I had heard of the idea of travelling through Europe by train many times, but I never thought that this summer I would be in the shoes of people recording Instagram reels of their trips.
During the project, I learned a lot about planning economical trips and solving spontaneous problems. I will definitely use this valuable information when planning my next trips. I had the opportunity to bond with the members of my group and experience an extraordinary and exciting adventure of a lifetime with them. I will definitely remember the stress that accompanied us when we couldn’t find our train on the station information board, but as it later turned out, it was there but under a different destination name. I will particularly remember all the local delicacies that I had a chance to try, and monumental buildings in big cities, as well as small, charming villages in green landscapes.
The trip was focused on discovering Europe from different perspectives, and the diversity between different countries made the trip even more interesting. Starting from the middle of Europe, we arrived in Brussels – the centre of the European Union. Then, heading south and travelling through France, we arrived in Madrid, which was our project destination. On the way back, we were travelling through a few Italian cities, then, after two weeks, through the capital city of Austria to get to Kraków, the place where our trip officially ended.
I am extremely grateful for the chance to participate in the project that opened my eyes to many things. I will definitely have fond memories of the LEVEL UP Association that made it possible for me to travel, ensuring that the project coordinator was always ready to help us. I would like to thank the whole LEVEL UP team, and particularly, each member of my group, individually, for this extraordinary time spent getting to know the European Union from every angle!
Igor 18 years old, Europe Express, Travel through various European countries as part of Discover EU, Berlin; Cologne (Germany), Brussels (Belgium), Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Paris (France), Barcelona; Madrid; Toledo (Spain), Milan; Lecco; Bellagio; Varenna; Verona; Venice (Italy), Vienna (Austria).
Participation in this project was one of the most beautiful experiences in my life.
I had always dreamt of travelling through Europe and visiting the most beautiful places, and thanks to this opportunity, my dream has come true. I had a chance to see many amazing cities, such as Berlin, Cologne, Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Toledo, Milan, Lecco, Bellagio, Varenna, Verona, Venice and Vienna. Each of them was different, had something unique that will stay in my memory for a long time.
I was most impressed by Brussels. I really liked the atmosphere there and the kindness of people – the residents turned out to be really kind and open. During the trip, I also had a chance to try a lot of new dishes. I will particularly remember Spanish cuisine – I liked churros and other traditional dishes that were completely new to me.
I learned a lot thanks to this project. I learned that you don’t have to be afraid of making mistakes, especially language ones. Before, I had been quite shy; I often lacked the courage to speak in a foreign language. Now I know that mistakes are natural, and the most important thing is to try and not give up. This trip gave me more self-confidence and opened me up to new experiences.
During the trip, I met many wonderful people – both the people in the group and the kind residents of the cities we visited. The staff in different places turned out to be very kind and helpful, which made me feel safe and comfortable. We had one of the funniest situations in Barcelona. For a couple of hours, we thought that we had no place to sleep because it turned out that the receptionist had messed up the key numbers and given us the wrong room. At first, it was a difficult situation for us, but eventually Małgorzata and Hubert did a great job and solved the problem. Thanks to it, we learned that there is always a solution, and it is not worth giving up.
For me, the biggest barrier was shyness, but thanks to the support from the group and the organisers, I managed to overcome it. I truly appreciate the contact and care received from LEVEL UP and Justyna – both before, during and after the trip. It gave me the feeling of safety and ensured me that I could always count on help.
I am very grateful to the European Union and the LEVEL UP Association for the opportunity to take part in the project. Thanks to it, I met wonderful people, gained new experiences, I dared to break down my barriers and made my dream come true – to see the Eiffel Tower and feel the atmosphere of Paris. It was an amazing experience that will stay in my heart forever.
Finally, I would like to thank my group, and especially our leader, Hubert, for his great support and positive energy. I would also like to thank Igor, whose intelligence and creativity inspired us many times, and Małgorzata, who can find a solution in every situation. Thanks to you, the trip was not only a dream come true, but also a beautiful lesson of cooperation, friendship, and mutual help.
I highly recommend such trips to my peers and others. During the trip, you can discover your abilities, find new interests, and understand better what really interests you and what you are good at.
A trip abroad in Europe is an incredible adventure that allows you to see the world from a completely different perspective. It is also a great opportunity to check yourself in new situations, discover your possibilities, and gain experiences that stay in your memory for your whole life. Every city and every country has its own unique history and unforgettable memories.
If you want to broaden your horizons, experience something unique and feel free, this kind of trip is for you. It is really worth having such an experience.
Marharyta 18 years old, Europe Express, Travel through various European countries as part of Discover EU, Berlin; Cologne (Germany), Brussels (Belgium), Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Paris (France), Barcelona; Madrid; Toledo (Spain), Milan; Lecco; Bellagio; Varenna; Verona; Venice (Italy), Vienna (Austria).
It was my first project, and it exceeded my wildest expectations.
I didn’t expect so many memories, experiences, and meeting such amazing people – Hubert, Margo, and Igor (the people from my team).
The participation in the project taught me how to plan trips in detail, look for useful information (what can be seen, also for free, how to use local public transport, and much more) to make the trip work out best.
It was the first time I was abroad not with a travel agency, as the trip had to be planned taking 4 people into account, while each of us has different interests. While someone enjoys spending hours in museums, others do not necessarily, so everyone’s opinion had to be taken into account.
During the project, we tried many dishes, not only the local ones, but also from different cultures. Despite the fact that I’m a vegetarian, my group always remembered to make me try new dishes as well. I particularly liked Spanish and Italian cuisine. Both countries stole my heart.
Tiredness was the biggest barrier for me. We did our best to plan the trip and see as much as we could, but in the end, we started to feel tired. Temperatures in Spain and Italy were also challenging for me. Because of it, the first day in Barcelona was very hard; I personally don’t have many photos from there because I thought I would boil.
I am extremely grateful for being able to go on a trip that I would have never dared to dream of. Each person in our team contributed a great deal during the planning process and shared interesting facts, stories, and experiences. Through the whole trip, I felt like I had been with old, good friends. From LEVEL UP Association, I’ve always felt that someone is looking after us, but at the same time, we were free, and we could always text Justyna, who helped us quickly.
I would like to thank Hubert, Igor, and Margo, with whom I’ve created beautiful memories, as well as LEVEL UP Association, thanks to which I had a chance to go on such a beautiful trip, try new dishes, see a bit of the world, and gain lots of positive memories and experiences.
I wholeheartedly recommend such trips. It is a one-of-a-kind chance to go on such a trip, because who else voluntarily goes on trips with strangers (of course, I came back with my friends). People, experience, knowledge – it’s all priceless. During two weeks, from strangers we became friends, and learned how to plan a journey in a way that everyone is satisfied. Additionally, we know how to use trains in the whole Europe, saw the most significant places in many countries and learned a bit about them. I came back with many wonderful memories, friends, and knowledge that I will definitely use in the next journeys.
Małgorzata 18 years old, Europe express, Travel through various European countries as part of Discover EU, Berlin; Cologne (Germany), Brussels (Belgium), Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Paris (France), Barcelona; Madrid; Toledo (Spain), Milan; Lecco; Bellagio; Varenna; Verona; Venice (Italy), Vienna (Austria).
During our journey, we met a lot of people who helped us despite their language barriers.
In August, I participated in the DiscoverEU Interrail project, during which we travelled by trains in Europe for 14 days. Together with my group, we have visited Berlin, Cologne, Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Toledo, Milan, Lecco, Bellagio, Varenna, Verona, Venice and Vienna. I had the role of a leader – I am 20, and in my group there were three people: Igor, Gosia, and Margo. It was a unique experience for me because, even though I had travelled a lot before, a trip like this – in a group of four, with random people and full responsibility – was something new and extraordinary.
What I learned the most was good organisation and coping with stressful situations. Travelling by trains required excellent logistics, and crises occurred more often than we had expected. In Barcelona, our hotel reservations got cancelled, and the only available option cost 20 thousand zloty. We were literally one step away from sleeping on a street, but thanks to cooperation, we managed to find a way out – I took care of the Booking refund, and Gosia got the key to a room in the same place. At that moment, I felt what it meant to be a leader and how listening to others and looking for solutions together is important. I also polished my English, learned to communicate in Spanish, and understood better how to match the group so that everyone is satisfied.
During our journey, we met a lot of people who helped us despite their language barriers. I particularly remember a situation in Madrid, when we were purchasing local transport cards for 10 euros. The staff, who did not speak English very well, explained to us all the rules patiently in Spanish-English. I have equally good memories of Austria – after 12 hours on a night train, the staff didn’t have breakfast for us, so they gave each of us two waffles, explaining that it is a thousand calories, so it’s enough. There was something ridiculously funny in it, and this anecdote makes me smile to this day.
There were also many surprises. In Brussels, I found out that the city is almost empty in August because the parliament does not work. In Spain, I found out that you can get a full ticket refund for a 15-minute delay of a train, and that the suitcases have to be marked in France, otherwise they cannot be taken on the train. In turn, in Germany and Austria, I was amazed by the precision – the exact sectors for each train where a given wagon would stop were indicated, which saved a lot of nerves. It was also visible that the railway plays a huge role in the lives of residents – full trains were everywhere, even between cities like Paris and Barcelona, where many could choose a plane.
The cuisine and local people left a great impression. We tried something new in each country, and residents were always helpful – they opened the gates for us when the tickets were not working, suggested shortcuts and made tourists’ lives better. I also rate the organisation of the entire project highly – LEVEL UP provided us with excellent preparation, and Justyna was always available, answering questions and clearing up any doubts. Thanks to that, we were not stressed before or during the trip.
The biggest barrier was tiredness – the plan was very intense, we wanted to see as much as possible, and sometimes it was really hard. But at the same time, I am very grateful that I could step out of my comfort zone, see so many new places, and get to know new cultures and people. This experience let me not only explore Europe, but also show others how to travel cheaply and smartly, how to cope in difficult situations, and how much cooperation in a group can give.
I will remember the whole trip as a time full of laughter, adventures, and learning. I would particularly like to thank Justyna from LEVEL UP for the support, and my team – Igor, Gosia, and Margo – for the wonderful trip and shared experiences that will certainly stay with us for a long time.
I wholeheartedly recommend such trips to my peers because they are an experience that really helps you grow. A man learns not only about the things connected with the project, but also how to be open-minded and discover passions you didn’t know before. For example, you may come across workshops, learn how to sign up for ballet class, or meet people who will show you a completely different perspective on the world. It is a chance to meet people that we normally wouldn’t – just like me, Hubert from Kraków, who met Igor from Toruń thanks to this project.
Such trips also teach practical things – how to use trains in Europe, which is not that easy, how to organise life in travel, when you only have a backpack, how to cope with tiredness and stress, and also how to manage your budget wisely. That all makes a person enriched not only with memories, but also with skills useful in everyday life.
Hubert 20 years old, Europe express, Travel through various European countries as part of Discover EU, Berlin; Cologne (Germany), Brussels (Belgium), Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Paris (France), Barcelona; Madrid; Toledo (Spain), Milan; Lecco; Bellagio; Varenna; Verona; Venice (Italy), Vienna (Austria).