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.