This is happening! So I just booked my flight to Istanbul, Turkey on August 29th. I am flying on some airline called Malaysian Airlines... you familiar with it?.... Jk :) The plan is to do a trip around Europe with a buddy of mine. So I am about a month out and I figured I would go over some of the details. Here are some frequently asked questions and these are my responses....
Where am I going? Europe, ever heard of it? It's a sweet continent where the countries are the size of our states. USA! USA! USA!
Why am I going? Several reasons: YOLO (that's 'you only live once' in case you are my parents age), never traveled abroad, experience different cultures, enjoy the history, exploring, and maybe find a wife or something.
How could someone do this? Quit your job, sell everything you own on Craigslist including your car, start eating cheap frozen pizzas, only drink $2 PBR in a can anytime you go out to save cash, and then stop being a puss and just do it.
Where am I staying and how am I getting around? Super low budget. Typically most people stay in Hostels while backpacking Europe. Our plan is to mostly Couchsurf/stay with friends. Couchsurfing a is website where you say what city you are in then you ask if someone has a place for you to crash or people offer. Sounds creepy right? It's actually pretty safe and usually an awesome experience for the host/surfer. So that's one way of saving money. We're also going to mostly be hitchhiking from country to country instead of riding a train.
Will I work while I am there? Sure
What do my parents think of the trip? They are excited. I'm not sure how well they are going to do with Skyping me though. They are still trying to figure out how to scroll up and down on a computer screen.
Who am I going with? My buddy Tanner. He has been traveling around the world the last 2 years. He's in India right now. This is my first time long term backpacking so he is helping me with preparation and giving me ideas to keep everything low budget. He's a Couchsurfing "hall of famer" and is a pro at traveling. His only draw back is he relives his high school football glory days more than Al Bundy. 4 touchdowns in one game? He scored 5.
We talked about this 5 years ago in a bar in Phoenix. You know when you get a few beers in you and then you start dreaming about all these things you want to do then never do it? Well we're going for it.
Do we have a set agenda? No
Why start in Turkey and where are we all going? Since Tanner is coming from the East, Turkey seems like the right place to begin. We have discussed different routes but after Turkey I think we will stay south and head to Greece, then a couple countries in between, then Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, and head north to the U.K. and Ireland and so on. A goal is to hit every country, but I don't know if that will happen.
How long am I staying? Between one week and 5 years. Most likely 6 months- 1 year.
Don't you think this trip is crazy? No. Some 14 year old girl sailed around the world by herself. That's crazy.
Random worst case scenarios:
1) Ever seen the movie "Hostel"?
2) While Hitchhiking I am stabbed in the throat
3) I am robbed and have no money
4) The Leaning Tower of Pisa collapses on me
5) I participate in the bull run in Spain and I'm not fast enough
6) I get an STD that doctors have never seen before called "Europees." (Shout out to a friend that came up with that term)
Random best case scenarios:
1) I kill the Loch Ness Monster and become a hero
2) I become a Gondolier for a Gondola in Venice
3) I become a 'ball boy' at Wimbledon
4) I swim the English Channel
5) I become fluent in 10 different languages
6) "The Most Interesting Man in the World" starts coming to me for advice
This is my first blog and I hope to keep doing this while I am traveling. I will probably write another one right before I go discussing packing/more planning of the trip as well as other stuff. I'm open to feedback/ideas. Thanks!
