THE JETSETTER DIARY

Disclaimer: not a journal about falling in love with a boy but a rather a diary to share my 16 secret adventures in the 16 European cities I fell in love with..

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We were en route to Kraków, Poland and how did we get there you might ask? No, that is not a very tiny Airbnb. We decided to take a sleeper train. First, the sleeper train converts to only $50. We were going from Vienna to Kraków which is a 10 hour train ride. My friend and I chose a double room so it was just us. There is one bunkbed, a sink, mirror, towels, hangers, storage space and each bed has sheets and a pillow. You can even order food or drinks and as you can see we celebrated our trip with a small bottle of champagne. There were policemen that walked up and down the hallway which provided a sense of comfort to me. There is one bathroom at the end of each hallway. The beds are fine but what got me was the noise of the train. You are given little care packages which include ear plugs. I did not sleep that much however, it was certainly a fun, safe and memorable adventure.

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So far, I have only shared with you my favorite part of every city I visited. But, I am here to share with you the endless hype around Brunch & Cake should not end. We waited for about 30 minutes to get a table. Their food is very extravagant and colorful. I ordered an acai bowl and was pretty disappointed. Everyone will tell you to go here, but I do not think its worth the wait. I would head towards the area but choose another place to eat. Yeah, you will get a great insta, but everything is picture perfect in Barcelona so do not waste your time here. 

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When in Rome you have to visit a winery in Tuscany. My boyfriend and I went to Fattoria Corzano e Paterno, a farm located in San Casciano Val di Pesa which is in between Florence and Siena. We had an incredible tour of the winery which included a look into the production room, a tasting with several white and red wines and bread and cheeses as well as time to explore ourselves. There were animals on the property and a beautiful garden. You look out and there are miles and miles of vineyards.  

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Paper Island in Copenhagen is Smorgasburg on steroids! The city finally built a pedestrian bridge allowing visitors to get to Paper Island more efficiently. Once inside, it will be extremely packed but take the time to visit every food stand. My sister and I got mojitos, strawberry and lime, a falafel bowl and and an egg sandwich. We devoured it all so I recommend climbing up The Round Tower to get a awesome view of Copenhagen and to maybe shed a few pounds.  

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Oh my goulash! The christmas markets in Vienna are unreal. I never heard that Prague is known for their food, but they are definitely famous for their christmas markets and let me just say you will eat your way through them. There are many many markets to go to so I advise googling “Vienna Christmas Markets.” I had goulash for the first time in a bread bowl and I am obsessed. There is also the most delicious hot chocolate sold in christmas mugs. Along with lots of food and gifts, you will find an ice skating rink as well as rides. It truly is a winter wonderland. 

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So, after withdrawing 129,863.36 HUF (500 USD) and freaking the f out, we managed to “return” the money and explore Budapest. The Fishermans Bastion is my favorite spot. Do not be lazy and definitely walk to it. You will be able to see more of the city. Once you make it up there, you will be invested in the Bastion’s architecture. There is a beautiful view of the Pest side and Parliament. 

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Ojalá is located in Malasaña, which is my favorite area in Madrid. The bottom floor is a “beach bar.” I have certainly never seen anything like it. The floor is covered in sand and several benches with cushions. You can enjoy drinks and even a casual dinner. It is a unique, funky and go-to spot for groups of friends. 

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Munich, Germany is truly a beautiful city. To be honest, I was hesitant to explore it. I absolutely loved climbing the Peters tower. It is only 1.50 euros to climb and there is also a student discount. There are many many stairs and the walk up is pretty cramped. However, the view is awesome. You will get a great view of the city hall. 

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Drive to Positano and take a boat to the Amalfi Coast.. you won’t regret it. Before getting on the boat, explore Positano a bit. There you’ll find the picturesque cliffs with houses on top of one another. There are tons of stores and restaurants. I recommend going to a shoe store where you buy customs sandals for no more than 50 euros. Once you hit the Amalfi Coast, grab a panini and sit on the beach. Also, don’t forget to visit the cathedral! Sit on the steps and eat gelato. 

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Want to have a glass of wine while looking at Rome’s skyline? You’re in luck because Les Etoiles is a panoramic roof garden restaurant giving you delicious food and drinks with the best view of the city. Drinks are a tad bit pricey, however you are paying for incredible service, clean and classy atmosphere and a direct shot of the Vatican. Prosecco, is there cheapest drink, and it is 9 euros. There are tables and couches to relax at. If it is cold, the first level has roof over it with heaters. I advise you to go for aperitivo so you are there for the sunset.  

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If you want to go to a park in Rome, everyone will tell you to go to Villa Borghese. In my opinion, the park is not as impressive and grand as people say it is. After googling around, I found out about Villa Doria Pamphili. It was designed around 1650 for Prince Camillo Pamphili. It is actually the largest park in Rome and I would say the most beautiful. You’ll come across Casino del Bel Respiro (the large building in the left photo) and giardino segreto (secret garden) right in front of the Casino. Walk down the stairs and wonder to the right, you’ll find ancient statues and fountains. There is even a chapel still standing. I recommend following the bike path. The landscape is breathtaking you are guaranteed to find some incredibly old artifacts. 

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After you hit the John Lennon wall and take an hour to get the perfect photo in front of your sorority letters (SMH), I highly recommend visiting a tea house in Prague, in particular čajovna u zlatého kohouta (The Golden Rooster). It is tucked away in a courtyard just off the bustling streets of The Old Town Square. The teahouse is quaint and comfortable. You feel like you are in your grandmas home. The owner, a young women who makes the teas from scratch in her kitchen, is extremely gracious and hospitable. The menu features over a hundred varieties of green tea, black tea, oolong, rooibus, mate, herb teas, and many more. One teapot is about $4 so definitely order a couple types. We told the owner we enjoy black teas and she offered to make a variation of a chai tea just for us. We spent about two hours there, chit chatting and trying several delicious teas. 

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Sardinia, an island off of Italy, is one of the most breathtaking places. We visited Olbia, a city in Sardinia directly across from Rome. The flight from Rome to Olbia was 20 minutes. It is a pretty quiet island. There many houses tucked away behind trees and lavish resorts on the beach. 

We had the opportunity to horseback ride on the beach. We arrived at a family own stable located really in the middle of no where. We rode our horses down a dirt path and behind many bushes was a beautiful lagoon. 

There is not many tourist attractions in Olbia, so we found it surprising that we could horse back ride for an hour in the ocean for only 40 euros. 

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I don’t have to convince you the Eiffel Tower is one of the most beautiful structures but, I would not recommend spending money to go up it. The best view is the one where the tower is in it. Go to the restaurant inside the Tour Montparnass (The tallest and ugliest building in Paris). I would order the continental breakfast. 

The Eiffel Tower lights up for five minutes on the hour. In the summer, the twinkling begins at 10 p.m. and in the winter, it begins at 5 p.m. I highly advice you to take a boat cruise at night to see the best view of the structure sparkling not once but twice during the expedition. 

The Christian Dior exhibition at Musee des Arts Decoratifs recently ended. Though it had incredible archives and the exhibition brought to life the Netflix documentary “Dior and I,” it was very disorganized. The museum has a new exhibition called “Les années Hermès” which will run from March 22nd to September 2, 2018. The exhibition highlights Martin Margiela’s iconic pieces he created during his time as head designer of Hermès. 

Le marais reminded me a lot of Soho. It is a district in Paris where designer boutiques are meshed with quaint building and historic architecture. There are the cutest cafes and eventually you will hit the flagship stores for Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Musee des Arts Decoratifs. 

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Venice, Italy is beautiful yet a bizarre environment to comprehend. It a quaint town with its fair share of tourist attractions. I would recommend to stay on the same side as the train station if you want a charming and less crowded experience of the city.

You will find local restaurants and residents taking their boats out to travel a couple houses down. There are authentic shops tucked away in winding streets. Trattoria Dona Onesta is set right on the canal. I went there for lunch and enjoyed the most delicious Lasagna. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: There is really no need to pay 100 euros for a gondola ride. Take the water taxi for a couple euros to see the whole city. 

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Ciao Firenze! 

I had three days to discover the breathtaking city of Florence. It may be a relatively small and walkable city, but time flies when you’re drinking an espresso at one cafe, then having a glass of wine at another and stopping at each shop to admire the authentic Italian leather bags and shoes. Yes, I recommend visiting the David and the always impressive Duomo. But, I would like to share with you the must do’s that may not be listed on Yelp or TripAdvisor.

At around 5 o’clock when it is time for aperitivo, head towards Santa Maria Novella and you stumble upon Hotel Croce di Malta. Take the elevator up to the rooftop and enjoy a delicious glass of wine for €7 or a bottle for €30. The views are spectacular!