Subcultural engagement for the 21st Century...
Barbelith is a new kind of community (find out more)...
You can login or register.

Underground > Conversation >

Backpacking

Page: 1(2)

10:42 / 16.01.04

Another vote for Prague - the Jewish cemetery blew me away.

Venice is indeed expensive (and quite smelly), Amsterdam rocks and you don't have to do the café thing if you don't want to, and my Italian advice echoes Nicks in that I would (and indeed did) get a train from Venice up to the Dolomites, since IMHO they are the most beautiful mountains in the world. The train journey is pretty spectacular too.

In fact any long train journey in Europe is cool since the scenery changes so much; I went all the way from Dubrovnik to Zurich and it was, in the true sense of the word, awesome.

Dubrovnik is unbelievably beautiful, (and sunny) but that was before the war and I don't know what it's like now. (Well obviously still sunny since I don't think the war changed the weather, ho hum.)

Have you thought about Tallinn, in Estonia? From what I've heard it's an amazing place and it's somewhere I would really like to go.

11:25 / 16.01.04

I take it your stopping over in London for a bit on this magical journey?

We're The Great Old Ones Now

16:02 / 16.01.04

Hmmm. I'm a little unsure of Tallinn, because it's apparently the New Stag Destination, having replaced Amsterdam. It's also, in no particular order, a mob town (not necessarily a bad thing) and an HIV/AIDS hotspot (definitely a bad thing). That said, it's also beautiful and shiny new and cool (not to mention WiFi'd to the eyeballs, I hear), and a friend of mine is living there and having a great time. On the other hand, he's nuts.

And don't diss the Swiss mountains, milady. "Hills", indeed. That's like calling you an amateur contortionist. Switzerland is one of the most weird and wonderful places you could wish for, but it takes a little cracking open, so maybe you're wise to skip it this time around.

19:57 / 16.01.04

Nick, I hate to break it to you, but I am less than an amatear controtionist, love. I cant bend backwards to touch my toes; in fact, I cant even get right down in slits. Being springy is my thing.

As for London; twas my plan. I dont know if my brother much wants to be there (stayed there for 6 months and detested it) but with or without him, Im staying there. Getting home, Nice-London, so shall stop and visit grizzly bears, perhaps. I need to see Bombay Dreams again, too.

23:52 / 24.01.04

Some more backpacker tips, while there occur to me.

when packing your rucksac roll your clothes instead of fold it saves space and if done right can mean less creasige

Buy some nylon waterproof stuff sacks (couple a quid each) and when packing seperate your clothes into these bags, jumpers into one t-shirts into the other etc etc then pack the sacks into your bag this not only makes unpacking and repacking your bag easier and quicker, but also means you know where shit is.

Canadians tend to be the nicest funnyiest people you can meet, but should you want to annoy one ask "exactly what part of Canaidia are you from?" or purposlly mistake them for americans. You will notice EVERY single Canadian sews a maple leaf badge to there bag expressly for this purpose, and upon reflection who can blame them?

Dont buy drugs of the locals, or any backpacker over thirty with a sensible haircut and/or well polished shoes.

Rape alarms are dirt cheap from student unions they dont weigh a lot so what have you got to lose.

if going hosteling a lot try the hosteling website (gonna have to google im fraid) cos applying for your card now could save preciuos absenth money later.

stay away from main drags or busy high streets for food, a equivelent meal could be half the price down the road

when your tired or missing home remember that emotions tend to be exaggerated by twenty when your away so dont give up or think you cant handle it after the first set back, its the stuff that goes wrong that make for the most intresting stories. That goes for meeting people as well by all means play the field just dont get too involved and give away somthing that you might regret later, like your ticket home/family wedding ring/your dignaty

oh and remember that if your doing it to "get it out of your system" as i once said, you cant cure wanderlust by travelling in the same way you cant put out a fire with whiskey

19:33 / 26.01.04

Did the same thing last summer, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague. Prague's very stylish, but a bit overrun by English stag parties, all these City-type guys in St George flags and comedy t-shirts, it got a little depressing, after a while. Amsterdam's just how you think it's going to be, but it's totally worth it, and Berlin's best if you stay in the East. I'd also recommend Paris, which is pretty expensive, but really is, honestly, the City Of Light. And as far as what you need goes, just take more money than you think that you'll use. It's a crap thing to say, but running out of cash in a foreign city is... Character-building, rather than fun. Just travel as light as you possibly can do, change of clothes, a few books, not a lot more than that, unless you're going camping, and, most importantly, have a fucking good time.

20:00 / 26.01.04

Belgium. The trick is not to go there to see something, but rather to wake up one morning and think "Fuck, I'm in Belgium". But really, it's brilliant, and I wasted my Interrail ticket by staggering around Brussels and Antwerp for the majority of a month. No regrets.

21:09 / 26.01.04

I did much the same trip a few summers ago, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, in any case. Prague's very stylish, but a bit overrun by English stag parties, City-type guys in St George flags and comedy t-shirts, it gets a little depressing after a while. Amsterdam's just how you think, as you say, but it's totally worth it. Berlin's best if you stay in the East. I'd also recommend Paris, if you've not been before - it's pretty expensive, but is very much Left Bank beautiful dreamscape, it's the city of light. And as far as what you need goes, just take enough money - it's a crap thing to say, but running out of cash in a foreign city is... character-building, but it can get a bit much. Travel light is the thing, change of clothes, a few books, not a lot more than that, unless you're going camping - you can always buy stuff if you've forgotten to bring it, but stumbling around with an overstuffed rucksack can get old pretty quickly, especially if you're going to be moving a lot. Hope this of some use. Had a really good time when I did it myself.

22:18 / 28.01.04

Hmm. My bro's just asked for his leave after the end of March. I need to be home well before the beginning of April. That boy can be such a willyhead, I could have lent him the money, but he books it for when he can afford to come.

Anyone fancy a trip round europe then..?
Oh and if I go, I will lose all my money. Yesterday I dropped my wallet in the street, and had no idea until the police called my parents. I shat myself when they told me they'd had a call from them this morning, very quickly going through in my head what I'd done wrong, other than veryvery bad karaoke.

Page: 1(2)