June 3, 2017

How I Toured 7 Countries in Just 10 Days

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How can someone explore 7 different countries in just 10 days, you ask?

Well, I did it, and I’m going to share HOW I did it (and how you can, too!) right here. 7 countries. 10 days. Sound good?

Get ready.

Get set.

And…

LET’S GO!

February 2016:
1) Long-term boyfriend and I broke it off after three and a half years together.
2) I spontaneously booked my first trip to Europe— one that was scheduled to depart just a few weeks later.

March 2016:
1) I fly to London, UK by myself on said spur-of-the-moment trip. I flew out of JFK in NYC. This is my first time flying abroad by myself. This is my first flight longer than 3 and a half hours. This is my first overnight flight. This is my first time drinking alcohol on a plane. A lot of firsts.
2) When I arrived in London, I was obviously all alone in a foreign land. I had never been to London, or Europe in general, before. Luckily (more like thank God), people in the UK speak the same language as Americans: English. This is extremely helpful and helps to ease the nerves a bit.

What happens next? My trip was only beginning…

 

I spent the entire day in England and wanted to explore as much as I could before I left for my second country, the Netherlands (aka Holland), the very next day. I scheduled a free, guided tour that steered me to all of the greatest historical attractions in London, such as Buckingham Palace, the Eye, and Tower Bridge. 

My second day in Europe, I woke up extremely early (around 6:00am). It was time to head to my second country! I could not wait to be in Amsterdam and see the beautiful canals and famous landmarks. I toured the Rijksmuseum during the day and set off on an entertaining booze cruise that night on the canal. Afterward, it was time to experience the Red Light District. I spent the night in Amsterdam and woke up very early again the next morning (which was quite difficult because I don’t think I even got in bed until after 3:00AM that day!).

Day three I was off to Germany. My first stop was St. Goar in beautiful Rhine Valley. It is such a gorgeous place. I spent one night there and the next morning (day four) I moved on to Munich. Munich and St. Goar are so very different but both phenomenal places to visit. Get travel tips and read more about my trip to Germany here!

I departed for Italy on the fifth day of my eurotrip— but made two pit stops along the way. First, I was able to learn more about the horrors of the Holocaust (a very dark time in Germany’s history) at Dachau Concentration Camp. The mood there was somber, and the sights were just unthinkable. It was an experience I will never, ever forget. After Dachau, I stopped in Innsbruck, Austria for some exploring and a bite to eat! Austria is known for its strudel— and the strudel definitely doesn’t disappoint. Learn more about the city of Innsbruck here.

Finally, I arrived in Venice, Italy that evening. The motherland. Of course, I had a heaping bowl of pasta that night. How could I not? The next morning, I ventured out to explore the unique and breathtaking city. Gondola rides, wine, pizza, and gelato (A LOT of gelato) were involved. I spent a second night in Italy— can you believe it, I actually spent two nights somewhere for a change?

On the seventh day of my trip I reached Switzerland (I feel like I’m singing The Twelve Days of Christmas…). Here, I was able to discover the stunning city of Lucerne. Lake Lucerne is a must-see! At this point, I was practically dying. I vividly remember arriving in Lucerne and feeling sick as a dog. I mean, I had barely slept for seven straight days. I was just going, going, going! Every day I was staying up past 2AM and then waking up by 6:30AM; a body can only take so much…

So, in Lucerne, I stepped into a pharmacy and asked the woman behind the counter to direct me towards a medication that could alleviate my symptoms. Fortunately, the woman spoke English and was able to help me with my purchase! Did I let my coughing and aching body slow me down? Nope— it was time to sightsee! After all, I only had that one day to see all that Lucerne has to offer.

Day eight. It was time for France! I was so eager to finally be in the magical city of Paris and to actually see the illustrious Eiffel Tower with my own two eyes. I arrived in Paris at night, but was able to ride by the Eiffel Tower on the way to my hotel and, wow, it was an astonishing sight! It shone yellow, black, and red for Belgium. It was representative of unity, love, and support. You see, the terrorist bombing in Brussels had occurred just a few days prior. Read my open letter (and middle finger) to ISIS here!

Day nine, I was still feeling ill but I wasn’t going to let ANYTHING stop me from spending the day gallivanting around the charming city of Paris! I explored a perfumery, climbed the Eiffel Tower, visited the Louvre, admired the Arc de Triomphe, and stuffed my face with food (what else is new?). That night, I went to, hands-down, my FAVORITE stop in Paris— find out what it is, and read about my Paris experience, here.

The night of day nine, technically 2:00AM the morning of day ten, the clocks changed. Did I gain an extra hour in Europe? No, of course not. The clocks jumped forward which meant I lost an hour. I was out enjoying my night when all of a sudden it jumped from 1:59AM to 3:00AM. It was my last night in Paris— and my last night in Europe— so I really wanted to stay out and get the most out of my trip. However, I knew I had to wake up in just a few hours to head to the airport and I needed some rest. So, back to the hotel I went. I definitely had the time of my life that night, but my body was ready to head back to the good old USA (and a queen sized bed).

I woke up around 6:00AM on the tenth day of my trip. I ate breakfast and then hopped on a bus that took me to Charles de Gaulle Airport.

10 days. Phew!  Ten whirlwind days abroad.

Did I travel solo for 10 days? Nope. You will find a lot of solo female travel bloggers out there, but I am not one of them. I prefer traveling and sharing experiences with others. I flew solo to the UK, yes. Spent the day alone exploring London. But that night, I met up with a bunch of strangers at my hotel’s bar. These strangers, from all over the world, were going to spend the next 9 days with me. I’ll write more about the travel group, the travel company, and my experience with both in an upcoming post!

To sum everything up: I had (and took) the opportunity to take in so many historical and renowned sights, view a plethora of monuments, satisfy my taste buds at several diverse restaurants, and, ultimately, live life on the edge. I stepped out of my comfort zone. I did something rash and spontaneous. I left America with no friends, no family, just my carry-on suitcase. That’s right, I didn’t even check a bag. I went on a true (and rather impulsive) adventure. 10 days was all it took to change my life. Find out more about my decision to go on this trip-of-a-lifetime here and in my About Me section.

I toured 7 different countries in Europe in just 10 days, and you can, too!

Below is an outline of my schedule. You can go on this same trip, or you may choose to modify it. The great thing about Europe is that it really doesn’t take too much time or effort to pass from one country to another. There is a ton of public transportation! I flew to and from Europe; while abroad, I got around via ferry and bus. The majority of the countries use the same type of money as well, which is very convenient.

 

7 Countries in 10 Days:

Day 1- Arrived in London, England.

Day 2- London to Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Day 3- Amsterdam to St. Goar, Germany.

Day 4- St. Goar to Munich, Germany.

Day 5- Munich to (Dachau Concentration Camp and Innsbruck, Austria) Venice, Italy.

Day 6- Venice, Italy.

Day 7- Venice to Lucerne, Switzerland.

Day 8- Lucerne to Paris, France.

Day 9- Paris, France.

Day 10- Paris to NYC, USA.

I arrived back in NYC in the early evening on Easter Sunday. My family picked me up from the airport and took me back to my hometown in New Jersey. I had missed out on their Easter brunch but was able to spend the night with them in the house I grew up in— I continued taking medicine for the next couple of days and tried to rest up before heading back to work that Tuesday.

Do I regret staying out late every night and not getting much sleep?

Absolutely not. If I did this same trip over again, I would not change a thing. I had the ultimate time of my life. I made a bundle of friends, burned 876543 calories dancing, and learned so much about the world and myself. I was exposed to different cultures and numerous languages. I was able to check several places and experiences off my bucket list in those 10 days.

My biggest piece of advice to you, my fellow traveler, is this: Don’t worry about sleep. We’ll sleep when we’re dead. Live in the moment. Enjoy every second. Make thoughtless decisions. Do something you wouldn’t normally do. Order something new off the menu. Say hi to a stranger. Dance the night away. Don’t go home or back to the hotel until the place you’re at closes. Buy that expensive souvenir that you’re eyeing.

That being said— it is ALWAYS important, no matter where you are, to be smart and to stay safe. Don’t overthink anything. Don’t worry and don’t stress. Don’t. Just have fun. But also be aware. Be vigilant.

Traveling allows you to find your true self. I guarantee there are parts of you that you don’t even know exist yet. That’s the beauty of trying new things, traveling to new places, and taking risks. That’s life. Don’t miss out on life. I’m telling you now, life will pass you by. So grab life by the horns and go have a hell of a ride!

 

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Have any questions? Drop a comment below! I’d love to hear from you. How many countries have you squeezed in to 10 days? 🙂

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