The Best (and worst) of Europe

Travel articles (which I read frequently) are always rating things as “Best” and “Worst”. I figured since I spent 4 weeks in 8 different countries, I should be able to do the same. Therefore, here is my highly biased and incomplete Best and Worst of Europe.

Biggest Tourist Trap:

Prague, Czech

Everywhere you go that tourists frequent there will be people selling things, people dressed in costumes, and souvenir shops selling “I heart this city” T-shirts. It goes with this thing called “Sightseeing” that everyone feels like is the ultimate point of traveling (more on that later). But in Prague this crap was literally EVERYWHERE. The historic “Old Town” was full of crummy over-priced restaurants, street hawkers, and stores selling junk. The same at the Prague Castle. I felt there was simply not enough stuff there to justify the quantity of tourist crap. 

Best “Must See”:

            The Coliseum

This is defiantly biased on my part, because the Coliseum was the first real “Europe” sight I saw on my trip. When I woke up my first day in Rome, I had a map and simply thought, “Oh, that’ll be cool”. I wasn’t prepared to simply walk off the metro stop and BE THERE. There were tons of tourists and guides dressed in tacky gladiator costumes. I skipped all that and romped around solo, gazing at the shear size and splendor of a building over 2,000 years old.

Biggest Disappointment:

Eiffel Tower

Again, extremely biased on this one. When I arrived in Paris on the last day of the Euro trek, I was exhausted, grumpy, and due to a missed flight, had been traveling for about 30 hours. I went there because I felt obligated too, but I was still excited. I’ve always loved pictures of the Tower in movies and book, and there seemed to be a bit of Romance about it. But really, I got no feeling of splendor, only some annoying men who thought it was ok to harass me.

Best Meal:

????

Really, how do you choose something like this? I have discovered that eating out in a new city by yourself can be intimidating: things are either too touristy, too expensive, or un-authentic. Or sometimes all three. Therefore, almost all my “top meals” occurred with friends. Some that come to mind are Swedish Meatballs at Christmas, Snacking at the Berlin Christmas market, a Russian dish in Berlin, and homemade Apple Strudel in Austria. I also discovered an amazing all-organic restaurant in Dublin, which was so good I went there twice.

Easiest Place to Live:

Dublin

Hands down, I could move there in a heartbeat. People are super-friendly, the pubs are awesome, the public transportation system decent. At just over 1 million people, it is a busy city with a small town feel, and the beautiful countryside is easily accessible. Who wants to pay my grad school tuition to Trinity College? J 

Best Party:

Berlin

A bit unfair, since I was there on New Years. But there is just something in the culture there that encourages a wilder lifestyle. The trains never stop running at night, and open containers are not prohibited, but culturally encouraged. There is something about a place that was under such tight control and is now free that gives it the feeling of real freedom. However, I would need tattoos and several more facial piercings to fit in with the “mainstream” crowd.

Easiest Place to Ask for Directions:

Sweden

EVERYONE speaks English. Beautifully.

Best place to run from the law:

Prague, Czech

See my previous entry about my nefarious American expat acquaintance. You could easily get away with moving there illegally. Not that I recommend it.  

Best New Discovery:

            Free Tours!

A company called New Europe provides tours on a tips-only basis. I took one in Berlin, in Prague, and in Dublin and was never disappointed. It provides a great way to explore a city and find new places to go back later on your own. Most of the places I found that I loved (bookstores and cafes mostly) were because of the free tour.