Oh Switzerland! You beauty!

I met Bianca December 2004 on an exchange program in her beautiful town of Tamins just outside of Chur. It is hard to believe that we have known each other, and managed to stay in contact, for almost eight years.  So, when I found out I would be living in Europe I just knew that I would have to take some time to visit Bianca and her incredible family in their gorgeous corner of the world.

Three incredible stops in Austria!

I have been to both Graz and Salzburg before but it was in the winter time. It is incredible just how different a place can be in the summer. We don't have such contrasts in South Africa. The winter is cold and a bit drier but things, for the most part, look the same. Europe goes through these big seasonal changes and consequently visiting the same place in a different season gives you a whole new experience.

Slovenia!

I was fortunate enough to get to see a lot of Slovenia, a slow paced Eastern Europe country! Starting near the Austrian border in Maribor I was already charmed by the good weather and scenery. Things got better as I moved toward the slow moving capital and then to the iddy biddy little stretch of Slovenian coast!

Hungarian Surprise

Hungary surprised me. I had no idea how awesome it was going to be. To be honest I hadn't heard much about the place at all and having never ventured into Eastern Europe before I didn't really no what to expect. But the one great thing about no expectations is that they are always surpassed and in the case of Hungary they went far far beyond!

Why so quite?

One of the perks of studying Europe is that you get to really exploit your summer holidays. With countries so close in proximity you are really able to get around and see some awesome stuff. Although not in the heart of Europe, Sweden (down south in particular) is only a stone through away from the rest of Europe.

So, like many other students waiting for the next semester to start I decided to take advantage of my summer holiday and I packed my bags ready for some adventure! I have been busy in the 7 weeks since university came to an end having visited not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 countries!