Tag: Citybreak

The Wonderful Praha !

Hello My Dear Routers!

We’ve been a little away, but our 09AM/18PM Jobs gave us a lot to do during this month.

You know… Finance and the closing of 1st semester of the year it’s not easy!

So, we decided to get back with our first adventure in foreign lands together: Prague, the capital of Czech Republic ! And what a story we have to tell !!!

First things first, we decided to buy a Voucher in something called Groupon to the stay in a hotel in Prague, because it was chapear… Well…

Let’s get back to February 2015.

We get a flight from TAP Portugal, Lisbon – Prague, direct flight.

Get to Prague at 13:00, so we decided to left the bags at the hotel and start to explore the city. And now, we were glad that we diceded to do that. Why? Not because of the bags.

We arrived to the Hotel and… It was closed to remove!!! CLOSED !!! You can imagine our panic…

So, manager come to speak with us, and basically there was a problem with the previous management who deleted all data from reservations… They wanted to modernize the hotel so we were forwarded to an Aparthotel near to Vysherad Castle: Vysherad Castle Suites.

It turn to be a very nice stay, with a very warm room, clean and comfortable. But, we lost our evening because we end up really stressed and a big migraine come to my head.

So we bought dinner in Tesco, breakfast to, because we had a little kitchen so we were able to eat and save money on food.

We stayed in Prague for 2 complete days. So we bought the Prague Card to have public transports and some free entrances to some attractions.

After all this adventure and a good night of sleep to recover let’s start our route.

We dived the sides of the river so split the city in 2 days.

Day One

Our little apartment were away about 15 min walking from the middle town d it’s a walk by the river so we decided to go by foot.

The first big thing and most known at the city that we’ve saw, was the Dancing House. It as a very interesting constriction so we were glad that it felt on our way.

We kept walking until we get to Charles Brigde. But we didn’t passed it. No! It’s for day 2. We turn in the street to right to see Orloj. It’s in the Old City and it’s an astronomical and medieval clock that was built in 1334. Whoever, during the WWII if sofered a lot of damaged. After a lot of work and research, get back to work in 1948. The clock sings in every hour starting at 9AM.

In this way, we find a lot of souvenirs stores and other things, very interesting!

We’ve spent our time in there to saw the Plaza of The Old Town and visits the Meridian Mark in there.

We kept walking. Saw a lot of churches but, our main goal was to get to Jewish Quarter (Josefov). As a WWII as a theme that we like to know more, start with a Ghetto was a trigger to our curiosity.

We picked up our ticket with our Prague Card to enter to the Jewish Museum, to Synagogue and to the Jewish Cemetery. And it really worth it to our general culture.

We kept walking until e came to river, we passed the Stefanikuv Bridge to get to Letenske Sady. And after a lot of stairs we arrived to a beautiful garden with a stunning view through the city. For us it really worth it and this took as a good part of the morning.

We get back to the city and eat at Kafka Cafe. Not the best thing ever but a pretty place do Kafka’s fans. Of course we’ve had lunch very late in the afternoon.

After lunch, we started to get lost in the new part of the city.

We’ve passed thought the mall and a lot of pretty places. One of them the University of Prague were a lot of Portuguese students came to this to make part of them degree at the Erasmus Program.

We went to the Powder Tower. Another place that we’ve visits with Pague Card. One of the most significants bulging sim Praga. Was the entrance of the kings in the Old Town and has a fabulous view of the city.

We get to see the sun going down in a place with the to the castle and the river and a little waterfall: Smetanovo Nabrezi.

After that and walk so much in the cold (February were line -1 Celcious Degrees) we get the Metro, get to Tesco do buy dinner and went to the apartment to get some rest. Day 2 we’ll be very long too !

Day 2

The day when we saw the other side of the river!!!

Our day started early in the morning, like 08:00 AM.

So we passed the river by Charles Bridge. Slowly, appreciating the statues enjoying the non-crowding bridge and the views by the river and the castle.

After pass the bridge we turn left in our way to John Lennon Wall.

In the way, we stop at St. Nicholas Church that is very beautiful.

After check the wall we went to catch the Funicular to Petrin Tower (with Prague Card).

We climbs the hill by this little train and enter in to the garden of the Olympic Stadium.

After see the garden we went to go up at the top of Petrin Tower (with Praga Card). Attention, it have elevator but in order to not pay more we went by the stairs… And a lot of stares !

But it really worth it it. The photos doesn’t make justice to the real view. It’s no words !

Included in the ticket was the Mirror Maze at the Petrin Garden. Of course we enter to take a look and laugh a little.

After that, we started to walking down the hill taking our way to the Castle.

We almost see the change of guard. Couldn’t catch on time.

But we enter to see the Castle and the Crush of St. Miguel. Tickets with Prague Card.

After visit this and take our time, we still getting down the hill. No fancy spot to lunch this time. Subway was good and we can deal with it. xD

We started to look for Speculum Alchemiae Museum. A little museum of alchimy. Were you can see an old lab. Believe, it will not take more than a hour from your trip but it’s very interesting.

After that, we wanted to see the city by nigth. We passed the bridge and take our way to olg plaza again. We’ve tried a Tredelnik. Typical cake, try it xD

So, know that, you have a Starbucks almost in every corner. In the winter you can get a little warm.

We hope you enjoy the post. Any question, let us know.

2 Days and Half in London

Hello my dear Routers !

So, there is a “Route” for London, a city where we keep coming back. With this path that we’ve made, you’d better be prepeard to walk, and walk, and walk a little longer.

1st Day

So, the beginning. We arrive in London through Gatwick Airport in a morning fligth. We get on the Gatwick Express, bought our OyesterCards (for public transportation), and made the check-in at our hotel to leave our backpacks and we started our walk.

We start in London City, to see the newests buildings in the city.

From here, we pass the London Bridge to go the the Deck Observation The View from the Shard, the highest building in the City.

Don’t forget that, in London you need to get lucky with the weather and we visisted it in January. Lots of cold and a litlle bit of rain.

From The Shard, we’ve passed the London Bridge again to go to the Tower of London. Pay attention because in the Winter the attractions close earlier.

So, Tower of London, the place where are the Crown Jewels are kept and one of the most important castles and fortresses of the city.

The contrast that you get between the old history and the new history of London is giant, because, from certain points of the Tower of London you can see the new part of town. It’s a must see point.

After that, we took a great walk along the river. We crossed the Tower Bridge and walked along all the new buildings in the other side of the river until we got to Tate Modern Museum of Art. It’s nigth by now, so we go in to see the Museum and, the best part, it’s for free. YES!!! You do not pay to enter in a big bunch of museuns in London. You can see them here.

After check Tate Modern Museum, it was very late by now. So we started looking for a place to eat. We chose Covent Garden. It’s like a market that has a lot of restaurants that you can pick. We’ve eaten pizza!

In the way to Covent Garden we passed by a lot of pretty places.Y ou can see some photos below. One of them is the huge Saint Paul Cathedral.

Dinner done, time to go to Leicester Square to go to one of the biggest comercial attractions in London: the M&M’s store !!!!! That’s like… the smell’s so good inside.

Next stop? Picadilly Circus before resting a little bit in the hotel. It’s the most technological square in Londo and, of course, a must see for eveyone.

2nd Day

To start, Nothing Hill and Portobello Road to see the street Market. To get there we get the underground from Hammersmith to Ladbroke Grove Station. It’s a very pretty place with colourful houses and a lot of stores that you can see. It has a lot of street artists having the statue show.

After a long run thorugh all the streets and all the roads, it starts to be a little busy, so we decided to go and take a long walk at the Hyde Park, take pictures at the entrance of Kensington Palace, check Diana’s Memorial and Royal Albert Memorial, with the Royal Albert Hall in the background.

Passing another street market onto Harrod’s Shopping Center. Get so fancy so fast ! Then a stop for lunch at the iconic Hard Rock Café of London. Pay attention ! It’s an expensive spot but on this day we didn’t have dinner, just a quick bite before returning to the hotel.

After that big and tasty lunch we went down the street to Buckingham Palace. Being a lot of times in London, never got the chance to see the change of the guard.

After checking the Buckingham Palace, we kept going down the street until reaching Trafalgar Square: the Square of the Lions (dear for us because of our Football Club in Lisbon xD).

Down the way, we got to the see Prime Minister’s Residence, the Memorial of WWII, the statue from one of the most important man in the History of London and the UK: Mister Churchill. After all of that, seen the outside of the Westminister Abbey (were all of he Royal weddings happen), see the Parliament Houses and the Famous Big Ben ! This one was being recovered at the time (January 2018).

From now, you can the that we’ve walk a lot. But didn’t end by now.

This nigth we’ve get back to Leicester Square, to see Lego Store and visit Carnaby Street and ChinaTown. Iconic places that you should not lose in Lodon.

After all that walking, we were dead by then. A lot of cold made us return to the hotel room to recover for the 3rd Day.

3rd Day

So, we started the day with Madame Tussauds Museum. Really, all of us know that it’s very similar but you need to see them with your own eyes. It’s an expensive visit but, if you can, you should take this oportunity.

After that, King’s Cross Station where you can find the Harry Potter Official store and a very tasty lunch at Nando’s.

Taking in consideration that Madame Tussauds took us most part of the morning, we’ve took the afternoon to meet the peculiar zone of Camden Town.

Here you can find the most alternative things to do and see in London. A lot of alternative art here too. I give you some pictures:

After this stop, it’s time to pick up our backpacks and go to Heathrow Airport and get back to real life in Lisbon.

From Hammersmith to Heathtrow Airport by Underground you take about 30 minutes to get there.

We really enjoyed this city break, despite it taking us down: a lot of back pain and we will not talk about our feet. But it’s really worth all the steps that we’ve taken.

We really hope that you enjoyed this and please give us some feedback about it…

Instagram Page: routingtheworld01

So… It just gets left to say… See you next time, London !

Our best tips:

  • We arrived in London by the Gatwick Airport. To get to Central London we caught the Gatwick Express, which is very fast, if you want to save time. Not the most economical way, but, for sure, the fastest one. It took less than 20 minutes.
  • We’ve booked a room not in Central London, because it’s very expensive. We stayed in the Sapphire Boutique Hotel, it’s very clean and has a nice breakfast. To go everywhere you can get the Underground at Hammersmith Station.
  • To visit Tower of London and Madame Tussauds Museum we bought the tickets at Ticmate.pt. It’s a fiable website and sometimes you can get ticket combinations that can be cheaper and make a good deal.
  • We didn’t the to London Eye because it was closed to maintence. However we went to The Shard and we bought the tickets at the oficial website of The Shard.
  • The best expresso coffe was at Caffé Nero and was not too expensive.
  • Please be careful, London can be very cold even if you walk a lot. It’s not easy to get warm in the street so, take a lot and good clothes for Winter.
  • London it’s not a cheap city, so… Be prepared !