We are back on track with the twelfth edition!
Do the Balkans have Eco Anxiety? The Azure team found out Azure Route Interviews on the road, EoT12 As we have just passed the halfway point of our route, there’s no better time to look back to more than a dozen interviews collected so far and connect the dots across 5 countries, with interviewees representing 11 cities! Even though I… Read more → The post EoT12 Azure Interview first appeared on Europe on Track.
Do the Balkans have Eco Anxiety? The Azure team found out Azure Route Interviews on the road, EoT12 As we have just passed the halfway point of our route, there’s no better time to look back to more than a dozen interviews collected so far and connect the dots across 5 countries, with interviewees representing 11 cities! Even though I have found people to be quite reserved and not especially interested in talking, particularly in front of the camera, they always have a sense of the topic, and ideas of what they would like to improve in their lives and communities. The interviews form the backbone of this story. The details come from the cultural context, kindly provided by the locals of each place, the ones hosting us or we meet at our workshops and the ones we have met randomly in shops and cafes. As a first, general observation, every single person I have interviewed, or even just chatted with, thinks they are a typical representation of people in their community. Even individuals from the same community (AEGEE Delft members as one example) with diametrically opposing views, are confident in their ordinariness. Many have attributed their lack of eco anxiety to having no power and so, why worry to begin with? Others attribute their eco anxiety to precisely that same feeling of powerlessness. But as diverse as our cast of interviewees has been, so have their thoughts, opinions and emotions. <img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-5554" src="http://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123748_Drive-320x434.jpg" alt="" width="320" height="434" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123748_Drive-320x434.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123748_Drive-960x1303.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123748_Drive-768x1042.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123748_Drive.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" /> Nevertheless, there have been several motifs that kept being repeated in different contexts and across different issues. All interviewees agreed that climate change is a worrying phenomenon worth acting on, and showed empathy towards those experiencing eco anxiety. They have all agreed that climate action should be a collective responsibility that goes beyond the abilities of the individual, while expecting nationally and internationally coordinated action. “Changing my consumption has basically no impact on the global phenomena we are seeing” one went as far as saying, when asked why they have not modified their behaviour to be more climate friendly, before adding, “If the EU or the UN actually enforced some changes, I would follow them”. When it comes to eco anxiety as such, people that experience it are, understandably, more eager to talk. What is interesting, however, is how when I ask about the meaning of eco anxiety and the emotions and behaviours surrounding it, interviewees are quick to respond with the climate problems in their geographical area. From traffic and air pollution to lack of green and poor public transport, to name a few, for many eco anxiety seems to be completely synonymous and interchangeable with climate change. To drive the point home, the most common emotion is powerlessness, closely followed by anger and fear. Hope comes dead last. <img decoding="async" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5555" src="http://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122430_Photos-320x210.jpg" alt="" width="320" height="210" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122430_Photos-320x210.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122430_Photos-960x629.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122430_Photos-768x503.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122430_Photos-1536x1006.jpg 1536w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122430_Photos.jpg 1649w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" /> In one instance, when asked whether they are experiencing eco anxiety, an interviewee responded with “no, because I drive a petrol car”. Multiple people have also (informally) cited liking meat too much as an explanation for their lack of eco anxiety. The most common explanation for not having eco anxiety, by a large margin, is that it is simply not part of their every-day reality and therefore, not something they think about often. In all cases, the same interviewees went on to describe concern over the climate, and independently shared pro-climate actions they are taking in their daily lives, such as recycling, taking public transport, or limiting their waste. For almost everyone, eco anxiety can be a good thing in moderation, insofar it helps mobilise action, but can be a negative if it is paralysing. Others could not even see the point of having eco anxiety in the first place, as there is little difference an individual can make in the grand scheme of things, however they too would comply with centralised, institutional changes like green transport. Now on to the differences! Among those that have reported climate anxiety, there is a very clear North – South divide. In Turkey, the Balkans, and even Hungary, climate change felt personal and so did eco anxiety. In Ankara in particular, workshop participants readily shared stories of how climate change has affected themselves and their loved ones. When asked what message they would like to convey through this interview, one person urged his neighbours and fellow townfolk to protect their agriculture and seas, as a key necessity for economic growth. Climate change was directly threatening their prosperity and their anxiety reflected that. On the flip side, with Dutch interviewees, it felt all more philosophical. They all spoke empathetically about the planet, animal and human suffering, but some described their worry as something directed to far and distant lands. Home, in fact, felt safe, despite it being a prime target for land reclamation (by the ocean). As a theoretical prospect, they find this worrisome. In practice, however, everyone I asked pointed to the proactive approach the Netherlands has adopted towards water management and disaster prevention. The same sentiment was echoed by foreigners residing in the Netherlands, citing proactivity as what they would like their home countries to adopt. <img decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-5556" src="http://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122531_Photos-320x181.jpg" alt="" width="320" height="181" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122531_Photos-320x181.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122531_Photos-960x544.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122531_Photos-768x435.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122531_Photos-1536x870.jpg 1536w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122531_Photos.jpg 1906w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" /> The barrier to being more proactive as an individual has also been significantly varied, with no apparent geographical or gender patterns. When asked which of their behaviours they would like to change, responses ranged from using the public transport more (in Ankara, where public transport is notoriously inconvenient), to eating less meat, buying fewer products with plastic packaging, using AI less, traveling more by train instead of plane, and getting organised within their community. When asked why they have not implemented this change already, the most common answer has been cost. Indeed, to use someone’s exact words, “doing the bad thing (i.e. the wasteful / polluting thing) is easy (i.e. cheap), doing the good thing is very very very very very hard”. Other common reasons are not knowing where to start or how to get connected with those already doing whatever it is this person wants to do, or simply not feeling the urgency to do so. To close with a hopeful note, all participants agreed that building communities and organising action is the strongest antidote to both eco anxiety and climate change! City after city, message after message was to find the people that care, get organised, and do something, anything at all. Some talked about planting trees with mates, volunteering or activism. There were some that had already found out even created their communities. For those, climate change was a huge concern and they were the ones that were most knowledgeable about eco anxiety. Interestingly, however, these individuals reported feeling hopeful and content with what they are already doing. So indeed, during our interview with Ismir Smajić, an expert in biodiversity and sustainable development from Sarajevo, gave us advice that seemed to translate across the continent: “The most important thing young people can do to combat eco-anxiety is to get involved, do projects, gain knowledge and build their communities. Learn from eachother, create networks and collaborate on creating solutions.” <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5557" src="http://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123942_Drive-320x209.jpg" alt="" width="320" height="209" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123942_Drive-320x209.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123942_Drive-960x627.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123942_Drive-768x501.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123942_Drive-1536x1003.jpg 1536w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123942_Drive.jpg 1654w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" /> As a final message to decision-makers, whenever I asked someone what they would like to see in their city or country, the answer was always that they wish that their local governments would support and encourage grassroots initiatives with funds and resources. So, no need to reinvent the wheel, just find the people that are already doing cool things locally. And to close with a message sent by Elif from Ankara: “I know sometimes it’s really hard to take the responsibility to do your part, but this is our world and we should care more, we should do as much as we can do.” Written by: Phaedon Angelopoulos a member of the Azure Team of Europe on Track 12 Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post EoT12 Azure Interview first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one where we experienced ‘La Dolce Vita’ Lilac Route in Bergamo, 14/06 – 17/06 Salve from Bergamooo! For the first time in our Europe on Track lives, we had a surprisingly short and simple travel day from Torino to Bergamo. At Bergamo train station, we were met by Iman from AEGEE-Bergamo, who kindly took us to a nearby restaurant… Read more → The post Lilac Team – Bergamo first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one where we experienced ‘La Dolce Vita’ Lilac Route in Bergamo, 14/06 - 17/06 Salve from Bergamooo! For the first time in our Europe on Track lives, we had a surprisingly short and simple travel day from Torino to Bergamo. At Bergamo train station, we were met by Iman from AEGEE-Bergamo, who kindly took us to a nearby restaurant for lunch. After my two course meal that included both truffle pasta and tiramisu, I was fully ready to embrace la dolce vita. In the afternoon, while Dimitris went on a journey in the hopes of replacing his ripped shoes, Ewa was spending time with friends, and I embraced la dolce vita by chilling in our air conditioned accommodation. Later in the evening, I met Elena, a member of the Europe on Track project team and resident of a town not so far from Bergamo. Over ice cream, we had the chance to catch up. It was cool to chat with Elena and compare our Europe on Track experiences, especially considering that she had been an ambassador last year on the 11th edition of the project. Soon after, we went to an AEGEE-Bergamo event – a pizza party and outdoor movie screening of ‘Luca’. Having not seen a television screen for nearly 4 weeks (except for that one episode of Polish Love is Blind…), I was very happy to sit back, relax and enjoy. Not to mention, ‘Luca’ is a very cute movie highlighting the relationship between people, the environment and education. It may be an animated movie, but its core message was nonetheless relevant to our journey. So while Ewa was still hanging with some friends, and I was having the perfect cosy evening, Dimitris was having quite the opposite… With a dead phone, no sign of public transport and a rumbling stomach – it was a miracle when Elena finally found Dimitris roaming the streets of Bergamo. Let’s just say we were all glad to go home that night. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-1-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5538" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-1-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-1-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-1-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /> The next morning, feeling rejuvenated and, in Dimitris’ case, feeling blessed, we headed to the city hall for a visit that Iman and Davide (also from AEGEE-Bergamo) had planned for us. At the city hall we met Romina Russo, the President of Bergamo City Council, and Oriana Ruzzini, the Councillor of Ecological Transition, the Environment, and Greenery in Bergamo. They told us about the general functioning of Bergamo municipality and also mentioned the environmental action plans that are in place in the city. It was interesting that they highlighted the steps being taken towards climate neutrality whilst also acknowledging the expansion of Milan-Bergamo airport. Indeed, this point emphasises how economic expansion and sustainability are often in competition with one another. Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t the first time we encountered this sort of competition on our journey. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-2-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5539" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-2-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-2-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-2-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> After the insightful city hall tour, we were ready for even more history. And so, we met with staff from YepTalks; a social enterprise that works on the preservation of cultural heritage. They took us on a tour of the lower part of the city and we discovered many fun facts. Mainly, we learned that the city has a number of manmade canals, most of which are hidden underground nowadays. After thoroughly filling our minds with knowledge of Bergamo, it was time to thoroughly fill our stomachs with traditional foods and unlimited salads at Da Giuliana. This lunch spot was a real vibe with random trinkets and plants dispersed throughout the restaurant. It was definitely inspiring to see how green spaces can also be brought into lunch spaces; giving us both food and food for thought! In the afternoon, we headed to YepTalks offices where we gave our workshop, Storytelling: From fear to collective imagination. There was even a special guest attending our workshop, a little dog who was very enthusiastic to participate. Aside from the dog, our actual workshop participants had varying levels of knowledge about climate change. Though it really wasn’t necessary to know much about climate to be able to participate in this workshop, it made for some interesting discussions, as participants not only shared their stories but helped to educate one another. Since this workshop also involves envisioning the world 35 years from now, we had many conversations about the extent to which climate change is natural and the extent to which it is exacerbated by humans. Honestly, I was surprised that this debate hadn’t been raised before in the other cities we had visited. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-3-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5540" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-3-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-3-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-3-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-3.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> After the workshop and some strolling, we went to a dinner which had been organised by AEGEE-Bergamo. There were around twenty people at the dinner, mostly AEGEE-Bergamo members or study abroad students based in the city. And though the lilac route was, for the most part, joint at the hip, I made the very brave decision to sit with other people at the dinner to make the most out of this large gathering. So while Dimitris and Ewa sat on one end of the table, I sat on the other end, beside Daniele and Alberto. Over various rice and polenta dishes we laughed a lot, enjoying talking about things as unrelated as the Italian language and yogurt advertisements. Since this was one of, if not the, biggest AEGEE local we had visited, it was fun to be able to chat with more people than usual. The next morning we had some precious free time and while Dimitris decided to explore elsewhere in Lombardy (say hello to Lake Como), Ewa and I headed to a café to do some work for our jobs and degrees outside of Europe on Track. Very kindly, the café staff gifted us two free croissants. Obviously, our day was made. Also on that morning, we moved to a different accommodation located in città alta (the upper part of the city) and it certainly did not disappoint. Having been told we would stay in a seminary for priests, we weren’t sure what to expect, but we were blown away by the accommodation and the views. Even the staff were very kind when met with our broken Italian. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-4-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5541" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-4-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-4-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-4-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-4.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> In the afternoon, we met Davide and some others from AEGEE-Bergamo for a tour of città alta where we explored Piazza Vecchia and its many beautiful churches and the library. We also had the chance to stop for some ice cream at the original home of stracciatella. Safe to say, it was the best stracciatella we had ever tasted. While eating ice cream, some goats casually walked past us, and, like all tourists, we took many photos of the goats. But aside from the goats, we also spoke with the AEGEE locals about the general goals of AEGEE and how the organisation coordinates itself across borders. The locals also mentioned how AEGEE sometimes struggles to survive when faced with other pan-European student organisations; such as the Erasmus Student Network (ESN). I suppose the important thing to remember in these cases is that we are all working towards the same goal – a more interconnected and diverse European society. Having not known much about AEGEE before this project, we were learning more and more every day. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-5-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5542" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-5-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-5-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-5-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-5.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> On Wednesday morning, while waiting at the train station, Davide came to say goodbye. Thanking him for facilitating our time in Bergamo, he also had a small gift for us – a photo of us all together, and a little piece of shamrock. At home in Ireland, shamrock is a sign of good fortune and so, we were happy to take this little piece of good fortune with us on the journey ahead. Written by: Sheenagh Rowland (and the Lilac team) Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post Lilac Team – Bergamo first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one where we stole a duck Azure Route in Groningen, 12/06 – 14/06 Moi eem from our second dutch city, Groningen! Rain as soon as we arrived? Yes. I still refuse to get a rain coat, because at this point it feels like admitting defeat. But we were also greeted on the platform by the lovely Joris! He informed… Read more → The post Azure Team – Groningen first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one where we stole a duck Azure Route in Groningen, 12/06 - 14/06 Moi eem from our second dutch city, Groningen! Rain as soon as we arrived? Yes. I still refuse to get a rain coat, because at this point it feels like admitting defeat. But we were also greeted on the platform by the lovely Joris! He informed us that we would be renting bikes. As people not entirely accustomed to Dutch cycling culture, the first few metres were admittedly a little wobbly. After surviving those initial moments without crashing into each other or a canal, we felt confident enough to adopt bicycles as our primary mode of transportation for the weekend. Did we get yelled at by locals because of our poor bike etiquette and because we stopped in inconvenient places? Also yes. When I asked Joris, “So, what is Groningen known for?” his answer was simply, “Bikes.” I found this funny because, from an outsider’s perspective, the Netherlands as a country seems to be known for bikes. However, Groningen quickly proved that it deserves this reputation. Despite having visited several Dutch cities before, I was still surprised by the sheer number of bikes everywhere. Our first stop was the AEGEE-Groningen office, which immediately gave us a glimpse into how large and active their local really is. There were several committees, plenty of ongoing activities, and a constant feeling that something was happening. In fact, something was happening that very day besides our EoT workshop: a soup lunch. Some members had made a lovely spiced pumpkin and sweet potato soup, which was genuinely outstanding and exactly what was needed on a rainy Dutch afternoon. We also heard rumours of another local favourite, a courgette soup, which unfortunately we never got the chance to try ourselves. However, we were kindly given the recipe. As someone coming from Estonia, where summer often leaves families desperately searching for ways to use an endless supply of courgettes, this felt like valuable knowledge to bring home. And unlike the usual souvenirs, it didn’t add any extra weight to my bag on the remaining journey. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-1-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5525" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-1-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-1-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-1-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> Then we held our workshop, “How to Talk About Climate Without Preaching.” The participants proved to be highly knowledgeable and engaged, which led to several thoughtful and in-depth discussions beyond the planned exercises. One of them focused on outreach strategies: should climate communication aim to move people from low interest to high interest, or should efforts mainly focus on supporting and mobilising people who are already engaged in the cause? Right before the workshop, we learned about Nugget, AEGEE-Eindhoven’s mascot duck, this will come into play later… At the end of the workshop, while helping to clean up, we somehow managed to pack Nugget into our workshop bag together with the rest of our materials. Inspired by stories of the Lilac team having “borrowed” a mascot during their route, we felt we had to prove ourselves as well. To be fair, Nugget is incredibly cute. Instead of keeping him hidden away or asking the local for a favour in return, we took him on a little Groningen adventure, including a sleepover, a city tour, and even shopping for clogs. We’re not sure how often Nugget gets out of the office, but we’re certain he had a great day. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-2-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5526" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-2-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-2-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-2-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> Before the route had even started, we had already been warned about one essential Groningen experience: eierballen. Not one person but several people, including our trainer Julian and members from Rotterdam and Delft, had hyped them up. They were not merely presented as a local specialty but described as something extraordinary. For the uninitiated, an eierball consists of a boiled egg surrounded by a layer of curry ragout and covered in breadcrumbs before being deep-fried. This culinary masterpiece can often be obtained from automated snack walls – those magical little Dutch food lockers that allow you to purchase fried food at any hour while avoiding unnecessary human interaction. The whole thing combined- a show of true dutch innovation. As someone who considers local grocery stores among the main attractions of any trip, I was equally fascinated by another recommendation: eierbal-flavoured chips sold by the supermarket chain Jumbo. And apparently the locals eat these completely unironically. Unfortunately, despite visiting two separate Jumbo stores, I never managed to find them. This remains one of the great disappointments of the weekend and perhaps one of the greatest mysteries of Groningen. One of the highlights of the route was the city tour. We were lucky enough to have Joris (another Joris) as our guide. As it turns out, he also works as a city tour guide, and it definitely showed. Actually throughout our route, we had been blessed with some excellent city tour guides. No dry facts for us. Among the stories he shared were tales of hidden churches tucked away inside the city walls, where people gathered to practise their religion when doing so openly was discouraged and had to remain secret. We also made our way to the rooftop of the Forum building, which offered a fantastic view over Groningen. From there, we could spot many of the places we had visited during the day – and even catch a glimpse of what is claimed to be the world’s biggest football. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-3-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5527" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-3-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-3-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-3-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-3.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> We also once again organised our Climate Board Games workshop. Our toolbox contains two games, both developed by the NGO Climate for All. Echoes of Gaia is a storytelling game that invites participants to imagine different futures for humanity and the planet, while Elephant in the Room is a debate game where players step into different roles and perspectives to discuss climate-related topics with their debate. After running the workshop twice before in Bosnia and Hungary, Groningen gave us another opportunity to test the games with a new audience. During our interviews, we spoke with several workshop participants who brought a lot of knowledge and insight to the conversation. Interestingly, every person we interviewed mentioned feeling some degree of eco-anxiety. This stood out to us because, during our interviews in Rotterdam, climate anxiety had not emerged as such a common theme. It was a reminder that attitudes towards climate change can vary significantly even between different regions and communities within the same country. In conclusion, Groningen gave us rain, bicycles, climate discussions, local delicacies, hidden history, and one very memorable duck adventure. Not a bad combination for a weekend route. See you somewhere in Netherlands! Written by: Kadi Värnik (and the Azure team) Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post Azure Team – Groningen first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one that kept us wanting ‘jalla’ (more) Lilac Route in Torino, 11/06 – 14/06 Ciao from the Lilac team! On Thursday, we finally left Spain, making our way towards Italy. Already a long travel day, it was made even longer by the fact that our last train was cancelled. But luckily, we were still able to arrive in Torino… Read more → The post Lilac Team – Torino first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one that kept us wanting ‘jalla’ (more) Lilac Route in Torino, 11/06 - 14/06 Ciao from the Lilac team! On Thursday, we finally left Spain, making our way towards Italy. Already a long travel day, it was made even longer by the fact that our last train was cancelled. But luckily, we were still able to arrive in Torino that evening. Unfortunately, there were no free seats for us on the train. So while Ewa took refuge in the cafeteria coach, Dimitris spent the whole journey standing, and I constructed a makeshift seat in the bag racks. We tried to embrace the glamour of this journey, telling ourselves ‘it could be worse’. In reality, we were actually very lucky that this was our first travel mishap of Europe on Track. And, hopefully, it will be the last… <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-1-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5513" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-1-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-1-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-1-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> Finally having touched down in Italy, we were met by our host Lele from AEGEE-Torino. Lele’s enthusiasm for our arrival was quite literally radiating throughout the streets of Torino as he waved us down from metres away. He brought us to his beautiful apartment, which was a backpacker’s paradise, with its guaranteed use of the washing machine. After generally settling in and suddenly in the mood to shake off the misfortunes of our travel day, we headed to a pride party beside the River Po. We had a great time socialising, dancing, and trying our hand at the extreme sports of foosball and table tennis. Perhaps it is also important to mention that at this point in our Europe on Track journey, all three of us lilac team ambassadors had become completely, utterly, and all-consumingly obsessed with the song ‘Jalla’ by British-Cypriot singer Antigoni. Therefore, throughout the entire party we were hoping ‘Jalla’ would play, but we had no success… That is until we went to a kebab shop after the party and, guess what; ‘Jalla’ started playing! The sense of euphoria that descended on the kebab shop in that moment was like nothing I had ever experienced before. For sure, Torino was already making a good impression on us. On Friday morning, we headed to the Gioventù Federalista Europea (Young European Federalists) building in Torino, which would be the venue of our first workshop. We met Maicol from AEGEE-Torino, and Pavel from GFE, who both helped us to set up the workshop room and materials. Our first workshop, How to talk about climate (without preaching) went well. At the start of the workshop, participants were tasked with illustrating someone who doesn’t care about climate issues. The range of artistic abilities within the participant group had us all laughing, and eased us all into the workshop. During the roleplay activity, some of the participants questioned whether the scenario of asking your boss to implement a recycling system in your workplace was really a point for debate. In their minds, they couldn’t imagine an employer saying no to such an initiative. This was interesting feedback for us; as in the other cities we had visited, no one had questioned the roleplay scenario, while in an Italian context, it didn’t seem to make much sense. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-2-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5514" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-2-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-2-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-2-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> After lunch and a quick stroll through the city centre, we arrived at L’Università di Torino (the University of Torino), the venue of our second workshop; Climate Emotions 101. Despite having a small number of participants, we did our best to keep the workshop going, whilst also having more time to chat, getting to know our participants and answering their questions about our journey. Before the workshop, we added a new section in which participants were tasked with measuring their carbon footprint and later mapping their responses to this on the climate emotions wheel. This new section was a good addition, as it gave the participants a tangible way to engage with their climate emotions. And while Ewa and I were hosting the workshop, Dimitris was conducting an interview with Dr Lasagna, Professor of Hydrology at the University of Torino, who talked about the importance of monitoring and preserving groundwater ecosystems. Overall, we felt that our workshops and interviews that day had been a big success. After the workshops, we went to Monte dei Cappuccini, one of the most stunning viewpoints in all of Torino. Looking down at the city below, we ate the dinner that Maicol had so kindly prepared for us. The meal included both regular and vegetarian carbonaras – thanks Maicol! We later met Roberto who brought us on a tour of the city. As a really knowledgeable and humorous guide, we were interested in Roberto’s historical accounts yet we were also very sleepy, having been out and about all day long. One of the things that Roberto mentioned that I found very interesting was that the Mole Antonelliana (one of the main landmarks in Torino) was illuminated green to mark the 11th National Congress of the Italian Society of Tropical Medicine and Global Health. The green colour was meant to address health inequalities and promote global sustainability; something that seemed very in line with our Europe on Track journey. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-3-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5515" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-3-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-3-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-3-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-3.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> The next morning, we got the chance to have a morning-in at Lele’s place. A good sleep, a hot shower, and a delicious breakfast on the balcony was all we needed to fuel the day ahead. And so, we went to CasArcobaleno for our third workshop of the stop, Storytelling: From fear to collective imagination. The venue, CasArcobaleno is a space that regularly hosts LGBTQIA+ and civil rights organisations. We immediately liked the venue when we stepped inside, with its rainbow decorations and poster-covered walls. The only thing we didn’t like was the lack of participants… After some failed attempts at playing board games with Maicol, eventually some more people arrived and we were able to kick off the workshop. As it was a storytelling workshop, participants had the chance to get creative, but they also had the chance to get more goofy, and this certainly showed in some of their tasks. However, one interesting thing that came up was the topic of plastic bottle caps; and how attached bottle caps are merely surface-level climate actions. Our workshop participants felt that authorities need to do more than just these symbolic actions if they want to really tackle climate change. Following these interesting conversations, and even more interesting drawings, we had some free time after the workshop. Ewa, Dimitris, and I went our separate ways to discover more of the culture (and coffee) of Torino. In the evening, we reunited at an AEGEE-Torino event; the European picnic. Indeed, we met many Europeans at the picnic and enjoyed both Italian and Polish snacks. We also met Simon from Krakow, who was living and working in Northern Italy. We talked about the ease and cheapness with which he can fly home from Torino to Krakow, and were shocked to discover that sometimes he finds flights for less than €10. This conversation reminded us of our Slow travel, slow living workshop, and how sustainable travel is often inaccessible when you have limited time and limited money. Eventually, we went back to Lele’s apartment and packed our bags. We were really getting used to this life on the road. Though it was a shame to say goodbye to Lele (and his late night chats), we had much unfinished business in Torino and will make sure to return. We boarded the train with ‘Jalla’ still playing in our minds… Written by: Sheenagh Rowland (and the Lilac team) Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post Lilac Team – Torino first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one with the cucumber on the boat Azure Route in Rotterdam, 09/06 – 11/06 Hoi from Rotterdam! This time, we travelled in style. Our journey from Budapest, through Vienna, to Utrecht was spent aboard the fabulous Nightjet train. Somewhere along the way, we also became lounge people. We know, it’s terrible. Taking full advantage of our 1st class passes,… Read more → The post Azure Team – Rotterdam first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one with the cucumber on the boat Azure Route in Rotterdam, 09/06 - 11/06 Hoi from Rotterdam! This time, we travelled in style. Our journey from Budapest, through Vienna, to Utrecht was spent aboard the fabulous Nightjet train. Somewhere along the way, we also became lounge people. We know, it’s terrible. Taking full advantage of our 1st class passes, complimentary tea, nuts, comfy chairs and a bit of quiet. The balkan part of the route had left its mark on us and we stuck to every bit of comfort we could get our hands on. When we arrived at our stop, Rotterdam, we were greeted by three locals, Jimmy, Berk, and Oliver, as well as the rain. After settling into our accommodation, the three of us and Oliver headed out on a small city tour of Rotterdam. We learned about the city’s enormous port and just how massive it really is, the fire and the extent of it and the educationalist Erasmus. We also stopped by the lovely Maritime museum visitors’ centre, where we unexpectedly rediscovered our love for colouring books and spot-the-difference puzzles. Unfortunately, our long train rides, where this newfound hobby would have come in handy, were mostly behind us. Even though our journey was only halfway finished time-wise, geographically we had already reached the final stretch: the Netherlands (plus a small accent in the end in the form of Aachen). Afterwards, we enjoyed some excellent ramen (Tensai Ramen, highly recommended) before heading to our first workshop in Rotterdam: Slow Travel, Slow Living. Apart from us and Oliver, who had kindly shown us around the city, there was only one other participant for that session. This gave us the chance to have a more intimate workshop. The small group created space for genuine discussion and reflection. It was a stark contrast to the high school audience in Budapest, our only previous experience with that workshop. Mesut also surprised us by showing a photo from when he had attended a Europe on Track workshop in İzmir during the 3rd edition of the project. A reminder of the history of Europe on Track and the connections it has created across the continent over the years. Instead of focusing on the main activity (planning an eco-trip) we found ourselves diving into conversations. We discussed the advantages and disadvantages of train and bus travel, comparing factors such as cost, convenience, comfort, and environmental impact while also sharing personal experiences. We also explored further why some flight tickets can be surprisingly cheap and the factors that influence transportation pricing. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Rotterdam-1-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5496" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Rotterdam-1-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Rotterdam-1-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Rotterdam-1-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Rotterdam-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> The day wasn’t over yet. That night, we were invited to a social night aboard a boat with AEGEE-Delft. There, we had the joy of reuniting with our trainer Julian and catching up about the journey, the workshops, and everything that had happened since we last met. Our new friend Berk, president of AEGEE-Delft, gave a speech and invited us to introduce the project in true AEGEE-Delft fashion, standing on a table, of course. Peer pressure got to us, but at least we got some cute photos of the team and we even opened a little question line, where we got to share our experience with night trains. But perhaps the most memorable event of the evening involved a cucumber. For a significant part of the journey, we’d been making some rather questionable and admittedly lazy food choices (ones our mothers wouldn’t approve of). This led to a recurring conversation about how much our bodies were craving vegetables, or really anything fresh. Specifically a cucumber, and how amazing it’d be just to bite into a crisp one.. So when Finn, an AEGEE-Delft member, casually handed us an entire cucumber, we were completely shocked, taken aback, and absolutely delighted. Looking back, the combination of an eventful day, accumulated sleep deprivation, and lingering train tiredness may have amplified the humour of the moment. Nevertheless, the cucumber instantly became one of the highlights of Rotterdam. Thank you, Finn for that moment and for the cucumber which did not disappoint. While the rest of us were socialising, Phaedon spent much of the evening in the boat kitchen interviewing local members. Many mentioned feeling reassured by the Netherlands’ long-standing efforts in water management and flood prevention. When talking about climate change, they were often more concerned about its impacts on people elsewhere in the world than on themselves, expressing empathy for communities already facing its consequences. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Rotterdam-2-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5497" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Rotterdam-2-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Rotterdam-2-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Rotterdam-2-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Rotterdam-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> The next morning, we had arranged to meet Julian again for a closer look at Delft in daylight. Admittedly, this happened a little later than planned thanks to a wonderfully long sleep. But before heading there, Berk showed us a different side of Rotterdam. We explored some of the city’s greener neighbourhoods and visited an impressive art storage building that looked like a giant mirror-bowl with trees or top of it. Then it was time for Delft. We have to say that Delft left quite an impression on us. The canals, the greenery, the tiny cafés, the colorful restaurant nooks and adorable details, the entire city just felt so lovable, charming and cosy. It’s one of those places that instantly makes you slow down and look around. Having Julian as our guide certainly helped. His enthusiasm for the city was infectious. Thank you for that, Julian! Eventually, however, it was time to head back to Rotterdam, where another workshop awaited us: Climate Board Games. Unfortunately, no participants showed up, so the workshop was cancelled. Instead, we focused on something equally important: rest and food. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Rotterdam_Delft-3-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5498" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Rotterdam_Delft-3-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Rotterdam_Delft-3-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Rotterdam_Delft-3-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Rotterdam_Delft-3.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> Around the same time, we learned that our travel to the next destination, Groningen, had been moved from that evening to the following day. Combined with the persistent rain, this felt like a sign from the universe to slow down for a moment. So that’s exactly what we did. We spent the remainder of the day tucked away in our comfortable accommodation, catching up on project work, organising checks, and enjoying the opportunity to rest. And, of course, doing laundry. Sometimes sustainable travel is exciting discussions, city tours, and workshops. Sometimes it’s cucumbers and laundry. Rotterdam gave us a little bit of both. Written by: Kadi Värnik (and the Azure team) Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post Azure Team – Rotterdam first appeared on Europe on Track.
Under Pressure: Climate Change and the Mediterranean Sea Lilac Route Interview in Antalya, EoT12 The Mediterranean Sea is home to more than 510 million people, yet only a few know that it is currently in danger. Its marine ecosystems are under pressure and climate change plays a significant -if not a major- role in that. In order to investigate the… Read more → The post EoT12 Lilac Interview in Antalya first appeared on Europe on Track.
Under Pressure: Climate Change and the Mediterranean Sea Lilac Route Interview in Antalya, EoT12 The Mediterranean Sea is home to more than 510 million people, yet only a few know that it is currently in danger. Its marine ecosystems are under pressure and climate change plays a significant -if not a major- role in that. In order to investigate the way climate change affects the Mediterranean Sea, we conducted an interview with experts in marine conservation in Turkey and discussed all of the problems the area is facing, while at the same time they provided a couple of possible solutions and effective practices. According to the State of the Environment and Development in the Mediterranean (SoEDM, 2020), the Mediterranean region is warming 20% faster than the global average, while water temperature is expected to rise by between 1.8°C and 3.5°C by 2100, with hotspots in Spain and the Eastern Mediterranean. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5467" class="size-medium wp-image-5467" src="http://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SoED-2020-1-320x226.jpg" alt="Climate Change in the Mediterranean, SoED 2020" width="320" height="226" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SoED-2020-1-320x226.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SoED-2020-1.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" /> Climate Change in the Mediterranean, SoED 2020 Among others, some of the consequences of climate change in the Mediterranean are heat waves, floods, coastal erosion, and invasive species. Specifically, according to Prof. Dr. Gökoğlu, researcher at the Faculty of Fisheries at Akdeniz University in Antalya, Turkey, the Mediterranean Sea is a vulnerable marine ecosystem in danger. «The Mediterranean Sea’s ecosystem has changed, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean. It became more tropical. The increased water temperatures had a negative impact on the Posidonia Oceanica meadow, which is vital for the wellbeing of Mediterranean’s marine ecosystems, especially in coastal areas, where the water is shallower and therefore the temperature easily increases», he explained. According to Mr. Taçyıldız, a certified UNESCO underwater cultural heritage protector and an active scuba-diving instructor, because of the fact that the Mediterranean waters have become more tropical, the lionfish considers them its natural habitat. By coming to the Mediterranean, lionfish not only avoid their natural predators, but they also find the suitable conditions to mate. Therefore, it is estimated that its population will increase in the Mediterranean in the next few years, threatening native fish populations and bringing general imbalance in marine ecosystems and biodiversity. Interview with Mr. Taçyıldız. Antalya, Turkey. (30/05/2026). «I’ve been diving for the last 17 years almost every single day and, even though I have encountered many marine species, in the last few years I have been encountering new ones that do not belong to the Mediterranean Sea», he stated. According to Prof. Dr. Gökoğlu, climate change is the main reason for the Lessepsian migration as well, that is the migration of marine species along the Suez Canal, usually from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. «Increased water temperatures are also the reason for the appearance of 75 new marine species from the Red Sea in the Mediterranean and this number will increase year by year», he stated. When it comes to solutions, he explained that the scientific community proposed the increase of the Suez Canal’s water salinity, in order to tackle Lessepsian migration. However, this was a very long and expensive procedure, therefore it was disregarded. Nevertheless, for Prof. Dr. Gökoğlu, marine ecosystems can be preserved in other ways, such as by reducing the human use of fossil fuels or by preventing forest fires. As he told us, currently there are many marine conservation efforts implemented in the country. «Turkey no longer uses commercial fishing licenses, while fishing quotas have been introduced to certain species, such as the bluefin tuna or the moray eel, in order to prevent overfishing, which brings additional value to the sustainable management of marine resources», he added. According to Mr. Taçyıldız, a good example of marine cultural and biological heritage preservation is the organization of underwater cleaning festivals, by various diving centers in Turkey twice a year. Another good practice is the construction of artificial reef ecosystems to enhance local biodiversity. Specifically, Prof. Dr. Gökoğlu and his students created an artificial reef by scattered stones and concrete blocks on the seafloor of Konyaaltı Beach in Antalya during 2025, which now serves as a natural habitat for approximately 12 different fish species. The success of this local initiative demonstrates that a simple, yet effective, method for supporting marine species and plantations, offers a promising strategy for marine conservation efforts in the future. Scuba diving with Mr. Taçyıldız and AEGEE volunteers in Konyaaltı Beach, Antalya, Turkey. (30/05/2026). For Mr. Taçyıldız, climate behavior is something to be taught. «Whenever I train other instructors, I always teach them how to behave underwater. For example, I advise them to collect the trash from the sea and to never take away anything that belongs to the marine ecosystem up to the surface. The only thing you can take from beneath with you is pictures. […] As instructors, we also participate in many underwater cleaning activities and we collect the fishermen’s lead out of the sea. That is our goal every time we dive», he said. After scuba-diving with Mr.Taçyıldız in the bottom of the Konyaaltı Beach in Antalya, I was amazed by the artificial reef Prof. Dr. Gökoğlu and his team constructed. Even though the visibility underwater was not that clear, due to the given conditions, the whole experience made me realize that humans are the ones who pollute, overfish, and destroy, but at the same time it’s also humans who preserve, protect, and advocate for climate justice and animal welfare. I guess it’s up to us to decide which human we want to be. Thank you Prof. Dr. Gökoğlu and Mr. Taçyıldız for the interview and your service in marine conservation. Written by: Dimitrios Theologidis a member of the Lilac Team of Europe on Track 12 INTERVIEWEES: Mr. Caner Taçyıldız is a certified UNESCO underwater cultural heritage protector and an active diving instructor. With hands-on experience in the field and a strong background in marine ecology, he knows the Mediterranean’s biological and cultural heritage up close. Having explored the rich underwater world of Antalya firsthand, he works to preserve this heritage for future generations. As someone who directly witnesses the changes in marine ecosystems, he also offers a unique perspective on eco-anxiety and climate change. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Gökoğlu is a faculty member at the Faculty of Fisheries at Akdeniz University in Antalya, Turkey. With academic research and field experience in marine biology and Mediterranean fisheries, he has an in-depth knowledge of the ecosystems along Turkey’s coastline. Closely examining the environmental changes affecting marine life from a scientific perspective, Dr. Gökoğlu offers a unique academic viewpoint on marine conservation, sustainability, and eco-anxiety. INFOGRAPHIC: Image Source: Climate Change in the Mediterranean, UN Environment Programme & Mediterranean Action Plan, Barcelona Convention. https://www.unep.org/unepmap/resources/factsheets/climate-change Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post EoT12 Lilac Interview in Antalya first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one with the kefir Lilac Route in Valladolid, 06/06 – 09/06 Hola from the lilac team in Castilla y León! Having finally activated our interrail passes, and having spent some hours on a train, we arrived at our stop with AEGEE-Valladolid. Luckily, our host Noemí met us at the train station, and brought us straight to her gorgeous apartment… Read more → The post Lilac Team – Valladolid first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one with the kefir Lilac Route in Valladolid, 06/06 - 09/06 Hola from the lilac team in Castilla y León! Having finally activated our interrail passes, and having spent some hours on a train, we arrived at our stop with AEGEE-Valladolid. Luckily, our host Noemí met us at the train station, and brought us straight to her gorgeous apartment in Burgos. After a quick trip to the grocery store, Ewa and I made the most delicious gnocchi Europe on Track has ever seen, while Dimitris opted for a more Greek style of pasta. Noemí offered us some homemade kefir water to drink with our meal – I had never heard of such a drink, but enjoyed it all the same. We later found out that she has a degree in fermented drinks, no wonder it was so delicious… After this reviving meal, our host kindly brought us on a tour of Burgos old town, where we saw the stunning Cathedral, a lot of quaint shops and many Camino de Santiago signs, merchandise items and monuments. Having walked the camino myself, I had lots of questions for Noemí who described the huge numbers of pilgrims who pass through the city every year. Considering that all of our previous stops had been coastal locations, our stay in the historic pilgrim city of Burgos was a welcome change. Our tour of Burgos old town ended with not one, not two, but three desserts. Between churros, chevalier, and even red velvet cake, our first night couldn’t have gone any better. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-1-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5401" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-1-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-1-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-1-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> The next morning, while scavenging the streets of Burgos for some breakfast, we started talking about public transport in the city. Noemí explained that though there is a decent bus system in the city, it’s been rather disrupted by the fact that in April of this year, a fire at the municipal bus depot burned 39 of the city’s 75 urban buses. To deal with the disastrous effects of the fire, a number of buses have been loaned from Madrid, and other cities. Thankfully, such loans allow Burgos’ transport infrastructure to continue to operate in a sustainable fashion. In the afternoon, after several hours of collective and silent typing on our laptops, we hiked up to the Castillo de Burgos (Burgos Castle). Though the castle itself was closed to visitors, it offered a great viewing point of the city. On our way there, we also saw a lot of people dressed in traditional clothing. And, later in the day, we were lucky enough to stumble across the Burgos Gigantillos and Gigantones (essentially; the Burgos Giants). These huge figures are made out of papier-mâché and represent a wide range of characters from both traditional and global cultures. They’re only showcased on special occasions – in this case it was following the celebration of Corpus Christi. And so, in just one afternoon, Burgos had provided us with a very rich cultural and historical immersion. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-2-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5402" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-2-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-2-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-2-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> We also got the chance to visit Noemí’s family home, which has its own private orchard. From cherry trees to worm farms, tomato plants to water wells, this orchard had a lot to offer. It was really relaxing to sit in the garden under the setting sun and take the time to appreciate the nature that surrounded us. Though our Europe on Track project focuses mostly on eco-anxiety, it’s also important to remember just how calming the environment around us can be, and also to take the time to appreciate small-scale environmental practices. I think we all felt and appreciated the healing powers of nature in that moment. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-3-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5399" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-3-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-3-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-3-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-3.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> The next day, we woke up bright and early to travel to Valladolid. Despite being hosted by AEGEE-Valladolid, we spent most of our time in Burgos. But it wasn’t a problem; if anything, we were happy to get a chance to see both cities instead of just one. Despite some mild stress caused by the city’s parking measures and rules surrounding the low emissions zones, we finally found a suitable parking spot. The low emissions zones, initially introduced as eco-friendly measures to improve urban air quality, have come under a lot of scrutiny for the high fines they charge if zones are breached. We also felt slightly ambiguous towards these zones, knowing they were good for the environment but not exactly practical for the local people.That said, we took a quick tour of the city, particularly enjoying the unfinished cathedral, and then it was time for our workshops. First up was our workshop; How to talk about climate without preaching. It was our second time conducting this workshop, yet we hadn’t done it since Antalya, which felt like a lifetime ago. We therefore made an extra effort to go through the workshop beforehand. At the beginning, the participants seemed a little bit shy, but they soon started to open up, especially during the climate conversation roleplay. One participant even raised the question of how to talk with people who believe in flat earth theories. We debated this topic for quite some time, before deciding that perhaps it was better to start having climate conversations with people who might listen to you, rather than with those who absolutely won’t listen to you. All in all, it was an enjoyable workshop, which was followed by an even more enjoyable coffee break. Noemí and Hector (also from AEGEE-Valladolid) had prepared a wonderful table of drinks and snacks including, yes, you guessed it, kefir cake. We were starting to notice a trend… <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-4-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5400" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-4-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-4-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-4-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Valladolid-4.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> Over the coffee break, we got a chance to chat with some of the participants, making everyone even more comfortable with each other in time for our second workshop; Storytelling: From fear to collective imagination. During this workshop, the participants were surprised by a video from Tuvalu’s Foreign Minister in which he calls for governments to take action on the climate crisis. Moving on, the participants got super creative, telling their own stories through drawings, videos and short improvisations. In general, the participants explained how they enjoyed this workshop, as it inspired them to approach the climate crisis with renewed positivity. Even storytelling is a useful tool in combatting climate change. As a team, we were proud of this workshop, as we had reworked some of its contents and felt that the new version went smoothly. Somehow, it was again time for a coffee break, this time with even more great snacks and chats. Pleased with our workshops, we had a sound night’s sleep before once again heading to the train station. Waiting on the platform, I sipped my supermarket branded kefir, perhaps a new obsession for some members of the lilac route… Very sweetly, Noemí came to our train platform to say goodbye. But it wasn’t really a goodbye, only a ‘see you later’, as we all hoped our paths would cross again. Written by: Sheenagh Rowland (and the Lilac team) Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post Lilac Team – Valladolid first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one where we got humbled by teenagers Azure Route in Budapest, 06/06 – 09/06 Szia from Kadi, Alina and Phaedon, the Azure ambassadors! Unlike our arrival, this time it was our departure to the next destination that turned dramatic. We left Zagreb in the middle of heavy rain, making our way to the station with covered backpacks and shoes… Read more → The post Azure Team – Budapest first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one where we got humbled by teenagers Azure Route in Budapest, 06/06 - 09/06 Szia from Kadi, Alina and Phaedon, the Azure ambassadors! Unlike our arrival, this time it was our departure to the next destination that turned dramatic. We left Zagreb in the middle of heavy rain, making our way to the station with covered backpacks and shoes that were rapidly losing the battle against the weather. While some of us did our best to shield our entire bodies from the rain, I chose a different strategy: a tank top, complete acceptance of getting soaked, and total dedication to keeping my backpack dry. The journey to Budapest wasn’t entirely smooth either. At one stop in Hungary, our train suddenly started moving backwards. After a brief period of confusion, we were informed that we would need to leave our train and switch to another one at a place none of us could pronounce: Balatonszentgyörgy. To our surprise, however, it turned out to be a charming little station. Fortunately, Budapest welcomed us with a much smoother arrival. Waiting for us right on the platform was Anna, one of the wonderful locals from AEGEE-Budapest, who guided us through the city and to Virág’s apartment. Virág, a member of this year’s project team and previous ambassador, had kindly arranged for us to stay there, like many editions before. And what an apartment it was. At this point of the route, any place with a bed already feels luxurious, but this one was genuinely lovely. After weeks of travelling, you start to appreciate the little things: a comfortable couch, a functional kitchen, and enough floor space to fully unpack your backpack. There was only one downside—a broken elevator, which meant climbing four flights of stairs every time we returned to the apartment. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Budapest-1-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5393" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Budapest-1-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Budapest-1-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Budapest-1-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Budapest-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> Now, however, is the time to let you in on a little secret. We, the Azure team, are very conscious of being the calmer side of Europe on Track. Sometimes we even feel a little guilty about it. While the journey is often associated with constant activity and adventure, we’re often found taking naps, discussing upcoming destinations, doing laundry, or heading to bed at a reasonable hour instead of squeezing every possible activity into the day. And we embraced that side of ourselves in Budapest. We made full use of the cosy apartment, spending plenty of time recharging. One evening, we even stayed in to cook dinner together and bake cookies. After weeks on the road, and with travel fatigue slowly catching up to us, Budapest gave us something we hadn’t realised we were missing: a sense of normality amidst the constant movement and excitement that is Europe on Track. That being said, we did join some activities. During our stay there, members from AEGEE-Utrecht and AEGEE-Torino were also there for an exchange. One of the first activities during that exchange was a city tour. Together we explored the Buda side of Budapest, climbing hills, enjoying the views, taking group pictures, eating cottage cheese ice cream (?). The next day (after the others had visited a water park) we met again and settled into a different kind of a park, a nice green area on Margaret Island for Climate board games. This time we had enough participants to test the two games at the same time. Alina masterfully held Echoes of Gaia, the storytelling game, during which one participant remarked “It’s a good game to do some critical thinking about what is the value of society now, and what happens if…” At the same time, Phaedon and I guided the other participants through debates, touching on subjects like green areas, climate refugees and banning space travel. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Budapest-2-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5394" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Budapest-2-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Budapest-2-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Budapest-2-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Budapest-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> During the interviews with the participants, however, an interesting pattern began to emerge. When we asked people about eco-anxiety and how they experience it, their answers were almost always framed in terms of climate change itself or the environmental situation in their city or country. Much less often did they speak about their own emotions or personal experiences of eco-anxiety. And looking back that was also the tendency during previous stops. We decided to try and pry more into the emotions and anxiety side of it in the future. The evening brought another classic AEGEE experience: European Night. By the scenic river view, participants from Budapest, Utrecht, and Torino introduced each other to their local foods, drinks, traditions, and cultural quirks. This was the moment we also received the Europe on Track flag from another this edition’s project team member – Zsofia. This was a very exciting moment and you’re sure to see more pics with it in the future. Unfortunately, unlike many of the exchange participants, we couldn’t stay out particularly late. The next morning we had something far more intimidating waiting for us. Teenagers. The following day marked our first two full run-throughs of the workshop Slow Travel, Slow Living at a local high school. Walking through the hallways was strangely nostalgic. Students rushed between classrooms, PE classes ran across the schoolyard, and for a moment we were transported back to our own high school years. Mostly, it reminded us how grateful we are to have finished them. Our workshop introduced students to the concept of slow travel. The workshop is built to discuss alternatives to fast-paced tourism, explore its advantages and disadvantages, and introduce practical tools for travelling more consciously and sustainably. The main activity included groups of participants planning their own eco-trips with destinations and roles given to them. Or at least that was the plan. In our opinion, the first run through of the workshop was rough to say the least. Participants spoke very little. We ended up answering many of our own questions. Random group formation was met with visible resistance. Awkward silences appeared with impressive frequency. At one point Alina leaned over and whispered: “I don’t think we’re going to get any quotes from this one.” We do think it was mostly due to shyness and not lack of interest or understanding. But the workshop took a lot out of us. We continued bravely onward, motivating participants with stickers, encouraging them to complete feedback forms, and introducing them to DiscoverEU and Interrail passes, which many of them would soon become eligible for. I never did understand how tired and drained, dishevelled I also looked on the outside until looking at the camera roll from the workshop. After the session, we sat down as a team and reflected on what had happened. What worked? What didn’t? Which activities generated discussion and which ones created silence? We adjusted several formats, changed some facilitation approaches, emphasised some points more and came up with a new theory: the students could sense our fear. Therefore, our solution was to appear more confident. Whether this was scientifically sound remains unknown, but it made us feel better. And we’d say the second workshop run went along 50% better! There were also some interesting highlights. As a part of the eco-trip formation the groups also had to create packing lists for their imaginatory trip, and one pair of students proudly decided that an essential travel item would be “two beautiful women.” It took all of our collective professionalism not to laugh during their presentation and instead analyse the consequences of enlarging your travel group and what it would that imply for the budget. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Budapest-3-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5395" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Budapest-3-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Budapest-3-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Budapest-3-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Budapest-3.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> The rest of the day was significantly calmer. We headed home, caught up on some much-needed laundry, and enjoyed the rare luxury of rest and, once again, naps. After weeks on the road, laundry has become less of a chore and more of a spiritual experience. In the evening, we made our way to Margaret Island, where we met up with exchange participants to enjoy music, good company, and one final scenic Budapest evening. Several participants had enjoyed the city so much that they decided to extend their stay. Unfortunately, the Azure route operates on a rather strict schedule. While others were planning more time in Budapest, we were already thinking about alarms, train times, and our next destination. The following morning, we packed our bags once again and headed for the station. Budapest became the stop where we learned that not every workshop goes perfectly. Sometimes participants are quiet. Sometimes activities need adjusting. Sometimes your biggest challenge isn’t logistics or travel, but a room full of teenagers staring at you in silence. And sometimes that’s exactly how you learn the most. Written by: Kadi Värnik (and the Azure team) Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post Azure Team – Budapest first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one where we felt at home Lilac Route in Alicante, 03/06 – 06/06 Buenas from very sunny Alicante! On Wednesday evening, after one of our shortest travel stints yet, we arrived in Alicante. A quick bus ride brought us to the city centre where we met Enri and Aimar from AEGEE-Alicante, who would be hosting us for the next… Read more → The post Lilac Team – Alicante first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one where we felt at home Lilac Route in Alicante, 03/06 - 06/06 Buenas from very sunny Alicante! On Wednesday evening, after one of our shortest travel stints yet, we arrived in Alicante. A quick bus ride brought us to the city centre where we met Enri and Aimar from AEGEE-Alicante, who would be hosting us for the next three nights. When we entered their apartment we quickly discovered the jaw-dropping news that we would each have our own bedroom; something we had never imagined even in our wildest Europe on Track dreams. Already, our stay in Alicante was off to a very good start. After settling in we made (or, Mercadona made) tortillas de patatas and salads for dinner. Tortilla de patatas, made with eggs and potatoes, is a classic and delicious Spanish dish. It seems that our tastebuds were constantly adapting to the new cuisines in which we found ourselves. Over dinner, we got to know our hosts some more. Primarily, we were all very impressed to learn that Enri was set to play the leading role of Sophie in a stage production of ‘Mamma Mia’. We also learned that both Ewa and Aimar had been at Coldplay’s concert in Warsaw in 2022. While Aimar was in the audience, Ewa was working at the stadium. Indeed our Europe on Track journey is consistently proving that the world (or Europe, at least) is not so big after all. Once we finished our meal, everyone went to bed, and though it was nice to finally have our own rooms, it felt weird not to have late night chats before turning off the lights. Having spent every second of our days together for two weeks, time apart felt unnatural. The next morning, after a peaceful yet lonely night, Ewa and I went to grab coffee. While at the café, Ewa talked with the staff about her project; Mutual Matter, which is a pan-European socio-environmental zine. While the staff agreed to share some copies of Mutual Matter at the café, we also explained our Europe on Track journey to them. They were genuinely interested in the work we’re doing, and it felt really special to engage with young people about climate, beyond the scope of our workshops and interviews. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Alicante-1-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5379" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Alicante-1-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Alicante-1-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Alicante-1-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Alicante-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> We soon took the bus to the Universidad de Alicante (University of Alicante) where we conducted some interviews with the students. We spoke with students from the local area, as well as with exchange students from Wisconsin, USA. In general, when asked about the climate crisis, all of our interviewees described feelings of worry. Many of the students explained how they felt that Alicante’s city council doesn’t take enough action to ensure environmental protection in the city. In the same way, the students from Wisconsin expressed similar sentiments towards the lack of environmental protection enforced by authorities in the US. No matter if you’re from Alicante, or from Wisconsin, it became clear to us that eco-anxiety is felt worldwide. While Aimar had to study for his thesis defense which was to take place the following morning, Enri was still at work. Therefore, we took it upon ourselves to do some exploring. As Ewa headed to the Contemporary Art Museum of Alicante, Dimitris and I went to the Museo Arqueológico de Alicante (Alicante Archaeological Museum). Though Dimitris couldn’t help but to constantly remind me of the archaeological prowess of his home country, Greece, we nonetheless enjoyed spending time together at the museum. Then, we hiked up to Castillo de Santa Bárbara which was certainly not easy in the middle of the hot day. But, thankfully, we didn’t get sunburnt and the views were well worth the physical exertion. When we reunited with Ewa, ice cream was on the agenda and, unlike in Tenerife, this time I was extra cautious so that it didn’t fall out of my cone. Mission ice cream stays in cone: success. Eventually, we rounded off the day with a relaxing nighttime swim. It would seem that this was quite possibly the most touristic day of the entire route so far… <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Alicante-2-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5380" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Alicante-2-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Alicante-2-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Alicante-2-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Alicante-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> On Friday morning, Aimar brought us for a group breakfast, with coffee and juices galore. A good breakfast and good chats set us up for a good day; Aimar was ready to ace his thesis defense and we were ready to ace our workshops – or so we thought… Unfortunately, due to the fact that it was exam season at the Universidad de Alicante, we didn’t have enough participants for our workshops and, sadly, had to cancel them. Instead of letting the lack of participants get us down, we decided to use this time to do more interviews, and even to interview Aimar. In Aimar’s interview, he and Dimitris discussed extreme weather conditions. Aimar described his experience of hurricanes in his hometown of Almería, whilst also highlighting the 2024 floods that devastated communities throughout Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha, and Andalusia. Indeed, Aimar understood these extreme weather events to be directly related to climate change. Even though we didn’t get the chance to conduct our workshops, interviewing the locals was a strong enough indication of the negative effects climate change is having in Alicante, and in Spain at large. Soon after, we headed back to the accommodation to eat lunch and to catch up on some tasks. In the evening, Dimitris met with a friend, while Ewa went to Castillo de Santa Bárbara, and I went to a café. We later met back up, and did some socialising with our wonderful hosts. Between working, finishing degrees (in Aimar’s case), and rehearsing for musicals (in Enri’s case), it’s safe to say that our Alicante hosts are very busy people. Nonetheless, they made us feel very welcomed, and honestly, Alicante was the most homelike stop of our trip so far. That’s why we found it hard to say goodbye on Saturday morning. Without doubt, these goodbyes were not getting any easier. As we sat on the train to Valladolid, I looked out at the passing greenery, wondering what our next stop would add to the jigsaw puzzle of climate justice we were slowly piecing together. Written by: Sheenagh Rowland (and the Lilac team) Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post Lilac Team – Alicante first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one where we found hope in Sarajevo Azure Route in Sarajevo, 02/06 – 03/06 Zdravo, ćao from Kadi, Alina and Phaedon, the Azure ambassadors! Once again, our arrival to our next stop wasn’t really glamorous. After a night bus that delivered us to Sarajevo at a rather questionable hour of 5 a.m., we found ourselves swaying through the city… Read more → The post Azure Team – Sarajevo first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one where we found hope in Sarajevo Azure Route in Sarajevo, 02/06 - 03/06 Zdravo, ćao from Kadi, Alina and Phaedon, the Azure ambassadors! Once again, our arrival to our next stop wasn’t really glamorous. After a night bus that delivered us to Sarajevo at a rather questionable hour of 5 a.m., we found ourselves swaying through the city on a trolleybus, trying (and mostly failing) to stay awake and reach our abode for the next few days. The lucky early morning commuters could see three people with their huge backpacks simultaneously nodding off in different directions. Eventually, we made it to our apartment and were greeted by the lovely local and AEGEE member Ella. Fortunately, the locals had been warned about the state we’d arrive in and, unlike us, had sensible worklives and schedules of their own. This meant we were granted the greatest gift imaginable after a night bus: a long nap. Looking back, that rest was irreplaceable because Sarajevo turned out to be one of those cities that constantly gives you something new to admire and think about. Over the next two days, we met members of the newly revived AEGEE-Sarajevo, including Adele (AEGEE-Sarajevo’s president), Kenan, and several other enthusiastic locals who introduced us to their city. Sarajevo wears its history openly. Walking through its streets meant constantly encountering reminders of the past: building facades still bearing the scars of war, the historic bridge linked to the events that sparked the First World War, and the Sarajevo Roses scattered across the city – marks left by deadly mortar shell impacts and later refilled with red resin, serving as poignant memorials to those who lost their lives during the siege. Another thing we quickly learned was that cash is still king here. This led to one of Phaedon’s side quests of the trip: finding an ATM that didn’t charge alarming fees. Like many great adventures, it involved a lot more walking and exploring than initially anticipated. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Sarajevo-1-960x320.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5368" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Sarajevo-1-960x320.png 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Sarajevo-1-320x107.png 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Sarajevo-1-768x256.png 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Sarajevo-1.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> This stop featured a new workshop we hadn’t given yet – Climate Board Games. The participants gathered around a table to play Echoes of Gaia, a climate future-focused board game created by a former AEGEE member. From the very beginning, it became clear that we’d found the perfect audience for it. Participants eagerly stepped into their characters, connected with their spirit cards, and began building entire worlds together. Discussions quickly evolved from game mechanics into philosophy. What kind of future are we imagining? What do the people in this world value? How do they relate to nature? How do they cope and survive? The game created a space where participants felt comfortable exploring emotions and ideas that don’t often come up in everyday conversation. Several described the experience as therapeutic and cathartic. “Humans aren’t really anything compared to what nature can do, so I’d say I feel insecure” a participant said. It was one of many moments where the game became less about winning and more about understanding our place in the world. Perhaps unsurprisingly, spending the afternoon reflecting on humanity’s relationship with nature made us pay a little more attention to the landscape around us. Inspired by the lush greenery and mountains surrounding us, during dinner we discussed whether it can really be called hiking if there are no mountains involved. My flatlanded Estonian forest-loving heart wasn’t very happy that this was even a debate. The next day, we had the morning and afternoon off, so we decided to visit the highly praised War Childhood Museum. The museum is composed of personal objects connected to people’s experiences of war, accompanied by the memories and emotions associated with them. We highly recommend a visit. Many of the locals we spoke with also reflected on the war and how deeply intertwined it remains with their culture. Through these conversations we also learned that much of the region’s literature and film remains deeply connected to the war. Books such as Sarajevo Marlboro and films like No Man’s Land were recommended as ways to better understand the country’s recent history. Some recommendations, however, remained recommendations. Despite our best intentions, we never managed to visit the National Museum and its botanical garden or the cable cars and abandoned bobsled track. Instead, we dedicated some amount of time to another activity that had become increasingly important during our travels. Laundry. Fresh clothes begin to feel like an unimaginable luxury. During our short stay, we managed to wash two full loads but also to use a dryer. It is difficult to explain the excitement that wearing freshly washed clothes generated, but that night’s sleep was all the sweeter- and laundry detergent-scented- for it. Despite being a very recently resurrected local, AEGEE-Sarajevo felt so alive. There was an energy among the members that reminded us how exciting it can be to build something, furthermore a community, from the ground up. It was clear how much value they placed on their community and how much it had already given back to them. Something that also came apparent during our second workshop. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Sarajevo-2-960x320.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5369" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Sarajevo-2-960x320.png 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Sarajevo-2-320x107.png 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Sarajevo-2-768x256.png 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Sarajevo-2.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> Our second workshop in Sarajevo was Climate Emotions 101. Unlike some of our larger sessions, this workshop took place in a smaller group. At the beginning of the workshop, many participants positioned themselves among emotions such as concern, frustration, and anxiety when discussing climate change. Yet after sharing stories about their cities, communities, and experiences, many had shifted toward emotions associated with hope and empowerment.Showing once again the power that confiding and connecting with a community can have. Simply hearing that others shared similar concerns seemed to make a difference. The workshop became a reminder that climate emotions are often collective emotions. Sometimes the feeling we’re missing isn’t information or solutions. Sometimes it’s community. Parallel to the discussion, next-door an interview was taking place by my fellow ambassadors. It was with a local activist, environmentalist, researcher and a mountain guide working alongside the city administration – Ismir Smajić. Much of this conversation focused on education, climate communication, and the importance of connecting people with nature. When discussing eco-anxiety, his perspective was straightforward. He told us that he doesn’t have it. And if we act we won’t have it either. Whether everyone would agree with that conclusion is another question entirely, but it certainly gave us something to think about on our journey onward. Soon enough, it was time to pack our bags once again and head to our 8 hour bus to Zagreb (where I’m currently writing this report from). We said goodbye to the locals, the green hills surrounding the city, and the countless recommendations we never quite managed to fit into our schedule. Sarajevo turned out to be a city of conversations. Conversations about history and memory. About nature and community. About climate emotions and collective imagination. And perhaps most importantly, conversations that left us feeling a little more hopeful than before. Until the next stop – ćao! Written by: Kadi Värnik (and the Azure team) Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post Azure Team – Sarajevo first appeared on Europe on Track.