DAYS 4 AND 5 - PRAGUE

I left Salzburg feeling, for the first time during my tour, that the two days I spent there were not enough. But my next stop was Prague and I was looking forward to seeing this city, too. A friend had showed me photos of Prague once, and the place looked amazing. Plus, there’s also this local TV series that showed interesting scenes from Prague.

From the Sound of Music Tour, I made it to the Salzburg main train station with plenty of time to spare. I was there about an hour before my departure. To get to Prague, I had to change trains in Linz, which was an hour away from Salzburg. From Linz, it would be about 3 hours to get to Prague.

My arrival in Linz would be just 20 minutes before the train to Prague leaves the station. I knew that I would be in a tight schedule and I had to be able to disembark from the first train, find the schedule board for the station in Linz to see which platform my next train would be in, find that platform, find the 2^nd class couches, and board the train in about 10 minutes to be safe.

Unfortunately, the train from Salzburg to Linz was a bit late. I arrived in Linz about 10 minutes before the scheduled departure of my next train. I had to run through the platforms, all the while carrying my heavy backpack and pulling my heavy luggage behind me.

I barely made it to the train. The train started moving about 30 seconds after I boarded J. I was pretty tired by then so I immediately fell asleep as soon as I found my seat.

I arrived in Prague at around 6:00 pm and went straight to my hotel to get settled in. I budgeted 2 nights in Prague, so I wasn't in a hurry to explore the city as soon as I arrived. I figured I’d have enough time to do that the next day.

Maybe because my expectation of Prague was too high that I was a bit disappointed of what I saw. Or maybe because I came from a gorgeous city like Salzburg that Prague looked a bit average in comparison. Whatever the reason, the place didn't look as enchanting or as magical as I thought it would be.

There were some interesting places worth noting, though. Like the old astronomical tower in the center of town, right beside their old town hall. Or Charles Bridge leading to the Prague Castle. And of course, Prague Castle itself.

All in all, I guess Prague is still worth visiting, but maybe not for as long as the two days I spent there, given the time constraints I had.

Taylor Swift Day

I have this tendency to get addicted to random things. And by "addicted", I mean ADDICTED - I crave for it everyday, and feel that something's missing if I don't get it.

Anyway, right now Im addicted to a few things :

- Dried mangoes

- The TV series "House", "Grey's Anatomy" and "How I met your mother"

- Taylor Swift

The Taylor Swift addiction only started when I was on my tour. I couldn't sleep in my hotel rooms 'cause I get this creepy feeling whenever Im alone in an unfamiliar place. So I kept the laptop turned on and played the songs I had in my playlist.

Thanks to my sister who uploaded them without my knowledge, my playlist included 4 Taylor swift songs - three of which I found I liked and could relate to. I know, I know, her songs are for tweens. But I like it and Im not about to deny myself the pleasure of listening and singing along to her songs. Hehe.

I just wanted to post the lyrics of her 3 songs that I really like. Just to I'd always remember that Im still capable of feeling like a tween once in a while... :-)

****************************************************************************

TEARDROPS ON MY GUITAR

Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won't see
That I want and I'm needing everything that we should be
I'll bet she's beautiful, that girl he talks about
And she's got everything that I have to live without

Drew talks to me, I laugh cause it's just so damn funny
That I can't even see anyone when he's with me
He says he's so in love, he's finally got it right,
I wonder if he knows he's all I think about at night

[Chorus:]

He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do

Drew walks by me, can he tell that I can't breathe?
And there he goes, so perfectly,
The kind of flawless I wish I could be
She'd better hold him tight, give him all her love
Look in those beautiful eyes and know she's lucky cause

[Repeat Chorus]

So I drive home alone, as I turn out the light
I'll put his picture down and maybe
Get some sleep tonight

He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only one who's got enough of me to break my heart
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do
He's the time taken up, but there's never enough
And he's all that I need to fall into..

Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won't see

_____________________________________________________

Invisible

She can't see the way your eyes will light up when you smile
She never noticed how you stop and stare whenever she walks by
And you can't see me wanting you the way you want her
But you are everything to me

And I just want to show you, she don't even know you
She's never gonna love you like I want to
And you just see right through me but if you only knew me
We could be a beautiful miracle, unbelievable
Instead of just invisible, yeah

There's a fire inside of you that can't help but shine through
But she's never gonna see the light, no matter what you do
And all I think about is how to make you think of me
And everything that we could be

And I just want show you, she don't even know you
She's never gonna love you like I want to
And you just see right through me but if you only knew me
We could be a beautiful miracle, unbelievable
Instead of just invisible

Like shadows in the faded light, oh, we're invisible
I just wanna open your eyes and make you realize

And I just want to show you, she don't even know you
Baby, let me love you, let me want you
You just see right through me but if you only knew me
We could be a beautiful, miracle, unbelievable
Instead of just invisible, oh, yeah

She can't see the way your eyes will light up when you smile

__________________________________________________

You Belong With Me

You're on the phone with your girlfriend, she's upset
She's going off about something that you said
'Cause she doesn't get your humor like I do

I'm in the room, it's a typical Tuesday night
I'm listening to the kind of music she doesn't like
And she'll never know your story like I do

But she wears short skirts, I wear T-shirts
She's Cheer Captain and I'm on the bleachers
Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
That what you're looking for has been here the whole time

If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along, so why can't you see?
You, you belong with me, you belong with me

Walking the streets with you and your worn-out jeans
I can't help thinking this is how it ought to be
Laughing on a park bench, thinking to myself
Hey, isn't this easy?

And you've got a smile that could light up this whole town
I haven't seen it in a while since she brought you down
You say you're fine, I know you better than that
Hey, what ya doing with a girl like that?

She wears high heels, I wear sneakers
She's Cheer Captain and I'm on the bleachers
Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
That what you're looking for has been here the whole time

If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along, so why can't you see?
You belong with me

Standing by and waiting at your back door
All this time how could you not know?
Baby, you belong with me, you belong with me

Oh, I remember you driving to my house in the middle of the night
I'm the one who makes you laugh when you know you're 'bout to cry
And I know your favorite songs and you tell me 'bout your dreams
Think I know where you belong, think I know it's with me

Can't you see that I'm the one who understands you?
Been here all along, so why can't you see?
You belong with me

Standing by and waiting at your back door
All this time, how could you not know?
Baby, you belong with me, you belong with me

You belong with me
Have you ever thought just maybe
You belong with me?
You belong with me

DAYS 2 AND 3- SALZBURG

I wasn't able to go online during my trip, but I kept a virtual diary of my experiences per city so I wouldn't forget, then just post them online when I've got time.

Will just post them one by one in the next few days...

*********************************************************************

I already had a good impression of Austria, based on what I’d seen in Innsbruck. Plus, Salzburg was highly recommended by the staff from the Swiss embassy – that’s why I believed him, because he sounded more impressed with Salzburg than with any other Swiss city. Hehe

And he had reason to be. Salzburg really was GORGEOUS! The city itself looked like something out of a fairy tale. Even the residential buildings looked great. The view of the Alps from the city wasn't as good as it was in Innsbruck, but it still looked beautiful as a background to Salzburg’s interesting structures.

Most of the city’s highlights are within walking distance from each other, so it was easy to go see them. I dropped by the house where Mozart was born and where his family lived until he was about 14 years old.

I went to see the Salzburg cathedral, from where I saw this small alley going up that people seemed to flock towards. Curious, I followed them and saw that the alley led up a hill. It seemed like a good idea, so I went along. The climb was a bit tricky as some of the old snow had hardened and made the road slippery. Part of the way had stairs and I had to hold on tight to the railings to make sure I didn't slip.

The road led us to a place called “Fortress Museum” which had an overlooking view of the city. From there, you could see the turrets and the roofs of most buildings, as well as the Alps. I was there around 3:00 pm, and there was a good sunshine then, so the view was really pretty then.

From there, I walked around some more to get a really good feel of the city before heading back to my hotel for a good night’s rest. I had an early start the next day for the “Sound of Music” tour, which I was really looking forward to.

The next morning, I was up at 5:00 am to dress up and prepare my things. I would be heading straight to the train station after the tour, so I had to check out before I left.

The tour cost me 33 euro – a bit steep, but I really wanted to see the sights shown in the brochure, which included some parts of their countryside. When the tour started, I was starting to regret paying so much for it, because the guide took us to the parts of the city that I’d already seen the day before.

But when we started to leave the city, the tour got better. We first passed by the Nunnberg Abbey where Froilan Maria used to be a nun. From there, we went to the Von Trapp Mansion and the lake where the kids fell from a boat while singing. Those areas were closed off to the public, though, so we were only able to get a glimpse from afar, but it was still a nice experience.

We also went to the glass pavilion where Louisa and Frederick went around dancing and singing “I am sixteen going on seventeen…. Blah blah blah”. And all throughout our trip, our tour guide played the different sound tracks from the movie. And my tour mates were such fanatics that they all sang along. I felt like the contrabida for not singing along with them (Im not THAT familiar with the movie after all). Hehe.

The highlight of the tour for me, though, was the trip to Lake Wolfgang. The view there was really, really breath-taking – and I got the photos to prove it! Just for that, my 33 euro was well worth it.

Lastly, we went to the Mondsee Cathedral where the wedding scene was taken. It was also a nice place, though not as wonderful as the area near Lake Wolfgang.

All in all, it was a trip really worth taking. Though I spent quite a lot there, I don't regret a single cent.

That's Mom

Copied from a friend's post -

"When I came home in the rain, my brother asked, why didn't you take an umbrella...

Sister advised, you should have waited til the rain stopped...

Father angrily warned, only after getting colds, you will realize...

But Mother, while drying my hair, said, stupid rain! Couldn't it wait, till my child came home?"

Downside

I love to travel. Old places, towns, and buildings fascinate me. I sometimes think I used to be a princess in my past life,mainly because I feel at home in palaces (as if! :D ).

Im happy that I get to do that more often than I used to, but I've realized that there are several downsides to traveling like this as well :

- I've been freezing for 10 days straight now

- Though English is supposed to be a universal language, I've found that I have to communicate mostly by hand signals to get myself understood in most places

- I'm dying to eat rice but can't find any that I can afford (i keep converting the rates to peso and I cant make myself buy it in the end)

- My feet are throbbing from combined cold and fatigue

- My entire body hurts from the long train rides and the long walks around town

But I think a few weeks down the road, all these will be forgotten and all I'll have left are good memories of another dream come true... :)

Day 1 - Innsbruck, Austria

I was not able to write down my travel experiences last year for reasons I dont remember anymore. I regret that now, though, because I have forgotten most of the smaller details of that trip. So I promised myself that it wont happen again, now that I'd gotten a second chance.

Anyway, the first day on my tour is ending. Im now relaxing in my warm hotel room after hours of traveling and walking.

I arrived in Innsbruck from Cologne last night. It was a 5-hour train ride : 3 hours from Cologne to Munchen, where I changed trains, then another 2 hours from Munchen to Innsbruck. In short, I was dead tired by the time I arrived at the Innsbruck main train station at around 9:00 pm.

I booked a room at a budget hotel because firstly, Im traveling on a budget and secondly, it made no sense to pay a lot for a room that I only need to sleep in for a few hours.

Anyway, the hotel was a bus ride away from the main train station. Following the instructions I was given, I walked about 200 meters to get to the bus stop (I had to walk around in circles for a few minutes before I finally found the landmark).

At the bus stop, there was a ticket machine with - guess what - no english instructions. I tried to follow the arrows and picture signs and failed to get a ticket for about 5 times. I tried using credit card, then coins, then credit card again – to no avail.

Fortunately, a helpful stranger approached me and explained that the machine could not give out change, which was why my coins kept getting rejected. Unfortunately, I did not have the exact amount of coins needed for the ticket. Fortunately again, the helpful stranger shelled out her own cents to help me out – I was about 30 cents short. Thanks to her, I was able to get my ticket.

To make a long story short, I was finally able to get to my hotel and get a badly needed good night’s sleep. Before checking out the next day, I spent like 15 minutes looking for the important things I needed that I couldn't remember where I placed. Things like my passport and my wallet.

I was starting to regret stopping over in Innsbruck, like it was a waste of time and money, plus I had experienced so much hassle in my short time there.

But as I went outside the hotel, the view took my breath away. The Alps greeted me from the hotel doors. The view was so beautiful! The song “the hills are alive…with the sound of music” kept playing around and around in my head.

I don't know how else to describe the view, but let me put it this way – if you were an atheist and you saw it, you would start believing that there is a God. How else can something as wonderful like that happen?

From Innsbruck, I took a 2-hr train ride to Salzburg. The view on the way was still so beautiful it was worth the fare I had to pay. I arrived in my hotel in Salzburg about 2pm today and went on a walking tour immediately afterward.

But Im sleepy now and need to rest for a full day ahead. More about my day in Salzburg tomorrow…

EMO

Eto na ang valentine's bugggg! arrrgghhhh

*********************************************************

I can't believe what i just heard
Could it be true
Are you the boy I thought I knew
The one who promised me his love
Where did it go
Does anybody ever know

How do you heal a broken heart
That feels like it will never beat this much again
Oh no
I just can't let go
How do you heal a broken heart
That feels like it will never love this much again
Oh no

Tonight I'll hold what could be right
Tomorrow I'll pretend to let you go
And were you ever what you seemed
Or was I a fool who fell in love
With her own dream

And now you say you want to leave
Start a new life today
Those words I thought you'd never say


Tonight I'll hold what could be right
Tomorrow I'll pretend to
Wake and put it all behind me
And find that I have finally found
A new life
In my soul
And find that I know how to let you go

-Chris Walker


You give your hand to me
And then you say, "Hello."
And I can hardly speak,
My heart is beating so.

And anyone can tell
You think you know me well.
Well, you don't know me.

No you don't know the one
Who dreams of you at night;
And longs to kiss your lips
And longs to hold you tight
Oh I'm just a friend.
That's all I've ever been.
Cause you don't know me.

-Ray Charles


I've been watching your world from afar,
I've been trying to be where you are,
And I've been secretly falling apart,
I'll see.

To me, you're strange and you're beautiful,
You'd be so perfect with me but you just can't see,
You turn every head but you don't see me.

I'll put a spell on you,
You'll fall asleep and I'll put a spell on you.
And when I wake you,
I'll be the first thing you see,
And you'll realise that you love me.

Sometimes, the last thing you want comes in first,
Sometimes, the frist thing you want never comes,
And I know, the waiting is all you can do,
Sometimes...

-Aqualung

a friend's reply

,,how I wish that someone is
wishing me what
you`re wishing for
him to do..
..so much time wasted
how can you let that happen?
your feelings for him overflows
you should have made it known
but instead you let your chance pass you by
then here you are..wishing..
you could have gotten what you want
he is worth the try right?

I miss You

Yes, I do.

I know that you see me only as a friend, so this may come as a shock to you. But I really, really miss you.

I miss how your smile brightens up the room for me.

I miss how you make me laugh so hard that Im in tears.

I miss teasing you.

I miss the way I make you laugh.

I miss how comfortable you make me feel.

I miss our conversations.

I miss that cute nose that I envy so much .

I miss spending time with you, even if we dont get together that often.

I miss your jokes.

I miss the way you make me blush.

I miss how you always remind me to take care of myself while trying not to show how concerned you are.

I miss YOU.

How I wish you would miss me too...