A SUMMER JOURNEY

My Holiday in FRANCE, GERMANY and SWITZERLAND

By Despina Papathemelis

Everybody goes on holiday at least once a year. This summer I had the opportunity to visit three astounding and stupefying countries : Germany, France and Switzerland.

I had been to Germany before, prior to this trip. Besides, this is the country I was born in. My brother, Thomas, is a medical student at the university in a German town called Freiburg. This was the motive for my family and I to revisit these places and get in touch with another civilisation.

Freiburg is a modern town with many parks, museums and a magnificent old Cathedral, as well as a very good educational system. There is a very good university in this town which examines students in many branches of advanced learning. In front of the philosophical school there are two statues. One of them is in honour of Homer and the other one is dedicated to Aristotelis. They both are two great ancient Greek personages whose wisdom is a monument to our history.

Not far from this city is "Europark". This is something like Disneyland. It is an open area especially devoted to children. Even adults become kids again when they go there. You can have fun and enjoy an entertaining day at "Europark". Another region that is really beautiful is Alsace in France. It has got some really picturesque villages and some choice old houses.

I went to Switzerland, too. This country had got wild life and mountain chains unique to Europe. The Matterhorn is a mountain which is both magnificent and breath-taking. The view from there is fantastic. I have never seen anything to equal it in my whole life. On the other hand, the Rhine waterfalls are also a tremendous spectacle. Another sight I visited in Switzerland was the Mainau Park. This is a vast extent of land on an island in the lake of Bodensee, with many trees and flowers.

Now that I am back in my own country I feel a bit nostalgic for it, but my father has promised to take me there again in two years time. Anyway, I advocate this trip round Europe to you, because it is unique.