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Some prefer planes; I personally prefer to take the train. A plane ride offers a quick journey, but on the train you can look out the window taking in the sites that a country has to show.I began my journey in Rome travelling to Florence, Pisa, and Geneva. These cities all had something unique to offer, but I was always at ease, back on the train watching the rolled up haystacks that lie in the Tuscan countryside. Travelling up to southern France, vineyards began to take over more and the haystacks changed their shape from being rolled up to being squared shaped. In Avignon, I enjoyed the Arnos River, a Ferris wheel and of course, some great French cuisine.
On the train to Paris, I watched the fields turn into houses with detailed balconies, clinging to soft pastel coloured houses. Reaching Paris, I jumped off the train in order to find the much-talked about Tour D’Eiffel. The sensation of reaching the top to take pictures is wonderful. At night I dined in the neighbourhood of the Sacre Coeur where I met plenty of Parisians who recommended some sites such as Le Louvre, Arc De Triumph, D’Orsey, Sacre Coeur, and the parks which I made sure to see over the next couple of days.
I enjoyed watching Belgium pass by my window until I arrived in Amsterdam. After sitting in the charming city in one of the many cafés on a canal, I felt the need to visit the Van Gogh Museum. There I was (as an artist) truly inspired. The nights in Amsterdam started at 10 and stopped around 4 in the morning, dancing the night to house or techno music.
On the next train I passed by the beautiful, green countryside of Germany until I neared Berlin, where the architecture became more modern than the typical brick countryside homes. The first thing I noted about the city of Berlin was the art that was on the buildings, in the parks, etc. Everywhere there was a sense of funky modern art. Nightlife was something else – the dance floor did not start until 2 am. But once it did, the dance floor was packed past 8 in the morning. After the night, I hit one or two more galleries before hopping back on to my old friend (the train).
After following a winding river for a good portion of the trip, I arrived in Prague. Prague’s darkly lit streets lead me to the Charles Bridge. The old lanterns on the Charles Bridge lit up the bridge enough to see musicians playing old songs of the city, but not enough to block out the stars. After the Charles Bridge, I climbed up a fair amount of stairs that lead to an ancient looking castle. Its view of the city is a magnificent place for pictures (of both the city and castle). The steeples reach up with various details and gargoyles that stare down at you. I tried to imagine building this church without modern technology but even the ancient crane resting nearby couldn’t explain the end result. After the church, I found a place off the main tourist track for a lunch of magnificent pork and potatoes. As I tossed back the last of my beer (which happens to be cheaper than water), I made my way back to the train station.
Vienna was a shock after Prague, with its gleaming white streets reflecting the sun. Vienna’s churches are very similar to Prague’s …only much whiter. After a few churches and museums, I went to the butterfly conservatory where butterflies landed on peoples hands. I rested briefly in a park right outside before deciding on the beaches of Croatia.
My faithful friend the train weaved through numerous cities, letting me get a feel of each that I passed. Split has no amazing museums, but numerous vendors that one can bargain with to get great gifts for friends and family. I lay out on the beaches after some haggling, getting a nice tan before heading on to an island nearby. Hvar Island is about an hour away by ferry where the clubs start at 10 and last till dawn.
Rome is an ancient city where its old remains still lie, with wonders such as the Coliseum, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and the Vatican City. Rome is an outdoor museum where you can spot old statues that are carved into the homes, old ruins, museums, fountains, etc. Walking through a museum is hardly necessary in Rome but many are available. The smell of pasta and pizza floats in to the air, and I have found many smiles on peoples faces as they order gelatos.
These ancient cities were well worth the trip. I believe the train was a good transition between each, enabling me to get a feel of the towns and their countries. The countryside would not have been worth making a stop, to walk through endless fields of greenery, but from the train I was able to see the fields that stretched for miles.
