RTW backpacking travel in Eastern and Western Europe
A gentle sprinkle of rain dusted the windshield of the car as the smell of wet grass leaked through the air vent of my rental car. I was slowly puttering my way around the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland–more popularly known as Ireland’s stunning Ring of Kerry. The Ring of Kerry is one of …
Traveling Ireland during my round the world trip stressed me out for weeks before I arrived. It wasn’t a question of what to do (I had planned an epic route with my dad). It came down to transportation: to travel Ireland by bus, tour, or rental car. Ireland boasts fairly large towns dotting the countryside …
My Nissan Micra rental car was tiny. Whatever you’re thinking, think smaller. Perhaps for this reason, the decision to sleep in said car for an evening wasn’t my brightest idea. But for all of the plan’s faults, it did show me just how far the Irish will go for the sake of some friendly hospitality. …
Weak sunlight peeped from behind the smoke-gray clouds and I surmised that today, like everyday for the past four days, was another classic Scottish day—damp and cold. Although I had hoped for perfect Scottish weather when I tackled one of the most famous hikes on the Trotternish Peninsula, the northeast area of the Isle of Skye, …
I discovered a fantastic new use for Twitter that I plan to use on many of my future travels—and again, I owe it all to my new friend Andy. When I emailed Andy with a question about Edinburgh Fringe Festival shows, we arranged to meet up for a drink and chat. Once he decided that I …
I first met Andy by reading his travel blog. Then we started chatting more on Twitter, so naturally I thought to connect when I passed through his city. I was in Edinburgh for the annual Fringe Festival, a huge highlight on my RTW itinerary, so I sent him an email asking for Fringe show recommendations, and warning …
Exiting the bus station in Edinburgh, Scotland, the distant sounds of street music and cheering crowds lured me down Princes Street. Traffic bustled past me on the street, whizzing cars causing a passing breeze, and pedestrians vied for space on the sidewalk, eying me with caution since I had to backpacks strapped to my person. …
After a week of uncommon hospitality given to me in Scotland, I surly owe a debt of kindness to other travelers—one to be repaid at some point in the future. On an icy-cold evening in Northern India, I met two sisters, fellow backpackers, who were nestled into a tiny restaurant in McLeod Ganj. We shared …