Rome, Italy

Welcme to Vatican City and Rome

This is the final destination of my European Escapade. My intention is to save it (so I’ll remember the places I’ve been) and share them to my friends.

July 16 – 19, 2008

Basilica S. Pietro

(I’m so excited! I thought i’ll be here in my retirement, well, just expect the unexpected!

Musei Vaticani

(kita ba butas ng ilong namin hahahaha)

Piazza del Popolo

Fontana di Trevi

Foro Traiano

Colloseo @ Night

Colloseo

Palatino

Castel Sant’ Angeleo

Ara Coeli

Santa Maria Maggiore

Santa Maria degli Angeli @ Repubblica Metro

Piazza delia Repubblica

San Gionvanni Laterano

Train to RomeAirport to Amsterdam, plane from Amsterdam to Bangkok

Nice to be back in Taipei!

See, the evidence of my two weeks vacation… I gained weight a lot!

Madrid, Spain

Madrid, Spain

July 13, Sunday

We arrived in Madrid Barajas Airport @ 13:30 (2 hours flight from Paris). As soon as we arrived, (being a Filipino)I immediately grasped the signs around…

 

The place is full of church (like every corner has one!). Aside from churches, there’s nothing much to see, except their plazas and museums. Maybe out of Madrid, like Santiago or Barcelona, we even thought of watching bull fight, but tickets were sold ahead of time (at least a month)!

see the churches’ steeple

plaza del sol and plaza de espana

the famous plaza mayor

with classmates Melinda (Romania) and Sophia (Taiwan)

@ Centro de Arte Reina Sofia

(alala ko si Jose Rizal with that street light)

looking at these “still act”, life, indeed, is hard…

need to be talented in order to earn…

What I enjoyed most was their food…hmmm….

Think of “paella” (the authentic taste), churos dip in cocoa (chocolate)…

and the like!

yum… yum…yum…

ham museum and restaurant

The only thing I didn’t try is “creo diaz”… since there’s a story about this, I will never, never look for it next time…

( I already told the story to some of you he-he-he).

 

Paris, France

 

PARIS

 

Parade down the Champs Elysees Avenue…

 

Art masterpieces in the Louvre Museum…

Ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower…

Imagine eating in a famous sidewalk Café…

Seine River boat ride!

FRANCE

Famous Fashion in Galeries Lafayette…

  

Ride to the Ferris wheel to see view…

Arc de Triomphe at the end of the avenue…

Notre Dame is a must to see….

Concorde, what a history…

Exciting and expensive vacation!

 

 

Budapest, Hungary

Buda & Pest

This is about my summer vacation in Europe (1st destination). Sophia (Taiwanese classmate) departed Taipei @ 19:30 via KLM to Budapest, Hungary. It was tiring, we waited 5 hours (+2 hours delayed) in Amsterdam for the connecting flight. After 19 hours, we arrived in Budapest around 15:00 the following day! We met Melinda (Romanian classmate) and her mom.

 Hungary is in Central Europe and its capital is Budapest is divided by a river. Buda lies on the plains while Pest is more hills.

Since photos speak louder than words, here are some of them to share:

July 7, the arrival/meeting – Sophia, Melinda, and yours truly!

the apartment we stayed – if you watch the film “American Rapsody”,

their setting was similar like this one

First meal of the day, potatoes, potatoes, and potatoes… and big servings too!

+ Romanian traditional homemade cookies from Mama!

.

Second day, July 8 – time to explore the city

From Astoria Metro to The Parliament,and walk around places. ..

At the Fishermen’s Bastion, overlooking Pest.

Crossing the famous Chain Bridge that connects Buda & Pest, lunch@ famous sidewalk cafe’.

July 9 @ Hungarian National Musem

walk around from Pest to Buda, then Buda to Pest… whew!

Lunch and brought souvenirs in indoor market.

My Hungarian/Romanian Mama and sistah!

Unforgettable lunch, like good for 4 persons + famous apple pie.

Budapest @ Night

.

July 10, we left Budapest @ 07:00 to Paris.

Exploring England

“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life, For there is in London all that life can afford.”

– Dr. Samuel Johnson 1707-1784

 

March 26We left Newry County, Northern Ireland by1 pm for Heathrow London. We stayed here in the newly opened Travelodge in Terminal 5.

Coincidence, they open the Terminal 5, the following day… and it was in the news all over London how messy it was!

The first thing we did, we visited and studied the London Underground, known as the “tube”. It’s the oldest metro system in the world, built in 1863. It will connect to 270 stations in greater London. We often get the off peak ticket, cheaper and can use for a day, no matter how many times you take the tube.

We had dinner at one of the Chinese Restaurant, no choice! hahaha!

 

March 27

We went to Taiwan Representative Office for Fed’s visa (back in Taiwan), near Buckingham Palace. Just right in front of their office is Victoria Train Station, it’s one of the starting point of “Hop on Hop off Tour” for city sightseeing. It’s also included Thames River Cruise. Ticket is also valid 24 hours.It was sunny, windy, and chilly! Here are some photos taken on that day:

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Westminster Abbey

St. Margaret’s Church

Big Ben – sign post for the Houses of Parliament

Tower of London

Tower Bridge (known as London Bridge)

British Airways London Eye

@ Travalgar Square

March 28

It was raining, we hop around in some places like Buckingham Palace, Leicester Square, British Museum (closed that day!), and just went to Harrods (one of the famous stores). We bought snacks, chocolates, and some fruit teas. A very expensive place!

Fed wanted to watch Lion King or Wicked ( tickets sold out!)

March 29 Outside London

First, head southwest of London is Windsor Castle (the official residences of the Queen), and said to be continuously occupied for nearly 1000 years.

 

 

 

Second stop was the mysterious Stonehenge in Salisbury plains, the most popular prehistoric monument in the world, constructed 5,000 years ago.

We had lunch in one of a typical English bar/restaurant called Churchill. Fed had his baked lamb liver, and I had baked fish and chips.

Lastly, we visited Bath, a Georgian city, and also entered the Roman Baths.

March 30

Back to Taipei! We arrived here the following day!

That’s our UK Tour, unforgettable experience!!! Special thanks to Mars for helping us in our London itirinary! You’re the best sis!

 We’ll be back, but we need to save again he-he!

 

 

Welcome to Scotland

  

March 23 

Easter Sunday, after the usual breakfast (toast or cereal), we decided to go to Church first, we’ve been looking for one,

 and luckily just in front of Holiday Inn Express were we stayed is St. Mary’s Metropolitan Cathedral.

Fed and Sarah infront of the cathedral

 

The mass started 11 a.m., a little bit early so we went to the top of hill first and took some shots. Here some of them:

 

Overview of the whole Edinburgh City

very chilly

vey romantic ba?

 

 

After mass, we had Italian food for lunch (remember: no authentic food in UK except fish and chips hahahaha!), there the three of us celebrated the new beginning.

 

 

In the afternoon, we took city sightseeing tour bus known as “hop on, hop off bus” to visit attractions with guide, describing the history and culture of the city (as if we’re listening, I was busy snapping hahaha) for almost an hour. Actually, the ticket was valid 24 hours, we still used it the following day on our way to Edinburgh Castle.

 

look at the sign – to let (for rent)

 

some photos

with my sistah-in-law, Sarah

with my one and only, asawa… he-he-he!

At night, we went to The Royal Yatch Britannia (sad they were closed), instead we just watched movie (film pala dito! and no elevator, “lift” hahaha!),

I can’t even remember the title, I was sleeping!

March 24

We just explore Edinburgh Castle, shopping and hopping, and enjoying the snow…. Here we are:

@ Edinburgh Castle

 

inside the castle

 

 

it’s raining, it’s snowing… and we’re enjoying…

The following day, 5 a.m. we’re off to Newry County, Northern Ireland for overnight stay in Sarah’s place. We met some of her friends and co-nurses… explore her place… I heard the sun never show up in there…

Enjoy the rest of the slides….

 

In Northern Ireland

March 20

 Hubby and Wifey left Taipei (transit to Hongkong, another transit to London) via Cathay Pacific to Northern Ireland. It was a long flight, so when we reach London I got motion sickness hahaha! (from plane turbulance).

 

 March 21  

 

@ Queens University

@ Botanical Garden ( that’s Sarah, one and only sistah!)

syempre, eto naman ang papa hahahaha!

 

March 22

Sarah treated us to a day trip to Giants Causeway, mostly Northern Ireland is full of hills, fields, and water…

there we stayed in the bus most of the time before we reach our destination.

 

 

 Full coastal road from Belfast, first stop was CARRICKFERGUS CASTLE

 (ala lang just for photo stop)

 Second stop “CARRICK-A-REDE ROPEBRIDGE” (no way, it was windy!)

 

Look at those rocks, properly arranged by nature???

the highlights of the tour… known as “the eight wonder of the world”

Giant Causeway, Irelands only World Heritage Site.

 

Last, we moved on tot he world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery.

 

Ok, those are little irish luck (key chanin with real leaf clover)

given to us by Fed… told him to buy for us… hahahaha!

We’re back at Belfast City around 7:30 pm

and off to Edinburgh, Scotland! (we almost miss our flight!)

 

 

Anyways, we arrived 8 a.m. met my sister-in-law Sarah (nurse) and showed us some places to visit in Belfast City (she lives in Newry, an hour away). Here are some captured moments:

in front of Holiday Inn Express (we stayed overnight)

sobrang excited, di pa nakaka-check in hahahaha!

with Sarah

 

 

   

 

iIf you’ve noticed, the weather… sunny, rainy, windy and chilly!

ginaw nako, naglalaro pa to!

 

Hongkong Ocean Park

Day 3 (June 5/Tuesday)

Took cab and drove to Ocean’s Park,

once again all day fun! fun! fun!

weather was not that hot!

Here some moments to share:

First, we took cable car from Lowland

to headland (nice view)…

had some fun rides… Ferris Wheel

Flying Swing

The Dragon

(the longest roller coaster in HK)

Crazy Galleon

visited “Atoll Reef”….played games…

watched Dolphins and Sea Lions Show

went back to Lowland for “grand prix”

for two rounds…

fed bird and pose for pics…

too bad, I can’t wait for 75 minutes

to experience soaring 100 m into air,

maybe next time…

Hongkong Disneyland

Vacation is over!

This time I enjoyed…had a great time

with my students and their family!

Day 1 (June 3/Sunday)

11:00 a.m., we arrived @ the Disneyland Resort

(20 minutes drive from the airport)

Snow White @ the lobby!

free bus ride to Disneyland!

first thing we did, bought caps…was hot!

lunch afterwards…. large coke please!

all day fun! fun! fun!

@3:30 we watched the parade!

(… was really hot!)

dinner for Cantonese taste!

8p.m., for closing time!

10 p.m., finally, @ our room!

( what a long day! ok sleep now Cinderella…ooppss!

Dad used to call me Sleeping Beauty, no! “Sleepy Head”)

Day 2 (June4/Monday)

good morning view from the room!

10 a.m. brunch with the mascots!

here we go… full of energy after that brunch!

Lion King Festival Show! not bad!

Space Mountain for the 3rd round

(gave me headache! whew!)

Jackie for the 5th round!

tea cup for the 3rd round,

this time I was sick!

Stitch (English)Show

(90% audience were Filipino)

@ 4pm I gave up!

went back to the Hotel

for pain reliever and took a nap!

7pm, ready for dinner downstairs

view from the restaurant

(another Cantonese Food)

shopping again…

(sorry babes I think I overuse your credit card)

@ 10 zzzzzzzzzzz!

(too much sleep, am not use to it)

EB in Hongkong

Hongkong for the 4^th time!

As part of our Macau-Beijing trip, I decided to include Hongkong as a surprise for my hubby, since he never been here! We didn’t explore much… partly sunny, partly rainy! We just visited few places, met two net friends (Ate Adeline and Ate Sunshine’ birthday celebrants!

As he said; “A very small place with so much to offer”. Guess what ? he did enjoyed shopping!

 

(Ate Adeline, Ate Sunshine, My husband and I @ YMCA dinner buffet!)

Look what i got from them! Thank you very much po!

This ends our 10 days trip!