I realized at some point that all the landmarks and tourist attractions are just busywork, something to do between experiences. Prague was the city that finally managed to pull my nose out of my book and command my full attention on that very first trip to Europe. They’re both great destinations, but my awakening didn’t come until we set foot in Prague before the Czech Republic had really become the extremely popular tourist destination it is today. Switzerland and Italy were two of my first European countries. All the greatest adventures I had were experienced off the beaten path.
I don’t give a flying fuck about the Eiffel Tower. Mind you, I paid my dues in places like Italy, France, and the UK among others, but I came to realize pretty early on that the places I enjoyed visiting the most were the ones not dripping with other tourists. They put France on a pedestal and they now clog the canals of Venice. To them, traveling to Europe means Italy or the UK. I was once asked why I would choose to go to places like Romania or Hungary for vacation.
