Europe Trip Day 13 : London - Big Ben, London Eye, Trafalgar Square & SOHO

We took the metro and alighted at Westminster. Once we emerged from the station, we could see the Elizabeth Tower with its iconic clock which is situated at the north end of the Palace of Westminster. The bell of the clock is popularly known as Big Ben and is apparently named after the Chief Commissioner of Works, Sir Benjamin Hall.

Europe Trip Day 12 : London - Harrods, Tower Bridge & London Bridge

We arrived in London after one hour and twenty minutes flight from Amsterdam. We took the metro from Heathrow Airport to Earl's Court station and walked about ten minutes before reaching our accommodation, the Millennium Bailey's Hotel. The Millennium Bailey's Hotel is a historic hotel dated all the way to the late nineteen century. The facade of the building retains the Victorian style and its interior decorated with Victorian furnishing.

Europe Trip Day 11 : Amsterdam - Zaanse Schans

After a nice continental breakfast, we embarked on a day trip to Zaanse Schans. We purchased tickets to travel from Amsterdam Central to Koog Zaandijk. After which we walked about ten minutes before reaching Zaanse Schans.

Europe Trip Day 10 : Amsterdam - Canals, Flower Market & Red Light District

We took the metro to Paris Nord and boarded a train from Paris Nord to Amsterdam Central. The train journey was around three hours and twenty minutes. Travelling via train is very convenient in Europe as there is no need to check-in and typically the train stops near to the city center. We booked the business class coach which had really comfortable and spacious seats. The best thing was that we were served breakfast as well.

Europe Trip Day 9 : Paris - Tuileries Garden, Louvre & Notre Dame

We did a leisure walk along the Seine river which was a good way to view many of the historical monuments and buildings located in the heart of Paris. We started at Place de la Concorde and after that strolled through the Tuileries Garden. We stopped for lunch at Cafe Des Marronniers located in the middle of the huge garden. This was where we had a delicious meal of onion soup and chicken tapas. 

Europe Trip Day 8 : Paris - Haussmann, Champs Elysee & Eiffel Tower

We hired a private taxi to bring us from Orleans to Paris. After about two hours, we reached our accommodation at Best Western Hotel Folkestone Opera. The hotel is conveniently located close to Champs Elysee which is the main shopping district in Paris. Printemps and Galeries Lafayette which are two popular malls for duty free shopping are also located within walking distance.

Europe Trip Day 7 : Orleans - Restaurants & Cafes

When it comes to fine dining, there are lots of choice in Orleans. One of the best that we been to is Chez Eugene where we had a gastronomic five course meal.

Europe Trip Day 6 : Loire Valley - Chateau de Chaumont

Chateau de Chaumont is perched on a hilltop and overlooks the Loire river. The nearest train station is Onzain and it takes about half an hour of trekking to get from the train station to the Chateau. 

Europe Trip Day 5 : Orleans - Museums & Cathedral

Joan of Arc is an important figure for Orleans and we could see traces of her throughout the city. The city has done well in ensuring her legacy lives on and her stories known by future generations.

Europe Trip Day 4 : Loire Valley - Chambord & Cheverny

Chateau de Chambord is the largest Chateau in the Loire valley. The Chateau was built as a hunting lodge for King François I in the 16th Century and the sprawling wooded park surrounding the Chateau provided the game reserves.

Europe Trip Day 3 : Orleans - Loire River & Parc Pasteur

Orleans is located to the south of Paris and can be reached via a two hour drive from Paris. Orleans is associated with Joan of Arc, the heroine who lead the liberation of Orleans in the 15th century. There are many monuments in Orleans to commemorate the achievements of the heroine. In addition, the city holds various medieval festivals and exhibitions to celebrate the important historical event. 

Europe Trip Day 2 : Loire Valley - Chateau de Chenonceau

The Loire Valley is well known for the Chateaus or Castles dominating the region and many of them with a rich history closely linked to the kings and nobles. The entire region which stretches from Orleans to Angers is designated as a UNESCO heritage site.

Europe Trip Day 1 : Changi Airport SilverKris Lounge

Our holiday experience started the moment we stepped into the airport. We were invited to the SilverKris Lounge after clearing the immigration. The SilverKris lounge is spacious and provides ample spaces for travelers to rest and relax. For travelers who need a bite, it has a buffet spread with a good selection of food and beverages. 

After a delightful meal, the next thing was to park ourselves comfortably in one of the sofa chairs while waiting to board the flight.


From the lounge, it was only a short walk to the boarding gates. Soon we were on our way on the long haul flight from Singapore to Paris. From Paris, it was another two to three hours of journey to Orleans via public transport. Due to the time zone difference, we gained a day which was useful for us to rest and to recharge our energy.

Europe Summer Holiday

Europe is a continent with a rich history and culture. It has an immense amount of architecture, art and tradition waiting for the traveler to discover and to experience. In the 14 days trip, we traveled across the boundaries of the great continent to explore Orleans, Loire Valley, Paris, Amsterdam and London.