My First European Adventure at 23!
At 23, while many were glued to their desks chasing deadlines, I made a spontaneous decision: I was going to Europe! The cool thing? I applied for my visa from Taiwan—since I'm based here, the process was smoother and the paperwork quicker. One lovely afternoon over bubble tea, I booked a European tour. I figured, if not now, when?
Frankfurt, Germany: A Nervous Start
First stop: Frankfurt, Germany. Stepping through immigration, my heart raced (my English isn't the best, so I was a little scared). I remember the officer asking me something I barely understood, so I just smiled sheepishly, and he waved me through (phew!).
Frankfurt was way cooler than I expected—a modern-meets-classic city, the Main River was picturesque, and the German beer? Unbeatable. I was sipping, laughing, and feeling absolutely fantastic.
Adventures Across Europe
Next up, the Netherlands! I biked around the canals, devoured waffles, and posed for touristy photos in front of windmills.
Belgium was a chocolate and fries paradise. Each bite was heavenly, almost too good to handle.
Paris was pure romance. Standing at night, gazing at the sparkling Eiffel Tower while munching on a warm croissant, I thought to myself, "Wow, I'm really in Paris!"
Then came Switzerland—a place so beautiful it made me happy just to breathe. Snowy mountains, crystal-clear lakes, I wanted to snap hundreds of photos everywhere I went.
Finally, Italy. Rome was a vibrant mix of ancient and hip, wood-fired pizza filled the air, gelato was a perfect treat in the summer heat, and the Italian men? They could charm the birds from the trees.
A Whirlwind Tour
Twelve days, six countries, sleeping on trains and buses, eating instant noodles with Italian sauce, getting lost in Parisian alleyways, and waking up some mornings unsure which country I was in.
That's youth for you! All you need is a suitcase, a visa, and a heart that craves adventure to turn the world into your playground. And at 23, I did exactly that!
My first experience traveling Europe was incredible, truly! But going during the summer was hot!
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