Tag: Travel

Travel Guide: Gdansk, Poland

Published on by LostViivi21 Comments

Charming seaport town Gdansk is known for its colorful old town, beautiful beaches and budget travel options. After visiting there a few weeks ago I have to say that Gdansk really lives up to its hype. Even if February was quiet month and many places were closed or under maintenance I enjoyed every minute in Gdansk and in Poland.

In Gdansk itself lives about half million people but if the close by suburbs like Sopot there there is over million residents. Still at least for me Gdansk felt like cute little town with a lot of things to experience. Even if the city itself is interesting you shouldn’t forget to make day trips to neighboring cities.

Accommodation in Gdansk

You can find everything from budget hostels to luxury hotels from Gdansk. What I found interesting was that the cheapest options were often on best places and near the old town. I recommend taking private room from the one of the hotels/hostels in small islands next to old town. These are cheap but right next to the most important attractions.

You can find very cheap rooms and especially in winter time accommodations are almost empty. Some places are even closed at this time because there is not enough tourists and business for everyone. Check through Google Maps first where your accommodation is located because I ended up booking place from very suspicious small side alley. It was nice place but walking alone at darkness was something I would have liked to skip.

Getting around Gdansk

One of the things I loved most in Gdansk was the city’s cheap buses and trams. With ISIC-card using trams and buses for 24 hours costed only 6,5 PLN (about 1,5€) and even without discount day ticket would have costed about 3 euros. How the heck can it be so cheap? Where I am from it costs over two times that to even make one trip by bus.

There is good tram network going around Gdansk and if you want to visit the suburbs like Sopot it is easy to do by bus. I just recommend downloading tram and bus maps to your phone before starting the trip. It is hard to find these maps or good information about the routes from Gdansk itself. Maps and other information to get around Gdansk you can find from their transportation website.

There is also ferries that are on of the good ways to enjoy your warm summer day in Gdansk. These ferries go between some of the most important tourist attractions.

Prices and using money

Talking about money and Gdansk is easy. This is perfect budget travel destination especially for students. Students traveling to Gdansk will be happy to hear that with international student card (ISIC) you can get amazing discount. Firstly you get half price when using public transportation in Gdansk and its suburbs. Secondly the local museum cost almost nothing for you.

Even if you are not student Gdansk will feel like cheap travel heaven for you (at least if you are from expensive country like I am). The currency used in Poland and Gdansk is zloty (PLN). It is hard to pronounce and the coins were extra hard to use. I had no idea how much money I had as coins because some of them looked different but had same number in them. My tip for using coins: buy tram/bus tickets with them from the easy to use machines. One zloti is about 0,25€.

How are the locals in Gdansk?

I had a few interesting meetings with the locals during my short stay in the city. They are kind and helpful but also very enthusiastic and talkative. If you aren’t careful visiting tourist shop may end up with you buying too many things you didn’t even want. Don’t try to argue with the locals because you will lose (I learned this lesson when trying to buy umbrella from one of the old town’s tourist shops…)

Younger people and workers in touristy spots known English but especially older people can only talk Polish. That doesn’t stop them from trying to communicate with you. Like I said the image I formed during my trip was that people living in Gdansk are very intense and they don’t give up easily. A few times people just tried to talk for me again and again even if I clearly stated that I couldn’t speak Polish.

Even then I never felt myself threatened (lets not count walking alone at evening) and everyone were kind and tolerated my tourist like appearance.

Things to do in Gdansk

  • Old Town: I would say that the most important attraction of Gdansk is the city’s old town. As old town lover (if you have been reading my blog for some time now you may know that I am addicted with old colorful neighborhoods full of small alleys) Gdansk’s old town charmed me right away. I had to walk through it to get to my hotel and it took only seconds from me to know that I would love this city.

Gdansk’s old town consists mainly of two streets: Dlugi/Dluga Street and Chlebnicka Street. Also you shouldn’t forget to walk around the small island in the end of Dlugi and promenade running next to the river. Main sight is all the colorful old buildings you can see when walking around this part of the city. However there is also handful of museums, cute cafes, tourist shops and some street art that is worth seeing.

  • Museums: Because I was visiting Gdansk outside of the tourist season I stumbled into surprising problem: Most of the museums were closed and changing exhibitions. At summer time you can enjoy many different type of museums but at winter you will only have a few to choose from.

Gdansk’s National Museum, Amber Museum, European Solidarity Centre, National Maritime Museum, Centrum Hewelianum and Centrum Sztuki Wspołczesnej Łaznia 1/2 are only a few museums I want to mention. You just have to choose where to visit and do you want to get to know the local history or see amazing art.

  • Shopping: Poland is cheap country so shopping is something you should try. There is many malls and shopping areas in Gdansk. Galeria Bałtycka is one of the biggest malls with over 200 shops. Klif is known for its high-end shops and brand clothing stores. Fashion House Outlet Centre is bigger area with many shops, cafes, restaurants and most importantly: discount clothes.

If you are not into shopping generally visit at least the tourist shops and get some souvenirs and see locals in Hala Targowa food market. Place where they sell amazing sweets and cheap clothes. When you are at it I recommend small shop named Lokaah on the other side of the street than Hala Targowa market. Their collection of tote bags and funny souvenirs is incredible.

  • Beach/Sea: Take quick tram towards the sea and enjoy perfect seaside beach experience. Gdansk’s beaches are well known summer destinations that you shouldn’t skip while in town. Even at winter time you can visit Molo Brzezno Pier and enjoy hot cup of tasty tee watching stormy blue sea.

  • Murals Gdansk Zaspa: This one could be in museums but I fell in love so hard and deep that it deserves its own mention. Gdansk’s murale neighborhood full of street art/graffiti is something I have never seen before. Basically Zaspa is are full of normal apartment houses that just happen to be decorated with huge wall graffiti. It is totally free to visit and definitely the best place in whole city. (Forget that old town! If you want to do one thing in Gdansk it is visit to Zaspa…)
  • Sopot: Sopot is one of Gdansk’s suburbs, not really part of the town, but so easily accessed and close that you will not even notice it. Sopot is best known for its beautiful pier and beach resorts. Nowadays many people choose Sopot as their destination over Gdansk because of the luxury beach resorts and relaxing spas. Whatever you decided to stay in Gdansk or Sopot traveling between these two cities is must thing to do.

My Review

I would recommend Gdansk for all budget travelers who are trying to find city with relaxed atmosphere but good opportunities to be tourist. You can get cheap light around Europe to Gdansk. My flights costed only about 20€ from Stockholm to Gdansk. You can see the major attractions in a few days but I recommend staying at least 4 days.

If you travel at summer take bikinis with you because the beautiful beaches are one of the best places to visit. And even if you go when it is rainy and cold walking around the empty beaches (with umbrella) is something magical. Even if some of the museums may seem a little boring I think it is worth paying that cheap price. Every museum in this city has its own charming feeling.

All in all I think Gdansk is perfect travel destination that has a lot of experiences and attractions waiting for adventurous travelers. Just remember to take that not so used path and check out some of the more unknown parts of the city.

Have you ever visited Gdansk or Poland? Also this was my first time writing city guide like this and I would love to hear your opinions. Do you want more posts like this? (Even if you say no you will probably get a lot of these because I had so much fun writing this.) All comments are welcome like always.

After not writing for too long I am now back and have a little more time to give for my lovely blog. So, sorry once again but I will try to be better writer! Also if you want to get some extra travel stories and photos check out my

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I hope you are having an amazing day!

With love,
Lost Viivi

Tips For Solo Female Travelers

Published on by LostViivi48 Comments

Happy International Women’s Day all fellow female travelers!

Traveling as solo female traveler is adventure not any man can even imagine. There is many small things you have to remember if you decide to do adventure as solo female traveler. Not all countries are as safe or as comfortable to go without male company or safe group. It’s kind of annoying that gender can affect our lives so much but this is our society and we have to deal with it.

Women’s Day is often seen as the celebration for independent and strong girls. And that’ why I wanted to share today some tips for all women who want to travel alone. I may not be the best person to give these tips but this text is based on my own experiences and observations.

I hope you will enjoy my tips. And I hope you will keep traveling even if many people seem to think that solo female travelers are just playing with the fire. Let’s show them some girl power, shall we?

1. Trust people but doubt everyone.

Photos from: unsplash

I often hear that as female traveler I shouldn’t believe anyone (especially men). You may follow this advice blindly but I have one I think fits traveling better. Trust everyone but always doubt anything said for you. 

Trusting people has taken me to the most amazing experiences. Getting tour around Tokyo by super nice local girl, going around Helsinki with fellow travel blogger (when my friends thought I would surely get murdered) and maybe the funniest memory: forgetting my umbrella when it was raining and random person offering to walk me back to my hostel so I don’t get wet. If I hadn’t trusted those strangers I would have never ended up to the most memorable situations of my life.

Some people may call me starry-eyed and naive but trusting people doesn’t mean that I am not on my toes in these situations. I trust people but I doubt everyone. And when i say everyone I mean literally everyone because you never know what are the people’s true nature if you have only known them for a short moment.

2. Be ready to lie if needed.

When you travel alone as girl you have to be ready to use all your actor skills. Walking alone at night? Talk to phone like you are having conversation with your beloved badass boyfriend. Too enthusiastic wooer? You are waiting for you best friend and can’t talk right now. Make stories ready before traveling so when you have to do some acting it feels natural to lie.

This may sound funny or stupid but sooner or later as female solo traveler you will feel need to escape some kind of situation. If you want to take this to next level some woman travelers use fake wedding rings to avoid unwanted attention.

3. Girls are confident, strong and cool.

Whatever you were boy or girl acting like local can save you from many problems “normal” tourists have to face. One of the key features I think is important for surviving as solo female traveler is being confident, strong minded and seem cool but kind. The truth is that “bad people” try to find easy targets so you have to make yourself someone who will probably survive anything.

  • So how to act like you belong to this new unknown city you are visiting as solo female traveler? It is easier than it may sound like. (Maybe I should write longer post about this subject?) Walk like you know where you are going.
  • Throw away maps and download them to your phone so you can check them like you were just reading text message.
  • Always listen to music or act like you are listening to music. Put headphones on and listen to your favorite songs. It will calm you down but also make you fit in better. No lost scared tourist would close the world away with music. If you hate music or feel like you want to hear what is happening around you, you can just listen quietness and act like you are listening to music.
  • When in need ask help but continue your way after that like you own the whole city.
  • Practice basic words (thanks, sorry, etc.) and use them while smiling sweetly. If someone asks you something tell them confidently that you are not living here so you can’t help them. Being honest is the best in these situations.

4. Say no! (And yes…)

For me the hardest thing to learn has been how to say no. Believe me you have to learn and use that word a lot. No, I am not bying anything. No, I am not going to that shady looking bar you are trying to track me because they will pay you if I go inside. No, no, no… But between saying no to everyone you have to learn when is the right situation to use yes. That one small word will get you to the most amazing adventures. Don’t be afraid to say yes to other people but more importantly to yourself.

5. Check everything before going.

Where is closest police station? From where you can get help if needed? What time sun sets? Is there any areas you should avoid or be careful in? Is there any known scams or other warnings happening in the area? When does the last bus/metro leave and if you miss it what can you do?

You should do some research before going. Not only about the places but also how to survive in bad situations or who to trust when in trouble. Not police can be trusted in all countries and not all places are safe to go alone as female traveler. Even if you will probably survive without checking things before your trip knowing as much as possible will calm your mind and make the travel experience more enjoyable.

6. Trust your instincts.

At first this may sound funny but I think it is the best safety net one can have. Our instincts are usually the first thing telling us that something is wrong or that we should definitely run from this dangerous situation. If you feel like person isn’t trustworthy or that you are taken to place you don’t want to go just say no.

Even if you don’t realize it your brains keep reading other people and their body language. If someone is acting threateningly or if the situation quickly changes to weird, it is your instincts that make the alarms go off in your head. Sometimes our instinct may be wrong but it is better to be safe than dead in side alley because you didn’t trust your own judgement.

7. Know the risks and dangers.

It may feel uncomfortable and unpleasant to think these thing but before deciding to travel alone you should truthfully tell yourself all the problems you may have to face or risks you are taking. If even after thinking trough all of those you feel like traveling is the only option for you, you are ready.

8. Don’t think too much and just go.

You will often meet skeptic people and probably your own family or friends will try to change your mind about traveling as solo female traveler. Lonely woman who is traveling is often seen as crazy person who is just trying to find the trouble. Our society even now thinks that women can’t travel the world alone like men.

You shouldn’t listen these people. Of course there is some dangers and risks that only female solo travelers have to face but other than that girls are as capable to travel as boys. If world is place where women have to stay in kitchen just so we can live and not get in danger, I don’t know if I even want to be here anymore. Is staying back home and not risking it by traveling life worth of living? Maybe for some people but definitely not for me.

So, I will keep solo traveling as lonely totally risk hazard female and I courage you to do the same. Let’s enjoy our lives and not believe those who don’t believe in us. Happy Women’s Day everyone!

 

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Like always feel free to tell your thought and tips on the comments. Have you any bad or surprisingly good experiences as female traveler? Or if you are man what is your view to this whole “female solo traveler” thing?

I hope you are having an amazing day!
With love,

Lost Viivi

 

Photo Diary: Street Wanderer in Stockholm

Published on by LostViivi48 Comments

So, I know this post is late but for once I have a good reason! I spent Saturday-Sunday night in death trap some may call cruise ship without internet. (I may have some Titanic traumas, but who doesn’t?) But now I am here and like usually let’s start with photo diary because I am too lazy to write anything. I will publish those full Stockholm and Gdansk travel diaries later on but today I am going to share some photos from my first three days in Stockholm, Sweden.

For me one of the most important aspects of city is its collection of street art. In my scale Stockholm is quite high. You can find graffiti from the most funniest places. One daring and pretty place I fell in love with was Norra Järnvägsbron bridge. These masterpieces may not be the most imaginative or elaborate but the colors get along perfectly with pastel colored old town seen in the distance.

Story of this photo? Well, I may have walked to the wrong direction seen these buildings and walked a few kilometers more to the wrong direction just because why not. It wasn’t the most touristy area so trying to take nice photo to share with you got me a few wondering glances from the locals.

Things I love to photograph: sky, reflections, colors and icy water. Stockholm was like heaven for me…

After going to blogging seminar earlier this year I have started to actively search for spots to take photos in. Apparently the best way of learning is to take million photos and fail miserably. Any good tips for beginner? This photo is me trying to practice straight lines going from the corners towards the center. It should make travel photo interesting to look at but I am not so sure if it works… But at least the locals had fun time watching me to take too many photos of empty bridge on place no tourist should be.

readers who have been here for some time know that I have never ending love for old towns. Stockholm’s Gamla Stan is one of the originals old towns I found and fell in love with. All those small alleys, colorful buildings and cute little shops. How could I not walk here for hours and be on total tourist mode with my camera?

I used my whole first day alone in Stockholm just walking around and taking in the city. I have been there several times but this was my first solo trip to Sweden. (No, I don’t get bored to visiting Sweden over and over again even if you wondered that in my last post!) I love traveling with my friends and family but going alone gives you different perspective of the city. You have time to look at things and visit places you wouldn’t have with other people.

So this odd photo is me being totally lost and not panicking at all.Okay maybe a little panicking because sun was setting and I had walked three kilometers to the wrong direction. Don’t even ask how that is possible… I have good sense of direction but I am even better at getting lost.

 

Even after visiting Stockholm several times I have never before seen the changing of the guards. This time I was lucky because they were just starting and marching around the castle when I happened to be there. As first time experience this was quite nice because there wasn’t so many people.

And so we are at the last photo. Have you ever been to Stockholm? Or maybe you are planning trip to there? Any comments and your memories are always welcome.
I hope you are having amazing day!

With love,

Viivi Severina

 

How I book my flights?

Published on by LostViivi27 Comments

One late night (or was it early morning) about a week ago I couldn’t sleep. Someone was having party in the apartment above mine and I could hear them too clearly. I was too stressed out and having too many thoughts in my mind. It was one of those nights when you go trough all your life decisions and regret half of them. It was one of those moments when you can’t decide what you want to do with your life and you can’t understand how doing decisions like this seems so easy for other people.

I was sipping tea, staring my maps and listening motivational videos. That’s something I have done lately a lot when I have no idea where my own life is going. And then between changing videos I somehow ended up doing another thing I have done lately. I opened skyscanner and searched cheap flights to anywhere.

I don’t know what was different this time. Maybe it was those screaming neighbors I could hear laughing too loudly and living too recklessly. Or maybe it was the inspirational voice speaking in my headphones and telling me to just do it. It may have also had something to do with all the international and exchange student talks my school has lately kept. And then again it may all be because of this blog.

I don’t know what was different this time but I bought the cheapest ticket to anywhere. To Gdanks, Poland and Stockholm, Sweden to be exact. Right now week later I am sitting in cruise ship writing this while a few older ladies sip coffee around me. Apparently Sweden trips aren’t that popular during winter and ice. Next week will be full of amazing solo adventures around Europe.

I do this literally every time. I end up booking my tickets without any proper planning. This same thing happened with my three months Japan trip and even with my recent London holiday. I just can’t keep myself from leaving and when I try it ends up like this. Flight tickets to foreigner country and surprised friends and family. 
And that’s my way of buying flight tickets and planning new adventures… With one small thought that grows to something bigger.

What about you? Do you ever do crazy stunts like this or do you prefer planning your trips properly beforehand?

 

With love,

Viivi Severina

How to survive lethal case of wanderlust?

Published on by LostViivi31 Comments

Every now and then I may have a quiet few weeks from blogging when I don’t even answer any comments. I’m always sorry for that but it’s usually because of a terrible writing blog. I’m always having a lethal case of wanderlust. It’s endless longing to travel that gets even worse when there aren’t any sure travel plans waiting for me.

Wanderlust
A strong desire to travel and wander around the world. Longing to see new places and experience new things.

When I was thinking the subject for today’s post one idea stuck out of everything else. How to survive wanderlust and longing to travel if you are in a life situation where you have no way of traveling anywhere. If you have been reading my blog for some time now you may know that even I have had life situations without any means or money to travel

I am sorry to inform you that there is no cure for wanderlust but you can always try to ease the symptoms. These next tips are something I keep doing when a bad case of wanderlust tries to take over my mind. I know there are many people reading my blog who can identify with me. Some of you may be in school or work, maybe you don’t have the money or you just are too shy to even try yet. Whatever the reason is I hope you find help with these tips.

Plan Future Trips

Photos: unplash

One of the best and easiest ways to help your wanderlust is to plan the trips you are surely going to make when you can travel again. Choose new destinations and add them to your bucket list. I have always believed that imagination is the strongest weapon human can have so why shouldn’t we use it? Daydream. That is my biggest secret of surviving the lethal case of wanderlust.

Make lists. List all the places you want to visit. Beautiful beaches you have to see one day. Interesting festivals, tourist attractions that seem overrated but are still must see things for you and secret spots that are often not talked about. Plan your trips to all those places. Good thing is that there is always new trips you can plan. There is an endless amount of cities, places, and experiences to plan and dream about.

Virtual Travel

I could get lost for hours doing virtual traveling around the world. I use Map Crunch but normal google maps street view is as good for this. Basically, you go to random place in street view and start wandering around without looking the map. I got hooked with this “fake traveling” when at one point people on the internet started playing a game where you went to a random spot of the world on street view and kept wandering around blindly until you found airport.

You never know where in the world you will end up going. And when you find something interesting you can always add it to your bucket list. My favorite places to see are Eiffel Tower, small streets around the world (especially in China), Japanese shrines and Iceland’s raw nature.

International Friends

Surprising but effective way of beating your wanderlust is to find friends from different parts of this world. Even better if those friends are as interested about travelling as you are. Getting to know new cultures through your new friends is almost as good as travelling and it prepares you for the future trips.

I have learnt so many new things just talking with people from countries I haven’t visited before. I have got new friends because of blogging but also from my school’s exchange student programs and from old trips I have made. I never stop wondering how there can be so many different countries and cultures in this world.

Read Books, Watch Movies

I have always been that bookworm girl who would rather spend evening reading a good book than going out. Maybe that’s why for me the best way to escape has always been by reading. There are millions of stories about travelling.  Movies, TV-series and books. Some of my favorites are:

  • Cheryl Strayed: Wild (Book & Movie)
  • Under The Tuscan Sun (Movie)
  • The Bucket List (Movie)
  • Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (TV-series)
  • Elizabeth Gilbert: Eat, Pray, Love (Book)
  • Lost in Translation (Movie)
  • Tracks (Movie)

Hometown Travel

I would bet that there are places you have never been before close to your home. Or even the places where you have been before may seem different if you look them from the traveler’s point of view. If you can’t leave for longer trip do something new close by. Maybe you can do weekend hiking trip? Or visit your city’s tourist information and play tourist for a day in your own city?

Google what other travelers have to say about your hometown. You may find tips and places you have not paid attention to before. Keep in mind that for some people your city seems as interesting as all those travel destinations you want to visit in the future. With open mind and a little bit of imagination, you can travel without leaving your own street or block.

Read Travel Blogs

Finally my last tip is to read blogs and get that travel feeling from the trips others have done. Find you favorite bloggers and follow them on their adventures around the world. Internet is full of travel bloggers so this is probably the easiest way of easing one’s wanderlust. If reading isn’t your thing find travel Youtubers to follow. There are some amazingly beautiful videos that will leave you in state of wonder and bliss. Won’t care your wanderlust but it will make it easier to deal with.

 

I hope these tips will help you. Just remember to be careful. Maybe I should have started with the mention that all these tips may cause even worse wanderlust than you already have… There is no way out of having the disease called wanderlust if we don’t count travelling. I hope safe travels for you all and fun times trying to cope with the want of travelling!

So, how do you survive from wanderlust if you can’t travel? All good tips or other comments are always welcome.

With love,

Lost Viivi