I did the majority of my travelling before my exchange actually started. I left New Zealand on the 19^th of July (nearly two months before I had to be in St. Andrews). My first stop was Germany, my whole family lives there so I stayed with them. The other places I visited were Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, a few places in England (Sheffield, York, The Moors, Manchester, Leeds, and more) and I did a road trip in Scotland from Glasgow to the Isle of Skye.

Amsterdam (24^th – 28^th July)

Everyone in Amsterdam rides bikes and they will run you over if you don’t move. I nearly got run over by bikes, mopeds and cars more times than I can count.

If Amsterdam isn’t on your bucket list already I would definitely recommend to add it. I spent three days in this lovely city and instantly fell in love. Also you can find all the places from The Fault in our Stars and pretend you’re part of the movie.

My top 5 places/things to see:

1. Jordaan Area
2. Moco Museum (Bansky exhibition)
3. De Wallen/The red light district
4. Rijksmuseum
5. The streets – just walk around

Berlin (30^th July – 2^nd August)

Berlin is huge and there is so much to see and do, luckily I had my uncle acting as my local tour guide. I went to all the tourist attractions but also got to see how the locals live. I only had two days in Berlin and will have to go back one day to see the rest of this bustling city.

I went to the East Side Gallery on my last day, this wall was so cool. There were so many different styles and pieces of art on display and I could have spent a lot longer here but sadly I did not have time as I had to catch my flight.

My top 5 places/things to see:

1. Brandenburg Gate
2. Jewish Memorial
3. East side Gallery
4. Museums Insel
5. Reichstag Building

Vienna (6^th – 8^th August)

Vienna is a city full of gorgeous buildings ranging from the opera to palaces. My personal favourite was the Austrian National Library, I felt like Belle in Beauty and the Beast and was ready to start belting out some tunes.

Both Schloss Schönbrunn and Belvedere were so gorgeous and it felt so surreal to find these beautiful buildings in a city. If you want to feel like a princess or step back into the past I would highly recommend this wonderful historic city.

My top 5 places/things to see:

1. Austrian National Library
2. Belvedere
3. Schönbrunn Palace
4. Prater and the Ferris Wheel
5. The Hofburg and the surrounding area

Scotland (20^th – 28^th August)

I road tripped around Scotland and visited so many stunning places. I would recommend packing a raincoat and some sturdy shoes if you want to do some walking. As I visited so many gorgeous places I am just going to compile a list of my top 5.

Portree, Isle of Skye

This town is the biggest town in Skye and it is adorable. The colourful houses are one of a kind and you can easily wander around the streets.

The Fairy Glen, Isle of Skye

I was ready to watch fairies dance and run away into the green hills. This glen was wrapped in magic and it was beautiful despite the rain.

Glenfinnian Viaduct/Fort William

If you love Harry Potter you have to go here. You can see the Hogwarts express (or even ride it).

Eilean Donan Castle

There are so many beautiful castles all over Scotland and I love every single one of them. This castle may be one of the most picturesque. The inside isn’t that spectacular but the outside of the castle and its surroundings are stunning.

The Fairy Pools

These are off the beaten track and very overcrowded by tourists but they are worth the drive and walk. I even had a sip from the pools but sadly I did not wake up with any magical abilities.

 

Edinburgh (7^th – 8^th September and 26^th – 27^th October)

This was my second visit to this town and I loved it just as much the second time. This city is stunning and I adore it. The cobblestoned streets carry you back in time and you can walk around all day and not get bored.

If you have any questions about the exchange as a whole feel free to email me; my email is hfre260@aucklanduni.ac.nz.

I can’t wait for my next blog post!