EuroDash2008

Everyone is home now, safe, sound, and sleeping in to catch up on all the lost sleep from this whirlwind trip. It's been a blast. No one was pickpocketed, no one missed a transfer bus or train or flight ... Success!

We got to end our trip in the extremely beautiful and friendly city of Prague, which--like Vienna--is one of the hosts for the European Cup 2008 (or Euro2008), so we got some exposure to football (soccer) frenzy. The beautiful old square created quite the contrast for a huge soccer-ball tent, giant screens, and port-o-potties.

On our last evenings, we discussed some of our favorite memories from the trip, and our favorite cities. Most of us agreed that Florence was among the best of the cities we visited, though not the most livable (too touristy, too small). That was at a point in our trip when we weren't too tired, and most everything went right there. Plus, it was small enough to navigate without public transport. And beautiful. Dr. Zellmer took a group of students on a walk through the countryside while Ms. H went wandering on the north side of the city with Grainne, Cate, and Michaela. Both great ways to end the day in Florence.

For my part, London and Prague remain the most livable of the cities we visited, while Florence and Venice -- and other Italian cities I've been to -- are the most fun for tourists. So pretty that no matter how talented you are with a camera, you will get gorgeous pictures. Vienna was the most lack-luster: just another big city, not particularly pretty or friendly, but with a nice palace (Shoenbrunn gardens were definitely the best part of that trip).

We also discussed what, if anything, the U.S. does better than Europe. The list is short:

1. Free water in restaurants and free refills. (Fighting dehydration was unfortunately one of the themes of the trip.)

2. Perhaps more school and job flexibility, though we didn't get much chance to discuss this with Europeans.

3. Free toilets!

4. ... I know there was something else, but I forgot!


What Europe does better than the U.S. was easier to come up with:

1. Pedestrian walkways in its cities. Much easier to get around on foot.

2. Bread. The kinds and options are so much better than in the States!

3. Cheese. And fizzy water, according to Dr. Z. And most food-related items. (Good food is available in the States, just expensive. Not the norm as it seems here.)

4. Public transportation and pedestrian walkways.

5. Dance clubs, and other opportunities for teens to have fun and mingle outside of the shopping mall.

6. Architechture - the new and the old.

7. Cafes and squares on which one can relax and people-watch.

And so EuroDash2008 comes to a close.