artriotxxx

Hi everyone-

I'm new here, although not new to traveling. I've been through Europe 4 times, only 3 of those really "backpacking" though. I'm a 22 year old student in Maryland. I've pretty much exhausted my friends travel-wise and my boyfriend is a homebody. I'm definitely interested in expanding my travel locales to outside of Europe.

I'm wondering if anyone here knows where to meet travel buddies/people interested in meeting people to travel with, either on this board or another site geared towards that.

Thanks and it's nice to meet everyone!

Elise

TheJake

Hey! Welcome to travelpunk! We might not always be able to go with you but we are always ready to support you. You got any ideas in mind for where you want to go next?

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artriotxxx

I'm leaning towards south/central america...brazil, peru, argentina, maybe, but I'm considering my options at this point and keeping an open mind

simply_angelic

Ugh stupid keyboard automatically did this and I didnt notice because apparently these posts are slow at getting up....

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~Laura
GO CANADA!!!!

If you walk backwards, you'll find out that you can go forward and people won't know if you're coming or going.

Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today.
-James Dean

Countries I've Visited: Austria, Botswana, Canada, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy. Malawi, Mexico, Portugal, Rwanda, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Tanzania, Uganda, USA, UK, Vatican City, Zambia

simply_angelic

First, and foremost: WELCOME TO THE BOARDS! Secondly, why not go solo? I'm sure you'll end up bumping into like-minded travellers along the way, and while you may not do your entire trip with them guaranteed there will be people you'll go from one place to another with. And this way forces you to step outside of your shell & meet tons of cool interesting people. Oh, and I'm also thinking of going to Bolivia this summer + maybe a little more of South America if I can get the funds together So if you're at all planning on traveling this summer give me a shout and we'll definitely have to arrange a meet up!

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~Laura
GO CANADA!!!!

If you walk backwards, you'll find out that you can go forward and people won't know if you're coming or going.

Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today.
-James Dean

Countries I've Visited: Austria, Botswana, Canada, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy. Malawi, Mexico, Portugal, Rwanda, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Tanzania, Uganda, USA, UK, Vatican City, Zambia

artriotxxx

hi and thanks for the welcome

I have backpacked solo in the past, but never in places where I didn't speak the language, so I might be a little nervous in south america. since I am pretty laid back about what I do and where I go, I find it's nice to have someone else's input and someone to confer with about directions, etc..

I am also thinking about traveling this summer (over my school break) so I'd love to talk more with you! I'm still finding my way around this site... is there some way of communicating privately we can talk more specifically?

blinkchick2134

I'm also going to be traveling in central and south america starting in June of this year. You can PM (private message) any member to talk privately. Hover over there user name and it should be the 2nd option on there!

-Amber

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Amber

"If I had a kid I'd f**k it. Then kill it. Then f**k it again." Seattle 2006

blog of travels and such
flickr

Currently located in HAWAII

Been to: Alaska, Bahamas, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Hawaii, Spain, Switzerland - - also meetups in Chicago, LA, and Seattle

LiveFreeorDie

Welcome to Travelpunk!!

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\\Jamie\\



"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin

"The plural of anecdote is not data"

BigE

Welcome to Travelpunk!

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You can't take a shirt from a naked man. - Arab Proverb

"An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger, or a beer."
-Confucius

Somewhere in England (maybe) - Spring (TBA)
Israel - Summer (TBA)

juliagulia

yessss marylanderrrrrr which part of maryland do you hail from?

ohhh brazil.. if you have any questions about where you're traveling or what to do, i can at least help with Brazil and a tiiiiiny bit with mexico (if you're thinking about going there); there are also a lot of people here who have traveled through central/south america or live there who would be willing to help.

WELCOME! and I hope you find everything okay

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Reminiscing about: Brazil, Canada, Greece, Turkey, Mexico, England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Portugal, The Netherlands, USA

Living In: Belfast, Northern Ireland


Next up!

Poland (February!)

florencia9699

Welcome Elise!!

If you have any questions about Argentina just ask away or search on the boards as I've written a lot on Buenos Aires. Any questions just ask away!! After all I'm from Argentina and one of it's biggest non-official advertisers!!

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Been to: Argentina, Chile, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt. Greece, Turkey, England, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Belgium, USA, Mexico, Spain, Monaco, Czech Republic, Ireland and Uruguay.

Next trip: Still pondering the possibilities for January 2009... * OH THE MYSTERY!! *

The travel bug is insatiable

lauren313

Hey Elise, welcome to Travelpunk!

You'll get more info than you can shake a stick at from the people here!

If you're after travel companions, there's a board specifically for people requesting companions, or people to meet up with along the way http://www.travelpunk.com/boards/forumdisplay.php?f=36

Maybe once you know some of your plans, you could post there and see if anyone else wants to do something similar?

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artriotxxx

thanks! I am actually from Columbia too, I just put Baltimore because I'm in the city pretty much all the time and I figured no one would know where Columbia was.

in Brazil, did you find many English speakers? As I said, my reservation about backpacking solo is not being able to find anyone I can talk to should I get lost/need help. Also, what are hostel prices like? Are they as legendarily cheap as I've heard (besides in major cities where obv. they'd be more normally prices)? Thanks nice to meet you.

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myspace.com/elisehoffman

artriotxxx

and lauren, thanks for the link to the 'Companions Wanted' board. that is EXACTLY what I was hoping to find.

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myspace.com/elisehoffman

juliagulia

haha oh columbia.. just say that its where edward norton is from and suddenly everyone will become interested...

actually, i'd be of more help in the culture/sights dept. concerning brazil, since I'm actually from there, and anytime i've been there I've stayed with la familia.

with english, i've found it really depends what part of brazil you're in. where my grandmother and mother are from, for example, english was very very very hard to find. almost everyone has had some experience with english, but usually they don't retain it once they enter adulthood. BUT, that was also in a small city.

In Belo Horizonte (a city that's a bit smaller than Chicago, population wise) and Sao Paulo (11 million people), I found people had a slightly better understanding of English, esp. since they are very business oriented cities.

Do you know any Spanish? I hate it when people think I speak it, but it could come in handy in Brazil. Usually someone who speaks Spanish won't understand Portuguese very well, but Brazilians will at least be able to understand words since they're similar. If you're really in a jam and have to go to the bathroom for example, just scream "bano!" and they'll understand what you're looking for.

And you also have the chance of meeting some other traveler who will have a better grasp at the language. When I was in this small touristy town a few years ago, I was speaking to my sisters in English and a woman with a very lost look on her face comes up to us and starts asking for help. She was Israeli, but spoke English very well and ended up going on a tour with us that she wasn't going to go on originally because she wouldn't understand anything. Perfect example of just getting lucky.

Hostel wise, from what I've understood from Foofiter and Jake who both traveled throughout Brazil, hostels are pretty cheap, but you'd have to talk to them to get specifics.

Foo? Jake? ...Help? :D

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Reminiscing about: Brazil, Canada, Greece, Turkey, Mexico, England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Portugal, The Netherlands, USA

Living In: Belfast, Northern Ireland


Next up!

Poland (February!)

kingcrazylegs

welcome

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all that is not given is lost

Esterina

Welcome to our boards ! Make yourself at home !

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people are people