My Tour around Europe

My tour around Europe.

As I wrote earlier, I’m going around Europe for a month. Specifically, Western Europe - Switzerland - Scandinavia

Red indicates side trips I’ve already done. Blue is my month-long tour. Current location: Madrid.

I’m meeting various Oliners and friends along the way, so I won’t be alone the much of the time.

Traveling is done with this backpack + railpass:

At the end, I’m meeting with my parents and brother in Belgium, 14 May

Also, Mr. Rick Steves is a great help.

Travel as a political act

Many of you know Rick Steves. He writes the best guidebooks because he’s personally travelled Europe for the past 30 years. An exerpt from his travel philosophy:

Our Earth is home to nearly 6 billion equally important people. It's humbling to travel and find that people don't envy Americans. Europeans like us, but with all due respect, they wouldn't trade passports.Globetrotting destroys ethnocentricity. It helps you understand and appreciate different cultures. Travel changes people. It broadens perspectives and teaches new ways to measure quality of life. Many travelers toss aside their hometown blinders. Their prized souvenirs are the strands of different cultures they decide to knit into their own character. The world is a cultural yarn shop. Back Door Travelers are weaving the ultimate tapestry.

He has an awesome lecture on travel as a political act. I encourage you, especially if you’re travelling, to download this here and listen to it on your mp3 player while you’re on the train!