Well this entry has been a long time coming, sorry for the wait but as you are all aware, my life never stops being busy. So without further ado, here's what I got up to on Eurotour...
Day one was pretty uneventful but at the same time a lot of fun. Most of the day was spent picking everyone up from the meeting points and then driving for about 6 hours straight. We somehow ended up having a car crash occur right in front of us so that delayed us a little and provided a bit of entertainment. We had speakers on the bus and played music all day long which we obviously sang along to. Day two was more interesting. Our guide took us to where the Berlin wall used to run through the city and gave us some information on the history of the wall. We then had a bit of free time to walk around that area and go up a tower to look at the view before the bus took us to the East Side Gallery where we spent some time there taking photos. It rained heavily all day which was super annoying but we had a lot of fun nonetheless. From here, we got driven to the Holocaust Memorial where we then could walk around the city as we pleased. Every place we get free time we have to be at least 3 people together at all times so we all just kind of split into little or big groups and walked around. The group I was with decided we would walk back to the hotel and look at things along the way. So we did, and it took us 2 hours! Straight walking for 2 hours all wet from the rain, certainly an experience that's for sure haha. Day three we said goodbye to Berlin and Hello to Prague. On the way to Prague we had a 3 hour stop in Dresden which everybody loved. It is such a beautiful city with old churches and a really cute market. After lunch in Dresden we hit the road again for another couple hours until we reached the Theresienstadt Camp/ Ghetto which is a prison they used during World War II and a bit before. It was really cool but at the same time super depressing. I think the hardest thing to deal with was that we were walking the same ground a thousands of Jews had previously walked on and were gathered in rooms where they used to sleep, shower and be left to die in. To think about the history of it and the fact we were there to see it as a tourist attraction made a few of us a bit uncomfortable and upset. There was one room that had signatures covering the walls and ceiling of all the people that had been in there and I couldn't bare it. After this we had another 1.5 hours of driving, which was pretty silent after that, until we reached out hotel. Day four was one of the best days out of all of Eurotour. We took a bus, train and then a tram to get into Prague from our hotel. The guide took us around a bit of the city to see the president's castle, St Vitus Cathedral and over the Charles Bridge. From here we had free time for the whole day until 7pm! The group naturally split into smaller groups and I ended up being the only non-Spanish speaker in my group. It was fantastic because I love the language and the music and everyone I was with I was pretty good friends with. For lunch we found a cute little place where we had Goulash (of course immersing ourselves in the local food :P), and once our stomachs were full, we began our adventure! We walked back to Charles bridge and took lots of photos of course, but then we found a spot where we decided we would play music and just dance on the bridge. It was so much fun! There were some people that joined in and others that filmed us and it was absolutely incredible and a moment I will never forget. We then had to meet at 3pm so they could do a role check and I ended up changing groups. So Leo and I went to do some shopping and the people we were meant to meet stood us up. Therefore, we decided to get a chimney ice cream thing and ended up meeting Vitto and Antar so we spent the rest of the day wandering around together and finished with having a drink at the hard rock cafe. Day five brought us Vienna, also a great day and place and another highlight of eurotour. We spent most of the day in the Schonbrunn Palace which was absolutely stunning! It had huge gardens that had really old fountains and archways which was great for our daily photo dose haha. Like usual we had free time in here so we naturally split into groups and my group actually ran into a Danish family while we were there so that was really cool. The best part of the day was at the end we had half an hour until we needed to meet at the bus and there was a huge old building at the top of this big hill and I was like well, I'm going up and one of the other said he'll come with me. So we were running to get up this hill, take some photos and get back down and through the park back to the bus again. We met our bus chaperones on the way and they didn't think we could do it, but we did it anyway and made it back to the bus with 5 minutes to spare. 100% worth it because the view was amazing! After we had dinner at a Greek restaurant, we had free time until 10 pm so I ended up in a group of six and we walked through the city and followed the music we could hear all the way to this street party which was so cool! It was by like this huge palace like thing and on our way back to the hotel we found a huge church that was stunning at night. Day six was also spent in Vienna where our guide took us coincidentally to all the places my group had been last night. I found it do funny but it's always good to see things in different light. We also went to the Hundertwasser House which is a really cool and colourful building that has rooftop gardens. Once again we had more free time which my group basically spent shopping and we found a cute place to have Old Viennese Cake and Apple Strudel because once again, you have to try the local food :P. That night we went back to the Schonbrunn Palace for the classical concert/ opera which our chaperones surprised us with tickets to! We all dressed up really fancy and took photos and enjoyed it. The palace was stunning inside and it was an incredible experience. Huge thank you to Rotary for paying for all 49 of our tickets it is appreciated so much and we really enjoyed it. Day seven let us nap on the bus and wake up in ITALY!! We arrived in Lido De Jesolo to like one of the best hotels, well my room anyway. Our room had the best view, looking right over the ocean and you could easily fit thirty people on our balcony. Once we had dinner (tortellini - Pia, I know you're out there somewhere ;P), nearly everyone headed straight to the beach and we went swimming!! It was so cold but once you're under it was fine. To warm ourselves up afterwards we did some dancing (as per usual) and the headed in for a bit of an early night. Day eight a boat took us from Lido to Venice! Absolutely stunning day sitting at around 28 degrees and blue blue skies. After being told the meeting point and the time to be there we had a whole day to roam around as we pleased. Everyone went on the gondolas first because our guide managed to get the price a bit lower because we were there so early so it ended up only costing us about 20 euros each person. 5 people in one gondola and half an hour to cruise through the canals, it was amazing! We walked around and found some delicious and cheap pasta for lunch before heading to the St Mark's Basilica which was stunning. We also went to the top of a tower which had a 360 view over all Venice. It was truely beautiful. After a bit of shopping and a tiramisu break before heading back to the boat to Lido. The boat ride back was also a highlight (basically all of Italy was a highlight) because we played music and danced on the top deck while the sun was out and the wind rushed through our hair. One of the best feelings in the world, being surrounded by all of your best friends, dancing, singing, sun on your skin and just love being bounced around to every single person. It's almost impossible to describe and it's a feeling I get a lot but can never get used to. Back at the hotel our chaperones tell us they have booked us a table at a karaoke bar in one on the nearby hotels and what an incredible night. Ice cream and getting to do what we do most - dance and sing. Quite a few tears were shed as songs came on where the words hit us all, or just the overwhelming happiness we got from being with each other. Day nine had us all lying in the sun and swimming all day long. We spent the whole day tanning, eating ice cream, swimming and some even hired paddle boards and a pedal boat! Our chaperones bought us Pizza and water and gelato on behalf of Rotary so yet again I say thank you, it was enjoyed and eaten very quickly haha. That night my room had an early night because we were exhausted. Day ten was stressful because despite the early night everyone in my room (4 people including myself) slept past our alarms we set for 6 am. Instead, we woke up at 7:30 and we were meant to be getting on the bus at 7:45. We hadn't packed our stuff and we weren't dressed and we were on the 6th floor with an elevator that could only take 2 people with their suitcases down at a time. I have never in my life gotten ready so fast. I was one of the tidiest in my room so I managed to run down the stairs with my stuff and then run back up to help the others. I ran so fast that I beat our guide to the third floor by taking the stairs even though he took the elevator and we started at the same time. With that start to the morning, we were pretty awake for the ride to Verona. We spent the day there and just walked around the city, saw Romeo and Juliet's balcony and ate a lot of food. From Verona we drove some more and stayed in a little placed called Mondovi which was just for the night, nothing important there. Day eleven we had a day stop in Nice! Yes that's right, we are now in France. Nice was nice :P we spent the day walking around and started by burning some calories before lunch by walking up a million stairs to get an amazing view. Totally worth it. After losing calories we put it all back on with lunch because because we finished with a crepe haha. Did some more walking around and saw a fountain before heading back to the bus for the rest of our journey to Avignon. Once in Avignon, we settled in to our hotel the best we could (probably the worst hotel of the trip) and then we walking into the town and saw the old Pope's building and had ice cream and went back again. Going back to why it was the worst hotel, the bedding wasn't that clean, the rooms were tiny and there was only 2 showers and 2 toilets per floor and we were 20 people per floor. I'm probably slightly overreacting just because all of the other hotels were really nice haha. On the plus side, this hotel had a pool so, compromise. Day twelve like nearly every other day had stunning weather. Blue skies, 29 degrees and a trip to Pont du Gard in Nimes. We spent 2 hours here and went swimming and tanning in the water that runs underneath this beautiful bridge. Then we had a picnic lunch back at the bus before heading back to the hotel and had the rest of the day free. Some of us went into town and the rest stayed at the hotel by the pool. Day thirteen was a tough day, we had like 12 hours of driving to do and I got quite homesick on the bus. The scenery reminded me on NZ and I never travel without my family so I guess it kind of just hit me while a lot of people were sleeping. It didn't help I was away from my host family because they help me forget I'm away from home so I also really missed them. But, we made it to Paris and I was cheered up almost instantly. Our hotel was fantastic with really comfy beds and after dinner we went on a boat ride through Paris where we watched the sunset and the Eiffel Tower sparkle. It was a magical night which we finished with crepes. Day fourteen we had the morning free until 12:45. Our guide to us to the Louvre but sadly we couldn't go in because it was closed as it was Monday. Took some cool photos anyway and also with Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel which is the smallest Arc out of the three. My group wandered around that area and got sandwiches to eat by the canal which was really lovely. We also went to the lock bridge and took some photos there. The rest of the day we spent at Disneyland. I was really really tired this day and was feeling a little homesick again because the last time I was in Paris it was with my family and in most of the park I just saw them. There were two times we could go back to the hotel, 8 pm or 11 pm and there was no way I was staying until 11. I was tired, sad and don't like rollercoasters anyway so I went home at 8 which was great. I had a really long shower and then listened to some music and called my beautiful girls Zara and Lexie who were on bus two for some well needed therapy and love haha. Day fifteen the whole day was ours. We could choose when to wake up and what to do and where to go. We were given a day pass for the metro which meant Paris was in the palm of our hands. Half of the group went with our guide to a Palace just outside of Paris so the ones left sorted into groups and started our adventures. I started out in a group of 7 girls and we saw the Arc du Triomphe and some other really cool places. We then headed back into central Paris where we saw the wall of Love and Sacre Coeur. Me and this other girl who I became extremely close to, Isadora, messaged the chaperones and asked if it was okay if we walked around just the two of us which they said was fine. So we headed off and got some ice cream on the way to buy dinner. We were tired off all the pizza and pasta and Chinese food and fast food so we bought fresh strawberries and apricots and some sandwiches and sat in front of the Eiffel Tower having a picnic. From there we all met by the Eiffel Tower at 7 pm where we were told we are going to the very top of the Eiffel Tower, tickets covered by Rotary. It was absolutely breathtaking, I can't express my gratitude enough. Thank you a million times for giving us the opportunity of a lifetime to see this. Day sixteen we travelled to the land of waffles and chocolate. BRUSSELS!! We spent about 4 hours there and the guide took us to see Manneken Pis which was not what I expected to see at all. It was so small! After this Rotary paid for us all to have a waffle which was unbelievably good and extremely filling. So my group and I decided to work it off by walking to all the chocolate shops haha. I then got to meet up and see the wonderful Ella who lives in Brussels. I missed her so much and it was the best to see her again! We got pita pockets for lunch and then she showed us around in the little time we had left. It was an amazing day trip. From Brussels we travelled to Amsterdam. Our hotel was about 1 hours drive from Amsterdam so we just spent the evening in the hotel. Day seventeen we drove into Amsterdam where we had a guided boat ride through all the canals. We then had free time the rest of the day and my group went and had a massive lunch to celebrate the last proper day of eurotour. The next stop for us was the Red Light District and then we were too tired to do anything else. We bought stroopwafels and went to Primark just to relax a little. This night was the hardest night I've ever had to deal with and I've never cried so much in my life. We gave a canvas photo of the chaperones with us and we all signed the back as a gift to say thank you for everything and for being amazing. We all signed each others flags and held each other tight. This last night was the realisation it's all coming to an end, for all of my oldies anyway. But for me it meant saying goodbye to half the bus. It also hit me, nearly all of my best friends will soon not be in Denmark with me anymore and it's sad and it hurts. I love these guys so much and they have become such a big part of my life and who I am. It's going to be weird without them and really hard for a while but it is something I am so grateful to be feeling. Without going on exchange and having this amazing opportunity, I would never have met these people and I wouldn't have an international family like I know I have now. It's something I don't mind hurting for because I know I'll see them again. Day eighteen, the last day. A lot of sleeping and a bit of music later we were back in Denmark. It was the night before all over again because now people start leaving the bus. You could see how much we all meant to each other from the big smiles and tear stained faces sitting in each seat. Standing at the front, looking back at everyone I had not only spend the past 18 days with but also the last 4.5 months of my exchange with. I knew right then that this was exactly what I needed and exactly where I belonged. I found myself a lot more on this trip and learned a lot more about who I am as a person with the help of my beautiful friends/family. You'll all forever be in my heart. Thank you for the best 18 days, all the laughs, support and love you have given me. I love you all so much and until we meet again, vi ses, hasta luego, see you later...
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May has been a fun filled month for me. I have just come back from my Eurotour which lasted 18 days from the 15th of May to the 1st of June, so most of my month has consisted of travelling around Europe with 48 other exchange students. Before eurotour I was still doing quite a lot of activities as usual. I had my first Fredag’s cafe at my school on the 3rd which was very interesting to experience, it was a sports day at the same time so there were people running marathons and finishing in the Fredags cafe. There were a lot of games and music but to me the Gymfests are a lot more fun. It was also Martin's (my Uncle's) birthday so I went to Horsens to celebrate with them. I stayed the night and I got to see my Dad's dad and his wife as well so it was a lot of fun! That weekend I went to Koldingfjord Hotel where I had a family get together with all of John’s family which happens once every year. It was so much fun and it’s such a beautiful area. We came back on the Sunday and I went straight into Aarhus to meet Ella who is also from New Zealand. She lives in Aalborg which is quite far away so I don’t see her much. Other exchange students came as well and we hung out by Dokk1 which is like the harbour for Aarhus. Sadly Ella couldn't join us there because she needed to head home again. The next day was my Mum’s birthday so I called her which was really nice. The day after that it was my host mum’s birthday so I didn’t go to rotary that night so I could spend the evening celebrating with her. I gave her a set of paua shell earrings which she loved! That friday I finished school really early so I went into Aarhus and met with my Farmor for lunch which was so nice. We also did some shopping and she drove me back to Odder and had dinner with my host family and I. Then it was suddenly the weekend again. I went to Vejle where I was going to spend time with Zara and Lexie until 2pm when there was a big get together we were going to, but a couple other people came early so we took the bus together to the beach we were meeting at. Then when we arrived there were already 13 people there and running at me yelling HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I was so confused because it wasn’t my birthday so I was like haha funny joke, nice to see you guys and they were like, no it’s a surprise party we bought you a cake and everything! It made me so happy because Zara and Lexie had organised it so that all of my oldies could come to my birthday before they left back to their countries after eurotour. So they sang happy birthday in Danish and Spanish and English and then in true Mexican style, the cake got smashed in my face. It was such an amazing day. All of the other people arrived for the get together after and we stayed at the beach all day singing and dancing and it was blue skies so everyone was happy! I stayed at Lexie’s house that night and the next day we went for a walk around the forest near her where there was an abandoned mansion and a swing. Then it was my last two days of school and I went to Den Gamle By with my class the last day which was nice. Then Eurotour started. Eurotour is going to have it's own separate post so I'll finish May here. My highlight was definitely the surprise party, it was very fun and unexpected as well. I cannot thank the people who came enough, it means the world to me, I love you guys.
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