I'm On The Road Again...

YOU always remember when you start a great love affair.
Mine started in Paris in late May 2005. We were waiting on Paris' Boulevard de Rochechouart when we first exchanged glances. It was pretty much love at first sight: I, the young, slightly naive first-time European traveller; her, a 51-seater coach with "Busabout" written in bright orange down the side that we soon called "Big Blue".
Our love affair grew over the next two months as we travelled around Europe together, leaving France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Italy and Spain in our wake. When it was time to finally say goodbye back in Paris in July, I promised myself this wouldn't be the end.
As things turned out, it was only the end of the beginning. I've been lucky enough to spend the last four years working as an on-board guide with Busabout, and despite flirtations with other coaches, boats and ferries, it's always been Big Blue I've come back to.
Now though, it's time to finally say goodbye. While I'm not back as a guide, my role this year is probably the next best thing: alighting at each stop, blogging (written and video) about my experiences, and hopefully giving all you out there the motivation and/or inspiration to come on over and experience Europe for yourselves!
As such I'll be travelling all three Busabout Loops between May and July. To say I'm excited barely begins to hint at it: a chance to combine writing and travel, catching up with old friends around the continent, and showing at least one of my brothers around Berlin! In the lead-up I'll be blogging about my trip preparations before going a bit more frequently once on the road; I'll also try and take you guys a little behind the scenes and introduce some of our awesome guides and drivers, and maybe even explain just why we do certain things certain ways.
Either way it promises to be quite the adventure - hope you guys enjoy the ride!