NY adventure: 12 days, 7 countries!

My best friend always repeated to me that traveling with a backpack, no plan and no hot shower is not my thing. It’s true that I’d rather prefer a beach and the sea with a full board included to sweating in sneakers when climbing a mountain with 20kg backpack in +30° summer day with no proper bathroom and sunburnt face.

However, it was Christmas Eve, 11.30 in the evening, when I was speaking with my Ukrainian friend who’d just got her visa and was determined to see snow for NY somewhere in Europe. 30 mins later we decided to meet in Munich next day and go to Portugal by hitchhiking with almost no money, and even worse – no plan. And this is how my 2-week adventure started. Challenging, awesome and full of surprises.

Porto, Portugal

 Surprise 1. Italian trains.

It’s crazy. ‘Trenitalia’ offers all kinds of trains: regional ‘slow’ trains that take you on short distances, more expensive IC trains and luxurious Frencciarossa trains that will bring you from Rome to Naples in 70 mins. Knowing a guy who managed to cover all Italy for free, we decided to try our luck as well.

On first 2 connections Bozen – Verona and Verona – Milan our tickets were never checked, and we successfully saved 30 euros each. Our next shot Milan – Genova was not that ‘smooth and easy’: controllers were not moved by our ‘We’re from Ukraine’, ‘Esta guerra in Ucrania’ and ‘Bella ciao’ song, and kicked our asses out of the train. Twice. Still, we managed to reach the city by 3 trains and no expenses.

Christmas Milan

 But when the doors of Frencciarossa train closed after me, I got really scared: controllers are everywhere, no stops between 2 big cities and worst part ever: you’ll not be kicked out, you’ll be taken away your documents…and don’t want to imagine what is next. It ended up with a lot of stress, stories to explain the absence of a ticket, and in total – 280 euros saved. Only on trains. Only in Italy. Still, I think I would prefer hitchhiking to this madness at least in the next several months.

Florence Duomo

 Surprise 2. French hitchhiking

We did hitchhiking in Germany, France and Spain. But French experience is something I can’t but mention: 900 km from Nice to San Sebastian in 1 day, 9 cars and max. waiting time – 5-6 mins.

A guy with a kid stopped, a guy with 3 kids stopped, people who took another way to bring us closer to our destination. We were once left on the highway, stopped by the police and successfully let free, had to speak English, Ann – Spanish with Italian words, use gestures and our charm. And it worked!

San Sebstian reached!

Surprise 3. Monegasque chick

The first thing you notice upon arrival in this paradise of luxury is the smell of good perfume at the exit of the railway station! Not McDonald’s, not sweat, not socks but perfume! The streets are full of Porsche, Bentley and Lamborghini cars, orange trees are planted along the roads and public elevators! take you down from the top of the mountain to the yacht harbor. My friend and I just asked for the way to Prince Albert Palace and got the invitation to see Monaco from the window of the car going 100 km/h on curved roads of it.

Morozova and Monaco 

Monaco is amazingly rich. Here is the tunnel where sports cars can reach up to 300 km/h during Monte-Carlo Gran-prix race. Here is a famous casino right in the centre where mostly Russian, French and Swiss billionaires squander their money. Here is a Christmas market: no souvenirs, gluhwine and sausages. Come on, this is Monaco: a red carpet, pavilions of YSL, Lanvin, McQueen and champagne served in crystal glasses instead of hot wine in paper cups.

Monaco view from the top

 Yes, it’s not the country of the poor. Moneqasques consider French living in Nice –bagmen, can afford buying a small flat in Monaco for at least 2 mln. euros, and support their ‘poor’ with 2,5 mln. flats given by the state. I haven’t seen homeless Moneqasques, but may assume that these are people wearing Louboutin shoes from the last collection, having only 1 pair of Gucci glasses and collecting from the streets ha! champagne bottles decorated with Swarovski crystals. Monaco, indeed, you’re amazing!

Surprise 4. Naples, Italy.

If you’re tired of amazing architecture of Florence, Monaqasque chick, views from Cabo Da Roca or fashionable Milan, welcome to Naples! To the world of garbage bins on the main streets, labyrinths of ‘Spanish quarters’, 3 people riding one moped and trash-mud-dust-ruins everywhere. It really amazed me, even more than Milan and Pisa altogether.

No doubt, the true Naples

  If they have a historic building in the centre, it will be under construction for ages. If you go to smaller streets, you’ll see women yelling at each other from two opposite houses, you’ll be scared to walk and get a bucket of dirty water on your head, or hit by a bike, or get lost between a pile of trash…and a pile of trash. They have a 20-people line near every street-food bar, weird metro, 1 castle to be proud of (people, have you see real castles in your life? Go to Lithuania instead!), and the statue of Jesus Christ which reminds death in a hood.

Naples, Naples! Ah, yeah, there will be a guy to park your car for 3 euros on the pavement (if you first manage to get to the place) and locals who comment all landmarks smth. like: ‘This is an old statue’, ‘Of whom?’ , ‘Who knows?’ Thanks, Captain Obviousity. The one thing you can be sure of – Naples will not let you stay indifferent!

Naples local, this time showing me Pompeii: 'This is Pompeii, you know, this old city...'

It’s not the whole story, of course. There were much more surprises, emotions, people and stories, and all you need for this is to buy a one-way ticket and be open for adventures! 

To be continued...

Kisses and hugs, Juliya.