In this blog post, I’d like to share the experiences we had during our 22-day backpacking trip through Europe, the lessons we learned, and the depth of our friendship.
Preparations and Departure
What did our trip to Europe give us, and what experiences and lessons did we gain during our 22-day journey? While experiencing new cultures and history through our travels in Europe, we faced unexpected challenges, but we strengthened our friendship and gained valuable experiences that helped us grow. This journey was not merely sightseeing; it was a meaningful time that taught us important life lessons and will have a significant impact on our future lives.
Ever since I was a child, traveling to Europe has been my dream and my hope. With its countless historical sites, beautiful landscapes, new languages, and new people waiting for me, Europe was a place I desperately wanted to visit at least once before I grew old. Especially during my high school years, which were dark and difficult, I studied hard with the hope that if I could just wait one more year, I would be able to go backpacking with my friends. I endured those difficult times by imagining the trip and eagerly counted down the days until vacation. Planning the trip with my friends and envisioning a free and exciting future was a great comfort to me.
When I became a college student and cautiously obtained my parents’ permission for the backpacking trip, I felt as if I had gained the whole world. So, I gathered four close friends to spend 22 days together and decided to fly to the other side of the globe for a fantastic three weeks.
However, the start of the trip wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. Two months before our departure, we struggled to reach a consensus even when deciding which countries to visit. Some friends had already been to parts of Western Europe, and we each had different countries we wanted to visit. But through this process, we coordinated our opinions and gradually built stronger teamwork. Despite our differences, we settled on a travel route covering five countries: the UK, France, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany. During final exam season, we were too busy planning the trip to study, and although the detailed itinerary wasn’t finalized until just before departure, that was part of the adventure.
Experiences by Destination
United Kingdom
The first country we visited was the land of gentlemen, the United Kingdom. Perhaps because it was our first stop in Europe, the UK left a huge impression on us. We were awestruck by the magnificent buildings radiating out from Trafalgar Square, as well as Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Tower Bridge. Seeing the buildings I’d only ever seen in photos in person was so moving that I almost cried. What was even more surprising was that, since the UK is quite far north, the sun hardly ever sets. It wasn’t until 10 p.m. that the sun dipped below the western horizon, allowing us to wander all over London like crazy all day long. From popping champagne while watching the sunset over the Thames on our first day in London, to the time I was left flustered when the train doors closed just as I was heading to Cambridge, to the morning we were leaving for Paris when two of my friends overslept and we nearly missed the Eurostar—all these little mishaps have become happy memories.
France
Our next destination, France, threw us for a loop from day one. Traveling was difficult because we couldn’t communicate in the local language, and we could barely get by by mobilizing the beginner-level French I’d half-heartedly studied for a semester, along with all four of us using every gesture and body language we could muster. Unlike the friendly atmosphere in England, Paris had a generally cynical vibe, and after four days, we were starting to feel a bit worn out. Still, the night views of Paris, the grandeur of Notre-Dame Cathedral, the glamour of the Champs-Élysées, and the beauty of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe gave us great strength. On our last day, when we visited the Palace of Versailles, we were delighted to be joined by eight other Korean travelers who were part of the same tour package. Since we were around the same age and had similar personalities, we became close friends right away, and from then on, we spent most of the rest of the trip together. Every day in Paris felt like a scene from a movie.
Switzerland
Switzerland was a country we’ll never forget from our trip. We stayed for three days, but we only had one day where we could properly enjoy outdoor activities. The hotel booked by the travel agency was located in a quiet rural village with almost nothing to see, so we were stuck there for three days. Amidst this tranquility, we were able to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life in Korea and truly relax. Spending two nights at the hotel also gave us the chance to become close friends with the eight other travelers. We played card games and gambled, went for walks, and on the last night, we enjoyed a Swiss evening with a barbecue and a drinking party. On the third day, we took a gondola up to the summit of Mt. Titlis, where we sledded down the eternal snowfields over and over again. On the way down, we rode kick scooters, recreating scenes from KartRider, and made some wonderful memories.
Italy
Italy was, quite literally, a place that felt like “death” to us. Unlike other countries, we spent six days in Italy, and having been accustomed to a cool climate, we experienced the intense heat of 42 degrees Celsius for the first time. In particular, Vatican City is a sacred area where the Pope resides, so only long pants are allowed—it felt like we were in a free sauna all day long. We traveled around Milan, Florence, Rome, and Vatican City for six days, but honestly, our memories aren’t very clear. All we remember is the blazing sunlight, the intense humidity, and the cool air conditioning inside the buildings. Nevertheless, even in the heat, we had a precious opportunity to see Italy’s history, art, and architecture firsthand. We happily wandered around various sites—the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Hill of Michelangelo, and the Duomo—hanging out with friends. On the last day, we all wore glow-in-the-dark bracelets at Castel Sant’Angelo to enjoy the night view of Rome, but we missed our ride and had to take a night bus back to our accommodation—a bit of a mishap.
Germany
Our final stop, Germany, felt like heaven to us. The cool weather was nice, but what really stood out was how cheap and delicious the meat and alcohol were compared to other countries. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten that much meat in a single 22-day trip. We were all blown away by the beer, which was on a whole different level from what we drank in Seoul. What surprised me most while traveling through Germany was how integrated beer was into daily life. The scene where a pub is essentially a restaurant and a restaurant is essentially a pub, and the sight of Germans eating lunch with a 1-liter beer mug by their side, was shocking. Thanks to that, we were able to fully enjoy authentic German culture for three days before returning home. Germany gave us the most comfortable and enjoyable time. The little things in daily life made the trip even more special, and we cherished every moment.
Reflections on the Journey
On the flight back from our trip to Germany, we talked about how meaningful this 22-day journey had been for our lives. We encouraged each other, acknowledging how hard we’d all worked, and reaffirmed the friendship that had grown even stronger through this experience. This trip wasn’t just about visiting new places and admiring beautiful scenery. We pushed past our individual limits, built trust in one another, and grew together.
We vowed to build on this precious experience in our future lives, supporting one another as we move forward together.
