Europe on Track
type: channel
description: We are back on track with the twelfth edition!
date: 2026-06-18T22:37:47Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
items: EoT12 Azure Interview
items: Lilac Team – Bergamo
items: Azure Team – Groningen
items: Lilac Team – Torino
items: Azure Team – Rotterdam
items: EoT12 Lilac Interview in Antalya
items: Lilac Team – Valladolid
items: Azure Team – Budapest
items: Lilac Team – Alicante
items: Azure Team – Sarajevo

EoT12 Azure Interview
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-18T22:23:52Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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…

Lilac Team – Bergamo
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-18T21:36:23Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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="attachm…

Azure Team – Groningen
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-16T20:54:04Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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 hom…

Lilac Team – Torino
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-16T09:26:22Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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 importan…

Azure Team – Rotterdam
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-13T14:55:42Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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…

EoT12 Lilac Interview in Antalya
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-10T16:01:53Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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, w…

Lilac Team – Valladolid
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-10T15:35:22Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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-wi…

Azure Team – Budapest
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-10T15:25:02Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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.europeo…

Lilac Team – Alicante
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-06T15:33:29Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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 doi…

Azure Team – Sarajevo
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-05T09:42:18Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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="l…