domingo, 2 de diciembre de 2018

DiscoverEU InterRail Experience (Part 1)

So, back in June, while I was in Mallorca for my Senior trip, my mom texted me telling me about an InterRail Pass give away for those who were 18 by July the first sponsored by the European Commission. There were only 15000 tickets, and any 18-year-old from any EU country could apply.
Even though I thought it was impossible, I applied for it, I had nothing to lose anyway.

Unfortunately, I didn't win the prize in the first round, but I was "in line", just as a bunch of other people, just in case someone who won it couldn't use it, and luckily... I ended up getting one of those free InterRail Passes!!

When I was told so I was about to leave for my gap year in Switzerland, which made me kinda mad because I thought I couldn't use it, BUT they extended the dates of the pass until October the 31st, and I had holidays from the 11th to the 21st that same month, and I went ahead with the plan.

FIST STOP: Udine, Italy (12/10/2018-15/10/2018)

One of the conditions was to start the trip in an EU country, so I had to take a bus from Geneva to Udine, where I'd stay three days with Maria. I met her in June 2017 during the west coast tour, and I saw her city was in between Geneva and Ljubljana so we arranged some plans for the weekend. I stayed at her place, went out with her and her friends and visited her city.
All I have to say is that Udine is beautiful, I really liked it

On Sunday we went to spend the day in Venice. I had been there before, when I was nine, and it was amazing to be back. That visit brought back so many memories and made some new ones.

It was nice to see Maria again and to meet her family. I'm very grateful for our friendship and for being hosted at their house.

I owe you one Maria, love you and see you soon! ;)

Visiting Venice with Maria

SECOND STOP: Ljubljana, Slovenia (15/10/2018-17/10/2018)

On Monday the 15th I went to Ljubljana, which was only 4 hours away from Udine. My first impressions from Slovenia were that it is a very green country. All I could see from the train and buses were green, massive forests, it's difficult not to love it.

A fun fact about the rest of the trip is that I didn't spend a penny in hotels, I sated at people's houses thanks to Couchsurfing. I posted my schedule a couple of weeks before leaving and those who could host me the days I'd be in there city messaged me in order to arrange my stay. I really liked the experience, it's a good way to meet new people, their culture and their city, and they host you for free!

Anyway, I love Slovenia. Ljubljana is a Balcan jewel, and thanks to the Ljubljana Free Tour I went on, and thanks to Ina, the guide, I got to understand and know a lot more about the country and its culture.
It took me a day to visit the Ljubljana. The city is not that big and they are VERY helpful at the tourism offices.
The second day I went to Bled Lake, up north from the capital. and it was breathtaking.

Going there by myself in a cloudy, cold, rainy day turned into such an amazing experience. II had no one to talk to, and it didn't take me long to talk to myself.

Some people told me about how sad it is to travel alone, saying it's better to have someone with you all the time and stuff but, I disagree. I learned a lot about myself while being alone. It was an introspective trip, and the best of all is that I could enjoy every view and every place the way I wanted to enjoy them, without anyone telling me when to leave or where to go. I followed my instinct and everything turned out pretty well.


The Dragon Bridge and the Ljubljana Castle on top of the hill

This is one of my favorite views ever. It's from the Ojstrica peak, by Bled Lake. I stayed up there for almost an hour, looking around and just thinking how good of a decision I had made taking a gap year, traveling by myself and how I how I ended up there.

If anyone who reads this is thinking or knows about someone who is thinking about taking a gap year just go ahead and do it, all it'll do to you is good.


Bled Lake, and Bled on the background


Thanks for reading!! 

To be continued...

P.S.: If you see any grammar mistake or misspelling let me know in the comments please ;)