Stage 148: Bus ride from Milan to Frankfurt and the end of the journey

The bus ride from Milan to Frankfurt took a total of eleven hours. We crossed Switzerland, with additional stops in Freiburg and Mannheim, among others. I didn't get much sleep on this last stage, but it was still better than the 44-hour bus ride from Yerevan to Tehran, I thought.

On the way home, I had plenty of time to reminisce and reflect on my journey. From the start almost a year ago to the end of the trip, I was able to visit 20 countries and cover approximately 12,000 kilometers on my bike. I certainly had a lot of luck despite my intensive preparation, as my equipment and bike performed so well and I didn't experience any major crises, accidents, or hungry bears compared to fellow bike travelers. However, it is certainly neither coincidence nor luck that 99% of my encounters with people on this journey were positive. It only reinforces my conviction that the vast majority of people in this world are inherently good, regardless of their origin, religion, or anything else. When it comes to helpfulness and warmth, many Europeans could certainly learn something from Asian cultures and societies.

Even after arriving in Frankfurt at nine o'clock in the morning, my thoughts did not stop swirling. The very last leg of my journey took me to my hometown, Wiesbaden, 40 kilometers away. With many impressions and experiences in tow, the trip flew by. It will certainly take a while for me to fully adjust to the German everyday life again.

I am grateful for all the experiences I have gathered and above all for the numerous encounters with other travelers and locals. I will benefit from such a journey for the rest of my life. Unlike "ordinary" vacations, where memories often fade quickly, I believe I will remember the people and places from this journey for a long time. Above all, I will try to approach strangers with the same openness and hospitality that I often experienced along the way! And who knows what journeys life still holds in store...