TRAVEL

Chloe Osborne Editor

INTERRAILING: THE BEST THING YOU NEVER DID?

By Chloe Woodward

Your year abroad will not be the ‘best year of your life’ until you’ve been interrailing. Not only is it the perfect opportunity to do so, but it’s also dirt cheap (we’re talking under £200 to get around 4 countries and at least 6 cities) in comparison to the good beating Deutsche Bahn would prefer your bank account got. Let’s face it, you’re going to need a change of scenery at some point – and it would, of course, be sacrilege to even think about using your Erasmus grant to go home during reading week. Therefore… interrail!

I went to Zurich (the only Wagamamas in Switzerland), Vienna (home of the Sacher Torte, massive Schnitzels and Kaffeehaüser – yum), Cologne (a Chocolate Museum, a German gay club and German Zumba), Bonn (Haribo shop. Enough said), Mainz (home to truly mad Spanish Erasmus students) and Frankfurt (we got lost) before heading back to my beloved Strasbourg. All in just one week!

USEFUL WEBSITES: www.interrailnet.com (buy your interrail ticket here)

If you’ve not got time for a full blown interrailing extravaganza, that’s no reason not to go train mad. Get on a local train somewhere – we popped over to Colmar, a petite gem in the heart of Alsace, for a day once – or plan a cheeky trip to somewhere random you’ve never been before. I went to Munich for Oktoberfest (80 euros return about 2 weeks in advance, not too shabby) and Berlin for New Year; although pay in full and skip the Quer-Durch-Lands ticket (only 42 euros in comparison with 130, but it took 8 regional trains across Germany and 16 and a half hours. Not something I would recommend).

I am aware I sound like I should be studying German, not French and Russian. But I genuinely believe your year abroad is just as much about getting a taste for what the world’s got to offer you. So make the most and get on a train: j’espère qu’on se verra à la gare!

Southern France Beyond The Dordogne

By Kirsty Hall

Moving away from the Dordogne and the Aix-en-Provence, there are many parts of the south of France which remain consistently undisturbed by British tourists. The equally beautiful area around the Lot, the Cantal and the Aveyron sits only slightly east of the Dordogne yet for some reason is neglected by the same people who flock year on year to that cosseted region. The area has recently had a high-profile in the British press, due to a foiled terrorist plot, a ‘walking dead man’ and a more respectable travel article in the Independent, yet the levels of tourism remain relatively unchanged amongst the British population.

www.seat61.com (pure genius; also see the book, The Man in Seat 61) www.bahn.de (German national train company’s website – find out the times for any train journey in Europe, not just within Germany – because ‘Germans are safe and efficient’) www.sncf.fr (French national train company’s website – comes complete with ‘SNCF la radio’) www.raileurope.co.uk (book European train tickets from the UK)

The area is well-served by transport; it is possible to fly daily London Stansted – Rodez (approx. 40 minutes away) and there are a variety of international flights to the airports of Toulouse and Limoges both around 2 hours away. There is also an extensive train network and the area is relatively close to the A20 motorway. Visit the medieval town of Figeac on a Saturday Morning to experience one of France’s best markets. Start with breakfast in ‘Le Champollion’ café and brush arms with businessmen, backpackers and les couples sophistiquées! Later, visit the museum by the same name to learn a little about ‘Jean-Francois Champollion’, the man who deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphics and who was born in the city. For those seeking a more action-packed holiday, the area does not disappoint. The Massif-Central region- the largest volcanic area in Europewhich is just over an hour away, boasts over 10 ski resorts. ‘Le Lioran’ the closest and one of the most popular is frequented by locals and with 60km of runs provides a much cheaper alternative to similar resorts in the Alps. In the summer the resort is also used for down-hill biking and walking and has a large ice-skating rink and high-ropes course.

STUDENT LIFE IN STRASBOURG: AN HONEST ACCOUNT

By Chloe Woodward

La Vie Strasbourgeoise

A lot of people ask me why I chose Strasbourg. Honestly, I don’t know, other than I wanted to see a different side of France than the tourist hotspots of Paris. Strasbourg appealed largely because it’s the European capital, so ideally located (oh Germany) and from Google images, it’s a stunner.

L’UNIVERSITÉ

By Chloe Osborne

Whilst studying or teaching in the 3rd Erasmus year in the big cities and capitals of the continent can seem a dream come true, the pressure of being a foreigner in a big strange metropolis may seem at times overwhelming and stressful. These 5 easy options for out of town fun will let you escape for a weekend to revitalise. Budget options of course…

From Lisbon: Estoril- the sea, the sun, the sand, the swagger of posh totty rolling past does not mean that this beautiful seaside town isn’t without its cheaper hostels and hotels, and plenty of affordable eateries. Only 15km from Lisbon and an easy bus journey away, this will truly provide a break from the mania of inner-city life.

From Granada: Salobreña- looks to be an attractive weekend retreat from Granada, with an old historical quarter characterised by its long narrow streets and white washed houses, and 10th c. Moorish castle overlooking its wide expanse of sunny beaches. TOP TIP: The ALSA buses are cheap and take around an hour from the city.

From Paris: Chartres- Famed for its beautiful Cathedral, this French ville just over an hour’s journey out of Paris from the Gare Montparnasse may provide a welcome respite from the busy capital. The beautiful surrounding countryside and historical old town are accompanied by cheap and chic bistros and cycling and walking tours are offered in the centre. TOP TIP: Although it’s risky, enquiring when you arrive about accommodation at the local tourist office may prove the cheapest option for budget hotels and availability. (See picture to left)

From Rome: Lido di Ostia- This panoramic beach complex is connected to Rome by the RomaOstia train line which takes 37 minutes from the city centre. Stay around the ingressolibrero for free beach access, carry on down to Lido centro or visit the Lido antica for a bit more Roman ruins (if you’re not sick of them by now…). Cheap hostels and even campsites can be found back from the sea front.

From Berlin: Beelitz- Around 35km from Berlin on the Beelitz-Stadt line, this immaculate village offers a remarkable array of historical monuments and local museums, scenic hiking trails in the stunning German countryside and several budget restaurants. Tripadvisor offers extremely cheap hotel deals for a peaceful timeout from municipal Berlin.

I hated it. I had little choice over what I studied, and had to do Hamlet – I hate studying literature – and my teacher had me read the ‘To be or not to be’ speech out to the entire class… delightful. Everything will be difficult, for example finding your classes was impossible! Lessons are like school, where students write down what the teacher says and then regurgitate it in the exam.

LA GASTRONOMIE: ALSACIENNE

One of my aims for the year abroad in France was to eat some soupe à l’oignon; I managed it on my last night in touristy Paris. The French cuisine in Strasbourg is all about bigging up Alsace. La choucroute alsacienne and les tartes flambées are particular favourites. Then there’s La Cloche à Fromage – a cheese adventure all around France and back.

STRASBOURG: LE CAPITALE DE NOËL

When all Strasbourg’s trams suddenly became emblazoned with these words at the end of November, they weren’t joking. Strasbourg becomes a Christmas market for a whole five weeks – I have never felt so Christmassy. It really did become an excuse to have a cheeky glass of vin chaud (or even cidre chaud…à la cannelle!) in between exams.

L’ALLEMAGNE

Germany was 5 minutes away; I could cycle there in 20, which was so much fun if you fancied a taste of the other side, maybe some Milka Philadelphia or just cheap cosmetics! Also excellent (and cheap) for clubbing and there’s a free student bus!