Europe
History, architecture, quality of life and traditional sightseeing
From the World War II to united Europe
I was born and raised in Europe, therefore my perception of The Old Continent is different than to others, which I visited later. It is amazing to observe the evolution of Europe since my birth in 1972. The Iron Curtain, established after the World War II, divided the Western capitalist nations from the Eastern socialist-communist states, creating significant contrasts in less than 50 years. This division persisted until the early 1990s with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the beginning of mayor changes.
Although I travelled with my parents to several neighboring countries in the 1980s, most of my memories are tied to exploring Europe during a new era, marked by the beginning of the unification process. Several countries dismantled (Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and Soviet Union), while others, like East and West Germany, reunited. Slovenia became a full member of European Union in 2004, which has considerably facilitated my travels within EU and wider.
Changes that enabled easier travelling
In the early 1990s, I was required to obtain a visa to visit particular European countries with my Slovene passport. Since 2007, I have been granted the same rights as other citizens of European Union countries within the Schengen zone. This allows me not only to travel but also to reside, work, and utilize local benefits in any of the Schengen member states.
The other major changes in this period are also a unified currency – Euro and increasing prevalence of English to communicate. Whereas in the late 1980s, when going to Austria or Germany I was forced to communicate in German, 20 years later most of the population (particularly the youth) was fluent in English. The process of exchanging currency, while crossing the borders of European countries also became obsolete, since Euro was implemented as a common currency in 1999, with more countries joining Euro Zone later.
On my first solo trip in Europe, I hitchhiked all the way to Amsterdam, visiting Milan and Paris on the way.
In the 1990s a train ticket that allows you to travel on almost all trains in Europe – Interrail – gained popularity. When low cost airlines took over the sky, extremely affordable flights became available to reach almost to any place in Europe for less than 100 US$. In certain cities today, the transport from the airport to the center exceeds the price of flying in from other parts of Europe.
Europe is about landmarks and sightseeing
While my travelling in Africa was marked by adventure, those in Asia were inexpensive and relatively easy organized. In the America, I encountered numerous archeological remains of pre-Columbian civilizations, in Oceania I admired a laid-back life.
In contrast, in Europe my focus was more about sightseeing. I have also perceived much less connection with people, compared to my experience in other regions.
This is particularly noticeable in the photographs that I took during my travels in Europe, where my main subjects often include prominent landmarks, churches, museums, historical old towns, markets and natural gems.
I visited the last European country, Belarus, in 2024. There are still many areas which I want to explore when the opportunity arises and my bank account allows it.
Countries visited
