backpack through Europe

I had hoped, after my last trip, to be going back during 2010. The plan was to hit up the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary with my roommate, but it’s not going to work out this year. Mostly I don’t have the money, but I also don’t really have the time, because I’ll (hopefully) be doing research all summer. (My roommate, meanwhile, is going to the UK with another friend.) But if everything works out we should be able to go in 2011 after graduation.
I’m excited; I’ve always been interested in eastern Europe and I’ve really wanted to go to Prague in particular. I’m also part Hungarian (a very small part), and most of my roommate’s family still lives in Slovakia so we can stay with them for part of the trip (plus she’s fluent and familiar with the area, so that’ll make everything easier). It’s just a shame it’s a year and a half away! I guess it gives me plenty of time to get around to renewing my passport.

I’m already thinking about my next trip. I think it’ll be the Czech Republic/Slovakia/Hungary, with my friend who is Slovakian. Probably about two weeks. I don’t think I can make it next summer though, since I’m planning on staying at school and doing a research project, but hopefully summer of 2010. That also gives both of us more time to save money and such.
Other trips I want to do at some point are Spain/France/Portugal, and then Norway/Sweden/Finland and maybe also Denmark with that. But I’ve got to pace myself, I don’t want to run out of countries!

Well, I backpacked in Europe (Greece) but not really through Europe, so I’m not sure I’m really ready to check this off. I’m hoping – probably not next summer, but the one after that – to go back on a longer trip, through eastern Europe, France, Spain, and Italy. We’ll see how it all plays out. The European continent will be seeing me many more times in the years to come.

Yikes, I just realized I’m leaving in 3 weeks!

So I bought my plane tickets today. I’m flying to Frankfurt and then Athens, spending 12 days in Greece, flying back to Frankfurt, spending 3 days in Germany with my sister, and then flying back home. Neither of my friends who expressed interest in going with me can come, so I’ll be going by myself. Exciting! Terrifying!
Now I just need to get a backpack and learn some Greek!

I might fly in to Frankfurt instead of Athens and visit my sister on the way to Greece. That flight would be $300 cheaper, and then I’d have to either fly between Frankfurt and Athens (about $250 round-trip) or take a train, which would probably be cheaper, although I can’t look up train fares that far in advance apparently. I’d also have to take a train between Frankfurt and closer to where my sister lives, but I don’t mind paying a little extra in the end to see my sister. Plus then I’d get free accomodation for a few days. The issue is that the family she works for might be coming to the US in May – oh, the irony. I’m planning on getting my tickets in about a month, so hopefully I’ll have it sorted out then. Worse comes to worse, I end up having to spend a few days in Germany without my sister – which would be fine.
Yikes, I can’t believe how soon this is happening.

I think I might have met someone here at school who’ll go with me to Greece… that’d be cool if that worked out. But I’ll go by myself, if I have to.

In less than a year I’ll be in Greece. Eep! I can’t believe it. I’m scared out of my mind about going alone, but I hear it’s very safe. The friend who I was thinking about going with me doesn’t seem too into the backpacking scene and probably won’t have the money in time. I’ll travel some other time with her. So unless I meet someone in the fall who’s willing to go with me and has the available money, I’m going alone. I should go alone anyway. I never really do anything without direction, so it’d be good for me to go out on my own for once.

I’ve figured out how much it’ll cost approximately (and allowed for spending twice as much per day as I think I will) and if I can get the job I think I will this summer, I can go to Greece for 2 weeks next May when school ends =) Yay!
I’m going to stop saying “I want to go to Greece” and start saying “I’m going to Greece.”

No one’s really taking me seriously about wanting to go backpacking, but that’s alright.
I talked to one of my friends (one of the few that I’d be able to spend two weeks with and not want to kill) today about going with me. I don’t know if she actually will or not, but either way I’m still going.