This idea has been on my mind for a while now, and I finally got some time to write about it. I’m sure you’ve seen the videos on your social feeds – a diver stroking through pounds and pounds of plastic in the ocean, a turtle getting a piece of plastic yanked out of his nose, etc. Plastic consumption is a huge problem in our society. It’s crazy how much plastic we use and toss in the garbage without thinking about the impact and consequences it has on other forms of life. According to Ocean Statistics, 100,000 marine animals die each year from plastic entanglement - and those are only the ones that are found. It is clear that reducing plastic is something we need to be a part of. Cutting out plastic is easy, and worth it. But how can you do this in your everyday life? The tips below are ways that I reduce plastic every day, and you can to: 1. Reusable shopping bags. Now that grocery stores charge for plastic bags, you could save real money when you bring your own. PC Points also adds more points when you bring your own bags! BUT there are more ways that reusable bags come in handy. I ordered these bags from Amazon, and now I never use plastic bags – not even the ones for vegetables and fruit. 2. #StopSucking. When you go out to a restaurant, ask the server to remove the straw just in case the drink you ordered comes with one. A lot of restaurants are starting to join this movement which is awesome, but you can always ask to remove the straw just to be sure. I’ve bought these reusable straws which are fun, clean and a good alternative if straws are a must for you. 3. Reusable Water Bottles. I just read this article today that says that McGill University is banning plastic water bottles from being in vending machines on campus. This is a great step forward! Having a reusable water is better for the environment, but it also encourages you to drink more water since you (theoretically) will have a full water bottle with you all the time during your day. It’s really a win-win. Plus, some really cute, affordable water bottles exist out there. 4. Mason Jars. These cheap alternatives to plastic containers are very helpful and durable. I have made all sorts of recipes for my work lunches including salads, yogurt parfaits, and more. Mason jars help reduce the amount of Tupperware out there, and they can also help you cut down on purchasing plastic. For example, instead of buying a 6 pack of yogurt, why not buy a giant tub instead? Once you get home, you can portion it out in to mason jars for the week. It’s cheaper this way too! 5. Epilate. I use an epilator and let me tell you – it is awesome. Definitely changed how I feel about body care! Instead of buying hundreds of razors in your lifetime, buy 1 epilator. I bought mine here. Basically, an epilator is like a thousand little tweezers that pull the hair out of your skin as you go over it. It sounds painful, but since mine is wet and dry (meaning it works in the shower), adding hot water makes it a lot less painful. After a epilating few times, I barely feel it at all. Epilation is great for razor-bump prone skin (like mine). It is similar to waxing in that it takes the hair longer to grow back, and the hairs grow back thinner. I started epilating a few months ago, and now I really only have to do it once every 2 weeks. My legs stay smooth, and I haven’t experienced any discomfort from it. I feel good knowing that I am reducing plastic consumption by avoiding razors, but I also know that I’m doing my legs a favour as well. WARNING: If you are scared of anything period related, please do yourself a favour and close your computer/put down your phone, grab the closest object to you, and smack yourself with it. Then open your laptop/pick up your phone again and keep reading. Periods need to be talked about, and the only reason why you’re scared of menstruation is because it isn’t talked about enough. Moving on…
6. The Diva Cup. This product was a serious LIFE CHANGER! The Diva Cup is a cup that is about the same size as a shot glass, and is used in a similar way as a tampon. First of all, it is about $30, but will last an entire year. You can buy it at any pharmacy, Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart, etc. It is reusable, so you totally avoid the plastic and harmful materials that pads and tampons come with. The Diva Cup has never leaked in my experience, so I can wear whatever I want without worrying. You can also have it in for up to 12 hours, meaning you can wear it overnight and throughout the day. It is much better for your vagina than tampons because it doesn’t interfere with the moisture or pH levels your body needs. It is also really cool to see how much blood your body produces while on your period, which you would never see if you use pads or tampons. Read more about menstrual cups here. Please let me know if I’ve missed anything – I really want to do the best that I can in an effort to reduce plastic. If we all take part in this little initiative by reducing our plastic consumption every day, our future will be much brighter and healthier for all the life that we share this planet with.
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The Florida Keys was a fun week-long getaway, which was the perfect amount of time to spend travelling with family. I am so grateful that my parents and brother still enjoy hanging out together – we always have the best time (as you will see from the images in this post, lol). I’m lucky to have an easy-going family that is okay to go with the flow, and not worry about having plans set in stone. For this trip, we booked several Airbnbs, and that’s it. We took it day by day and decided what we wanted to do that day an hour or so before we did it! If chilling your way through tropical vibes sounds like your idea of a good time, read on! Day 1: My brother and I flew to Fort Lauderdale via WestJet, and my parents met us there about an hour or so after we arrived (just enough time for us to watch Zach Galifinakis in the airport – sooo funny). We rented a Chevy Impala from Enterprise, and started our trip! We drove to our first Airbnb which was a cute house on the Intercostal. It was close to the Hollywood Broadwalk with restaurants and stores (and Margaritaville) within walking distance. We ate dinner at Le Tub and we all attempted their famous 13-ounce burger which provided us with enough food for breakfast the next morning. This quirky restaurant was the best place to watch the sun set! Day 2: We didn’t even realize that the Miami International Boat Show was the same weekend that we were in Miami, so naturally, we went. My family are huge boat people, so this was the perfect way to spend the Saturday. After wandering around looking at and testing the latest and greatest lines, engines, lights, jet skis, sunglasses, sails, life jackets, and just about every other boat related thing you could think of, we stopped at a group of food trucks for some lunch. (I had pulled pork tacos.. yummm). After eating, we wandered around some more and found the ferry that would take us back to our rental car. From there, we drove to our next Airbnb, Vintage BnB Inc. This place was amazing. As soon as I walked in and met the owners, it felt like my family had reunited with old friends. The vibe of this place was welcoming, warm and vibrant. And the best part – this BnB features old airstreams that guests get to sleep in, and a private outdoor washroom. The airstream we were in seemed to have so many stories to tell. I could only imagine the unique people it has seen. Our hosts at Vintage BnB prepare dinner every night for their guests (based on donations), and so we grabbed some food and settled in for the night. Day 3: After a delicious breakfast at Vintage BnB, we started the morning with a trip to the highly recommended R.F. Orchid Farm. It was breathtaking, and I was absolutely in heaven. There were so many different species, kinds and colours of orchids floating around me, everywhere. It was magical, and I felt like I really grasped the history of this farm after a tour of the property. We ate lunch at a small restaurant called Casita Tejas, which featured a good selection of Tex-Mex food that definitely filled us up! From there, we continued on to the Florida Alligator Farm… This part was a little sad. I hate to see captive animals caged in with little space to move around and be free. The reason why my family and I decided to support this place was to go on a famous air boat ride in the Everglades (again, we’re boat people). The air boat ride was fast and exciting, and I am happy that I got to experience it. My hope is that one day the Alligator Farm will shut down, and the air boat rides will continue to show travellers the natural beauty of the Everglades. We headed back to Vintage BnB for the afternoon, and relaxed by the pool and hot tub before grabbing dinner and getting ready for the next day. Day 4: We sadly had to leave our new friends at Vintage BnB, but we were excited for the unknown adventures that were yet to come. We slowly drove down towards the Keys and stopped at several points along the way, including marine stores, thrift shops, souvenir locations, and the History of Diving Museum. This museum seemed to be a small building, but upon entering, we quickly realized that it was home to years and years of diving innovations and experiments that helped to develop how we view marine life today. My family are all divers, and so learning about these important initiatives was informational and relatable in some ways. We asked for a recommendation for lunch, and were told to visit the “hole in the wall” Key Largo Fisheries cafeteria. It was much more than what we expected after hearing that recommendation! The food was fast and fresh, and the atmosphere of the place was relaxing and breezy. From there, we had to make a stop at Robbie's to feed the tarpon (and pelicans) right off the dock. I had read several different reviews about this activity so it was fun to try it out! This was a cute spot to walk around and take a little break from driving. We packed up and headed to our next Airbnb – a house boat in Mangrove Marina, Tavernier. After eating our way through the Florida Keys, we decided to keep the good food vibe going, and visited Marker 88 for dinner by the sea. The sunset over the water was bright and warm, and as scenes of Bloodline wandered around in my head, the sun slowly faded out. Day 5: We received a recommendation to visit Harriettes for breakfast, and so we did just that. We ate till we were stuffed, and even picked out homemade muffins to take on the road with us. We took it easy on this day, and slowly drifted down the Keys while making various stops along the way at shops and restaurants. We arrived at our next Airbnb – a 2 storey apartment tucked in on Duval Street. Day 6: After waking up, we wandered down to Panini Schemini for breakfast and got some refreshing smoothies to start the day. We walked around Duval Street and organized what they call a “Land and Sea Tour” which included a tour on the famous Conch Train, and a sunset cruise the night after with a live band on board. We took the Conch Train to all the touristy areas of Key West including along Duval Street, Mallory Square, Ernest Hemmingway’s house and the Southernmost Point of the USA. Before visiting Key West, I had no idea about the history that it holds. It was quite interesting to learn about the different styles of architecture that this town is made up of. In the middle of our tour, we of course had to stop for chocolate dipped Key Lime pie, which was a refreshing snack on this hot day. We stopped at the Half Shell Raw Bar for lunch and literally sat right in the marina while mucking some fresh oysters and shrimp. We hopped back on the Conch Train and after checking out a few stores along the way, we checked in to our next Airbnb which was another small apartment on Duval Street, about a block further than the previous one. After an hour or so of down time, we walked through the cute stores to Mallory Square to check out the world-famous buskers that gather here to celebrate each sunset. It was crazy! The buskers were so entertaining and actually very talented – they really knew how to keep the crowd engaged and laughing! This was definitely a must-do in Key West, and even though I wasn’t watching the time, I would guess that we spent a few hours walking around and enjoying the atmosphere here. On the way back to our place for the night, we stopped in at the Gas Monkey for a much needed greasy meal that put us all right to sleep. Day 7: In the morning, we drove right up to the marina to find parking for our sunset boat cruise, prepared to spend the entire day in Old Town Key West. We found the first bike rental place we could, and rented bikes for $10US for the entire day. The bikes were in great shape, and we had fun biking around the island. We explored smaller neighbourhoods, revisited the Southernmost Point, and discovered super cute shops and restaurants completely by accident. We went to Turtle Kraals for lunch (and just in time, since it started to pour rain as soon as we locked our bikes up!). The food here was great, and the view of the marina was compelling – I don’t think my family will ever get sick of looking at boats. We continued to explore and check out various shops after lunch. After picking up a few souvenirs for friends and family, we decided to return our bikes and head to the marina to get on the sunset cruise we had organized. We chilled for about an hour or so enjoying the sun at the marina, and then it was time to board! The crew on the boat were friendly and fun, and the live band on the bow set the vibe perfectly. This sunset cruise featured a buffet of appetizers and of course, free alcohol (would my family say yes to an activity without food/alcohol? Not so sure…). We really enjoyed that boat ride, and after the sun set, we headed to one of our final hotels. Day 8:
We woke up early on our last full day in the Keys, and decided to drive up through the islands to hit all the spots we felt we missed, including the Green Turtle Inn Restaurant for lunch, and Stone Age Antiques. Stone Age Antiques was a great final place to check out. It features thousands of antiques from old ships and marinas, and tons of cool collectable items that must have seen many days. Stone Age Antiques really summed up our cozy, familiar, boat and family oriented vacation. I really love to be with my family, and this trip combined everything that we all share a love for – boats and food, mainly! If you have been to the Keys, let me know if there is anything we missed – I think we need another reason to go back! Do you feel overwhelmed sometimes, and for reasons that may not even seem like that big of a deal? I definitely do, especially since graduation, finding a new job and a new place to life is looming over my head. Anyway, I wrote these tips to remind myself of what I can do to reduce my anxiety and stress. These tips have helped me over the last few months, and hopefully they can help you, too!
1. Get rid of everything unnecessary. I always get email notifications on my phone, laptop and other devices. Sometimes I look at my phone and see tons of email notifications, which increases my heart rate because I feel that lots of people are trying to contact me. Recently I started to unsubscribe from a lot of automatic emails that get sent out, and that has helped TONS! It has also helped me to clean up my personal space so that I feel cleaner and more organized. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but I have applied this tip to people in my life too. Don’t be afraid to ignore people that you feel are holding you back. 2. Stay Organized. I keep my calendar up to date of all the events, deadlines and projects that I have. The good thing about using the calendar app on your phone is that you can set reminders to be sent in case you have so too on your mind that you forget about something important. I also keep a list on my laptop using the Stickies App of important tasks I have to get done. 3. Ensure you have good living conditions, or find a place to go if you don’t. It’s good (for me at least) to have to safe, quiet space to go home to, or do work in. If you don’t feel at peace in your home, it may be good to find a quiet spot such as a local library, friend’s house or study space where you can really relax and think about what’s on your mind. It has also helped me to go somewhere for a weekend (or even longer) to get a change of pace, people and scenery. 4. Visit a counsellor. Even if you feel like your problems aren’t very significant, it can still help to talk to someone. Counsellors know what they are talking about, and they can offer you helpful advice about situations you may be struggling with. It is okay to ask for help. I visited a counsellor at Humber College, and they were super professional, calm and encouraging. 5. Focus on what is most important. For me, my health is most important overall. If that means taking some time off of work to focus on my mental or physical health, so be it. I try to clean out my mind in a way, and get rid of/ignore the things that are less important that may be adding to my stress. Overall, I find it beneficial to focus on myself, and what works for me. I read a quote recently that said something along the lines of "you aren’t living for them, you’re living for you." At the end of the day, you’re the only person that you should strive to make happy. I’m trying to embody this quote as much as possible by not caring what other people think of me, and making decisions for myself and myself only! This has contributed greatly to my overall mental health and lifestyle. I hope you find some sort of inspiration in these tips as well! I’m a fourth-year student at the University of Guelph-Humber in the Media Studies program, majoring in Digital Communications. I like to think I learned something after four years, but you can decide that for yourself after reading this… Transitioning to university was an exciting, but daunting experience. It’s hard to move into unknown territory as it is, never mind the hundreds of myths that teachers and parents warn you about. So, before you head off to university, make sure to separate the facts from the fiction! 1. "You’re just a number" I heard this a few times before heading to university, but I found that at Guelph-Humber, it’s just not true. It might be for schools that are bigger, but even in big lectures that I had in my first and second years, the profs still attempted to check in and make personal connections with each student. I have seen this myth been proven wrong countless times during my stay at the Humber College campus. There are resources available for every student, and staff, faculty and professors alike will usually take the time to guide each student to the correct service if they feel it might be beneficial. 2. "You’re on your own" This is one of the biggest myths I heard while transitioning to university. I’m lucky to have a supportive family that was with me while I moved to Toronto, but I know lots of students who felt very alone during this time. However, Humber College and Guelph-Humber campuses do a great job at helping students become more aware of the services and resources available to them, including but not limited to:
3. "You’ll make all your friends during first year, and you’ll stay best friends with them forever" Before I went to university, I always understood that I would meet friends within the first week of school, and I would be buddies with them for life. I did meet people during frosh week and they were fun to hang out with, but I never really clicked with them. It wasn’t until my second and even third year that I started to meet people who shared the same interests and hobbies as me. It is those friends who I hope to stay connected to once I graduate. 4. "You’ll be peer pressured into drinking all the time" I was intimidated to move to Toronto after I realized that downtown is a big clubbing scene. While clubbing and drinking can be fun, I am glad that the people I hang out with are respectful of my choices of whether or not to go out, and whether or not to drink. We’ve done everything from being downtown Toronto until 4 in the morning, to having quiet tea parties in our house and going to bed early. As long as we’re all having fun, there’s really no problem. I have realized that anyone who tries to force you into anything is someone who isn’t worth being friends with. 5. "A part time job is bad for your studies" I’ve heard a lot of people claim that they’re program is too intense for them to have any sort of job. It is also the opinion of some that Digital Communications (my program) is a “flakey course” that requires little to no effort, and therefore it is easy for me to be working part-time... not true. Though it can be overwhelming at times, I have found that having a part-time job is actually beneficial to my studies. The little bit of income makes me feel more independent, and relieves some financial stress. It has also been an opportunity for me to meet new people, build my resume during my university years, and learn skills that supplement my studying. 6. "University is a lot harder than high school, and you’ll definitely feel lost" This myth can be true, depending on your work ethic… The difficulty of assignments and homework in university does progress as you move through the semester, just like high school. I have found that if I pay attention and actually put in the work, I feel more focused and ready to keep learning once I get to class. In my experience, professors take the time to learn where you are, and yes, they will challenge you, but you’ll be able to handle it (and if you’re struggling, there’s resources for that!). 7. "You need to live on campus to have fun" Living in residence for two years was a time, but moving into a house has been even better. I believe that it is all dependant on what kind of experience you create for yourself. If you leave class the second it ends, you might feel disconnected, but the same can be said for sitting in your residence room all day watching Netflix. There are so many ways to get involved whether it be volunteering, working, joining a club or sports team, etc, which can be done even if you live off campus. 8. "You won’t have time for a social life" Not true! I have spent a lot of time working on my school-life-work balance, which I think is important. Once you figure out what works for you, it is easy to set aside time for homework, time for real work, and time to hang out with friends. What has helped me with time management is breaking down the hours: 24 hours per day, 8 hours to sleep, 10 hours for school/work, and 6 hours for friends. Find the combination that works for you! If you feel there's any other university myths that I've missed, let me know!
As most of you know, I have been in Europe for the last 2 months, but my trip is quickly coming to an end! Of course, there have been long bus rides, long line-ups, and lots of waiting in general while travelling. To help pass the time, I usually listen to music that gets me excited for the place I’m about to visit. Below are a few random songs (in no particular order) that I have on my travel playlist that get me pumped up to explore, and might put you in the travelling mood as well!
Some of these are old, some are new, and they are all in random genres, but I think it’s okay to mix it up! If you guys have any travel songs that you jam to, please let me know! Visiting Brugge (Bruges) is a must-do for anyone in Brussels, looking for a relaxing adventure. On the morning of June 17th, it was as if I woke up and instantly was thrown into the middle of the best chapter in a historic, medieval times fairy tale – from wandering through old windmills surrounded by giant trees, exploring quaint Belgian chocolate shops on every corner, and listening to the sound of horses’ hooves hit the cobblestone streets every few minutes, I felt like a princess all day long. If you’re looking for a town where you can totally relax, enjoy delicious food and sweets, and absorb charming and profound history, Brugge is the place to go. We started our morning fairly early after a good night’s sleep, at around 8am. We took the IC subway towards Brugge Central Station. This subway went directly there (we didn’t have to switch), which was perfect and easy. We purchased a return ticket, which costs €12.60 (if you are under 26 years old). This was much cheaper than we were originally prepared to pay, which was €14.60 each way, meaning we had a few extra bucks to spend on chocolate. After we arrived at the station in Brugge, we hopped off the subway and slowly walked up a main street towards Rozenhoedkaai (the most photographed view in all of Brugge). Along the way, we stopped to check out Minnewater Lake, and Bonifacius Bridge. We discovered a flea market by accident, which made the morning even more perfect. Meandering through the stalls and streets of Brugge was indescribable. The cobblestone ground and tall, narrow buildings add an atmosphere that is unlike any other town I have visited in Europe. Similar to Paris, there was something interesting to see on every corner of this small village. I can’t count the number of times I exclaimed, “this place is so cute!” while walking through the streets. We headed towards Belfry Tower, near the Grote Markt (Market Place) to get a view of the whole town, stopping every few steps to test taste sweet chocolate from individual stores. Eventually we arrived at the Tower, which cost €8.00 for students. 366 steps later, we were at the top, feeling the cool breeze flow through the open windows of the tower (much needed on this hot day!) We returned to the bottom of the tower, almost speechless at the incredible view of the whimsical town of orange roofs, with canals and cobblestone streets twisting around each historic building. We grabbed a quick lunch and continued the adventure! We walked to a bike rental shop, and paid €7.00 to rent a bike each for 2 hours. We biked along the canal towards the town of Dames. The houses and buildings along the canal were different and unique, and riding along on a bike was the perfect way to check them out. The bikes gave us a walking break, and being next to the canal with a nice breeze was the perfect way to cool down. We biked through towering trees, providing a shady escape. Giant wind mills placed delicately on the top of some hills snuck out through the tree branches every so often. Each moment of this bike ride was so peaceful, and with the sounds of the canal, the wind, and the calming songs of the birds in the trees, I felt totally safe and carefree. We happily got a little lost while heading back to return the bikes. It’s hard to look down and focus on a map with scenery so beautiful and unique around every corner. We made it back to the bike rental shop, and returned to our now refreshed, ready-to-walk feet. We came across Dumon Chocolatier, where their extensive list of hot chocolate caught our eyes. My mouth was watering just looking at the menu! We each ordered a different type of hot chocolate: chili, ginger, and hazelnut. A few minutes later, we were brought a hot cup of milk, with a solid chunk of Belgian chocolate melted onto a spoon. Swirling the spoon and chocolate around in the hot milk was hypnotizing, and I couldn’t wait to try it. The first sip was heavenly and smooth, and the rest of my cup did not last very long after that! Obviously in the mood for more chocolate, we did some hunting, and picked out some boxes and bars to bring back home to family. There are so many flavors of chocolates – from standard caramel, dark, white or milk chocolate, to key lime pie, coconut, chili, fruit, and really any other flavor you can think of. There is something for every taste bud.
Feeling complete and accomplished, we wandered back to Brugge Station to catch a returning subway to Brussels. We returned around 8pm, after spending almost 10 hours in Brugge. It was a day with no expectations to begin with, but by the end of it, I was feeling that the day couldn’t have been any better. Check out the places we visited, and the total cost of this day trip!
When you’re staying in a hostel, it’s super important to pack light, and save as much space as you can (you’ll need it!!). Below is a list of the bare necessities that I think are important to bring to hostels, in the smallest form possible! Let’s get to it:
These items fit nicely into a small toiletry bag that I have, which is easy to throw in a backpack, and to carry back and forth from hostel rooms to the showers. If you don’t have a toiletry bag, choose wisely! It helps to have a bag that is lined with plastic to make it easy for a quick clean if there are any spills or leaks. These essential toiletries should keep you going for a good amount of time! If you need extra stuff, there are always stores you can buy from, wherever you are going. Having all of these toiletries in small containers (less than 100ml) means that you can keep these items in your carry-on luggage, if you are travelling by plane. This way, you can avoid checking luggage, which is awesome and will save you lots of time!
I hope this list helps you in your travels! Be sure to look out for future posts, with more packing lists! If you’re planning a trip to Europe on a student budget, check out these 8 tips on how to keep your stuff safe, and how to get the most out of your EuroTrip! I am currently in Bremen, Germany on an internship, but have visited a few places in Europe during my stay. I have found the tips below to be the most important to consider when travelling to Europe, and I wish I found a blog post like this before I came to Europe! 1. Bring a lock. A nice big masterlock. If you’re staying in hostels while travelling, it is important to bring a lock just to give you a sense of comfort and safety. The hostels I have stayed at have been very safe, and I’ve always felt that even if I left my things unlocked, they would be fine, and I’d return to find them untouched at the end of a day out. I think everyone staying in hostels have the same mindset: we’re all broke students, so you don’t steal my stuff, and I won’t steal yours. In the long run though, it does help to know that your stuff won’t be rifled through or messed with while you’re out of your room. 2. Put money in separate places. I have never had money stolen from me while travelling, but I’ve heard a few stories from people who have. If you are travelling with a large amount of money (enough for a few days), it will help to hide it in a few different places: $50 in your camera bag, $50 in your backpack, $50 in your wallet, etc. This way, if any of your money does get stolen, at least you know your whole life savings haven’t been swept away. 3. Invest in a microfiber towel. I wish I thought of this before I came over to Europe! Towels are essential to bring as most hostels don’t have them. In some hostels you can rent them anywhere from 2-6EUR, but that can add up, and for me at least, it’s a little gross to think someone else has already used the same towel. Towels take up WAY too much space in a backpack, so microfiber towels will really help save you space. They arguably work better than normal towels anyway! The ones that I have seen other travellers use are something like this. 4. Avoid bringing valuables. If you can avoid it, don’t bring your laptop. With modern technology, I have been able to do a lot of work from my phone and iPad while travelling using online apps, and file sharing software like Dropbox. Laptops and bigger devices take up a lot of precious packing space and realistically, how often will you use them? 5. A trick to getting around: Maps. Load Maps on your phone before you leave wifi. As long as you don’t close the app, the map will stay open with your directions so you don’t get lost! Alternatively, you can download maps.me. This app is awesome, and you don’t need wifi to use it. It’s perfect for getting around in places that don’t have strong wifi! 6. Plan your days. It helps a lot to have some sort of rough outline of what you will be doing for each day. It’s okay to stray from your original plan if something different comes up, but having an idea of what you want to get accomplished for the day will help to save time. I use the calendar app on my phone to plan my days. It gives me an easy overview of each day and week, and I can set reminders for any important tours or reservations that I have booked. 7. Bring a portable charger. For travellers like me, the iPhone is the main source of direction. I check out TripAdvisor reviews on my phone, plan my days, take notes, and use Maps ALL THE TIME. I know I wouldn’t be completely lost without my phone, but not having it would definitely make things difficult. The portable charger I use is this one, from Jackery. If you bring a portable charger and throw it in your bag every day (make sure it’s charged!), you’ll avoid the risk of being stuck somewhere without navigation, or a way to contact someone if there is an emergency. And finally,
8. Don’t forget outlet adaptors. This is so important!! Without adaptors, you won’t be able to charge anything in Europe. The best adaptor I’ve seen so far is this one from Heys.ca. This guy is perfect for EuroTravel and is an adaptor for over 150 countries! This way, you literally just buy one adaptor, and you’ll save yourself a lot of space (and money)! I hope you found these tips helpful! Enjoy Europe!! Also, if you have a chance to visit Prague in Europe, DO IT!! My favourite city so far. Check it out how to do one day in Prague on a student budget here. Prague was breathtaking. Every inch of the city was colorful, vibrant and fun, yet filled with so much history. Whether you’re keen to see the main sites of Prague, learn about it’s background, or simply visit the more quiet, less-touristy areas of the city, read on. How do you do Prague in one day (on a student budget)? 9:30am: Breakfast. PRICE: 150CZK Visit a small but delicious juice bar, located in the centre of Prague, near the main square. At Fresh Life Juice Bar, you can get a freshly squeezed juice of your choosing, and they also sell small snacks like baguettes and croissants. Sooo refreshing. 10am: Old Town Hall and Astronomical Clock. PRICE: FREE While sipping on your juice, walk into the main square and visit the Old Town Hall and Astronomical Clock. If you get to the clock a few minutes before 10, STAY! Every hour on the hour, small figures appear inside the clock, making a cute show for a few minutes. Must see!! 10:45am: Charles Bridge. PRICE: FREE Walk across the Charles Bridge, and get a stunning view of the river that flows through Prague. There were a few performers here when we visited, and lots of small booths selling souvenirs and original pieces of art. Walking across this bridge that was built in 1357 really helps you to understand the deep history in the city of Prague. This bridge was the main connection between the city’s Old Town, and the Prague Castle that you can see on the top of the hill in the distance. 11:45am: Lunch. PRICE: 100CZK After a small breakfast and so much walking around, you might be working up an appetite at this point. If you’re looking to stay on budget, you can grab a sandwich, sausage, fruit basket, and more for about 100CZK or less at any of the markets that you come across (they are everywhere, and they’re super cute). If you have a little extra money to spend, visit Vytopna Restaurant. This awesome restaurant has decently priced and delicious food, but the coolest thing about it is the way your drinks are served: by model train! A few trains circle the restaurant on individual tracks that visit each table. The train stays for about 5 minutes (enough for you to grab your drink), and then takes off! Lunch here is about 300CZK or less. 1pm: John Lennon Wall. PRICE: FREE After a big lunch, take a nice walk to the John Lennon wall, close to the river bank on the other side of Charles Bridge. It’s an incredibly vivid piece of art dedicated to John Lennon, that is continuously changing; it’s different every day. This graffiti-covered wall has been painted by artists from Prague and around the world, and it is a free medium that anyone can contribute to. 1:45pm: Gardens. PRICE: FREE Walk up the hill towards the Prague Castle, and take the less crowded, less touristy route through the gardens. These are very well maintained, and after every step, the view of the city of Prague gets more and more beautiful and clear. These gardens are lined with benches and spots to rest and enjoy the view… so take your time, stop to take pictures, and enjoy the atmosphere! 2:30pm: St. Vitus Cathedral. PRICE: FREE Walk through the St. Vitus Cathedral and experience the bright, colorful stained glass and astonishing architecture. Imagine this space without people in it, and let your imagination run. You’ll soon realize the importance of this building. 3pm: Prague Castle and South Tower. PRICE: 100CZK Visit the Prague Castle (this part is free), and enjoy the largest coherent castle complex in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The castle complex contains buildings of several different architectural styles, and is the main destination for tourists in this city, meaning it can get busy! However, it is a must see when in Prague. After exploring the castle complex, climb the spiral staircase up the South Tower. This is a nice workout for your thighs, but totally worth it! There are more than 280 steps, but once you get to the top, the view is crazy. You can see the entire city – the Cathedral bells, the Charles Bridge, the River, the Gardens, and more. 4pm: Chill time. PRICE: FREE Have a seat somewhere in the shade near the castle and rest after hiking up the South Tower. Grab a snack at a small café, and enjoy the fresh air and breeze at the top of the biggest hill in Prague. The walk down from the castle is definitely easier than going up, but it will be nice to catch a break at this point before heading down. 5pm: Dancing House. PRICE: FREE After you walk down from the Castle, cross the Charles Bridge, and stroll along the river towards the Dancing House. This building was very controversial at the time is was built because it stood out from the other Baroque and Gothic buildings that Prague is famous for. However, it provides a modern break from the traditional styles of architecture in the city. 6pm: Dinner. PRICE: 300CZK
U Kroka is one of the top rated places to eat on TripAdvisor because of it’s delicious food at a great price. It is a little bit of a walk to get to, but it is because of this that you will avoid the tourists, and the tourist prices. 8:30pm: Pub Crawl. PRICE: 22 EURO Though this price seems to be a lot, it was worth it. During the pub crawl, you visit 5 or 6 different, popular pubs and bars in Prague. The first pub you visit offers a “power hour” – one hour of unlimited, free drinks! If you do this right, you don’t have to buy any more drinks for the rest of the night. The last club you end up at, Karlovy lazne, is a 5 storey club with a different theme/genre on each floor. The energy in here is awesome, and this club is considered to be the biggest club in all of Europe. Even if you’re not into the clubbing scene, the top floor is a “Chill Out”, where you can go just to casually sip and chill. Make sure to buy your pub crawl tickets from an authorized hostel or office, and make sure they give you a receipt in return. You have to trade in this receipt later for your ticket. Don’t buy tickets off the street either, as there are some scammers that will take advantage of you. That sums up a full day in Prague, hitting all the awesome spots to visit, for about 650CZK, which converts to around 40CAD. The Pub Crawl adds about 30CAD to this, but in return you get a fun night out in Prague, with an hour of free drinks! Next time I'm in Prague, I want to check out the outskirts of Prague, or do a few day trips. Looks like I'll have to come back. First off, I need to say that Amsterdam was amazing. Super cute town and definitely worth a visit! The canals are lined with all different sizes of boats – some with plants overflowing from them, some that are clearly used as houses, and some parked there just for a short time it seems. So, how do you do 2 days in Amsterdam on a budget? We arrived to Amsterdam on April 27th (King’s Day) around 11 in the morning, after navigating through the Amsterdam airport and making it to Amsterdam Centraal. Lucky for us, our hostel was (supposed to be) a short, 7 minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal, but thanks to no maps or Wi-Fi, and wrong directions from a security guy at the station, it ended up taking us about 40 mins. Walking along the cobblestone streets was interesting, especially with the huge crowds of people we had to push through… Anyway, we eventually got to the hostel (Hostel Utopia – it was the cheapest I could find when we booked about 3 weeks in advance). It was decent for a hostel, and a good value for the price we paid. It was a short walk to everything in the city! Not much was open on our first day, since it was King’s Day (check it out here, I had to google it too). The streets were crowded with people, parties, alcohol, weed (legal in Amsterdam), and music!! DJs were playing music out of their apartments on the top floors of some buildings. There were also a few DJs jamming out on the street (including Martin Garrix). The good thing about it being King’s Day, is that there were food stands on every corner, selling cheap snacks. We decided to find a place to sit from dragging our luggage around all morning, and ended up grabbing a quick sandwich in a restaurant. Delicious, decently sized, and all for only 13EURO (including beer, of course). For the rest of the day, we just chilled and napped (jetlag hit us). Day 2 We woke up and headed out for breakfast (brunch?) around 11am. We went to The Pancake Bakery and got a huge freaking pancake for 12EURO. This really filled me up for the whole day. We then walked a short 30 mins through town to the Rijksmuseum, and took a picture outside at the I AMSTERDAM sign. Super cool and worth the walk! The Rijksmuseum is filled with famous Dutch art from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century. If you are an art lover, do it up. If not, you’ll save a nice 17EURO. The Van Gogh Museum is also in this area, and is worth a look too (if you’re an art fan). We walked back through the town and after looking around for the best price for a canal cruise, we hopped on one that was only 11EURO. This was the cheapest we could find - they can go up to 100EURO in some cases. The 11EURO cruise was perfect. It was 1 hour long in an enclosed boat about 50ft long, and seemed to be the exact same tour you would get if you paid a higher price. A canal tour is also a crucial activity to do while visiting, and was totally worth it! After the cruise, we crossed the street to the Sex Museum, and looked at some porn from the 1800s… Interesting!! It was way more educational than I thought it would be, and for only 3EURO, it was a good way to see something different. We grabbed some fries after that (Frites), and of course, you have to get them with fritssaus (that is what the guy there suggested to me). A medium size was 3.50EURO and I couldn’t even finish it. After eating, we went to Anne Frank’s House. 9EURO total, and this is such an iconic spot to visit while in Amsterdam, that we couldn’t miss it. We didn’t really plan ahead for this trip, and did the Anne Frank House last minute. If you have time, I would recommend booking tickets in advance (like, months in advance). They sell out SO fast, and between the times of 9am-3:30pm, you can only enter the house if you have bought an online ticket. We went at around 5pm and waited in line for maybe 45 mins before we got in the house (which wasn’t a huge deal). It was such an eye opening experience, though. To stand there where Anne and her family hid for 2 years during WWII was incredible – as a Canadian student that only learned about WWII in Grade 9 history class, the tragedies of that time felt so heavy and real in that moment. It was dark outside by the time we finished at the Anne Frank House, so we decided to walk to the bench that the actors of the Fault In Our Stars sat on in the movie. It looks like a normal bench, minus a few thousand signatures and quotes, and a couple locks on the sides. This is a totally free thing to do, and since it was only a few minutes away by foot, we checked it out. We headed back to the Red Light District and walked around there, after grabbing a Nutella filled snack and a tea at a little café on the way. It was super busy, and there were lots of pubs, bars, and shows that we walked past. These cost money to go in to, so if you’re down, go for it. But we decided to save and enjoy the outside atmosphere! I think we got the whole idea of the Red Light District just by looking at half-naked chicks through the windows. The next morning, we got up early and walked to the Floating Flower Market (Bloemenmarkt). There were so many cute flower shops, it was hard to stop the urge to buy every cute plant. I took lots of pictures though, which satisfied my need to buy something (sort of). This was free to do unless you decided to buy something there obviously, and the flowers, plants, seeds, etc, weren’t even that much. We stopped at a café on the way back to grab something to eat, then we headed to our bus stop! In 2 days, we managed to walk around the city, eat some traditional Dutch food, go on a canal cruise, visit the Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House, Red Light District, Dam Square, and Bloemenmarkt, all for less than 50EURO. Hell ya.
Till next time, Amsterdam. |
About Me.I love to share my experiences and opinions with anyone who has the time to listen. Follow my thoughts and adventures!! CategoriesArchives
March 2018
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