At least we have our bags...

We're a little over a month away now, but it still feels like we have quite a while until we leave. We finally booked our flights and the next thing to figure out is the Eurail system. I had no idea there were so many types of passes. I always figured you bought one for a week or a month of unlimited travel, but there are all manner of flexi-passes and select passes that allow for a certain number of non-consecutive travel days or only to certain countries. Some only work on certain trainlines in certain countries as well. I think we're just going to stick with the consecutive day pass for a month. I'm sure I've already bored you enough.

The other morning we took a hike with our bags to get a sense of how large they are when filled and how much they weigh. It might be a very long month. I still can't believe how little they really hold. Then again, I'm looking forward to the challenge of taking very little with us.

We still have no idea when we are going to be in each city and for how long at each stop. The only thing we have figured out as far as lodging is concerned is where we are staying in Amsterdam, where we are starting this trip. We are planning on staying in youth hostels in order to save as much money as possible. Most seem to have double rooms. In Amsterdam, though, we figured we'd start the trip off on an adventurous note, so we're staying in The Flying Pig, in which we're staying in a dorm. I can see you cringing already, but we're looking forward to it. Neither one of us has done the "backpacking in Europe" thing, so a hostel dorm still seems like a good idea. So does backpacking for that matter.

In closing, this quote really encapsulates what I'm feeling about this trip:

"Traveling on a tight budget carbonates your experience. By spending less, you actually connect better with the places you traveled so far to see. While an abundance of money can insulate you from the locals, a lack of money throws you into the cultural fray."

Like the fray of a youth hostel dorm in Amsterdam...

We'll keep you posted.

Andy