How To Have An Unforgettable European Vacation Experience

During the summer of 1980 I was finishing my USand the Austrian Alps are probably still there.
military enlistment in the southwestern Eifel region ofA natural train crossroads lies in Zurich Switzerland. I
Germany. I was stationed there for two years. And Ipassed through Zurich half a dozen times, maybe. I
saw quite a lot of Europe during that time. But I wantedmet a beautiful German girl in the hostel there in Zurich.
a very special European vacation before comingWe traveled together for about a week. But that's
home.another story...
It's a European getaway you should seriously considerThere was a Clint Eastwood movie made in the 70's
doing!called The Eiger Sanction. It was named after the
It's the kind of vacation that's off the beaten path. You'llEiger Mountain in the Swiss Alps. The Eiger is a very
see things most people will never see in their lives.serious mountain.
You'll have unforgettable, life-enriching experiences.I went there for several days. And there's a small
I bought a Eurail pass, sold my car, grabbed mytown close to the Eiger. But the whole experience
backpack and headed-out for adventures unknown.was incredible!
Oh...a Eurail pass allows you to travel by trainEverything about the Swiss Alps and high country can
throughout Europe. You pay one price and that's yourbe described with words ending in "est." The bluest
ticket! And you can get them for several weeks up toskies...the greenest grass...absolutely the freshest air I
three months of travel.have ever had the privilege to experience.
I crisscrossed my way across Europe...staying in youthThe train passed along valleys, and I'll never forget
hostels, and experienced a dozen countries. Youthlooking down and seeing clouds! But we're talking
hostels aren't only for 'youths.' I saw people of all agesSwiss engineering here. So the train was solid and
in hostels.quite safe. Not scary at all. Just unbelievably impressive
Here's how hostels work...scenery.
First...they're dirt cheap! But every hostel I stayed inI camped out with a very close view of the Eiger. I'm
was clean and the owners polite. They're closed duringnot sure how far I was. Maybe a mile, or so. But I sat
'normal' business hours. So you have to be out beforethere in the opening of my tent...eating something. And I
about 9 AM. They open again in the late afternoon.couldn't take my eyes off that mountain. I had some
You'll discover a nice community atmosphere to them.feeling of being in the presence of something greater.
And I met some really cool people in hostels.I spent a lot of time traveling in all the Scandinavian
One of my favorite places was the small Bavariancountries.
town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It's in the GermanI'll never forget the midnight sun in Finland. The crazy
Alps close to the German-Austrian border. Garmisch isguys in Oulu Finland desperately searching for Finnish
truly a picture postcard town.moonshine. Or the parade of old American cars on a
I walked around in amazement at its utter quaintness.Saturday night far up north above the Arctic Circle in
And I loved going to the coffee shops for breakfast. ANarvik Norway. I swear...it was like a scene out of
café au lait and fresh apple strudel like you'veAmerican Graffiti.
never tasted anywhere! Of course...being 22 at theI could write forever...
time, I was content to sit by the window watching theTreat yourself and your family! Make your next
local frauleins pass by.European vacation something like this and your life will
During the summer you can hike up the Zugspitzebe that much richer.
mountain. The most beautiful views of the valley below