ALAS!!!

[clevercraig]

After much research, internal debate, and boozed up consideration I have come to the conclusion it is finacially feesible for me to have a loose intenerary. I had originally planned on getting the two month unlimited Eurail pass but that's 1400usd, and for what i want to get out of my trip i will not be travelling everyday. Being in the financial situation I am i crunched a few numbers (huh, guess i didn't sleep through all of math class! Just Algebra!) and came up with a way for me to go and see what I want while spending about 1300 on train AND air. What I will be doing is traveling throughout 5 countries: The Netherlands, Belgium (mm, beeeeer), Germany (um? mmmmmm, beeeer), Denmark, and the Czech Republic (mmmm, architecture) (i know, i know, some of you are asking "what, no Spain? No Italy? No France? etc. Well the parts of Europe I listed are the places that have always fascinated me historically and culturally....Which is more important to me than exposing my scandanavian white skin to the world on some beach)....Within each country I plan on spending between a week to 2 weeks exploring not only that particular countries major cities but small towns...Cultre is an important thing to me and I believe that taking my time within each country, getting to know not only the tourist traps but the local hubs is the best way to learn the true nature of a given place....Along with Hamburg, Brussels, and Amsterdam i am just excited to see such towns as Bruges, Odense, Hameln, and this awsome little Renaissance town i've read about in Czech called Cesky Krumlov. Within my desired destinations I s'pose I still will end up winging it somewhat but this is my plan (and god knows i am good at sticking to plans ).....Sorry for the length of this post, but hell when a dream starts to come into shape it's pretty damn exciting! That's my itenerary, Any thoughts or suggestions of places I must see in these regions? Thanks crew.....The quote at the top of the page "get busy living or get busy dying" I believe is from a movie? To quote anothe rmovie, trainspotting, "Choose Life'
-Craig

[crionnacht]

hey craig you probably know this already, so if you do, just disregard this post. but up until a little while ago i didn't know what canadians needed a visa to go to the czech republic. so make sure you've got that before you go there, ay?

[clevercraig]

thanks crion, but I am an American, I think i need a visa to go to the bathroom

[worldwidemike]

Sounds like you have a pretty good plan, CCraig. I think you'll enjoy taking your time more than always scooting about on the train. This way, if you hang out a few days in one city because there are so many things you want to do, or simply because you like its "feel," you won't worry that you're not taking advantage of your railpass.

I always advise people to "slow down" and concentrate on a smaller area, rather than doing the 13 days, countries kind of thing.

worldwidemike

[crionnacht]

hahaha poor craig. hey isn't there another presidential vote coming up? forgive, i don't really follow politics.