Random Trip round Europe

In November this year I will be embarking on a journey, a journey that sees me change my career and change my surroundings. It all started out ,as most great ideas do, as a discussion over a beer... Would you ever do it? How would you do it? Where would you go? Which way would you go? As more and more beer was consumed questions became answers and the words 'what if?' faded out of existence and all that I could manage was .....I can...I would...and more importantly now ...I will! What adventures do I speak? Imagine the freedom to choose, the wind in your hair, no destinations, no time restraints...sounds a treat!
To travel without a destination seems, to some, a strange concept, but just imagine though the possibilities that can be discovered...It makes me tingle already thinking about it. So I have a plan, to travel and to explore throughout Europe...Europe?Why Europe? The history, the diversity, the similarities, the nature, the people, the experiences. In my work of the past 7 years I have been an international youth worker and a restaurant manager, I have been fortunate to travel alot and to work with some fantastic young people and to make a difference - at this time however I want still to make a difference but at another level. I have been asked to produce a 'new travel guide' for young travellers. I know that there are lots of guides about Europe and so on, however Im looking for input from other young travellers, as well as my own. My plan, well if you can call it a plan is just to set off driving from my home in the UK and just drive across to France and then any which way after that I feel like. I want to discover the people, the small things that make Europe what it is. I would like to hear some feedback on this and any suggestions that you have or just to share some stories would be great. Reply to this

Mel,

I would have loved to have been able to travel around that time, Iam a qualified teacher of History and so that area and the 'iron curtain' is something of great interest.
Thats great, I too myself have spent alot of time in the eastern block countries and this is the type of travel I want to bring to peoples attention. To live and to travel, to meet new people and new cultures is truly the only way to learn and develop as a person!
As for not being young enough, I say that when you travel there is no age, you are as old as you feel! The content is dependent on the needs and wants of the readers themselves!

Thanks and speak soon,

Ben Reply to this

Perhaps the search for Vlad Dracula in Istanbul and Romania. That would be awesome. Visit Lake Snagov. We are prepairing for that trip in 2009. Hope you have fun in Europe and stay safe Ben.

Ryan M. Rodriguez Reply to this

europe is a good holiday destination , i guess i have never visited there. Reply to this

Hey Ben.

Me and my boyfriend are planing on backpacking throughout Europe next summer, however we're not to sure where we want to go or what we want to see. All we know is that we want to see as many places and do as many things as possible in a three month span. Do you know of any worthwhile travel guides to look at to find places that should go to?

Good luck on your travels!
Ally Reply to this

Hi Ben,

Im a 23 yr old aussie currently on my euro trip with 2 of my best friends... we have been talking about doing this for years and took a long time for us to get to the point where we actalluy did it. We quit our jobs packed our suitcases and headed off. As we are young girls and it is our first time so far away from home we decided we would do a tour to get our confidence up... we did a Contiki tour that went to 16 countries in 45 days which started on May 11 this year... it was so much fun but as we only got a day or 2 in each place is kind of a blurr, we did get a taste of each country though and now know the ones we want to see more of.
Switzerland - So beautiful it almost looked fake like a movie set, definatly want to see more
Turkey- Istanbul, one of the biggest suprises, so much to see and do in this place.
Serbia - we only had a day hear but the scenery driving in was gorgeous then to see the city where you can still see damage from bombings etc, thent o goto this huge green park and see little old men playing chess, friendly people and so so cheap
France - Paris is definalty somewhere id like to live for a couple of months
Spain - im going back for more next week!
Greece - Didnt like Athens at all but loved the islands (Corfu, Ios and Santorini)
Austria - Mountain biking, paragliding and white water rafting.. fun, fun, fun
Germany - Didnt have long here but would like to see more
Italy - Was good to see Rome but felt like i saw everything i wanted to in the 2 days we were there. Venice id like to go back to, Florence was ok... would really like to see the Amalfi Coast
Budapest - only had a day there but will go back one day
a few more but those are the ones that stood out to me.


After the tour we went to London and after 2 weeks wernt that impressed with the place, especially the weather, it just didnt have the culture that europe had so we jumped onto Gumtree and found an ad for a job that read "bar staff wanted on a small greek island, please send a photo" so we sent a photos and the next day we recieved an email saying "the island is called Symi, when can you start?" withnout even speaking to these people or knowing how much we would be making or where we would be sleeping we decided lets give it a shot, worst thing that could happen is we get back on the plane and go somewhere else.

We arrived in Symi and were met by the owner of the bar, she told us she only needed 1 person at the bar (my friend) but took me to a cafe and within an hour of arriving on the island i had a job too... there were about 6 other girls from oz and the uk working on the island and they all met us for a drink before we were taken to our very own house!! We couldnt believe it, amazing picturesque island where the rich and famous holiday, jobs and our own house.... who says taking risks dont pay off.... we stayed in Symi for 5 weeks and had the time of our lives, the best part was living life as the locals did, it was cmpletly different to the life i had a home... Greece was never high on my list of must see but i now love the lifestyle, the people and the place.

We left last week which was very sad but we really wanted to goto La Tomatina in Spain so on Friday we are flying to Spain... we havent really planned it, all we know is we will be in Bunol on the 26th apart from that we dont know where we are going, we are just going to go with the flow because we have learnt thats the best way to experience Europe... after spain who knows... a ski season in Frace or Switzerland maybe??? Next summer we plan to do eastern europe.

Al we know is in each place we go we want to see it through the eyes of a local, live the life as they do

anyway thats my story for the last 4 months and hopefully the next year or 2 are as amazing as those have been, and even more spontaneous. Reply to this

I'm 27 and I got the chance to travel only last year..the experience was mind blowing for me although I have only spent a few days in one city. I've been hooked to traveling ever since, later that year I took a cruise ship that passed by several cities as well, and earlier this year I spent 2 weeks in 2 countries. However, the more I travel, the more I feel that something is missing..I do enjoy historical and cultural sites, but I'm missing the "local" touch..how the people live, think, those little details make all the difference for one to truly feel the culture..
Now I'm planning a trip to Spain and I'm trying to plan it in such a way that I would get more of the culture than just the usual touristy glamour..
@cadams1:I'm soooo glad I came across your post about couch surfing coz I feel this is exactly what I need at this stage.
@Ben:best of luck with your trip and book. I'm so excited for you and can't wait to hear of your experiences for I'm sure you'll come across a lot of interesting stuff! Reply to this

I was just visiting Estonia and it was very nice and interesting country. Especially beautiful is the historic Old Town in Tallinn and islands in the western Estonia. I used these websites to find information:

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