Take time to smell the tulips of Amsterdam or do this:
When I went to Europe a few years ago it was my first time to Europe. Therefore I felt that I had to see everything. And in some ways I did. I saw 12 cities and 8 countries in 22 days. (London, Amsterdam, Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Salzberg, Linz, Munich, Interlaken, Grundelwald, Rome, Venice, Paris). Basically adhering to this schedule means that you are not in any city or country for more than 2-4 days at a time. Most cities I was only there for 1 day or night. It makes the trip a little rushed. Just as I would arrive into a city I would get to know it, finally figure the map out, Learn how to order a beer in the local language, fall in love with a girl and then POOF! - time to move. The cool thing about the trip was the spontaneity of it all, well somewhat.
The whole trip was planned down to every last city, however when I arrived in each city nothing was planned. I had pre booked hostels (I think this is important because they do fill up). But I didn’t plan every single detail of my trip. And the best parts of my Euro trip was discovering new experiences. I did not plan every train itenary, I would just show up at the next train station and find out when the train was arriving to my next destination. So I either had to rush to a train that was about to leave, or I had many hours to kill. If you are stuck at Union Station in Los Angeles then you would have been mad that you were stuck at the train station for 4 hours. However when you are allowed to spend an extra four hours in Interlaken Switzerland it becomes an exciting journey to find out how you can kill the time. For me I discovered a bobsled type ride. Actually it was a tiny bobsled that rode on a track similar to a monorail. It traveled down a steep mountain and there was a handle in the sled that if you pulled the handle up it would cause the bobsled to slow down. Or if you barely used the handle the sled traveled super fucking fast.
I went for the fast option only using the handle a few times. Somehow I even managed to take a few pictures on the ride. After the ride drops you at the bottom of the hill you look back at the giant hill and then I thought “How can I do this again?” You were only supposed to ride it once or you had to pay again. So I did what any man would do. I sweet talked the cute swiss girl operating the ride and I got to ride it again (for free). Traveling is great! But I learned something from the bobsled adventure. When you travel, often the most incredible parts of your trip are the experiences that you didn’t plan. If I had to catch an earlier train then I would have never rode the bobsled. Or if I actually scheduled more than one day in Interlaken I could have gone on another hike in the alps, or maybe fall in love. Or I could have visited the strange amusement park in town. So many options so little time. The conclusion is that you can approach your travel adventure in two ways. You can do what I did and try to see as many countries as possible in 22 days. Or you could take your time and spend time to really enjoy the city. Now that I look back at it all I am happy I got to see so much but when I do it again, when I go back to Europe I will plan less and stay in a city more then a day. Unless it is London then I will leave in a day, I wasn’t a big fan.
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