5. The entities that supported my journey: The forces behind my European tour
Although it felt like I was navigating this two-week trip to Europe on my own, I was actually supported by many entities.
Beyond the people I met locally, what left the biggest impression were the tools and systems I hadn't really thought about in my daily life.
First and foremost, I relied on ChatGPT.
It was involved in almost every aspect, from planning the itinerary and discussing travel routes to deciding how to spend my time locally, checking things when I felt a bit anxious, and even summarizing this travel record.
Of course, it wasn't perfect, and I was occasionally misled by slightly off-base information, but even that was part of the process of constantly engaging in dialogue as I moved forward.
And the one I relied on overwhelmingly was Google Maps.
I realized its power even more than I do when I'm in Japan. Whether it was train and bus transfers, route suggestions, or figuring out my current location, I believe it was thanks to this tool that I was able to move around without getting lost, even in places where I had absolutely no sense of direction.
I felt it was less of a simple map and more of a 'foundation for being able to travel anywhere in the world.'
For connectivity, Airalo's eSIM was indispensable.
It was truly helpful to be able to use it seamlessly while traveling across various European countries.
It became a bit unstable in Monaco and a few other places, but that actually made me realize how much I usually rely on connectivity.
Looking back, the fact that I ran out of data along the way and had to keep topping it up is also a good experience.
Regarding payments, I was surprised by the convenience of Apple Pay.
Europe is almost entirely cashless, and everything from trains to shopping can be completed with just a smartphone.
I hadn't used it that much in Japan, but I used it almost every day on this trip, and its smoothness was a huge help.
I used Trip.com to arrange my flights and hotels.
Being able to manage flights, trains, and accommodations all in one place while moving between multiple countries was very easy and made it simple to handle sudden changes.
Choosing China Eastern Airlines business class was also a decision made within this flow, and as a result, I was able to travel very comfortably.
Looking back, I feel that this trip was less about 'me moving' and more about the fact that 'I could move because the environment was set up for it.'
It felt like technology and systems were supporting the flow from behind the scenes.
On the other hand, just because those things exist doesn't mean you don't have to think; ultimately, how you move and what you choose is up to you.
The accumulation of those decisions shaped this trip.
The feeling that 'everything started to connect,' which is also the theme of this trip, was likely built not just on visible events, but also on these underlying systems and support.
Encounters with people, places, timing, and the tools and environments that support them.
I felt that they were not independent of each other, but rather functioning within a single flow.
Through this trip, I gained the realization that I can move anywhere, and at the same time, the feeling that I am living while connected to something no matter where I am.
With this, I'll bring the record of my two-week European trip to a close, and since a new flow has begun, I want to keep accelerating and enjoying life.
🧳 Summary of tools used
ChatGPT: Travel consultation and organization
Google Maps: Travel and navigation
Apple Pay: Payments
📱 Tips for a comfortable trip
Set up your eSIM in advance
Google Maps is also convenient for offline saving
Apple Pay can be used almost everywhere
▶︎ Continued
6. A journey that felt like a solo trip, but wasn't. A new experience of traveling with AI.