Goodbye! For now...

I am on a train right now to the airport in Amsterdam. I feel like that’s all I can write right now, but I am going to make myself say a little bit more about this experience as a whole. When I was leaving I was so excited that I was scared and that made me feel like not even going, but I am so glad that I did!

Now! An inventory!

Trip Length: 42 days (that’s 42 days off in a row!)

Cities Visited: 20- Munich, Germany; Prague, Czech Republic; Vienna, Austria; Bratislava, Slovakia; Budapest, Hungary; Athens, Greece; Rome and Milan, Italy; Barcelona, Sitges and Figueres, Spain; Paris, France; Amsterdam, Leiden, Den Haag and Delft, Holland; Leuven, Brussels and Antwerp, Belgium; and London, England

Best/Worst:

Munich- Best: Oktoberfest Worst: Not a lot to do, although I’m sure this had a lot to do with the fact that I was only there during the fest.

Prague- Best: Public Art. They had really unique contemporary art all over the city. No need to pay for a museum when the city pays for you! Worst: None! Loved it!

Vienna- Best: Classical Music History. Worst: They rely pretty heavily on their history and it was cool, but I’d like to know what they are doing NOW. Ya know, in THIS millenium...

Bratislava- Best: Wonderful underground club scene that is easily accessible to outsiders. AND the city is CHEAP! Worst: This is not necessarily a negative, but they are new to the E.U. and going to the Euro in 01/09; I’m scared the whole undiscovered charm will fade. It’s going to be the new Prague, I think.

Budapest- Best: Friendly locals! I lucked out by meeting some really cool people who showed me around. Also, you can’t miss the thermal baths, which are pretty cheap for how luxurious they are. Worst: It will suck you in! I had to scrap my plans for going to Romania AND Turkey because I would NOT leave!

Athens- Best: Club scene! A city notorious for its nightlife! And obviously the ancient ruins are one of the world’s wonders. Worst: No complaints! Nothing was too pricy and it was easy to get around and see it all! Oh! It’s hard to spend any time relaxing, as going out is so much fun.

Milan- Best: Happy Hour! The apertivo is the best way to start a night on the town that I’ve ever experienced; it is a trend that should definitely catch on! Worst: Sadly, my few days in Milan were the worst in my life; nothing went right! I promise I do not hold this against her though. I will try again!

Barcelona- Best: GAUDI! He was a genius and really inspiring. Worst: Even though I speak fluent Spanish, Catalan is impossible to decipher. Thank God the people speak Spanish, too!

Sitges- Best: The food! We ate fabulous paella and all of the tapas we ate were equally good. Also, the local bars feel much more authentic than a lot of other touristy beach towns. Worst: Since it is so gay-friendly I imagine it would be a bit challenging for young, straight singles to find each other.

Figueres- Best: The Salvador Dali Museum is one of the best I’ve ever been to. Worst: That is the only reason to visit this town....

Paris- Best: Food and Wine. There really is no competition here, and for me to admit that is saying something; I don’t even like Paris! Worst: The Parisians. Come off it already! We get it- you’re French & Fab, but the sneering is really off-putting...

Leiden- Best: A real “mini Amsterdam.” They have the markets, coffee shops, and canals of the big city, but in a more relaxed setting. Worst: It is a University town, so that crowd is definitely there. For me, this is no problem, but it’s worth mentioning.

Amsterdam- Best: Alternative culture. Nothing is off limits, but surprisingly, this makes you much less interested in pushing them. Worst: It is easy to get overwhelmed by all of the unique attractions. But seriously, who ever complained about too much fun?

Den Haag and Delft- Best: Quaint shopping streets and beautiful cityscapes. Worst: Nothing! Fun little towns to visit for a day!

Leuven- Best: The architecture of the old city center- unlike anything I’ve ever seen! Worst: The nightlife is pretty much all students. Again, I was perfectly happy with this, but some might find it annoying.

Brussels- Best: The BEER! Every bar had great beers, and it was a fab time trying to taste them all :) The brewery tour I did was also amazing. And the food! FRIES, CHOCOLATE, WAFFLES, MUSSELS!!! Worst: None! I was in Heaven!

Antwerp- Best: Amazing shopping district of wide pedestrian avenues lined with beautiful buildings. Worst: Nothing. Was just there for a bit.

London- Best: The city is full of options- anyone can find anything and everything they desire! It is totally diverse in every way and obviously one of the world’s cultural centers. Worst: Um. Nothing. At all. I felt so at home in London.

Which brings me to my closing spiel.

After my LOOOONG EuroTrip, I’ve decided that it is time to relocate across the pond indefinitely- to Londontown!! Yep, it is a big step for me, but it is one that I am excited to make. This trip really expanded my horizons, and even changed my life, I guess. I just feel like the world is huge, but it’s not so big that leaving the familiar takes you too far away to come back home if/when you need to...

-H*