In the past two weeks, I have finally learned what it’s like to travel around Europe…and I finally turned 21 (not that it matters here)! From exploring Brussels to celebrating 21 to journeying to the beach town of Brighton, it has been an eventful time to say the least.
Our trip to Belgium was exhausting, tiring, but totally worth it. It all started when a group of us decided that Brussels, Belgium would be a good first trip to do. We found cheap overnight bus tickets and booked an Airbnb and headed to the country on Friday the 15th of September. After a three-hour bus and hour-long ferry ride across the English Channel, we were in France. Following a two-hour layover in France, it was time to get back on the bus for another two hours and head to Belgium. Arriving in the city of Brussels at 10 am their time running on no sleep and lack of food, our day was about to begin. First thing we did was get waffles from the closest place, which happened to be a Häagen-Dazs in the train station. The waffles truly are just as good as they are made out to be (good job Belgium).
The first day was all about exploring the Grand Palace, the beautiful picturesque market square of the city. From there we stumbled upon the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate, where we got to not only learn how Belgium chocolate is made but got plenty of free samples. And yes, the chocolate, like the waffles, is just as good as its made out to be.
That night we stayed in a comfortable Airbnb about thirty minutes outside the city, where we were able to somewhat catch up on our lack of sleep. The next morning, we had to be out by 10 am, so we headed back towards the main area of the city and had a fantastic brunch in a local breakfast gem. Day two called for stunning weather and we were pleased to find out that it was Car Free Sunday, an annual day where the city does not allow cars but instead allows free public transportation as part of their Mobility Week. This was perfect for us because we were able to freely take the subway to our desired destination of the day: the Atomium (see the featured image of the article).
This was easily my favorite part of the trip! The Atomium is a famous structure in Brussels that was created in the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair and is a popular tourist attraction today. There was a festival going on since it was a special Sunday for the city. Vendors and food trucks popped up as well as live music and dancing. But easily, the best part of the day had to be zip lining from the Atomium to the other side of the park. I never thought I could check mark “zip line through Brussels” off my bucket list but here I am!
After a long day of enjoying the festival, it was time to head back to catch our bus back to London at 11 pm. Traveling for another 9 hours and getting back in London at 8 am for my 10 am class was the most exhausted I had ever felt…but definitely worth it. Brussels, you are a beautiful city and I am glad I was able to experience you!
Later that week, I finally turned 21 and was surprised by my fellow Temple classmates with cake, cards, and various gifts. It was a sweet moment and much needed after a day of feeling homesick. Studying abroad during your birthday can be hard because you miss your loved ones and friends, but being surrounded by a group of people who are in this together with you makes it much easier. Thank you to everyone who gave me the 21st birthday experience I will never forget!
This past week our class went to the beautiful seaside town of Brighton! This has to be one my favorite places I have been to so far, for sure! With its rocky beaches, cute artsy town, rich historical places, and diversity it was easily the highlight of the trip so far. We had beautiful weather for this trip and were able to enjoy the beach and the boardwalk all day. As a class, we toured King George IV’s Royal Pavilion where we learned the history of this unique town. After that we had the freedom to explore this town and some of us even stayed over night at a hostel and got to see what the nightlife was like. It was a fantastic weekend and I definitely want to go back to see more of what Brighton has to offer.
Overall, it has been an exciting two weeks and I can’t believe I have been here for nearly a month! Time is flying by. I get to see my parents this weekend and I will be sure to up date you all on our adventures. Be sure to follow Kleinglobal on instagram to keep up with my adventures! Bye for now!
-Emma
Klein Global Opportunities 
Love this. Can’t wait to see you on Saturday.
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