Erasmus+ friendship on rails

Elena and Alice met at the pre-departure training. Their journeys took them in different directions - but they stayed in touch. A spontaneous city trip brings them back together months later. They tell us here what makes their friendship so special: 

The first time we met was at the DiscoverEU pre-departure event, that's right. We got on really well there and had a really good chat. After that, we kept in touch via social media because, unfortunately, we don't live that close to each other. Alice is from Tyrol, I'm from Lower Austria. As our DiscoverEU trips were already planned at the time of the pre-departure event, we travelled separately by train. Of course, we always told each other about our travel experiences. Alice travelled alone and I travelled through Europe with another friend. Our routes were actually very similar and included stops such as Milan, Barcelona and Valencia.  

After a single meeting after the pre-departure event and numerous WhatsApp audios and Snapchat videos, through which we keep in constant contact, we spontaneously decided to go on a Budapest trip together. And how could it be any different? By train, of course, because DiscoverEU has taught us to appreciate travelling by rail.

Above all, our friendship is united by our enthusiasm for travelling and new adventures and experiences. We inspire each other, whether it's about our next experience abroad, our career ideas or other topics. 

What's also unique about our friendship is that we've only known each other for such a short time, but it feels like we've been friends for many years. This proves that travelling together creates bonds and unforgettable memories.

Original article : Eine Erasmus+ Freundschaft auf Schienen

Updated on Tisdag, 17/02/2026