Off-Track Backpacking » Europe

My First Steps into the Backpacking World

Nara — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 05:29:08 +0000

First thing I heard over and over again was ‘you couldn’t do that alone, that’s dangerous!’ I was frustrated with people around me in my life telling me that I couldn’t do it. So it made me want to do it even more. Bought my plane ticket, Euro-rail pass and booked a few hostels to get me started. Everything came into place, starting on my high-school graduating day, June 21, 2004. After receiving my diploma I rushed home, grabbed my backpack and everything that I needed to begin my Europe Trip.It wasn’t until I landed in Paris, July 12, 2004, where the fun began. I took the Channel Tunnel to get from London to Paris, which only took about 2 hours in total. Yet, this day was only the beginning for me and I was not aware that I was going to add another 2 more hours of metro craziness to carry me through my first day of backpacking.As you maybe aware, the Paris Metro is massive!!!…well compared to Toronto subway, there is no comparison. Just imagine my first impression seeing the map and trying to find my hostel’s location. Oh yes, I was blown over with an astonishment, WOW and HELP shivers all over. Oh and did I mention French is not my forte; so asking a local was out of the question. It came down to what I usually do; go with my gut feeling. I hopped on the metro and freely went from one line to another until I reached my destination – Rennos, which is on the 12 line (green). Once I reached the main streets, I randomly walked and within 20 minutes I found the Hostel. I was eager to meet other backpackers and hear their adventures, however there was one small problem when I checked into the hostel.

As I was about to go up the stairs to enter my room, there was a sudden wave of WATER crashing down the stairs at which had me flown, crashing backwards onto the floor.

Oh, yes I was soaked from head to toe, including my backpack. Turned out, a water pipe burst on the second floor and due to it being the main water pipe, there was a lot of press of water that went pouring down the stairs.First experiences are always thrilling. Would you call this first experience extreme? As you can imagine, it took me a few hours to dry all my clothes and finally settle in. As first time in Europe, it was an unforgettable first experience.

Monaco: Europe’s very own Las Vegas

Nara — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:00:38 +0000

Today I was looking at some pictures of my European trip of 1998 with my sister and my parents and I remembered how amazing Monaco is. Monaco is a little city-state located in South Western Europe on the northern central coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This little country is known for its high class way of life, its beautiful panorama, the casino, the best Formula 1 races and the expensive yachts owned by the rich population of the country. It’s amazing that wealthy foreigners make up the majority of the population at approximately 84%. For those who don’t know, here is a very brief political description of Monaco. This country is a constitutional monarchy and principality, with Prince Albert II as head of state. The House of Grimaldi has ruled Monaco since 1297, and the state’s sovereignty was officially recognized by the Franco-Monegasque Treaty of 1861. Despite Monaco being independent, its defence is the responsibility of France.

Casino

The Monte-Carlo Casino is one of the most popular casino’s in the world. It’s elegant and immense structure brings a certain mixture of class and style to the city. I never went inside to see what it looks like but the outside is very beautiful and looks pretty much like a monument. Here are two fun facts to know about Monaco. First of all, there are no taxes in this country, which explains the large number of rich people and celebrities. Secondly, the citizens of Monaco are not allowed to gamble in the casino, which is pretty awkward. Also, in this casino, we can fin the Grand Théâtre de Monte Carlo, an opera and ballet house, and the headquarters of the Ballets de Monte Carlo. It also hosts the annual European Poker Tour Grand Final.

Formula 1

The Formula 1 event in Monaco is the nicest and most important race in the sport because it is held in the city’s streets. It’s set up takes about six weeks to prepare, time to set up the benches, the slowing down tracks, the lights, the garages, etc. It is also one of the most difficult tracks in the world because it’s streets are very tight and it makes it a lot harder to pass an opponent. The race is usually held the second weekend of May and attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world.

For those who travelled to Nice, Cannes or the Côte d’Azur, you will definitely love this place. I personally think that this place is a must see country in Europe because it is so elegant and classy. The view is absolutely breath-taking and will make you feel like you are in heaven. There are many things to see in Monaco and a lot of money to spend. If you’ve already gone to Monaco or if your planning on going please share your experience with us. If you go and win at the casino, please come and share the fortune as well Just Kidding, have a great trip.

A Few Of The Best Hiking Locations In The World

Nara — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:04:04 +0000

Hiking while backpacking can be one of the best ways to see the landscape or villages of a country. I found this out, by exploring Cinque Terre in Italy a few years ago. I have never experienced such fantastic hike from village to village until I finished hiking Cinque Terre.
While I was in Europe many backpackers recommended me to do hiking, so I decided to choose Cinque Terre to get me started. Oh and wow what a choice I made, because the scenery was something else. It was from that experience when I started to tell backpackers, that hiking in certainly the way to go. So check out a few hiking places that I believe are worth seeing!

Mt Whitney: Is one of the highest mountains in the States and is located in Eastern Sierra of California. To hike this mountain you need to go between the snowmelts and just before the raining season hits, only because the scenery is extraordinary. July and August are the best time to hit the trails. Also this mountain requires hikers to have permits and getting one during the summer months is very unlikely, so try to make sure you get your permit during the fall or winter months. The only reason for this is because causal hikers would take 2 days to climb the mountain without any camp base or safety net. But for an experienced hiker, the 60km hike would only take a day.

Cinque Terre: One of the most spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea and the cliff lines is hiking the trails of Cinque Terre in Italy. It is located in the Ligurian coast in western Italy. Cinque Terre consists of five different villages that are linked together by train, boats or trails. Each town is unique in its own way, but all of them have beautiful beaches. So to hike these trails the best way is to start from one of these villages; Riomaggiore or Monterosso. Each trail between each of the villages is a maximum 4km long. Although, some of the routes can be a little challenging. The trail between the villages of Vernazza to Corniglia is the most difficult and usually takes people 2 hours to complete. Its has the least number of ocean views and the terrain is very uneven in places. But along these trails you will see the most spectacular view of the Ligurian coast, vineyards, stonewalls and see true local farms, and visit each little village. To do this trail is will only take you a whole day. Out of all the hiking I have done, this hike was by far my favorite hike!

Salkantay Trek: This is the trail to avoid the crowds to reach Machu Picchu, Peru. Once I say Machu Picchu, everyone thinks of hiking the Inca trail, not the Salkantay Trek that is one the top 25 best hikes in the world. There is no permit required for this trail and also no limitation. This trek is located in the same region of the Inca Trail, but the scenery is very different, and it includes more amazing views. Its footpath can start from Mollepata that continues through snowcap mountains, lush tropical rain forest and is supposed to be outstanding for its glacier-capped summit. This trail is very ancient and is worshipped by many of the local Indians.This hike would be perfect for those outdoor lovers who want a little more privacy and a better view.

A few other trails to consider would be Mt Everest Base Camp, Kilimanjaro in Kenya, Zion Narrow in Utah (USA), and Haute Route in france/Switzerland.

Barcelona!

Nara — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 05:18:27 +0000

One of my Favorite cities in Europe is Barcelona. Only because everything you want in a European city, Barcelona has it! It’s filled with life, excitement, uniqueness, and not to forget the amazing nightlife! It is Spain’s second largest city and for those who have never been or are thinking of backpacking it, well here are a few quick tips.

For all those first timers, Avenue of Las Ramblas is the first stop you need to see. The brouhaha along the broad Avenue of Las Ramblas is the most exciting street in all of Spain. I know, hard to imagine that one street is the most exciting, but trust me once you see it you will love it. You can listen to street music, stop for a cana (small beer), purchase printed T-shirts, or even buy a tweeting bird! Also, you need to take a quick stop at the market at La Boqueria. If you want fresh food, this is the place to grab it! Plus it’s perfect for us backpacker – cheap and good! After that Walk from the top the street towards the beach and once you are done seeing the street take a stroll along the sand to catch a breath of fresh sea air. Barcelona offers the most beautiful view of the Mediterranean.

Now the places to see also include:
Segrada Familia: masterpiece of Gaudi;s stunning and surreal designs.
The Cable car: a worthwhile cable ride to view the entire city.
Parque Guell; The perfect way to spend a day among one of the most creative artist’s Gaudi. It is a park filled with culture, art, soul, life, and displays his greatest work. Plus it is also a world heritage site.

As far as going out goes well there are tons of options because it’s Barcelona. I would recommend going to a stand up Tapas bar to start your night off. From there take a sip at a wine/jazz bar. They are really well known in Barcelona and experiencing one is worth while! If you are not much of a wine drinker, go to a local bar and see how the real locals spend their nights. It’s great to chat with a few locals. Now as far a nightclubs go! Well you need to check out at least three of them to get the whole experience under your belt!

Europe Vs America: Two visions of life

Guest Post — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 06:00:07 +0000

Many people often ask me, what is Europe like? Or how is life in Europe? I’d like to say that it’s an easy question to answer, but unfortunately it isn’t. My personal opinion is that life is more appreciated in the old continent. Sure when you live in America, you are considered spoiled, we have everything they have; the difference is that we don’t pay attention to the details. For example, when we wake up in the morning for our daily routines, we usually stop by Tim Hortons for a fast cup of coffee or we prepare one at home, all under the rush of not being late for work. In Europe, things are a little different. People tend to wake up earlier and take a walk to the bar and socialize while having their coffee before heading to a hard day of work. This style of life is easily observable in the Irish, Italian and arab community in Montreal. The whole aspect of socializing, being connected and building bonds is a lot more important then it is in our culture.

Another important point that distinguishes Europe from America is the whole work aspect. What I mean by this is that here in our beloved America, we live to work, but in old Europe, they work to live. It’s a big difference that can easily change your perception on life in general. For instance, in the village that my family is from in Italy, Aielli, after a hard morning’s work in the fields, the men come back home for lunch and eat with their family and cherish that moment. Here in America, we are timed for one hour for lunch, you have to punch out, go eat, be back on time and get right back to work. Maybe a fast phone call to the kids and wife or husband, but it still doesn’t give you much time. So you’re getting my point right? It might sound like a microscopic difference but I think it has a big impact on the European way and vision of life. This said, I strongly suggest to all the readers and backpackers out there to experience this by yourselves by travelling Europe and visiting the cities and villages in the old continent. A big high five to Tanya and Nara for the liberty of letting me write this non-political related article.

Feels good to be back in Cannes, France

Nara — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 05:13:21 +0000

After 13 hours of flying, I have finally arrived in Cannes, France. As first impression after five years, its a whole lot of wow. Things have change! I know, not very usual for Europe, but its not the buildings that have changed its the amount of stores and resturants that have been added to the water fronts main street. There are now many designers stores, which is what I expected since Cannes is the center of upper class, but at the same time it makes the water front look fuller and has a touch of California feeling to it too.Funny, I know. Yet if you walk down Venice Beach in L.A you will notice window shoppers crawling everywhere, well it feels like that here now too. However, the smell of the Mediterranean Sea with the combination of Gelato ice cream and crepes is a smell that I have missed for so long. It brings me back to when I travelled Europe last. Anyways, so far the weather is okay and the conference is free sailing. As for the hotel I am staying at, well lets just say its a picture perfect, cutie European style hotel. Its place that would never exist in North America, sadly but true. Only because a small, narrow, five story, looking doll house with blue shedders, yellow paint and gardens surrounding the hotel would just not really fit in our large, wide spread cities. So yes I am loving to finally be back in Europe! Well I would love to write more but this keyboard is starting to drive me crazy if you know what I mean. Plus keep toned!

Paying to Pee in Europe

Tanya C — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 02:53:08 +0000

Traveling accross Europe is somewhat common. It normally turns out to be a great experience and lots of fun times! This being said, there was one thing that really annoyed me during my 7-month stay in Europe, and that was going to the bathroom in touristy places. When in Rome, do as the Roman do- that means- did they have to dish out some cash to pee? The average cost of using the toilet in Italy, or accross Europe is 1 euro. Paying to use the bathroom has become so popular that an online site allows tourist to pre-payfor access to public bathrooms. No, this is not a joke!

Most of us are accustomed to enter any fast food chain or restaurant when we need a bathroom. It’s normally not an issue to use the bathroom without buying some food. But it is quite the contrary in the Scandinavian countries however. You need to pay in train stations, bus stations and the doors at McDonald’s are locked! Yes! When visiting Oslo (Norway) a few years ago, we had to use the bathroom and considering that we had no hostel and we were too poor to pay for food or drinks, toilets were therefore not easily accessible. When we ran into a McDonald’s, it was a no-brainer for us to walk in and head to the bathroom. But to our surprise, the door was locked and we couldn’t use it unless we bought something.

All this to say that if you’re planning a trip to Europe, do prepare a budget for using the bathroom!

I’m glad to pee for free in North America

Off To Cannes, France In April

Nara — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:35:52 +0000

In a few weeks time I am off to another country! Yay! No I am not backpacking or taking a vacation, but I am traveling. I will be in Cannes, France for work!!! It’s going to be about a week long trip of work and little play, but it’s going to be exciting to be back in Cannes again. About five years ago around this time, it was my very first time in Cannes. As I think about that now, wow time passes very quickly, but it still feels like yesterday that I was backpacking Europe. For those who have never been to Cannes, well its one of those cities that you don’t want to miss on your Europe Trip. It’s filled with historic sites, great cafes/restaurants, cutie shops, and most of all the beach/hot weather. Well compared to Canada, right now, it’s going to be hot! It’s a city close to a few other cities that are a must see, such as Nice, Monte Carlo, and Marseille. They are all along the Mediterranean Coastline of France. Plus Its very easy for backpackers to hop on a train to Nice and reach another one of my favorite European destinations, Barcelona, Spain. But before you end up in Spain, you must stop and take a little gander around the second largest city in France, Marseille. It looks nothing like a large big city like Paris, but it is. The only reason for that is because of it’s traditional coastline/port feelings. Take a boat tour and site see some of the most amazing sun-baked beaches and its rough-and-tumble edginess. Yet, not only is this a large city it is France’s oldest too. So you will be surrounded by litter-swirled streets, and its coastal corniches, chicaning around rocky inlets, and little treasures. Trust me you will not want to miss this city. So once you start planning your Europe trip, keep in mind the little villages and cities along the coastline! I will keep you updated about my little adventure over to France shortly.

Off Track Planet Giveaway

Tanya C — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:11:10 +0000

Off Track Planet is giving away a First Class Global Eurail Pass and a choice of a new FLIP HD video camera or iPod Nano. Sponsored by Eurail.com and Travellerspoint.com.
To enter, participants must submit a 1-2 minute video detailing their reasons for being most-qualified to win the prize OTP is offering. The application deadline is March 22, 2010 and a winner will be announced by OTP on April 1, 2010. Participants must be at least 18 years old, need to have lived outside of Europe for the last six (6) consecutive months.
This contest will provide a voucher valued at $750 opening the borders to 21 countries throughout Europe and a video camera to capture it all, or something to groove to on long train trips. For more information, details can be found at http://OffTrackPlanet.com.

Contact: Freddie Pikovsky
Email: Freddie@Offtrackplanet.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Offtrackplanet
Website: http://OffTrackPlanet.com

Safety Travel Tips For Women

Nara — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 02:22:45 +0000

When I backpacked Europe of a year, I had to find smart, easy ways to keep my most important belongings close to me. Not only my valuables I had to take special care of, but also myself. Since it is a fact that all women need to travel 100 percent more carefully than men, due to basic problems that can occur very easily. A few quick tips I have learned over that last few years from backpacking is watch the crowd, carry a personal alarm, avoid showing your money, and don’t bring bling.

Watch the crowd

Be aware of your surrounding by constantly keeping a close eye on your bags, the people around you, and avoid getting rubbed against from anyone. I find people who are to close and who happen to be keeping a close eye on you or suddenly bump into you, are up to no good.
When I was living in Dublin, Ireland there was a moment in a shoe store, were I thought this lady was keeping a close eye on me, but I just assumed that she just knew I was tourist. However, once I put my purse down to try a pair of shoes on she quickly grabbed my bag and ran. I started running after her, but the store security guard grabbed me and mentioned to not even bother chasing her. I found out last that night that often tourists will chase the individual and get stabbed or over all get badly hurt. So I quickly learned my lesson, trust your gut and keep you eyes wide open at all times.

Carry a safety device

Before I left for my first big backpacking adventure my father got me a personal alarm. It was not like any regular alarm. This thing made one hell of a noise if you pull on the trigger. It’s a small square shape device, with a hand held string attached to it. If you pull the string fairly hard the device will literally scream and blow your ear drums, trust me its loud. I once by mistake pulled the string on a train and I swear everyone on the train was not only staring at me, but they were all covering their ears tightly. I think it’s a perfect device for solo women backpackers, who need a safely net.

Avoid showing your money

So this really goes for any backpacker, never show your money out in the public eye. Even if it’s only a few bills, you will have those few individuals staring and thinking of ways to take advantage of the situation. Try to bring your money out in front of a clerk or somewhere safe, where you know people can’t see you.

Ladies don’t bring Bling

So yes, there will be times you want to look good for going out on the town and hitting up a few bars/clubs, but trust me wearing jewelry is not worth it. A thief can easily injure you from pulling at your necklace from your throat or even grabbing your arm to get a bracelet. If they want that item that you are wearing, oh they will get it some way or another. I find, wearing something simple but pretty with no jewelry is the best way to avoid any of that trouble. Plus when backpacking we never look as good as we can. Its just part of the adventure.

So these are just a few easy tips to know, but over all just be smart when you backpack. If you are aware of your surroundings and know how to carry yourself well….well you should be just fine.