Backpacking Through Europe

Madrid, Spain

They woke up an hour before they reached Madrid and made sure to use the toilet and freshen up before they ate some bread and cheese that they brought from France.
"So what's your schedule for Madrid?" Louis asked.

"Oh, I just want to explore the city." Harry said.

"How about one of those hop on hop off busses?" Louis suggested.

"Yeah, that's a great idea!" Harry smiled.

"I always wanted to watch a Flamenco show." Louis said.

"That would be really cool!" Harry said excitedly.

"Alright. Harry, I don't want to mess up your traveling plans. You definitely put a lot of thought and planning behind it. If you want to travel by yourself that's totally fine." Louis hesitated.

"Oh, I... I like your company, but if you want to go by yourself I totally understand." Harry said dishearted.

"I like your company too and I would love to tag along, but maybe you should tell me the plan you made?" Louis smiled.

"Of course!" Harry took out his little notepad and came closer so they could look at it together.
"I was planning on sleeping at a hostel for one night in Madrid and head to Portugal the next morning but we can take the night train again instead and head to Lisbon. I just want to explore the city."

"How about hitting the beach as well?" Louis suggested.

Seeing Louis in swim trunks?
"Definitely! Two days in Lisbon, then a train to Barcelona for shopping and architecture for a day."

"Sounds alright to me." Louis smiled.

"I want to spend four days in Italy. There's so much to see in Rome and I also want to visit the Vatican city and Pompeji." Harry informed him. Louis just smiled and nodded his head.

"Then a train to Switzerland to spend a day in Zürich, a day in Austria and Vienna, a day in Prague in the Czech Republic, and then Poland. Two days in Krakow. I want to visit the concentration camps. Germany and Berlin, maybe a stop in Hamburg. The Netherlands, three days in Amsterdam. One day in Belgium and Brussels and then back to Paris to take the train back to England." Harry rambled and took a deep breath when he was finished.

"That's quite the plan, Harry. Sounds like a lot but I'm in. Better make the best of it, right?" Louis grinned.

The train arrived at the station and they got off together. They put their backpacks in a locker and found their way into town and one of those jump on jump-off busses. They had a lot of fun going around the city, getting off when they wanted to check something out. Harry hadn't been this spontaneous in ages and he loved it.

They ate lunch at a Tapas restaurant before they continued their way around the city. Harry took millions of pictures.

They googled the location of a restaurant with flamenco dancers and spent the evening enjoying the food and entertainment before they headed back to the train station to catch the night train to Portugal.

They had the beds opposite each other and spent an hour whispering and giggling, definitely bothering the other passengers that tried to get some sleep.
"Today was amazing! I had so much fun. Thanks, Louis." Harry beamed.

"I had an awesome day as well. Good night, Harry." Louis smiled.

Harry turned around and fell asleep with a content sigh. He woke up an hour later from someone leaning over him. He thought it was Louis at first in his sleep-drunken state but then he realized that a stranger was going through his backpack.
"Hey! Stop that!" Harry shouted.

The man jumped back and then he hurried out of there.
"Who was that?" Louis asked.

"Someone tried to steal my stuff." Harry said.

"What? Did they manage to take anything?" Louis wondered.

Harry turned on the flashlight on his phone and looked inside his backpack.
"I think everything is still here."

"Thank fuck. Here, put our backpacks against the wall. We're sharing your bed." Louis said and handed him his backpack.

They were? Great! Harry hurried to put their backpacks in place and hugged them close to his chest, trying to make room for Louis.

Louis laid down behind him. His front was pressed against Harry's back.
"Is this okay?" Louis asked.

"Yeah." Harry agreed easily.

Louis snuck his arm around Harry's waist. Harry's heart was beating stupidly fast.
"Try to get some sleep."

"Finally!" Someone muttered from the bed above them which made them giggle.

They fell asleep after a while, both tired from all the expressions they had taken in during their day in Madrid. Harry slept like a baby. He felt safe with Louis' arm around him.

They woke up the next morning and shared a meager breakfast that they bought before they hopped on the train last night.
"So what's your plan when you get back to England?" Louis asked.

"I'm moving to London actually. I'm starting Uni in the fall." Harry said.

"What are you gonna study?" Louis wondered.

"I'm getting a Bachelor's in Sociology." Harry answered.

"Cool. I also live in London. I'm studying drama." Louis informed him.

"Cool!" Harry beamed. They would be in the same city? That was great news!

"We definitely have to hang out when we're in London." Louis smiled.

"Definitely." Harry echoed.

"So, I guess you have already googled Hostels in Lisbon? Where are we gonna stay?" Louis smirked.

"Wanna share a hotel room? A cheap one obviously, but it would be nice to not have to share a dorm with a bunch of strangers." Harry suggested and blushed. That was too bold.

"Sure. That's a great idea!" Louis agreed. Smiled at him. Why did he have to be so gorgeous?

Louis picked up his phone and did a google search. They found a Hotel close to the city for a reasonable price.

The train was approaching the station and they grabbed their things and got out. A new country. New possibilities.