Bus2alps – Student Travel Europe

Yeah, I know that they say “Life’s a beach” and I believe it. There’s nothing quite like sitting in the sand, watching the waves hit the ground, feeling the sun on your face, and sipping on a fine cocktail before you start up your private boat cruise. I get it. I know you’re all super pumped for the warm weather to finally get here so you can go cliff jumping in Positano, get wild on the beaches of Corfu, or swim beneath the waterfalls of Croatia. Who can blame you? But one thing that I definitely want to stress is that you shouldn’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Don’t miss out on visiting Northern Europe now and embracing the colder weather trips because let’s face it, its beauty is still going to blow you away (just in a different way than a beach would).

You’re studying abroad in Europe and I’m going to be frank with you: You need to see the Swiss Alps. Never in my entire life will I ever forget the first time I saw those monstrous mountains  in person. In real life. It was absolutely one of the most gorgeous, mind-boggling sites I have ever laid eyes on and I strongly feel that everyone needs to experience that. Go to Interlaken–if you’re into skiing or snowboarding, AWESOME! But if not, then still go. There’s dozens of amazing activities for you to do, and regardless of what you’re into, just being in the Alps experiencing that beauty will be memorable forever.

Go to Prague. Do you remember reading fairy tales when you were young and looking at the pictures while Mom or Dad read the story to you? You know how looking back, you kind of feel like those places don’t exist and some artist completely made it up in their display of creative expression? Yeah, guess what…that’s what Prague looks like. Home to the world’s largest castle complex, amazing architecture, old churches turned into taverns, horse & buggies on cobble stone streets, trumpets playing as the huge astronomical clock turns to noon…Prague feels like a fairytale and it’s also something that everyone should experience.

Prague

Ireland, Amsterdam, I mean I could go on forever, but I think you get the point. Those beach destinations are going to blow you away, I know, but don’t miss out on the now. Take advantage of the fact that you’re in Europe with all of these new friends you have, and ones you’ve yet to meet. You have the unique opportunity to travel to any place your heart desires, so get out there and see everything you possibly can! Because yes, life’s a beach, but life’s also a stroll down the Charles Bridge in your hat and mittens sipping on some Glühwein while you get ready to go eat some homemade sausage and Goulash. Happy Travels.

-Erin O’Connor

Amsterdam

This past week, over 130 students came with Bus2alps into the heart of the Swiss Alps to take in the beautiful scenery and get their hearts pumpin’ with some extreme winter activities in Interlaken. Skydiving, skiing & snowboarding, paragliding, canyon jumping, and night sledding were all on the agenda for these adrenaline-seeking students. Also, on Saturday 50 students joined Bus2alps Roma leaders for a gorgeous sunny day in Naples filled with castles, museums, and of course pizza! A surprise chocolate festival was held in Piazza Plebiscito which was an added bonus for sure. Meanwhile, In our home cities, the Bus2alps crew has been busy this past week greeting new students and giving away free gifts of travel to some lucky winners!

In Barcelona this week the crew held their first weekly beer pong tournament at George Payne’s. Andrew H. & Hunter R. managed to outplay 30 teams and each win 50% off the Interlaken Winter trip. A few of the BCN crew members headed over to Sevilla and Granada to enlighten students about the amazing trips they can take with Bus2alps. Tapas were had, sangria was consumed, and students were informed.

Life over in Rome has been exciting with more and more new students coming in. We held the big Drunken Ship Welcome Party this past Thursday night and gave a free trip to Interlaken to Ben L. of the American University of Rome.

In Florence this past week Bus2alps had a huge dinner at Il Gatto e la Volpe on Wednesday night and filled the restaurant.  Joe A. from University of Minnesota (API) won a free spring break of his choice, and we also gave out some gym memberships and free Gatto dinners. Cassie C. also won a free Easter weekend trip to Greece! On Friday night, the Bell Tower Pub Crawl was an absolute blast and a free trip to Siena was given out! Free coffee at Astor Cafe and Mama’s Bakery was also on the menu throughout the week. With all these pub crawls and late nights out in the city, free coffee is like pure gold, especially if students can snag it on their way to morning classes.

Winding its way up through man-made tunnels cut through sheer rock and ice to an elevation of 3454 meters above sea level, the Jungfrau railway is a true modern marvel. Industrialist Adolf Guyer-Zeller’s vision of a cogwheel railway that would transport people to a mystical world of ice and snow waiting for them atop the Swiss Alps first started construction in 1896 and was not completed until 1912, 9 years behind schedule. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the completion of the railway and Jungfraujoch station, the crown jewel of the Jungfrau railway, as well as the end of a treacherous journey to the top of the Bernese Alps.  The railway’s campaign was plagued by blasting accidents, strikes and financial troubles, but as a result of the courage and fortitude of the workers and visionaries behind the railway, today passengers have the opportunity to journey to Jungfraujoch station, Europe’s highest altitude train station.

Jungfrau Railway

On the journey up passengers experience the thrill of traversing through tunnels blasted through the rock of the Eiger and Monch and have the opportunity to experience the views from two intermediate stops at the Eigerwand (the wall of Eiger) and Eismeer (the sea of ice). Once they’ve reached the summit, spectators can take in stunning views from a number of vantage terraces from which, on a clear day, they are able to see beyond the Swiss border into the Vosges mountains of France and Germany’s Black Forest. But the views from Jungfraujoch station are just the half of it, the station is also the home of a variety of top-notch restaurants ranging from Indian to traditional Swiss fare. There is nowhere else on earth you can sit down and enjoy a meal as you peer out and watch mysterious warm mists roll through a barren world of ice and snow.

The Ice Palace

Another marvel atop this winter wonderland is the world-renowned Ice Palace, which Jungfrau passengers receive free entry to. The Palace’s vaulted rooms are carved out of sheer ice and house an impressive collection of handmade ice sculptures ranging from birds and other animals to automobiles.

Photo by Tara Scieszinski

Anyone vacationing in Interlaken and looking for a truly unique experience needs to do themselves a favor and take a trip up the Jungfrau railway to experience the stunning views, culture and beautiful desolation waiting for them at the top of Europe.

-Tom DeFeo

Our first featured blogger for Spring 2012 is Katie, a Gonzaga student in Florence.  Last weekend she joined us in Interlaken and had a weekend full of adventure! Selected parts of Katie’s blog are highlighted below. To read the full entry for “Hanging out in Switzerland,” Click here.

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Eating Swiss milk chocolate and hanging out in the Alps was where I spent my past weekend. We stayed in one of the oldest, most famous hostels in Europe: Balmer’s. It was filled with students from everywhere and was cute and fun and very loud and lively. The first day I went snowshoeing with Erika and 3 new spring students.

Just the five of us went to the top of the mountain with a guide and hiked to the very top over the course of a few hours. Our guide Ronnie was this hilarious Swiss man that told the worst jokes and helped us avoid avalanche areas. It was my first time snowshoeing and it was so hard! It probably didn’t help that there was a blizzard going on and that we were going straight up hill. But I had a great time, and the mountains are absolutely stunning.

Erika and I went night sledding with the outdoor adventures team. I was a bit nervous to be sledding down a mountain in the dark, and I didn’t really see how it would be any more fun than regular sledding. We had heard such great things that we decided to try it out. It was by far the best part of the weekend. We were taken up to the top of the mountain and go down a freshly plowed ski run on toboggan sleds that you steer with your feet. Everyone was given green glow sticks to wear on their back so you don’t run into anyone. It took about an hour to get down and it was so much fun! We then had fondue dinner at the bottom of the mountain. On Sunday Erika and I walked to the closer lake, which had to be the most beautifully clear water I have ever seen. I love Switzerland and how clean and neat and beautiful it is. It was an amazing weekend!

In last Tuesday’s Travel Tip, I discussed the importance of planning ahead, especially when it comes to booking flights in advance for fly-in trips you know you’re going to take. And you know what? I’m not done talking about it! Muahaha. Planning ahead may seem like more work for you to do right now, but oh my Gosh it’s so much FUN! You’re planning out trips of a lifetime… without your parents. Heck yeah! One of the biggest trips you will take this semester lies in that lovely 10 day hiatus that college students all around the world rejoice in: Spring Break. I want to discuss how it’s never too early to start planning your Spring Break.

Perhaps you want to go get buck wild in Greece for 10 days exploring the beautiful beaches, ridiculous parties, ATV safaris, sea kayaking, and island hopping. Or maybe you want to hit up the Northern Loop and get cultured in Prague, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Paris. I know I personally am excited for Morocco Spring Break, or the Eastern Loop with Prague, Krakow, Budapest, & Munich. Regardless of where you want to go, one of the best parts about your Spring Break is that you get to spend it exploring Europe’s amazing destinations with your friends. You want to know what’s super cool? Even if you have friends studying in many different cities around Europe, you can all meet up and go on Spring Break together. Maybe your best friend is still at school back in America. Well, Best Friend can fly out and join, too! Perhaps everyone can fly into London Heathrow Airport on Sunday and begin the Spring Break voyage of London, Paris, and Amsterdam together. Oh, the reunion would be something to write home about.

So yes, you may have just gotten to your new study abroad home city, but take it from me: planning your Spring Break trip sooner rather than later will only help you. You’ll get cheaper flights, you’ll reserve your spot in the Bus2alps trips before they sell out, and you’ll have something incredible to look forward to. Spring is in the air, Happy Planning!

-Erin O’Connor