Tag: casino

Aufwiedersehen Deutschland!

During our approximately 750 KM in Germany  while travelling from Frankfurt  to Berlin, stopping 3 nights in Cologne, we have noticed soooo many differences between this country and Spain and it was very interesting to do this comparison, although we are still at the beginning of this journey and we still have so much to learn!

 

Things we have learned about Germany:

-Pretty much everyone speaks English and is willing to help (not valid for mostly hop on-hop off  buses drivers, for the first time I had to be the calm  one while Charles was losing it and trust me that was an experience)

-They are much better organized, however also in Germany, lifts and aircon can be out of order!

–Public transports  are pretty much all accessible, however not all the subway stations do have lift so you better plan your trip in advance or hope to meet two muscly women like Jessie  and her twin sister just in front of the stairs

-It was still difficult to get an accessible taxi but  again we managed well to get everywhere with public transport

-The Hop on- Hop off buses are a great way to visit the city especially if you are on a wheelchair, however there are many company that provide  this service so better buy the ticket directly at the vendor place and discuss with them your needs. Moreover, some company have more modern vehicle than others and not all the old one have a ramp so better check directly on the spot. Finally, check carefully when the last trip is available or at 4PM you might end up losing all the fats that you were carefully an proudly saving!

–Beer is cheaper than water which is great for the environmet if you want to save water but  a bit less for your liver!

-If you spent too much money at the casino, a great way to have another income is standing in front of a crowded event with a trolley and collect plastic bottles! Yes, you do not only help the planet by recycling but you earn 0,25 € for each bottle that you deposit in special machine.  However this fee is added to the final cost of your plastic bottle when purchaising it.

-Germany had the record for the longest word in the world: “Rindfleischetikettierungsueberwachungsaufgabenuebertragungsgesetz”  which  in English becomes  “law delegating beef label monitoring” ! If you can pronounce it in one go you are certainly not a smoker!

-The Opera house in Berlin has available a service that allows you to read subtitles  just in the back of the seat in front of you if you are planning to go to see a performance and it is in German !

So now lets get ready for Czeck Republik which is the first country where I will actually not be able to communicate at all using the native language so maybe better download some swear words that hopefully we will never going to use! Not sure why but from my last visit to Prague there is only a useful word that I can remember which is “Pivo!” Not the best start ever but certainly I will never die of thirst!

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10 things NOT TO DO in Barcelona

1) Only drink Sangria

2) Miss on the Tapas at “Vinitus”

3) Wait for an accessible taxi without booking 24 hours in advance through the specific company number (actually, we should say: book an accessible taxi, because we did it 2 days in advance and it still did not show up! If it was not for our superhuman strength and all the calories/fats eaten at the buffet breakfast, we would have not been able to lift Charles’ muscly ass into a regular taxi and then missed the train to Madrid)

4) Wait for an accessible taxi without booking 24 hours in advance through the specific company number (actually, we should say: book an accessible taxi, because we did it 2 days in advance and it still did not show up! If it was not for our superhuman strength and all the calories/fats eaten at the buffet breakfast, we would have not been able to lift Charles’ fat ass into a regular taxi and then missed the train to Madrid)

5) Go to the Sagrada Familia without booking your ticket online and expect to visit the tower if you are on a wheelchair or have limited mobility

6) Expect everyone to speak English at the information centre

7) Expect to catch the metro from anywhere, because not all the stations have a lift. When you do find a lift, take a deep breath and hold it till you get out unless you like the smell of urine

8) Go to the Casino and expect to win (they want your money!)

9) Walk to the Cable Car to have a great view of Barcelona without checking the weather forecast

We were going to write 10 points but actually we could come up with only 9 because Barcelona is such a great and accessible place, however repeat point 3 or 4 for 500 times because this was such a biiiig thing!

And now,  let’s see what you have in stored for us Madrid!!!!!!!

 

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Beyond the trip..

“Be with someone who inspires you and makes you be the best version of yourself ” – Roy T. Bennett CHARLES YOU ARE MY INSPIRATION!

This is the background of this trip around Europe: approximately 2 years ago, in Perth, Western Australia, I met Charles, a lovely young gentleman, smart, clever, handsome “30 years old again” man (Charles you can deposit 100 euros in my account) and while sharing some amazing moments together, I still remember our talks where we were just mentioning about travelling and dreaming with our eyes open (well since most of our talks were at 6AM I can admit I was still sleeping and “sometime” drunk).

At the end of February 2019 I had to temporary leave Australia for some visa restriction, while waiting for my nursing degree to be recognized. Although on one hand I was a bit sad, on the other hand I was now able to hug my loved one in Italy after almost 2 years and a half!

An apparently normal morning, I still remember receiving a phone call from Charles with the big news: “I am organizing a trip to Europe, do you think you will be free by the end of June-July?” I think it took me 5 minutes to accept whatever the offer was! I still remember the long conversation of a lot of blabla words and then two keywords : “MotoGP” in Barcelona and “the Casino“, well I was sold already! (I think it is not too difficult to convince me).

After that, time flew away and in a blink of an eye it was June already! Charles, since I think he knows the big danger he was putting himself in, has decided to travel with Jessie one of the best nurse in W.A. who I think should also be a top model and we are going to share this adventure together! I am just worried about one thing: we are going to share a double room together and last time I did it, the roommate complained with the receptionist about a “truck” sleeping in the bedroom (well I do not know what that guy was assuming but I did not hear it!!)

Well this is just a short introduction of the background of this trip but the only important thing is the new story that we are about to write, because this is a new chapter.. so stay tuned for the new Novel written by Charles S.- Jessie L. and Veronica S. and see you in Valencia guys!!