Like many Americans, I'm used to taking long road trips. In my opinion, anything less than 12 hours is reasonable to drive in a day.

So, I applied this same mindset to traveling around Europe. Instead of driving, though, I enjoyed the passing hours on trains.

However, I noticed several times that my travels shocked the locals. For example, my eight-hour train ride from Basel, Switzerland, to Amsterdam surprised one hotel worker, who couldn't believe I'd be traveling that far in a day.

When I tried to explain my experience with road trips in the States, I'd often receive blank looks in return. One woman was shocked when I told her you could drive for 12 hours in Texas and still be in the same state.

A Google search later, we realized she could drive for the same amount of time from her hometown of Brussels all the way to Milan.

I realized how much your perspective changes when traveling between countries, not states.

I rarely carry cash anymore. However, I knew some remote areas I'd be visiting in the Czech Republic may not take credit cards. So, I pulled out some euros.

However, I received a bewildered look from a Czech takeout worker when I tried to pay with this currency.

I learned that although the Czech Republic is part of the European Union, it doesn't use the euro. In fact, of the 27 nations in the EU, seven countries don't use euros: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Sweden.

Although some of these countries may adopt the use of euros in the future, I'll double-check before traveling to these places.

I spent three months in areas where English wasn't the primary language. At first, it was exciting to try my hand at broken French or German to communicate with a shop owner.

I also met locals who spoke fluent English, allowing me to still have rich conversations in my native tongue.

However, around two months in, I realized that I was desperately missing something that I'd never given much thought to: background conversations.

These are the discussions that you pass by, but you're not in: a couple figuring out dinner plans, a mom and child choosing which apples to buy, or a worker helping a customer find a certain size.

Although I was often surrounded by people, I didn't anticipate the loneliness that set in when I couldn't understand the everyday conversations happening around me.

Living in Colorado, I'm used to dog-friendly shops and restaurants. However, if I see a dog in public, that pup is on a leash.

This wasn't the case for much of Europe. Whether in a quiet neighborhood, park, or busy city center, people would go about their business with their dogs next to them — without leashes.

Although the dog might straggle behind, one whistle and they'd promptly return to their owner's side.

I'm not sure what the Europeans are doing to train their pooches so well — but it's obviously working.

Europe is famous for its centuries-old churches and landmarks, but what I enjoyed most was finding history in ordinary properties. I'd wander into a deli or bookshop and spot a small sign revealing that the building was older than my home country.

My favorite instance of this was a pub in Edinburgh that I was told to check out. Before walking in, I did a double take when I saw the year the pub opened: 1360. As I sipped on my drink, I couldn't help but wonder who else enjoyed a pint in this very same spot throughout the years.

But that was a discovery for another day. There are only so many surprises a gal can take.

You might think that because I'm a writer, I'd be pretty good at journaling. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. I typically find myself journaling at the beginning of a trip, but then I drop off as the exhaustion starts to hit.

However, near the end of my trip around Europe, I discovered the beauty of voice notes. Instead of journaling in my room after a long day, I could pull out my phone and record a recap while walking back to my hotel.

This would have been helpful on particularly eventful days, like when I was in Paris attending the Summer Olympics.

The details are what keep memories alive, and on my next trip, I'm excited to document my travels even more precisely.

As an American, I'm in awe of the European rail system. Pay $40 to read on a train for a few hours and end up in another country? You can't beat it.

However, my previous European train experiences have always been in the offseason. Riding the trains in the summer was a whole different experience.

Of the 20+ long-distance trains I rode throughout the summer, almost all were delayed to some degree. To say this made for some headaches is an understatement.

For example, my travel day from Switzerland to Amsterdam went from a simple two-train excursion to a nightmarish six different trains, ultimately adding five hours to an already long travel day.

This happened because my connection was 20 minutes long and my train was 25 minutes late. Next time, I'll try to give myself at least half an hour between trains.

When I was in England, it was prime music-festival time — and the Brits sure know how to host a festival. However, it wasn't until some locals started listing the festivals they were attending that I even started to look into the details.

It turns out Hozier was playing down the street from where I was staying — on the day I was leaving. My travel arrangements weren't flexible, so I had to miss out on seeing one of my favorite artists (for a fraction of what his tickets cost in the States).

Next time I head across the pond, I'll be sure to do some research ahead of time about who is playing nearby.

Having a considerable sweet tooth, I knew I was in trouble when I was heading to England and France. From Victoria sponge cake and scones to macarons and eclairs, the temptations were everywhere.

And the other countries I visited didn't disappoint in their pastry offerings either.

Although I did indulge in the occasional sweet treat (particularly the kolaches in the Czech Republic), I convinced myself that I didn't need to splurge too often.

Now that I'm back in the States, I'm kicking myself for not sampling more of the local desserts. Food is a vital part of a country's culture, and desserts are a fairly inexpensive way to experience the locals' favorite recipes.

I'm not naturally a morning person, and I typically need a specific reason to get up early. On days I didn't have one, I often wouldn't be out and about until 10 or 11 a.m.

However, the morning I left Prague, I woke up before dawn to watch the sunrise on the iconic Charles Bridge. I was used to the bridge being packed with tourists, but at 7 a.m., I had the place to myself.

Although it's not my natural tendency, getting out on the streets in the early morning offers a completely different perspective of a city.

If you're looking for a truly medieval-feeling city in the UK, you can't choose a better spot than the Scottish capital, Edinburgh.

I was mesmerized by the city's stunning mix of architectural styles, which makes the buildings appear larger than life. Most notably, Edinburgh Castle towers over the city and is visible from many different spots in town.

Edinburgh is also a treasure trove of history, whether it's Mary King's Close, a preserved 17th-century alley, or a whiskey tour in which I learned about the distinctive regional varieties of Scotch.

When the colder weather started getting to me, I was able to find a surprising number of hot-chocolate shops. I found that hot cocoa paired with a doughnut from one of the countless bakeries around town made for the perfect afternoon snack.

Amsterdam has a reputation as a party city, particularly its proclivity for marijuana and the Red Light District. Though Amsterdam is definitely a good place to have a great time, there is so much more to the city.

During my stay, I tried to avoid the tourist hot spots, favoring the local neighborhoods instead. One particularly enchanting walk along the canals led me to Foodhallen, a lively food market where I got to enjoy sushi, a corndog, and the Dutch snack of bitterballen — which can best be described as a deep-fried stew ball.

When I did venture to busier places, it was to tour the art and history museums. My favorites were the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House, which were each powerful and moving in their own right.

I also enjoyed how much the city's layout differed from the other European cities I visited. Bikes and boats reign supreme, which make for lovely ways to explore the city.

Zurich is a gorgeous city, and sitting on the banks of the lake with a plate of currywurst was a top-tier European experience for me.

Though I found the city to be expensive compared with the other places I visited, the main reason I wouldn't return is because of Zurich's enviable neighbors: the villages of the Swiss Alps.

In just a few hours, you can leave the urban environment and arrive in towns like Wengen and Mürren, which look straight out of a storybook.

One of the main reasons I wanted to visit the capital of Wales was to tour Cardiff Castle, and the complex didn't disappoint. I learned about 2,000 years of history, from ancient ruling families to an underground bunker used in World War II.

But in my opinion, the rest of Cardiff wasn't quite as impressive.

Though I enjoyed the Victorian and Edwardian arcades (glass-roofed alleys with various shops), the city center felt a bit grungier than the others I visited because of some loose trash lying around. I also felt as if there weren't a ton of other activities to do in the vicinity.

But with 400 castles scattered throughout the country, I'll be sure to explore the more remote parts of Wales on my next visit.