The World…

After dreaming about it for 20 years…I finally did it. I traveled everywhere I could possibly get to with a college student budget and 2 1/2 weeks. London, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Venice, Rome, Sorrento, and Capri. I didn’t do it on my own, because I would have probably gotten lost and died…I went with three other girls I have had the pleasure to meet in the past 8 months. Instead of making one super humongous post about all these countries, I’ll split them up…and because I’m in the midst of finals and really don’t have the time to type out all the countries in one blog session…

First off, we had NO IDEA that the Megabus from Liverpool to London was actually a BUS STOP. We were on the verge of a breakdown with about 10 minutes until our bus was to leave because we could not find the place. And then, we saw the bus pull up to a bus stop right down the street from us.  How lucky was that?! We took that as a sign that we were meant to go on this trip.

I figured out when I went to London just how used to it I was. Danielle and I were meeting the other two girls in Paris, so we were on our own in the grand ole town for the day until our bus left that night. Danielle had never been to London which I thought was criminal since she’s been here since September! I was suprised with how well I knew the layout and how unfazed I suddenly was with landmarks and sites. Although it was nice to bid my final farewell to that city, I know that someday I will find myself back there staring at Big Ben all over again.

Since we are poor college students, we researched a lot online about how to get to all of these places for the best price. We decided upon EuroLines current deal in which you pay about 140 Euros and for 16 days you have unlimited travel to wherever your heart can imagine. So that night we hopped on the overnight bus to Paris. It wasn’t too bad of a journey, only about 8 hours…but we did go through the chunnel. And I hate tunnels…so that was a blast.

When we first arrived in Paris…it was actually on the outskirts of the city. Gallieni, actually. We were lost and no one seemed to want to help us poor little American girls who can’t speak a word of French. Huh, wonder why! After buying the wrong train ticket and still having no clue what to do or how to get to the airport, we decided to find a bus. After about an hour or so of trying to find the airport…we get a text from our friends about to take off that they’re actually arriving at a completely different airport that is 1 1/2 hours away…so we decide to not meet them and instead go to the Eiffel Tower. A much better meeting point.

When I first saw the Eiffel Tower I actually didn’t even realize it! Terrile, I know…but I just was so out of it from hours of traveling. Danielle and I set up camp on a bench by some apartments with a perfect view of it. And that’s when we experienced the first of many, many people who want your money. “You speak English?” a pretty innocent, Arabic girl asks…”Yes…” we reply, innocent and unknowing of her tactics. She hands us a letter and we read it thinking that she needs help reading it. Nope. The note speaks about how she’s left alone in Paris and her entire family is dead and she needs money. We tell her politely that we only have cards…no money. ‘I’ll take cards…” she replies. We just look at each other and walk away…only to be asked about FIFTY BILLION TIMES from FIFTY BILLION girls just like that in the next three days there. After awhile it almost because a game to come up with new answers…the best one being ‘NO I DONT SPEAK ENGLISH!”

It’s not only these girls who try to get your money. There are also men who will come up to you, grab your arm and stick a colorful bracelet on it and then ask you to pay for it. I learned that if you just keep telling them that you don’t have money while they’re tying it on you, they’ll eventually take it off and leave you alone. Free bracelets are not in their vocabulary. Neither are free roses, do not take them even when the guy says that ‘It’s gift for you!’ He is lying.

If you ever get a chance to go to Paris, go up the Eiffel Tower. Yes, it costs money but it’s completely worth it. Unless you are afraid of heights. Even I got a bit freaked out on the elevator to the third level. Eek.

The tower at night is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever witnessed. As is the Louvre. I was severely dissappointed when I didn’t have enough time to see as much of it as I’d liked. But, I am determined to go back and spend a week in there if I have to!

If you are a poor college student traveling around Paris make sure you don’t stay anywhere near the shopping center or huge landmarks…the prices for hotels are ridiculous. We stayed at Woodstock Hostel for only a few euro a night and it was surprisingly nice. And the hot chocolate is AMAZING.

All in all, Paris was grand. A bit cold…and rainy…but I couldn’t help but keep saying to everyone’…We’re in PARIS!’

More to come later…once I work on my final assignments….

Abby