TravelEurope with 5 Views
By: Various Authors (justin) 2010.05.05
5 VIEWS of Europe
Justin Jones, managing editor of Student Traveler Magazine, Led 4 aspiring travel writers on a whirlwind tour of Europe with Contiki Holidays. while on the road, the interns learned how to research, write and edit at break-neck speeds.
In many ways, Western Europe is a first time travelers dream. The countries are easily accessible and culturally diverse, making it the perfect place for novice travelers to learn the ropes of travel. It has never been easier to travel from country to country in Western Europe, especially with the EU standardization of passports and currency.
Contiki offers planned bus trips that further simplify the process of travel. Having backpacked through Europe alone on more than one occasion, the thought of traveling with a Contiki group was at once terrifying and comforting. On one hand, I would be traveling with a big group and wouldn’t really be able to do what I wanted when I wanted, a luxury I had gotten used to as a solo backpacker. But on the other hand, I wouldn’t have to worry about booking accommodation, figuring out train schedules, and all the other stressful (but fun) things that come with traveling alone. Our Trip with Contiki took us through all the hotspots of Western Europe and our Contiki tour manager and bus driver guided us safely along the way.
The interns, the other Contiki travelers, and myself were shuttled from city to city. Throughout the trip we not only became comfortable with each other, but the first trime travelers became comfortable with travel. Amongst the ranks, I heard people saying things like “the next time I travel…” and “I’m definitely coming back here someday” and “I think I can do this on my own next time.” All this from young, first-time travelers who just a few days earlier were wide-eyed and terrified novices. This is the magic traveling through Europe, whether you are with Contiki or on your own. It is exciting enough to satisfy your cravings for adventure, but simple enough to be accomplished with just a bit of street-smarts. And when you do accomplish it, it will leave you feeling like a champion — full of gusto, and ready for another trip.
I felt completely alone on the plane back to Los Angeles, but that’s all right. I wouldn’t have wanted it any differently. At some point during the two weeks I was away, Europe changed me.
I’m no longer that sheltered girl from California who can’t tell the difference between a euro and a pound. I’m no longer that girl who fears getting lost. And I’m no longer that girl who dismisses the opportunity to travel. I’m the girl who wants to get out there, who wants to see the world, who wants to do things on her own – and it’s all thanks to Europe.
My adventure began with an early wakeup call in London. I braced myself for the downpour of rain, grabbed my suitcase, and headed toward the Contiki bus parked a few blocks away. I knew I was in the right place when I saw a mob of people and an even bigger mob of luggage huddled together outside. In-between the awkward silences, people were making an effort to find out as much as they could about one another. As soon as our bags were loaded onto the bus and we had all taken our seats, our tour manager took center stage. It would be the first of many appearances. I was sitting at the front of the bus, which gave me the pleasure of having him lean on me for the duration of his 8-page speech about what to expect while on tour. Between his leg embedded in my thigh, the microphone cord hitting me in the face, and the load of papers he kept dropping on my lap – I was beginning to regret my seat choice. Let’s just say, I sat toward the back after that. Once his speech reached its end, the music blasted from the speakers and we were on our way to discover all that Europe had to offer.
Many things happened during those 16 days in Europe. A bike almost hit me in Amsterdam. I drank fine, German beer in Munich. I walked all over Rome and took a gondola ride in Venice. The gondola ride didn’t stand up to my expectations at all. I don’t understand how a leaky boat that reeks of fish and urine can scream romance to some people.
Near the end, the group visited the Moulin Rouge in Paris, where gorgeous women do about 20 costume changes per show.
The bus ride back to London the next morning marked the beginning of the end. I wasn’t ready to leave Europe, but I knew my time there had reached its end.
When I arrived at customs back in California, the customs official asked how long I was away. “Sixteen days,” I said proudly. He smiled and welcomed me home. I looked around, but something felt different. I had only just arrived home, but I already missed so many things from my travels. I missed being surrounded by the British accent. I missed buying a crepe on the streets of Paris. I missed the delicious pizzas in Venice. I missed the sense of adventure that came with the start of each new day. I even missed the early wake-up calls and long hours on the bus – wait; I think I got a bit carried away there. But I really missed all the friends I made along the way. I’ll never be able to grab a beer with them at a local London pub or sip a cappuccino at a Parisian café. Some say, “Home is where the heart is” – mine just happens to be in Europe at the moment.
Intrigued by what my tour guide called, “the best view of Munich,” I set out to climb Peterskirche’s tower (The tower at St. Peter’s Church)—and what a climb it was. While the tower looks tall, its 301 feet are not fully realized until you take on its 306 stairs. The first couple of flights are very narrow and confining, then alternate with wider wooden stairs. An earthy, damp smell lingered in the air.
This was a rigorous undertaking. My heart was racing, and I had to stop several times
to catch my breath and drink water.
Eventually, I made it. At the top, I took a few minutes to catch my breath before going out the viewing ledge that wraps around the tower and realized just how high I was. I don’t do well with heights, especially in this case, since the ledge was narrow and the railing protectors didn’t look sturdy enough. I mean, fire escapes in old buildings make me uneasy.
I was hesitant to step outside, and only after I saw a toddler walk out that I made a move to face my fear.
The view was amazing. I saw the lavender hued, snow-dappled Alps in the distance as I made my way around the ledge – gripping the wall and not looking down.
I finally got to the fourth side just as the sun was setting.
I relaxed and let go, as Munich unfolded before me.
I came across a woman hesitating at the threshold as I made my way back down. Her son was trying to convince her to step outside, but she wasn’t budging. After her son walked away, I told her that I had also been scared, but that it was worth it in the end. We chatted for a few minutes, and she also decided to go outside.
The walk down was exhilarating—not only the challenge of the climb and overcoming my fear of heights. More importantly, I realized that had I not gone out on that ledge, I would have missed a lot. And when you’re traveling through Europe, you don’t want to miss a thing.
I realized a few things on Contiki’s European Discovery Tour…I discovered that guided tours aren’t for me, Paris is perfect in January, Rome is crazy in any season, and Germany truly does have the best sausages and beer.
All inclusive vacation packages like ones provided by Contiki are great for people who are traveling alone, students on a tight budget, or even couples who don’t have a lot of time to get away. For me, sitting on a bus all day, watching the beautiful European countryside fly by my window is simply not a vacation at all. Being on a set schedule with no freedom to explore was a prison of frustration. I need the freedom to stay an extra day in a new place or to take a train at night so I can arrive with an entire day to go exploring.
I love living out of a backpack, sleeping in hostels, and meeting a different group of people every night. Maybe 6 countries in 12 days is a little too much, but I did get to return to Paris and I was able to see Munich for the first time. Paris was the perfect city to end the trip, there is something about that city that makes my skin tingle with excitement. I have fallen in love with the crepes, the culture, and…yes, even the people. I have such a great time trying to learn their crazy language. Every time I make a mistake or fumble over a word the locals are always willing to help me. I haven’t found any of the rudeness Americans speak of. The French laugh at me…of course, but they also seem sincere in their desire to help me communicate.
I even got to see the Louvre on this trip. The last time I was here I did a bike tour of the whole city. So the second time around I decided to do thing that I hadn’t done before. From the Arc de Triomphe, looking down the Champs Elysee is an amazing spot to catch the sunrise. The clouds look like gentle brush strokes of soft pinks and subtle blues as far as the eye can see. With the skyscrapers outlining the city skyline, it is a great start to any day.
The view, in day or night, from the Sacre- Coeur is magnificent. On a clear day you can even get a great shot of the Eiffel Tower in the distance and the best souvenir shopping is in the garment district around the church. At the base of the many, many, many steps it takes to get to the top of this church are fantastic cafés that makes fresh crepes. Each time I visit Paris I find something new to see and experience. The people, foods, and sights have captured my heart.
Most of the cities we went to with Contiki, I had already visited in the summer of ‘05. Rome was the only one that seemed unchanged by the seasons - in winter or summer, it loses none of its potency. Even though the heat had subsided it was still just as crowded and chaotic as I remembered. In contrast, Munich really surprised me. This German city had so much charm and personality. The brilliant colors of the tulips in the flower stands and the vibrant sounds of Peruvian musicians echo through the main square as the delicious scent of fresh sausages on the grill fill the air. There is no other place in the world where beer drinking is a sport. A cold liter of beer from the Hofbräuhaus and a hotlink sandwich is the best meal to start or end a day of sightseeing. The shopping is incredible and most of the city is walkable.
Over the course of nearly two weeks on the European Discovery this city was my favorite discovery. Though I believe that this was, most likely, my last Contiki trip, I am thankful for the opportunity it gave me to return to some places I had missed and to fall in love with some new places that I look forward to visiting again. Europe is such an amazing continent because there are so many places to see and explore- and I have still only experienced a small portion of it. I look forward to discovering where my adventures will lead me next.
Hop in the car and drive anywhere in the United States and most of the time, no matter where you stop, there will be something familiar that gently says, “This is America.” You are not lost. You are just somewhere in America. Whether it is the billboard of a convenience store or a gas station, selling potato chips, there is something recognizable. No matter where you are when you get lost, it helps to tell yourself, “I am not lost, I am just somewhere I haven’t been before”
My Contiki tour bus arrived in Rome after a 6 hour drive from Venice, and we were ready to get out as soon as possible and finally see Rome. The bus driver pulled an illegal stop a block away from the Coliseum, just minutes before last entry. Fifty-two people on the bus rushed out in unison and made it into the Coliseum just in time.
After seeing the magnitude of the Coliseum, our tour manager gave a very brief, but informative tour of the major monuments around the city. Rome is a big city with a lot to see, and in order to see it all, there is a lot of brisk walking involved. It’s hard to keep up, and some get lost almost immediately.
When you do get lost in a foreign city, anxiety and the unsettling feeling of being alone can start to set in. You become quickly desperate for familiarity, say a few cuss words under your breath and find the nearest tourist information stand.
We spent the rest of the day in Rome, trying not to get lost, while getting good exercise seeing the monuments, churches and buildings that defined the rich history of the once-strong Roman Empire.
My experience in Rome (and in most of Europe) was defined by walking. Walking through the city, through the alleyways and shops, past monuments and architecture that can’t fit into your full peripheral vision, even from 20 yards away. There may be a lot of walking involved, but there are enough sights to make it worth your while.
With so much walking, it seems it would be easy to get lost, and maybe it is, but just like traveling in the US, there is a monument, a building or a statue that reminds you, “it is OK, I am not lost, I am just somewhere in Europe that I haven’t been before.”
Comments