I had always dreamed of traveling to Europe, and when the opportunity finally came, I was determined to make the most of it. I planned a trip to the Netherlands and Paris, and I was beyond excited.
However, things didn’t go exactly as planned.
It was during our school’s Global Day celebration when my flight to the Netherlands was scheduled. However, due to a delay in my journey to the airport, I ended up missing my flight. I couldn’t explain the emotions I felt at that moment—sadness, regret, frustration, and even questioning if this trip was meant for me.
But I decided, since I was already at the airport, why not give it another try?
I immediately searched for available flights on the same day, and fortunately, I found one within my budget. However, this change in plans led to a series of adjustments.
To make the long story short, I arrived in the Netherlands on Valentine’s Day, February 14th. The feeling of Valentine’s Day was already evident at the airport, with vendors selling tulips, various flowers, and Valentine’s balloons.
During this trip, I was hosted by a kind-hearted Dutch person named Martijn through Couchsurfing. Martijn was incredibly accommodating and flexible with guests from around the world.
Before meeting him, I explored the city on a half-day tour, meeting some Filipinos along the way who kindly agreed to take pictures with me. I still have a souvenir photo of one of them, a reminder of the warmth and friendliness I encountered.
Afterwards, I met up with Martijn at his office in Amstelveen, just south of Amsterdam, where I left my backpack. We went for a short hike, and he even taught me some salsa dance moves in a public space—a first for me!
Later, I continued exploring the city alone, visiting landmarks like the Van Gogh Museum, RijksMuseum, Jordaan, and even passing by the Red Light District. However, my adventure wasn’t without its challenges, as I struggled with the cold weather and ended up purchasing flat boots to combat the winter chill.
Despite the mishaps, I enjoyed every moment, appreciating the beauty of the Netherlands. The next day, I embarked on a train journey to Paris, eager to fulfill my childhood dream of seeing the Eiffel Tower. Upon arrival at Paris Gare du Nord, I navigated through the city with offline maps and the help of friendly strangers.
I visited iconic landmarks like the Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Seine River, Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower, even getting lost on the way to my host’s accommodation.
Thankfully, kind strangers at a resto bar offered me assistance and even provided me with a free drink and pleasant conversation.
Eventually, I found my host’s accommodation and enjoyed exploring Paris with her. However, my journey took another unexpected turn when I struggled to find a cab to Charles de Gaulle Airport the next day, causing me to miss my flight once again. Despite these challenges, I never regretted doing this trip.
I learned valuable lessons from my experiences. I realized that sometimes things don’t go as planned, but it’s important to keep going and make the best of the situation.
I also learned to be more careful and double-check everything to avoid missing flights in the future. Each mishap and unexpected experience taught me valuable lessons and made me a wiser and braver traveler.
Instead of regret, I embrace those mishaps as integral parts of my journey, contributing to personal growth, resilience, adaptability, confidence, and unforgettable adventures.
Though I hope you won’t encounter the same challenges I did—losing flights not once, but twice—I hope my experiences inspire and enrich your own travel adventures.
In the end, my trip to Europe was an unforgettable experience. I made new friends, tried new foods, and saw beautiful sights. I may have missed a few flights, but I gained so much more.
I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!
Follow more travel adventures on my YouTube channel!
Oh and here are some promo codes from Klook that you can use on your next travel!
- Get 15% Off on private transfers in Netherlands: SK24AMS
- Get 15% Off on private transfers in France SK24CDG
