Hello! I'm Elizabeth Krutchen, a second-year Civil & Environmental Engineering student on exchange at University College Dublin for the Spring '25 semester. I recently shared in another post about how I've been managing travel, a full STEM course load, acclimating to my new home, and making new friends. Over time, these puzzle pieces have fallen into place as the semester progresses. And now it's almost finished! It has flown by, but I am satisfied with everything I have packed into this experience.
The highlight of my time here is the two-week train trip I took through Central Europe over Spring Break. This trip holds a special place in my heart because I retraced my mother's steps from her experience of studying abroad. It was sweet to share pictures and videos with her or FaceTime her at some of her favorite spots.
The trip was part homage to my mom but also a chance for me to learn more about myself in these beautiful places.
Here is the breakdown of where I went:
Prague, Czechia…2 nights
Vienna, Austria…1 night
Salzburg, Austria…2 nights
Innsbruck, Austria…1 night
Grindewald, Switzerland…2 nights
Baden, Switzerland…3 nights
Munich, Germany…2 nights
Heidelberg, Germany…2 nights
I could go on and on about everything I did, but I will focus on the memories from my favorite cities.
I loved, loved, loved Prague. It was the first city I had visited that was consistently old and historic through every square inch. My friend and I stayed occupied for hours by just wandering the streets and admiring the colorful houses, unique artisan shops (like marionettes!), and beautiful architecture. If you ever travel to Prague, try their famous chimney cakes. It's a hollow, cylindrical sweet bread baked over a rotating spit and covered with sugar and cinnamon. I recommend eating it with Nutella and strawberries!
Oh, how I miss Salzburg. The old town is quaint, with beautiful bridges, churches upon churches, and a great view of the Alps. Plus, this is the town where the Sound of Music was filmed and based in! My friend and I went on the official Sound of Music tour and saw all the filming locations, hills, and lakes while listening to the movie soundtrack. My favorite memory is when I woke up early to climb the cliffside to watch the sunrise over the mountains. The sun popped out over the mountain right at 7am, and all the church bells started ringing in harmony.
Baden was a nice break halfway through our trip. My friend has family there, and we were able to stay with them. It's a quaint little town with vineyards, a rich blue river, and beautiful walks through nature. I loved listening to the family's stories and stepping into their shoes to experience the city. It is so valuable to speak with locals and try seeing a city from their perspective.
I am so glad that we finished our trip in Heidelberg. The old town is so magical and sweet–I could walk up and down those streets for days. It's a small town, so there are no big and flashy tourist attractions, which I love. We spent our days very simply: taking a long walk on the hillsides and through the town, eating our picnic lunch, then sitting by the river in a bed of daffodils to read and nap. And I can't forget to mention the 2 euro gelato.
I am grateful for every second I spent on this trip and the lessons I learned about these countries and myself. If you're visiting Europe or studying abroad there, I recommend taking your own rail trip!
Elizabeth Krutchen
Spring 2025
GW Exchange - University College Dublin
School of Engineering & Applied Sciences
Civil Engineering Major