DUBLIN

Dublin, Ireland is in many respects very similar to Scotland with its kind and caring locals, its old history but also very different to any other destination in the world. Dublin is jam packed with history and culture, from the historic buildings to the Guinness factory to even the famous swimming spot known as the “forty foot”.

Although like every other city, it does seem to have its flaws. The nightlife in Dublin is definitely something that you must experience, with girls in high heels and short skirts on every corner even though it is roughly 12 degrees outside. It seems they are just impervious to the cold or just mad. However, make sure not to stare because the boy toys are hot on their heels willing to fight you for any little comment or glance. The guys are rather harsh on the eyes and are very quick to the trigger if you are not from there, it seems that there is a decent amount of local ruling the roost in some parts of town.

With this being said there is a lot more to Dublin than just the nightlife. With the cobbled streets and old infrastructure, just walking around the streets of Dublin is a history tour on its own. In the middle of the city is the first and oldest ever university in the world, called Trinity College. There is more to this college than just simple education. Within the campus is a library that holds a specific book called the book of Kells. The book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript gospel book that is written in Latin. The book contains the four gospels of the New Testament together with a number of various prefatory texts and tables.

The Guinness factory is an amazing experience, I never knew before my visit  there how much goes into making Guinness compared to any other beer. The amount of time that goes into making a perfect Guinness is more than double the usual and they use only the freshest ingredients. While there you walk around looking at all the parts of the old factory and the sheer size of all the machinery is a true marvel. At the end of your journey, you can enjoy the freshest pint of Guinness you will ever taste in the sky bar that overlooks the whole of Dublin and the Guinness factory.

The only downside to visiting Dublin is how expensive it is, especially if you are traveling on student budget, a beer will set you back about 8 Euros, If you think you can go there and spend minimal cash then think again. The smaller counties around Dublin are far cheaper and just as much fun.

A must for all visiting Dublin, according to local lore, is to jump off the rock into the ocean at a famous spot known as “Forty Foot”. I visited Dublin in the middle of summer and noticed that everybody around me was wearing wet suits, but I nevertheless jumped in wearing just a pair of board shorts. I have never experienced water that cold before in my life.

While visiting Dublin wander around an area called Dalkey and possibly bump into Van Morison, members of the Edge, Bono or Enya who all have estates in the area.  

Dublin is an interesting city to visit and the locals all very friendly and willing to help you. If it is good weather you are looking for you are in the wrong place but if you just want fun while absorbing some history.  Dublin should be on your list of places to visit.

SCOTLAND

Next up on the holiday destination list is the incredibly cold and wet country of Scotland. Some may never think that Scotland would be a suitable destination to travel to as a student, but you will be in for a treat.

Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities I have visited in my life, with its mind-blowing castle on the hill overlooking the city and big park and cemetery situated in the middle of the city. There is a special atmosphere there, people are not bothered with the weather they just get on with their daily lives as happy as ever, which influences you and automatically your mood has been lifted. However, something lurks in the outer edge of Edinburgh that happens once a year where people from all over the world congregate. T In the Park.

T In the Park is a music festival that takes place on the outskirts of Edinburgh where some of the greatest and strangest people go to from all around the world. There is an incredible vibe at the festival, but with close to two hundred thousand people that is to be expected.

In Cape Town we only have the chance to see a very small number of big foreign acts coming to our city maybe once a year, but at this music festival you will see some of the biggest names in music today over a 3 day period. The live acts get better and better and so does the venue. You may encounter some of the famous Scottish weather as I did when I was there but don’t let that get your spirits down. All you need to do is glance to your left and right and see the amount of fun that people are having around you, also just think about where you are and what you are doing and suddenly the mood changes.

Just make sure to keep your eyes on the crowds, when you begin to gaze into the corners of the venue you may wish you never did. Some of the Scottish females that decide to go to the bathroom in the open may be one of the most disturbing sights I have seen in a long time. Not because they are using the walls as the bathroom but because they are not even attempting to cover up, they just stand to the side, drop their trousers and do their business. It really is not a welcome sight.  

It is not a cheap event to attend (R3000.00 for the cheapest entry ticket, where you bring your own tents) but it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to be surrounded by such big acts and so many people all in the same mind set as you, all there just to have fun and enjoy the music. The concert is incredibly well organized and you will find everything you need even stations where you are able to charge your phones at a small fee.

Scotland has a breathtaking countryside and more history than you could ever expect. There is so much to do within the city that you are spoilt for choice. From all the pubs and historic buildings to modern day shopping that rivals the best in the world.

I would recommend Scotland to everyone and anyone because it is not what people would expect of it. It is a hidden gem in a cold and gloomy place. There are many places to visit but this is one to add to the list. Now go, book your tickets and enjoy your trip.    

AMSTERDAM

Now where do I begin to explain what there is to expect and do while you are visiting Amsterdam. Obviously, you all have heard about the “red light district” and all of the “coffee shops” where people bear witness to the unfamiliar legal world of prostitution and Marijuana smoking. This is going to be a little different; instead of telling you to go there and get loose, I will try to send you on a different path that will change your original stereotypical views on Amsterdam. You will see this beautiful town for what is really is.

Amsterdam has more to offer than some might first think, it is filled with history, whether its in the canals or the leaning structures in the older districts around Amsterdam, there is more history and culture than you think.

Amsterdam is filled with galleries, cathedrals beautiful flower markets, especially the tulips, canals (Amsterdam is known s the Venice of the North), gorgeous houseboats, there is even a houseboat for stray cats and some of the most interesting history in the world. People our age often go to Amsterdam for one reason and one reason alone, to get drunk and partake in some of the legal but illegal acts that Amsterdam has to offer. Also to ad to the list the shopping within the city is some of the best in the world and actually surprisingly reasonably priced.

There are some things you must do while there like taking a canal boat ride through the canals of Amsterdam. This is a beautiful and interesting trip to do because the boat conductor will explain all the history that is around Amsterdam and one of the best parts about the boat ticket, is that its hop on hop off so you can come and go as you please. While on the boat ride you have many options of places to go, I would recommend the van Gogh museum to anyone and everyone. Another museum not to be missed is the Rijksmuseum where you can see Rembrandt’s famous Nachtwacht (Nightwatch). There is even a museum at Schiphol Airport. While on the canal tour you can hop off at the Anne Frank house where she and her family hid away in an attic for the duration of the Second World War to avoid deportation to German concentration camps. Feel you have had enough of culture then visit Heineken Brewery for the “Heineken Experience” where you will be taken on a tour through the brewery all the while tasting the most delicious and fresh beer than you have enjoyed in your entire life. Finally the Amsterdam Park, Vondelpark it’s a great place to wander around for the day when the hub of the city becomes too much and on a nice day there really is nothing better to do in Amsterdam than that.

Above all of its beauty it still is a crazy place to go on holiday and because its Europe it is expensive. You will pay top money to have a good night out and to have a good sleep but it is worth it. The supermarkets there offer incredible deals on food and drinks so that is always an option when deciding where to eat.

Amsterdam is a city everyone must visit when traveling Europe. It has history in every stone and possibly more attraction to teenagers than any other place in the world and with good reason. If you get the opportunity, use it and enjoy – just watch out for the bicycles!    

London

There are many popular travel destinations in the world when you are a student, but the most popular is London. There is a pull to London, with its big city life, better shopping, better partying and a completely different environment to that which we have here in South Africa.

I was recently in London and I have to say, I can truly understand the attraction to London that people have. There is something for you to do everyday. You can go see the sites that you are surrounded by day in day out, shop until your bank card starts to weep from overuse in your pocket and after that you can wet your lips and appetite at some of the best Pubs, Restaurants and clubs that the world has to offer.

The only one problem being there as a student is probably the shopping, eating, drinking and almost everything else you can think of. You see so much incredible technology, clothes, art, it just seems that everything there is better, but you can’t afford it all which takes a toll because you want to buy everything but you just can’t do it.

If you can let go of the money issue then you are in for a great time. The clubs there are from a completely different class than the ones we are used to around town, but if your are spending R90 odd rand on a beer you would expect it to be nothing less than exceptional.

One of the best parts about traveling around London is the public transport. All you need to do is buy an oyster card and traveling around is easy. You can use this card for the buses and the trains. Trains and buses are running all the time so there is no need to take taxi’s around town, but try to avoid using taxi’s because they charge you an arm and a leg for a 5 minute journey.

There is however more to London than just partying and shopping, there are some of the most amazing sights you can see all around the world. I would recommend a few spots to anyone that is visiting London. If horror movies and the thrill of being scared is your thing then London Dungeons is for you, there may be a big queue but I can promise you it’s worth it, it takes just over 2 hours but what an exciting 2 hours that will be for you.

Second recommendation would have to be St Paul’s Cathedral because of it’s history and sheer beauty. There is a spot there called the whispering hall where you stand on the second floor and if you whisper into one side of the wall then someone on the other side of the building will hear you, you have to see it to believe it.

And then of course there are the other common spots to go visit, like the London Eye, Tower Bridge, London Tower, Camden, Brighton, Big Ben and of course Buckingham Palace.     

   

London is a great place to visit, it truly has something for everyone but don’t forget to take your rain jacket because it seems to rain all the time in London no matter the season.