nanajec:
Wooooooooowwww I'm loving this thread already...you've Really done well with the pictures and you make bumping into your cousin coincidentally sound so random.... Boris kodjoe is half German so he being in Germany is no news and he's half Ghanaian.xoxo

Anyway forgot to tell you that if you going by bus then try the flix buses search it at flix dot com or dot de or download the app on play store they have buds connecting about 400 locations in Europe and its very cheap e.g. Munich to Prague is 15 euros Munich Paris €20 or 25
Buses are state of the art and also have free WiFi. ..You should have used Air Bnb too for cheap accommodation instead of expensive hotels... Anyway keep us posted

I swear it was totally random! I freaked out then I heard someone call out my native name in Frankfurt!

Tale of the journey from Frankfurt to Italy coming up! If I had taken Ekene dili Chukuwu, I'm sure I would have been better off!! Now resting in Como, Italy. Mapping out my strategy for the rest of the journey.

titsqueez:
Nice, how's the weather? Hope not as rainy as Scotland wey I de

Not rainy today. Was a bit warm earlier in the day, but getting cooler this night.

Thanks for asking.

I bumped into my cousin at Frankfurt airport, I haven't seen her in years, she was heading to scotland or so and she had just bumped into Boris Kodjo at the airport. I really would have stalked the dude for a selfie but my bones couldn't care less about Boris Kodjo, now I regret it

There are a lot of Trams along the road.

I don't understand how car and trams will be sharing road. To cross the road, i have to double check.

Ariel view of Franfurt city as seen from the aircraft
Frankfurt airport entrance
Frankfurt central station

We were really fagged out when we landed and went straight to sleep after checking into a random hotel near the central station so that we dont miss the tour bus leaving very early tomorrow morning.

Hello people. I have finally arrived in Frankfurt. Been typing and typing only for it all to clear off! Very annoying.

Now retyping:

The journey was quite eventful, mostly because of the recent terrorist attack on Istanbul airport. We flew Turkish airlines, the tension in the flight from Lagos, with many commenting that they can't wait to catch their connecting flights and get out of unsafe zone! Lol!

So I met up with my Mother In Law at the Lagos Intl airport, Immigration delayed us, because my baby and I bear different surnames on our passports (Human trafficking tinz) and I did not hold a copy of her birth certificate. We were only cleared after I explained to them I cannot be trafficking out who I brought in, I showed them the copy of her emergency travel documents and other proofs I had in my email box, as well as her US passport. But kudos to them for at least protecting our borders from human traffickers. It's heartwarming to know.

Before I proceed, I must comment on how different travelling is on our green passport vs another passport.

I have been a frequent traveller since 2009, and I have accepted all the scrutiny we receive as regular and normal airport protocol. This trip has made me realise it is not normal. We are subject to excessive scrutiny if you ask me.

Aside the immigration issue which was sorted as soon as my baby's US passport was shown, when we arrived Istanbul, there were mean looking security agents at the door of the plane inspecting travel documents (which I have come to accept as normal). They were checking visas with some kind of lenses, and when it got to our turn, they started out by being mean, asking where are you going to? What is you mission there, give me your passports. When they saw the US passport, they asked who is the US citizen, I said the baby, they dropped their defenses, and barely flipped through the other passports. MIL and I exchanged glances, like... so all this braggado is because we are Nigerians

Airport security is quite tight in Istanbul. They took their time scanning luggage, and this led to really long queues at the transfer terminals. We had barely 2hrs stopover and by the time we arrived at the Frankfurt terminal, we were huffing and puffing. The silly lady at the desk changed my seat and put me in the middle of 3 men. I had asked the flight attendants for a bassinet seat for the baby. But they acted like they don't understand english, until one of the men got upset, that men without babies were seated at the bassinet seat area and here's a baby sandwiched in a middle seat. All of a sudden, a bassinet seat emerged and we were relocated. I was able to freshen her up and lay her properly to sleep.

She was excited throughout the journey, like a bird that just escaped from the cage. She didn't sleep all through the flight from Nigeria, she was super excited and jumping and laughing. We slept off while she watched some animation on the inflight entertainment system and still met her engrossed when I woke up. I forgot to mention the plane from 9ja was crap, but it's expected sh, most flights originating from Lagos were crappy, till you connect at the hub in their home country.

Anyways, when we landed in Frankfurt, we went through security check before the immigration desk.

Why are you here? Are your transiting? I said no we were here on holidays. Do you have family here? I said no, we are staying in a hotel and moving on to Italy. Dude gave us a mean look and asked for our passports, this time baby's passport was at the top. Soon as he saw US passport, he said, this is for the lil lady and waved us to pass. He didn't even look through.

On getting to Immigration, it was actually the easiest part of the journey. All they wanted to see was our return tickets and stamped us in. An elderly couple next to us came in from US just to take a river cruise and we're fascinated that I carried my baby on my back! Lolz!

MIL took another flight to Italy while I took a train into the city. Train ticket was 4.65 euros ( I was too tired, but I'm guessing a bus should have been cheaper).

Frankfurt Hauptbauhof is 3 stops away from the airport. Noticed black treat black better. All the people that helped with my luggage were black.

There are a lot of young people in Frankfurt.
It was daylight till 9pm, this scared me for a bit
The weather was quite warm, almost felt the same as Lagos
There are a lot of pubs! You would enjoy this if you love beer
Went in for a so called Chinese buffet, they said 80 euros, I pack my kaya to mac donalds and spent 7 euros!
There are a lot of accommodation options around the central station. It's quite noisy, I hear a lot of music and laughter coming from outside.

Would have loved to stay in a hostel for 17 euros a bedspace, but for my baby, paid 50 euros (painfully) for a single room, tiny bed like this!

She finally got to sleep, still very excited.

We head out at 6:30am. Finally bought a ticket from busradar.com for 27 euros to my destination. The cheapest I could find so far.

Kexorcist:


How is it going, OP? I have been to Germany thrice, but never to Switzerland and only once long ago to Italy.

Nice!!! Eagerly awaiting the trip. Backpack dusted, stroller oiled, passport and documents in placec, camera charged, power bank charged, all star sneaker, check, ready... set...

I've decided to stick with going by bus.

A little nervous, hoping I don't wake up late and miss the bus from Frankfurt. Hoping baby is not going to choose that day to be cranky and upset!

flyca:
OP Pls permit me to seek advice on your thread

I will be going to for a conference in Spain. After the conference, I will also like to visit one or two more Schegen countries before travelling back. Now, my question is: should I tell the Spanish embassy about my intention to visit these other countries or is it better I don't talk about it at all. I don't know if the schegen visa gives some sort of restrictions. I'm a lone traveller and 10days is all I need in Europe.

Cc: Schwartz, Eke04seven, nanajec, NePro, claremont

I actually declared to the German embassy that I will be visiting Italy. all I added was my hotel reservation in Rome.

I dont think it is a big deal if you declare your intentions. But I must warn you, spanish embassy is quite a hurdle. I hear they have PHD in visa denials.

MarryMeee:
is this not month end?
Tomorrow it will be my camera died or my visa has finished!

No, month end is in 2 days. A little bit of patience.

lordoseji:
aunty i no see am o

Updated! You can check now!

MarryMeee:
2pages and no picture. You are probably somewhere in Kano state sef

I'm actually still in Lagos.

Trip is in a few days, just getting my acts together and waiting for the d-day!

Pictures in 5...4....3...

Schwartz:

I have used blabla car to travel within Germany. Its just about an individual going somewhere and instead of going alone, he puts an advert online for passengers to join him for a fee.
Is this person going to travel to 3 countries by himself? I don't understand? Never heard of that

He is travelling from Frankfurt to Rome

nanajec:



Dude I find it hard to believe
I know the German embassy

They give what you request

Pictures of it or I don't believe

Yer, he kinda confused me for a bit

Ayobami93:







Nope, it wasnt on request. I just applied for it like that.

How long did you put on your application you wanted to stay in Germany

[quote author=Ayobami93 post=46911784][/quote]

I requested for 2 weeks. On what basis do you get one year? Request?

lordoseji:
whr is the blog?

Pls chk my profile

Also, I finally went to get my baby's nigerian passport, set me back 22,000!!!

Thanks to the guy that spoke about driving instead of taking a bus.

So I researched and researched and researched and came across a car sharing website called blablacars.co.uk where someone going your way can pick you up at the central station and drop you off at your destination.

I've seen a ride for 25 euros across the 3 countries... has anyone heard or used blablacars.co.uk before or any car sharing platform?

Nnystc:
Brother,
Come let us reason together...
Wife= 36 weeks pregnant
Visa = still "in the pipeline".

Let's assume you got the correspondence and visa, I don't know what airline will be willing to fly you to US at past 37 weeks. Except you have a Private jet... or do you?

Advice: If you've paid deposit to this fraudulent agent, who obviously is trying to use your head, pls hold tight to your balance...

Who remembers the chorus from that song from ivorian group Magic System?
"on dit premiere gaou n'est pas gaou oh"

Pls think it through again.
All the best in all your endeavours.

C'est deuxième gaou qui est niata oh ah



36 weeks pregnant... that baby already knows that Britain has left EU #MatureTinz, before they will book appointment, this one that date has already reached august 8.

lakesidepapa:


That 854 will even get u ur own used small car in Germany!

for real?

[quote author=ugsams post=46730717][/quote]

Yes, she has a US passport. I had to buy her insurance though, and the german embassy requested for her passport copy and birth certificate before considering my application.

okezie007:

2weeks?? That's quite short for such an interesting journey.. It appears they aren't very generous with 9ja tourist

They give you what you requested for. My bank statement had only 600k+, I don't think it would have favoured me to apply for more than 2 weeks, if not they could deny you saying you dont have enough funds to cover your stay.

Eke40seven:

Well, If you are gonna visit Berlin, then that should be your first destination before heading down south. For your baby, you might need a stroller. Frankfurt is between Berlin in the North and Milan in the south. If you have a good credit card, you can use megabus, quite ridiculously cheap if you purchase to ticket early.
There are also special offers from Munich to Milan on IC buses for between 7-9 euros. I think it's just 7 hours. From Milan, you can navigate yourself down south of Italy to places of your choice. This is the best time to travel around Europe. In a few months after the summer. The weather will be too terrible to travel with a baby in the open.
Safe journey!
CC: Neyoalao

Ouch! I thought as much... Thanks for the megabus tip. Now checking it out. I have a stroller, already greased ]

Ralphlauren:
OP.

I doubt if you will enjoy your journey in a bus with a 10months old baby. Babies that age are active, restless, eager to explore their surroundings and easily bored. No baby that age will enjoy being cramped in a bus that long.

Your baby will be very irritable and cranky. You will make the journey uncomfortable for yourself and other passengers in the bus.

Flying alone with a baby that age can be tricky how much more travelling long distance by bus.

Hummm..you have a point there...
I take road trips with her all the time. She likes going out. You won't believe how calm she is in a moving vehicle, then once it stops, get ready for tantrums. All she wants is for you to keep moving! We've been to Abuja, Nnewi, Enugu and Owerri together by bus, that's what motivated me to take the trip. But let's see how it goes.

BOKO52:
safe journey dear, i pray one day i will be there...

Amen. It all takes planning. You can save up for a few months, plan out your trip and approach the embassy for a visa. I've posted my visa interview transcript on the blog in my signature. Will also chronicle the trip on that platform

chukxie:
Have a safe and pleasurable trip, sis. May God guide you, your daughter and anyone else you'd be travelling with. Endeavour to post some beautiful pictures of European countryside here. Shalom!

Amen... Counting down. 2 weeks to go!

adigunomomama:
In shaa Allahu I will be in milan 1st week of August, I would love to visit Paris and Munich. I'm planning on going by train, but now I think I will go with bus so I dey follow ur thread bumba2bumba.

jamesoo1:

I will be travelling the same route as well. Plase let me know how you got Bus Tickets.

You can start stalking the routes using google maps and www.goeuro.com. You will be able to compare prices viz a viz trains buses and flights

NePro:
Oh come on in a bus will not be a pleasant one neither in a train...if u really wanna enjoy this trip although the advice came late,, simply pick your niaja drivers license when u get to Frankfurt look for any translating agency translate this license to the languages of countries you wanna visit then pick up any car from Germany then drive off I bet you, you will enjoy every bit of it. I personally drove from France to Bulgaria then to Greece and to Hungary then back to France. It was the most exciting part of my life. Of course it will be expensive but you will enjoy it....all this will be possible of course if you have residence card issued by any Shengen country... Still I wish u all the best update us soon

I tried looking up car rental from frankfurt... can I use international driver's license without having the residency card? Also, I'm alone withh a 10 month old, I'm thinking it will be risky driving 11 hours, but then... I'm all for doing crazy things!!! Will think about it.

Will be applying for baby's Nigerian passport next week.. hopefully, will get it same day, then we are ready to go!

Modified:

Brosssss!!!!! $845 to rent car? Bus is 19 - 29 Euros

smithsydny:
please whch airline did u use down to milan for that amount

Turkish Airlines

braithwaite:

Update us ma'am..and tag em with picture.. if we can't be there now ,we might be tmao..and not regular pictures of city and suburb. [b]Village,pub,restaurant and exotic places.. save journey in advance



[/b]

Roger that!

Israellb:
Safe Journey man.

Woman, I'm a travelling mom

I've bought our tickets to frankfurt. (got it for 188,000+ Lagos - Frankfurt, Milan - Lagos)

The man in seat61 www.seat61.com has been very helpful but I'm more comfortable with a bus than with a train. For one it's cheaper

Will pass the night in Frankfurt.
The bus fare is 19 euros as against over 100 euros on a train from frankfurt to milan.


The bus will pass Mannheim, Heidelberg, Friedburg into Basel and Lucerne in Switzerland (pass through the Alp Mountains), into Italy. Somehow, the route in Italy is skewed. Milan to Venice is 3 hours! Venice to Rome is 6 hours. And I would really love to visit the Pope in the Vatican...

Anyways, still mapping the route. Suggestions are welcomed!

I'm starting this thread to chronicle my journey across Europe this summer.

I've never been to Europe before and german embassy gave me 2 weeks visa, so I can as well visit all the places I can while at it.

I'm travelling with a 10 month old baby. She's pretty strong (we've been on the road since she was 1 week old, and travelling since she was 1 month old, so I'm guessing she will be a good sport).

I have family and friends in Milan, but I'm arriving in Frankfurt 1st, then taking a bus from Frankfurt to Milan through Switzerland (cheaper than the train).

If you have experience in taking this kind of journey please help me draw out a plan.

I personally will love to visit Munich, Berlin, Geneva, Venice and Rome as well, but I think it will be quite a herculean task visiting each city with a baby strapped to my back or chest.

I'm starting the journey at the end of this month, and even if you can't come with me, stay hooked to this thread!