During the month of August, I traveled across Europe as a part of a journey that I decided to undertake after completing my studies at university. The Covid-19 situation definitely didn’t make my itinerary look easy, but fortunately, I managed to somewhat complete the trip that I set out for myself in one piece—somewhat.

The route was simple, it was meant to look like a snake route, where I would start in Croatia, and end in the UK. Interestingly enough, I thought I would have a lot more challenges thrown at me before embarking on this journey. I really thought that traveling during a pandemic would prove challenging, but it was far from it. As a vegan, I was also very cautious of my caloric intake as I was certain that during my trips, I would have to prepare food in advance because some European countries aren’t vegan friendly. But what I quickly realized about traveling as a vegan during a pandemic was that planning ahead was essential. A lot can change at any given moment. Things like access to countries, constant regulation changes, and the unforeseeable lack of vegan options. However, as you’ll see soon, I think I managed myself quite well. So I hope that you’ll enjoy this style of writing, as it’s definitely a first one for me!

Timeline:

31-07—02-08

I started my trip in Zagreb, Croatia, where I would stay there for three days. The stay was conveniently relaxing, since I’m half Croatian and I had enough time to explore the city a bit. My friends weren’t really around during that time, so I had to improvise in terms of evening entertainment. This didn’t prove difficult, since Zagreb in my opinion is a very welcoming city, and I was able to make new contacts and catch up with old ones fairly easily. The days proved to be extremely hot, but that didn’t stop me from my explorations. I really wanted to make the most out of my trip, and so, I left the comfort of my Airbnb and aircon and ventured into the inferno. Although I sweated my own bodyweight, I got to capture some nice pictures, moments and enjoy the little gems in the city. I managed to try some amazing vegan food in town, and hangout in very tranquil spots. The trip to Zagreb acted as a starter for what would come next.

03-08—07-08

After my trip to Croatia, I embarked on an arduous journey to visit my friend in the deep west of Germany. In hindsight, the trip itself wasn’t bad, but it was more so that I booked a direct bus rather than navigate to Germany by train. For whatever reason, I took a bus that took me directly from Zagreb to Donaueschingen, which is a tiny German town in the Black Forest. After spending 16 hours on a bus, and probably an accumulative 2 hours of some sort of awkward sleeping, I arrived in the town around 5 AM, completely shattered, yet excited to see what’s coming up. My friend took me to his apartment, where we barely spent any time, and had me settle in there quite conveniently.

If I had to describe my time in Germany, I would say that it was very dynamic. Not only was my trip completely vegan-friendly, but it also fulfilled my yearning for nature and the outdoors. My days in Germany consisted mainly of eating fresh, organic food, and spending time outdoors, immersing myself in what German nature has to offer. My time in Germany definitely felt more like a work week rather than a vacation since we were always on the go. We only stayed home to eat and sleep. Other than that, the trip consisted of countless hours spent hiking, biking and swimming in lakes that are scattered around the area. I was able to enjoy nature in its completely unfiltered way, and to some extent, nature was definitely beating me in some respects. I realized that hills are my biggest enemies and that riding on a motorbike during a rainstorm is absolutely not a good idea.

Either way, my tummy was always satisfied, and so was my mood. Being constantly around nature, even if it was for a few days, definitely made me appreciate the blessings that life has to offer. I was so consumed by nature that I actually forgot that I was staying in Germany for a few days. It’s interesting how the human mind adapts to situations, and the sudden shift from the city life that I experienced in Zagreb, to a completely serene and unadulterated taste of nature in Germany, created a tranquil, yet focused mindset within me.

By the end of the trip, I was left with such a positive and friendly impression of what I had experienced that I told my friend that I wish to come back again. I felt so rejuvenated by this momentous stay, that I couldn’t fathom that I was letting go of it so soon. However, my next location, a nostalgic one to say the least, would prove a certain appreciation for the past.

07-08—14-08

The following location is one that holds a lot of value in my heart, as it’s a country that I spent a fair bit of time learning so much about myself. I was going back to France, specifically to Bordeaux, where I had spent a whole year living life, completely upside down. Out of touch from daily routines that I had built for myself in England, life in Bordeaux proved to be very relaxing when I spent my Erasmus year there. Obviously, university wasn’t my main priority, so I had a lot of time on my hands to do whatever.

Unfortunately for this time, I only had a week to relive some of my biggest enjoyments. This time during the trip, I was accompanied by my brother, which allowed me to show him the French way of living but also show him the city that I deeply love. Bordeaux is one of those cities that will capture your imagination. It’s an old city, that is honestly an architectural museum, yet a city that is very modern and resourceful. Having lived there for a year definitely set the precedent of the trip, since I was able to show my brother all the good parts-definitely sounds biased-of the city.

The glamour and the spirit of the city lies within its rustic architecture and quite frankly, the Bordelais, whose fervor and free-spirited approach on life and culture, is a fresh breath from the hustle and bustle that I’ve experienced here in the UK.

The highlight of my trip to Bordeaux was definitely my visit back to the seaside and the Dune of Pilat (La Dune du Pilat). Although I enjoyed showing my brother the city itself, and would have loved to show him around Saint Emilion (a wine town outside of Bordeaux) if the rains weren’t so heavy, I knew that a trip to Bordeaux wouldn’t have been complete without experiencing what the region of Aquitaine has to offer.

Arcachon is a seaside town just an hour away by train from Bordeaux. It’s a pretty, yet lavishly rich, seaside getaway, where the inhabitants of Bordeaux and others from around the world, come to visit. I personally think that the beaches in Archachon are alright, but the nature that surrounds the area is quite breathtaking. Instead of staying there, my brother and I took a bus that would directly take us to the dune. A forty-five-minute bus ride is what separated us from bustling beaches and unfiltered nature. The dune is extraordinary to say the least. My brother’s expression when he saw the climb that was awaiting us up the sandy dune was priceless. As painstakingly as it was, the climb up is always worth it. The sight on top of the dune is amazing, and the breeze that accompanies the picturesque views is a sigh of relief.

Once at the top, the most important step that follows is to run down the dune as fast as possible. Honestly, the speed that I’ve picked up running down a steep decline is nothing short of impressive. I would be extremely happy if that’s how fast I could run on a flat track, but once you start going down, there’s no stopping you. When you do arrive at the bottom, you’re greeted by a long sandy beach that is surrounded by water. The Atlantic Ocean’s saltiness and cool touch leaves a graceful mark on your skin. I find it very therapeutic to just lay down on my back and just stay afloat, letting the water guide me as I drift in a temporary state of nirvana.

It’s crazy how much I can write about Bordeaux, and my little trip there. However, there is still more to be said about my overall voyage. After spending a lush day at the dune, my brother and I went back to the city to eat some delicious vegan burgers—we made sure to have some on our last day as well. I was able to introduce my brother to the city, the culture, the lifestyle, the food and most especially, the valuable connections that I’ve managed to create during my Erasmus year in Bordeaux. The trip back to my beloved city was nostalgic to say the least.

14-08—24-08

The last ten days of the trip have definitely been the most interesting in terms of changes in my itinerary. I was supposed to end my trip in Oslo, where I would stay for a few days visiting a friend. But the unforeseen circumstances that are imposed whilst traveling during a pandemic have to be taken into consideration. I would soon realize that quick thinking, improvisation and sheer luck, can do wonders in terms of fixing detours in life. I was supposed to spend the weekend of the 14^th in the Netherlands and then on the 17^th head to Oslo for a couple of days, acting as a final stop, and then back home to the UK where I would travel directly to Edinburgh. However, this plan soon began to crumble as I had realized that the Netherlands became a non-exempt zone in Oslo, which meant that I had to quarantine for ten days. Obviously, I couldn’t risk this prolonged stay, even though I would loved to have spent more time with my friend in a very beautiful city. I had to act up immediately. I decided to stay a few days longer in the Netherlands, and book a flight directly back to London, where I would stay with my brother intermittently before heading to Edinburgh. The plan to say the least, has worked wonders, as I’m currently writing this paragraph en route to Edinburgh.

This was actually my first time visiting the Netherlands, and I knew that it would be similar to Germany in terms of organization and the cleanliness of the country. But, to my surprise, I realized that the Netherlands was in a league of its own (sorry Germany). Everything seemed so immaculate, and nothing short of perfect. The flat terrain that the Netherlands is known for was definitely apparent to me since my walks and bike rides, were constantly straight ahead. No bumps, hills or steep turns, the Netherlands proved to me how wonderful geography can be sometimes.

I was able to rewind for a bit and catch up with a long-time friend, who showed me around his city, introduced me to friends and took me on some nice natural escapades. Although the stay was a short one, we managed to get a lot done. In terms of cooking, exploring and hanging out, it was a quite enjoyable, yet a relaxing, few days. Having been on the go for more than two weeks, I was able to enjoy my friend’s company, as everything was laid out very comfortably for us. I managed to also do a bit of sightseeing in Amsterdam, and really immerse myself in the hype of the city. Without saying too much, Amsterdam has definitely become my second favorite city—nothing can beat my beloved Bordeaux yet.

Takeaway:

After arriving back to the UK and having spent a few relaxing days with my brother in Canterbury, it was finally time for me to say goodbye one more time, as I was about to embark on a train ride to my final destination. Having thought of this moment a few times, I pictured what it would be like at the finish line. What would I feel like after such a journey? As I look back at the time that I’ve spent traveling, I’ve been to five countries, awaiting my arrival to the sixth, and have passed three more along the way. In just under a month, I was able to explore new places, meet up with good friends, and enjoy what Europe and nature have to offer. I personally couldn’t have been any happier. Even though I had to change up some of my plans, I know that I will manage to end up in Norway one day, and I know that the experiences and memories that I’ve accumulated over these past few weeks will be cherished and remembered for the rest of my life.

As for now, I’m looking forward to what the future has in store for me.

Anis