Tag: europe

Posted in Experience, Fun, daily prompt, life

Six weeks at 18

Posted on by Dede

What’s the longest trip you’ve ever taken?

The summer between my freshman and sophomore years of university, I was 18 years old. A poster advertising six weeks in Europe for college students grabbed my attention.

I called, long before emails and internet, and asked for references. They sent me a couple names and phone numbers. After being assured they had a wonderful time, I was ready to go.

I saved my money, and signed up. I had an adventure, 13 countries in six weeks. I had a wonderful time and it began my love of international travel. We traveled to countries that no longer exist. Yugoslavia, East Berlin, Czechoslovakia which now are not on the map.

One young man had grown a beard. They wouldn’t allow our bus into Czechoslovakia. He didn’t match his passport photo. We waited a very long time while he shaved off his thick beard without any scissors to trim it down.

We went trip through Checkpoint Charlie, which is now a visitor site, but not so in 1979. We were instructed not to lose our passports because the GDR would see that as helping an East German escape. I distinctly remember walking out of a very colorful and vibrant city, West Berlin, into a depressing, gray, sad world, East Berlin.

I was gone somewhere between 6-7 weeks.

I have been on one longer trip. It was 3 months in France but I stayed in one city and went to school.

Posted in choices, daily prompt, Experience, Fun, life

Solo Travel

Posted on by Dede

Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.

I won $500 in 1977 in a speech contest. I put in it the bank. I started my freshman year of university, lived at home and worked almost full time.

Advertised on campus was a six week tour of Europe for students. It cost $1800 which was a huge sum of money for me but I took a leap of faith, signed up and paid the deposit.

For the entire school year I saved every possible penny. I even would pick up pennies on the ground and save them. By May I paid for the trip in full.

This entire time, my friends were telling me it was a ripoff and fake. I had faith.

My parents drove me to Los Angeles and I met up with the group. I was scared and nervous. Except for a quick trip to Canada years earlier, I had never left the country.

I spent the next six weeks on a bus, a ship and ferry with other university students, staying in hostels and basic hotels as we traveled to 13 countries.

Outstanding memories: going through Checkpoint Charlie into East Berlin and being told not to lose our passports because the U.S. couldn’t help us and we’d be stuck.

Not being allowed into Yugoslavia until one of the male students cut off his beard to verify he was the same guy in his passport photo.

Going to our tour guide’s family home in Austria and having homemade strudel.

Some of the countries I visited no longer exist. It was a different time then. But this trip, instilled in me a love of traveling and being brave enough to go when I knew no one.

Posted in books, communication, daily prompt, Dreaming, letters, sweepstakes, vacation, Writing

Sweepstakes

Posted on by Dede

giveaway

   Do you ever get lost in a daydream? Wonder what it would be like to travel to faraway destinations. Do you look at photos from around the world on Instagram? I do. I love the window into lives around the world. I also love to write letters. There is something so personal and intimate about letters. While they may not be immediate communication, they are something which can express who you are and how you feel so much better than a text or email. When I receive a handwritten card or letter in my mail, it brightens my day. So I am going to help you by giving away a set of three 5 x 7 notecards and two postcards by Hunter and Hobbs valued at $20. Photos taken in Switzerland and France.

To enter: Click the link and follow the simple directions to enter. Additional entries are available by following the directions. Good Luck!

Hunter and Hobbs Sweepstakes

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