Topdeck European Wonder 2013

I first learned about Topdeck/Contiki/Busabout during a stay in a Madrid hostel in 2012. I do a lot travelling already but usually I travel alone. This would be the first time I ever travelled on a bus tour anywhere. I started planning for this trip back in February of 2013. I spoke to a number of people who had taken Topdeck/Contiki/Busabout tours and I settled on Topdeck because it seemed to be less party oriented than Contiki but more structured than Busabout. I wanted to see the sites and would probably avoid getting hammered each night. I chose the European Wonder tour because it hit all the countries I wanted to visit and it was a good length trip at 2 weeks. I attempted to persuade some friends to join me. As I said I usually travel alone but the thought of facing 47 strangers was a bit nerve racking. Unfortunately the large time and financial commitment for this trip kept anyone from joining me. I spent a lot of time on Topdeck Meet site talking to my fellow travelers. I was pleased to find out a lot of them were travelling alone as well so I would not be the only one. I scheduled my flight so I would be in London the day before the tour started and would have a chance to chat with my fellow bus mates. I was surprisingly calm until the day arrived and I thought was I really doing this. I am fairly shy and introverted person and now I would be with the same people for 2 whole weeks in a confined space. Too late to back out now as I sat waiting at the curb for my ride to the airport.

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Trip Length: 2 weeks
Blog Entries: 17
Photos: 93
Words: 17972

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Blog Entries

Date	Blog Title	Location
June 4th 2013	Day 1: Time to face the music (day of my flight)	North America » Canada » Ontario » Toronto
June 5th 2013	Day 2: Arrival in London and first impressions	Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater London
June 6th 2013	Day 3: Here we go tour starting	Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater London
June 7th 2013	Day 4: It's the city you love that waits for you, Paris	Europe » France » Île-de-France
June 8th 2013	Day 5: Mountains, Stoplights and Marines (Switzerland)	Europe » Switzerland » South-West » Lauterbrunnen
June 9th 2013	Day 6: Top of the Mountain, In the Jungle and a sad ending	Europe » Switzerland » South-West » Lauterbrunnen
June 10th 2013	Day 7: Lots of vomit, Leaning Towers and a Good Deed	Europe » Italy » Tuscany » Florence
June 11th 2013	Day 8: Firenze, Gelato and Bloody Steaks	Europe » Italy » Tuscany » Florence
June 12th 2013	Day 9: The Eternal City and Our Search For The Truth	Europe » Italy » Lazio » Rome
June 13th 2013	Day 10: Vatican City and the day I got us lost :(	Europe » Vatican City » Vatican City
June 14th 2013	Day 11: Day in Venice Gondola, Lots of Presents but no Lace	Europe » Italy » Veneto » Venice
June 15th 2013	Day 12: Austria, The 2nd highest I got on this tour (Paragliding)	Europe » Austria » Tyrol » Kirchberg in Tyrol
June 16th 2013	Day 13: Dachau Concentration Camp	Europe » Germany » Bavaria » Dachau
June 16th 2013	Day 13: Germany and a Tale of True Love in a Castle	Europe » Germany » Rhineland-Palatinate » Bacharach
June 17th 2013	(Warning Adult Content) Day 14: Boring day: Cuckoos, Beers, Cheese, Clogs and what happened at a Sex Show	Europe » Netherlands » North Holland » Amsterdam
June 18th 2013	Day 15: Biking and Boating and a Big Shoe (What more can you want)	Europe » Netherlands » North Holland » Amsterdam
June 19th 2013	Day 16: Goodbye My Friends, I Can Still Feel You Here. It's Not The End ........	Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater London