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Backpacking through Europe! (Read 4033 times)
woodssj
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Backpacking through Europe!
Dec 5th, 2018 at 1:16pm
 
Hello All,
    I'm headed across the pond this spring, and plan to travel about while I have both the time and money to do so. I'm just going to assume that as a young US Citizen, these will never coincide for me again.

The plan thus far is to fly into Naples, visit Pompeii, then do a Reverse-Hannibal through Rome, Assisi, Florence, someplace on the Adriatic, Lucca, hike part of the Via Francigena, hop over the Alps (hiking there if weather allows), go to Paris, Verdun, Mons, Frankfurt, Calais, take the Ferry to Dover, then up to London for a few days for the Museums. After that, it's up to New castle upon Tyne, hike Hadrian's Wall, take the ferry to Belfast, visit Dublin, ramble about Ireland, then fly home when the money runs out.

I'll be staying in Hostels and other cheap accommodation, spending most of my time in Museums (Worked in them for 15 years, I'm not missing this chance to see some of the best), and admiring the countryside. Ancient ruins, all that.

Any recommendations, cautions, or advise? This will be my first trip to Europe, and my first long Solo Trip. Also, first time in Hostels and such. My french is terrible, my English is distinctly New-England, and I'm woring to brush up my French and start on Italian.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
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woodssj
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Re: Backpacking through Europe!
Reply #1 - Dec 5th, 2018 at 1:18pm
 
Oh, yeah: I'm also going to buy a bit of string as soon as I land, and make a sling. Then I plan to put a rock into the other side of the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, Adriatic, English Channel, Irish Sea, and North Sea. Since I keep track, it's the one chance I'll likely get to do so.
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Mersa
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Re: Backpacking through Europe!
Reply #2 - Dec 5th, 2018 at 4:15pm
 
Sounds like you have an idea on what you want to do. Personally I think staying off the track and away from overly touristy areas can save a lot of money. The price can double from one store to another in certain areas. Pack as light as you can , bulky bags and hostels don't always mix , be prepared to have a few of your sleeps interrupted by other tourists as well if your in dorms.
Go to more of Germany , there nice people and there's lots to see, Stuttgart is a less desired city with some great attractions and not the tourist Hussel and bussel, the Netherlands and Czech were also great .
Not for everyone but bring a bike, I did 4 months with a bike traveling Europe , got around a lot faster in city's and saw lots of things I wouldn't if I was on foot or relying on busses and trains .
Be prepared to open the wallet holidays are for spending
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Kick
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Re: Backpacking through Europe!
Reply #3 - Dec 5th, 2018 at 4:44pm
 
That sounds like a pretty solid plan but ya know... Finland isn't THAT far north... Cheesy
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You are a great guy Kick but also slightly scary at times. - Morphy
"Nothing matters, but it’s perhaps more comfortable to keep calm and not interfere with other people." - H.P. Lovecraft, in a letter to Frank Belknap Long, 7 October, 1923
 
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walter
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Re: Backpacking through Europe!
Reply #4 - Dec 5th, 2018 at 7:21pm
 
I was in Europe for a year and a half. Agree with Mersa. Stutgaart was good. Loved the people there and Netherlands. Austria too. To be young again! Keep us up to date on your adventures Smiley
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woodssj
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Re: Backpacking through Europe!
Reply #5 - Dec 5th, 2018 at 9:22pm
 
Well, I'm not leaving until April, but I can make a thread here to keep people up to date if they're willing to tolerate it.

Finland would be great, Kick. I'm an Amature Forester and such, so Scandinavia's history of woodland management and wood heating is fascinating, just like Finland's history more generally. Only restriction is time and money, so if I have either left over, I'm going to Sweden or Finland, and Crete if I can pull it off. If you know a place in Finland that would be cheap to get to and stay, I'd love to hear of it and add it to the list!

Stuttgart is now on the list.

ALSO: I'm always up for slinging. If anyone is along these ramblings and out and about with some string and rocks, or has a favorite slinging spot near these sites, let me know, please!
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woodssj
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Re: Backpacking through Europe!
Reply #6 - Dec 5th, 2018 at 9:23pm
 
Oh, and as another side note: I have a long-Standing rule that if there's more people than Trees, I don't go there. I'm violating this rule a lot for this trip... It's going to be interesting.   But, as Mersa said... it'll keep me off the beaten track and hopefully keep the average cost down to compensate for when I am in the major cities.
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Kick
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Re: Backpacking through Europe!
Reply #7 - Dec 6th, 2018 at 2:17am
 
woodssj wrote on Dec 5th, 2018 at 9:22pm:
If you know a place in Finland that would be cheap to get to and stay, I'd love to hear of it and add it to the list!


Finland... Cheap... Ummmm...
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You are a great guy Kick but also slightly scary at times. - Morphy
"Nothing matters, but it’s perhaps more comfortable to keep calm and not interfere with other people." - H.P. Lovecraft, in a letter to Frank Belknap Long, 7 October, 1923
 
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slingbadger
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Re: Backpacking through Europe!
Reply #8 - Dec 6th, 2018 at 6:56am
 
In Italy, they have sogiorno. Basically it's like a siesta. At noon, everything shuts down for a couple of hours, so don't expect too much then.
Do not keep your wallet and passport in your pack. They should be on you at all times. I had a friend who fell asleep on a train, and thieves took his pack.
  Also have the contact info for the embassies handy.

I can tell you a lot about Ireland.PM me
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The greatest of all the accomplishments of 20th cent. science has been the discovery of human ignorance  The main difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits.-Einstein   I'm getting psychic as I get older. Or is that psychotic?
 
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Curious Aardvark
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Re: Backpacking through Europe!
Reply #9 - Dec 6th, 2018 at 7:17am
 
halfway between london (shithole) and newcastle is the midlands Smiley
Best part of the country, and coincidentally where I live lol

We have a youth hostel about a mile and a half away and a couple of decent b&bs a little closer.

Would be a shame to not visit warwick castle, and damn right criminal not to let me cook you a bbq Smiley
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Do All things with Honour and Generosity: Regret Nothing, Envy None, Apologise Seldom and Bow your head to No One  - works for me Smiley
 
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woodssj
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Re: Backpacking through Europe!
Reply #10 - Dec 6th, 2018 at 5:59pm
 
Well, the hospitality of this forum is splendid. I'll be in touch with everyone soon, I promise.

In return, once I have my farm project in Vermont up and running, you can all come crash my place for a slinging extravaganza one summer. Probably won't be next year, but eventually.

Again, thank you.
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slingbadger
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Re: Backpacking through Europe!
Reply #11 - Dec 6th, 2018 at 7:08pm
 
Most of the hostels I've been to do not cook you breakfast. They have supplies there for you to do it yourself, or you bring your own food. I've never had a problem with them, even with a dozen people in the room.
I would also try to plan a specific route, and then have reservations at the hostels. It might be the only way for you to get into them.
Hostelworld.com
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« Last Edit: Dec 7th, 2018 at 6:16am by slingbadger »  

The greatest of all the accomplishments of 20th cent. science has been the discovery of human ignorance  The main difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits.-Einstein   I'm getting psychic as I get older. Or is that psychotic?
 
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Curious Aardvark
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Re: Backpacking through Europe!
Reply #12 - Dec 10th, 2018 at 3:41pm
 
well if you get anywhere near Celle in germany (weirdly I lived near there as a kid) I'm sure Silvio (jaegoor) will put you up for a day or two. Smiley

That said germany is a huge country. But bear it in mind.

Not sure what part of finland timpa lives in, but drop him a pm.
I'd love for someone on the forum to meet him in the flesh - as it were Smiley
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Do All things with Honour and Generosity: Regret Nothing, Envy None, Apologise Seldom and Bow your head to No One  - works for me Smiley
 
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Kick
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Re: Backpacking through Europe!
Reply #13 - Dec 10th, 2018 at 3:45pm
 
I believe he was further up North than Helsinki. Some day I'll go hunt him down like Bigfoot in the Finnish forest Cheesy
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You are a great guy Kick but also slightly scary at times. - Morphy
"Nothing matters, but it’s perhaps more comfortable to keep calm and not interfere with other people." - H.P. Lovecraft, in a letter to Frank Belknap Long, 7 October, 1923
 
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Rat Man
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Re: Backpacking through Europe!
Reply #14 - Dec 10th, 2018 at 7:55pm
 
It sounds wonderful.  Travel while you're young and you can.  Trust me, once you get tied down you're tied down.
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