10/7 Swansea, MA. Even though I sold my house the day I left for Europe about 9 weeks ago, I guess I still call Swansea home. It felt kind of strange coming back, not really having a place to go.

First, I would like to thank everybody that read the blog. I would also like to thank you for “making” me do things I would not have normally done if it weren’t to “get a good picture for the blog” (going on bridge, picture of strange people, going to museums, etc). The “do it for the blog” attitude assisted in many amazing and peaceful experiences with a sense of accomplishment.

Here is a recap of the last nine weeks regarding some observations, statistics, etc.

Unfortunate observations

In my opinion, 95% of tourists have common courtesy and spatial awareness … its the other 5% that really cause angst

Buses suck and are not reliable

Many people in Europe don’t believe in the bra

Positive observations

99% of locals are splendid – always willing to assist. And even if they weren’t successful in helping, you could see they were sincere

Trains are very reliable and relaxing

Many people in Europe don’t believe in the bra

Pleasant surprises

A few places that I didn’t know too much about that ended up being hidden gems (Trieste, Salzburg, etc)

Text & Data were free

Google Translate

Whatsapp’s video chat feature allowed me to stay in touch with Jen daily

Most Overrated Tourist Attractions

Astronomical Clock (Prague)

Mona Lisa (Paris)

Glockenspiel (Munich)

Statistics

Countries visited – 15 (Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Germany, Czechia, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium)

# of stays – 28 (22 Airbnb, 4 Hotels, 1 Hostel, 1 Booking.com apartment)

# of side trips – 11

# of steps taken – 1,712,158 (approx 860 miles)

Most thought provoking and sobering visits

Auschwitz Birkenau

Omaha Beach & American Cemetery

Nazi Rally area

Most Memorable Experiences & Favorite Places

Lake Bled

Salzburg Castle

Marseille Port

Trieste Harbor

Dubrovnik Walls

Den Haag Beach

Peaceful visit to Pisa with Jen, Kerri, & Craig

Hiking Vesuvius with Jen

Strangest Experiences

The Bratislava maid with some challenges

The women that stared me down in Italy (ticket bitch and beggar, her mom)

The entire day visiting Bayeux / Omaha Beach

Best Airbnbs (highly recommended, in no particular order)

Rome, Italy – Filippo Turati Apartment

Rome, Italy – Giolitti Apartment

Warsaw, Poland – Sunny air-conditioned modern for five

Oswiecem, Poland – Apartament 51

Prague, Czechia – Cozy Studio 10min from Old Town

Nürnberg, Germany – Doppelzimmer mit Dusche und WC

Budapest, Hungary – Alba BudaPest – Apartment w/ AC

Split, Croatia – ABC Luxury Room Split Bacvice

Zagreb, Croatia – Time Superior Apartment (Self check-in)

Ljubljana, Slovenia – Two-room apartment in center of Ljubljana

Trieste, Italy – Luxury Open Space – New – Center

Recommended Hotels

Hotel Alex (13-15 Place des Marseillaises, 13001 Marseille, France)

Leonardo Hotel (Senefelderstraße 4, 80336 München, Germany)

Hotel Corona (Via Nazionale, 14, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy)

Map

Click on following link for interactive map:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1YioAlhK-EYh1xVAWUS1HbfGzOMQT1S46&usp=sharing

Finito!!!