Greetings from Holland, Germany and Switzerland. I’ll tell them you said “hi.”
I’ve just embarked on an 18-day tour through Europe. I wanted to take a few weeks of happy-go-lucky adventures before hitting the books.
I’m continuing on with my European Encounter, the Contiki tour the STA was kind enough to book for me with all my hard earned summer clerking money.
On the tour, a group of 29 kids are bused about Europe with our guide New Zealander, Gazza and his fellow Kiwi, Disco the driver. Surprisingly, there are only a handful of Americans. The rest hail from Australia, China, Japan and one lone Canadian. I’m learning heaps of new expressions, most of which should not be repeated in college newspapers.
Although staying in each country for a day or even as little as an hour can be limiting, I reckon guided tours are the wiser choice for the virgin traveler. Unless, of course, you are fond of wandering down the same street with your nose in a well-worn map.
As I only get a short amount of time with each country, you do too. Here is my personal guide to a number of far-off lands. Guest commentary is provided by my roommate, Kati, who is receiving one euro. I’d also like to mention that I am no longer a slave to a lack of technology, as my new friend, Jef carries every necessary gadget one might need, including a laptop.
Holland, land of cheese, clogs and legalized marijuana usage. Here, we visited the cheese village of Edam and marveled at the art of clog making. In Amsterdam, we walked the infamous Red Light District, where many enjoy “late night entertainment.” (Not me, Mom.)
We also passed countless coffee houses, where folks enjoy more than just coffee.
Kati says: Visit the Anne Frank house, an emotionally charged but informative museum; our hotel had one TV channel, CNN, complicated toilets and no shower curtain.
Next stop, Germany, birthplace of the teddy bear, home to numerous car manufacturers and host to the annual celebration, Oktoberfest. However, we only stayed one night in St. Goar. We cruised the Rhine River, passed castles and vineyards, watched a beerstein demo and went to a cave for German wine tasting.
Kati says: The wine tasting was very guten. But our hotel has NO TV. Waaah!
Next on the itinerary, Switzerland. I spent all my Swiss francs on knives and chocolate. We took a cable car up Mt. Titlis, part of the Alps, which is 10,000 feet high. This did not bode well for my fear of height. But can you imagine a Southerner playing in blankets of snow and walking through glaciers in September? Or ever?
Kati says: Is it just me, or does the garbage smell good? Everything is better in Switzerland.
P.S. Today I turn 21, so stay tuned to hear about my casino birthday bash in Monaco.
P.P.S. Send presents in the form of travelers checks.