Author: Amber
-
Wicklow & Dublin
Next, I made my way to Dublin, hoping to get closer to the UK once my visa was sorted. But just a few days after arriving, I learned I’d need to return to Vienna to continue the visa process. Before heading back, I spent a week in a small seaside town called Wicklow — a place you might recognise from…
-
Bruges & Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve
The next stop on my solo travels through Belgium was Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, a small university town that was once part of Leuven. It’s not a typical tourist destination, but it gave me a refreshing window into everyday Belgian life — quieter, slower, and a little off the radar. I stayed with a friend I’d met through the…
-
Brussels
I took a day to explore Brussels — not enough to see everything, but enough to get a feel for the city’s contrasts. It’s a mix of ornate architecture, busy streets, quiet corners, and, of course, waffles everywhere. I started at Grand Place, which is as impressive as everyone says. It’s one of those rare tourist-heavy…
-
Leuven
I ended up in Leuven almost by accident. I joined a women’s travel group, made a friend, and stayed on her couch for the week. It turned out to be the kind of place that’s easy to settle into — walkable, friendly, and just the right size to get to know without needing a checklist.…
-
Klosterneuburg & Münchendorf
Once again, I travelled back to Vienna to try to finally sort out my UK visa. We arrived and dropped off my passport to the local immigration office, and were told it would be sent to the UK and should be returned in three weeks at the latest. Then, we headed out of the city…
-
Bologna
I spent a few days in Bologna. The terracotta buildings, long stretches of porticoes, and lived-in feel make it easy to settle into its rhythm. The Basilica di San Petronio on Piazza Maggiore was one of my first stops. It’s massive, slightly unfinished on the outside, and strangely fitting for the city — impressive without being showy. Inside, it’s…
-
Venice
The last stop on my two-week Central Europe adventure: Venice. This city had been on my bucket list ever since I was little, listening to my mum’s stories about the romantic canals, the pasta, and the magic of getting lost among bridges and cobbled streets. Finally, I was here. We arrived in the late afternoon and…
-
Lake Bled
Slovenia was one of the most beautiful places I have visited in Europe. Unfortunately, it was also where I was most unlucky. On the bus ride from Budapest to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, I managed to lose my wallet – which contained my passport, ID, and bank cards. I didn’t realise my wallet was missing until…
-
Budapest
We left Český Krumlov and arrived in Budapest in the early afternoon. Our first stop was the Dohány Street Synagogue — one of the largest in the world. The building’s Moorish Revival architecture was gorgeous, all stripes and domes and stained glass. From there, we strolled toward the heart of the city. We passed elegant boulevards and…
-
Český Krumlov
We took a train from Prague to Český Krumlov and arrived mid-afternoon. After checking into our accommodation, we set off on our first wander through the village. I’ll be honest — I’d never even heard of Český Krumlov before this trip. And yet, from the moment we arrived, I was overwhelmed by how authentically Czech it felt.…