Germany- Netherlands-Czech Republic September, 2018
Day One: After a amazing direct
flight on Lufthansa we landed in frankfurt.
Honestly
we were not very keen on visiting frankfurt as its like any other business city
but we didn't have any option so we ended up staying for two days.
We
took the train to haubanahof station from the airport. It cost us around 5
euros each. Nice smooth train ride. We got off at haubanahof station quite a
stunning station. Our hostel was located bang opposite the station and very
close to the city centre.
We
love staying in hostels as we end up meet interesting people have fun
conversation and just feels good over checking into a hotel and being all
fancy. Just how we are.
We
took the hop on hop off bus on day one. It took us all around the city. Decent
ride but not worth the money.
Day
two : we took a walking tour which was way more informative and to
the point. So there are free walking tours twice a day one in the morning at
10am and the other one at 2pm. We woke up late had breakfast and then took one
more ride on the ho - ho bus as we had validity. Then joined the 2pm
tour.
We
started at some historical Monuments and then our tour guide took us to this
place called the inject centre where addicts could take moderate amount of
drugs under observation. Apparently there a few of these centres in Germany and
has helped reduce the number of drug addicts to 20%, another place we visited
was called CRAZY SEXY. this was a brothel which was officially run by some
mafia. However this place is a legit brothel and prostitution is done
officially. We visited the old town where durinf Hitler rule all the books were
burnt including Karl marx and Freud. We visited the geothe museum , old Town
square, St Paul's church amongts the others. The free walking tour was amazing
- you generally tip the guide as per your liking. We also took a cruise in the
river mainz. Totally avoidable. We had a lot of time to kill so we kept
exploring. I was very keen on doing a bicycle tour however that didn't happen
unfortunately. We got a lyka Sim so navigation is easier and we could do stuff
on our way with the help of G maps.
We
had dinner at a lebanese restaurant - a nice heavy falafel.
Moving
on- we took the night bus to Prague. After a slight disappointment we were
really excited about Prague. We took the flixbus ( very bad reviews online) but
we had a great experience. After neeta volva this is a dream bus ride.
Frankfurt to prague is about 7.5-8 hours by road. Our bus station was located a
few metres away from the hostel. So it was walking for us.
Day
three: We reached Prague at
about 730am and our checkin was 3pm so put our luggage in the locker at the bus
station and took off. Most of the tours take off from the city centre but we
came across a touring company while walking around. We opted to take the grand
Prague your which covered all the places by bus and a guide. It was a three
hour long tour. Again this one was expensive a free walking tour would have
done the deal but anyway we had one full day to figure out after seeing all the
places in one to by bus.
So
our stay in Czech was for 4 days. Day one we took the bus tour and saw the city
Including the famous Prague castle Charles bridfe etc. We got done done in time
for check in to our Airbnb. We went back to the station to collect our
bags and check in. The tour ended at the astronomical clock in the city centre
we walked to the bus station from there. It was a 22 minute walk picked out
luggage. So for 8 hours of luggage they charge 2.5 euros pet bag. We picked our
luggage and the. Took the train back to our stay.
We
were located very close the the Charles beige and the city centre. After
checking in we rested a while. Then got out around 7pm to lurk. The sun anyway
dlis t set before 9pm. So we walked arounf shopped a bit. So H was very keen on
sky diving we went found out about that.tbere is a company called sky walker
who does these tours. It costs around 20k per person with pictures and videos.
And without around 13k. Then I checked with my sister if we should do it since
she has been in travel business for more than 10 years. She said it's better
you do it in South Africa or new Zealand which had a mad beautiful
Landscape. So then we chucked the sky diving plan.
Day
four - we woke up late had
breakfast rested again and the. Stepped out. Same walked around shopped a bit.
Ate some more food. And then went for a pub crawl which was fun. Could have
been a lot more funner but was alright. just that the crowd was way younger.
Did meet two three interesting people but ya that was it. We went to three
clubs out four and then we decided to walk to the Charles bridge to see the
night view. OMG IT WAS A BEAUTY.
While
walking back to the bridge from the the pub we came across a lot of other
beautifully lit up sites. Saw the Charles bridge castle and then headed home.
Was a great day overall. Not too hectic very chilled.
So
the pub crawl is 14 Euros per person and they offer you beer vodka and absinthe
at each club they take you. Or you can join them and pay for your drinks as you
go. It works great for beer drinkers but the only thing is you have to queue up
for your beer at each place once you enter. That was a bit weird but the youger
lot didn't care.
We
dozed off as soon as we got home we had a bus to cesky kromlov.
Day
five : We took the
flixbus to cesky - there are various toured day trip from Prague itself which
cost around 90 euros per person. We are a bit paranoid about these tours so we
organized our own trip.booked tickets on flixbus got at 940am bus it takes around
4 hours to get there and the town is really small so you can walk around it all
by yourself. We got there for the map from the tourist centre and found out
about walking tours of the ciry. Opted for a free waking your at 2pm. It was
quite nice he took us all around the town explaining all the important places
and monuments and buildings. He left us at the end of the palace and the we
were free to roam around on our own. This was a good idea for us to take this
up. It's a 2.5 hour trip. Then we wanted to do a bicycle your but we barely had
any time left so we couldn't do it. There are other activities like rafting and
kayaking as they have a small river called vladika. I mean we are so used to
going rafting and kayaking with a professional who actually does the job and we
were too lazy to put in the effort.
Okay
so back to where the tour guy dropped us - the castle garden. It was stunning -
long green patches of land with small lake like water bodies. There is a
revolving theatre at the top which was quite cool.
We
sat by the lake side for an hour relaxed. it was so picturesque and peaceful.
After a bit we headed back and on the way are some local vef food and headed to
the bus station to catch our flixbus back to prague.
Our
two way trip on the bus costed is about 1500 per person which was a deal!! Over
9000 inr. Gosh was proud of ourselves.hahaha moving on. From florenc bus
station we took the train back to our air bnb.
The
subways in Prague are really underground meaning the escalators were like a
dive down to the platform. Really deep and long. We got home and passed out.
Not used to so much walking - we had to still book our travel to Berlin. We
keep things for the last minute cause we enjoy the flexibility of staying
longer in one place if we like it. We do end up paying a slight premium
for this luxury but ya now this is how we travel. So anyway we came back just
before passing out we booked flexi to Berlin.we booked 1240pm bus.
Day
six : Woke up around 9am
bathed and stepped out to see the Charles bridge one last time and grabbed a
chocolate waffle OMG it was so yum!! then headed back to our Airbnb to take our
luggage and go to the bus station. This time we didn't take the train we ubered
instead. Ya little luxury. No I was feeling slightly tired so then I pushed H
who was totally against it to take the uber.
We
took the Uber went to the bus station and then waited for the bus.
Got
into the bus and yaaay this bus had WiFi (150mb only)
We
prefer taking bus's everywhere is because we can see the changing landscape and
it's so STUNNN. It takes more time but what the heck we are traveling and that
means gotta see it all ;)
H
got his international licence done so we would like to drive wherever possible
where it makes sense to the pockets as well.
Flixbus
is quite cool most of the routes and buses we took had female drivers.
The
route from Prague to Berlin is breathtakingly beautiful- streams , rivers ,
windmills, circling roads enroute.
I
want to know how they roll their hay stacks so neatly. The look so good like I
go totally take a couple back home and just keep them ;)
Oh
so finally we arrive in in Ber ber BERLIN! This time we had booked an apart
hotel Nice big room but on the fourth goddam floor without any lift. Also no
concept of any runners in these hotels so poor H had to lug the bags upto the
fourth floor
When we arrived it was
glorious hot weather and the sun was shining. We arrived into the
Alexanderplatz in the centre of Berlin at about 10.30am their time. I
immediately saw the Berliner Fernsehturm, you actually can’t miss it. If you
googled a photo of Berlin, this is the first thing you will see. We grabbed a
quick coffee & snack off we wandered. It’s not that I don’t enjoy walking
but I just felt the bikes were something different and something we don’t do at
home. So I convinced H to rent bikes again just as I really wanted to see the
city on a bike, it meant we could see even more of the city that way. Everyone
had actually said you do a lot of walking in Berlin so it was nice to get the
bikes. It cost us €14 for each bike for the day and we just had to have them
back by 6pm.
It was really
nice to see. Very near to the Brandenburg Gate is The Holocaust Memorial. This
was kind of creepy. I don’t know how I felt about it really at all. I mean it
was fascinating to see but just very sad.
Day Seven: After a super heavy Vietnamese lunch
with my Chinese friend from college, we walked for what felt like ages but it
wasn’t really, all the way to the Eastside Gallery. This is where the Berlin
Wall is and the graffiti of Berlin. I am obsessed with Street Art so I could
take numerous pictures, It was such a chilled place and loads of people just
out drinking by the river. we didn’t stay too long but it was so good to see it
all.
We
took the train to Amsterdam from Bonn - I want to try all public transport
available in that country. Actually there were two changes en route Amsterdam.
Generally buses and trains are direct but this one was the cheapest available.
It took us literally 6 hours to get to Amsterdam while it should have taken not
more than 3 hours. So these three changes wad a bad idea.
Our
hotel was situated about 20 mins away from the city centre so we took the bus.
Got to the hotel. Changed freshen up and stepped out. It was mad crowded
with people and bicycles. It was unreal. We went to the dam square saw a few
places around there. Shopped a little bit. Went to the red light district. preetty
amusing. Drugs and prostitution are allowed in the open. While prostitution is
legal drugs is not. I tried a few hard stuff and oh man it was a total bad
idea. We hung around at the bus stop till very late and then finally took the
Uber back home. I was totally messed up.
Red
Light District – you just have to go to see it. I was absolutely amazed. Like I
needed to see it to believe it. Be wary at night as it can become really packed
and apparently there are loads of pick pockets.
You
have to go visit the I-Amsterdam sign. I think it’s like a typical tourist thing
to do. As you can imagine, a summer’s day in August it was PACKED!! So no
chance of getting a photo with the whole sign in. Leidspelien -lots of places
to eat
I had mixed reviews
from people when I told them I was going to Ann Frank’s house. I decided to
book it anyway even though lots of people said it was worth it. So what did I think in the end? NAH!
I would recommend it. I mean it was extremely interesting and I am fascinated
by her story It’s a self guided tour so there is no interaction and I
personally think if it was guided, it would be a really great experience.
Overall, I really
enjoyed it and couldn’t get over how pretty it was. Everyone needs to go visit
and I am so excited we did.
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