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courtneymal17 · 07-05-2006, 02:37 PM

Hey everyone, I just wanted to say Hi, I'm new. I'm Courtney. I'm 20 and I'm from Detroit, Michigan, but currently at school at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. I'm currently planning my first backpacking trip to Europe for next summer, and I wanted to see what tips everyone had, and just kinda drop in. I love the site! I absolutely love traveling & meeting people & I can't wait to go to Europe next summer. I've been there twice already, once on a short term study abroad (to London) and once on a cruise (to Venice, Livorno, Naples, Monte Carlo, Nice, Barcelona, & Portugal). I loooveee Europe---

But anyways..I'm planning my trip for next summer & I'm planning on going for 3-4 weeks, to Germany and Italy for sure, but I want to go to some other places as well...does anyone have any suggestions?

And I'm also kinda a newbie on the packing light thing...I don't know how I'll fit everything I need into a backpack...so again, Any suggestions? lol. Thanks for all the help! And if anyone wants to just randomly chat, my AIM is courtneymal17...I LOVE meeting new people!

Thanks guys!

**blinkchick2134** · 07-05-2006, 04:28 PM

Welcome to the family!

**freespiritz** · 07-05-2006, 05:00 PM

Welcome to tpunk! :D

**travelchick75** · 07-05-2006, 06:11 PM

Yeah Welcome

If your in italy for sure next summer you should PM me i'll be there for a week in June or july

Echeverry · 07-05-2006, 06:44 PM

Hello hello, I'm Echeverry but if you are cute you may call me Cherry. Well I hope I could be of help anytime. Wait . . . .(((Loading))). . . .. ... Ohio you say?

Echeverry · 07-05-2006, 06:45 PM

Monaco! Oh Shit, I heart Barca! :greenguy:

**Maineartist** · 07-05-2006, 07:42 PM

Welcome to T-Punk Courtney

packing light? this trip..just bought a XL towel that weighs next to nothing at Eastern Mountain Sports. I recommend going as light as possible.

courtneymal17 · 07-05-2006, 07:55 PM

haha yeah. Ohio...the 'heart' of...nothing really..except crazy (american) football fanatics...I got to Ohio State..it's...um fun? No, really, it is. I love it. But I wish I could be somewhere a lot more exciting than here, really. And I loved Monaco! Unfortunately, I was only there for like 1/2 a day, but it was gorgeous! I hope I'll be back there some day....and I will for sure be in Italy next summer...I'm going to see family & Rome, since I didn't get to see that next time. Actually, my whole family's probably going over there, but I'm doing the backpack thing (alone if I have to...despite what my mother says lol) & will probably only hit there for a week or so but yeah..I Can't wait! And as for packing light...I've already got a pretty good idea of what I want to bring (key word want lol) but I'll definitely be bringing one of those towels.

So quick question...where should I start? I haven't really found anyone to travel with...my roomate for next year wants to go with me, but I know she'll make my dream backpacking trip an itinerary fest scheduled to the last minute..which is definitely not what I want. So here's my question---should I start planning my itinerary & just wait for someone to go with the flow (and obviously allow them some *minor* imput)? Or should I just kinda let them take over? (I'm a pretty take charge person, so I don't think I'd prefer option 2, but at the same time, I've seen some stuff so I won't be as hard pressed to see what they may be dying to see...so I don't know.) My mom says I'm not allowed to go w/o someone else, but I definitely want to go. lol...I guess I'm just looking for any tips anyone can give, lol.

Also, the backpack issue...I've been checking out some local stores. They seem like they have a lot of nice stuff, but I does anyone have any suggestions? I've seen a lot of nice top-loading ones, but I think I'd prefer one w/ side access. Is this really a big deal?

lol..if you couldn't tell..I ramble. But thanks for all the welcomes guys!

(haha I looove the smilies!)

Echeverry · 07-05-2006, 08:05 PM

I have no clue why people tend to go so bezerks over backpacks, I have a small collection of them anytime I see a cool one I tend to buy it, but normally over the skating & surfing shops they have awsome and mad sweet backpacks, oh get them online, simple no hassle! well go with people you meet on the trip! even in the airport you can tell who is a packpacker from gates away. Or you can tell your mother that you have become insane and that your imaginary friend will be your companion! :greenguy: That shall calm mom down!

courtneymal17 · 07-05-2006, 08:25 PM

haha I really, really wish the imaginary friend thing would work on my mom, but alas, it's not. She's too set into 'Europe's too dangerous for a girl alone' frame of mind. She thinks Europe's like this haven for crime and criminals. I wish she'd see the irony in her letting me go by myself to downtown Detroit at all hours of the night, lol. But yeah, I want to go so badly that I'd rather go alone than not at all, but I'm a pretty social person, and I know I'll meet people....but I think I'd prefer having someone w/ me...for my first time at least.

Echeverry · 07-05-2006, 08:33 PM

Ohio???? Sorry I just don't belive Ohio really exists. Well don't you have a good friend are the usual dopey friend everyone has they are easy to take along and are mad easy to deal with. Word of advise No Boyfriends or any of that crap on the trips they always deminish the fun! Well Xept for my gussen but still she is being a bitch lately. :greenguy:

courtneymal17 · 07-05-2006, 08:39 PM

haha Ohio definitely exists. It's a lot of fun to party in too...pretty much useless for everything aside from partying, pre-gaming, (american) football games & frenzy & roller coasters, but it for sure, 100% exists, lol.

But yeah, I wish I had the friend that I could take along that would be super easy to deal with...I have them of course, but none of them have the money to go...which is where the problem lies...the only one I have would probably schedule our sleeping, showering, and breathing time to 'maximize' fun. I went on a road trip with her to Washington, D.C., and she literally mapquested each building she thought we might go to...even the ones that were next door to each other....she was a nightmare to say the least. I think I may be able to talk one of my good friends into going...the only problem is that he's also best friends w/ my roomate...so that would just cause drama, lol. And I'm pretty much a low drama girl. I'm just concerned either way my trip will defintely not go off as planned.

Sooo my question to everyone..(especially the girls) is it alright to backpack alone...manageable? safe? fun? Part of me would love to just be alone and go where my heart took me, but part of me (the very very social part) would probably hate it. So any advice?

courtneymal17 · 07-05-2006, 08:41 PM

haha Ohio definitely exists. It's a lot of fun to party in too...pretty much useless for everything aside from partying, pre-gaming, (american) football games & frenzy & roller coasters, but it for sure, 100% exists, lol.

But yeah, I wish I had the friend that I could take along that would be super easy to deal with...I have them of course, but none of them have the money to go...which is where the problem lies...the only one I have would probably schedule our sleeping, showering, and breathing time to 'maximize' fun. I went on a road trip with her to Washington, D.C., and she literally mapquested each building she thought we might go to...even the ones that were next door to each other....she was a nightmare to say the least. I think I may be able to talk one of my good friends into going...the only problem is that he's also best friends w/ my roomate...so that would just cause drama, lol. And I'm pretty much a low drama girl. I'm just concerned either way my trip will defintely not go off as planned.

Sooo my question to everyone..(especially the girls) is it alright to backpack alone...manageable? safe? fun? Part of me would love to just be alone and go where my heart took me, but part of me (the very very social part) would probably hate it. So any advice?

Echeverry · 07-05-2006, 08:44 PM

I'm not a girl so I'll just wait and see the outcome of this one.

**Elizabeth** · 07-05-2006, 10:14 PM

Welcome Courtney

I would say that most Tpunks would say its safe for a girl to go solo in Europe, as long as you keep your common sense with you.

As long as the parents aren't financing the grand adventure I'd say do what you want. I'm going solo first time in January. My parents say "dont go," "go with a group" "blah blah blah"

groups are so expensive, I'm not wasting my hard earned money. There is danger anywhere but its def safer in Europe than in my hometown (Miami) which my parents had no objections to living in for almost 50 years!!!

If you wanna trick the 'rents fly to Europe with your friend then split up when you get there. Say you got into a fight or something or don't say anything.

There are lots of creative solutions to problems

Echeverry · 07-05-2006, 10:20 PM

Dude where from Miami are you from?!?!?! this is soooooo sweet! Besides dude perents suck all they are good for is giving wierd ass advize! live it up! tell your mom that you need to try out new drugs that the ones in Detroit are getting old, that will make her react to the idea! :greenguy:

courtneymal17 · 07-05-2006, 10:21 PM

haha yeah, I tell my mom that too...you let me drive around downtown Detroit and you think Europe's dangerous? I guess it's the fear of the unknown. Part of me would definitely love to just go it alone....but my fear would be more on the fact of me getting lonely...not having someone to talk their ear off...I would definitely like to test myself and see how I'd do...but I don't know...lol...

and how about meeting people? If I go either end of July through mid August orAugust & maybe a bit of September, will I meet a lot of people? I know everyone says that you'll meet people etc. but for like seeing sights & partying etc, do people really go out in groups--like will me being alone = me sitting in a hostel at night? lol...I know they're kinda lame questions, but I'm doing the backpack/hostel thing for the first time & I guess they're the things that are bothering me

Echeverry · 07-05-2006, 10:27 PM

Well, depends if you are a crazy party person (which I'm doubting) it's better if you go with atleast a person you trust (just like driving) and hells yeah it's Summer! other than that I'm one of the type that says it's better with the locals, meet a few touriss but stay with the local crowds thay have the knowledge of where to be and what's safer and less shittey! I'm more of the hotel type of person ( cause I'm mad spoiled and I have mad phobias) but between us hostels (well the people that are at the counter atleast) know where to party. I have an urge of going back to Essex for no reason, damn I miss it over there. :greenguy:

xanthuos · 07-05-2006, 10:29 PM

Welcome to Travelpunk, courtneymal17.

I have to agree that I find it amusing that your mom is freaking out about the idea of you going to Europe alone, but you're free to wander D-town at all hours of the night unescorted. Probably the best way to travel is to travel alone - you'll meet so many people along the way. Sometimes, it's nice to travel with a like-minded friend, but it's certainly not necessary.

Echeverry · 07-05-2006, 10:43 PM

Xan has hitten thy JackPottey! (that made me giggle) :greenguy: You know what just sit her down to calm her and explain the reasons you want to do this on your own, she should understand just sell her the idea, she'll buy it.