Hello all. I will be departing 10 September for stockholm from New York. I have never traveled outside of the states and plan on taking two weeks of travel around Europe before beginning the
camino frances. I have a passport, backpack, boots, a sleeping bag, and a tent. Im 28 years old and feel like I can get by with the bare essentials. If there is any advice that someone with experience can share with me, it would be much appreciated. My main concern is that I will get to europe this fall and feel like an unprepared schmuck. Please advise if you know of something I absolutely should do before departing. Thanks so much. -Josh
learning a few words of the language of the countries you'll be traveling in will do wonders in reducing the "schmuck" factor (Schmuck, in german language, btw means also: Jewelry /precious stones / adornment/s)
check on
www.wunderground.com the historic weather of the places you intend to travel and see what the weather has been like in the past few years in the location of your choice.
september is my favorite travel time in europe - it can mean golden light and gentle warm sun, or muggy hot, or bloody cold.
my travel/camino pants featured slim pockets for credit cards/ passport. that's where i kept mine and was done w/ that money-belt business and that untucking shirt procedure.
dare to explore food-wise. and you might like to stay away from soda bubbles and stuff of that sort and see what the local beverage industry has to offer.
take time to linger on those piazzas, town squares etc. people take their time when having lunch or dinner. there it's less 'eat and run' -
if you don't smoke - you might be surprised to see (and smell) how much smoking is going on. again, depending where you will be.
and even if it's hot - air conditioning is not the norm. ice cubes in drinks isn't the norm either.
depending how tall you are - you might find euro beds short in some locales. often felt like sleeping in "hobbiton" in some small pensao's where i stayed.
have an open heart and spirit - be curious. but not a fool on steroids.
train stations are in the middle of town in the majority of cases. airports are connected to a railway system.
don't know your prude-o-meter, but in europe people seem much more relaxed/at ease about their bodies. sun bathing topless in public parks - not a rarety. nobody batting an eye. children in their midst too gasp. totally untraumatized. if you do stare though: you . will . look . like . a . schmuck .
regardless how many local language words you have picked up
have fun -
some towns/places have no curfew - like berlin, as i recall. people sit outside and consume alcohol with a meal, in lovely beer gardens, or 'Heurigen', perhaps even listening to Jazz ...
generations mix and mingle in public places,
the experience of 'my space' is different. you might be surprised how "up close and personal" some busrides/train rides can feel like. again, depending on where you are.
while getting on a bus, in some place people queue up - elsewhere it can be a mob scene (of sorts) and you'll have to 'be local' to get onto the bus
perhaps - upon entering the EU - you might be asked to show your return ticket? or if you have sufficient funds available? or note address' of places you will be staying/visiting (hotel reservation? a friend?)
have a blast - be amazed --- in a hopefully good sense -
buen camino.
ah -- another thing i often do: bring along something twinky/light weight from the place you live. i had small photo cards of california redwood trees, or some sage for smudging, a key chain from a famous local university or whatnot ... small gifts - just for fun.