Hello All!

I started this blog with great ambitions that I would be blogging while I adventured my way across Europe and beyond.  Obviously that has not happened since I am now writing this in Houston a couple days after landing back on US soil, but sitting down to write a post instead of exploring the my current city was not what I wanted to do.  But since I have plenty of time over the holidays before my next trip I am going to be catching up on it all now.  So here are a few thoughts from the road (and only a bit late)!

Life Lessons from the Road

After nearly four months living out of a backpack (three of which were overseas) I know that the way I approach the world has changed.  I feel that I have far more confidence in new situations and places after jumping from place to place across Europe.  Wandering solo through Rome of Paris is no more daunting than any city in the US.  Strangers will help you find your way in a new city no matter what language you have to ask them in.

There have been other noticeable changes too.  With limited space for souvenirs or even new clothing, retail therapy has lost its charm.  I haven’t even dipped my toe into online shopping since I left my apartment for the last time all those months ago.  Buying something that isn’t a necessity feels wasteful when I could be using that money for a train ride to Grindelwald or a show in London.  I now measure money in experiences or hotel stays, and I believe that is a good thing.

Was It Worth It?

Yes.  Always yes.  The world looks different now, so much less daunting or fear inspiring than it was.  The big “what ifs?” that had been plaguing my decision to quit my job and travel indefinitely have dropped off significantly over the last months.  There have definitely been bad days.  I may have broken down in a Hamburg restaurant when my waitress disappeared and all I wanted to do was pay for my dinner and get back to my room.  Different customs were a hard to get used to at times, and not every day was sunshine and roses.  But even the bad days weren’t bad enough that I didn’t want to be where I was.  Its just life, why not live it the way I want?

Advice for the Pre-Trip Me

• The European train system is amazing.  Stop worrying about missed connections or not arriving early enough for your train.
• Packing light was a good choice, but maybe work on cutting out a few more electronics.  Do you really need that extra flash of the portrait lens for me dslr?
• Don’t forget to try to local foods.  Gelato in Rome and Macarons in Paris where amazing and I wish I had branched out more often before then.
• Plans will change, but there really is no use worrying about it.

Where Did I Make it To?

I was able to squeeze in 12 countries over my 90 days.  This was a few less than I had planned on, since I wasn’t able to make it far enough East to hit Austria and Croatia.  Here are the countries (and towns) I made it too!

• Germany: Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, Lübeck, and Bremen
• Sweden: Stockholm
• Denmark: Copenhagen, Aarhus
• Netherlands: Amsterdam, The Hague
• Belgium: Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Namur, Dinant
• Great Britain: London
• Luxembourg: Luxembourg City, Vianden
• Switzerland: Basel, Bern, Montreux, Geneva, Vevey, Interlaken, Grindelwald, Brienz, Spiez, Thun, and Zermatt
• Italy: Venice, Rome, Cinque Terre (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso)
• Vatican City
• France: Nice, Bordeaux, Mont Saint-Michel, Tours, and Paris
• Monaco

Favorite Experiences

There are more great experiences than I can count but here is a list of the hightlights:

Catching shows in London with family.  Exploring Grindelwald with my camera.  A wine tour in Bordeaux.  Exploring museums in Paris.  A say trip to Lübeck in Germany.  The walking tour through Stockholm (with a younger version of Simon Pegg).  Exploring Monaco on the National Day when the Prince of Monaco waved at me (and 500 others).  Walking a section of the Cinque Terre trail.  Staying in Mont Saint-Michel.  Exploring Chateaus in the Loire Valley.  Making my own chocolate in Hamburg.  Riding the Golden Rail Pass train in Switzerland.  Hiking under the Matterhorn.  Exploring art galleries in Venice.  Wandering through the Palentine Hill in Rome.  Learning about Van Gogh at the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam.  Watching tulip fields fly past on a train in Holland.  Exploring Citadels in Eastern Belgium.  Hiking up to a castle in Luxembourg.

Should You Travel?

I know my situation is unique and not everyone can just leave their responsibilities behind.  There are tough decisions to make when it comes to long term travel.  As a single woman, I didn’t have to take into account another person in my travel plans, but as a proud owner of a retired racing greyhound I had to find a safe place for her to stay while I’m away.  She is currently living the good life with an amazing couple I found through her adoption group, but that is only for one year, then I need to have my life plan figured out.  I’ll either have to find a new place for her or settle back down in the US, both of which are a hard pill to swallow right now.

Another critical travel restriction is money.  I know most people my age have student loan debt, and money management is not something that is taught in school.  Not everyone has an accountants for a mother and a bother like me, and budgeting is so necessary for traveling.  I tracked my spending through Europe in an excel spreadsheet, and after 3 months I spent nearly as much as I was spending while working for the same amount of time.  I’m not sure if this reflects well on my Europe spending habits or poorly on my pre-travel spending habits, but it was definitely eye-opening.  And this includes staying exclusively in Airbnb and hotels, if I had convinced myself to do hostels that costs would have been much lower.

But even if you have to scrimp and save, I think traveling is something that you should not give up on.  Seeing new countries or even just new places near home opens your eyes.  You realize that everything is relative, and all the little things that can pile up and make life seem unbearable when you get stuck in a rut are less daunting after you take a few steps away from home.

As I’ve been telling everyone, I kept hearing everyone say “I wish I had gone to…” and I decided I was going to go.  If it is your dream to travel like it is mine, it is worth the struggle to figure it out.  Letting your fears hold you back is less tempting when you are admiring a Monet in Paris or hiking down a mountain in Switzerland.  Just go!

-Kelly