Wild Blue Yonder

[Catharin]

Hi everyone! Nice to meet ya'll.

I'm Catharin, 20, college senior in backwoods North Carolina, USA. Graduating in May, but I'm going to graduate school after I'm out, thereby putting off my entrance into the professional job market for awhile.

I have been bitten by the travel bug. After being stuck in Nowheresville, NC all my life, I made a few long-distance friends via the internet and finally had the chance to travel a bit. I've been to New Orleans and NYC this past year, and it's whetted my appetite for getting out in the world. In fact, I spend half my time dying to be on a flight to somewhere, and the other half of my time writing really bad poetry about dying to be on a flight to somewhere.

I'm studying to be a writer...a journalist...and I hope that besides all the other benefits of travelling, it'll give me a ton of story ideas and a chance to further develop my writing. (Or at least that's what I tell myself when I remember the STAGGERING LOAD OF STUDENT LOANS I should be paying back instead of taking off for Europe. )

But...I really, really....DESPERATELY want to head off for points unknown. Well, maybe sort of known...Western Europe to start with, since I'm really a virgin backpacker. I'm trying to figure out the best time to go, since it's going to take me some time to save enough money. I'm thinking of going for 3-4 weeks just to get started. Looking at May or June of 05. I would love to go solo, but on the other hand, I don't know that I'm ready for that experience just yet. I have a couple of friends I'm trying to talk into going. I hope that maybe we could get group and/or student discounts on some of the major things-- plane tickets, etc.

I'm just going to hang out and read the forums, it seems like everything I could need to know about backpacking is here! Thanks so much!

[Canadian Dude]

Catharin, to TravelPunk.com...Pull up a chair, and enjoy this family of trav'las and soon to be trav'las!!!

A yes the good old It strikes with out warning, it effects are different for all, and there is no stopping it...yyou can consideer yourself lucky that it has chossen you

After you have wet your beak a little its not surprise that 1/2 the time you spend thinking about where to go, I would have to say it gets worse though, i spend prob close to 90% of my time on wondering where I can go and how am I going to get there...Sometimes it works out, sometimes not, but it always fun to try

I'm studying to be a writer...a journalist

Well your choosing the right path for stories, if you travel long enough, you will not be able to keep up with the stories that will cross your path, if I had your gift of writing I would be a travel'n journalist
YOu can go to parts of the world where stories jump out and kick you in the rear, or places where the stories might be harder to find, but either way they are out there, and plentiful.

But...I really, really....DESPERATELY want to head off for points unknown

We all do my friend, finding places unknown is sometimes difficult, and dangerous, but so worth it sometimes, and the unknown path always has the best stories! Western Europe will be a great experience for you.

3-4 weeks just to get started. Looking at May or June of 05

3 to 4 weeks will be plenty of time to see what Western Europe has to offer, more time is always better, but hey, we can all dream
As for your time of year, you might want to think of mid to late Sept to late Oct, and here is why...
May to June in the beggining of the high season for tourists, the crowds will gather, the tour buses start to roll, The lines get long, and the beds fill up. Prices go up on pretty much everything, beds, events, food what ever..
Mid to Late Sept to the end of Oct, is the start of low season, and the comlete opposite of what happens in the high season begins, its just something to consider.
What evertime you pick to go, will be a fantastic adventure.

I hope that maybe we could get group and/or student discounts on some of the major things-- plane tickets, etc.

If you have a student card, DO NOT forget to bring it, it will get you discounts on TONS of stuff through out your trip, from transport to museums, it will have great benifits.

I'm just going to hang out and read the forums

Good make yourself at home!

Thanks so much!

No Worries!!!

[Mocassin]

Hello Catharin!
Well, I wish I could add something to CD's post, but I can't think of anything right now! Hahah!