Really? I left alone and met several people all over the place. Then again…I wasn’t really travelling alone once I met them was I?
Any thoughts on San Sebastian? My buddy said it makes Barcelona look like nothing.
Check it out.
Enjoy…and sample the local females! I think if you’re staying in hostels it’s pretty easy to get some action. People turn into animals when on vacation like this.
Are you the dude whose datin proxy?
T
[quote]Kinetix wrote:
Really? I left alone and met several people all over the place. Then again…I wasn’t really travelling alone once I met them was I?
- Don’t travel alone!
[/quote]
I’m the same way for the most part. Its a new world, more so if you are an American. Its always better to have someone that you know and trust to watch your back.
Me solomon Grundy
WATCH THE MOVIE HOSTEL BEFORE YOU GO…lol…seriously, its based off a true story…
i hated europeans after that movie, which is ridiculous i know but still i never liked being somewhere where i wasnt sure the people liked me.
also keep in mind…their dolla is stronger than ours…
[quote]TOTrev wrote:
Any thoughts on San Sebastian? My buddy said it makes Barcelona look like nothing.
[/quote]
I never personally went there, but here’s what lonelyplanet.com had to say:
“Famed as a ritzy resort for wealthy Spaniards who want to get away from the hordes in the south…”
Beaches look a little crowded too.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/europe/spain/san-sebasti�n?v=images&a=3
Personally, I think that backpacking is more than nightlife and partying. Sure, it’s a big part of the experience, but if you’re just over there for that you might as well just party at home.
People in hostels often have to wear clothes day after day until they can wash them. Rooms are shared with anywhere from 4 to 40 people. Sometimes the showers aren’t working. This is not to say that it’s not fun. It’s part of the experience. But there isn’t as much sex as you’d think. If you’re not getting it at home you’re going to be just as unlucky over there.
[quote]TOTrev wrote:
Any thoughts on San Sebastian? My buddy said it makes Barcelona look like nothing.
Check it out.
Enjoy…and sample the local females! I think if you’re staying in hostels it’s pretty easy to get some action. People turn into animals when on vacation like this.
Are you the dude whose datin proxy?
T[/quote]
Guess I’ll have to plug my dear Spain…
Nate: GO THERE!
Honestly, do.
Barcelona is a very modern, cosmopolitan city, yet ,as has been mentioned, possesses some fantastic architecture, most of it by Dali. You can’t miss La Sagrada Familia, a cathedral designed by…(you have one guess) which they’ve been building for donkeys years.
Madrid mixes modern with 18th century beautifully. You can walk it in a couple of days easy, and the wheather should be great. You can go from bustling business centre, to gorgeous, imposing palace, to peacefull gardens in little more than a 20 min walk.
I’m from Madrid, can you tell?
About San Sebastian, my mother is from that part of the country (the Basque Country) and it is a beautiful coastal city; not what you might expect of a seaside city (if you want beach, Barcelona has it better). It is a small place, lots of white, with some incredible walks in the nearby mountains overlooking the sea. The people there are very friendly, moreso than in either Madrid or Barcelona.
Don’t go to France. They eat snails. I rest my case.
Why don’t you take Proxy with you!? She’s just going to hang around T-Nation moping from forum to forum, annoying the rest of us. ;-p
Go on, it’s much more fun with company.
[quote]Nate Green wrote:
I’m also looking at:
Munich - Oktoberfest
Prague
Amsterdam
Madrid
Plus a bunch of other places. I’m not much for the tourist-y stuff.
[/quote]
You’r not into touristy stuff and put the Oktoberfest at top of your list? Dude, seriously… do you know what’s it about?
Prague, Amsterdam and Madrid are excellent choices but I have to mention Vienna too 
Have a nice trip.
Staying until late November,eh?
Come to Cologne November 11th, start of carnival season!
Seriously, way better than the Oktoberfest!!!
This thread happened to be right under some stupid brokeback thread, and my mind confused the two, thought it said “Brokebackng Europe”
[quote]WebEyE wrote:
Nate Green wrote:
I’m also looking at:
Munich - Oktoberfest
Prague
Amsterdam
Madrid
Plus a bunch of other places. I’m not much for the tourist-y stuff.
You’r not into touristy stuff and put the Oktoberfest at top of your list? Dude, seriously… do you know what’s it about?
Prague, Amsterdam and Madrid are excellent choices but I have to mention Vienna too
Have a nice trip.
[/quote]
Touche.
Well, at least a fest or two there. I have heard that Oktoberfest is overplayed and overhyped.
Thanks!
-Nate
[quote]Nate Green wrote:
Munich - Oktoberfest
[/quote]
I’ll be at Opening Day for Oktoberfest, so if you make it there, I’ll shout you a beer!
Only suggestion I have is to Book your Accomodation way in advance for this, and try to get there pretty early. From what I’ve heard tables fill up quickly, and you only get served when yo are seated at a table…
[quote]ipjunkie wrote:
This thread happened to be right under some stupid brokeback thread, and my mind confused the two, thought it said “Brokebackng Europe”
[/quote]
The only ‘brokebacking’ in Europe will be if I load my pack too heavy. 
-Nate
[quote]Nate Green wrote:
tblifter wrote:
Also, anyone enjoy Barcelona? I plan on heading there but it is one of the places I have heard least about. I look forward to any more information in this thread and I want to say good luck to Nate Green on his European travels this summer.
-tblifter
I haven’t been to Barcelona, although I have been to Madrid (a long time ago. I hardly remember it). Barcelona is one of my main stops.
I’m also looking at:
Munich - Oktoberfest
Prague
Amsterdam
Madrid
Plus a bunch of other places. I’m not much for the tourist-y stuff. I’d rather explore on my own (I’m going with another fellow T-Nation-er), meet some locals, and have a good time.
Good luck on your travels, also.
-Nate
[/quote]
Drop me a PM if you plan to go to Madrid. Although now living in Texas, I’m originally from Madrid.
Have a great time Nate! You are so smart to do this while you are young!
AG
[quote]Le Stig wrote:
Avoid the UK, its full of scumbags, thugs, chavs and assholes. That is all.[/quote]
It does seem like whenever anyone talks about visiting Europe, it’s always the British tourists who are mentioned as the ones you want to avoid.
And as for people being unfriendly, me and my friends spent 3 weeks in France and everyone was super nice to us. Maybe they just like people on bikes. (and we didn’t speak a word of French)
Yeh me being from the UK; i can tell you; you don’t want to come here. We’re a bunch of assholes and cocky pricks. Also I live in Stratford-on-avon, and it isn’t so beautiful when you live here. The only reason to come here is as a social study, on how society has gone wrong.
If you do come though you want to stay away from people in Burberry hats, they are known as “Chavs” and will probably mug you.
But I don’t care about any of this, we are still the greatest nation in the world; and I wouldn’t live anywhere else! The sun never sets on the british empire
[quote]alstan90 wrote:
The sun never sets on the british empire
[/quote]
How would you know, it’s always hiding behind the clouds there?
Back to topic I’m probably heading off to the UK next month for a while to get a job - but I’ll probably end up visiting a few places around europe during the year, so maybe we’ll cross paths?
I’ve actually got a ton of family in Poland if you ever decide to visit there.
[quote]alstan90 wrote:
Yeh me being from the UK; i can tell you; you don’t want to come here. We’re a bunch of assholes and cocky pricks. Also I live in Stratford-on-avon, and it isn’t so beautiful when you live here. The only reason to come here is as a social study, on how society has gone wrong.
If you do come though you want to stay away from people in Burberry hats, they are known as “Chavs” and will probably mug you.
But I don’t care about any of this, we are still the greatest nation in the world; and I wouldn’t live anywhere else! The sun never sets on the british empire
[/quote]
Well he’s a T-Man so he can probably look after himself so if he kills a few chavs while he’s here thats cool.
And nothing personal but Britain used to be great, it needs to rediscover its balls and it will be great again!!
[quote]Nate Green wrote:
I’m also looking at:
Munich - Oktoberfest
Prague
Amsterdam
Madrid
[/quote]
That is a good selection. How long are you going for?
I recommend getting a pair of Magnum SWAT boots or some other military issue boot - they are light, and the sole is tough enough to not hurt walking on cobblestones. You don’t want to walk around Prague in runners especially with a pack. Buy all synthetic socks and underwear, so you can wash and dry them - cotton etc… takes forever to dry. You might find yourself washing stuff in sinks etc… (in bathroom, not kitchen)
Don’t travel too heavy, but man, nothing beats carrying a heavy pack for hours every day to burn fat.
You are going at a great time, Sept-Oct is good, it is usually a bit quieter than summer, yet still warm, not hot nor cold, you probably won’t need more than a shirt with spare jumper. (and pants of course).
DO NOT assume banks will give you the best deal, some countries that is not the case at all.
I recommend the DK Eyewitness guides, which have a good overview of the cities / countries with tricks and lots of pictures to decide what to see.
In Madrid, not many people speak English, or much English - it is not as common as say Barcelona. Madrid is excellent there is so much to see there, great art, architecture. Madrid is not so touristy - most people want to go to Spain for the beach. No beaches in Madrid. One thing you must try is, all the little bars etc… have a specialty. One might be cider, the other, a type of wine. You go from one to the other, get one drink and one little nibbly bit of food e.g a piece of cheese, or something.
In the Madrid area you MUST get to the following:
Toledo - about 6-9 euro bus trip of around 1 hour, Toledo is world heritage and there are about 30 things there that are great. Stay at least one night, prefer two, you will want to walk around without backpack so leave it in hotel.
El Escorial - this is a day trip, probably by bus, it is not far from Madrid but not sure how long about 30 mins? It is a huge complex building that once was the centre of the world, ie the King of Spain (who ruled most of the world) administered from there. He launched the Spanish Armada from there etc… it has an incredible cathedral, tombs, etc… library etc… and the area itself is high in the mountains, magnificent to walk around.
If you can make it south to cordoba in Spain, it is a 2hr express train journey which costs a bit ($80???) but cordoba is magnificent. But not essential. Worth considering.
Portugal is also very worthwhile but again, quite a long way out of the way. You’d be better off checking out France on the way from Germany to Spain.
Prague is so touristy it is sad, there are 5 shops there: crystals, pinnochio dolls, t-shirts, crafts and souveniers - and then, the same 5 shops. Again and again. It is all tourist. And people will rip you off. Half the people are quite lovely and will help you out, the other half will try and sham you (well not totally true but a little). Also the people might seem a bit gruff, but that is just their way. Lots to see in Prague though, worth seeing.
You have a great selection though. Those 4 places you listed are all quite different.
One thing you might find, if you are a big guy who eats a lot, some countries have a realyl light breakfast e.g coffee and a piece of toast. And that might be all you can find until midday. So that might be something to think about in advance.
no plugs for ibiza?! What is the real deal on that island. from what i pick up, its everything every Spring break destination in Mexico ought to be, but isn’t. this question probably is not for you if you hate electronic dance music
-k