Backpacking Europe...

Off Topic
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[quote]Nate Green wrote:
ipjunkie wrote:
This thread happened to be right under some stupid brokeback thread, and my mind confused the two, thought it said “Brokebackng Europe”

The only ‘brokebacking’ in Europe will be if I load my pack too heavy. :slight_smile:

-Nate
[/quote]

That’s good to know. I always wondered what it would be like to do what you’re doing. It’s cool that you’re going to do it. Staying in Hostels, getting maligned by Europeans, hooking up with hot Euro chicks that want you to PIITB. Ah, the possibilities.

42

[quote]Magister Ludi wrote:
Hauling around an oversized pack gets to be a real drag after awhile.
[/quote]

Literally.

43

Thoughts:

  1. Off the beaten track is always a good idea, so don’t committ to too many bookings. You can always go cheaper locally and it’s more fun to just go with the flow.

  2. Madrid rocks - it’s an easily walkable city, and you can stay in hostals (not hostels, pay attention to the spelling). Hostals are small, family-run hotels where you just rent a room and possibly share a bathroom. They’re often as cheap or cheaper than a youth hostel and it’s like staying in somebody’s (rather large) house.

  3. Bring a towel.

  4. When in conversation, try to avoid “Back in the USA …” - we mostly know and besides; you’re there to pick up the culture. Reciprocal comments are not necessary.

  5. Barcelona blows chunks. The guy earlier who mentioned San Sebastian sold it short; it’s fantastic.

  6. In general, if it’s a huge tourist attraction, you might find you can live without it.

  7. Amsterdam is just nice.

  8. Dublin will fleece you if you get over there, but you will not forget it ever.

  9. Your secret weapon? - the Irish Bar. You speak English. There’s an Irish bar in every city (we’re required by law to have them, like embassies only better). Irish bars in general are where English-speakers go, so you will meet people who live in the city and know their way around. For the price of a half-hour of your time over a pint, you can pick up the local flavour, where and where not to go, any concerts, stuff of interest and probably a bunch of travelling companions. You don’t have to spend all your time in them, but trust me, it’s a good place to start. Just don’t get stuck there all night :wink:

  10. Americans, i.e. from the USA, tend to “do” countries. Don’t.

  11. A local sporting/celebratory event will give you more local flavour than anything a book can direct you towards. Check out something while you’re there.

  12. Have a good time!

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I agree with flynn on all points, although it depends so much on what you are looking for, what is the main reason for your trips. If it is history, then some kind of book is almost essential - a lot of places, the locals don’t even know the history past their great-grandmothers stories.

In Spain they have to advertise the price of the rooms at the counter, which is nice. Sometimes the cheap places are called “pensions” … in a place in Cordoba, a pension that was part of someone’s house cost me only 14 euros for the night, the room had its own sink but a shared bathroom. But the best thing, shared with who? there was nobody else staying at the time. Sept-Oct-Nov is a great time to go, for reasons like that. Anyway, a fully equipped hotel room might be 35 to 55 euros. So the pensions were the way to go.

You’re going to have a great time and I am jealous even though I just got back from a trip and plan to go again.

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Thanks to everyone who has contributed thus far. I really appreicate it.

And for those who are currently living in Europe…I am going to come and bother the hell out of you.

Kidding…

…maybe.

-Nate

46

[quote]Magarhe wrote:
Nate Green wrote:
I’m also looking at:

Munich - Oktoberfest
Prague
Amsterdam
Madrid

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.

[/quote]

Munich naa??

How about Koln?? Or cologne as they call it in Germany… AND EVERY ONE HAS MISSED OUT VENICE AND FLORENCE

In the summer me and my dad went through a good chunk of Europe. If you can afford it I would highly reccomend renting a car; or getting a train pass for the European High speed railway network which will take you all the way from Birmingham England to Italy I think; in theory.

Anyhow me and my dad had a great time camping through Europe over the summer, although we had six weeks.

The main places we visited were Paris; Metz; Koln; (Cologne) Dresden; Prague; Brno; Bratislava; Budapest; Split; Zagreb. That was the first three weeks gone. On the way back we went: Llubijana; Venice; Milan; Torino; Marseille; Barcelona; Tolouse; Nantes; Then back to Calais and back over the channel.

The highlights were probably Metz; Split; Bratislava; Venice; Llubijana; and Marseille.

I can’t say I think much of Paris; i’ve been there a few times and would probably only go back because I have not yet made it up the tower.

47

[quote]Nate Green wrote:
And for those who are currently living in Europe…I am going to come and bother the hell out of you.
-Nate[/quote]

Feel free! If it turns out you suck, it’s easy to lose people when they’re foreigners.

48

Some good advice, as far as I can tell.

Here’s what I found (I’m Dutch, by the way):

  • Amsterdam is very nice, especially for people from the US who aren’t used to old cities. You should see the canals. But you don’t need to spend more than a day there.
  • Scotland - the highlands - is the most beautiful part of Europe I’ve seen. But I like rough landscapes and hiking. Sep-oct is probably not the best time for it, though. Very wet and cold. Edinburgh is great too.
  • I don’t agree that sept-oct is the best time to visit Europe, unfortunately. It’t an in-beween-time: you get neither the summer in France or the Mediterranean, nor the snow ands skiing in the Alps.
  • put your valuables away, and not in a bag or a back pocket. People in the big cities can spot tourists right away.
  • in lots of places people speak little or no English. In Holland, Germany and Scandinavia it is no problem - in the UK they speak some kind of English too - but in large parts of France, Spain and Italy for instance you will have trouble communicating. Try to learn just some words of the language of the countries you visit. It will really help, and people appriciate the effort. In a few hours on the plane you can learn a lot.
  • I found most Lonely Planet guides are very good and usually up to date. Get some. They also give you some key words of the language (thank you, bathroom, beer) that really help.

Have fun. You will never forget it.

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Nate - send me a pm with what/where you’re planning to go.

I do a lot of travelling, and I live in Belgium(home of the most willing women in the world …lol)
We’re about the same age I guess.

If you come around, and if you’re cool in my book, I’ll be more than glad to take you around and perhaps join you for a short while on your trip.

50

I spent a while in Europe… about 3 years in Germany. In SW Germany, around Stuttgart, there a many, many hundreds of miles of hiking trail going into the Black Forest and giving you some of the most amazing views in that country. Check out Triberg on the internet to see what I mean. I wish I could have spent more time there. If you’re looking to have some passing fun with women, the brothels (Poof house, in pronunciation) is all you gotta tell a cab driver. Good times.

Switzerland and Austria are like national parks, as posted earlier. Good call on that analogy. Belgium is a party, and very beautiful in the summertime. If it’s hot for a few days, hang in there 'cause the rain WILL be coming soon. You’re going good for yourself to take time to go to Europe and do this.

Heed the warnings posted earlier. By the way, take your own condoms if you’re going to rent a girlfriend, 'cause Euro condoms fucking suck ass. It’s like wearing a goddam balloon, except you would get more feeling from an actual balloon. Whoever wrote that taking the less beaten path is more interesting is correct. I went to some small German towns in the Swabisch region, and they were far more interesting, the people much more hospitable, and nothing was all run-down looking. I wanted to spend several days in just those two towns. They were that nice to be in.

51

[quote]djoh615893 wrote:

Belgium is a party, and very beautiful in the summertime. If it’s hot for a few days, hang in there 'cause the rain WILL be coming soon.

[/quote]

Wise words.

[quote]djoh615893 wrote:

Heed the warnings posted earlier. By the way, take your own condoms if you’re going to rent a girlfriend, 'cause Euro condoms fucking suck ass. It’s like wearing a goddamn balloon, except you would get more feeling from an actual balloon.[/quote]

Americans. Just keep digging yourselves deeper :wink:

52

I went to school in the UK for a year and there is alot to see but if you are going in september take advantage of the continent.

-Pack light and bring several small locks for travel lockers etc,

  • I like rick steves guides for some stuff his website has alot of info. He’s a big nerd and has a show on PBS but is more simple and to the point.
    -In the UK if you go stay out of the tourist traps downtown at night in London ie picadilly and leicster square. If you walk into a pub and people give you the who the fuck are you look…walk away. Unless its a lesbian bar, then enjoy the show.
  • in France definetly check out the Normany coast, there are tours right from the train station in Bayeux, as a soldier I really enjoyed the D-Day sights.
    France has alot of really cheap grocery stores you can have a monster lunch and dinner for under 10 euros including a liter or two of premium beer with a 9% abv.
    There are also alot of fixed plate meals that include three course and a drink and run around 15-20 euros or less.
    Spain is great, I loved barcelona, san sebastian, and the Mallorca, Islands are fun if you have the dough to grab a ferry, some rail passes may include ferry passage.
  • I’ve been around Eastern Europe and Czech, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary have lots of cheap eats, drinks and sights. You havent lived until you’ve wandered around blitzed on Absinthe.

In my experience french and Uk women are crazy about american guys, Germans, Spanish, and Eastern Block tend to like us more. THen again Im a pretty ugly dude so. There will be a boatload of young American college girls looking for someone to give them a romantic adventure…choose wisely.

Have fun and be safe, there are lots of parks to run/exercise if you want to stay in shape.

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ibiza.

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[quote]djoh615893 wrote:
'cause Euro condoms fucking suck ass. It’s like wearing a goddam balloon, except you would get more feeling from an actual balloon.[/quote]

That’s only if you have a small penis. We Euros have never had reason to complain.