The Bus Tour Around the City

It is Sunday and I want to see all the famous places in the city. The hotel receptionist told me about a bus tour that goes around all the main tourist attractions. She said, "The tour bus stops right outside the hotel every thirty minutes. You can buy a ticket from the driver. It costs fifteen euros for the whole day and you can get on and off as many times as you like." I think this is a great idea because I do not know the city well and I do not want to get lost again. I have my camera, my map, my water bottle, and some money in my bag. I put on my comfortable walking shoes and my sunglasses because it is a sunny day. I go outside and wait at the bus stop. There is a sign that says "City Tour" with a picture of a red bus. I check the time. It is nine forty-five. The next bus should come at ten.

The bus arrives exactly at ten. It is a big red double-decker bus with an open top. I can see tourists sitting upstairs in the sunshine, taking photos. I get on and say to the driver, "Good morning. One day ticket, please." He says, "Fifteen euros." I give him a twenty euro note and he gives me five euros change and a ticket. He says, "You can sit anywhere. Upstairs is open air, which is nice on a sunny day like today. There are headphones at every seat with commentary in twelve languages." I say, "Thank you!" I go upstairs and find a seat at the front. The view from here is amazing. I can see the whole street ahead of me. I put on the headphones and select English. A friendly voice says, "Welcome to the city tour! We will visit fifteen famous locations today. Our first stop is the old cathedral, built in the year twelve hundred."

The bus drives slowly through the streets. The voice in my headphones tells me about every building and monument we pass. We go through the main shopping street, past the town hall, and along the river. I take many photos. After about ten minutes, the bus stops at the old cathedral. The voice says, "Stop number one: the Cathedral of Saint Peter. This cathedral is eight hundred years old and is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Europe. You may get off here and explore. The next bus will arrive in thirty minutes." I decide to get off and look at the cathedral. It is enormous! The walls are made of grey stone and the windows are filled with coloured glass that shows pictures of saints and angels. The door is huge and made of dark wood. I go inside. It is cool and quiet. The ceiling is so high that I have to bend my neck back to see it.

I spend twenty minutes inside the cathedral. It is beautiful and peaceful. There are candles burning near the altar and the coloured light from the windows makes patterns on the stone floor. I take some photos but I am careful to be quiet and respectful. When I come out, I see that the next tour bus is already waiting. I get on and show my day ticket to the driver. He nods and I go back upstairs. The bus continues through the city. The next stop is the old market square. The voice says, "Stop number two: the Market Square. This square has been the heart of the city for over five hundred years. On Saturdays, there is a famous outdoor market here." I already know this square because I was here yesterday! But it looks different today without the market stalls. It is quiet and empty, with just a few people sitting at café tables.

I stay on the bus and we continue to stop number three: the river bridge. This is a beautiful old stone bridge with statues on both sides. The voice says, "This bridge was built in the fourteenth century. The statues represent the twelve apostles." I take photos of the bridge and the river below. The water is blue and sparkling in the sunshine. I can see boats and ducks on the water. The bus crosses the bridge and goes into the newer part of the city. Here the buildings are more modern with glass and steel. We pass a big shopping centre, a sports stadium, and a park. The voice tells me about each one. At stop number five, we reach the city park. It is a huge green space with lakes, gardens, and walking paths. I decide to get off here because I want to walk around and enjoy the nature.

The park is beautiful. There are tall trees with green leaves, flower beds with roses and tulips, and a large lake with swans swimming on it. I walk along the path beside the lake. There are families having picnics on the grass, children playing with balls and frisbees, and old people sitting on benches feeding the birds. I find a quiet bench under a tree and sit down to rest. I eat an apple from my bag and drink some water. The sun is warm on my face and I can hear birds singing in the trees above me. It is so peaceful here. I could stay all day. But I want to see more of the city, so after twenty minutes I walk back to the bus stop in the park. I check the time. It is twelve fifteen. The next bus should come at twelve thirty.

The bus comes and I get on again. We continue the tour. The next stops are the art museum, the botanical garden, the old castle on the hill, and the university. I stay on the bus for these stops and just enjoy the views and the commentary. The voice tells me that the castle was built in the fifteenth century by a king who wanted to protect the city from enemies. From the bus, I can see the castle high on the hill with its towers and walls. It looks like something from a fairy tale. The university is also impressive, with old stone buildings and a beautiful courtyard. The voice says, "The university was founded in 1386 and is one of the oldest in Europe." I make a note to visit the castle tomorrow. It must have amazing views of the whole city from up there.

At one in the afternoon, the bus reaches stop number ten: the food market district. I am hungry now, so I get off the bus. This area has many small restaurants, cafés, and food stalls. I can smell grilled meat, fresh bread, and spices. I walk along the street looking at all the options. There is Italian food, Chinese food, Mexican food, and local food. I decide to try a local restaurant. I go inside and say, "A table for one, please." The waiter takes me to a small table and gives me a menu. I order a bowl of soup and a piece of bread. The soup is thick and hearty with vegetables and beans. The bread is warm and crusty. It is simple but delicious. I also order a glass of fresh orange juice. The total is nine euros. I pay and leave a one euro tip.

After lunch, I get back on the tour bus. There are five more stops on the route. We pass the opera house, which is a grand building with columns and a golden roof. We see the botanical garden with its glass houses full of tropical plants. We drive along the river again and I can see the restaurant where Thomas and I had dinner on Friday night. The voice tells me about the history of the river and how it was important for trade hundreds of years ago. Ships would bring goods from other countries and sell them at the market. The last stop on the tour is the main train station, which is where I arrived on my first day. The bus then returns to the starting point near my hotel. The whole tour has taken about three hours, not counting my stops at the cathedral, the park, and the food market.

I get off the bus at my hotel at half past three in the afternoon. I am tired but very happy. I have seen so much of the city today! The cathedral, the bridge, the park, the castle from a distance, the university, and the food district. I have taken over one hundred photos on my camera. I go to my room and lie on the bed for a while. My feet are tired from all the walking in the park. I look through my photos on my phone and choose the best ones to send to my family. I send a message to my mother: "Having a wonderful time! Today I took a bus tour and saw the whole city. Tomorrow I will visit the castle. The weather is perfect. Miss you!" She replies quickly: "Beautiful photos! So happy you are enjoying yourself. Love you!" I smile and close my eyes for a short rest before dinner.