Unlike previous journeys, this was completely by train. I travelled about 9000km in Europe. Having an Interrail card meant that I didn’t have to think about the cost apart from the occasional seat reservation fee. This is a great way to travel if you want flexibility or aren’t sure where you want to go!
Trains have the advantage of triggering conversations, which are usually accompanied by suggestions, ideas, and, sometimes, friendships. You can also learn a lot about a country. By and large, I found people very friendly. Whether I was on a train, metro, bus or walking about, people were happy to chat or answer questions.
I usually carry a 10kg rucksack with a day backpack. This was the most satisfied I was with what I took. I had the right mixture of clothing and gear for different temperatures and activities.
The journey started and ended in St Pancras International Station, London. The final stop on the continent was La Piscine, a tourist attraction in Lille, France.
I’ve visited fashionable Paris many times but the last time was over 10 years ago. It was good to see it again. Finally, I got to see the impressive and impressionistic Musée d’Orsay.
I especially liked how easy it was to walk around Paris. Perhaps France has changed since then. Even Parisians were friendly!
From Paris, Helene joined me and we took the night train for an eventful journey to Berlin. Berlin was as idiosyncratic as our 2019 trip. The highlights this time were the architecture, art, and national holiday celebrations.
From there, Helene and I went different ways. I went to Kraków, my first trip to Poland. I enjoyed the cafes and quirky districts. People were very friendly. I don’t know if this was typical of Poland or just in Kraków.
I stayed longer than I’d originally planned. Visiting the enormous salt mine was interesting and Auschwitz-Birkenau was a poignant reminder of Europe’s grim past.
My original next destination was Budabest but it required going via Vienna. I ended up staying in Vienna, this year’s host for the Eurovision Song Contest, for longer than expected too. I loved the art and architecture.
Vienna turned out to be a good base for day trips. I went to Hungary (Budapest) and Slovakia (Bratislava). Both places had their charms.
I had a rendezvous with Cath in Frankfurt. Before she arrived, I enjoyed Frankfurt’s architecture and botanical garden.
Cath was flying to Frankfurt from Scotland. When she arrived, we drove to Klingenmünster to meet Helene. We enjoyed a wine festival and some hiking in the Black Forest region.
Cath and I returned to Frankfurt, from where Cath flew home. After enjoying some hiking and art in Frankfurt, I took two trains, the first to Paris, the second to Marseille.
I enjoyed Marseille very much. It was my first time there and, again, I ended up extending my stay. I was getting used to finding a base then exploring a region rather than decamping to each town. From Marseille, I visited Arles, Aix-en-Provence, Avignon and Cassis. I could easily have stayed in those places for a few days.
Instead, I moved east along the coast to Nice. As well as having a lot to do in Nice, it was another place to do day trips from. I went to Villefranche-sur-Mer, Èze, Antibes, Tende, and the glamorous Monaco.
It was time to start heading north — and as I did, it got hotter and hotter! I stopped in Lyon and Lille before returning home.