The Traveling Journal

The Traveling Journal: My Central European Cities Adventure

Student Ambassador Tristin Thompson is a returning traveler with WorldStrides and this time around, she got to experience Central Europe! Tristin had an enjoyable time and shared her thoughts on the best food, shopping, and transportation in the cities she explored.

“On June 5, 2023, I departed for my Central European cities trip with Explorica by WorldStrides. I was set for Berlin, Krakow, Prague, and Budapest with my favorite teacher, Mrs. Kellie, and one of my best friends, Claire. I had traveled with them and with Explorica previously during a trip to Italy, Greece, France, and Spain. To be honest, the trip this year was unexpected for me. I decided to go on a whim, and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed myself.

When we arrived, we met our tour director, Istvan. He told us a bit about himself such as his Hungarian background and the languages he speaks. The minute he told us he was close in age to Claire and I, we were attached at the hip. Anytime there was free time in the cities, we looked to Istvan to take the time and show us around to more places to learn more about the way locals live in the places we were in. It was very educational. He would also teach us simple words that helped us communicate with the people in each city. Istvan was an integral part of how great the trip turned out.

Every city had its own characteristics that made it unique to any other cities I have ever been to. It was interesting to see how the Cold War affected the look of Berlin, how impactful Jewish culture is in Krakow, how different cultures influenced the look of Prague, and how Budapest combined two cities together in perfect harmony. When it comes down to comparing them all to each other—in my personal opinion—I favor the food in Poland, the transit in Berlin, the shopping in Prague, and the sightseeing in Budapest.

With Istvan and the rest of the tour guides that joined us, traveling and learning about each city was an easy, and amazing experience!”