It’s been one of those weeks where everything feels like a full story arc on its own—travel, people, inspiration, and a bit of chaos thrown in for good measure.
I started off heading to Berlin for Bus2Bus, which, as expected, was a fascinating mix of innovation, mobility conversations, and reconnecting with people who genuinely care about the future of transport. There’s something energizing about being in a space where ideas are constantly moving—autonomous tech, sustainability, new business models—it’s a reminder of how quickly things are evolving.
The next level of electrification - Intercity buses
There would have been the chance to drive this Neoplan Cityliner - but I did not want to queue.
Berlin wouldn’t be Berlin without slowing down a bit, though. One evening, I went to the cinema with Heidi, and we watched The Drama. True to its name, it leaned fully into intense, character-driven storytelling—layered relationships, uncomfortable truths, and those moments where silence says more than dialogue. It wasn’t an easy watch, but that was exactly the point. It pulled you in, made you sit with the tension, and left enough unresolved to keep it on your mind long after the credits rolled. A pretty fitting counterbalance to the otherwise fast-paced, idea-heavy days.
From there, things shifted from urban buzz to alpine calm. I took the train down to Leysin, Switzerland, for the AIESEC 75-year anniversary and kickoff. The journey itself already felt like a transition—watching the landscape change from cityscapes to mountains always puts things into perspective. And surprisingly on this 11h trip - arriving on time.
Aigle is the last station that I needed to change at and next I switched to the green small train that first went like a tram through the town, then changed direction and gears and steeply climbed the mountain as a funicular railway.
Up the mountain through wineyards
Leysin was something else. Being surrounded by people from different generations of AIESEC—current members and alumni—created a unique kind of energy. There’s a shared understanding, even across years, of what the organization stands for. Conversations flowed easily, whether about past experiences, current projects, or future ambitions. It felt both nostalgic and forward-looking at the same time. I had the pleasure to be a panelist of the multi-generational panel - looking backwards on what has been, what we learned and how it impacted our life today to envisioning the future and proving input for the next 75 Years of AIESEC.
Panel Selfie 2: Chris & Tobias & the audience
Of course, no trip is complete without a twist.
On the way back, somewhere between Lausanne and Zurich, my suitcase decided to part ways with me—unfortunately not by choice. By the time I realized it was gone, it was already too late. What followed was a less glamorous but very real part of travel: filing a police report, retracing steps, and trying to stay calm while mentally listing everything that was in there.
Last photo of my petrol Samsonite LiteShock suitcase - it went all across Europe with me in the past nine years and according to my latest research still the lightest hardshell cabin trolley.
Let's see what I will buy to replace this treasure with.
For an immediate two night trip I had a shoulder strap Nomad bag - way too heavy.
This is the photo I took with the intention to write about it:
the business first class in the InterRegio of the SBB (Swiss train company) -
big table with plugs on top and windows looking out on the Alpine scenery. Unfortunately, after an hour I had to switch trains and the next had a different layout.
It delayed my journey back to Munich by a couple of hours, and while it wasn’t exactly how I imagined ending the trip, it did add a strange sense of perspective. Travel isn’t just the highlights—it’s also the unexpected moments that test your patience and adaptability.
Different times of the day in Leysin
Now back in Munich, slightly more tired than planned and missing a suitcase and dirty clothes, but carrying a lot of impressions: new ideas from Berlin, an intense film night, meaningful connections in Leysin, and a reminder to maybe keep a closer eye on my luggage next time.
Until the next journey.
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