What I did and saw: Castillo de Santa Barbara- The Castillo de Santa Barbara is visible from almost anywhere in Alicante from its hilltop position. I had a very nice walk to top to visit the castle. Once I made my way up I had a picnic with beautiful views of the water. To get down from the castle I took the "ascensor al castillo de santa barbara" down to the Playa del Postiguet. Explanada de España- There is a nice promenade to walk along the river. This waterfront walking area is known as the Explanada de España. There are also many tent shops set up along the way. Mushroom Street- On San Francisco Street there a number of large mushrooms have been built along the street. It is a fun area to walk through, and there are many shops and cafes/bars/restaurants situated along the street. Playa de San Juan- Playa de San Juan is a very nice, sand beach. It provides beautiful views of both the water and the hillside. It is slightly outside of downtown so I took tram to get there. Mercado Central- The central market in Alicante offers a wide range of food like vegetables, seafood, meats, and cheeses. Las Escaleritas del Jorge Juan- Las Escaleritas del Jorge Juan are a set up stairs that offer some very nice views of Alicante from the top. Rambla de Mendez Nunez- The Rambla de Mendez Nunez is one of the main streets in Alicante. It is a nice place to walk down, and offers many places to eat and drink. I stopped at the beautiful Plaza Portal de Elche along the Rambla as well. Plaza de Gabriel Miro- Plaza de Gabriel Miro is a very pretty plaza with a lot of bars and resturants. Where I ate and drank: Sip and Wonder Coffee House- Sip and Wonder is an excellent coffee shop. It was great to find high quality coffee and a cool evironment. They provide great service and also serve a nice food menu. Beershooter- Beershooter is a nice craft beer store sells a wide range of local and international craft beer. La Piazza- La Piazza is a nice little restaurant next to the St. Nicholas of Bari Cathedral of Alicante. The paella (which was invented in nearby Albufara in the Valencia area) was very good, as was the wine. Baru Coffee- Baru Coffee is another great new coffee place in Alicante. From my understanding, craft coffee is a fairly new thing in the Alicante area, but Baru and Sip and Wonder are two great examples of the growth of quality coffee in the area. Baru also serves a great food menu. Heladeria Borgonesse- As I've written before, if I am going to eat something unhealthy it better be worth it. The ice cream dish I had at Heladeria Borgonesse was well worth it. It was one of the tastiest things I have ever eaten. I was not able to get a picture of it because it was eaten so fast. I recommend trying out this historic place if you are in Alicante. Tribeca- Tribeca is a cool, alternative pub that serves hamburgers. They have some cool tattoo-style wall art hanging up around the place as well. Where I stayed: X Hostel Alicante- X Hostel Alicante was a nice, average hostel. The staff were very friendly and helpful, but the facilities could use an update. It would also be nice to have curtains on the beds. Alicante Flats- Alicante Flats was an excellent place to stay. It is well located near the Rambla de Mendez Nunez, and the facilities were very clean and comfortable. However, you do need to set up a check in time prior to checking in. Old Centre Inn Alicante- Old Centre Inn was not the best place I have stayed, but it was a good enough hostel for a night. How I got around: I arrived in Alicante via train from the Barcelona area. Once in Alicante I walked to get around, with the exception of taking the tram to Playa de San Juan. My favorite thing:
There are many things to like about Alicante. There are nice beaches, excellent coffee spots, and it was not overcrowded with tourists the way many major European cities tend to be. My least favorite thing: While it has many great things to offer, Alicante does not have quite as much to offer as some of the larger European cities. For next time: Next time I would like to go in the summer when I could fully enjoy the beaches.
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What I did and saw: Snowboarding- My first day “snowboarding “ would more accurately be described as falling. In retrospect it may be worth it to pay for an instructor or go with someone who could have taught me (or I could have at least watched some YouTube videos). However, I was able to get down the small hills on my second day, and it turned out to be pretty fun. Amazing views- The views in Andorra are absolutely beautiful. The sunsets and sunrises over the mountains are stunningly picturesque. Duty free shopping- Many people from Spain and France go to Andorra to shop and take advantage of the lack of taxes there (although I think it is technically not allowed to bring the items back to their home country, it seems like many people do). For bigger ticket items like jewelry and appliances this can mean a significant difference in price. I didn’t buy anything myself, but many people seemed to take advantage of the shopping opportunity. Where I ate and drank: Viena- Viena is a chain is casual restaurants that serves a mix of European food. They offer many quality, healthy options. Pi de Migdia- Pi de Migdia is a cafe located on the Grandvalira El Tarter slopes. It is a nice place to grab a cappuccino or bite to eat while taking a break from skiing or snowboarding. Due to the very convenient location the prices are slightly (though not unreasonably) higher, but there are some good food options. Where I stayed and how I got around:
I went to Andorra with the host family I was staying with at the time while teaching English in Vilanova i la Geltru. We drove there and stayed in a cabin they owned that had some amazing views. My favorite thing: My favorite thing about Andorra were the stunningly beautiful views. My least favorite thing: My least favorite thing about Andorra was the bitter cold. However, without that climate I obviously would not be able to ski or snowboard. For next time: Next time in Andorra I would like to spend more time snowboarding. The more I did it the more I improved and the more fun it became. What I did and saw: Beaches- Sitges is situated on the beautiful Mediterranean coast. It offers nice stretches of sand beaches. I spent time at Platja de la Fragata and Platja de Sant Sebastià and they were both very nice. Carnival Parade- Carnival celebrates the start of Lent, the period of time leading up to Easter. Many towns throughout Catalonia (and in many other parts of the world, especially in parts of South America) will celebrate the Carnival with a big parade. The Sitges Carnival is one of the biggest in Catalonia. Many people spend the entire year preparing for this parade. They will assemble and decorate floats, design costumes, and choreograph dances to put on a fun show. It is very interesting to see. Wandered through the city- Sitges is a beautiful seaside town. It is nice to wander through the old streets. There are often events going on in the city and are usually many different things to see. Where I ate and drank: Vita Brevis- Vita Brevia is a great coffee shop in Sitges. They have the best coffee of any place I’ve tried in Sitges. They also serve a small food menu. El Cable- El Cable serves some excellent tapas (small dishes). Some of their dishes have even won some awards as the best tapas in the area. Local- Local is a nice cafe that serves tea, wine, and tapas in a relaxed environment. La Punta- I had a delicious dinner at La Punta. The food quality was very good, but it was slightly expensive by local standards (although still inexpensive by North American standards). La Butaca Cafeteria- La Butaca is a nice cafe that serves snacks, tea, and other drinks. They also have a movie store connected to the cafe (and many people seemed to go there just for the movies). Gofras- “Gofras” is Catalan for waffles. The location serves a variety of desserts, including waffles (obviously) and crepes. Gelateria Olivier- If you are looking for very good gelato in Sitges, Gelateria Olivier is a very good option. They also offer a wide variety of flavors. Where I stayed:
I was staying with a host family in nearby Vilanova i la Geltru when I visited Sitges. How I got around: The train from Vilanova to Sitges only takes a few minutes and is only one stop away. It is also easy to access Sitges from Barcelona in under an hour. I walked to get around Sitges once I got there. My favorite thing: My favorite thing about Sitges is the beach area. Also, the town is pretty to walk through and has some nice shops and cafes. My least favorite thing: Sitges have as much to offer as major cities. However, it is very fun for a day trip. For next time: When I visited Sitges many of the museums there were closed for renovation. Next time I am in Sitges I would like to explore these museums. What I did and saw: Old Town Square- The Old Town Square is the most prominent square in Prague. It has a large historical significance and dates back to the 1100’s. Some of the major sites in and around the square are the Church of Saint Nicholas and the Astronomical clock. During the winter the Old Town Square plays host to a market and some concerts. Prague Castle- The Prague Castle is the largest castle in all of Europe. The St. Vitus Cathedral is located at the Prague Castle and is the burial place for former Czech royalty. It is the largest cathedral in Prague in terms of both size and significance. Charles Bridge- The Charles Bridge is another part of Prague with historical significance. It is a pedestrian only bridge that connects the Old Town area to the Prague Castle area. There are also numerous statues situated along the bridge Sandemans Walking Tour- As I have mentioned in previous posts, Sandemans Free Walking Tours area great way to see a city. The tour in Prague did not disappoint and provided some cultural and historical context, and also provided me with some good recommendations. I also went with Sandemans to Kutna Hora (see below). New Year’s Fireworks- I was fortunate enough to be in Prague for their New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day fireworks displays. The New Year’s Eve display was done by the local citizens, and the New Year’s Day display was done by the city. Jewish Quarter (Josefov)- The Prague Jewish Quarter, know as Josefov, is the site of the old Jewish ghetto completely surrounded by the Old Town area of Prague. Like many parts of Prague it is very historically significant and was the birthplace of the author Franz Kafka. The Jewish Museum in the Josefov area gives a glimpse into the lives of some Jews that have lived in Prague. Letna Park and Metronome- The Letna Park area offers some great views overlooking Prague and the Vltava River. When I was there the Metronome was and interesting thing to check out in the area, but I have heard metronome is no longer working. Wenceslas Square- Saint Wenceslas is the patron saint of Bohemia and the inspiration for the “Good King Wenceslas” Christmas carol. It is also the site of many demonstrations. Some of the most famous demonstrations took place during the Velvet Revolution, also known as the Gentle Revolution, when power was transferred from the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia to the Czech Republic through non-violent means. Dancing House and Kafka Monument- The Dancing House is a very uniquely shaped building that makes it appear as if it is dancing. It offers a nice terrace area that provides some nice views. You can access the terrace (and its views) for the price of any food or drink. The Franz Kafka Statue is a segmented statue of the famous author’s face that rotates to show his complete face. The “metamorphosis” aligns the panels to reveal Kafka’s face. John Lennon Wall- The John Lennon Wall is a wall covered in graffiti, many of it paying homage to the Beatles and/or John Lennon. Kutna Hora Sedlec Ossuary- The Kutna Hora Bone Chapel (Sedlec Ossuary) is one of the most unique buildings I have ever been in. A Christian family wanted to encourage people to think about the after life, so they had a church built using the bones from somewhere between 40 and 80 thousand cadavers. It is extremely interesting in a very macabre way. Where I ate and drank: Monolok Cafe, Mezi Srnky, and La Bohème Café- Monolok Cafe, Mezi Srnky, and La Bohème Café were all great places to grab breakfast and great coffee. Dos Mundos Coffee Roastery and Double B Coffee & Tea- Dos Mundos Coffee Roastery and Double B Coffee & Tea are both nice places to grab great coffee. Super Tramp Coffee- Super Tramp Coffee is a nice place to get a great coffee, beer, or snack. U Brejšku- U Brejšku is a nice place to grab a cheap, local Czeck meal. Anonymous Bar- Anonymous Bar is a cool speakeasy in Prague. The drinks are served by staff wearing Guy Fawkes “anonymous” masks. Absintherie- Absintherie is a nice place to try Absinthe from around the world made in the traditional methods. Black Angel’s Bar- Black Angel’s Bar is an awesome, chill, spot. They serve extremely high quality cocktails. Tynska Bar and Books- Tynska Bar and Books offers high quality drinks and cigars. They will also offer pairings of the two. The environment offers a good place to have a relaxed conversation. Lokál Dlouhááá- Lokál Dlouhááá is a food hall that serves local Czeck food. It is a nice place to check out some of the local fare. Sad Man’s Tongue Bar and Bistro- Sad Man’s Tongue is a cool place that offers food, drink, and great service. It is a nice place to pass some time with friends. Good Food Coffee & Bakery- Good Food Coffee & Bakery serves the Czech dessert “trdelnik” in a variety of different fashions. Strahov Monastery Brewery- The Strahov Monastery Brewery, or Klášterní pivovar Strahov is a great place to get some craft beer and good Czech food. Roesel Beer & Cake- Roesel is a new Czech place that offers tasty food and drink. Where I stayed: Post Hostel Prague- Post Hostel was a very nice place to stay in Prague. The beds were nice, and each one had privacy curtains, a reading light, a large shelf, and outlets. The rooms were larger than average, and lockers were well-sized, and the WiFi was good. It is situated about a thirty minute walk to the Old Town, but there are some cool cafes and coffee spots (see above) close to the hostel and on the way to the Old Town area. How I got around: I flew into Prague, and once in Prague I used the metro and the bus to get to my hostel. Once I was at my hostel, I walked everywhere I went in Prague with the exception of my bus trip with Sandemans to Kutna Hora. My favorite thing:
Prague has many things to offers and an immense history. With the architecture, walking around felt like I was in a movie. My favorite things were the Bohemian vibe, great coffee, and fun fireworks. My least favorite thing: I was in Prague during the winter which offered many benefits (beauty, markets, firework), but the weather was also a bit rough. Also, while Prague does offer some good food options, they don’t offer an extensive amount of variety. For next time: Next time I would like to try some more of the food and drink, and I would also like to visit more sites and museums. I would also like to go in the summer months to enjoy some of their beer gardens. Smartphones are one of my go to travel accessories. It can do a massive amount of things, and it does not take up precious space in my bag.
Maps- I can use my phone to navigate around cities by using Google Maps or Citymapper. If I didn’t have cell data I could even use offline maps and apps like Navmii. I can also use walking tour apps such as GPSmyCity. Accommodation- I have used my smartphone to book accommodation on sites like Booking.com and Hostelworld. I can also get an idea of the accommodation options for cities I am interested in visiting. Transportation- I have used apps to make transportation much easier. For public transportation I have used Google Maps, Citymapper, and local apps that list the timetables for trains and busses. I have also booked trains on apps like Loco2. I also have the ability to purchase ferries and flights through different apps. Messaging- I use my smartphone to stay in touch with family, friends, and coworkers while traveling. I use apps like WhatsApp, Facebook messenger, and texting to communicate. Library- I have an entire library at my fingertips with my smartphone. I don’t have space in my bag to bring sets of bookshelves, but through apps like the Kindle store I can read a wide variety of books on my smartphone. Podcasts- I routinely listen to podcasts while traveling. I can listen online, but usually I download episodes to listen offline. This allows me to continue listening even when I am on planes or in any area where I do not have cell phone service. Watch Videos- I can also watch videos on my smartphone. I can use app like Netflix or YouTube to make plane rides, train rides, and other transportation seemingly fly by. Travel ideas- I can also use my smartphone to get travel ideas by reading blogs or other travel websites. I can also use apps like Trip Advisor or Google Maps to see what is good to eat/see/do/try in whatever area I am in. I can also look for flights using Google Flights or Momondo. Camera- I use my smartphone as my camera and take photos and videos of my travels. My phone will even save the areas I took my photos on a map. Wallet- I can use my smartphone to store boarding passes, which saves me the need to print them. I can also use apps to pay for things like food with my phone, which keeps me from need to print and sign receipts. Organization- My smartphone is one of the main things I use to keep myself organized. I can access my schedule, calendar, to-do list, shopping list, and other reminders on my phone. I can also use budgeting apps to keep my finances organized. Additionally, I can view my travel itineraries on the TripIt app. Clock- I use the clock on my phone in lieu of a watch. It also use it as a stopwatch and an alarm. Flashlight- I use my smartphone as a flashlight, which can come in handy when staying in hostels. My phone can do all this and more, and it can fit easily in my pocket or backpack. I keep mine in a lifeproof case to make sure I can keep using it. It is a great way to make traveling easier. |
About MeWelcome to the Healthy Explorer Blog. If you like travel stories have a look around my blog and check out my podcast— maybe you'll find an extra spark for your own adventures.
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