If you had told me three months ago I would be traveling to Venice, Prague, and Paris during my spring break I would have laughed. Not only at the ridiculousness of going to all those places over a period of nine days, but for thinking I would travel on my own too. However, I found myself booking flights and hostels to these places with a friend from ASE for our time off. After scheduling our extensive travel plans, I found that I was looking forward to my spring break, but I wasn't necessarily excited about it. The days leading up to my trip included 'what if' questions about my travels. I convinced myself something would go horribly wrong and I started to question myself on whether I could travel Europe on my own (despite getting myself this far to England). Dwelling on the 'what if' questions never help any situation, but with what I know now from this trip I will attempt to answer those questions for anyone who will go through the same nervousness I did. Here are my answers to those travel what if's.
1. Yes, there will be a delay
Within the nine days that we traveled, three out of our four flights got delayed, plus our train to London. It doesn't matter if you're early or on time, there will inevitably be some type of delay. The best thing to do is keep calm and realize that you're not going to be stuck in the airport forever. No matter how long the wait might feel.
2. Pack Light
A carry-on is all you need for a trip like this. For me, a duffel bag was the perfect size for all of my things. Just make sure to bring clothing you can wear for different occasions as well as a quality jacket for the uncontrollable weather and pack your liquids on top so it's easy to pull out at security check-ins.
3. No, you didn't enter the country illegally
We flew from Venice to Prague. The airport was so quiet and we walked straight out to the arrival area with no questions asked. I was little suspicious, but I was too focused on getting to our hostel that I didn't pay much attention to the fact no one from the Czech Republic looked at my passport before I left the airport. Once we were are our hostel, my travel partner messaged our other friend who traveled to Prague before and asked if her passport had been checked and stamped. She replied with yes. My stomach just about fell out of my body and I honestly thought I had messed up and entered the Chez Republic illegally. After a call to my Dad and an intense google search about passport security, we quickly discovered that the Czech Republic is one of the 26 countries who are a part of the Schengen agreement. These countries made their borders accessible if you enter from another country who signed the Schengen agreement, which includes Italy. Although this history lesson almost gave me a heart attack, it paid off in the end. So always check to see what type of border situation when you're traveling.
4. Yes, try the different food
Every place has its own cuisine to try, some of it sounds more appetizing than others. Nevertheless, it's important to immerse in the culture and try different foods.
5. Yes, try speaking the language
The phrases like 'hello', 'please', 'excuse me', and 'thank you' are important to know when you're traveling. A simple google search can go a long way and make your experience better. Try it out, even if you accidentally order soda instead of water like I did! (I said 'voda' but the waiter heard 'kofola' which is their version of coke.)
6. Don't wear those shoes
I know they're really cute, but they'll give you the worst blisters. Pick the shoes that you can climb the Eiffel Tower and stand on the glass looking down below without any pain.
7. Don't worry about finding stuff to do
If you're abroad during spring break don't forget that you're on vacation. It's a okay to slow down and breath. It's important to see everything on your list, but one of the best things is to find a cafe, sit down, and enjoy the people watching.
I had no idea how much traveling to three different cities could teach me. There's so much more than this list that I've learned from my time in Europe. I know I still have a lot more to learn from traveling, but it's a start and I can't wait for the next time I can travel!
