Country #45 - Tajikistan

The Running

This might actually be my shortest country visit by air ever (at least I hope so). I landed in Tajikistan with approximately an hour to clear immigration, get my bag, re-check my bag, go through security, and reboard the plane. It was not an easy feat, but somehow I did it! Upon arrival immigration was simple and did not take long. However, waiting for my luggage took a bit longer than I would have liked. Thankfully I was able to use the time to find my witnesses and have my picture taken.

I met a really cool woman from Germany who has traveled to so many countries. It was really cool to talk with her while waiting! Her bag arrived before mine and as she wished me luck I was really starting to worry. If I missed this flight it would cause loads of problems! About five minutes after most of the bags arrived mine finally showed up. I ran through customs, ran (thankfully just) around the corner to recheck my bag. I was obviously very late and the non English speaking gate agent just pointed to his watch. I left my luggage and hoped and prayed that it would make it through.

I had read horror stories about having to pay bribes when going through immigration and security at the Dushanbe airport but, thankfully, they don’t care for a bribe when you are about to miss your plane. So I had no problems whatsoever! As I was the only person going through security it was very quick and I made it to my gate about three minutes before boarding - so in plenty of time! I was amazed that I had made it. It was literally the exact same plane that I had just gotten off of (going to the exact same place I had just come from) so I’m sure that the flight attendants were a bit confused.

The flight back to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan was quick and painless and, the best news of all, my bag somehow made it! It truly was a miracle. It is silly how few flights there are in and out of these countries that make it to where I had to do such a quick turn around. I definitely didn’t enjoy it and only did it as it was my only option. I’m looking forward to not having to run through my next country in under an hour!

45 countries down, 151 to go.

Country #44 - Kyrgyzstan

The Airport

I landed in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on just a few hours of sleep on the flight from Turkey. I had a six-hour layover in Bishkek but thankfully there was something to keep me entertained. The Vanderbilt vs. Kansas State football game was on, and I found wifi at a cafe right after arrivals to eat breakfast and listen to the game (the wifi definitely wasn’t good enough to watch). Actively fist-pumping in the airport I’m sure people thought I was crazy but I was very excited for Vanderbilt to actually win a close game over a ranked team!

After a good start to my morning, it quickly set in how boring the next few hours would be. There was zero to do in the Bishkek airport. Luckily I was able to find wifi again after leaving the cafe. I found someone to take my picture with the airport sign, and I found witnesses who had been on my flight. After wandering around the airport (and the absurd bathroom where a few of the stalls literally just had holes in the ground instead of toilets?) I was finally able to check in for my flight and head to the equally as boring terminal. I was able to work for a little while on the slow wifi and also watched a little Netflix to pass the slow moving time.

I was definitely stressed for my next country because it would be the shortest turnaround time on a flight that I have seen (and hopefully ever will see) due to the horrible lack of flights in the Central Asia (Stans) region. I finally boarded my flight and hoped for the best for both me and my luggage on the super tight transfer to come in Tajikistan.

44 countries down, 152 to go.

Country #43 - Turkey

The Transit

I awoke to the momentarily terrifying AP News update that there had been an explosion on the Tube in London. Not the best thing to see when you were planning on getting on the Tube in an hour. After reading all of the news and seeing that no one was seriously injured and that the Tube was staying open I decided to take it anyways and it was totally fine. Taking an Uber or taxi would have been almost 10-15 times more expensive.

I took the Stansted Express from London Liverpool Street and arrived at Stansted airport early for quite possibly the first time ever. It is still the worst airport even when you’re early! You have to sit in the crowded terminal waiting to be assigned a terminal then the sign will change to boarding, you arrive at your gate, and it’s still like thirty minutes until you actually board. It. Is. The. Worst.

My flight to Istanbul, Turkey was pretty long and I tried to sleep a little. I arrived after dark and it was a little stressful to find the correct bus to take into the city once I left the arrivals hall, but eventually, I found the right one. I was unable to take public transportation because unfortunately it only runs to Ataturk Airport and I flew into Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) but supposedly it will reach SAW in the next year or so! I took the bus to the Karaköy area since for some reason there is no airport transfer bus that will go to the main tourist area, Sultanahmet. I then took an Uber from Karaköy to Sultanahmet. My driver tried to overcharge me so I complained to Uber and they refunded my entire ride!

When I arrived at my hotel, Dersaadet Hotel Istanbul, I was greeted so warmly. I was given amazing apple tea (and I hate tea) and a Turkish delight! After checking in I headed up to my room where, after a long day of travel I slept easily before my full day exploring Istanbul tomorrow!

The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia

I got a good night’s sleep and had a great day exploring Istanbul! It is such a unique city and unlike anywhere I have ever been before. I started the day off with the two main sights: the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. I walked up a cute market like street (called Kabasakal) from my hotel to the area between the two landmarks. Standing between the two is almost overwhelming they are just so breathtaking and incredible to see in person.

I headed to the Blue Mosque first. You have to be dressed appropriately to enter but luckily they provide coverings if you aren’t. I had a scarf with me so I was good but it was still good to see. To enter you also have to cover your shoes with provided covers. I had no idea what to expect inside but it was so unique and beautiful. After the Blue Mosque, I headed directly across to Hagia Sophia.

Hagia Sophia is such a unique site because it has been both a cathedral and a mosque and is now a stunning museum. Built in 537 AD, the amazing structure is the most visited tourist attraction in Turkey for a reason. I really enjoyed walking around such a sacred site and learning so much about it. Make sure you visit the second floor as well because there are really interesting mosaics and other artifacts and you have an amazing view of the entire building.

My next stop was some Turkish ice cream right outside and I just sat and looked at the buildings for a while. I then walked to Basilica Cistern which was unexpectedly one of my favorite stops of the day. I had no idea what I was quite literally walking into but it was so cool! Basilica Cistern is an underground water chamber that can hold 80,000 cubic meters of water. It is filled with columns supporting the chamber and there are famous Medusa heads inside as well. I really enjoyed walking through it even though I didn’t know what it would be at first and I highly recommend it!

From Basilica Cistern I headed to Topkapi Palace Museum. The palace is different than most as it is all spread out and you walk outside to go from one part to another. It basically felt more like an estate than a traditional palace. There are so many buildings and each one had a beautiful interior. It was so interesting to spend time walking around and learning more about the Palace and Istanbul itself. I had to hurry through because I had to head to the airport to catch my flight but I was able to see everything, including the amazing view of the Bosphorus from within the Palace walls.

On my way back to the hotel I stopped to buy some apple tea (I told you it was good) and Turkish delight (remember it from the Chronicles of Narnia movie?). My last stop was walking by Little Hagia Sophia on the way to my hotel. It was, as the name implies, much smaller than what I had seen earlier today. Unfortunately, the inside was closed but I still enjoyed walking by. When I got to the hotel I took a taxi to the bus stop and then took the bus back to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport.

The airport was pretty stressful as they went through literally my entire backpack contents at the first (of two) security check. I get being safe, especially in a city that has had its other airport attacked, but my acne medicine and stuffed bunny pose no threat. Literally, I had to explain what everything was (every medication, charger, etc.). It was a hassle but thankfully I was plenty early for my flight. I grabbed Burger King because there weren’t a ton of options and it was such a disappointing meal. The chicken nuggets were so undercooked they were inedible! I chose Burger King for simplicity but it ended up being anything but. I found a few more snacks and boarded my flight to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan exhausted but really happy to have had such a great day exploring an ancient city.

43 countries down, 153 to go.

Country #42 - United Kingdom Day 1

The Favorite City

Today I flew from Huntsville to DC, DC to Raleigh, and Raleigh to London, United Kingdom! I had to fly to DC to pick up my second passport from the Afghanistan Embassy as I needed other visas in that passport for this trip. Yes, I have two passports! It is not hard to have two, honestly, as long as you explain your reasoning when applying. It is really helpful for me to have two passports because it means that I can be sending one off for visas while traveling with the other, or I can use one visa for countries that sometimes other countries don’t like for you to have in your passport (i.e. Israel).

I was fine with having to pick mine up, though, because it meant I was able to grab lunch with my good friend Martha! We met at GCDC, an awesome grilled cheese spot, and then walked across the street to see the White House. It was so nice to be able to see her! After a great, though short, visit I took the Metro back to Regan airport and headed to Raleigh. I love DC for a lot of reasons but the Metro is definitely one of them.

Once I got to Raleigh it wasn’t too long of a wait before boarding for London. I actually ended up lucking out and getting business class because I flew on an American Airlines family pass. It is always the luck of the draw (you might have read about me having to spend the night in the Rome airport) but sometimes, like today, it is amazing! I had a great meal with an ice cream sundae and even slept on the flight.

One of the best perks of the flight came afterward, though, because I was able to use fast track security and then take advantage of the American Airlines arrivals lounge in Heathrow which was so nice! I’ve never used an arrivals lounge before but it was pretty cool. You could take a shower if you wanted (I decided not to but kind of wish I had) and can have a great breakfast! I had made to order pancakes and fruit. The best part of the lounge was having a comfortable place to sit for a few hours because the flight landed at almost 6:00am meaning very little was open yet in London. After a relaxing morning, I headed to the Tube for the trip into London. I have taken this specific ride into London so many times now it would be impossible to count, but it makes Heathrow my favorite airport simply by having great Tube access.

All I have to say is it is so great to be back in my favorite city! There is so much about London that I absolutely love and I tried to do as many of my favorite things as possible in my one short day in town. When I arrived in the heart city I headed straight to one of my favorite places and my favorite museum in London - Tate Modern! Though the National Gallery in London is a very close second Tate Modern can’t be beat. I loved it when I studied abroad in London and was so excited for today to see the new expansion building that had opened since my last visit. It definitely exceeded my expectations, especially the new rooftop lookout spot.

All of my favorite installations were as good as ever (my favorite is the tower of radios and my least favorite is the room of hair) and I really enjoyed the new exhibits as well. What was really helpful was being able to check in my small suitcase at the coat check at Tate as it saved me a ton of time! After gathering my bag and walking along the Bankside I made my way across the Harry Potter bridge (real name Millennium Bridge - it’s the one the Death Eaters destroy in the opening credits) to St. Paul’s. I wasn’t stopping for a visit (though I highly recommend it, it’s an amazing church) but actually taking the metro from there to my hotel. As this trip to London was very last minute I was unable to find a sponsor but I lucked out and found a cute little place to stay near Hyde Park (and actually near where I had lived in London) called 72QT. It was small but just what I needed. I was exhausted and accidentally fell asleep for an hour or two.

I wasn’t stopping for a visit (though I highly recommend it, it’s an amazing church) but actually taking the metro from there to my hotel. As this trip to London was very last minute I was unable to find a sponsor but I lucked out and found a cute little place to stay near Hyde Park (and actually near where I had lived in London) called 72QT. It was small but just what I needed. I was exhausted and accidentally fell asleep for an hour or two.

After a much-needed rest, I made my way to my favorite food spot in London, Mac Factory! Mac Factory is/was a food stall at Camden Lock Market (which you should definitely check out - it goes on forever and ever but the food stalls section is to die for). However, since my time in London they have actually opened a new restaurant literally across the street from where I went to school, University College London (UCL). It’s probably a good thing it wasn’t here or I would have eaten it every day! It is the best macaroni in the world and I don’t feel like that’s an exaggeration. I have had so much macaroni and Mac Factory’s is the best. It’s so cheesy and the breadcrumbs on top just make the meal.

After dinner, I just started walking as I knew exactly where I was and where I wanted to go. That’s one of my favorite things about London now is how well I know my way around the city. I headed from UCL to Covent Garden. It’s a really enjoyable walk along London’s streets, even at night, as it takes you through some of the most idyllic parts of the city. I called my brother on the walk and before I knew it I was in Covent Garden. I know it’s a touristy area, and frankly, I just don’t care. I think it is a really cool spot and no matter the tourists I will always go back and I definitely recommend a visit if you have never been before. It is such an interesting mix of high street shops, cool architecture in the structure itself, and markets during the week. One of my favorite things, which wasn’t happening tonight, is when there is a violin or opera performance going on in the evening to enjoy whether eating or walking through.

After walking through for a bit I then made my way to Trafalgar Square. I love how easy it is to get around London - walking is often the easiest option but the Tube and excellent bus system are there when you need them. I walked through the infamous Trafalgar Square where I passed the (unfortunately closed) National Gallery and could see Big Ben all lit up at the end of the street. From Trafalgar Square I made my way to Picadilly Circus less because I wanted to see Picadilly Circus (it’s fine - kinda like a mini London version of Times Square but the screens were actually under construction when I was there) and more because I wanted to take a bus up Regent and Oxford streets back to my hotel.

This route was one of my favorites when I lived here because you can see the incredible buildings on these high streets and it goes exactly where I needed to go. Riding a real Transport for London (TfL) double-decker bus is something everyone should experience in London. I actually use them for transportation around the city and find them super easy and sometimes more convenient than the Tube. Also, always make sure you ride up top for the full experience! Truly it is amazing that they don’t crash into things because it always feels like you’re about to.

After returning back to my hotel I took a very refreshing shower and fell asleep instantly after such a long day. It was so great to be back in the city that exploded my love for travel and where I spent an amazing five months. I love London and the UK so much (if you can’t tell) and can’t wait to be back soon (hopefully for longer than one day)!

42 countries down, 154 to go.

Read about my second day in the United Kingdom here.

Country #41 - France

The Art

After a good night’s sleep after a long travel day through Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Monaco I was really looking forward to a nice day in Paris, France. I have been to Paris before but it has been over four years since my first visit. I started the day with a great breakfast at Hotel Malte by Astotel before setting off for my first stop, Palais Opera. Luckily, the Opera was very near to Hotel Malte.

I bought a ticket from the automated machine inside and spent the next hour or so walking through the stunning building. It’s really hard to describe how magnificent the building is, but it is elaborate as you would imagine nineteenth-century Paris to be. One of the most interesting parts was the Marc Chagall frescoes. Similar to the Chagall stained glass I had seen in Switzerland it was so unique and really stood in contrast to the rest of the building. There was also a great exhibition on Mozart’s history that I really enjoyed.

From the Opera, I then walked through the Tuileries Garden on my way to Musée de l'Orangerie. Musée de l'Orangerie is known for its collection of eight of Monet’s larger Water Lilies paintings. Monet himself actually donated the paintings, known as the Nymphéas series, and wanted Musée de l'Orangerie to be a respite from the outside world. It really feels like that as you feel isolated from the busy Paris streets and it is such a unique environment to experience the Nymphéas. Monet is my favorite artist so I definitely took my time before heading downstairs to see the other works in Musée de l'Orangerie which were also impressionist works.

After finishing up at Musée de l'Orangerie I made my way across the Seine to one of my favorite museums in the world, Musée d'Orsay. I love d’Orsay for many reasons but especially for its large collection of impressionist paintings and because the building itself is so grand and unique as it was formerly a train station. I did the whole museum in an hour and a half and then took the metro to Notre Dame Cathedral. One of the most famous churches in the world, when you visit it, is not hard to see why. I was a little concerned with how lax security was to enter the church, especially compared to how stringent it had been throughout the rest of my day in Paris. Mass was going on inside and it truly is just a stunning church to see.

It was a short stop before I made my way to the Pantheon. Fun fact I attempted to visit the Pantheon on my last visit to Paris but it was unexpectedly closed, which made the realization that it was unexpectedly closed again almost comical. After not seeing the Pantheon for a second time it started to rain on my walk to Luxembourg Gardens. It was a heavy rain though luckily I had my rain jacket. The rain also emptied out Luxembourg Gardens which was a unique experience to have the whole place to myself!

I walked to Le Relais De L'Entrecôte which was a recommendation by my friend Noemi! It was amazing. The only menu option is endless steak and fries with a special sauce and wow it was so good. It was an expensive meal but definitely worth it! After dinner, I took the metro back to Hotel Malte to change into warmer clothes. After the rain, it cooled off tremendously and I wanted to walk for a few more hours without freezing.

I left Hotel Malte and headed to the Champs-Élysées. I had to stop in H&M to buy a cheap sweatshirt because it literally dropped like thirty degrees. Also even though it was now freexing I of course had to stop for ice cream. Most stores were closed but I still enjoyed walking up to the Arc de Triomphe. I didn’t walk all the way up to it because I have done that before and it was getting late but it will always be great to see. From there I made my way to the Eiffel Tower while talking on the phone with my brother during the walk. He’s never been to Paris so I definitely made him a bit jealous during the walk.

I have never seen the Eiffel Tower light up at night but all I have to say is it is 110% worth seeing. It happens every hour on the hour so I had to wait for a few minutes (during which time I took pictures) but it was so worth the wait. It was just mesmerizing! I wish it lasted longer than five minutes because it was so cool. It started to rain again after the lights so I quickly made my way back to the metro to head back to Hotel Malte.

It was a long but amazing day in Paris and I was so excited to get a good night’s sleep before I head home tomorrow afternoon.

The Pastries

Today I wanted to visit Monet’s garden outside of Paris but I realized that the timing would just not work. Next time I visit France, I guess! Instead, I spent my morning just walking around the city. I did not visit the Louvre this trip but I walked around outside of it and was sure to take a picture. My favorite part of my day was happening upon two street performers who were playing the violin and the cello in the Louvre buildings. I was listening for a bit but became really intrigued when they started to play songs from Beauty and the Beast. It was so cool and made for a perfect morning - I included a video below!

Afterwards, I walked to Gosselin to buy some pastries to take home with me. Thanks again to my friend Noemi for the awesome recommendation! It was a really cute place and of course delicious. I then walked around for a bit longer, walked past a cool shopping center, and then headed back to Hotel Malte to grab my things. I really appreciated the sweet guy who worked there stopping me on my way out to tell me that he and his girlfriend had read all about what I was doing on my website - it was so cool!

I took the train to the airport and amazingly enough didn’t have too complicated of an experience at Charles de Gaulle. I flew Norwegian Airlines to Fort Lauderdale and I had the whole middle section all to myself! I stocked up on food before the flight and that lasted me all the way home. I had plenty of time to transfer in Fort Lauderdale and am really looking forward to being home for a few days after a great time in Europe!

41 countries down, 155 to go.

To learn more about Hotel Malte click here.