Backpacking

cupcake
Thu, 28 Sep 2006 07:49:02 +0000

What do you mean by “the state of the world”? Iraq/Afganistan and other major conflicts are nowhere near Europe and the last time I checked civil war hadn’t broken out here either. I’ve been to lots of European countries by myself, even Russia, and I can’t speak another language above phrase book level. Nothing has ever happened to me with the exception of being pick-pocketted and losing my purse on the Paris metro. Do you really think everywhere outside the US is a shoot-out-per-minute? The most scary public transport situation I ever had was in LA where there were a group of teenagers on the back seat comparing their selection of guns and knives. I wouldn’t hitch-hike and if using hostels go to those which are members of hostel associations such as YHA. They will have a list of standards which they will keep to.