Central Europe trip in November

Another over due post: 

It was a trip with the parents, aunties and more aunties. Originally, we wanted to travel to Changjiang Sanxia in China, but just during that time, there were news of a cruise ship that capsized and hundreds of people died. This got the old folks worried and they decided to give the China trip a miss. In the end, we had friends who recommended us to go Europe with Apple Holidays and, "mai tu liao", we checked with Apple, booked the trip in June and go ahead with our Central Europe trip in November. Those travel agents really know how to do sales, told us things like " must book early, now got early bird prices...blah blah blah... and you will have a free China land tour on top of it..." Sounds like a good deal eh, we paid like $1840 just for the package (accommodation and tickets included),there was a compulsory 380 euro to be paid for additional trips and tips, so that amounts to maybe around SGD 550. As we were also worried that we are not used to the food there, my dad actually packed cup noodles into his luggage, one travel kettle and even sambal prawn chilli with him.
My mum got her friends coming so our group alone has about 16 people. 

The trip began with lots of obstacles. We were supposed to go via Luthansia but there was a strike and we were informed that we had to change airline to Finnair a day before. I was supposed to have a room mate (my mum's colleague) but last minute she could not make it. So the whole trip, i had the room all to myself! Good and bad, cos sometimes i tend to imagine too much, so i would just pray for peace and a good night of sleep.

Day 1 Italy - Milan
It was not a comfortable flight, but thank God, we still reach Milan via Helsinki. 

Catching the sunrise in Helsinki airport and viewing the land of Italy from above

We got the coach coming to fetch us and the trip began immediately.

 Castello De Sforza

 This is all around the Leonardo Da Vinci Square area

La Scala Opera House

Statue of Leonardo Da Vinci

After that we walked over to the Victor Emmanuelle II Galleria where international renowned brands are found. They say, come Italy, you should buy Prada, LV and Gucci. As it was the first day of the trip, i decided to only see see and look look, don't really want to lug around branded stuff for the rest of the trip. There is this pizza place that serves big and relatively cheap pizza. We decided to share and try the pizza. We bought like 3 sets and share between 6 people. As you can see, the portion is actually quite big.  If you have old folks who do not fancy pizzas, there is a Macdonald nearby, make do with a McChicken meal for my Dad. Toilets in Europe are a problem, you have to pay to go in, if not, get something from Macdonalds and visit the toilets for "free".

 Victor Emmanuelle II Galleria 

Lastly, we walked around the 19th century gothic Duomo Cathedral and do what tourists will always do. Take photo, take photo, take photo...

Duomo Cathrdral

Day 2 Switzerland - Lugano and Lucerne

The day started early and we proceeded to Lugano where there is the view of the beautiful lake. 

After that, we were brought to the Foxtrot outlets where we start our shopping trip. I do not remember buying anything from there, most of the designs there are pretty outdated.

After that we headed to Lucerne city where we visited the Lion Momument, the old chapel bridge, old town and Bucherer, this supposingly No 1 shop for watches and jewellery where i bought my very own Tissot watch. That place is very much visited by tourists, from China especially. It feels like we are there to be "Robert cai4 "( a term i used to mean that we are sent there to spend money in which the items are super marked up kind)

You can see the shape of the lion carved in the hill and Bucherer on the top right corner of the photo

The old town and the old chapel bridge area

That night, we decided to try out this Chinese restaurant near our hotel. Wah pls pls never try Chinese restaurants, the fried rice costs like 25 dollars per plate and it is extremely oily. The prawns had a weird taste and it is just not worth the price.

That night, we were told that Paris had this shooting attack in which many died. Friends started messaging me to check if I am alright. It was so serious that Paris had tightened security so that they can catch the shooters. 

Day 3 Switzerland - Interlaken 

We visited Interlaken where it is flanked by 2 lakes, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. We went on this tram which brought us up to the top most area of Switzerland Kleine Schiedegg. 

Over there, we view the alps and the scenery is just simply breathtaking. 

We climbed abit up this not so steep slope to catch this view.

Something that I have learnt, there was this steep slope up and it seemed really tiring to climb it as from the bottom we have no idea what is at the other side. I am so glad I climbed. The view there was just simply awesome!! There was this very clear lake right on top of the hill and the view of the lake against the alps is really awesome. See the photo and you were agree with me totally. 

The area around the top. This is this 9.5km sledge run track on the bottom left of the picture. As it was not really snowing, the track is not in operation.

We went back into this little town after lunch and walked around abit till dinner time.

That night,  we had cheese fondue dinner. The boss of the restaurant is so energetic and entertaining I think everyone had a fun time. 

Day 4 Switzerland to Germany - Schauffhausen / Titisee/ Rhineland /Heidelberg

Early in the morning, we visited Schauffhausen in Switzerland to visit the Rhine falls and used as much Swiss Franc as possible as that will be the last place we can use that before we change back to Euros. It was abit wet and cloudy so pictures were not so bright and nice. 

After that we made our way to Germany, the first town we visit was Titisee, i like this place alot. Very relaxing and things there seemed to be relatively cheaper than than the things in Milan.

We took a group photo outside this Cuckoo clock shop and attended this Cuckoo clock making demonstration. We bought a little cuckoo clock home too. At the same place, we had this pork knuckle lunch with black forest cake and this ice wine tasting session. The ice wine is good, and quite cheap too, at 30 euros, if i remember correctly, bought two bottles home, one for my family and one for the twin. We went taking photos around. If you can see the forest in the background, that is Black Forest in Germany.

That night's hotel was in Leonardo hotels which is like considered not too bad stay for the amount we pay.

Day 5 Germany to Netherlands - Cologne / Amsterdam

We went to Cologne and visited this world heritage gothic Cologne cathedral. The cathedral really looks gothic and majestic inside. There was a service going on inside and everyone was supposed to keep our volume down. The area around the cathedral is pretty crowded. 

My cousin and I decided to climb 509 steps to reach the top. Super good exercise yeah. The older folks walked around to wait for us.

On the left of the picture is the start of 509 steps, the centre picture shows us reaching the top by climbing this spiral metal stairs

The view of the city of Cologne in Germany

We met the folks after that to meet for lunch before making our way for a few hours on the bus to Amsterdam in Netherlands. 

Day 6 Netherlands - Amsterdam / Zaanse Schans

The morning began with a visit to Zaanse Schans. It was a rainy morning but the sky soon cleared when we reach the vast green fields there. There were real working fields and the air there is just so so fresh.

We made our way to this factory that sells wooden clogs and there was a demonstration also on how the clogs were made.

After that, we head to this shop that sells cheese. 

The area in Zaanse Schans, more greenery

and windmills

When all the shopping and phototaking is done, we head to this place called Volendam. It is a fishing village with nice cottages as shops. We had a little photo taking session, wearing traditional clothes that make us look like Dutch ladies and Dutch man. We went nearby for our 3 course seafood lunch.

After all the food, we head to Amsterdam where we had a city tour. The guide brought us to view the Dam Square, the Central Station and also the Royal palace. 

the dam square on the left

the Royal Palace followed by the Central station

He also took us a little walk along their red light district. And yes, there were glass panels along the shops and one will see super sexy ladies clad in bikini sitting or standing inside.

We were brought to a diamond factory, another place to "tok" tourists again. We just spent a little bit of time inside before we quickly head for our canal cruise.

That night, it was a Hongkong style dinner and guess what, everyone really enjoy the food. Days of ang moh food for the old folks are just too much to bear. My dad even tabao the roast duck so that he can have it for supper that night.

Day 7 Netherlands - Belgium - Frace / Amsterdam / Brussels / Paris

This morning, we made our way to Brussels in Belgium. We visited the famous market square, town hall and view the renowned Manneken Pis - thr pee pee boy. I bought quite an amount of chocolates there too.

We went to Paris after our Chinese lunch. It was heavy traffic when we are about to reach. I guess security was very tight these few days. Paris was closed at the borders for the past few days due to the shooting and it was finally opened yesterday.   

Day 8 France - Paris

We went to Eiffel tower on that morning, security was tight and there were two long queues.  We queued like almost an hour before we entered Eiffel tower.

 The views of Paris from the Eiffel tower

After that we went to somewhere further to take a shot of the whole tower instead. And dropped by to take a shot of the Arc de Triumph

Following that, we went to see  Place de la Concorde and the Opera House.

After lunch, we went to Montmarte. There were police patrolling the area and bags are checked when we enter the place. 

Going for the river cruise and signs of Autumn

The last night was spent on the Seine for a river cruise and the best shot was the Eiffel tower at night, showing the colours of the France flag. 

 Along the Seine River

Eiffel Tower at night

Day 9 Paris 

The last day of the trip was a shopping trip at Galleries Lafayette. It is a big shopping mall with alot of branded goods. Apparantly it's visited by many tourists, there is a big customer care centre that attends to tourists and a big counter for tax refunds. 

I did not really take any photos ad I am too busy with shopping for last minute branded stuff, did not buy alot either. Just a Furla bag that is more my style. I am not exactly a brand conscious person. And that is the end of my first Europe trip.

There may be obstacles along the way but I felt safety is something I should really thank God for. Everything still went on as planned. I am glad the folks enjoy. Praise the lord for the trip! :)