Parker Daudt

Five Countries. Ten Cities. Fourteen Days.

If you had asked me in May what my plans were for this summer I would have
probably told you that most of it would be spent hanging out with friends, working
and enjoying the outdoors. I have always wanted to travel the world, to be able to
visit new and exotic places, I just didnt expect it to happen so soon. Planning for my
trip started the end of May and in less than a month I was in London. After a
grueling 15 hour flight from Boise I had my first experience going through airport
customs. After leaving the airport with a SIM card set up with all-you-can-eat data to
use over the next couple of weeks I boarded the cleanest and most comfortable
subway I have ever ridden in. Having never stayed in a hostel before my only
mental image was that of a third-rate rundown musty building with a frightening
receptionist, and even scarier rooms like ones youd expect to see in a horror movie.
To my surprise what I encountered was the exact opposite. Greeted by incredibly
friendly staff, urban decor and a young-adult oriented environment that quickly
made me feel comfortable from the moment I opened the door, I was very happy.
After wandering around London I met with the people I would be spending the
next two weeks with; five guys and six girls ranging in age from 18 to 37. After a
few days we all quickly became close friends. The tour was very fast paced. For
most places were only able to spend a day and a night before we were on a train
headed to our next destination, they didnt describe it as YOLO for nothing. Starting
in London we departed by train to Paris, following a stop for lunch under the Eifel
Tower we explored the beauty the city had to offer. Despite temperatures of over
100 degrees we walked from one end of the city to the other, passing incredible
sites; from The Louver, Notre Dame, and climbing over 300 steps to the top of Sacre
Coeur, to seeing the grave of The Doors Jim Morrison at Pre Lachaise cemetery.
From Paris we took a sleeper train overnight to reach Rome. After throwing
our bags in our hostel we immediately started exploring the city. Following a few
hours of roaming the streets and throwing a few coins in the Trevi Fountain, a few of
us decided to walk to Vatican City because you know, as the saying goes, when in
Rome. After Rome we arrived in Florence on July 4 th, just another day to everyone
besides the United States. We walked along streets lined with leather markets,
relaxed with some gelato and as the day drew to a close climbed the steps of
Piazzale Michelangelo and watched the most incredible sunset that I have ever
seen. Following Florence we traveled overnight to Venice, miles of roads and
buildings all floating feet above the water. After walking the narrow streets and
sailing along the waterways in a gondola we sat along the canals enjoying some
wine.
After leaving Italy we reached Germany, a country filled with history and
culture. While only having the chance to spend a total of three days between
Munich and Heidelberg the places I was able to visit will stick with me for the rest of
my life. Over the three days I had the honor of visiting Dachau, a Nazi concentration
camp, a sobering experience whose impact still resonates with me today. Also in
Germany I was able to go to the Staatliches Hofbruhaus, spend an evening on a

pub crawl where I went to a bar that specialized in over 300 different kinds of shots.
The last leg of my journey was spent in Amsterdam. While infamously known for its
Red Light District and legalization of Marijuana, Amsterdam has much more to offer.
While in Amsterdam I was able to visit the Anne Frank House, walk along the Red
Light District, pass by a few coffee houses and even took a few pictures with the I
Am Amsterdam sign before having to head back to the states.
While the pictures taken on my trip will serve as a reminder of the places I
went, the people I met and the experiences I had will always stay with me. From
eating snails and chicken pate in Paris, experiencing a traditional Italian dinner in
Rome, witnessing a marriage proposal above San Marcos square in Venice, to
spending overnight train rides laughing and playing games. The fourteen days I
spent seemed like a lifetime of adventure. Its hard saying goodbye to all that I had
grown accustom to while in Europe; moving from hostel to hostel with nothing but a
backpack full of clothes and few essential items, miles of walking across cities and
seeing so many fantastic places. The incredible people I met, who I had no idea
even existed at the beginning of the summer, became great friends that I hope to
see again in the future on the trips I have yet to take.