Euro Trip Mini Blog 3

Well, I survived my first train riding experience and made it to destination number 2! It was quite the adventure!

After walking through the Louvre for a few hours, staring and marveling at all the masterpieces and works of art, I was fairly tired. The Louvre is huge and absolutely incredible. I recommend wearing tennis shoes and not sandals like I did (I apparently didn't learn my lesson the first time and didn't think it would involve that much walking. I was wrong...). 

So I took a cat nap at the hostel and got to the train station an hour early because knowing me, and my track record abroad, I would probably get lost on the way or in the station somewhere. Little did I know, platforms are only announced 20 minutes before the train leaves (which doesn't help people like me at all) and I had to sit and wait. 

The train was pretty neat. Everything over here is so green so it was nice to be able to look out at the scenery as the journey went along. My train connection was in Brussels, Belgium and I was to get off, and book my train to Amsterdam from there. This is where the problems began. 

As I feared, the train was booked. The only other option was to take the non-high speed rail. Ok. Not a problem. The catch? The train connection I wanted to sleep on now had 4 stops at which I needed to switch trains. Cool. My hostel was already booked for the night and I didn't feel like sleeping in the train station so it was my only option. 

The trickiest part about this 4 stop adventure was knowing when to get off. The announcer usually only announces in the language of the land, unless its a newer train, in which case the automated lady speaks in many tongues. I like her. I found a few people going the same route and followed them to the next trains. They were from Germany and Holland and were very nice! 

I finally made it to Amsterdam around 10:15pm. It was dark and I couldn't find anyone to help me find my way. Cue the nerves. I checked and there was no wifi available. Kick the nerves up a notch. What kind of place is this!? Finally found a man to ask for help and when I showed him the photo on my iPad of the map and location of the hostel, he said, "I don't know. Don't you have some kind of gps on there?" He walked away. 

Well yes sir I do, and if it worked I wouldn't be asking you. Psh. On to the next.

I found a bus driver who looked as though he was going on his lunch break. I basically ran to him, begging he help me find this hostel. He told me to get on the tram and ride it into the city. The tram operator would let me know when to get off. So I did that and it worked out well, until I got to the city and the tram operator told me it was somewhere in "that direction." Crap. It's dark, I'm now walking and I'm alone. I was so sacred. Cue the undercover tears and start walking. I was reading every Dutch street sign to see if it resembled the street the hostel was on. I could just imagine West pronouncing the street names with the throat clearing sound because that is what they all looked like. (Haha) 

A few men whistled as I walked by and said hello in tones I'd rather not deal with at this time of night. Aren't there women in windows for that? YEP! I turned the corner and BAM.. There were two pretty ladies swaying back and fourth in the windows on the street, wearing only bras and panties, if that. They were winking at the men walking by and motioning them to come in. They couldn't have been more than 23, but the red lights behind them made them look a little older. And thus I found the Red Light District. I was so happy because I knew my hostel was right around there. 

After walking up and down the canal twice and thinking I was going to give up (not sure what my thought process was there because I sure as hell was not going to sleep on the streets of the Red Light District), I looked up and saw Barndestreeg, the street my hostel is located on. I could have jumped for joy and probably did! I hurried down the street and saw the sign for Shelter City. I walked inside, explained I was late because of the train issue and they had no problem with it. I had to hold back the tears. Seriously. Relieved is an understatement. 

Being that nervous in a foreign country, thinking I was going to be homeless for the night, all alone, was not a good feeling. When I got to my bed in the 16-bed room (which is pretty cool), I quickly connected to wifi to notify my parents and boyfriend who were waiting to hear from me when my train was supposed to arrive around 8pm. I'm sure they were a bit worried. 

What a freaking adventure! 

Here are some things to note: 

1. People here are much nicer than in France!

2. This hostel is awesome! I recommend staying here for anyone traveling to Amsterdam! 

3. No more night trains until West gets here. (I've already changed my itinerary to make that true!)

4. Everyone here smells like weed.

5. There are sex shops displaying dildos on every street.

6. Yes - the girls in the windows are actually good looking (from what I can see - I try not to stare).

7. Its makes me laugh when the girls close the curtains when people try to take their picture! lol 

On the agenda for tomorrow: Anne Frank House, museums if possible, the I Am Amsterdam sign and more city exploring. 

Right now I am enjoying an Amsterdam crepe from the market! :) 

Euro Trip Mini Blog 2

Well it's day 2 in Paris and I have to say this has been quite the adventure already! I've smiled, laughed, cried, been asked for money a dozen times, walked 3 and a half hours to get to a hotel, only to find it was way over the price I was told and i've come to find the plug adapter I bought doesn't work in some countries - France being one of them.

Here are some things I want to remember next time around:

1. Factor in distance and walking time (if you are as frugal as me with your money and don't want to take an expensive cab everywhere this will be important). 

2. Know the hostel and address the day before arrival. Finding one the day of is harder than it sounds without a phone and thinking you will have no where to stay in a foreign country is a little nerve wrecking. Or a lot, if you are me! 

3. Always ask about price! The hotel I was in last night had a pamphlet of all the things they offer - one of which being a "buffet breakfast" (more like continental) and there was no price listed so I assumed it was included in the room cost. I ate some fruit and a croissant and was charged £10 at checkout. Not cool. 

4. Not all French folks are rude.. Most of them seem to be, however a couple have stopped to ask me if I needed help finding something. So I've learned to just ask for help! If they don't want to, they will tell you or pretend to not speak English. 

5. Talking with people you love after experiencing rough days abroad is very helpful! :) 

I'm excited to take the train to Amsterdam tomorrow as it will be my first time being on one and I won't have to walk! It is also just about 5 minutes from my hostel! I knew I'd be walking a lot but didn't expect this much! It took me an hour and a half to get to the hostel today - and I have a brisk walk! Glad I have good walking shoes! 

Euro Trip Mini Blog 1

My experiences so far before even leaving the United States:

1. Lots of people stare at me and my backpack as I assume they are wondering why I am carrying something half my size. So far only one person has mustered up the courage to ask me the question: Are you backpacking or do you always pack that way? This short conversation led him to tell me "good luck" just as many others have told me. I know it is in good faith, but good luck sounds to me like I am heading into a jungle of wild gorillas who collect young brunettes. I'm not. I'm going to a civilized area with good people. "Have fun" would be much more appreciated and make me feel a bit less stressed. ;)

2. The escalator moving up was under construction in the airport... This led me to my first experience hiking upstairs with all of my stuff. My advice? When you pack light for a trip like this, pull all of the stuff out of your backpack, and pack lighter! I can already tell that i'm going to have a great ass and toned legs when I get back! However, I will never know if the new and improved bottom side is from the hiking or the pastries. Oh well! 

3. Large backpacks are definitely good for some things: they hide the ever so secretive butt scratches when you just can't wait! ;) 

4. Lastly, this is a chicken* salad sandwich if I've ever seen one! Salt Lake City, you have inspired me to do better in the sandwich making department! 

* Update : this was a chicken salad sandwich not an egg salad sandwich! :)

How to Use Hashtags Properly: A No Nonsense Guide to Reaching a Broader Audience the Right Way

OK, here is the deal: just as there is a right and a wrong way to spell a word, there is a right and a wrong way to use a hashtag. Although, I am a firm believer that most things are not simply black and white, hashtags come pretty darn close to the two-color scale.

That being said, I have put together an easy-to-follow guide to using hashtags appropriately.

Let's start with the basics:

What is a hashtag?
A hashtag is the new and improved pound sign (#) symbol. In social media it is followed by a word or phrase relating to the overall post. For example, if a photo is posted of a camel on Wednesday an appropriate hashtag might read #humpday.

What are hashtags used for?
Hashtags brings users to a feed that is populated with posts that all use the same hashtag. The purpose of this is to create a thread with posts only relating to a particular trending topic. Another purpose of hashtags is to help your message reach a broader audience than your current following.

Recap: proper hashtag etiquette includes using a few hashtags (3-5) relating to the topic, however it is not appropriate to include hashtags that have no relation to the topic in hopes of reaching a larger audience. Posts with an unnecessary amount of hashtags end up looking cluttered and are annoying to others who see them. This is not an example of using social media strategically and in most cases these posts will actually be skipped over.

Now, let's get to the guidelines:

Keep it simple.
Again, only hashtag words that are related to the post. If the post has nothing to do with having a good night or going to sleep, don't hashtag #goodnight. Hashtags only work if they are relevant.

Keep it short.
Using any more than 5 or 6 hashtags gets to be too much, and that is a generous number. If you are using them strategically, you shouldn't need that many anyway. Nothing is more annoying than an entire paragraph of hashtags. It's unnecessary.

Mix it up.
Make it easier for users to read by including the hashtags in a sentence like the following:

I can't wait to see #BlakeShelton sing on #TheVoiceFinale tonight! 

Posts like this flow easier than listing one hashtag after the other and they look less like spam. 

Hashtags can be a great asset to social media, but only when used properly!

Packing for Europe: Checking the Last Boxes on the Backpacking Checklist

Being the planner that I am it should come as no surprise to anyone that I did my fair share of research leading up to this trip. In addition to having a Type-A personality, I like to think I also employ some common sense in most cases as well. That is exactly what that research was for me - common sense. How could I possibly go on a 25-day backpacking trip through Europe without reading blogs, asking questions, calling stores, and more? It would have been a lot harder, I can tell you that.

So based on my research (and personal decision) I came up with a packing checklist to help get my ducks in a row. I have included all of the items below, some with photos to give you a better visual. After my trip I will post an update, talking about what I packed and what I would do differently the next time, if anything at all. Hopefully it helps for any of you adventurous types planning a similar European exploration!



First thing is first: the backpack! This can make or break the trip, or so I have heard. I went to REI and purchased the women's Crestrail backpack. It is full of pockets and organization and it just so happens to be my favorite color - purple. Make sure you get your backpack fitted correctly and make sure you know how to pack it (heaviest things closest to your back). Size of the pack depends on how long you will be backpacking for and what you plan to bring. Just ask a store associate - they are very knowledgeable.



Clothes - **Keep in mind that I might pack a few more items than necessary due to being female and a lover of all things fashion. The basic idea here is to pack as lightly as possible to avoid carrying around any extra weight during the trip. I have to keep reminding myself that I will be able to do laundry so packing one outfit a day is unnecessary. I've been told a good rule of thumb is to pack for 5 days and then wash when needed.

The basic items you will need are as follows:

• Socks and Underthings - I brought more than the 5-day rule because of the advice I got from friends.

  

  Spandex Capris

• Pajama bottoms - I am simply using spandex shorts or capris that I am already bringing.  (Kills two birds with one stone).
• Stretch shorts - 2 pair - easy to match and comfortable for days with lots of walking
• Stretch capris - 2 pair - again, easy to match and comfortable.
• Yoga pants - 1 pair - need I say it again? (See above.)
• Jeans - 1 pair, 2 if you are feeling fashionable 
• Maxi skirts - 2 - Comfortable, can be dressed up or down and the ultimate plus - you can go longer without shaving your legs because they are full length! Score!
• Short sleeve t-shirts - 4 or 5 - Make sure they all mix and match with your bottoms so you can make more outfits out of less clothing!

  

  Maxi Skirt

• Long sleeve shirts - 1 - only if you think you will need it. I think in most cases a shirt with a rain jacket would suffice. 
• Tank tops - 2 or 3 - again, mix and match them with everything so you can wear them out!
• Scarfs - 1 or 2 - these are completely optional but mine are very light and barely take up any room - so why not?
• Bikini - 1 - bring this just in case you have time or visit a place where you can use it!

  

  Rain Jacket
• Water proof jacket - I've been told this is a must have so I picked up a light one that will pack away nicely and match with most outfits! The one I bought is pictured to the right and it is the Columbia Women's Switchback II Jacket from Cabellas ($34.99). 
• Running shoes - 1 pair - I am bringing my Nike Frees because they are comfortable and I can be on my feet for long periods of time without issue. 
• Sandals - 1 pair - I am bringing a pair of sandals for the places that will require a nicer outfit and for the skirts. 
• Flip Flops - 1 pair - these double as shower shoes as well as lazy shoes (or so I call them) for when you don't want to dress up.

Toiletries - **Make sure these are small enough to go with you on the airplane if you are planning to carry your pack on (3oz. is the acceptable amount).

• Shampoo and Conditioner - I am only bringing one or two to start me off and then I can replace them once I am there. Again - anything to make the pack lighter.
• Body wash
• Face wash
• Wash cloth - I wasn't told to bring this but think it might come in handy!
• Tooth paste and toothbrush - well duh! Just don't forget them!
• Razor - be careful bringing this on the airplane with you - might have to purchase them abroad.
• Deodorant - with all the walking you will be doing this is a must!
• Lotion
• Sunscreen - protect your skin!
• Chap stick - if you are like me, you always have this with you anyway.
• Face wipes/baby wipes - these could come in handy when you don't have a shower or sink easily accessible.
• Make up - I am bringing the bare minimum but it is definitely personal choice.
• Prescriptions - don't forget these
• Over the counter drugs - Advil, Aspirin, Anti-diarrhea (this one was advice-driven based on friends who backpacked before me and reminded me of all the local cuisine I would be consuming that my stomach might not be use to). 

Travel Necessities and Other Items - these are other things you may need.

• Plug converter - this is not a "may need" situation. You will need this if you want to charge a cell phone, camera, or use anything with American plugs attached to it. 

  

  Microfiber Towel

• Sleep sheet - if you are staying in hostels and don't want to use the things they offer.
• Travel towel - microfiber dries quickly and packs very small so I would recommend that. I am bringing the Fina Ultra Absorbent Waffle Weave Microfiber Hair and Body Towel. It is smaller than a normal body towel but the reviews said it worked just fine and dried quickly. I will give my own review on the updated packing blog when I return.
• Toiletry organizer bag - it was suggested on multiple blogs to bring the folding organizer that you can hang in the shower, but I am just bringing a small toiletry bag that fits all of my things. 
• Combination lock - bring this in case you'd like to leave your pack in a locker at a hostel. They don't provide them. Make sure you get one that lets you set your own combination. I purchased a two-pack at Walmart for $6. Do not bring a lock and key - you don't want to lose it and be out of luck.

  

  Combination Locks

• Money belt - I was urged to bring one with me and will urge everyone else to do the same unless my experiences tell me otherwise. I purchased the REI brand money belt with the RFID protector (no extra cost) and will review it when I return. 
• Notebook and pen - you never know when you will want or need to write something down.
• Laundry detergent - one travel pack will get you there and then replace it as needed. 
• Glasses/contacts - if you wear them, make sure you bring extra contacts in case they rip or get lost. 
• Inflatable water bottle - I was told they are useful because they can be easily stored when they are empty. Sold at the dollar store, in most cases. 
• Plastic bags - for keeping wet or dirty clothes separate from clean clothes.
• Travel lint roller - you don't want to be the only lint-filled person in Europe. I've heard they are very fashionable!
• Small blanket - this is what I am bringing in leu of a sleeping bag. I have heard it is easier to pack and works just the same. 
• Snacks - for the long train rides or when you don't want to purchase a meal. Granola bars, canned fruit, etc. 
• iPad - I am bringing mine for blogging/reading purposes on the trains but it is not necessary.
• Passport, Drivers License and copies - make sure to have copies as well as the real things with you in case they get lost or stolen. Also it would be smart to have them saved in your email in case you lose everything. That way you can get to the American Embassy and locate them via your email. 

So far this is what I plan to bring with me on my trip and yes - it will all fit in one backpack! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask and I will answer them to the best of my knowledge. Otherwise, I will write an update when I return and share my post-adventure secrets. 

Stay tuned for updates from Europe!