Gumby

Hi everybody, discovered your site a couple of weeks ago and have been looking in every now and again but this is my first post.

So, I'm heading to Europe for 2 months in May and June, 2005. Everything is now booked and paid for and I'm really excited. The problem is, I can't get motivated to do anything - I'm sure its because everything else seems boring next to a trip to Spain and Scotland and England.

Do you all experience this before a trip and, if so, what have you found is the best way to deal with it? I've put the travel books down for a while so my head isn't permanently in the clouds.

Oh yeah and I love the site. Some of the posts are very interesting.

U2fan

Welcome!!! Yes, I think we all know what you mean. I don't think there's anything really wrong with having your head in the clouds though unless you are driving people crazy b/c you're talking about it all the time, or you really can't think of anything else/function! So don't deprive yourself of doing the planning and research you want to do. Just enjoy that you have this trip to look forward to and try not to stress about it too much. When you get back from it, you'll be in withdrawal and that is obviously much worse

Take care,
Lauren

__________________
Flight to Tokyo: 92,000 yen

Metro to Ginza shopping district: 160 yen

Watching middle-aged Japanese woman dance to U2: priceless

pinion

Great time of the year to go to Europe! I was there the exact same time this year

I think U2 hit the nail on the head.

Just try to keep yourself busy, keep reading up on places to see, get your supplies list together.

Get ready for your trip early, you don't want to be running around the day before you leave tying up loose ends! You never know if a snag will come up.

Ahhh, yes travel withdrawal. Get ready for that when you get back from your trip

__________________
I've been a wild rover for many's the year,
And I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer.
But now I'm returning with gold in great store,
And I never will play the wild rover no more

theDOC

ahh Gumby, me and a friend are going to backpack Europe for 3 months in May as well!

Hope to catch up with you and some other travel punkers along the way!!

Gumby

Thanks for that. It's good to be able to hear from people who are excited for similar things.

And one of my work colleagues is fluent in Spanish so she is attempting to teach me some basic phrases when times are quiet in the office.

Bring on May!!

Gumby

Hey Doc,

Which cities do you intend visiting in Spain?

I'll be flying into Malaga and travelling up to Bilbao which is where I depart to fly back to London. I'm pretty excited but I can't help but feel a bit apprehensive about Madrid - 3 million people and the travel guides keep harping on about pickpockets which is great that they highlight it for you but I don't want that to be the major focus of the city before I get there.

Gumby.

U2fan

Don't worry too much about Madrid. I didn't hear of anyone getting anything stolen there. Barcelona, on the other hand, is the worst place for that. Every other person I met had had something stolen. But anyway, as long as you wear a money belt and in general aren't flashing your stuff around, or leaving valuables around the hostel, or doing anything stupid, you'll be fine.

__________________
Flight to Tokyo: 92,000 yen

Metro to Ginza shopping district: 160 yen

Watching middle-aged Japanese woman dance to U2: priceless

theDOC

Gumby,

Havent actually determined where I am gonna go in Spain yet. I think it will depend on how much time I will have in Spain. I will have at least a week if not a little more, so definitely go to all the hot spots!! Madrid and Barcelona are the obvious ones, but will see what happens...