Europe: Switzerland, Belgium, Italy (Part 2 of 2)

It still feels surreal that I’m already in Europe. After exploring the key cities in Spain, France and The Netherlands, I can’t wait to be in Switzerland and see the Alps for real. 

But prior going to this “best country in the world” (according to Best Countries Report 2019), we first made a detour to Belgium. Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is considered the de facto capital of European Union, having a long history of hosting its institutions. The most visited landmark of the city is the Grand Place, which true to its name looks extremely grand and undeniably gorgeous. Yun nga lang hindi mahulugang karayom sa dami ng tao ang pumapasyal. This central square, known as one of the most beautiful in Europe, is surrounded by opulent guildhalls, city's Town Hall, and the King's House. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.

Belgium’s second city, Antwerp, is more relaxed with less traffic of tourists, compared to Brussels. Known for its diamond industry, the city’s Flemish Renaissance architecture is typified by the Grote Markt, a stunning central square in the old town.

And since we are in Belgium, di na rin namin pinalampas ma-try ang famous Belgian waffle, Belgian chocolate and Belgian beer. We missed the Belgian fries though.

After Belgium, we took an overnight bus to our 5th  destination country. Switzerland is perhaps the most beautiful among all the countries we visited, in terms of terrain and mountainscape. It is also one of the most expensive European countries to live in (and among the EU countries, sila lang ang di gumagamit ng euros as they still prefer to use their local currency). Buti na lang we were hosted by Labat Delmer (Ivanya’s boss), his son Omar and the POLO officers who served as our tour guides.

Our tour started in the Old City of Bern. Built on a hill, the medieval city is surrounded by River Aare. Its historic buildings, Renaissance fountains and bridges, were impressively preserved and has remained essentially unchanged since its construction during the 12th to 15th century. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983 due to the compact and generally intact medieval core.

We briefly visited the Albert Einstein Museum. Just a trivia, Einstein developed his Theory of Relativity during a time when he lived in Bern from 1903 to 1905.

And got mesmerized with the bears at Bärengraben or Bear Pit, which is a Swiss heritage site. Nung una mahiyain pa ang mga bears, pero nung papaalis na kami biglang nag-show-off. 

We then proceeded to another astonishing medieval town - Gruyères. The charming village is known for its Gruyere cheese (perhaps the finest cheese in the world), and the Castle of Gruyères. The castle has stood proudly atop a verdant hill since the 13th century. Today, the medieval fortress houses prestigious collections that bear witness to its long and eventful history.

We also dropped by the “Olympic Capital” of Lausanne in Vaud (because the city hosts the International Olympic Committee and some 55 international sport associations), and the International Labour Organization and United Nations in Geneva.

In Geneva, there is a marker installed at Lloyds Bank Building along the Rue de Rhone (one of the city’s busiest streets) to commemorate the visit to Switzerland of then 26-year-old student Jose Rizal. It’s a cultural and historical spot of interest especially for Filipinos.

The winter wonderland of Matterhorn in Zermatt is absolutely, hands down, the best destination we’ve been to in Europe. Straddling the border between Switzerland and Italy, it is one of the highest summits in the Alps and Europe, with near-symmetrical pyramidal peak. It is an inspiration for the shape of the world famous chocolate Toblerone. Medyo may kamahalan lang sya (taking train and mountain railway) but so sulit and brrrrr so lamig. The view at the summit is certainly spectacular, heavenly.  

After our amazing adventure in Switzerland, we were off to our last country destination, Italy. Italians love to call their country “Bella Italia”, and truly even Filipinos could attest since majority of Filipinos in Europe has made Italy their home.

Rome is incredibly tourist friendly and easy to navigate as the main points of interest are within walking distance from one another. The Roman Forum, the teeming heart of ancient Rome, is surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings. For centuries, it was the center of day-to-day life in Rome, and has been called the most celebrated meeting place in the world, and in all history.

The Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world. Siksikan nga lang bago makalapit and make a wish!

The Colosseum, the largest structure left by Roman antiquity and the biggest amphitheatre ever built, looks imposing. Completed in AD 80, it could hold a maximum of 80,000 spectators, and was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. Although partially ruined because of damage caused by earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum is still an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome and is listed as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

The Vatican City is an independent, ecclesiastical city-state enclaved within Rome. With an area of 44 hectares, and a population of about 1,000, it is the smallest sovereign state in the world. It is ruled by the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church. We entered the St. Peter's Basilica (the largest and the mother of all Catholic churches in the world), the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums. I was amazed and extremely happy to finally see the Sistine Chapel ceiling, which was painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. This was the highlight of my Vatican visit. Grabe ang siksikan sa loob, parang rush hour sa LRT and MRT, talo ang Mona Lisa Room sa Louvre. At kahit bawal to take photos, I did. Mea culpa!

The trip to Italy would not be complete without munching on pizza, pasta and gelato! All throughout my stay, pakiramdam ko puro keso laman ng katawan ko.

After Rome we transferred to another charming city – Florence or Firenze. The capital city of Tuscany region, is the birthplace of the Renaissance, and has been called "the Athens of the Middle Ages". Truly, art connoisseurs and enthusiasts will love Florence. We visited Duomo Cathedral, Baptistery of St. John, Ponte Vecchio, Boboli Gardens, Piazzale Michelangelo, and my favorite Uffizi Palace and Gallery, where Botticelli’s masterpiece - Birth of Venus - is displayed.

We then proceeded to Milan. Labat Corina and POLO staff in Milan hosted our stay in the fashion capital of Italy. Aside from the high-end shopping malls, there’s not much to see in the city except of course the Duomo di Milano, the third largest church in Europe.

Our hosts also toured us around Lake Como, which is more than an hour away from Milan. The lake has been a popular retreat for aristocrats and wealthy people since Roman times. The Huffington Post even called it the most beautiful lake in the world for its microclimate and elegant villas and palaces. We took a boat going to Bellagio, a quaint and laidback commune and shopping center.

After Milan, Ivanya and I parted ways, since she’ll be returning earlier to Manila. I continued my adventure to Venice, the capital of Veneto.

The waterworld city known for its gondolas and canals, is actually situated on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. Among the places I visited in Italy, Venice is a world of its own. For three days, I learned how to navigate the city using public water bus. I got lost a few times but I didn’t mind because I know I won’t get lost forever. I visited the sprawling Piazza San Marco, the Rialto Bridge (the most famous and oldest bridge in the Grand Canal), and the Rialto Market. I enjoyed viewing the city 360 degrees from St. Mark's Bell Tower.

I also went island hopping to Murano and Burano, two almost secret places of Veneto. Murano is famous for the Murano glass and its glass making tradition (glass torching and blowing). The glass is one of the most refined and renown type of crafts worldwide. Since the 13th century, the glass is created exclusively on the island, hence the name.

Burano on the other hand is a quiet, captivating, sunny-bright seaside community. Legend has it that people began painting their homes with bright and luminous colors so that the fishermen could see them even in in thick fog and avoid crashing into the shore after a voyage at sea. All the houses have different vibrant colors; and residents must first seek government approval before they could paint or repaint their houses.

Looking back and reminiscing my almost three week stay in Europe, I can’t believe nakarating ako sa Nuria from Barcelona mag-isa na puro Espanyol lang ang nakakausap ko; I’m glad to have  learned about the difference between Catalan and Spanish from Viel’s husband; I love Paris to death – there’s just so many things to do in the city of love (sayang lang at di masyadong nakapag-food trip with authentic French cuisine because French food is quite expensive); Amsterdam is a naughty but nice experience, a haven for liberated people; I wish the train stations in Belgium are cleaner; Switzerland is full of superlatives and Grueyere cheese is simply delectable; Italy is such a wonderful country and I would love to go someday to Cinque Terre, Positano, and Sicily; I’m thankful for all our hosts from POLO Geneva and Milan; I love how porous EU countries are, hindi masyado hassle sa travel.    

I’ve read somewhere that we are never guaranteed old age, so travel while young and able, and enjoy world experiences as much as possible. Indeed, the world is big and I want to have a good look at it before Armageddon.