In July, I (L) visited Amsterdam for the first time. Similar to my prior travel experiences in Poland, I received a few recommendations and travel tips from my Dutch colleagues who are also here on an international assignment. An initially planned solo trip turned out to be one full of company! In my 3 days spent in Amsterdam, I met up with a Singaporean friend / colleague, and coincidentally, made a friend of American-Korean descent also on a solo travel.

Through this post, beyond sharing my favourite (or rather, touristy) experiences, I will also be sharing some tips for first time travellers to Amsterdam to save time and disappointment!

Streets of canals & bicycles are a unique sight in Amsterdam.

What to do #1: Visit Rijksmuseum

Greeting visitors before the museum entrance is a beautiful Gardens. It was a warm greeting with the beautiful blooms during summertime.

This Dutch museum focuses primarily on arts and history, with a pretty extensive collection of Dutch artists' works. The most famous artwork here is the Night Watch, which I heard is the only artwork that has a special contingency planned in case of a fire or if any disaster strikes.

I must say, I am still at a "beginner" on the topic of art appreciation. I am keen to learn and be exposed more to this area. So, if you have tips or sharing, feel free to share them with me via email! Renting the audio guide was a good decision in going through the highlights of this big museum. I particularly enjoy the process of figuring out what the artist was trying to depict and subsequently, hearing the stories behind them through the audio guide. It amuses me, more often than not, when my interpretation is markedly different from the artist's. What I have learnt through having viewed some of these major artworks, is that historical paintings are sometimes used for propaganda purposes, depicting a different scene from what was reality. Also, famous artists enjoy putting themselves in the paintings, as part of the scene depicted. Is that their hope for a shot to fame or to make it seem like they are part of the elite / royal group's events and ceremonies?

A favourite from Rijksmuseum - "Dutch Lady" looking surprisingly peaceful.
This image exuberates a nice warmth & fuzzy feeling

Of the artworks that I had gone through here in Rijksmuseum, my favourite pieces are the Dutch Lady (pictured above) and the Cupyers Library (pictured below).

One of my favourites - "The Cuypers Library"
looks and feels so inviting.

Top Tip #1: Rijksmuseum & Van Gogh Museum are situated close to each other. Plan your itinerary in such a way that you visit them on the same day. They are also a couple of museums in this area. If you are a museum buff, make sure to plan well! Besides setting aside some time to go through them, do check also the museum's opening hours.

What to do #2: Visit Anne Frank's House, even if you had not read the Anne Frank's Diaries.

Anne Frank's Diaries has been translated to many different languages and has reached a worldwide audience.

Top Tip #2: Make an online reservation for Anne Frank's House, to avoid disappointment and long queues.

Starting with a tip for 2 reasons. Firstly, without an online reservation, you will have to wait till 3.30pm, where the doors are opened to the public. And secondly, you will have to join a really long "snaking" line, together with others who have not made one.

Anne Frank's House struck me hard for 2 reasons. One, this secret annexe was a real hide-out for a family and their friends', fearing for their lives (or deaths), in the not-too-distant WWII. Secondly, I visited the Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Krakow a few weeks ago, the visuals and stories of Prisoners-of-Wars were still fresh in my head.

The chestnut tree that still stands strong outside Anne Frank's House.
It feels like a "guardian angel" to this place, doesn't it?

What to do #3: Visit Van Gogh Museum

On a lighter and happier note, I enjoyed my visit to the Van Gogh Museum. This museum houses a series of paintings, drawings and letters by the famous Vincent van Gogh. As earlier mentioned, I have a really basic knowledge about art and the arts scene. Through this museum, I felt I had known a new person. A really talented individual of his time, who experienced sufferings. All these through his artworks, and short stories gathered from the audio guide.

Van Gogh enjoys painting self-portraits, through which
you can get a glimpse of how his life transformed with time. 

My favourite pieces from his collection include, the Sunflowers, and a scene that depicts 3 couples in a garden. I picked these up in postcards from the Museum Shop, which had now reached D's hands. His "Europe" postcard collection is definitely growing (with location and what I particularly like in each city) with my frequent weekend travels!

A painting that depicts 3 couples in a garden.
I love how each of them can be interpreted so differently, but still remain in context.

It was pity this talented artist suffered from mental illness. One of the craziest thing he did was to cut off his left ear and sent it to a brothel. As his illness increased in severity, he was subsequently sent to an asylum, where he eventually made the bold decision of committing suicide at a tender age of 37.

Top Tip #3: If you still have some time after Rijksmuseum & Van Gogh Museum and enjoy the contemporary arts, the Stedelijk Museum is round the corner.

What to do #4: Bask in the food scene

Food is often a big part of our travels. Beyond trying out traditional local foods & snacks (where else to find better right?), I can't miss checking out the best breakfast / brunch spots and am always in the hunt for the best coffee in town.

PS: Beware when you ask the locals where the best coffeeshop is, because you might be led to a shop that sells weed and not coffee! Proper, legit coffees are sold in "cafes". Weed is sold in "coffeeshops".

A fact indeed that in Amsterdam, you can find weed related products readily & easily!

Recommendation #1: The best stroopwafels can be found in Albert Cuyp Market & specifically, at this store called "Original Stroopwafels".

Stroopwafels from "Original Stroopwafels" in Albert Cuyp Market is a must-try!
The market close on Sundays. This photo taken is with the owner's son. The recipe is a family kept secret.

Freshly made stroopwafels are the best you can find,
and not to be missed when you are in Amsterdam!

An early start on my last day meant watching the Albert Cuyp Market open its doors to visitors. 

Recommendation #2: Dutch pancakes are not to be missed. I never knew pancakes were that big in the Dutch cuisine before my trip to Amsterdam. This was a personal recommendation provided. I came across a couple of different pancake stores on my trip there, but nothing beats this one that we visited - Pancake Upstairs! 

A cosy joint with just 4 tables, you MUST make a reservation before you visit. Each table only gets an hour to dine in, and the owner is not afraid to say no when reservations are full. There are no takeaways too, so be sure to reserve or be prepared to be disappointed (because they do receive reservation requests aplenty)!

Happiness spelt in my facial expressions when someone did not turn up for their reservations,
probably due to the storm that day, and we were really lucky to have a table!

We shared a savoury & sweet pancake.
Each pancake is made fresh on order and done on point.
The savoury one especially blew me away!

Recommendation #3: Did you know...Amsterdam is also known for its Apple Pies? Once again, my ignorance but I am thankful for the recommendations received all around! For the best Apple Pies in town, you need to have one at Dwinkel 43.

A place that specialises in Apple Pies, it was FULL HOUSE in the afternoon.
Thankfully this place allows takeaway, because people were flooding out of the cafe & lines are long.

Recommendation #4: Food is one thing that I would spend time and effort to research on before a trip. I recall D asking me once what my favourite food is, and I started listing them in this order: eggs done any style, although preferably poached, COFFEE, fruits, muesli, yoghurt, tomatoes, bread / pastry etc. And he said, you just want a breakfast buffet! That said, I love breakfasts, my favourite meal of the day because I believe in starting my day right. Of the breakfast spots I managed to check out on this trip, I recommend having brunch at Bakers & Roasters. A Kiwi (New Zealand) cafe that serves the best brunch (& possibly coffee too) in town. Go early to beat the crowds for brunch at Bakers & Roasters.

Recommendation #5: I never knew before, but food halls are a big thing in Europe. Since our trip to Lyon in France where we had a gastronomic experience of our lives, visiting the first food hall I have ever been in Europe, I look out for food halls in my various weekend city explorations. Food halls typically come in two forms. The first operate mainly from morning till late afternoon, where they offer a variety of fresh meats and produce and there are also stores that serve food by the bar. The second type operate from afternoon till late at night. They offer a variety of global food selections and play great music. One can always expect a bustling crowd. And in Amsterdam, the best place to have dinner is at Food Hallen. Not to be missed is a great Gin & Tonic cocktail bar on site!

I couldn't resist this Bitterballen tasting platter.
It consists of 5 different flavours -
1 traditional beef, 1 truffle, 1 bouillabaisse, 1 Tom Kah Khai and 1 goats cheese. 

This G&T bar on-site Food Hallen dishes out a great variety of G&T concoctions.

Recommendation #6: If you are on a healthy diet / lifestyle, besides the tasty but slightly sinful street food like Bitterballen and French Fries, there are also the healthier and inexpensive Herrings that you can also try!

Herring served sashimi style from street carts.
Slightly fishy, but when served fresh, they make a delicious snack!

A girlfriend who was in the Netherlands for exchange a couple of years ago, highly recommended a try at the french fries!
Quoting her, the potatoes here are so "sweet", you wouldn't believe it! To top it off, she had to mention that Singapore imports potatose from the Netherlands. Where else to get fresher?!
Vleminckx, apparently the most popular one here in Amsterdam, should not be missed!

Top Tip #4: The health food scene is pretty big in Amsterdam. So if you are a healthy eater, do check out Pluk for a tasty treat of acai bowls or Juice by Nature for a bottle of cultured Kombucha.

We were in love with this open concept kitchen!
Loads of fresh, vibrant colours - dream kitchen for the future.

I love acai bowls!
They are perfect as a sweet treat that still falls into the category of a healthy lifestyle.

What to do #5: Sign up for a Walking Tour

Whenever possible, I would start my trips with a walking tour. It quickly gets you to the "must-sees", and more importantly, the guides would share local insights and secret spots to visit which you would not get from searching on Google or reading travel guide books.

A walking tour offers insights to streets and buildings,
which we would have normally just walked past without knowing or thinking too much about.

I went on a free walking tour with Freedam Tours. It was a company started out of interest by a Geography teacher about 1.5 years ago. There are also a couple of other free walking tours available in Amsterdam, so pick feel free to just pick one that interests you or suits your travel schedule!

A beautiful day checking out the sights of Amsterdam.
This one taken at the Royal Palace.

The oldest church in Amsterdam, located right beside a canal.
This was the starting point for my walking tour.
Definitely iconic for Amsterdam!

What to do #6: Visit the Heineken Brewery for a Heineken Experience!

Did you know... Heineken originated from Amsterdam? 

It was shared that each horse here is named after a senior management
who made significant contributions to the Heineken business.
You know you had made a mark if you have a horse here. Each horse is also treated with utmost care, with a trainer dedicated to each of their lifestyle routines, & diet.

This is an experience not to be missed, even if you are not a fan of beers. Going through rooms of how beers are made, visiting horse stables (there is a history of Heineken & horses), followed by a 4D experience of the brewing process and finally ending the tour on a rooftop bar. The price of a ticket for the Heineken Experience also includes 2 beers (or soft drinks if you wish). It's a steal, isn't it?

What to do #7: Watch a local musical / concert / show

I did not expect to catch a local show here in Amsterdam and this was something decided on-the-fly. A Dutch colleague recommended checking out last minute discounted tickets, and I decided to go for "Boom Chicago - Shot of Improv". It was an extremely interactive show, with managing the participation from audience being key. As with all improvisations, the success of such shows was highly dependent on how well actors manage inputs from audience and think on the spot to create humour. 

Top Tip #5: Check here for last minute discounted tickets, with discounts as good as 50%. The catch, though, is you only get to see what discounted shows are available on the day itself.

What to do #8: Take a Canal Cruise

In a city renown for their canals, a canal tour is not to be missed!

Fun fact: The name of the city, Amsterdam is derived from its origins. A dam in the river Amstel.

Known as the "Venice of the North", Amsterdam houses a number of canals. Historically, this served the purpose of defense and water management. The modern day canals features streets with different "characters". This ranges from fashion, food, art etc.

A giant aquarium, also iconic to visit in Amsterdam!
Unfortunately, my 3 days in Amsterdam did not allow for this visit.

Views from the Canal Tour.
Fun fact: Houses in Amsterdam are built to an angle that leans slightly forward.
This is due to the narrow entrances & stairways, that requires large furniture to be moved into the apartment via the windows. With an angle that leans forward, it enables easier lifting of heavy and bulky goods up the apartment building.

What to do #9: Visit Zaanse Schaans (the land of windmills) for a day.

Zaanse Schaans has a beautiful collection of windmills brought from around the country!
Bidding the city landscape goodbye, it feels good to busk in the lands of mother nature.

If following the above recommendations still allows half a day more of explorations, why not consider exploring the outskirts of Amsterdam?

On my third and final day in Amsterdam, I decided to take a bus from Amsterdam Central Station to the Zaandam neighbourhood. Zaanse Schaans has a collection of 18th and 19th century windmills, houses that feature a variety of crafts and food, and museums (not pictured). 

Travel Tip: To get there, from Amsterdam Central Station, you can hop onto Rnet-bus 391, which departs approximately every 15 minutes. In the summer months of July & August, there is an additional option of riding on Rnet-bus 817 that departs from the same bus stop. Both options will bring you to Zaanse Schaans in 40 minutes.

Amsterdam is such a unique city. One that visitors can associate with the terms "canals", "Heineken", "red light district", "French Fries" and "coffeeshops". The city lives, breathes and thrives with vibrancy. Till the next time (hopefully with D ;))!

xx,

L

Easter is a festive occasion well celebrated in Poland, a country that remains religious to its Catholic roots. It commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and many would return home to spend some quality family time. As part of a long weekend, being a foreigner here, I took this opportunity to visit Brussels and Bruges in Belgium, where I had an absolute blast - basking in chocolates, beer, waffles and mussels - a weekend of fantasy really!

I experienced a slightly rocky start, first with a transit flight scare and subsequently, a train station fire scare. My flight route to Belgium was Krakow-Warsaw-Brussels and I only had a 30 minute transit time. My first flight leg was slightly delayed, but thankfully now I know that airlines typically wait for transit passengers. So phew, I made it albeit experiencing a slight heart attack. Immediately after arriving in Brussels, I headed straight to the airport trains leading to the city centre. Whilst waiting, I was told that the train would be delayed due to a fire that broke out at the central station earlier that morning. For how long, no one had any idea. I feared especially since reading terrorist attack articles that took place in Brussels just about a year ago. My instant reaction was to Google search "Brussels news today", but thankfully nothing relevant came up. I eventually made it onto the train, but instead of the promised 18 minute ride to the city, it took about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Bummer. 

By the time I arrived in the city center, the rain stopped and the skies started to clear up. I had to make some modifications to my itinerary and headed straight towards my first pitstop - Manneken Pis. This iconic statue of a boy peeing is popular with tourists and locals, and is often spotted sporting different outfits. Things started to look better from this point on as I was invited to share a free beer by a crowd infront of Manneken Pis. I later found out after speaking to the photographer that they were celebrating the new outfit change!

First tourist stop at the famous Manneken Pis
I am glad and honoured to participate in his new outfit change!

After a couple of photos, I was feeling slightly peckish. En route to the Grand Place, I picked up a liege waffle topped with bananas, strawberries and drizzled in chocolate sauce. YUM!

My favourite toppings all included -
Bananas, Strawberries and a generous topping of Chocolate sauce atop the freshly made liege waffle!

Waffle in hand, I walked into Grand Place and was immediately in awe of the beauty of the magnificent-looking Gothic structures. The 2D photos that I captured probably do not do this place sufficient justice given that once standing in the middle of the square, one is surrounded by these magnificent structures all around.

This photo was pretty challenging to snap given the busy tourist crowds!

I next headed to Fritland for some freshly made fries - frites as the locals would call it. I still cannot believe why one would ever order buns stuffed with fries, but they are apparently pretty popular here. I ordered fries served with a spicy mayo sauce and it was delicious! Piping hot fries on a cold day - I liked that the fries were chunky, made fresh and more importantly, soft on the inside and crisp on the outside.

Check out the long lines behind for the freshly cooked fries.
Thankfully their service was pretty efficient!

I then made a quick stop to check out Galeries Royales St Hubert, a 19th century shopping arcade with beautiful interiors.

I loved the perfect symmetry of this architecture.

After checking in to my accommodation, I headed to Chez Leon to grab a late lunch. It was about 2-ish pm and this popular restaurant was still packed full of people! Perks of a solo traveller is that you get "priority" in long waiting lines if you are open to the idea of sitting by the bar. I ordered the famous Moules-Frites (Mussels and Fries) which came with a beer. And yes, by lunchtime, I already had 2 beers!

The lunch set consisted of freshly cooked Mussels, fries and a small pint of beer.

It was late afternoon by the time I was done with lunch. My next stop was Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula, and thankfully I arrived just minutes before they closed. I was lucky to a catch glimpse of the Cathedral's interior and also learnt to input opening and closing times in my itinerary in future. A couple of tourists that came soon after me did not manage to enter as they were pretty strict with the closing time. The Cathedrals and Churches in Europe still have a strong WOW effect on me in terms of their grandeur and magnificence.

Check out the grand and magnificent looking interiors.

Crowds leaving the Cathedral as it was closing for the day.

An earlier than expected end for my Cathedral visit then led me to Palais Royal. This is the Royal Palace of Brussels and it overlooks a large and beautiful garden right.

The Triumphant Arc in Parc du Cinquantenaire was another beautiful architecture that I would highly recommend a visit. Situated in a park, this was quite a walk from the city centre, but well worth the effort!

A jumpshot captured in front of the Triumphant Arc!

A fellow instagrammer recommended that I try Maison Dandoy.
It is a must-try here in Brussels for their crisp and light waffles.
Made fresh, they have an open concept kitchen where one can view the whole preparation and baking process!

I was still pretty early for sunset (the sun was due to set around 8.30pm that day) and hence decided to take the local train out to the Atomium. This visit was more spontaneous than anything, especially given the late start in Brussels and that visiting the Atomium required taking the train out of the city centre. I am glad to have done so, and would have paid to enter if I had more time to spare.

A trick eye shot taken with the Atomium.

Last pitstop of the day was at Mont des Arts for sunset. One could walk through the huge garden and up the stairs for a viewpoint of the city. I absolutely loved how the colours blended as the last bits of sun rays signaled the end of the day.

Taken earlier in the day at the park before Mont des Arts.

I was feeling peckish and wanted a nice meal to end my day. Sadly however, having no prior reservations in the densest European city by square foot meant that I had to settle! I spotted a crowded bar by the main street and headed in. Following a 40 minute wait, my day of adventure in Brussels was closed off with a steak.

Stay tuned for the next update on Bruges!

xx,
L

Poznan is located in the western part of Poland, and is the fifth largest Polish city by population. Even though Poland is better known for its Big Three Cities – Krakow, Warsaw and Gdansk, a trip to Poznan is still worthy for its rich historical sites.

Poznan is located about 480km from Krakow and takes approximately 5 hours by the intercity train. Even though I previously drew up an itinerary for this trip, recommendations from colleagues in my team slowly trickled in on accommodation, dining spots and sights, so much so that my initially relatively relaxed trip wound up as a pretty fun filled adventure!

Day 1:

Breakfast at Minister Cafe

I took the first train out from Krakow to Poznan and managed to arrive in Poznan by 10am. Food is really important to me, hence whenever I travel, I will be sure to do up a foodie list. This list would often include, what is best locally, healthy food joints, cafes / bakeries and one or two slightly more "fine" restaurants. That said, Minister Cafe is highly rated in Poznan for its freshly made toasties. I ordered the avocado, fried egg and arugula sandwich, served with a homemade aoili sauce. A great, healthy combination for breakfast, with all my favourite ingredients! I recall D and I chatting once about our favourite foods - D loves chicken rice whilst I can eat eggs and toast pretty much all day err day.

Minister Cafe - Fried Egg, Arugula and Avocado Sandwich served with Homemade Aioli

Poznan Old Town Walking Tour

After brunch and a quick check-in at the hotel, I headed straight for the Old Town Walking Tour. The tour started with a big crowd of us gathered at the Market Square. At 12 noon, it is a tradition for two billy goats to make their entrance above the clock tower and perform a "headbutt" to each other. There is a folktale from back in the day that the town was celebrating a fight victory when the chef realised that too many people had turned up for the celebratory meal. He was flustered due to the potential lack of food and went in search for a billy goat. Instead of finding one, he found two! And both started to fight for its own survival. How true is this story? Well, I heard it from the local guide on our tour.

At 12 noon, the two billy goats will greet the market square crowd with a head-butt routine.

Poznan's beautiful market square from a distance.

St Martin's Croissant Museum (Rogalowe Muzeum) Baking Class

I my next pitstop in held high anticipation, as there was going to be a hands-on experience of baking croissants. They are by no means like French Croissants, instead these are St Martin's Croissants and there is a story behind them. In 1891, Martin was a priest who wanted to help the poor with food. After the loss of one of his horseshoes, he had the inspiration to create these croissants. It is filled with different ingredients and is a pretty dense croissant compared to the French Croissants. St Martin's croissants are only allowed to be baked in Poznan and must weigh between 150g to 250g. On 11 November every year, the city celebrates St Martin's Day by eating these croissants by the lake to commemorate him.

St Martin's Croissant must weigh between 150g to 250g.

Try my hand at making the St Martin's Croissant.

It is important to have fun in the kitchen!

Castles

After the St Martin's croissant museum tour, I decided to make a detour to the Imperial Castle and another castle for a view of the market square from atop. A pretty good decision given the pleasant weather that weekend, where I had a bird's eye view of the entire town from a distance away. I enjoyed this serene view, away from the hustle and bustle of the city's crowds.

Mid day sweet treat.

St Stanislaus Church

Even though we covered this sightseeing spot during the walking tour, it was brief and difficult to capture nice photos worthy of this beautiful church with a crowd of people. Hence, I made a second visit in the afternoon, where it was quieter, to take some photos of this beautiful structure and its magnificent looking organ.

Grand looking organ in Basilica of St Stanislaus.

Before heading for dinner at this restaurant recommended by a colleague, I went back to the hotel for a quick recharge of my phone. Yes, I still refuse to buy a replacement portable phone charger. D & I had a short chat before I headed out. What he does not know was that I only left the hotel 10 minutes after we both hung up because I was writing him a postcard, which he received just two days ago!

Dinner at Papierowka

Dinner was romantic in ambience as the restaurant was set in the midst of greenery and a playground. There were fairy lights in the outdoor section which made this place feel incredibly dreamy. What I liked about this place beyond the setting, was that their menu only had ONE bestseller / recommended item. This helps brilliantly with decision making! I ordered that ONE recommended dish - a duck fillet, which was done beautifully. Post dinner, I felt a need for a sweet treat and went along with the waitress' recommendation of a coconut cheesecake. Rich and creamy but not overpowering, it was a good recommendation! Overall, I had an amazing dining experience here, both in terms of food and service. Highly recommend a visit here for those of you who live or are planning a visit to Poznan.

An amazing duck fillet from Papierowka.

Ending dinner on a sweet note - coconut cheesecake.

The Old Brewery 50-50

Set in an Old Brewery, no, this is no longer a brewery. Instead, it experienced a makeover and is now a popular shopping mall. I reckon it is still relatively new / young, given quite a few shopfronts are either still under renovations or un-tenanted.

Brovaria

Last stop of the day was one of initial hesitation. I had a super filling dinner, but was keen to try out this beer house, recommended by a colleague once again. Decided to kick the doubts away, and just headed in to try out the beers offered in the house. I found out later that the beers were made behind the restaurant and you cannot get a "fresher" beer elsewhere. I went for the tasting platter which came in a mix of three different beer types - Pilsner, Honey Beer and IPA. I enjoyed the Pilsner the best, which often is the safest beer choice in my opinion! 

Beer tasting platter from Brovaria.

Day 2:

Started this day with one hour lost in my sleep! Daylight savings kicked in on this last Sunday of March. Instead of lamenting about having to wake up an hour earlier, I was glad to have more daylight. More importantly, D is probably glad that he will get to sleep slightly earlier! :P 

Citadel Park & Fort

About 10 minutes walk from my hotel is this beautiful park with a war memorial. D had accompanied me on this excursion and I am glad to have my travel partner. I showed him in excitement of the beautiful sights. Somehow we wished the world is much smaller than what it is.

Technology is amazing! Facetiming D and having him accompany me for parts of my travels.

Amazing weather for the park!

Brunch at Lars, Lars and Lars

In Poland, cafes open later on the weekends, hence after visiting Citadel Park, it was a perfect time to squeeze in some brunch. Lars, Lars and Lars is a cafe by day and bar at night, and occupies a pretty spacious ground. I ordered the Shashuka, which was pretty popular here. The portions were generous and I particularly enjoyed the creative and freshly baked bread. YUM.

A great way to kickstart a full day of activities with this Shashuka!

Cathedral Island

This was definitely one of the highlights of my trip to Poznan. Little did I expect Cathedral Island to be so beautiful. The following photos would probably do more justice to the beauty of this place, more so than my words can convey :)

Definitely did not expect to be greeted with this beautiful sight on Cathedral Island. 

Can't miss a tourist moment. Somehow this bridge structure reminded me of Universal Studios?!

Lake Malta

My last sightseeing spot was at this famous lake. Thankful for the really pleasant weather, with the water reflecting the blue skies. It was a perfect day to be out without the humidity. A pity that there are no restaurants surrounding the lake as it would have been great to lay on the grass with a beer in hand.

Lake Malta.

Weranda Caffe & Ristorante

I mis-calculated the amount of time I would take for lunch and by the time my food was served in this cafe, I had to gobble it down quickly, before dashing back to my hotel to pick up my luggage. I ran to the train station at pretty much at top speed. Thankfully I have been sticking to a relatively healthy regime here, so much so that I managed to buy a sandwich for dinner onboard the train and boarded my train 5 minutes before its departure! This cafe had a beautiful interior and pity that I did not have the opportunity to enjoy a slow meal, instead having to rush so that I did not miss my train back to Krakow. Lesson learnt.

Till the next adventure xx,
L