has a sense of what they think they’ll find, but there is no way to prepare yourself for the overload of senses when you get there. India is a place that holds millions and millions of people, many living without any of the common things we have in the West, like running water, roofs over our heads or fresh food 3 times a day. It’s a country full of contradictions that will leave you thinking about it for months after you visit. It will change your perspective on what you need to live, what we need to make us happy and how at the end of the day, this country is filled to the brim with color and life.

For all of the preconceptions the Western world has about the Middle East, I can’t tell you how many times I talk to people either from there or who have traveled there and come back shocked at how different this part of the world is from what we hear in our media. We’re taught that it’s a part of the world filled with people who hate the West, that it’s dangerous and unstable, and while yes, there are some parts of the Middle East like that, there are also millions of people throughout this area of the world living just like us, welcoming travelers and willing to tell them their stories. The Middle East will change your perspective from what you’ve been taught about it, it will tell its own story instead of the one the Western media has published for decades now. It will show you its beauty and its hardships and welcome you more than you might think.

Rome is a place that changed me, and while our trip there wasn’t one of our best, the city itself had an effect on me and it’s a place that will truly change how you look at the history of our world. No where else in Europe is the history (the far history at least) so connected to the modern world than in Rome. We grow up in school learning all about the Romans, their victories and their defeats, their reach and their fall, but standing among their ruins, walking the halls of the colosseum where so many went to their death, where emperors and commoners alike watched, it’s truly overwhelming to stand there and remember that. Rome will change how you look at our history and how you feel about all that’s transpired for us to be standing here today.

5 Things NOT To Do While Traveling

October 7, 2014

When I travel I often note all of the things tourists do abroad that stick out, things that the locals look at and get annoyed with and things that are sometimes all too easy to fall in the habit of doing. But it’s really important to remember when traveling abroad that there are certain things you really just shouldn’t do, for your own sake and the sake of the locals. So here are some of the things NOT to do while traveling around the world!

Don’t believe stereotypes.
Perhaps one of the most important things you learn as you start to travel often is that stereotypes are often misguided. Not all the French are rude, not all Asian cities are dirty, and the list goes on of all the things we’ve heard over the years. Stereotypes don’t often help when traveling, instead they usually will make you realize quickly that you really can’t generalize huge groups of people. Make up your own mind on a country or a group of people and don’t rely on or believe the stereotypes you hear before you travel.

Don’t compare it to your native country.
One of the things I come across most with tourists abroad is that they are constantly comparing their new experiences in a foreign country to their native home. There is no point in comparing Paris to small town America or the food in Seoul with your Korean BBQ place back home, they just aren’t the same, nor should they be. Be open to experiencing new things and don’t compare it to what you think it should be or like it is back home.

Don’t expect everyone to speak English.
I’ll admit when I first started traveling internationally again as an adult with my regular trips to Seoul and South Korea for work, I fully expected to be able to get along in English during my travels. I’m not sure why I thought that, I just sort of did and quickly became very aware that there is still much of the world that doesn’t speak English, especially in the older generations. It’s important to be prepared and know a few words in the local language to help you get around and experience the local ways of life.

Don’t see only the tourist spots.
One of the things that so many people miss out on when they travel is that they never see the local spots, instead only staying on the well worn tourist path. So much of embracing travel is to explore like a local, to see the place the way the locals see it, to experience the back roads of Rome, the side street cafés of Paris or the local Korean BBQ spot down the alley. Get off the beaten path a bit and explore!

Don’t block the sidewalk or thoroughfare.
There is nothing more annoying than when those people walking down the middle of a sidewalk suddenly just stop to look at their map or figure out where they are! Don’t ever block the sidewalks or thoroughfares, move to the side and let everyone pass you. This also goes for things like escalators or public transit, don’t block the flow of people, locals especially. It’s more than annoying and makes you stand out a lot more than if you move to the side and figure out your way, then move back into the flow of traffic.

Exploring Bruges

Cruising the Canals in Amsterdam

Travel Tips : Tips for Traveling Through Europe

5 Places That Will Change Your Perspective

5 Things NOT To Do While Traveling

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