So You Want to Backpack Across Europe....

I just finished watching "Stone of Destiny" -- a British film about a nationalist plot to take back the Scottish Stone of Destiny from England and return it to it's rightful home in Scotland as a symbol of independence from the crown. The whole time my mind was racing because i'd actually been to all the places they were depicting in the movie, and I was lovin' it! Afterwards, I planned my next backpacking trip to Europe which will hopefully take place after graduation.....or maybe after I get a job.....after graduation......

ANYWAYS

I thought it would be nice to blog about how EASY and AFFORDABLE it is to backpack across Europe--and therefore TOTALLY DO-ABLE. That's right folks--it's not just some unattainable dream. You can do it. Hopefully this will help get you started!

(And as a side note--when I say "backpacking" I mean flying between countries, but not having any luggage other than a small backpack such as this ------------>  I'll explain the necessity for it's smallish size later...)

For starters, you have to remember that this is a backpacking trip. If you don't like the idea of walking almost everywhere with only a back pack on your shoulders carrying everything you'll need for a couple weeks, turn back now. That means your clothing, toiletries, ONE extra pair of shoes, etc.

So, to being. The most expensive part of the trip is the plane ticket to Europe. You're looking at around $1,200 (tops) if you fly into a big airport in western Europe, such as London, Dublin, or Madrid. And hey, those are all great places to start your adventure! 

Once you're in Europe, flying gets significantly cheaper. Here's one of the best tips that I can offer in this blog. It's called ryanair.com and it's going to be your best friend. (right click, open in new tab/window). This company flies all over Europe for SUPER CHEAP. We're talking London to Rome for like $25. In the top right hand corner of the site, there's a link that displays all the destinations they fly to--route map. Four things to keep in mind when using this site.

1. Backpack size: one of the reasons for the small backpack is because ryanair wont charge you for luggage if all you have is a small carry-on. And you don't want to push it either. I almost didn't catch my plane out of Ireland because they said my backpack was too big. Keep it in mind.
2. Ryanair only from certain places, to certain places: thus the reason/importance of the route map. For example, there aren't flights within Switzerland. Take a train.
3. Currency conversion: Ryanair is dealing with you in either pounds or euros--make sure you factor that into the equation when you're adding your dollars up.
4. Remember you're American: i.e. you'll have to pay an extra $10 for each flight because you're not a member of the E.U. I know, right?....

So, what you want to do is buy one-way tickets from country to country in a line. For example--from London to Palermo, from Palermo to Pisa, from Pisa to Frankfurt, and so on.

Also, ryanair flies into smaller airports, so you'll have to factor in the transportation charge from the airport to your hostel/hotel/villa/etc. The airport pretty much always has a bus or train for this exact purpose, and they charge about $25 round trip. As soon as you get off the plane, you'll see ads for this service, so don't worry about planning ahead on that one, or having to speak the language :)

OK! You've reached a whole new country! Now what? Well hopefully you've already booked your lodgings (seriously though--throwing caution to the wind on this one is a bad idea. You'll never find a place on short notice if you want to be frugal).

2 options here:

1. Right hand corner of ryanair.com --> says "Villas and Apartments". You can find pretty good deals on villas and apartments (duh) here if you're looking to spend a little more money--and they charge one big fee, so if you're traveling with a bunch of other people, you can divide up that fee.
2. Hostel World and Student Universe are great places to find hostels (and you don't have to be a student, fyi). Now before you freak out about hostels, keep in mind that young, drunk, hooligans are not the only ones having adventures. Families stay at a lot of these places too. All you have to do is research. Let's say you find a place that's a good price for you; google the name of the establishment and read every review on it to find out if you'd want to stay there. I personally stayed in places that were about $20 a night/per person, and thought it was perfect. I felt safe, and wasn't sleeping with bed bugs. They have options for private rooms, all the way up to mixed dormitories of 20+ people. You have options.

**Something important to keep in mind when you're trying to figure out where to stay, is what you plan on doing in this city. If you're going to Rome to see the sites, make sure you stay in the city, otherwise you're going to have to pay for transportation. If you're going to Scotland to see the landscape, well that's another story. Just make sure you look at location...**

Now how do you survive with just a backpack? Very well, actually. I guess this is more for the ladies than the former boy scouts.....

First off, when you're traveling, you have a home-base: your hostel. You can relax and take a nice shower and eat--a lot of places you can even cook in their kitchen! A lot of places also have laundry facilities and internet cafes, reading rooms and televisions. YOU'LL BE FINE. You don't need 5 pairs of shoes (you need exactly 2 well-worn pairs, and maybe some flip-flops) and you just wash your clothes as often as you need in the hostel or at a laundromat. Don't speak the language? Worried you won't be able to find a laundromat? Awesome. ADVENTURE, PEOPLE!!! ADVENTURE!!! But seriously, as long as you're staying at a place that's comfortable for you, you'll be too preoccupied with the fact that you're in a beautiful, new country!

WHEN do you go?? Well that is up to you--but there are pros and cons to every season. For example, I went end of November, beginning of December, and though it was FREEZING in the British Isles, the Colosseum was breathable because there were fewer tourists, and overall, things were cheaper. But man, nothing beats the Malta beach in July (or so I hear...). 

Some nice little tips:

• Take the shampoo and conditioner samples with you if they're offered at the hostel you're at. Those are always helpful so you don't have to buy those things as often.
• For every city you plan on visiting, take a city map. Small, pop-out ones such as THESE are FANTASTIC to say the least.
• Forget the museums--just walk. Unless it's the the Louvre, or some special exhibit, or a personal life dream, DON'T GO TO MUSEUMS JUST BECAUSE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO. Walking without a plan can be the most amazing thing! Just you, your companions, and a map. This is how we accidentally stumbled upon St. Paul's Cathedral in London right on time for the Thanksgiving Day service for the American Community. 
• Bus tours to see the country-side are primo. We stayed in Dublin and realized that the city was just not all it's cracked up to be, so we called up a bus company we saw advertised and booked a trip to the country for the very next day. $20 = one of the best days of my life.
• Avoid touristy areas, especially for dinner.....because right around the corner is a little cafe with the best pizza you've ever had in your life for half the price, and the people around you are speaking ITALIAN.
• Before you go, research festivals in each city! 
• If you can, between your visits to big cities, plan some relaxing stops in not-so-busy places. You're going to be exhausted, and you'll need some time to catch your breath :)

There are so many, many things I could talk about, but you can email me if you're interested in more info. So.....i'll leave you with some of my favorite pics of my adventure with a backpack:

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St. Peter's Basilica in Rome

FACT: No matter what time of day, year, era you go, the Vatican is going to be extremely crowded. Just be prepared to shuffle around some very small rooms with many foreign (and sometimes smelly) people. Also, don't take pictures of the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. Angry Vatican guards will rip off your head. <--

Abbey Road in London--truly a different kind of museum :) it was kind of hard to find, but we met some pretty great people on our way there! -->

<--Cooking at our hostel in London! Free kitchens rock!

Enjoying Cabury chocolate smothered crepes in front of the London eye--yet another impromptu moment of bliss. -->

My friend Hamish, the Scottish highland cow! Discovered on a bus tour pit stop! (he's famous--google him.)

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Like I said--pros and cons to traveling in December...while the fog made it impossible to see Stirling Castle, it sure was gorgeous--and FREE.

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On a bus tour in the middle-of-nowhere-Ireland, we found this amazing landscape. Where they filmed Braveheart and P.S. I Love You. Something for everyone :)

Part of my fantastic, 3-month adventure in Spain--but THAT is a completely different blog :)

--> http://stephaniesspanishadventure.blogspot.com/

Mountain Woman

So, I've got a new goal for this summer that has to do with my BEAUTIFUL HOME STATE of UTAH!!

For those unfamiliar with the totally awesome stuff UT has to offer--here's a little taste:

Here's what I was thinking:

I've never taken advantage of these fantastic hiking spots! I've been camping, fishing, etc., by my super whiny attitude towards hiking has stopped me from getting the coolest spots around the Beehive state. 

So, I'm working on a sweet workout plan at the gym that involves a steep incline on the treadmill and carrying weights, so that when the sweet, blessed summer rolls around, I'll be able to climb a mountain without passing out!! Can I get a Hoo-RAH!! 

I do have a specific place in mind...

AND HERE IT IS!!!

:

Red Castle in the High Uintas!

Now this is going to take a significant amount of endurance (for me at lease--since hiking the Y makes me want to cry....) and this is a journey of a few days. Hopefully I can convince my dad and brother to take me, and we'll have a jolly good time :)

How to Socialize in a Socially Awkward Zone

So this Friday there's a YSA Winter Formal at the stake center in Springdale, AR--for those of you who have no idea what i'm talking about--I'll explain.

YSA stands for Young Single Adult. What makes you a "young, single adult"? Well in Mormon lingo, it means you're between the ages of 18 and 30, you aren't married, and you have no qualms about sticking to your gender's side of the basketball court drinking root beer.

"Winter Formal" means fancy dance.

"Stake Center" means church building.

Springdale, AR means that i'm about to experience something "other-worldly"...

Now don't get me wrong--i'm excited! Getting dressed up is DELIGHTFUL! BUT, am I really prepared for the amazingly awkward things that happen at church dances? I mean there are some strange folk at these gatherings....

Who to look out for:
You've got the crazies who dance non-stop until they're drenched in sweat, then say "Hey--wanna dance?!" *big goofy grin* and all you can think is argh....I don't reeeeeally want to touch you..... Then, you've got the creepers who latch onto ONE girl and stare...and hover.....they ask her to dance, but they don't talk to her while swaying in a circle....and then they continues to hover and ask for dances to slow songs in for the rest of the night. You've got the hot shots who don't dance at all, and you wonder why they even come; they're only matched by the wall flowers who simply don't dance because they're petrified--Girls man, GIRLS!!

Theres....
The guy you shouldn't give your number to.

The guy who's got a girlfriend--but it's complicated, and she's in a different state.

The guy who's actually 35.

The guy who's actually 17.

The guy that insists on wearing his cowboy hat the whole time (and we're 87% sure he's never ridden a horse).

The guy with the seersucker suit.

This is how they're pointed out to me--even before the dance has begun. Watch out for this, watch out for that. Now tell me people--what am I getting myself into??? Is this really my only option for dance craze outlet? You can only have a dance party in your apartment so many times before you're bored. I guess that's why we go though......because there's never a dull moment at a YSA dance.

But hey, it's gonna be great. Why? Because fun is created by those courageous enough to seek after it, and by golly--if I don't have fun, then I've failed at life. So bring on the seersucker--this girl wants to dance!!

A Fantastic, Delightful, Wonderful New Idea

The snow days have slowly been killing me. Granted, I've had fun with friends and playing in the snow, but you can only do so much when there's 3 inches of ice on the ground, and nobody want's to venture out to do much of anything. So today after church (now a balmy 60 degrees), I decided I needed some Stephanie Time.

(Stephanie Time: Me thinking, preferably outdoors, without any disruptions--i.e. nobody is invited).

I decided it would be an adventure.

I walked away from my apartment complex up into a hilly area that i'd only ever seen from a distance. Surely "The Natural State" would have a lot to offer, right? To make a long story short, I walked onto what seemed like a snow covered field, only to find that it was a slightly frozen-over marsh. I could give details about the surprise on my face, the mud that soaked into my shoes, the funny looks I got from people walking their dogs and my shoes gushed and squelched as I walked back, but I wont. Long story short, remember?

I got home and sat on my couch, contemplated my life, and decided it was time to re-evaluate it (my life I mean...).

One thought led to another, and another, and NOW, I have a new goal:



I WANT TO LIVE IN A TREEHOUSE!


Fantastic, eh?
(don't worry about my train of thought so much as the end result)

I mean, people do this for reals--here are some pics! -->








Yes. Awesome. I must have this. I can't handle being so far away from a good spot for Stephanie Time, but if I lived in a treehouse, I could like, LIVE IN STEPHANIE TIME!!

What a satisfying idea.

The Snow Day to (Hopefully) End all Snow Days...

Wow! This is like snow day #7!

So yesterday we got like 2 feet of snow--which apparently is quite the record for Arkansas! 

...obviously school was cancelled....again.........which is totally cool.......except I'm NOT looking forward to having to make up all of these classes! (shout out to the professors that don't follow U of A policy and think their class is the most important thing in the world).

Ok, so yesterday was pretty awesome--make-shift snow clothes, a tarp, and a snow-covered hill made for quite the adventure. Being from Utah, I'm a pretty classy sledder: slick snowsuits, wool hats, boots, and Heaven forbid--REAL SLEDS! Hahaha! But all the same, it was one of the greatest days ever! I didn't even touch my homework! I've got some pretty fantastic friends here, so they really made it for me :)

Also, this is what I look like when I've fallen in snow and my roommate's dog tries to save me:

This is my roomie when she fell in the snow...

Afterwards, the boys made us dinner from the random crap they found in our chicken (which apparently could be turned into chicken enchiladas, Spanish rice, and beans!?) MmmMMmMmm...De-LISH.

What's up for today? That would be a whole lot of homework (since it looks like the snow is melting--i.e. I might have class tomorrow), some laundry (almost out of clean underwear...TMI?), and if institute gets cancelled, party at our apartment with the ward peeps! Eila and Adam wanted to try Swedish Pancakes for dinner, so that should be interesting :)

That Funk

Soooooo.....this morning came rather quickly, tapping me on the forehead and grinning widely--I turned and stuck out my tongue, and I admit, cussed in my head (this 100% internal cussing can no longer be helped since coming to Arkansas....). Blast you new day, and all your promises I thought to myself...

You know how days start blending and can start to S E E M  L I K E  T H E  S A M E.....a little monotonous? You feelin' me? Same old cereal, same old songs on the radio, same grumpy old man on the bus...

And you inhale deeply....
And you look for things to help you hold on--like that delicious cheese stick in your lunch.
And you think about how you used to be fun...

Argh! When did I get boring?!?! I'm telling you--law school is sucking the life out of me! The other day I laughed out loud at a joke for the first time in a week, and almost fell out of my chair because I was so startled with myself!! But I'm working on this. I realize that my loss of "spice" will only give me heart problems, gray hair, and possibly a liking for Good n Plenty. I just need to get out of this funk. I will. I wonder what would happen if I put pink streaks in my hair....


P.S. cheese sticks are still totally awesome--DO NOT get down on yourself if they're the highlight of your day.

A Place To Gather

A lot of people ask me why I decided to go to law school and what I hope to do after law school. I usually give them vague answers like "practice law" (go figure), "help people" (of course), or "we'll see--not sure". The thing is I know exactly what I want after law school, though I know it'll take me a while to get there. The ultimate career/educational goal though? Here it is:

I want a barn. Something like this:

Now this barn isn't for animals--it's for people. Gatherings specifically. The goal is that, after years of working at a firm, as a sole practitioner, whatever, I can continue to educate people about the law. This may sound kind of silly and idealistic, but I'm stuck on it. Years down the road, i'll be able to invite members of the community to the barn once a week or so, and have educational lectures--for example, one night, it's "learn about your property rights," the next week, it's "how to prepare a contract," and when important legal issues arise within the community, the country, or the world even, those can also be discussed as well.

I think one of the most important things we can do to make our lives better in such a crazy world, is to keep communication open with our neighbors. I suppose it's my future endeavor to serve--and in return, I hope it helps build a strong place to raise a family, and feel safe. As King Benjamin taught: "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17) Each of us is responsible for doing our part in betterment of the world. I often get discouraged with the way things are going; how the evils of the world tend to get worse and worse, with no light at the end of the tunnel. But I know that giving up is not the answer. The spirits within us are God-given--created for a divine purpose--and we have to give all that we can to promote that purpose.

In the beginning...

So tonight I was just about to go to bed, and I realized that I still needed to set my alarm. The thing is though, that I'm still on Christmas vacation, and have absolutely no reason at all to wake up early tomorrow morning. I could literally lie in bed ALL DAY and nothing would happen. Nobody would tell me to get up; no impending doom would befall me. Yet I still set my alarm. Why?  I think I'm afraid I'll miss out on life if I sleep in. This has been a problem most of my adult life, but oh well.

In other news, I'm starting a blog. I have no idea yet who i'll tell about it, but I wouldn't count on it being that great, since I got a B in creative writing, and an A in technical writing. I never said I was a good English major, but hey, language is arbitrary....