Some people were born to travel.
The people who crave some type of adventure, who don't mind living out of a suitcase, and are not overcome with fatigue if departure is before the sun is up. The people who feel content on a bus or plane or train. The people who have an overwhelming desire to cross things off their bucket lists. The people who have the word wanderlust carved into their brains. I believe I am one of these people. I am diseased in the best possible way. Somewhat sickly. I caught the travel bug. I'm pretty sure I've always had it, but living in Europe has ignited a spark inside me. I look forward to every weekend more than ever before because a break from school means I have an opportunity to explore a new city. I've made my way around this continent a fair amount already, but I sometimes find myself feeling slightly disappointed. Only because there is simply not enough time to go everywhere before my time abroad comes to a close. Maybe saying this makes me seemingly spoiled and ungrateful. Well, I know that I'm spoiled. But I can also say I'm not ungrateful. I realize that I'm seeing and experiencing things most people will only ever dream about. I wish my friends and family could see through my eyes because it is all so indescribable. It's difficult to process what I'm actually doing here. I don't think it will ever feel real. I look back on the pictures I've collected from my travels thus far and almost don't believe I was the photographer. For quite a while, I was apprehensive about leaving my comfort zone in Charlotte. And I wasn't sure if leaving for a semester was something I wanted. I had always wondered what it'd be like to visit Europe. But I continued to feel doubtful. I love my life at school and never wanted to miss out on anything there. What if I had traveled over 4,000 miles and regretted ever setting foot on the plane? Whether I'm strolling past The Duomo of Florence on my walk to class, riding on a bus through the night to reach Prague, or catching a flight to Paris - there's not a doubt in my mind, I don't regret it for a second. Choose to wander because knowing is always better than wondering.
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Never in my life have I been somewhere so magical. The city untouched by world wars, known for its charming architecture, and home of the most delicious hot chocolate I have ever tasted. My new favorite place. Prague. Before coming to Italy, traveling to the Czech Republic hadn't even crossed my mind. It was just not one of the places I felt like I needed to see. I couldn't have been more wrong. We departed from Florence on Thursday night with tour operator, Bus2Alps. The bus ride was around 11 1/2 hours. I'm not sure how many hours of sleep I got in, but I was strangely awake when we arrived the next morning. We had a little over an hour to get settled at the hostel and eat breakfast before meeting in the lobby for a 3-hour walking tour. The hostel was extremely nice and clean. They served hot dogs at breakfast. I have a love/hate relationship with walking tours. It is a great way to get to know a city, especially being there for such a short period of time, but it's just a lot of walking. The tour guide can also make or break the experience. Unlike the guy who we followed around on bikes in Amsterdam, this tour guide was from Los Angeles and hilarious. Also, passing a Starbucks and TGI Friday's was the first taste of home I had gotten in a month, which was comforting. Everything in Prague looks somewhat fake, like every building and street was pulled straight out of a children's fairytale storybook. It's weird in the best way. I think that's why I liked it so much. Escaping from reality and being an idealist may just be the cure for everything. On Saturday night I participated in my first ever pub crawl. In Prague, beer is often cheaper than water. I should really learn to enjoy it. Although I opted for other drinks, the night was a great time. It was cool to meet people from all over who were in the same situation - 20-somethings studying abroad, just visiting Prague for the weekend. Must-sees: Charles Bridge - I'd say it's comparable to the Eiffel Tower in Paris or Big Ben in London. People don't visit and not see it. A cobblestone bridge with impeccably crafted towering statues and a spectacular view of the largest ancient castle in the world. What could be better than that? The John Lennon Wall - Whether you're a Lennon fan or not, just go for the pictures. The Petřín Lookout Tower - This was not a stop on either of our walking tours, but my roommates and I had some free time in the afternoon and decided this would be a great way to fill it. It is quite a hike to the top, but completely worth it. With each step I took I questioned where I was and what I was doing. Is this really my life right now? This was the first trip thus far in which the exhaustion hadn't utterly taken over. I was actually sad to be leaving. It's a strange feeling being sad about having to go back to Italy. I know, life is rough. But I will be back. I know this because I chose to touch the right plaque on a Charles Bridge statue rather than the left, granting me good luck and another visit to Prague. Let's hope the legend is true. Because I could always use some luck. But mostly because I want to see that dreamworld covered in snow. |
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