What first thoughts come to your mind when you think of Switzerland? Cheese, watches, banks, chocolate and crazy prizes for everything. Swiss people are also famous for their precision, perfectionism and punctuality. What else would you expect from people who produce watches?

While planning to go to Switzerland many people choose Zürich as number one city worth visiting. In my humble opinion, you might see most of the city in one day, but if you came for a weekend or more, be ready to pay double price for the same accommodation you would find in another European city. Every city has its own atmosphere and Zürich is a city of business. People in suits and expensive shoes with leather bags always seem to run somewhere. You might find a lot of hipsters there too, but even they look perfect and neat. Parks and public places are very clean and seem a bit unnatural for me because of their aristocratic look.

Paying a visit to Zürich, you might like to visit:

#1 Bahnhofstrasse
If you arrived by train, you might want to walk through this street to Old town. There are a lot of brand stores like Rolex and boutiques in here.

#2 Lake Zürich
Follow down the cosy streets of Altstadt (Old town) with a lot of shops to enjoy nice views of Zürichsee (Lake Zürich).

#3 Flea market “Rosenhof” in Weingasse
It is open every Saturday and there are so many nice things to buy as souvenirs. E.g. a real “Viktorinox” Swiss Army knife for five CHF (four euros 50 cents).

#4 Chocolate boutiques
There are plenty of them everywhere and you might do a little experiment comparing a Swiss chocolate from a boutique for 15 CHF with a chocolate from the nearest supermarket for five CHF.

#5 Frau Gerolds Garden
With warm weather, many people come here to chill in BBQ parties, soothing atmosphere and very nice decorations. A good place to try a traditional Swiss cheese fondue.

#6 Churches
Many tourists feel compelled to visit a church in every city. In Zürich, you have three options: Fraumünster, Great Minster Church (Grossmünster) and Wasserkirche. On the promenade, you will find Fraumünster. It was a female monastery for aristocratic ladies possessed considerable power in the city and even they had the privilege of printing money. The two towers which proudly rise in any picture of Zürich belong to the main cathedral – Grossmünster, which was built in the 12th century. According to the legend, the Grossmünster was founded by Charlemagne, whose horse fell to its knees at the tomb of Felix and Regula – patron saints of Zürich. The tower of the Great Minster – it is a great place to take beautiful pictures of the old centre. Close to the lake, the church Wasserkirche was surrounded by water (from whence the name), but the subsequently Limmatquai is connected to the church with the land. In Reformation Times, Wasserkirche was the first public library of Zürich in 1634. Having a “place of knowledge” – the Church- thus made a significant contribution to the formation of the University of Zürich in the 19th century.

#7 Kunsthaus (free on Wednesdays)
If you like art, you might love this museum which contains a collection of classical and contemporary art, including several paintings by Salvador Dali, Monet, Picasso and Marc Chagall.

#8 Thermalbad Zürich: From an old brewery to a bathing sanctuary
After a difficult day and if you have three free hours, you would love this SPA. What is special here is that there is a heated open-air swimming pool on the top of it from where you can enjoy the panorama of Zürich at any time of the year.

You have not seen Switzerland if you were not in mountains!

From Zürich, take a train to Lucerne (40 mins) and you will be surprised by the contrast from business to the romantic city. Lucerne is a city of art. It can indeed inspire you to write a sonnet or paint a picture. Somehow it happens that while most of Europeans and Americans walk the paths of Felix and Regula in Zürich, most, if not all, Asians go to Lucerne. Which might be good for you: follow an Asian person in Lucerne to see all the nicest sightseeings.

#1 Old town
Even without a guide, you discover most of it because there are so many murals or paintings around, narrating about the purpose of a particular building or historical events.

#2 Lion of Lucerne
It commemorates the Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution when revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris. Mark Twain praised the sculpture of a mortally-wounded lion as “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.”

#3 Take a ship from Luzern to visit the Swiss Alps, e.g. Mount Rigi.
You can hike, snowboard and ski from up there or enjoy spectacular views of the Alps at 1,800 metres above sea level. The cogwheel railway leaving from Vitznau is Europe’s first mountain railway.

Lifehacks:

• Swiss people speak German, but in a Swiss way. So, when you cannot understand what they are talking about, simply ask “Entschuldigung, könnten Sie bitte langsamer sprechen? Deutsch ist nicht meine Muttersprache” (Sorry, can you please speak a bit slower? German is not my native language). However, everyone can speak English there as well.
•  You should definitely try traditional Swiss Raclette:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWcz73qVel0
  (It is better to see once rather than describe)
• Talk to natives and do not judge a nation by one person. Swiss people might only seem too cold and a bit arrogant, but when you take your time to understand their mentality and try to be polite and courteous, you get to know them better.

And remember a Swiss saying, small is beautiful!

Enjoy your time in Switzerland!

Written by Aliona Sytnyk, AEGEE-Berlin

“Lost between Europe and Africa, it belongs to nowhere. It belongs to nowhere, never having belonged to nowhere. To Spain and the Arabs and the Phoenicians more than anything. But as if he had never really had a destiny. No fate. Left out of time and history”

David Herbert Lawrence, Sea and Sardinia, 1921

I wanted to start with this quote because it is not easy to describe Cagliari, the capital city of an amazing jam in the Mediterranean Sea, the island of Sardinia. It is the result of many influences by different populations who ruled the island: Phoenician, Arabs, Romans, Pisans, Spanish and of course Savoy are just examples.  Cagliari is one of the most important harbours in the Mediterranean Sea and situated in South Sardinia, pretty close to Africa, especially to Tunisia. The weather in there is incredible. In fact, it is so sunny that locals call it CA(g)LI(ari)FORNIA. Here are ten things to do, eat and visit in this city.

Poetto Beach with a view on Sella del Diavolo

1) Poetto – You cannot say that you visited Cagliari properly if you did not go to the beautiful beach of Poetto. Poetto is so close to the city that you can actually reach it by a bus from one of the main squares of Cagliari, Matteotti’s Square. It stretches for about eight kilometres and it is said that it is the longest beach in a city after the one in Rio de Janeiro.  You can enjoy your time there looking at the beautiful blue sea and eating a sandwich with horse meat bought in one of the “paninari” or “caddozzoni” [that can be translated with very dirty people, ed.], as people from Cagliari call them, and of course drinking an Ichnusa, the traditional beer of Sardinia.

2) Sella del Diavolo – There is a small story hidden behind this beautiful hill near at Poetto’s beach, that is also one of the symbols of our city. The legend tells that Lucifer and his demons wanted to rule Cagliari’s Gulf, but in a battle Lucifer fell off his horse, lost his saddle that turned into stone and became the Sella del Diavolo, Devil’s Saddle in English. You should climb it because the view from there will be one of the greatest experiences of your life, plus you will see Poetto with its all beauties.

3) Viale Europa – It is a really long street and it is close to Monteurpinu Park (one of the biggest parks in the city). There you can enjoy the beautiful skyline of the city and if you turn around you can also see Poetto. It will take your breath away.

Flamingos, with Cagliari’s skyline in the back

4) Fenicotteri – How not to mention flamingos? People from Cagliari are very proud of them. To find them, you have to move just a little bit from the city and go to Molentargius Park, which is really close to Poetto’s beach. Rent a bike and enjoy your time there. I suggest you bring your camera so that you can keep memories of this beautiful experience forever.

5) Pizzetta Sfoglia – Finally, I introduce you just one of the many tasty dishes from the island. Pizzetta sfoglia is basically a small pizza made with puff pastry and filled with tomato sauce and sometimes capers. We usually eat it in the breakfast or as a snack in the evening. Like Ichnusa and flamingos, people from Cagliari are very proud and jealous of Pizzetta Sfoglia. Try it, it is delicious!

Carlo Felice’s statue in Piazza Yenne

6) Piazza Yenne – Piazza Yenne is the centre of Cagliari’s movida. Especially on Friday and Saturday, you will find lots and lots of inhabitants having their happy hours or just talking and sitting in a bar. I suggest you take an appetiser there, you will enjoy the view of Castello (one of the historic neighbourhoods of Cagliari), the harbour and, of course, our beloved Carlo Felice’s statue. Carlo Felice is the symbol of the city and when Cagliari FC was promoted to Serie A [the major football league in Italy, ed.], last year he was dressed in red and blue, the colours of our team.

7) Marina – Moving a little bit forward from Piazza Yenne, you will find the neighbourhood of Marina. Marina is really beautiful, there you can find amazing restaurants with typical Sardinian cuisine and small shops that sell souvenirs. They might not be cheap, but eating traditional food is an experience you cannot miss when you are in Sardinia, it will be totally worth it.

Cagliari’s Cathedral façade

8) Castello – Castello (or Castle in English) is the neighbourhood of Cagliari. In fact, in Sardinian language, Cagliari is called Casteddu which means Castle. In Castello, you will find the most important monuments of Cagliari: the cathedral, the Vice Regio Palace, museums, etc. I suggest you lose yourself in small and beautiful streets with full of the magic of this neighbourhood and of course, go to Bastione Santa Croce to enjoy the beautiful view on Cagliari.

Bastion St. Remy

9) Bastione St. Remy – It is one of the meeting points of young people in Cagliari. The view from there is totally worth it and breathtaking. You can go up by foot or with the elevator. You will see its main entrance from the shopping streets via Garibaldi and via Manno, it is situated at the exact crossroads between these two streets.

10) Lose yourself – Just like I have read in other articles of the Travel Guide series, I suggest you lose yourself in this beautiful city to see and taste everything it offers. Cagliari might not be a big city or famous like other beautiful cities in Italy, but it is unique.

Written by Paola Letizia Murru, AEGEE-Cagliari

If you want to tell 10 things to do, eat and visit in your city (even where there is no AEGEE), you can fill this form or contact us at aegeean@aegee.org. Let’s create a small travel guide for AEGEE people!

There is a reason if William Shakespeare set one of his most famous plays in Verona: Romeo and Juliet made this city the emblem of love. The city is located in the North East of Italy, in the region of Veneto, and it has been established that the first settlement can be dated back to the Neolithic era. Verona has been then developing during the Roman Era, Middle Ages and Renaissance till now, when it was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. We bet you know the Arena, but here is the list of 10 things to do, visit and eat in Verona, seen by inhabitants.

Juliet copper statue in her home

1-Visit Juliet’s house and write to her. In the city center there is what is believed to be the house of Juliet, from the Shakespeare’s tragic play “Romeo and Juliet”. In this house you can see the balcony where Romeo declared his love to the girl. There is a copper statue of her where unmarried couples can touch Juliet’s breast (a kind of good-luck ritual). If you feel some love pain, you can write to Juliet and the official club will answer you with love advice and support.

2- Watch Verona from Castel San Pietro. Castel San Pietro is a military building in Verona. The building stands on the San Pietro hill, on a plateau where, in Roman times, there was a temple linked to the Roman theatre. To reach the summit of the hill there are some stairs that start behind the old roman theatre. Climbing them will require some effort and it might leave you breathless,  but not as much as the view of Verona you can have from there.

A view of the Roman Theatre

3- Spend the happy hour in the Tennis Club. The Tennis Club is situated on the outskirts of the city, in the neighborhood of Torricelle. If playing tennis is not your cup of tea, you can just easily chill during the happy hour with a drink, hopefully a spritz, in your hand. During summer it is a fresh break from the city center’s heat.

4- Drink Mandorlino. Mandorlino is a liquor obtained by the infusion of bitter almonds. It is mostly sold in a tavern called Zampieri la Mandorla, very close to the city center. The tavern is really small and characteristic, with barrels serving as tables and huge corks in the place of chairs.

5-  Enjoy the Roman Theatre Summer Season. Every summer the ancient Roman Arena is transformed into an open air theatre for plays, dance shows and lyric concerts.

The monumental cemetery entrance

But there is also another open air theatre that is overlooked by many: the Roman theatre. Situated on top of the hills, it was built at the end of the 1st century BC and now it can host up to 1860 people. With this romantic Roman view, you can enjoy Shakespearean plays, dance shows and a lot more.

6- Visit the Monumental Cemetery. During Napoleon’s invasion, a law established that all the cemeteries should have been built outside the city. Also in Verona, likewise other North Italian cities, a new cemetery was needed since all the graves were placed right next to the churches. It was built in 1829 in neoclassical style. The majestic entrance seems intimidating, but inside, an unusual peace can be found. In this cemetery, you can find the graves of writer Emilio Salgari or painter Umberto Boccioni, among others.

Il Ponte di Pietra

7- Fall in love with bridges. The Adige river divides the city in two, therefore bridges have always played an essential role for Verona. Today there are seven of them and they all share the common fate of having been destroyed by the Nazis and then rebuilt in later years. The oldest of all is the Ponte di Pietra (the Stone Bridge). Built in the Roman era, it still connects the Roman Theatre to the city center. After World War II, stones and bricks, projected into the river bed by the explosion, were recovered and used to rebuild it, as much faithful as possible to the original one.

8- Admire le Arche Scaligere. The Scaliger Tombs, located in the historic center of Verona, next to the church of Santa Maria Antica, near the Piazza dei Signori, are a monumental funerary complex built in the Gothic style by the Scala family, intended to contain the graves of some distinguished representatives of the family, including the one of the great Lord of Verona, Cangrande, to whom Dante Alighieri dedicated the Heaven part of his Divine Commedy.

Lake Garda  seen from a boulevard in Peschiera del Garda

9- Sunbathe in Lake Garda. Not far from the city center there is the biggest lake in Italy- Lake Garda. It is just enough to take a train to Peschiera del Garda and in less than 15 minutes you can enjoy the beauty of this lake surrounded by mountains.

10- Take a walk. And then, when the sun goes down there is nothing more beautiful than taking a long relaxing walk in the sidewalks along river Adige. The colours of the sunset reflecting in its waters will make Verona even more worthy to fall in love with.

Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona with inputs from Angie Zandonà, AEGEE-Verona

If you want to tell 10 things to do, eat and visit in your city (even where there is no AEGEE), you can fill this form or contact us at aegeean@aegee.org. Let’s create a small travel guide for AEGEE people!
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Like so many great cities in Europe, León was founded by the Romans. With a history going back to antiquity, León has a large amount of richly cultural things to see, and delicious nourishment to eat and drink. Here is the must-have travel guide for the Spanish city of León.

AEGEE-León

1. Get Your Private Tour Guide… Sort of

Before you visit the city, try contacting AEGEE-León’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/aegeeleon/. Depending on availability, our members might be able to give you some tips or (digital) assistance for booking your trip or for when you are discovering León.

2. Meet Isidore and Marc

Two of the main attractions in Leon are the Basilica of San Isidoro de León and Convento de San Marcos. The former is built on the site of an ancient Roman temple during the early tenth century as part of the monastery of Saint John the Baptist. In 1063, the church was rededicated to Saint Isidore of Seville. The San Marcos also used to be a monastery, before becoming an actual dungeon during the Spanish Civil War. Nowadays the building has become a hotel.

3. Get Ready to Walk (and Party)

The Barrio Húmedo, or ‘wet district’, is the nickname for both the ancient centre of León, surrounded by the still largely intact roman walls, and the relatively large number of bars and clubs that are packed closely together between these same walls. The Barrio Húmedo; visit it during the day, and during the night; visit the Barrio Húmedo.

León Cathedral

4. History? I Prefer the Present

The Museum of Modern Art; or, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León (MusAC), is one of the most recognisable buildings in all of León because of its avant-garde architecture. The building is covered in brightly coloured, rectangular panels and only hosts art from the latest generation of artists, meaning art from the last twenty to thirty years.

5. But Wait, There Are More… Churches

If you are in the mood for seeing another church, then this one will blow your mind. The Santa Maria de León, also known as ‘the House of Light’, is the city’s gothic cathedral. It looks like they built a tall building on a bridge that is adjacent by two towers, and, unlike the San Isidoro, this one is built on the site of a Roman bath house.

La Candamia

6. Mucho Mosto

When you are in León you have to try ‘mosto’, a sweet, non-alcoholic kind of grape juice. It is made from pressed grapes before they are converted into wine, but, depending on the grape, it might taste a bit like apple juice. It can be served chilled with a slice of orange and an olive, or bought in a store. Enjoy.

7. Nature

You should try to visit ‘La Candamia’, a park next to the Torío river on the outskirts of León. It is possibly the best location in the city for recreation, relaxation, and, if you climb all the way up the mountain, for the best views of León.

8. Barter Much?

If you are in León on a Saturday, it is really worthwhile to go to Plaza Mayor and visit some of our local markets, surrounding the square.

Tapas

It is a relaxing way to spend (part of) your day, strolling down the streets, browsing or maybe buying some products.

9. Spare Some Cheese?

Would you like try some good food? Have you, however, only ordered a drink? Do you like free stuff? Then why not try some of our world famous ‘tapas’. It comes free with every drink you order; every drink… it is literally FREE food. What are you waiting for, come to León.

Written by Laura Pérez, AEGEE-León

If you want to tell 10 things to do, eat and visit in your city (even where there is no AEGEE), you can fill in this form or contact us at aegeean@aegee.org. Let’s create a small travel guide for AEGEE people!

Venice, Italy…. A city so beautiful that many others all around the globe claim to be similar. A city so beautiful that there are two replicas, one in China and one in Las Vegas. A city so beautiful that there are seven cities in North America named after the Italian city. Venice is located in the north-east of Italy in the Venetian lagoon and its first settlement can be dated back in the I. century, when nearby population flee to the island in the lagoon in order to avoid German and Hun invasions. The Golden era of the city started in 697 AD when the Republic of Venice historically began, conquering through the years several countries till Greece and modern Istanbul (then known as Konstantinopolis). You might all know San Marco Square and Rialto Bridge, but here we will explore some hidden places in the city.

1 –  Scala Contarini del Bovolo. Located in a very hidden calle (as Venetian call their streets) and almost impossible to find, these stairs are absolutly breathtaking. The place is a beautiful example of Venetian gothic architecture and it can be dated around the XVI century. The prominent feature of this Palazzo is the multi-arch spiral staircase where you can enjoy an amazing view of the city. And if this stair looks quite familiar, well, Orson Welles used it as the major location for his Othello. 

2 – Libreria Acqua Alta. Book lovers, it’s your turn! Near San Marco Square, you can find one of the best and most original bookshops in the world: Libreria Acqua Alta. Old and new books are stuffed in this two room building where you can find all topics you want, from history to fiction, from cooking books to erotic ones. They are all disposed in a very chaotic way and you need to dig to find what you are looking for. They are even put in bathtubs and gondolas. The owner is a lovely 70 something year old man who can speak several languages and loves to talk about his experiences, his love affairs and his idea to create the bookshop. You might also have close encounter with some cats that sleep peacefully among the books. The most famous attraction is the book stair just outside the shop, a stair you can climb and enjoy the view of the channels.

3 – Bacaro tour. A bacaro is a small bar or osteria in Venice, specialised in serving different types of wine in glasses (called ombra, literally shadow) and cicchetti, small side dishes like tiny sandwiches, fried calamari or boiled eggs and olives. All must be eaten and drunk while standing. A “national sport” is to visit a large number of bacari during the day, called Bacaro tour. If you think you can resist long enough, and you are in Venice, AEGEE-Treviso organises periodically a Bacaro tour for their members and foreign people.

4 – Il ghetto di Venezia. How many times have you used the word ghetto? Have you ever asked yourself what the origin of this name is? It is Venetian, of course. Back to the XIV, a settlement of Venetian jews started to live in the former foundry and where, during nights, gates were closed; the places where gates lied can still be seen. Once one of the richest place in Venice, now the ghetto has seen some changes since the jews population is very small. Walking through the ghetto is a nice experience because different synagogues can still be seen and some monuments reminding all those lost during the Shoha were erected.

5 –  Punta della Dogana. There is a place in Venice where you can have an amazing view of the lagoon and you can see amazing sunsets with the waves singing and the most amazing lullaby you can ever imagine. It is called Punta della Dogana or Punta da Màr and it is a triangle shape dock that divides the Gran Canal from the Giudecca Canal. During the Republic Era, it was used for docking and customs as early as the beginning of the 15th century. The modern building, that now hosts some exhibitions, was first started in 16th century.
6 – Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Yes, Bilbao building is amazing, not to mention the New York’s one, but the Peggy Guggenheim collection in Venice is the place where history and modern art melt together. Peggy Guggenheim, the famous art collector, lived in Palazzo Venier dei Leoni since 1948 and after her death, she asked to rest there. The collection is rather small, if compared with her sister in Spain and USA, but it has some of the most famous pieces in art history with an unusual view on the Gran Canal. In the garden Peggy’s grave can still be seen, near her beloved pets.

7 – Calletta varisco. Near Campo Widmann, in sestiere Cannareggio, there is a calle that is known as one of the smallest road in the world. It is only 53 cm in length from one side to another. When there, you should stop in the middle of the road and look at the sky. The tiny portion of blue will make you understand why the Argentinian poet Jorge Luis Borges called Venice “a stone jungle”.

8 – Eat a lot. In Italy you need to eat and take at least 1.5 kg per day, because there is no place anywhere else where you can taste a delicious food like in the Coutry that looks like a boot. Venice is no exception. As we mentioned before, you should try once cicchetti, but you also should try Fritto-inn, a place where everything is fried and you can taste nice fried fish. If you are a sweet lover, Pasticceria da Tonolo is heaven, especially during Carnival where the famous fritella, filled either with chantilly cream or eggnog, is sold.
9 – Traghetto. One of the wildest dream of people visiting Venice is to have a gondola ride, but the super high costs of it prevent most of the students to enjoy. Actually you can with only 2 euros. In Venice there are six gondolas that daily connect parts of the isles, mostly crossing the Grand Canal, taking the name of traghetto. it might not be that romantic, but it is still something you should try, especially traghetto di Santa Sofia that connects Strada Nuova with the beautiful (and ancient) fish market.

10 – Lose yourself. What a piece of advice, uh? But getting lost in Venice is really difficult because the city is scattered with yellow labels indicating the most famous attractions such as San Marco, Rialto, the Accademia Bridge, Santa Lucia (the railway station), Piazzale Roma (the bus station). For non-inhabitants following those instructions is just fine to discover the city, but if you want to see the real beauty, hidden gardens, the colour of a city like no other, you should just take a random calle and go. Beware that you will walk a lot because the city has over 100 isles connected by zillion of bridges. In case you don’t want to walk, take a vaporetto, the water bus, and step out to a random stop and see what the city is holding up for you.

If you want to tell 10 things to do, eat and visit in your city (even where there is no AEGEE), you can fill this form. Let’s create a small travel guide for AEGEE people!
Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona

It was once said that the best way to spend your money would by travelling: for the insight, wisdom, joy and friendships you would get, experience and make is said to be priceless. While many people agree that travelling broadens the mind, it also narrows it in a certain way. For when you travel, you tend not to have enough time to really get to know the people you are travelling with. It is from these people, migrants, travellers, traders and other transients that we get stereotypes. Nowadays, there exist a great deal of these; the Germans are aggressive, the French are hedonistic cowards and the English have an obsession for tea like Gollum has one for “the one Ring to rule them all”. However, let us not be offensive and look at some long forgotten, historical stereotypes. Reader’s discretion, however, is still advised.

The Swedes will take you at night

It seems weird to think of Swedish people as bad guys; they are currently amongst the top seven of most peaceful countries in the world, according to the Global Peace Index. However, at a certain point in history, there was nothing that would make entire German cities more frightened than the rumour that a Swedish army was marching towards them. During the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) almost all European countries were at war with each other for opportunism, freedom and religion, in a manner that could be said to be even more complicated and violent than the current conflict in Iraq and Syria. While there was conflict in Austria, Bohemia and the Low Countries, the bulk of the fighting and the senseless violence happened in the Holy Roman Empire, also known as Germany, where as much as two thirds of the population was exterminated.

One of the most senseless of these slaughters was the sack of Magdeburg (1630-1631), when the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus let this German city he was allied with know that he and his army were on their way to relieve them from the Imperial troops that were about to assault the city. Instead, he marched south to attack the Bavarian city of Ingolstadt. The city of Magdeburg was eventually taken and burned to the ground. No less than eighty-five percent of its population was killed during the firestorm. For its military ravages in Bavaria and for letting the total destruction of Magdeburg happen, the Swedish were often depicted as the bad guys in children’s stories and songs. Until the 1980s German children were put to bed with the warning that, if they would not go to sleep, the Swedish would come and take them.

 The Portuguese have syphilis

Syphilis is one of those diseases you give to the ones you love, or at least to the ones you make love to. However, regardless of the pleasure it may have given those who have spread the disease, having syphilis remains a pretty nasty condition. The disease itself is only sexually transmitted and has originated from the Americas until it was spread to Europe by Spanish conquistadors, who may have had less than consensual sex with the natives of the New World. From that moment on, the disease spread amongst soldiers and sailors (the same people who created stereotypes), prostitutes, and then bachelors or even married men, until finally it was spread amongst people from all walks of life: even kings and queens. That is not to say that everybody had syphilis, but it was common enough for people to know what it was, where it came from and which kind of people were most likely to carry the disease with them.

Instead of blaming the disease on their soldiers or adulterous partners, when the only treatment was ingesting poisonous mercury, however, the people of Europe thought it better to do something else. Countries back then began to blame countries they disliked for causing and spreading the disease. The Dutch, then at war with Spain and Portugal, called it the Portuguese disease, the French called it the English disease and the English and Germans called it the French disease. The then German city of Strasbourg had even called the part of the city, where the syphilis patients were treated, the ‘French quarter’.

Jews will steal your babies

 Written by Willem Laurentzen, AEGEE-Nijmegen

“How on Earth can you travel so much!?”. I am pretty sure that many of you have heard these words already. We are AEGEEans, we are tireless travellers and adventurers – yet at the same time we are young and (most of us) students that many times cannot afford the typical travel expenditures. When was the last time you travelled on your own and slept in a four-star hotel?

Luckily, through AEGEE or other experienced backpackers, it is easy for us to learn about ways to travel all over Europe on the cheap, either before or after attending a Summer University. I have noticed it for my own experience: just a couple of years ago, I was doubtful of embarking in an adventure of travelling on a budget on our own. Instead, now I know many tips to make my trips affordable – and I am continuously asked by non-AEGEEans: “but how can you manage!?”.

If you happen to be a ‘newbie’ when it comes to budget travelling, these are a few tips we can give you.

Know where, when and how to travel

We have to start from somewhere when planning a trip, right? Let’s take into consideration several aspects when you travel, such as the destination. A great idea is to travel to airports connected with low-cost airlines. However, there are many cities (like Barcelona) where there are not even two, but three airports (BCN El Prat, Girona-Costa Brava and Reus) which are connected with budget airlines. Whereas travelling to off-shore airports can be a great idea in order to save money, you might well consider to add 17 euro extra for the shuttle bus from Girona airport to the Barcelona city centre, so keep that in mind when checking your travel budget!

Finding airplane ticket bargains can be easier than we think – sometimes it is easier when you travel on off-season dates (around late October-April). I remember that I got my ticket to Autumn Agora Budapest in November 2012 at 25 euro round trip, and I even met a few members who travelled by… less than 2 euro by plane! Booking in advance is an option.

Furthermore, if you want to keep monitoring the rise and fall for the prices of a concrete destination, I suggest you to check Skyscanner or Drungli – the latter is even more useful for the flexible travellers who are open to any destination, as it also shows the cheapest travel fares on the dates you chose, regardless of the destination.

July 2012. I never thought hitchhiking could be that cool!

There are many other options to get around. The AEGEEan published recently a ‘hitchhiker’s guide to Europe’, whereas the former speaker of the Environmental Working Group, Iris Hordijk, presented last year some different ways to travel in an environmentally-friendly way, such as kayaking or biking. You might even consider travelling long distances by budget bus lines. Unsure of which is the cheapest way to get to some place? Check Rome2Rio, it shows you the way to schedule your trips by budget and amount of time to any destination (yes, anywhere!).

Travel, eat and stay with locals

They will know better than anyone else where are the coolest, tastiest, cheapest and prettiest places to take you to. I come from Barcelona, one of the most touristic and fairly expensive cities in Europe. While most of the travellers struggle to find a place to have a drink at sky-high prices, I always bring the AEGEE members who come to visit me at a bar -right in the city centre!- where the best mojitos I have ever tasted cost no more than 3 euro.

This is an easy step. If you travel to a city where there is an AEGEE local, you can easily ask to the members in there for some tips or even have a tour around. However, it might happen that the city you plan to visit has no antenna, but you can contact locals through places such as CouchSurfing or a website called AngelsForTravellers. Even if a new one, this website has exactly this purpose – an opportunity for travellers to ask locals for advice! Another -very popular- idea is to take a look at the Spotted by Locals website. You might also check the ‘free walking tours’ in many European cities. Even if usually run by long-term expats, it is an interesting way to get to know a city better and make friends on the way.

Of course, finding a place to sleep is one of the things that can make a big difference on a budget, so why not trying couchsurfing again? You must definitely check the AEGEE CouchSurfing Facebook group as well. You might be surprised of how many AEGEE members are spread around the continent… or the whole world!

These are only a few tips aimed for beginner travellers. But I am sure that you, experienced AEGEEan, have lots of other tips to share from your own experience. So, share them with us and we will collect the most interesting tips to travel ‘like a pro’!

Written by Anna Gumbau, AEGEE-Barcelona

A lot of students dream about spending one or two semester abroad in a foreign country. And why not? The experience is amazing; you get to meet all these new amazing people from different countries with various backgrounds. You get to go to parties and stay out as late as you want. You can go on trips, see a country and experience live to the fullest. Erasmus life is like a rollercoaster ride. You go up and down, up and down and everything is so exciting. The sad part is at the end of the ride, when you have to get off the train.

When I came back from my Erasmus period in the UK in June of 2013, I was excited to see all my friends and my family back at home. It was nice to show everyone the pictures I made and to tell people about my adventures. It was really nice for about three weeks and that was when I started to miss everyone from my Erasmus. Yes, we still keep in touch via facebook and whatsapp and I email my best friend from my Erasmus weekly but it is just not the same. You can’t go to a party and create crazy masks before going there, you can’t go over to their house and have a movie marathon. You can’t talk about missing your home with them because you are already home (and people might think you are crazy if you start talking about home when you are already home). You are back in your old life, and it feels like a safety blanket and you appreciate it, but it is just less exciting.

Am I overreacting? I might be, who knows? But that doesn’t mean that some people don’t experience a post-Erasmus-depression or The Erasmus Blues as it is called by those who actually went on Erasmus. Anyway I know more who have experienced the Erasmus Blues. For example a friend of mine went to America for a semester in the beginning of this school year. At first she was scared to leave her home but when she came back from America she was just excited as I was. She had such a brilliant time and made so many friends and it was in one word: amazing. I know you may think we are dweeps who spend all their time complaining and complaining is so hipster nowadays. But I honestly think Erasmus Blues (yes, I am sticking with it) is a real thing.

So what did I do to not dwell on the exciting life that I left behind? You simply get up every day and do your thing. I know I sound sappy and yes, I may have mourned for a couple of weeks. I thought quite a lot about the awesome time I had and I spend a lot of time talking to and about my Erasmus friends. But I also went to see my friends from home and since it was summer I spend some time working as well. For me it was important to get out of my house and to experience life again. Honestly some days I felt like laying in my bed all day and not getting up because life just wasn’t that exciting but then again I didn’t experience all of those amazing things by laying in bed. What also helped was making a photo album. I had all these pictures and I figured I had to do something with them so I spend a year making a photo album. It was nice to recall all those memories and put them together in a book.

To conclude my story; my Erasmus experience was amazing and I learned so much about myself during that time. You should try to make the most out of that experience during and after that period. Keep being that open-minded person you were during your Erasmus period and enjoy your memories. In the end the experience was worth the goodbye.

Written by Majka Geerts, AEGEE-Nijmegen

 One of the cheapest ways to travel is hitchhiking, which is also used by AEGEEans, with some locals even organising hitchhiking competitions. Still though, many people haven’t tried it before and might even be scared to try. Are you one of them? Don’t worry! The AEGEEan has written a short hitchhiking course to help you out!

How to prepare?

Before you go to your final destination, it’s a good idea to look at the map and see what cities are on the way. It’s not very likely that you will get one straight ride to your final destination, so you will have to hitchhike from city to city until you reach your destination. Write down which cities are along the way and make different signs for those cities (use the front and back to save the trees) so you just have to use the signs in the right order. While making the signs, make sure that the letters are at least as big as those on a number plate so people can read it. It can also be a good idea to make a “fun” sign with for example smiley faces or ‘free hugs’ to make people smile (which gives you a better chance of getting a ride). Last but not least, save the telephone numbers of your lift partner and a friend at home who knows about your plans so you know who to call if you lose each other or a problem occurs.

Where to stand?

When you are looking for a place to get a ride, it is best to go for a place where drivers are able to stop or have to stop anyway. Good examples are gas stations, (just after) traffic lights, special hitchhiking spots and parking places along the road. Wherever you decide to stand, make sure that the drivers passing by can read your sign, and they have the ability to (safely!) stop to pick you up.

How to act?

In general, it’s most important that you behave like the kind of person you would give a ride. This means that you will have to smile, be polite and friendly when you ask for a ride and in general give of a positive vibe. Some people are scared to take people, so show them that you are nothing to be scared of and change their mind about hitchhiking. It can and will be done! Also, be prepared to wait for fifteen to sixty minutes, since hitchhiking sadly is not the fastest way of transport.

You found a ride!

Great!! Do remember that you are not obligated to accept any rides, so if you don’t trust someone, just (politely) reject them and search for another ride. Also make sure that you remember the number plate of the car or even write it down, so you can text it to your friend in the (hopefully unlikely) case something goes wrong. To keep you from forgetting your personal belongings (backpack, coat, etc.) it’s best to keep them on your lap or on the seat next to you and not in the trunk. You would be very lucky to get a ride straight to your final destination, so if this isn’t the case, ask the driver to drop you off at a gas station or hitchhiking spot so you can easily get your next ride. Once you are in the city center it’s often hard to get away, so try to avoid this!

And, remember: have fun!

Written by Svenja van der Tol, AEGEE-Nijmegen

Geographically, León is one of the most diverse provinces in the whole of Spain. On one hand, it is filled with high mountains (covered in snow during winter), steep cliffs and valleys sheltering lakes and gorges. On the other hand, it is blessed with flat plains watered by León’s rivers and streams which provide herds with pastures, and farmers with land to plant cereal crops.

Towards the north-east, nearby the border with Galicia, the province of León is characterized by its rolling countryside where round mountains covered in forests and picturesque villages can be easily found. I strongly believe that tiny cities provide certain amounts of magic and mystery everywhere. I like León; I like what it offers for those who come from outside its frontiers. Let yourself be conquered by an old university town retaining its past whilst looking to the future. Leon has Roman origins. It’s standing as an encampment city, which was consolidated with the definitive settlement of the Legio VII Gemina from 74 AD. The historical relevance of León is evident from 910 due to its active fighting in the Reconquista. Since then, centuries of history have been paraded through its streets.

Its status as a main town in the way of Saint James makes it a receptive point of tourism, both national and international. From almost any point in the city you can contemplate our French Gothic style cathedral. Its stained glasses are the most beautiful I have ever seen. There are many legends lying behind its walls.

Next to it, we have the Basilica of San Isidoro, tomb of medieval kings, and considered worldwide as the Sistine Chapel of Romanesque. You ought to visit the monastery of San Marcos. It was built thanks to an altruist financial donation by Ferdinand the Catholic. Nowadays, it is used as a hotel and as a museum. Its uses have varied throughout history. Francisco de Quevedo suffered imprisonment and wrote some of his most famous novels at this monastery.

Their bows are inspired by the shapes of the cathedral. Another most interesting fact about León is that among all the museums it has, the MUSCA holds with contemporary art expositions.

León is not only famous for its art, but also for its Eastern festivity, during which the city is full of people from all over the world. There’s the tradition named “killing jews”, also known as going to drink lemonade with friends. If you come to León just be sure to taste our “tapas”. If you are fond of eating, you’ll fall in love with León and its gastronomy. ‘Morcilla’, Valdeón cheese or trout soup are some of its delicatessen … And of course, we can’t not mention our stunning local wines: Prieto Picudo, Impresiones… Apart from everything mentioned above, León is more than a city full of amazing art during the day, and crazy parties at nights. It’s a different plan every weekend. It is a paradise to rediscover each morning. You should get yourself lost in ‘Picos de Europa’. Discover Boñar and the best wildlife museum in the world; Oseja Sajambre, Posada de Valdeón and their traditions and people. Enjoy the flora and fauna of this north-west land. Take a trip to Astorga. Be impressed by Gaudí Palace and share with your friends a ‘maragato stew’. Scrumptious.

Visit Ponferrada. Go to Babia. Check first hand why it was the heaven rest of the Catholic Kings.

And the most important thing: Enjoy every second you spend in our city. A visit of a lifetime.

Written by Ruth San José Blasco, AEGEE-León