✈️ Split, Croatia

At three in the morning we left Elverum for Gardermoen. We arrived in Split in beautiful sunshine and checked into the hostel before meeting for a joint sightseeing tour.

The city center grew up around Diocletian's Palace – built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian in the 300th century. Today it is a vibrant part of the old town, with cafes, shops and churches within the ancient walls.

We ended the day with dinner together and a trip up to Marjan Hill, where we watched the sun set over the Adriatic Sea – a perfect end to the first day.

🚍 Freedom, mistakes and feet

The next day we spread out. The students traveled in groups of 5–8 people and had planned their own route, transportation and accommodation. Some left early, others took the night bus. Along the way, they had to deal with bus changes, delays and unexpected stops. Among other things, a customs check caused one group to miss the next bus. They were able to transfer their tickets and made it to Rijeka – and were rewarded with a day at the beach.

On the trip, the students cooked, played poker, skated, and discussed everything from societal challenges to foot widths. One quote from a group summary says it well: “We chilled out, made 5-star toast, and laughed at Magnus’s insanely wide feet.”

🌍 We "run Europe"

Over the next few days, the students visited big cities like Ljubljana, Prague and Vienna, but also smaller cities like Rijeka, Salzburg and Ceske. One group went to Bled in Slovenia – famous for the lake with the small church on the island and Bled Castle overlooking the water.

Otherwise, the days were filled with sightseeing, churches, markets, and exploring the cities. For many, the highlight was “just being on a trip together” – staying together, finding their way, cooking, and sharing experiences.

🎷 Vienna and Prague

In Vienna, the jazz club became a highlight for many in addition to the city itself with its markets and fantastic architecture.

In Prague, many fell in love with the dramatic architecture, the magnificent bridges and narrow streets. In addition to great weather, chimney cake and gelato!

Ljubljana was also mentioned by many as a favorite – a green, quiet city with cafés and shops along the river and the castle towering over the city.

🛤️ The students have done everything themselves

The entire trip has been a crash course in practical responsibility. The students obtained their own tickets, found accommodation, kept to a budget and coordinated times.

Some have never traveled before, and some have only traveled mostly with their parents in the past. Regardless of how experienced they were before the trip, everyone has received good training in traveling on their own.

🇩🇪 Joint end in Berlin

Finally, we all met in Berlin for two days together. We visited the East Side Gallery – a section of the Berlin Wall covered in over a hundred works of art. The wall stands as a symbol of hope and change, in stark contrast to the division it represented and symbolized from 1961 to 1989.

We of course visited the Brandenburg Gate, and went on to the "Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe", where we had a powerful experience in the underground museum.

🎤 Last night – dinner and jam

We finished with a joint dinner before many went to a jam session at the jazz club B-Flat. And the evening peaked when Alva from Fotolinja suddenly stood on stage and sang!

🧳 A slightly different trip

We came home with a backpack full of stories and moments. The trip gave us insight into history, culture and music – but most importantly: the students have learned to travel independently, take responsibility and be curious about the world.

Gallery