backpacking Archives - Page 2 of 7 - Adventures with Lola

Budapest, My Hidden Treasure Chest

August 1, 2015 by Lauren

Budapest has quickly become a top backpacker destination in Europe, and it’s not hard to see why. The dollar and euro are super strong there ($1 is about 279 Hungarian forint), it’s filled with lush green spaces, the weather is lovely and perfect for walking everywhere, the buildings are vibrant, and there’s plenty to do!

I was lucky enough to have three nights here (usually I have 1-2 nights per city), so I was able to really explore the city. First and foremost, for a visit during the summer, you absolutely must visit one of the Budapest baths. Personally, I’m partial to the Szechenyi Baths.

Naked Talk: Baden Baden

July 30, 2015 by Lauren

The past six months have been all about pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and I would consider myself successful in that. However, a few weeks ago, I pushed myself out of the comfort zone outside my comfort zone, into a whole new zone that I’ve labeled “just let it happen.”

Surprisingly (or maybe not), I absolutely love this new zone.

Baden Baden is a resort town, filled with public fountains, luscious window boxes and greenery, biergartens, a close proximity to the Black Forest, and Roman-Irish Baths.

A Weekend in Venice, Italy

July 29, 2015 by Lauren

Venice, Italy was the last hurrah for my Mom and I’s journey for the summer. Here, my mom would depart on a 48-hour journey to arrive home, flying from Venice to Brussels, to Geneva, to Philadelphia, to Dallas. I would say my sad “ciao ciao” and fly on to Barcelona. Before this, however, we gave it our all in Venice. Always go out with a bang!

In Venice, because canals are the main method of public transportation, we took primarily waterbuses. These are slow-moving boats that ferry massive loads of people around the canals and to the lagoon islands. It might be tempting to grab a seat as soon as you get on, but the seated area is usually hot and stuffy; I’d recommend staying on the deck and looking at the scenery instead, where you can feel a lovely breeze to battle the intense summer heat.

Ljubljana, Slovenia

July 27, 2015 by Lauren

Ljubljana, Slovenia (pronounced loo-blee-awn-ah) is one of my favorite cities ever. I am in love with this country. It’s unbelievably clean (I didn’t encounter a single piece of trash the whole time I was there), the people are friendly, and everywhere I looked was absolute beauty.

Ljubljana is full of bridges with interesting names, such as the Cobbler’s Bridge, the Ugly Duckling, the Tripoli Bridge and the Dragon Bridge. Each one was more interesting than the last! My personal favorite was the Dragon Bridge. The dragon happens to be Slovenia’s national mascot!