My time studying abroad in Ireland is coming to an end in just four short weeks, but I’ll be making the most of that time with my very own eurotrip!
Unlike in the 2004 comedy, I’m not going on a wild adventure across the continent with my high school friends. Most of this trip will be done solo, which is terrifying and exciting at the same time. I will be away for two entire weeks, and I fully expect them to be two of the most amazing weeks of this whole semester! (At least, the two most amazing weeks that I’ll spend by myself this semester.)
I haven’t done a lot of European travel outside of Ireland this semester. I’ve only gone to Northern Ireland with Alex thus far. Most travel around Europe is very cheap, but it’s still pretty expensive for a student who can’t work in their host country. If I had the means, I would have been travelling every week!
I absolutely love to travel, so much so that I can feel the wanderlust humming through my veins. Sometimes, I feel like I can’t breathe unless I’m moving. If I stay in one place for too long, it’s like my whole life just plateaus and pauses until I can move again. I often just sort of pick a direction and set off without planning out every specific moment, so it’s always fun to see where I end up and what all I’ve learned and experienced in the end. There’s a quote that I found on a postcard in Denver, Colorado that really speaks to me:
“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.” – Douglas Adams
(Of course, he also wrote The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which is one of my favorite books. The man was a jack of all trades, really!)
My Eurotrip: Travel Plans
Trying to plan travel around Europe before finals is definitely not easy. I had to make sure that I could be back before my first exam the morning of May 4, unfortunately. From there, I decided to see just how many countries I could get through in two weeks! This is what I came up with:
#1: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Why did I choose Amsterdam?
I decided to visit Amsterdam after Zach went and told me about it. He said that it was the most beautiful city he’d ever been to, so I had to check it out! Plus, the photos I’ve seen online and the scenes from the actual Eurotrip movie definitely brought on some feelings of wanderlust.
Places to See:
⇾ Anne Frank House: a writer’s house and biographical museum dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank
⇾ Begijnhof: early 14th century houses originally built as a sanctuary for Begijntjes, a Catholic sisterhood
⇾ Boekenmarkt Oudemanhuispoort: a book market
⇾ Dam Square: home to food stalls, restaurants, shops, Royal Palace, Madame Tussauds, the New Church, Beurs van Berlage, and the Dam Square monument
⇾ De Gooyer: the tallest wooden mill in the Netherlands at 26.6 meters high
⇾ De Wallen: the largest and best known red-light district in Amsterdam
⇾ I Amsterdam sign: a city icon and great photo opportunity
⇾ Jordaan District: in the city center; known for its beautiful houses, restaurants, and shops
⇾ Vondelpark: largest city park in Amsterdam; most famous park in the Netherlands
#2: Paris, France
Why did I choose Paris?
Paris is the only place where I’ll have a traveling companion. I’ve been to Paris before with family and didn’t really have any desire to explore it again on my own, but I’m psyched to be going with my friend, Melissa!
Places to See:
⇾ Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris: a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité
⇾ Eiffel Tower: a wrought iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars
⇾ Jardin des Plantes: ‘Garden of the Plants;’ the main botanical garden in France
⇾ L’Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile: one of the most famous monuments in Paris; honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
⇾ Luxembourg Gardens: created beginning in 1612 by Marie de’ Medici, the widow of King Henry IV of France; known for its lawns, tree-lined promenades, flowerbeds, and picturesque Medici Fountain
⇾ Montmartre: known for its artistic history, the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur, and as a nightclub district
⇾ Palace of Versailles: a royal château; a symbol of the system of absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime
⇾ Panthéon: a grandiose building decorated with paintings on canvas marouflé illustrating the life of Saint Geneviève and the epic story of the beginnings of both Christianity and the monarchy in France; home to a crypt and Foucault’s pendulum
⇾ Sacré-Cœur: ‘Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris;’ a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica; located at the summit of the Montmartre, the highest point in the city
⇾ Shakespeare and Company Antiquarian Books: a purveyor of new and second-hand books, as an antiquarian bookseller, and as a free reading library open to the public
⇾ Trocadéro Gardens: an open space located on the opposite bank of the Seine from the Eiffel Tower; the main feature is the Fountain of Warsaw
⇾ Tuileries Garden: a public garden located between the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde
#3: Brussels, Belgium
Why did I choose Brussels?
I decided on Brussels because of its location, mainly. It was an easy trip from Paris and gave me the ability to fly to several countries. I’ve been there before, but only for a few hours. I didn’t enjoy Belgian chocolate all that much at the time, so I’m anxious to give it another try!
Places to See:
⇾ Brussels Park: known as the Royal Park; the largest urban park in the center of Brussels
⇾ Église Notre-Dame au Sablon: a Catholic church from the 15th century; characterized by its late Brabantine Gothic exterior and rich interior decoration, including two Baroque chapels
⇾ European Parliament – Hemicycle: home to the world’s largest transnational parliament
⇾ Galeries St. Hubert: a shopping arcade; includes shops, auditoriums, cafés, restaurants, and apartments
⇾ Grand Place: the central square of the City of Brussels; known for its decorative and aesthetic qualities
⇾ Law Courts of Brussels: the most important court building in Belgium
⇾ Manneken Pis: a small bronze sculpture in Brussels, depicting a naked little boy urinating into a fountain’s basin
⇾ Royal Palace of Brussels: the official palace of the King and Queen of the Belgians in the center of the nation’s capital Brussels, although they officially live in the Royal Palace of Laeken on the outskirts of Brussels
#4: Bucharest, Romania
Why did I choose Bucharest?
When I was looking at flights out of Brussels, Bucharest came up on the list. I hadn’t previously thought of visiting Romania, but it’s a vastly interesting country. I looked into things to do in Bucharest, found the photos, and decided that I just had to visit!
Places to See:
⇾ Acuarela: a café with cakes, pretty drinks, etc.; you can color and paint while you wait for your order
⇾ Calea Victoriei: the city’s most famous thoroughfare which runs from Piata Victoriei in the north of the city all the way down to Piata Natiunilor Unite and the Dambovita river; home to colorful umbrella art
⇾ Cărturești Carusel / Cărturești Verona: cafés with books, art, coffee, souvenirs, etc.
⇾ Cișmigiu Park: the oldest and the largest park in city’s center
⇾ Macca – Vilacrosse Passage: a fork-shaped, yellow glass covered arcaded street in central Bucharest
⇾ Old Town: more or less all that’s left of pre-World War II Bucharest
⇾ Origo: a café with light meal options
⇾ Palace of Parliament: the seat of the Parliament of Romania; the largest administrative building in the world
⇾ Revolution Square: where revolution in 1989 started from and where dictator Ceausescu had to run from
⇾ Romanian Anthenaeum: the city’s main concert hall and home of the “George Enescu” Philharmonic and of the George Enescu annual international music festival
⇾ The Arch of Triumph: one of the most notable landmarks of the capital
⇾ Therme Spa: a wellness center with recreation, entertainment, and relaxation facilities
#5: Budapest, Hungary
Why did I choose Budapest?
Back to my friends’ reviews, I had two people tell me that I absolutely needed to visit Budapest. Actually, I was told that it would be a “life-changing experience.” How am I supposed to argue with that? So, I found the means to get there and looked at things that I could see and experience. Let’s see if it’s really as “life-changing” as I’ve been led to believe!
Places to See:
⇾ Buda Castle: the historical castle and palace complex of the Hungarian kings in Budapest
⇾ Central Market Hall: the largest indoor market in Budapest with fruits, vegetables, meats, souvenirs, and more
⇾ Csendes Vintage Bar and Café: Apparently, they have the biggest café latte in town!
⇾ Dohány Street Synagogue: the largest synagogue in Europe and the second largest in the world
⇾ Elisabeth Bridge: a great place to watch the sunset and see the Buda Castle lit up over the river
⇾ Fisherman’s Bastion: beautiful views of the Hungarian Parliament Building
⇾ Fogas Ház és Kert: a popular ruin pub
⇾ Hungarian Parliament Building: the seat of the National Assembly of Hungary, a notable landmark of Hungary and a popular tourist destination of Budapest
⇾ Hősök Tere: one of the major squares in Budapest, noted for its iconic statue complex featuring the Seven Chieftains of the Magyars and other important Hungarian national leaders, as well as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
⇾ Kelet Café: books on the lower floor and a bright gallery and windows upstairs
⇾ Margaret Island: a 238-acre island in the middle of the Danube in central Budapest; mostly covered by landscape parks; is a popular recreational area
⇾ Molnár’s kürtőskalács: the place to get a Kürtőskalács (a Hungarian chimney cake)
⇾ Palatinus Strand Baths: the first baths in Budapest where visitors could bathe outdoors
⇾ St. Stephen’s Basilica: a Roman Catholic basilica; named in honor of Stephen, the first King of Hungary, whose supposed right hand is housed in the reliquary
⇾ Shoes on the Danube Bank: a memorial to honor the people who were killed by fascist Arrow Cross militiamen in Budapest during World War II
⇾ Széchenyi Chain Bridge: a suspension bridge that spans the River Danube between Buda and Pest, the western and eastern sides of Budapest
⇾ Szimpla Kert: a popular ruin pub
#6: London, England
Why did I choose London?
Is a trip to Europe really a trip to Europe if you don’t go to London? I don’t think so! Catch me at high tea after spending the day on a Harry Potter-themed city tour and walking in the footsteps of the Beatles on Abbey Road!
Places to See:
⇾ Abbey Road: a thoroughfare in the borough of Camden and the City of Westminster; best known for the 1969 album Abbey Road by The Beatles
⇾ Big Ben: the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster
⇾ Borough Market: one of the largest and oldest food markets in London
⇾ Buckingham Palace: the London residence and administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom
⇾ Camden Town: markets, cuisines, and live music venues
⇾ City Hall: the headquarters of the Greater London Authority (GLA), which comprises the Mayor of London and the London Assembly
⇾ Daunt Books: a chain of bookshops in London, founded by James Daunt; specializing traditionally in travel books
⇾ Hyde Park: one of the greatest city parks in the world; 142 hectares (350 acres) and with over 4,000 trees, a large lake, a meadow and ornamental flower gardens
⇾ King’s Cross Railway Station: known for its association with the Harry Potter books and films, particularly the fictional Platform 9¾
⇾ Leadenhall Market: one of the oldest markets in London, dating from the 14th century
⇾ Little Venice: a neighborhood in London centered on an area of decorative houseboats and a partially tree-lined, three-way junction of canals
⇾ Millennium Bridge: a steel suspension bridge for pedestrians crossing the River Thames in London; featured in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, where the bridge collapses following an attack by Death Eaters
⇾ Primrose Hill: a hill of 213 feet located on the northern side of Regent’s Park; topped by a viewpoint with beautiful views of the London skyline
⇾ Queen Mary’s Rose Gardens: London’s largest collection of roses with approximately 12,000 roses planted within the gardens
⇾ Regent Street: a major shopping street in the West End of London
⇾ St. Jame’s Park: a 23-hectare (57-acre) park in the City of Westminster, central London
⇾ Tate Modern: Britain’s national gallery of international modern art
⇾ The Globe Theatre: a theatre in London built in 1599; associated with William Shakespeare
⇾ The Golden Hind: an English galleon best known for her privateering circumnavigation of the globe between 1577 and 1580, captained by Sir Francis Drake
⇾ The Shard: a 95-story skyscraper, designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano
⇾ Tower Bridge: a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London built between 1886 and 1894; crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London
⇾ Westminster Abbey: one of the United Kingdom’s most notable religious buildings and the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English and, later, British monarchs
Follow this blog to read about my fantastical adventures and my Instagram to see tons of my photos! It’ll be a wild ride, but I can’t wait!
Today’s song is one that comforts me when the anxiety gets to me. It’s a little nervewracking to be traipsing across the continent by myself, for the most part. Sometimes you just need something to ground you in the moment, and also to pump you up for the adventures yet to come!