On 31 December, we woke up early and drove up from Hamburg, Germany to Puttgarden and took the ferry Scandlines to Robdyhavn..It takes about 45 mins and inside the ferry, there are duty-free shop and cafes for us to kill the time..There is another Japanese on the ferry! what's the Asian doing here??!! lol.. well,im not the only Asian then : (
After 45 mins, we drive out from the ferry and head towards Copenhagen, Denmark.
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| Ferry ride |
About an hour drive, we finally arrived at Copenhagen, Denmark around noon. Head to Burger King for lunch and almost got a heart attack. Everyone told me how expensive Denmark will be prior my trip and the standard of living is so much higher compared to Singapore and even the rest of west Europe. The meal over there is S$13.15 for normal size burger meal. I was cursing while eating because S$13.15 in Singapore can even order nuggets and upsize meal!!!!!!! lol
Anyway, head to tourist office and bought the Copenhagen card (48 hours card which allows free public transport and free admission to 72 attractions). Its only Eur 65 for 48 hours unless you behave like a child, you may get away with just Eur 34. It was very very cold in Copenhagen. Around -1 degree but feel like -10 with the wind. Imagine the wind penetrate inside your body after 3 layers. its no joke!
After getting the card, we check in to the hotel and sleep! after 3 hours of power nap, the sky already turn dark(Copenhagen sun set around 4pm). We headed for dinner quickly because it's new year eve! Went to nyhavn for dinner. All the restaurants were either fully booked or came up with "new year's" menu with exorbitant prices. We managed to find a pizza restaurant and had fish and chips there. Its still cost me S$50 for fish and chips and lime soda. Went to Tivoli as my German travel buddy has been eyeing this theme park.. Tivoli is a theme park like Disneyland with rides and palaces around. However, the Copenhagen card only include the free entrance and not the ride. So you have to pay if you want to play. At 10pm, everyone gathered in front of the palace and witness the fireworks! The 5 mins fireworks really bring up the new year's eve atmosphere and filled everyone up to welcome 2015.
After that, we left the theme park as it was packed with people. The whole street of Copenhagen is like a war zone. Fireworks everywhere and every corner. Sometimes, with loud explosion. It was really scary for me as Singapore does not allow fireworks to be accessible to the public. No doubt, it was beautiful to see the residents lighting up the fireworks to welcome the year, i guess sometimes the safety are compromise. Our plan is to mix in the crowd because some idiots/drunkards might just throw the firecrackers towards you and scare the shit out of you as many of them were holding champagne and beer bottles. As recommended by the guide, we stationed ourselves at Town Hall at 11.50pm and join the rest of them to countdown for the year.. When the clock strikes 12am, the whole city was amazing crazy! fireworks after fireworks after fireworks and the city was light up like the morning. It was scary and happy for us at the same time. lol. Happy new year!
After 20 mins, we then headed to club and spent another 1.5 hours there to find a shelter because the streets were just filled with people and firecrackers/ fireworks and rubbish..i guess i dont have to mention the price of the liquor in the club. Wanted to go back to our rooms after 1.30am but we only managed to return back to our rooms after 2.30am because we went to the wrong hotel! YES! There are 2 hotels with the same name but 30 mins walk apart. Google map pick up the wrong branch :(
1 Jan - Happy New Year! Headed to 7-11 to grab coffee and join the 10.30am canal tour. Our tour guide is amazing. Cute Danish girl and share quite alot of insight of Copenhagen to us. The 1 hour canal tour and will pass the Copenhagen Opera House, Amalienborg Palace, Christiansborg Palce, the impressive Black Diamond library, and, of course, the Little Mermaid.
After the tour, we headed to the little mermaid, Christiansborg palace and Den Bla planet (aquarium) which is very near to Copenhagen international airport. The night falls quickly and sleep straightaway after the dinner.
2 Jan - Went to Rosenborg Slot, some palace, some churches and Rundetaarn. I managed to do some shopping around the townhall area where is a shopping heaven. Gotten Lego for my nephews and H&M shirt for myself. Its the last night in Copenhagen and reward myself with salmon steak for the dinner. It is not cheap.lol
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| Tivoli |
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| Fireworks at townhall |
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| Prince charming in the boat ride |
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| Denmark flag |
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| Nvhavn |
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| Little mermaid..where's the crab? |
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| Den Bla Planet |
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| Round tower |
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| Its fucking scary to stand on top of this. look hot high round tower is |
3 Jan - The sky was still dark. Woke up at 6.15am. It was raining heavily and we have to check out and head south to Hanover, Germany. As it will be a 6 hours drive, we have no choice but to drag ourselves up away from the bed. The connecting bridge from east Denmark to west Denmark was beautiful. The heavy rain and strong wind makes it more challenging to drive. After 6 hours, we arrived safely at Hanover airport around 1pm to catch our flight at 2.55pm to Frankfurt.
Basically was just walking from one plane to another plane at Frankfurt airport to catch our connecting flight to Venice, Italy.
The flight was delayed due to snowing in Frankfurt. Its an hour flight and i slept in the plane for an hour and i'm still at Frankfurt. lol..I think the flight got delayed almost 1.5 hours and finally arrived at Venice around 7pm. Grab the Venezia Unica city pass and Venice card. As i am under 30 years old, i managed to purchase the card at Eur 29.90, while my friend paid for Eur 39,90 for being over 30 years old. ( i know you will kill me if you read this..lol) Anyway, i save Eur 10..lol
I have been looking forward to Venice because we heard so much things about Venice. Moreover, it's the only 4* hotels for my whole Europe trip at a very reasonable price. We even got upgraded to suites and i feel like a king in Venice. Or Prince Jun..lol .
I have pizza for dinner. how boring i know!
4 Jan - Perfect weather! Sunny day and out and about! Took the water bus to San Marco and the whole boat ride was like dreaming. I remember i have to slap his face to ascertain that we are not dreaming. lol. Venice is so beautiful. As i have mentioned before, pictures tell a thousand words, maybe more words in Venice. Pardon my vocab and grammar, the whole place is amazing and breath-taking. Splendid view with colourful building by the water. Gondolas passing by you and goods unloading from the boat, the city with no a sight of a single car. Fucking amazing! and with that, you know you are in Venice!
After reaching San Marco,head to the Doge's palace..I bet they have the most beautiful ceiling and wall paintings than anywhere else in the world! After that, went to St Mark Basilica to have the rooftop view of St Mark's square. We spent the other half of the day sleeving through like walking in the maze. There are so many alleys just like walking in a big maze and different alleys you can find different shops, restaurants, residences and cafes.
We took the water bus around the whole island to make our money worth well :)
5 Jan - First thing in the morning, i called my mum up and wish her happy birthday because we were 7 hours apart. It's kind of sweet to hear my mum voice after 2 weeks...awwww... After breakfast, My friend and i vowed to conquer Venice. We went to San Marco again and went up to the bell tower. The weather was perfect and can even see Alps from there. At the bell tower, you can have panorama view of the whole city. After that, took the water boat to across the island and continue conquering the churches. As there is a saying, a hungry man is an angry man.. i was grumpy and hungry and thankfully, we found a nice pizza restaurant to ease my mood.
We continue to explore the rest of the churches in Venice. I think we went to 5 different churches/cathedrals which makes me very holy and sin"less" i guess. All the churches are very different and worth to walk in and look at the glass window, ceiling and the designs. We even had gelato ice-cream and coffee along the way!
After the whole day of excursion, we continue to conquer Venice Casino just like James Bond in Casino Royale. We put on our best outfit and turn our underwear inside out (im kidding, im not sure about My friend) and put our head up high as we march into the Casino Di Venezia, the first gaming house in Italy and Europe. You have to rent a suit to get in and Eur 5 for admission.
After 1.5 hours, we lost Eur 100 to the slot machines. But at least we have fun there through out the night.
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| 4 stars view |
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| Rialto Bridge (most popular bridge) |
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| Small alley for gondolas |
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| what a view! Venice |
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| Doge's Palace |
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| St Mark Basilica |
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| This is not "wood"bridge |
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| The place where suck our $ away |
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| Night view |
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| St Mark's square |
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| Bell tower |
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| The ice cream girl was giggling when i got mint and chocolate for my ice cream. Is it a weird combination? |
6 Jan - We bid goodbye and we are heading separate ways. He left for airport while i am heading to Rome myself by the train..after 4 hours, finally arrived at Roma termini..
It's no joke at all! Rome is full of pickpockets and really a lot of them. I was searching around the termini for the Roma pass, I was followed by this girl and keep asking whether I need any help. I told her I don't need and keep following me.. Finally I gotten my Roma pass at the candy shop and head to the metro station. While heading down to the escalator, I was being followed by another 2 men.. Obviously they were targeting me because they just stood at the escalator and when they saw me, they stand behind of me quickly. I was alert at all times (maybe I'm used to be a policeman) and I walked very fast to get rid of them. The story didn't end. I board the train and the next min, I saw one lady put her hand on the other lady handbag..and trying to pickpocket her...I was really sweating the whole time because I have all the cash on me and I don wan to be their target. And worst of all, I'm alone..the whole 35 mins train ride was scary to me..
Finally. I arrived at Baludina and saw my landlord waiting for me at the train station..I was relieved...
After checking in, I went to Spagna..apparently is a shopping paradise..all the brands you name it will be there...had dinner there before climbing up the Spanish steps to the top..
7 Jan - I woke up early and head to colosseum.. Roma pass allows one free entrance to colosseum.. I spent 2 hours taking pictures and reading the history of this amphitheater..
Beside the colosseum, i went over to the Palatine Hill.. The whole place was huge and I spent 3 hours over there walking and reading ...I highly recommend to visit both places especially Palatine Hill but you must like Greek history and culture..a lot of intense reading and walking and I'm half dead after only half a day..I spent the next half of the day visiting Vantican city. The smallest nation in the world! And have to pay €16 to get in..highly recommended to get audio guide or tour guide.. Which unlike me, i walked through the whole museum without really understand what's happening beside knowing its a very holy place :)
The highlight of the museum is Sistine Chapel.. The painting on the wall and ceiling were amazing and it's a shame that no camera is allowed..they are very very strict on that. I spent 2 hours walking through the museum searching for the exit. I'm not Catholic and neither i am cultured enough to understand the history.blame myself should study more in the past :) had an awful chinese dinner at Baludina to end my evening .
Palatine hill
Vantican city museum
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| Pope Ride |
8 Jan - woke up early again and head to piazza to meet the tour guide.. Together with some guys, we signed up the one day Pompeii tour (€140).. Meet up around 7.30am, spent next 3 hours to Naples. Our guide is pretty entertaining and share with us a lot of history and culture of Italy..after 3 hours, we finally arrived at Pompeii and another guide took us for the next 2 hours explaining the background of the place and sightseeing along the street..the place was destroyed after a volcano erupted and it was covered in ashes..It's a must see place when you are in Rome.
Subsequently, we have pizza for lunch.. Not the fancy pizza..only 3 types of pizzas to choose from..tomato based or cheese based.. Pretty nice and crunchy bread/ dough at the side.the tour continue to a museum after that before taking us another 3 hours to drive back to Rome..we only reach Rome around 7pm and I was so tired after the whole day.
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| Pompeii |
9 Jan - Took the train to Repubblica Teatro d. Opera to do some shopping.. There are some museum about history of Rome which you may drop by. Then, i went over to Trastevere and also a little island beside the town. This place is highly recommended by our tour guide from the other day. So i went to check it out. It is not a tourist place and as such, the prices there for the food and drinks are pretty reasonable. There are a church and street market along the way. Pretty quiet yet an interesting town to check it out. Is a short walk (20mins) from Colosseum station and along the way, there are some interesting museums too! In the evening, went to a romantic restaurant which is on the hilltop of montemario.. Perfect view for the whole of Rome. Of course, it will be slightly pricier but worth to pay a visit. The food there was ok.. The night didnt just end there. We took a cab down to the bar and club...I barely remember we went to a club which is 3 levels high with thousands of people...The club was amazing with different theme in every level..We end the night at 4am.... totally drunk and im glad i have my friends who took care of me and took me home safely...lol
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| Repubblica |
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| Back view of Palatine Hill |
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| The island |
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| Hilltop view |
Jan 10 - Hangover, woke up very late and went over to Trastevere again to visit the church and walk along the flea market. Rush to Spagna station again to do last minute shopping as it was my last weekend in Europe. Calling my friends and colleagues around 11pm or midnight (which is 4pm Rome time) at Singapore time to confirm their orders...lol..Also rushing to get my niece princess clothes and nephews toys...The night falls quickly around 5pm and i head home and prepare the last final party evening in Europe. lol..
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| Tratsevere |
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| Drinking at the club next to Colosseum |
Jan 11 - My final day in Rome and Europe. I went over to Vantican city again and realised that it was closed due to Sunday service. Went over to St Peter's Basilica and realised it was long quene getting in. Been lazy to quene up, i went over to Trevi fountain and make a wish. This is a must see in your itinerary in Rome. Unfortunately, Trevi fountain was under major renovation/ refurbishment. However, this means that i can even get closer to the sculpture because they made a temporary walk way to get close up view of the fountain. I made a wish there and apparently it came true the moment i went back to work (i got promoted at work!!..yeah) Visited the rest of the items in my list before i ended up with Gelato ice-cream to end my Italy trip...
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| St Peter's Basilica |
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| Trevi Fountain |
