While planning a multi-week/month backpacking trip may sound like a daunting task, I urge anyone that has ever considered it to accept the challenge and book a flight right now (or as soon as you can scour up enough money). My latest three-week backpacking trip to Europe was more of a life changing experience than I could have ever imagined. Everything from the places we stayed to the food we tried and the people we met was absolutely amazing, and I wish that everyone could share in the same experience that I was able to have.
The people you meet
I was able to meet more people from totally different lifestyles and cultures than I ever would staying home in the states. Every night we stayed at small inns and guest rooms in people's homes, which was a totally new experience in itself. This allowed for us to meet the other travelers staying there since sometimes we were sharing bathrooms or even a bedroom with them. Between the language barrier that often caused for interesting exchanges (the cutest German lady tried telling us she was sad to see us leave, but accidentally said she was tired to see us go) and the sense of commodity between fellow backpackers, the opportunities to meet new people is endless.
The Experiences
How many people can say that they went paragliding in the Swiss Alps, or spent the afternoon drinking in a beer garden in Münich, or that they ate fried flowers with honey in Austria? Every day held a new experience for me as I tried to blend in with the different lifestyles and accept their cultures. Our last few days were spent in Münich where my sister and I bought dirndls and my brother, a lederhosen. Will I have many opportunities to wear it at home? Probably not, but it was definitely worth the money to be able to tell my friends that I have real dirndl from Münich and wore it to a beer garden.
The Thrill of Being Somewhere Different Everyday
I swear, each day was better than the one before. I must have told myself fifty times "I could see myself living here" in practically every city and town we stopped in. I loved the small city feel of Berlin then the next day I was captivated by the presence of the Swiss Alps scraping the sky and two days after that I was drinking wine on our terrace on a canal in Venice. The scenery was always changing with every day and it was great to wake up and have to ask yourself "What country am I in right now and where will I be when I fall asleep tonight?"
Living out of a Backpack
This is one thing that I wasn't so sure about before the trip. I mean going away for almost a month and bringing only 5 outfits that I'd be carrying on my back sounded a bit crazy to me, but the mobility that this allowed was definitely worth the sacrifice of a few shirts. Lugging around a wheeled suitcase would not have been possible on this trip as I watched tourists struggle to wheel bags behind them on the cobblestone streets that ran through nearly every small town that we visited. It was so nice having everything right on me at all times and the ability to fall asleep in one country and wake up the next day and go to another one was amazing.
Bonding Time
My family of five all went on this trip to Europe together and boy was it a bonding experience. There's no better way to get to really know someone other than spending 21 days together, sleeping in hotel rooms made for 2-4 people, and driving nearly 2,000 miles in a car much too small for 5 backpacks and 5 passengers. No matter who you go with, you're going to get to know everything and I mean everything about the person, which definitely isn't a bad thing. Who knows, the trip might even bring you closer like it did with my family.
The Memories
I can't even begin to tell you how many people said before we left "You're going on the trip of a lifetime." It wasn't until I was actually in Europe that I realized how lucky I was to have this opportunity. My time in Europe may be over for now, but as I look through the thousands of pictures taken while there, I can remember the smiles, happiness, and cheers we all shared.
Not everyone can say that they spent the morning in Germany then drove to Austria for lunch and stopped in Liechtenstein before heading to Switzerland for the night, but I can. This trip was the highlight of my summer and while I'm sad to be home, I have plenty of time to start planning my next European backpacking adventure and you should as well.
