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Read my new article below or click on another destination to the left European Travels
The easiest way for an American to travel Europe by train is to imagine Europe around the turn of the century when Americans like Henry James visited. That will give it all a sense of aura rather than inconveniences. Here are some of my past trips you can use as a guide. I went on most of them while based in Rome during college. I intended to stay in Rome but a group of Irish girls I sat with on the plane ride over who were equiped to travel Europe took my under their wing. College weekend welcome trip to Lago Bracciano Class trip to Pompeii and the ruins nearby. Visit to Ischia, Capri, and Sorrento. Week around Switzerland and southern Germany. We started our stay in Interlocken where a bus took us from the train station up the winding mountain streets to a woodsy youth hostel complete with a life size chess set. We visited the Olympic ski jump, local tourist shops and pubs. We then met with the rest of our Rome college friends in Munich for the Oktoberfest. We went from beer tent to beer tent watching different groups sing and dance. It was an amusement park environment and we ate funnel cakes. We then took the train up to the Germany reunification just for the fun of it. We arrived in the morning and walked around Berlin until the evening festivities began. We missed our night train to Prague so we slept in the train station and caught the first train out. In Prague we rented an apartment filled with bunkbeds. We walked around to the old castle, bought some super cheap crystal at the markets and had a huge dinner for $1 at a fancy restaurant. There were lots of pubs and night clubs where we met locals and other travelers. Weekend in Florence. We rented an apartment near the campgrouds and took the bus to the Gold Bridge and had pizza below the hill overlooking the city. College weekend ski trip to Cervinia, Italy Week in traveling through France. I first arrived in Nice with my roomate Tricia. We had some Napolean pastries and walked along the ocean promenade. I celebrated my 21st birthday there. Then we took the train to Avignon where we visited the inside of the old papal residence. It was really informative. Then we stopped in Marseille and stayed at a youth hostel which was a converted old mansion on a hill outside the city. We enjoyed walks in the city and then split up for a few days. Tricia went to Lyon to visit a high school friend and I went to Angers to visit my best high school friend. I was impressed with the castle there. I stayed with some of her friends in a little flat near the university. Then Tricia and I met up again at a little hotel in the Greek part of Paris where we nourished ourselves with brie and french baguettes for three days. We visited the Musee D'Orsay, Notre Dame, Pompidou, the Louvre and Eiffel Tower. We returned to Rome on an overnight couchet train. Christmas Week traveling in Spain and Portugal. I fogot my password and had to return to the university so it was evening by the time we left Rome. That was a blessing because when we arrived in Genoa to change trains it wsa 5 am in the morning and the bakeries were just opening down the main historical strip. I'll never forget the aroma. We changed trains at the Spanish border which you don't have to do anymore. The countryside is really green and vast on your way to Barcelona. Barcelona is a fantanstic city on the water. We enjoyed finding the Gaudi and Dali landmarks. We spent Christmas Eve in Madrid and it was really festive. We then took a quick train to Lisbon for a couple days and then shot back to Rome all in time for the New Year. New Year Trip to Vienna and Prague. After the New Year, everything was really quiet and so I improvised a trip to Vienna with some friends looking to get out of Rome. We visited Maria Theresa's castle and almost made it to Budapest but were exhausted by then. We turned back and went home to Rome. Weekend in Milan. It was fun window shopping and visiting the touristy restaurant and pub area. Weekend in Bologna. I was impressed by the quaintness and active citizenship in the city. Weekend in Venice. We hoped off and on the water fairies and visited the glass blowing factories. Week in Sicily. We took a train down the rugged and treacherous coast to the Sicilian islands and witnessed an active volcano. Ski weekend in Saint Vincent. There were some nice ski lodges high above the ancient little town. A few miles away were the fancy casinos. Weekend in Siena. We walked through the shell shaped square where the horse racing occurs. Weekend in London. We walked to Buckingham Palace and Harrod's Kingsbridge. Weekend in Ancona and Pescara. This is the Byzantine Italy with mosaic streets. Weekend at Eurodisney Paris College weekend for Carnival in Venice. Wow! What fun. The Victorian outdoor theater in San Marco's square was the highlight. Showing my sister around Rome to Tivoli and Castelli Romani, Florence, Ravenna, Venice to the north and Capri, Sorrento and Salerno to the south. New Year's Eve in Rome. The first time I saw it snow in Rome, I was walking out of the Cafe degli Artisti New Year's Eve. Visit to Milan and Lago Como. Double Wow! Useful Links: |