Travel minus 24 days. The countdown is on. With every passing minute another item is added to the list of things to do before I go. With each item, I feel my heart go "ka-thunk" as the idea of travelling Europe solo for two months becomes more and more real. When I started planning several months ago, this trip was hardly more than a fantasy: a blissful journey to occupy my thoughts during the long bus rides to and from school. I mused with the same fervour as when I planned what to do with my imaginary lottery winnings and the changes I would make should I ever become prime minister. Even as I booked flights, buses and hostels this trip was hardly anything more than a reverie. What was once a delightfully distant daydream is
... read more