Alana's Euro Tour - Part two

Part two:

 

The bus trip was about 9 hours and the whole trip was slept with dead sleeping teenagers (I trying not to destroy my back further had created a nest of jumpers in the bus aisle and slept).

 

Stopping at a servo in Germany I also discovered something that has happened many times to me in Europe. Because of my general looks, when it was my turn in the line at the servo, while everyone else was being spoken to in english, I was met with german. Which is unfortunately gibberish to me, but I was able to save myself with a polite nod and ‘Danke’ at the end.

So at this point i was with my people and I was having a grand old time trying to understand what people are saying to me while my american friend (who actually studies german and can speak decent german) was laughing in my ear.

 

We arrived in Munich and we were met with a very fun sunday beer festival.

Given free time we wandered around and such until we were taken to our hotel, a nice hotel that was 20 mins outside the center. Had dinner and chilled out still being very tired from the night before.

 

The next day was slightly dreary weather wise which wasn’t great for exploring castles but we made do. We visited Hohenschwangau Castle and Neuschwanstein Castle (though I will never be able to tell anyone due to the fact I cant actual pronounce either name). Both castles were gorgeous and we had a great time. That night had a great dinner at the Munich Hard Rock Cafe, and were given coupons for the store (great night all around obviously).

 

Next day was free day, me and a friend walked around the city, found all the wifi hot spots and discovered how to use the trams. We also found out the importance of bike paths in Germany, if you do not move out of their way- they will take you out (and get spoken to very strongly in angry german).

 

The next day we were traveling into France but first we were very lucky to given the chance to have a tour of a german concentration camp. As a person who has studied this period of time for many, many assignments, tests and just general interest over the years, I felt lucky to see such an emotional place in person. It was such an interesting experience I feel very grateful for the chance to see it.

After this we headed in Strasbourg France. This place was amazing and we were all very lucky. We booked into our hotel, had dinner then travelled out into the city to meet up later, and it came quickly apparent we had come on a good night. Because we had walked into a music festival but this wasn’t just a normal music festival, it was a bloody fantastic music festival. Down every street of Strasbourg were groups of bands/singers/djs/drummers; whatever kind of music you can think of it was there. The amazing thing is you would walk down one street and be chilling out to some bob marley, then you would turn onto the next street and there was a rave in the middle of the street! We saw metal bands, drummers, Zumba, french music, jazz- just anything and everything! It was amazing (we also ate Fairy Floss, again great night). Not to mention the whole place was just beautiful. Definitely one of my favourite cities.

 

We stayed the one night then was off to Paris for three nights!! We got into Pairs late in the evening, had dinner then booked into our hotel. And oh my god this hotel was tiny, it was budget and when I say budget I mean the toilet was in a closet. All the exchange referred to as the closet toilet and became a good old joke with group.

 

Next day we taken in to the center of Pairs! We were given free time for the day to wander where ever we wanted and as you can imagine most of headed for the Louvre straight away. I saw the Mona Lisa (and yes it is very small). The museum was just beautiful, I could spend the whole day there. After we walked down the main shopping road, and there was no chance I could buy anything here. The prices were crazy. We also experienced the fanciest Maccas I have ever seen. There were women dressed like flight attendants directing you to seats and would bring your meal to your. Compare that to the Australian Maccas it was crazy. And one of favourite things I did was go on the ferris wheel in Paris, we got this beautiful birds eye view of the whole city. It was amazing.

After that was dinner at an italian restaurant near the hotel, then to bed.

 

Next day was free time at the highlight of Paris the Eiffel Tower. It was amazing. Me and some friends decided to go to a bakery close by and buy some cheese and baguettes to eat on the field in front of the Eiffel Tower. Felt very french. In the afternoon we travelled by subway to outside of the main city and had dinner at this beautiful French restaurant and then on the way back we stopped at the Eiffel Tower at night to see it lit up. Also at every hour  in the evening the Eiffel Tower lights twinkle like stars. I cant express how beautiful it was. From there was back to the hotel at like 12ish (normal return time) and to bed.

 

The next day we left for Lyon a lovely town in the south of France. It was a beautiful old town that actually reminded me a lot of Italian styled towns. We had a small tour of the church and there were given free time to wander.

Later we took the bus back to our hotel for the our last night together. We had a celebration dinner in a private hall together, and damn if a lot of us weren’t crying. We all signed each others flags (we all had italian flags and would write messages and goodbyes on it). I cry if I read my flag, honestly.

 

I loved this group so much, new and old friends and it was just crushing to have to say goodbye.

Next day we were headed back to Milan, where we would all catch trains to different cities. The bus ride was spent singing along to Italian music and playing just all this sad music. At the train station a lot of the other kids from other districts left earlier, so who was mainly was left was everyone from our district. And I normally don’t cry much, but oh my god I was absolutely bawling. All of us was standing in this group in the corner just crying our eyes out saying goodbye. Because you would say goodbye to one friend and cry, then you would calm down but then another friend would come say goodbye and you start crying again. It was an endless cycle of crying for like over an hour before people had to start catching trains.

 

It was honestly one of the saddest most emotional moments I have ever experienced in my life. And talking with the other Australian girl here later we agreed that it is that being an Australian exchange student is definitely harder. Because we only had these amazing people for half a year and had to say goodbye earlier, and we are already predicting the same reaction with the newbies that are coming in at the start of september. Having two of those emotional situations of goodbyes is going to be sad but i’m also so excited to meet the new students and just excited to meet new and interesting people. Because what I have found is people who do exchange are always interesting.

 

In conclusion amazing trip, loved every minute of it, and had no bad situations or problems. I appreciate the fact that I got to have this amazing trip  with such amazing people and will forever treasure it.