Category: Europe
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stephansdom
The Stephansdom (St. Stephen’s Cathedral) was probably my favorite part of Vienna. I’m not a religious person, but I really liked this church. I just could not stop staring at it. It was just so grand and majestic. I was expecting to climb some steps to get a view from the top, like most other…
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flying aeroflot
My flight to Vienna was 12 hours. Why, you ask? Because nonstop flights in December from New York City would have cost me at least $900. I was able to cut this down to about $650 in exchange for a layover in Moscow. This meant nine hours to Russia, and then another three to fly…
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vienna/prague 2017
For my remaining vacation days of 2017, I decided to make my way to over to Vienna. It was the perfect time to go, because of the Christmas Markets. Since my friend, Yan, was off at that time too, we decided to travel there together. We had one week off but didn’t want to spend…
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9 foods to stuff your face with in switzerland
Raclette – who doesn’t love scraping melty cheese onto food? I first tried raclette at a little hole in the wall in NYC, where they gave you two scrapes of cheese. But that was child’s play. In Switzerland, they give you a whole block of cheese. It’s usually eaten with some mini potatoes, pickled onions,…
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8 things i learned in the 8 days i spent in switzerland
They don’t call it Swiss cheese here. Each region has its own cheese. Raclette and Gruyère were the two cheeses I saw on most menus. The cheese with the holes that Americans eat is actually called Emmental. Weather can be temperamental. During the first week of September, Zurich was rainy and in the 50s, and…
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hiking the swiss alps
When you visit Switzerland, the Alps has definitely got to be on your list, whether you ski or not. Ben and I visited in early September, so it wasn’t ski season just yet – which is fine, since neither of us know how to anyway. When it’s not ski season, there are various trails you…
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3 things to do in geneva
Yes, count ‘em – THREE. There’s not much else going on in Geneva. The main reason Ben and I came here was for the CERN, which wasn’t even open. You would think there would be more to do in such an international city. But there wasn’t and it was actually kind of shady. We didn’t…
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swiss chocolate and cheese
Chocolate and cheese. Two of Switzerland’s finest things. The Swiss Chocolate Train allows you to experience both of these in one day. The tour takes you on several stops, including one with free time in Gruyères. Here is what a 99 CHF ticket will get you (or if you have a Swiss travel pass, 69…
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how to be a tourist in montreux
Find you a hotel with a balcony and a view of Lake Geneva Learn about Queen at the Queen Studio Experience. Montreux Mountain Studios at Casino Barrière Montreux is where the band recorded many of their most successful albums. You’ll find lots of Queen memorabilia, including some of Freddie’s handwritten lyrics. The best part? It’s…
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how to get a panoramic view of switzerland
The Golden Pass route is one of the five main scenic train rides you can take in Switzerland. Ben and I opted for this one because the panoramic windows on the train sounded really cool. Plus, the route started in Lucerne, and ended in Montreux, two of the cities we were staying in. All of…
how to be a traveler 