In my last article, I mentioned the high exchange rate of the Euro, as well as the affordable promotional fares offered by some airlines that fly direct from Cebu to Europe, namely: Qatar Air, Cathay Pacific and Silkair/Singapore Airlines. Hence, it is an opportune time to visit the Old Continent, if you never have been there. Or make a return visit, as the varied countries in the Continent make real the childhood tales we have known, as told by Hans Christian Andersen and the brothers Grimm; then, our literary adventures with the likes of Chaucer to Thomas Hardy.
The most economical way of doing Europe is by a packaged tour. All accommodations and most meals are already inclusive of the fee. Additional costs will cover tips to tour guides and bus drivers/hotel bellmen who will take charge of luggage. Some most glaring disadvantages are the tight and oftentimes inconvenient schedules of these tours. Early breakfast, overnight hotel stays, long bus rides, quick meals and hurried visits to important sites. An outright advantage is that you get to see numerous places, safely and with an English-speaking guide. Needless to say, you must make sure that your travel agent is dependable, one who is experienced with European tours.
One of my dream destinations is the British Isles: preferably Scotland. I have been to London and some other places in England, like Bath, Oxford and Stonehenge. Yet, I have no idea of what it is to be in Scotland…and to be immersed in the strange language they have over there. From posters and photographs of its imposing castles, built mostly on cliffs and promontories, Scotland beacons to me with whiffs of melancholy romanticism and ghosts of fallen heroes.
Spain! The first time I went over there was when I was a wet-behind-the-ears college junior and stayed for a week in la Casa de Ejercicios in the heart of Catalonia. Since I was still taking Spanish subjects, then part of the basic college requirement for Liberal Arts, I could get by being a hesitant translator for my German and Asian confreres who wanted the Hermana Portera to open the side door for them later than the established curfew.
Because of our long established ties with the “Mother Country,” Spaniards everywhere are usually very warm when they realize you are someone from the Philippines. Although they always made a double take with me, mistaking me for a Japanese or Chinese, never a Filipina. Then, they presume that you know a smattering of Spanish, if not fluently speaking it. So, make sure that you brush up on your Spanish if you choose Spain as your destination.
Where in Spain? Anywhere is lovely! Then again, it depends on your preferences: if you are the religious type, do a Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. I am told by those who went through this walking pilgrimage, that it is an experience of a lifetime. Then, there is always Avila, of the Sta. Teresa fame, or the awe-inspiring climb to Monserrat for the veneration of the miraculous ancient image of Our Lady of Monserrat.
If you are into wines, then visit Jerez de la Frontera, the heart of Spanish wine country where you can have generous wine tasting among the bodegas or wine cellars. Of course, you must have a taste of their world-famous Sherries and brandies. If you are into art and culture, then the Prado Museum in Madrid is a must-see, as well as the Paleolithic cave paintings in Guernica and the fabled Alhambra – Moorish treasure in Spanish soil. Or the dynamic Catalan artistic milieu in Barcelona, where the whole place is a museum! Remember that this is Gaudy and Picasso country, what else can it be but a veritable hub of art?
Well, what can I say about Germany when all I can remember was the wet and the cold each time I was there? Frankfurt is like any major city in Europe, but down to Munich and Augsburg, the typical Bavarian warmth and the charm of its music and crafts are manifest. Heidelberg, of Jose Rizal fame, is an ancient university town with lovely castles and Renaissance extant edifices.
But, as I indicated in the title, one must focus in order to get the most of one’s European trip. Spend a longer time at a place where you feel happy. Look for an affordable hostel and scrounge around…there are many free sites in the Old Country. The parks are lovely picnic grounds where swans elicit peace and quiet in one’s soul. And don’t forget that camera. Images can last a lifetime!
Travel safely…and wisely!