Backpacking
June - August 2018
10 countries. 15 cities. 53 days.
I knew I needed to make the most of my dual citizenship before Brexit finalized. Study abroad programs were out of the question because of the price tag. So, I planned my own thrifty excursion in the summer of 2018.
Before the official trip began, I spent a month with my mom’s side of the family in Wales. It was great to see all my Aunties, Uncles, grandparents, and cousins.
London, United Kingdom | June 21 - June 24
I stayed in a 30 person dorm at a youth hostel, situated directly above a nightclub. Triple bunk beds! I gave up on getting any sleep.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands | June 25 - June 28
This place is officially the coolest city in the world. It’s STUNNING. And everyone seems to be so happy! I would live here in a heartbeat.
Berlin, Germany | June 29 - July 1
An encounter with an angry German man on the train. A pigeon pooped on me. Learned the hard way to always carry cash.
Prague, Czech Republic | July 2 - July 5
I wanted to come here purely because of an episode of House Hunters International that I’d seen. This is a BEAUTIFUL city, it didn’t disappoint!
My cousins all told me I overpacked, but I didn’t believe them. I really felt the weight of my 55lbs backpack by now (the walk from the train station to the hotel was over 2 miles). But I took lots of breaks and took in the history surrounding me.
Vienna, Austria | July 6 - July 9
There’s a lot of statues of men punching horses, and I still wonder why? Vienna is so rich with museums, it’s impossible to do it all. I appreciated all of the luxurious public gardens.
Venice, Italy | July 10 - July 12
Venice looks like it’s straight out of a storybook. No cars, no bikes, only people and boats. I stayed in a cute Bed & Breakfast. I met some awesome people that I still talk to!
My train departed early, 6:30 am. As I walked to the station, everyone in the hustling city was asleep. All I could hear is the pitter-patter of the rain as the sun emerged over the bridges. It felt so surreal.
Sorrento, Italy | July 13 - July 16
[My backpack got the best of me and I busted my knee.] Sorrento itself was SO different than the other cities; it was relaxing. I picked this area because other big destinations were commutable.
I also took a day trip to the Amalfi Coast; a 3 hours winding bus ride across the coast. Anarchy seems to be the rule of the roads! I opted for a cruise back to Sorrento, which detoured at the Isle of Capri. Another day, I went to Pompeii.
Rome, Italy | July 17 - July 21
Roma! Where modern humanity began 2 millenniums ago. It was a jam-packed 5 days. I ate my weight in spaghetti bolognese.
Florence, Italy | July 22 - July 23
The birthplace of the Renaissance. Home of stunning art & architecture.
Geneva, Switzerland | July 24 - July 27
The journey into Switzerland was nothing short of spectacular. A conductor on the train saw me looking out the window, wide-eyed. He comes up and asks, “French, German, Dutch?” Embarrassingly, I said, “Only English.” He smiles and says in a thick accent, “Sit on the other side of the train for the best view. My favorite part of my job is the reaction when people see these mountains for the first time.” It was so sincere.
Monte Carlo, Monaco | July 28 - July 30
Good beaches, fast cars, and high-end casinos. I spent a full day at Lavotto Beach and Blue Beach (in Nice, France.)
Barcelona, Spain | July 31 - August 4
There was a heat-wave going through Spain, and these were the hottest days on record. But this city is epic.
Paris, France | August 5 - August 9
I REALLY lucked out with the AirBnB. It was a tiny studio directly across from the Louvre. I took 6 years of French in school, but all I could muster was, “Une chocolat croissant, si vu plait!”
After Paris, I went back to the UK for another week to spend time with my moms and dads side of the family. The world is a really big place, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to explore some of it. If I’m able to do something like this again, I’d love to dust off the pack and travel in South America (Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina, etc…)
