5 Days 'til 4 Months

[speedbird]

The nerves, the excitment & everything inbetween has hit me in full and am having my share of doubts, but I can't tell you how excited I am to be heading back to Europe, especially on my beloved British Airways. I'd love your thoughts on my itinerary, tell me what you think and pass along any thoughts you may have. (Dates are the nights I will be spending)

7 March 2007 - BA084 YVR-LHR... arrive on the 8th, night in London & catch my early morning fly out to Copenhagen.

Copenhagen - 9,10 March
Oslo, Norway - 11, 12 March
Voss - 13 March
Bergen - 14, 15 March
Lillehammer - 16 March
(Overnight train Lillehammer - Bodo 17 March)
A Lofoten Is. - 18, 19 March
Stamsund - 20, 21, 22, 23 March
(Hurtigruten cruise for two nights up to Kjollefjord)
Kjollefjord - 26 March
Kilpisjarvi, Finland - 27, 28 March
Rovaniemi - 29 March
Kuopio - 30 March
Mikkeli - 31, 1 April
Tampere - 2, 3 April
Helsinki - 4, 5, 6, 7 April
(Overnight ship Helsinki - Stockholm 8 April)
(Overnight train Stockholm - Kiruna 9 April)
Kiruna, Sweden (Ice Hotel ;D) - 10, 11 April (2 Northern Light excursions & snowshow excursion booked!)
Absiko - 12, 13, 14, 15 April (daytrip to Narvik, Norway)
(Overnight train Abisko - Ostersund 16 April)
Ostersund - 17 April
Stockholm - 18, 19 April
(Berlin Night Express Malmo - Berlin 20 April)

Berlin, Germany - 21, 22, 23 April
Dusseldorf - 24, 25 April
Bern, Switzerland - 26 April
Lucerne - 27, 28 April
Zurich - 29 April
Gimmelwald - 30, 1, 2 May
Gryon - 3, 4, 5 May
Torino, Italy - 6 May
Vernazza, Cinque Terre - 7, 8, 9 May
Ljubljana, Slovenia - 10, 11 May
Piran - 12 May
Bled - 13, 14 May
Salzburg, Austria - 15 May
Halstatt - 16, 17 May
Vienna - 18, 19 May
Bratislava, Slovakia - 20, 21 May
Novy Smokovec, Vysoke Tatry - 22, 23, 24 May
Wroclaw, Poland - 25 May
Torun - 26, 27 May
Gdansk - 28, 29 May
Warsaw - 30, 31 May
Krakow - 1, 2, 3 June
Levoca, Slovakia - 4, 5, 6 June

Eger, Hungary - 7 June
Budapest - 8, 9, 10 June
(Overnight train Budapest - Sighisoara 11 June)
Sighisoara, Romania - 12, 13 June
Sibiu - 14, 15 June
Brasov - 16, 17, 18 June
Bucharest - 19, 20 June
(Overnight train Bucharest - Sofia 21 June)
Sofia, Bulgaria - 22, 23, 24 June
Bansko - 25 June
Plovdiv - 26, 27, 28 June
Veliko Tarnovo - 29, 30, 1 July
(Somewhere in there - planned daytrips to Rila Monastery & Koprivshtitsa)
(Overnight train Veliko Tarnovo - Istanbul, Turkey 2 July)
Istanbul - 3, 4, 5, 6 July

Easyjet flight Istanbul - London 7 July

London - 7, 8, 9, 10 July

BA 085 LHR-YVR - 11 July 2007. And it all ends..


Well if you have infact managed to make it through all that rubbish, I really would love to hear your thoughts!

Cheers for now!

Just started a thread in "Packing" as well - pretravel.proboards1.com/index.cgi?board=Packing&action=display&n=1&thread=384
Would appreciate some thoughts there on if I'll make it with supplies!

[madamtrashheap]

You must be getting excited speedbird!

Looks fine (I wouldn't be doing Dusseldorf, but I'm guessing you have your reasons) and I'm looking forward to hearing the "Just Back" report about easter Europe (Bulgaria, Romania,etc) so make sure you post when you return.

Have an amazing time (I'm sure you will!), a safe time and let us hear about it when you get the chance!

[speedbird]

madamtrashheap, I thought I was the only one sleepless at this hour on a Thursday evening but evidently not

My venture off into Dusseldorf is merely for the shopping, and not too much else. Though as you mentioned, I am most excited for, well all of it really, but Eastern Europe in peticular & will certainly be telling many tales from my adventures throughout my trip and when I return! Thanks for your response!

[madamtrashheap]

speedbird said:

My venture off into Dusseldorf is merely for the shopping, and not too much else.

Fair enough, but Berlin and Munich (I know it's not listed, but just throwing it in!) both have excellent shopping no matter what you're looking for. Leave Dusseldorf in if you have an idea of what you want in terms of shops (it's not a bad place, there are just other choices), otherwise throw in somewhere else closer (ie further south) that's of interest or will offer better shopping. Totally up to you, but just a thought.

[herrbert]

One remark if I may: why not fly Stockholm - Berlin? (Germanwings: Stockholm-Arlanda to Berlin-Schönefeld). If you want to see Malmö, you can take a train very easy in the first few days in Copenhagen.

Düsseldorf is good for shopping (go there on a regular bases, as it is close to where I live, about 45 minutes, and it is the number 1 airport in the neighbourhood), but don't enter the shops in the Königsallee (backpacker's nightmare ). There are backery shops all over the town, so you can get a quick bite, very easy. I am making my own plans for the end of April, so I might see, you on Düsseldorf Airport (unless you are traveling this bit by train).

And bring a good coat, for the first part ... it is still freezing cold in Scandinavia.

[speedbird]

herrbert, I looked into the flights originally, but was turned off by some of the prices which, at their lowest (checking again now) seem to still be well over $60 - where as the train with a sleeper will run me half that, and I don't mind an overnight train in a more 'personal' cabin as opposed to seats which I found out the hard way in 2005. Thank you for your suggestion though, and no worries - I've got a superb Montane waterproof jacket for Scandinavia

[Eagle]

speedbird, WOW, that's an ambitious itinerary, even for a four month trip! However, it seems like you've done your homework so hopefully everything goes as planned. I suspect that you're going to be ready for a rest when you return! Will you be returning to your previous job?

Since the timing is somewhat down to "the last minute", it would take me some time to go through your Itinerary. At first glance, it looks OK but it's a fairly "busy" Itinerary!

Since your departure is so close, I can certainly imagine how you must be feeling -- a unique combination of excitement and nervousness! Hopefully the time will pass quickly for you, and you'll be on the way.

As MTH mentioned, it would be great if you could post a "Just Back Report" when you return, as I'm sure it will help all of us here.

Happy travels!!!

[speedbird]

Eagle, Cheers once again for your insightful comments. It is a rather 'planned & busy' itinerary, and I know there are loads of people who to Europe without hostel reservations and a set itinerary really, but I find, for me personally, it helps me calm the nerves & keeps the stress down. And I think I find I will get more done this way, as I've things to keep to. But obviously there are the downfalls as well.

Anyway, thank you again! And we're hour counting now and you can bet on a "Just Back Report" when I get home in mid July - however I'm sure it'll take me a while, but it'll be there!

Best wishes!

[herrbert]

Have a good trip.

[delirious]

Thanks for your posting!

Happy travels!