Candice does…EASTERN EUROPE!

As I promised…big news today, dear readers. All 10 of you. I KNOW YOU’RE READING.

Remember that time I went to South America with Contiki? Well they loved my wit and charm so much, they’ve invited me back to Eastern Europe!

Excuse me while I expel my excitement in exclamation marks: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The following are some accurate representations of how I imagine I’ll look in each destination.

On the list:

Hilltop Buda, Pest, The Royal Palace, the Church fo St Matthias, the Chain Bridge, Fisherman’s Bastion, a dinner cruise down the Danube River, partying my pants off, the Budapest Parliament Building, and more.

O.M.G.

On the list:

Parndorf, STRUDELS GALORE, Ring Road, Hofburg Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the State Opera House, Kartnerstrasse, the Old Vienna Schnapps Museum, dinner at the Schonbrunn Palace. And more. So much more.

On the list:

Municipal Haus, National Theatre, the Jewish Quarter, Hradcany castle, the Cathedral of St Vitus, Charles Bridge, and Wencelas Square. (My father’s name is Wencelaus, btw. I am THRILLED.) I hear we’re even going polka dancing.

Finally, I’m staying behind in Prague for two extra days with the lovely Ms. Natalie Taylor to celebrate Canada Day and generally cause so much mayhem that we’re likely to get deported. It makes excellent blog fodder.

Why am I travelling with Contiki?

It’s actually a brand I care about, a lot. Since my first trip with them, I’ve started writing for their Exchange blog and I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to try the Contiki experience, especially newbie travellers.

Contiki’s vision of “inspiring the wonder of travel” is something I take to heart. It’s also a reason why they’ve picked me to participate, for the second time: they know that I care about the experience, and that the simple act of travel still awes me. See what happens when you’re not a total pessimistic jerk?

Here’s to not being a jaded traveller, to new adventures, new friends, and EASTERN EUROPE! STRUDELS!

Photo creds: kraszipeti /
Dottorpeni /
InspiredVision

  • June 14 2012
    Ivy

    Omfg OMFG OOOMMMFFFFGGG you’re gonna be in Europe! I will hitchhike to wherever you post from, stalk you, and pretend to be a random stranger approaching you in a bar.

    • June 14 2012

      COME TO PRAGUE! WE’LL HAVE SO MUCH FUN! Is it close? I just pretend that everything in Europe is close.

      • June 14 2012
        Ivy

        Like a 4 hour drive. When will you be there? I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING THIS.

  • June 14 2012

    I’m jealous. This looks like an amazing trip. I have Vienna and Prague penciled in on my trip next year.

    • June 14 2012

      Nice! Stay tuned, in that case…I’m sure I’ll have tons of content to share :)

  • June 14 2012

    I want to go toooooooo!!!!
    Have an awesome, awesome time!!

  • June 14 2012
    Sherri

    Glad you are enjoying yourself Candice. Your truly deserve everything !!! Hope you enjoy Eastern Europe and ofcourse, Have a few drinks for me lol

    • June 14 2012

      Thanks Sherri! :) And thanks for “liking” my FB Page, I really appreciate it!

  • June 14 2012

    Amazing, have a great time.

  • June 14 2012

    Awesome news, Candice! I hope you have the trip of a lifetime. (And your father’s name is very cool, by the way :)

    • June 14 2012

      Thanks, Sabina! It’s pretty badass, eh? I have to bring him back a souvenir, hahha

  • June 14 2012

    Fun! Eastern Europe is a part of the world I really, really want to visit. So jealous, and can’t wait to read all about it!

    • June 15 2012

      Thanks, JoAnna! Didn’t think I’d get there so soon, pumped about it

  • June 14 2012

    EPIC.

    And I love your enthusiasm for the brand. They sound good people with their heads firmly screwed on.

    • June 15 2012

      Thanks, Mike! It’s definitely one of the few brands I REALLY care about. We all need more fun in our lives.

  • June 14 2012
    Myrtle

    You will have to take pictures of” Wencelas square” for your father. I wonder does your friend think your mother’s name is cool too? lol. I love the pictures of Vienna and Prague; it makes me want to start travelling too! Have a wonderful time there and we will see you in July! love, mom

    • June 15 2012

      I wonder if I can find Myrtle Square anywhere? Hahaha. Love you mama!

  • June 14 2012

    Yay!

    Thing one: add to Vienna list: Schnitzel (not with noodles…apparently, no one eats Schnitzel with noodles, silly Sound of Music), Goulash, bike or walk the island in the middle of the Danube (blue on one side, green on the other, full of nude beaches in the middle). Do not add to list: drinking unfiltered beer (because barfing up unfiltered beer = 0% fun times).

    Thing two: How long will you be gone for? If you are in the EU through July, consider extending your trip and coming to Belgium. Luna and I will buy you a waffle.

    • June 15 2012

      AHH, Schnitzel! I freaking LOVE Schnitzel! I forgot that was a Vienna thing. Shit yeah.

      I’m only around until July 3rd, unfortunately. :( But if you find yourself in my neck of the woods, keep me posted.

  • June 14 2012

    This is incredible!! WOW!!!

    Prague is my new dream destination and I am going to wait to hear what you have to say about it. Awesome Candice!!

    Priyanka

    • June 15 2012

      Thanks, Priyanka! So many people enthusiastic about Prague…can’t wait to see what it’s all about!

  • June 14 2012

    I am delurking so you know you have 11 readers, not 10 :) Very exciting about Europe! I have heard great things about Contiki. Enjoy the strudel!!!

  • June 14 2012

    Oh my goodness! Have an AMAZING time! I wish I could go too, I am so desperate to go to Europe, or really anywhere outside the U.S.

  • June 14 2012

    Awesome news. My friend just did a Contiki trip and went to Budapest and Vienna and she loved it. I’m sure you’ll have a great time, and I’m sure you’ll have some great stories to bring back as well.

    • June 15 2012

      Looove Contiki, so stoked to be working with them again. Glad to know they love Eastern Europe!

  • June 15 2012

    Good luck for your trip! I see a lot of comments above saying how cool Vienna and Prague are, but let us not forget about Budapest, it is an amazing city well worth seeing with loads of history!!!! I am happy you go there as well.

    • June 15 2012

      Thanks, Lidia! If I’m being honest, I know very little about Hungary yet. Definitely perusing your website to prep myself beforehand. I appreciate the comment!

  • June 15 2012

    SUPERRRRRRRRRRR excited to read your upcoming posts about Eastern Europe! I looked into COntiki but they didn’t have anything going through the Balkans when I needed it sadly! Hopefully next times things will work out – I am certainly not a newbie traveller but I like their concept and have heard such wonderful things about them that I just WANT to participate!

    • June 18 2012

      Good point, Chrystal, I should have clarified that in my post — Contiki def isn’t JUST for Newbie travellers! I freaking love them.

  • June 15 2012

    Congrats! You must have left quite the impression to be invited again, Ms Professional Travel Lady! :)

    Prague is AMAZING! Make sure you try out some svickova (head to Cafe Therapy) and visit Letna Park, as well as hitting up the Beer Museum! They have 30 different kinds of bizarre beers on tap, including blueberry, cherry, banana and chocolate varieties!

    Never been to Budapest, but heard amazing things about their “ruin bars” culture, maybe worth a look. Vienna – you have to pretend you’re in the Sound Of Music.

    Even though it was in Salzburg.

    • June 18 2012

      I LOVEEE these suggestions, thanks Tom! I’m totally taking these to heart!

  • June 16 2012

    That is amazing news – Congratulations!!! Vienna, Prague, and Budapest are very high on my list of cities that I have to visit soon. Can’t wait to read about your adventures – even if I’m way too old for Contiki! :)

    • June 18 2012

      Thank ya, Lisa!!! I can’t believe I leave in three days…

  • June 17 2012

    Way to go Candice. Love the fur hat tho I think you can leave it behind in the summer – but maybe that’s your Eastern European look.

    • June 18 2012

      It does look a little Eastern European, doesn’t it?

  • June 18 2012

    NICE!
    But now if you are going to be wearing that hat the whole time I guess I’ll have to change mine (I knew that dude was lying when he told me it was an original)!
    :)

    • June 18 2012

      Ugh, my guy told me MINE was an original! What a crock.

  • June 18 2012

    Contiki looks interesting but I’m turning 35 next week – eek!

    • June 18 2012

      That means you still have one more year!!

  • June 18 2012
    Susan

    So, so, so cool! What a fantastic sounding trip – way to go! I can’t WAIT to read all about it.

  • June 19 2012

    Congratulations, Candice!!

  • June 21 2012

    Oh dear. If you’re going, they made to put that wall back up. :)

    Have fun!!

  • June 21 2012

    Umm…that should be “They made need to put that wall back up.” Have another drink, why don’t I.

  • June 21 2012

    Sheesh — *may* not *made*

    Seriously, I’m not drunk. I’ll shut up now though.

    • July 04 2012

      Hahahaha I literally LOLed when I received this comment

  • June 27 2012

    Have been following your Instagram and now Twitter – seems like you are having an awesome time down there (I’m up here, in Sweden)! Not sure how much longer you are in Prague but this place is fun http://www.propagandapub.cz/. Maybe not wild but with 31 different types of homemade vodka, it earned my respect.

    • July 04 2012

      Holy moly! Isn’t the nightlife in Prague ridic? I loved it. Didn’t get to check out that place, though. :( Must go back.

  • July 05 2012
    emanuel chorey

    Candice … next time in East of Eu don’t forget to go to Bucharest. :-)
    Emanuel, a romanian in St. John’s. ;-)

  • August 01 2012

    Holy crap! How did I miss this?! I didn’t think I was gone from the interweb for that long. :) Huge congrats! I see you are already enjoying yourself in Europe by reading your more recent posts. You are AWESOME!

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