Europe was AMAZING.
I could seriously just leave those three words there and that would wrap it up. But I won't I'll elaborate and talk a little more about Europe as a while.
So initially I was beyond scared. And then we landed and things changed. We met other people on the trip and it all began!
Traveling from city to city:
Throughout the trip we mainly and only traveled by charter bus, besides the two trains rides we had. One from London to Paris and the other from Barcelona to Madrid. (P.S. traveling by train is pretty cool! If you have never done it, you should give it a try)
Now as you can imagine we spent a lot of time in those buses, most of the time we were asleep and trying to get some extra rest because we were out and about non stop in every city.
Those who decided to stay awake usually watched movies on iPads or kindles, or they were listening to music, or reading a book.
There were many times however our tour guide would make us play games and interact which was a great way to meet people in the very beginning.
There were all times when we'd play music over the loud speaker and sing at the top of our lungs!
We normally would stop halfway at a gas station and get snacks, use the potty (in germany you had to pay), and/or grab lunch.
My favorite bus driver was definitely Gerard, because he was super col and played so much rock music and he had to leave s in Switzerland because he had tickets o a rock concert. Um priorities. Just kidding.
I learned to sleep so comfortably with a neck pillow and in a bus it was ridiculous.
Traveling in the cities:
Public transportation like metros or even bus systems are your best friend. I loved being able to jump on the underground or metro like a local and switch between lines to get wherever I wanted to go. Maybe now next time I'm in NYC I won't be afraid to get lost in the Subway.
WALK. WALK. WALK. There were days when our step counters in our health app on iPhone counted 30,000. That's right 30,000 steps in one day. It is one of the best ways to see the cities. Most aren't that big that you can't walk from place to place. In places like Paris and London you need public transportation a little more often. But hey in my book, there's nothing wrong with a long walk in a strange city.
Let's talk about nudity:
Europeans are not shy. Those beaches usually always had a topless woman on it somewhere, and with their families. I even saw a young girl already topless. I mean hey if that's the european way, you do you. It's just the way families and people are raised i guess.
Did I forget to mention the burlesque "moulin rouge" type show that we went to in Paris? BOOBS were everywhere. It was definitely more racy than I expected.
Food:
We ate SO MUCH on this trip. I am not even slightly exaggerating. We made sure to have gelato or ice cream in EVERY CITY. If not once a day, then twice a day. In Italy I ate pizza and pasta EVERY SINGLE DAY for the WHOLE week we were there. The way i see it when else do I plan on going back to those places to enjoy those delectable delights? Am I right? or am I right?
Safety:
Because we all know this is a big issue for anyone planning on someday traveling to a foreign country. Europe is pretty safe. There was never a time that I felt in danger or in fear or something bad happening. Be cautious and be smart. Keep your purses on your front hip and make sure it is always closed. I bought myself a money belt that I never even out on once. My money stayed in my wallet in my purse, not in my pocket. Don't keep anything in your back pockets, because that is just asking for it to be taken. Keep your passport locked up inside your suitcase. Overall don't worry, but still be smart.
Language:
Yes, you will run into a language barrier. If you buy yourself a phrasebook, don't forget t use it like I did. If you happen to know a little bit of a certain language well this is our time to practice put your knowledge to good use. In no way am I fluent in spanish, but I surprised even myself with how much I actually knew. I was able to communicate shockingly well while in Spain, and somewhat in Italy.
Be Adventurous:
Do not hesitate on a chance for an adventure. Swim out into the ocean. Get lost in the streets of the cities. Eat. Eat. Eat. Make new friends. Step out of your comfort zone. Most of al HAVE FUN.
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