Lent term, 2024. Gloomy days, rain and cold, entering the library when it is dark, and leaving when it somehow is even more drab. I was already drowning in the Renaissance paper – embarrassing given this was only Week Three – and was faced with More’s Utopia, debating whether Utopia really was a utopia. But all of this talk had me dreaming of another place, another land, to break the Cambridge term cycle before it had even fully matured. 

“We headed to Stansted at 5am, carrying only my backpack and a new free-spirited disposition”

Now, I am a major sucker for Skyscanner and the Ryanair website. £15 flights? I’m hooked. At home I live at least two and a half hours from an airport, so Stansted’s proximity feels like heaven to me. And I was determined to take advantage of this. 

So, when I approached the topic of a mini one-night getaway to my partner, who is equally as obsessed with cheap breaks, I knew it could come to fruition. Next thing I knew, we were both scouring through the Ryanair options from Stansted, looking for the cheapest flight far, far away. After putting off the essay deadlines for hours we finally settled on Bremen, Germany, with a return flight of around £30 – bargain. 

Next thing I knew three more of our friends were involved, an Airbnb was booked – costing £10 each for the night – and in two days’ time we would be heading to Germany. I was feeling frantic: work was piling up, yet I had decided to go gallivanting. But it was too late: we headed to Stansted at 5am, carrying only my backpack and a new free-spirited disposition. 

If I wanted to escape Cambridge because of the sunless weather, I would have failed. Bremen was equally as dreary, but this only added to the gothic vibe of the city. I was excited just to be out of Cambridge, seeing a new place and, most significantly, eating chunks of gouda from the market. The essay was the last thing on my mind, even more so after witnessing a ‘Grannies against the Right’ protest. Having gorged ourselves on chocolate, we braved the rainy walk to our Airbnb, a two-bedroom sanctuary, not tainted with sprawled notes, jammed diaries or overheating laptops. 

With luggage dropped, we headed out to ‘paint the town red’, not a difficult feat seeing as the city is five times smaller than London. After a meal and drinks at some sort of Spanish-Italian fusion restaurant, we headed for a couple of Irish bars – there seemed to be many in Bremen – one of which was aptly named ‘Hegarty’s’. We came on the right night: live music, a great crowd of people, and Aperol Spritz to enjoy, a blessing as someone who does not really enjoy a pint. I was having the time of my life… until the next morning. An early morning flight meant that we were whacked with a hangover, one that was hardly bearable for me at least. And this was only going to get worse.

“The happiness of Bremen was quickly moved on from, and the Cambridge reality sharply slapped me in the face again”

I was praying for a McDonalds, or a German equivalent of a Spoons at the airport so I could feel sorry for myself over a fry-up or a McMuffin at least. However, upon arriving at the airport, we were blessed with nothing. Starved, nauseous, and tired, I braved the flight and the rail replacement bus home, on which the essay I had conveniently forgotten approached the forefront of my mind again. I knew I was in for a long day. I Deliveroo-ed a Tortilla burrito to provide temporary satiation and filled up three water bottles to ensure my hydration as I dealt with (panicked over) the essay. The happiness of Bremen was quickly moved on from, and the Cambridge reality sharply slapped me in the face again. 

Even though the day after the trip was a bit (very) rough, I think the best thing you can do in term is leave for a day, or even a night. Being physically not able to do work means you have to have fun, decompress, and focus on other things. It also meant I had to get my work done when I got back because I lost time. So, I will be browsing Ryanair frequently throughout the rest of my degree, in search of that same relief a day out of Cambridge brought me. 

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