I'm Back!!! - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**Carisia** · 12-15-2003, 06:32 AM

Hey guys! I'm back from my trip! It was a whirlwind 1.5 months:

-Paris & Versailles
-Geneva
-Verona, Venice, Florence, Pisa, Rome, Naples, Ercolano & Pompei, Naples, Pozzuoli, Sorrento, Capri, Positano, Amalfi, Palermo, Perugia, Assisi, Siena, Cinque Terre
-Lisbon, Faro, Tavira
-Sevilla, Granada, Barcelona, Madrid

It's a funny feeling that you can 'all probably sympathize with... It's so nice to be back around my comforts, but you're never quite the same... hmmm... this trip really has re-awakened my love for travelling, cultures, writing and singing... It's interesting, when I am traveling I feel I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing... When I'm back home, I find myself wondering 'what I should be doing...' from a mainstream responsibility perspective, i.e. career, money, etc.

I really want to go back to Italy and live there for a while, probably start in the Umbria region, eventually experience more of Calabria and then the north again... Any post-travel thoughts, impressions to share??? :eat:

Ciao!

**Canadian Dude** · 12-15-2003, 07:34 AM

Carisia, Its great to have you back safe and sound!!!! Now you can pass on what you hgave learned about budget travel to others who will pick your brain as they prepare for their adventure!!!!

Once the tevel bug has infected you, there is no cure, they only thing that will make is subside will be more travel!!!

I know its always nice to come home, sleeping in your own bed never felt so good...I have a tendency to go through withdrawl myself...wondering what else is going on in he world and how can I get there to see it...it takes a few weeks for that to ease up...

I don't know how old you are, but If you wanna go to italy for a long term stay, I would say go for it, make it a goal and strive for it!!!

**Sijuki** · 12-15-2003, 07:34 PM

Glad to hear you had a great time Carisia... welcome back and be sure to share your stories with us all!! :D

**worldwidemike** · 12-16-2003, 08:34 AM

Ciao, Carisia!

Glad you had a great trip, and feel free to post some of your impressions...what you liked or didn't, what moved you, and so on. I usually feel the same when I return -- glad to sleep in my own bed, again, surrounded by my stuff and lots of clean clothes in the closet

! So, don't feel less of a traveler because of that!

I'm with you on returning to Italy. It is the one country that I feel I could visit every year for a decade and still have tons that I want to go back and see...

worldwidemike

**Carisia** · 12-18-2003, 05:09 AM

Hi All! Thanks for the warm welcome!

It's also nice to know that I'm not alone in feeling some of the post-travel withdrawal! I must confess, it is a bit of a culture shock to come from the "stick-to-the-very-essential-basics-lifestyle" of backpacking and be immersed to the holiday shopping frenzy here!

Travel stories abound, but I'll save them for later. I do have some writeups on Perugia/Umbria, Assisi, Lisbon/Portugal, and Barcelona. So if anyone needs info. on those, just let me know.

Living in Italy... ah... what a nice thought... :P I may be back, but my heart is still in Italy!

Cheers!

**travelpunk** · 12-19-2003, 01:41 AM

I know what you mean about the culture shock and the uncomfortable realities of life back home feeling after a trip to Europe

Living in Italy....why not? Make it happen, babe! Can't wait for those stories, too

!