A European Travel Memoir—Told in Stories, Reflections, and Practical Tips from Five Countries
Over the course of 33 days, I traveled through five countries in Europe—taking in the beauty, sampling the food, and collecting lifelong memories. It was the spring of 2024. Travel changed me. I’m happier, feel luckier, and am the proud recipient of entirely new perspectives.
I saw some of the world’s most breathtaking art by renowned artists, took in an underground jazz concert, sailed down the Rhine River (think castles!), hiked the Alps, tasted Belgian and Swiss chocolate (!), stood on the shores of Pointe du Hoc and tried to imagine the perspective of a WWII soldier—and so much more.
This isn’t just a travel itinerary. It’s a day‑by‑day account of every single day—how I chose where to go, how I prepared, what I purchased (and why), what I packed, how I navigated currency exchanges, and of course, the people I met, the places I explored, and all the meaningful details in between.
In essence, my itinerary could be your itinerary.
Want to Follow the Journey?
My memoir is unfolding one story at a time—plus a few feature posts along the way.
(If you are already a subscriber to my blog, you will automatically receive all posts, including my travel memoirs.)
All Posts, Please
Just the Europe Series
I’ll be adding links to each story below as they go live. Live links are colored.
Also, see the interactive map below.
Follow Along the Journey
❖ Start Here:
How I Planned My 33-Day Europe Trip: My Red Pillow Method
Here’s how I planned from scratch—with no tour, no package, and no idea where to start.
- Day 1 & 2 – San Francisco to Zurich: Aisle Seat to Adventure
- Day 3 — Ancient Bridges, Marshmallow Flames, and the Lion of Lucerne
- Day 4 – Rainy Lucerne: Towers in the Mist, Picasso in the Frame
- Day 5—Lucerne’s Timeless Scenes: Bourbaki Panorama, Glacier Stories, and Farewell Bells
- Day 6 – Train to the Valley of the Waterfalls
- Day 7 – Hiking in the Clouds in the Swiss Alps
- Day 8 – Boarding the Longship: Viking’s Rhine River Getaway Begins
- Day 9 – From Red Poppies to Courage: The Black Forest & WWII Stories
- Day 10 – Strasbourg, France: Walking Tour, Cathedral, and Canals
- Day 11 – Speyer, Germany & Life Aboard Our Viking River Cruise
- Day 12 — Castles in the Mist | Sailing the Rhine & Koblenz
- Day 13 — Cologne, Germany: A City of Locks & Fragrance
Coming soon~
- Day 14 – Windmills & Waterways: The Netherlands in Motion
- Day 15 – Laundry Day in Amsterdam: New City, Clean Start
- Day 16 – The Nine Streets and the Thousand Bikes
- Day 17 – Van Gogh and the Red Light District (Ooh, la la!)
- Day 18 – Anne Frank House: The Day That Quieted Us
- Day 19 – Bruges Bound: Trains, Chocolate, and Hotel Rose Red
- Day 20 – Ghent in a Day: Castles, Canals, and Fairytale Coincidences
- Day 21 – Waffles, Chocolate, Beer: Bruges by Bite
- Day 22 – Cobbled Clues: A Historic Walk Through Bruges
- Day 23 – Bridges, Museums, Wandering Through Bruges
- Day 24 – Eight Hours, Two Baguettes, and Bayeux Arrival
- Day 25 – 80 Years On: Commemorating D‑Day in Bayeux
- Day 26 – Point du Hoc: History Echoed on the Cliffs
- Day 27 – Threads of War and Wonder: The Bayeux Tapestry
- Day 28 – Medieval Mornings and Market Wanders in Bayeux
- Day 29 – Next Stop: Paris!
- Day 30 – Cooking in Paris: Flour, Fire, and French Flair
- Day 31 – Picasso by Day, Jazz Underground by Night
- Day 32 – Montmartre Mornings and Street Art Stories
- Day 33 – Flying Home from Charles de Gaulle: A Long Goodbye
Feature Posts (coming soon):
- Why I Chose These 5 Countries
- Packing Smart: The Clothing, Travel Gear & Gadgets That Proved Worth It
- Van Gogh Moments
- Picasso! Oh, Picasso!
- Montmartre Magic: Above the Clouds in Paris
- Stumbling Stones: Honoring Holocaust Victims—One Name, One Stone
Questions or thoughts?
I’d love to hear from you—feel free to comment on any of the stories as they go live.
Detailed Map of the Entire Journey
Below is a visual summary of our full 33-day route—hotels, attractions, Viking cruise path and stops, as well as transit modes and paths—hiking, train, plane, gondola.
Click to explore the interactive version and wander through the journey pin by pin.
