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Location Date Europe 
1400799600 North America 1388620800 -
Location Date Ireland
1400799600 France 1398207600 Switzerland 1398034800 Spain 1397775600 Monaco 1397602800 Italy 1397516400 Croatia 1397170800 Czech Republic 1396998000 Austria 1396998000 Germany 1396825200 Belgium 1396652400 Netherlands 1396479600 UK 1396393200 -
Location Date Cork
1400799600 Galway City 1400194800 Dublin City 1395446400 Cork City 1394755200 Dingle 1393632000 Clare 1393545600 Cahersiveen 1391212800 Durrus 1390694400 Kinsale 1389916800 Blarney 1389657600 -
Location Date Fri, 23 May 2014 1400854932 Fri, 23 May 2014 1400854731 Sat, 10 May 2014 1399736228 Mon, 28 April 2014 1398724968 Fri, 25 April 2014 1398380583 Thu, 24 April 2014 1398340315 Sun, 30 March 2014 1396216756 Mon, 17 March 2014 1395085458 Sat, 15 March 2014 1394927955 Wed, 12 March 2014 1394660595 Sat, 08 March 2014 1394315728 Sat, 01 March 2014
1393717364 Fri, 21 February 2014 1392989394 Sun, 02 February 2014 1391384023 Thu, 23 January 2014 1390489347 Wed, 15 January 2014 1389787269 Sat, 11 January 2014 1389484302 Sat, 11 January 2014 1389400890 Wed, 08 January 2014 1389216226 Tue, 07 January 2014 1389138950 Tue, 07 January 2014 1389114856 Tue, 07 January 2014 1389114475 Tue, 07 January 2014 1389113955 Tue, 07 January 2014 1389054327 Mon, 06 January 2014 1388966912
"I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list."
After two months of planning for four-10 hours a week, and the past weekend all day everyday, we are done. The three of us have successfully (on paper) planned, booked, and researched the 21 cities, 12 countries in 23 days we are living out of a backpack. It was probably the hardest thing I have ever done. Between coordinating times, figuring out hostels (they aren't that bad!) and hitting roadblocks from time to time. We had to research everything from flights to hostels and how to get from a train station to the hostels and from there to the places of interest. I don't know how people did this without Google and HostelWorld.
We also got a EuroRail pass and will be taking trains just about everywhere. Except from Cork to London, London to Amsterdam, Paris back to Cork. We also had to make some reservations for the EuroRail pass; we can't just hop on and off. Booking the trains was by far the most difficult process because we have to go through each individual country and through an affiliate in London, a three-hour phone call later with the company and we were BOOKED! There were screams, high fives, hugs and a few tears of happiness.
We are so proud of ourselves. We have been talking about his trip for almost a year now, since we were accepted in March last year. We have a lot planned in very little time. It has really been an emotional roller coaster. I am excited, nervous, and can't wait to explore Europe with my two best friends.
The Itinerary- you're going to have to keep checking the blog for all the details while we're there!
The Big Stops (we have a few long transfers in countries)
London, England.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Düsseldorf- Dortmund- Cologne- Munich- Berlin, Germany.
Brussels, Belgium.
Prague, Czech Republic.
Split, Croatia (24 hour train ride from Prague…)
Venice- Florence- Rome- Vatican City, Italy.
Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Barcelona, Spain.
Lyon, France.
Interlaken, Switzerland.
Paris, France.
BACK TO CORK!
Wish us luck!
Al
PS. How am I supposed to pack a backpack for 23 days… Any suggestions?
- comments
Lindsay Alex, I am so excited for you! Your list is awesome!!! On the backpack, you def pack some detergent, (the powder kind) for hand washing some stuff…but bring enough undies ;) I can't wait to hear all about your travels. Have a ton of fun ladies!! Love you Al!
Suzanne Geary Alex ~ what a great opportunity! and fantastic planning for your trip. I'd advise packing clothes in all one color (black probably) that you can layer for the different temps while traveling. Like Lindsay says, detergent to hand wash some small things each night. Looking forward to the blogs about the trip. I know you'll have a blast.
Danielle Nolan WOHOO!!! SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!! Barcelona was by far one of my favorite places. I stayed in Girona Hostel Barcelona, and we made so many friends there, people were so nice!!! Hope thats the one you are staying at!!! not to mention that club scene was to die for!!! I backpacked my whole travels too, bring lots of dresses (not sure how the weather will be or when the dates of your travels are but dresses are so easy to pack/wash/wear. Amsterdam, BE CAREFUL ON YOUR BIKE!!!! Everyone bikes there so if you dont do it right they will YELL at you...very loudly haha. You HAVE to do the Mike's Bike Tours in both Amsterdam and in Munich. Thats what we did and if you do one in one country they give you discounts for the next country. They are hilarious tour guides and you see a LOT. In Munich, you HAVE to go to the Houfbrau House/Beer Garden. And also the Chinese beer gardens in the park. If you go to the beer garden in the park, its a 1 euro deposit on the big glass and then we took ours, and when you go to the Houfbrau House and in their gift shop those same glasses are 30 euros, big bang for your buck. Plan on buying lots of goodies from Florence, I didnt go there but when I was in Italy, the people who did go ended up buying so much there because they have the flea markets (which are actually nice, not compared to here). Also in munich, the club scene was Ostbahnhof train stop and its about 22 clubs all in one area. When I went in October is was INSANE and one of the best nights of my life...when I went again in the summer time it was dead because all the college kids werent around so keep that in mind. I could go ON AND ON!!!!! So jealous!!! Live it up lady because you are going to miss these days!!! haha LOVE YOU