DAY TWO MADRID

Day Two El Escorial

Thanks for hospitality of our host. We got breakfast and lunch to go. They are very nice. I don't know is it their habits or panicking. But I think they try to give everything in their fridge; orange juice, milk, bread, ham, all thing.

And they said "comer pochito" means less eat.

Today, we tried to explore this beautiful city of El Escorial. with map given yesterday by the group Leader, Pablo. We walked around and tried looking around. First we went to the cross from the picture in map. We walk and we found it in the up of the rock. And What we found, not only the cross but the graveyard.

The way to the cross

Horta Croce

El Escorial

Lost

Then we go to San Lorenzo Monastery, because The Pope Benedicto visited El Escorial.

From The Gate to The Monastery is very far. I think it's 1 KM. It's amazing you know that lots of Seniors want to walk that far to see Pope.

Way to Monastery

Monastery San Lorenzo

Pope 

Then after see the Pope pass through we back to station and go to Madrid.
1st we go to the park. Lot's of WYD pilgrim were resting and enjoying the summer in grass.
And inside the park, there was a glass house called Placa Crystal. Nothing there. I think it's usually used for any exhibition or events.

It's Beautiful actually. Good place for reception. I think one day I'll built a wedding venue like this inside the great park.

Placa Crystal

Palacio dela velasquez

 Well The Park is very hugeeee It's very tired just go there and very hot. I bet it's very gorgeous in Spring. The flower is very terrible in this summer, they were all dried.

Parque del Retiro

 And there was an incident. And the way we go solve it. I found strange building with green concept on the wall. I hope that not given the bad effect for the brick. That was Caixa Forum post modern art gallery

Vertical Garden, Caixa Forum

DAY ONE HOLA MADRID

August 18th

We arrived at Barajas Airport (Baca: Barahas), we picked by a family. Signor Carlos and Signora Pillar, their son in law Antonio and the grandchildren Alberto.
What ashamed. we don't know the family name.

We went to outside Madrid 45 minutes trip car to their house in El Escorial.
Calle de Gómez del Campo / Calle de Miguel Antona, An apartment right beside El Escorial Estacio, 1st Floor.

And thanks we attend the WYD 2011.
The packages include FREE TRANSPORT around Madrid. Woohoo....

From El Escorial - Madrid is around 45 minute-1 hour.... fuh long journey.
We stop at Atocha (the centre train station in Madrid)

If you hop off on Atocha. It's easy, because there are lotta places you need to visit around there.

 

all way road. people sit....wayyyyyyy

El Papa

Thousand? Million people? 

Waiting for Pope

Iglesia de San Geronimo

The picture is about around 8 in nite... you see how still in light?? 

Church or museum closed at 6:00

Jardin at Museo Prado

At Atocha Estacio

Lots pilgrim going back from seeing Pope

This is our spanish dinner. Tortilla, Ham, and other that we don't know the name

WHERE DO WE SLEEP

Hi people. here's the tips when you choose accommodation for your trip.
1 if you have money and want relax and enjoy the luxury, you can pick very nice hotel. But if you want to enjoy the city all day and just need to find place to sleep, bed and breakfast or a hostel are enough.
2. Price of hostel are various. You can find cheap or pricey. Just make sure it's easy to access.
3. Pay attention where the place are! How to get there? Is the area of tourism? The nearest the train station is better.
4. When you search the hostel or hotel, read the testimonial, other guests' experiences and points of accessibility, hygiene, hospitality.
5. The price you booked online is much cheaper than the real price. But sometimes the room you get from online booking isn't greater than you booked direct to the hostel.
6. But if you dare to jump on the day to any hotel. DON'T HESITATE TO BARGAIN!
7. Again!!!! Pay attention of your luggage. Please bring the luggage that you can lift. The hostel mostly in apartment and with so much levels. Maybe have elevator, MAYBE NOT. Prepared!!!!
8. Usually there is WiFi access.. relax.
9. Don't hesitate to ask for free map! discount coupon or ask for interest place.
10. Lock the luggage every time you leave the room, or do the shift bath time.
11. The locker usually pay, depend on the kindness of the lord land.
12. You can cook at the hostel if there is kitchen or pantry.
13. Almost forget. The bathrooms are usually shared for other guest. But you can find private bathroom (more pricey)
14. If you group trip. Make it evens. Because the hostel are usually divide in even beds in room (2, 4,6,8,10). It's bunk bed.
15. If you only want to share room with same gender. You can find room for females or guys only.


The price for the hostel are relatives. Here we give you the illustration from our last trip.
1. BARCELONA
Ona Barcelona Hostel

Consell de Cent 413 - 415,

2do 2da., Barcelona,      

info@onabarcelona.com  

www.onabarcelona.com                 

Price: 20 Euro/night

Shared with 10 beds. could be girls only, guys only, or mixed.

There is Air Con ( nice for summer)

There is elevator

On level 2 if I'm not wrong

Location: Need to take Metro. 30 minutes to Sants Station ( Metro+walk)

Locker pay

2. LOURDES

HOTEL MARIAL

77 rue de la grotte, Lourdes, France 

hotel.marial@wanadoo.fr

Price: 36 Euro/room (for 2 person)

1 King Bed/ 2 single bed

Yes They have elevator (but half way)

STAIR AGAIN

15 minutes walk from Station. 

Easy to go everywhere.

3. PARIS

HOTEL DARCET

4 Rue Darcet, Paris, Île-de-France, 75017, France

hoteldarcet@wanadoo.fr

Price : 65 Euro/2 person/room (PRICEY)

There is elevator

Location: Need to take metro. 45 Minutes to Gare lyon (Metro+Walk)

4. FIRENZE

B&B Masion

Via Cavour 15, Florence, Tuscany 50139

silviaberni@hotmail.com

Price: 15 euro + tourist Tax

NO ELEVATOR

Level 3 but double level

Location 15 minutes walk to Station

5. ROME

COCONUTS FEMALE HOSTEL

Via Giolitti 137, Rome, 00185, Italy

Price: 25 Euro

In front of Termini. VERY CLOSE

Clean

There is elevator

Nice lady (very clean lady)

Free locker

So what are you waiting for??? Plan your trip

                         

HOP ON HOP OFF

If you go to the multiple country and multiple city. I suggest you using the train. It's much more save than using low fare plane. Depend on the frequent and your destinations.

Check this website:
www.eurail.com

You can choose how many days and how many country you visit.
"Days means days of you using the train. One day you can take many train"

ATTENTION:
1. This is just Europass ticket. Not Include reservation
2. Take 2nd class. Cheaper
3. If you take the train that need reservation. You have to pay reservation. If you pay Europass for 1st class, you can book reservation for 2nd class.
4. If you don't want to book reservation. Find regular train! You can just hop on and bring your Europass.
5. Reservation fee: 3-20 Euro variatif.
6. Always chek the web. They usually give the special offers. Our last trip, we got 1 free day train trip.

You can check schedule, type of train through the website I wrote above or the local train:
www.renfe.com - Spain
www.treintalia.com - Italy
www. sbb.ch - Swiss
www.sncf.com - France
www.oebb.at - German

Here the illustration:
For 4 country and for 7 days
Europass ticket : E 349.75
For the reservation:
from Madrid - Barcelona : E 6.5
from Barcelona - Narbonne : E 9.5
from Narbonne - Toulose : FREE
from Toulose - Lourdes : FREE
from Toulouse  - Paris : E 15 (nite train)
from Paris - Nevers : FREE
From Nevers - Dijonville: FREE
From Dijonville - Lausanne : E 8
From Lausanne - Martigny : FREE
From Martigny - Sion: FREE
From Sion - Venezia St. Lucia : E 7
from Venezia M - Firenze : E 10
from Firenze - Pisa - Firenze : FREE
from Firenze - Rome : E 10

Almost forget:
Not all the train station got elevator available used except for disabled. So think again about the luggage.

Train in Europe is comfortable. There is space for luggage, electricity for you device. And sometimes the information destination in local language. Pay attention.

If there is something happening. like suddenly stop for enough long time. Ask your surround. The train may be broken and you have to move to another train.
"Don't ask, You missed the train"
Ready for hop on and off???

LEAVING ON JET PLANE

Well.... to get cheap flight isn't easy.
We are even bought our flight for August in December.

When you go to Europe, you better go on low season. March and April is the best, because it's spring. If you go i July or August.... kind of Hi Season because of lebaran and also holiday season for European. And If you go around October to December.... either lot shop are close (specially in Switzerland) or no tour agenda because it's too cold. And you have lotta baggage because of coat and thick clothes....

Here you can compare the plane to Europe.
1. Qatar (We got the best early bird price among other , E 1080. But not always the cheapest. Please compare with other because maybe you get special offer for you)
2. Emirates
4. Etihad
5. KLM
6. Luftansa (pricey)
7. Air China
8. Malaysian Air
9. Air Asia

ATTENTION:
1.  If you buy online it's cheaper than buy in front desk.
2. Means you need credit card. Full payment.
3. No return if you don't get the visa.
4. If you use other people card. That person needs to declare about you ticket. See the sales office for further information.

There are possibility that you don't get the direct flight to your destination. So you need to transfer to another flight. BECAREFUL. Prepare range time 2-3 hours, for delay. Better waiting than missed the flight. The flight schedule isn't everyday same.

Happy flight hunting

A lazy post travel

Huaaaaaaaa malesnya...........

back to reality and back to work again. Damn it.
And I'm lazy enough to post my picture here.(banyak yang burem soalnya)

Well... for the sake of next trip of friends who envy us for our trip.... we give you tips and clue....


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