Look out Europe, here I come!

Ever since I was in high school I’ve wanted to backpack through Europe and hop from country to country on my own time. This dream was my entire reasoning for not spending any of my graduation money when I graduated high school when all of my friends went out and bought the latest MAC computer or Gucci sunglasses with theirs. I just got a normal, everyday PC computer and was content with my non-designer sunglasses. Since then I’ve discovered that to be truly content with your life is to understand it, which I don’t, at least not yet. I had a long-term plan and I was going to stick to it. Now that I’m graduating college next May, my dream of backpacking through Europe will finally be coming true. I’ll be finished taking summer classes but I won’t quite have started the next chapter in my life as a law student. I think this month long trip will bridge the gap between the two and lead me into law school with a fresh new outlook on life.

My definition of a road trip has changed slightly over the last couple months. While I still believe that a road trip is a way of gaining experiences and knowledge, I also now see it as a way to attain freedom from the doldrums of everyday life that can so easily bog you down, especially when you’re trying to figure out what exactly you’re going to do with the rest of your life. Road trips can be something that you pursue alone; however, I would prefer to travel to Europe with a companion.

Preparing to embark on a new part of my life, I want to find out things about myself I didn’t already know and awaken things already there, and by doing this with a companion the road will be a lot more enjoyable. I plan to live my month long journey with a simple motto: Life is more about the journey than following directions on how you get to the end.

My companion and I plan to first start out on a plane to Madrid, Spain. After spending a couple of days there getting accustomed to the alien lifestyle I will then travel to Barcelona, Spain. Then we're off to Italy, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, France and England where we will end our extensive and intensely busy trip in London and we will fly back home to Texas.

Eurail Train Scheule:

Cost:
$759 - Eurail Global Pass

~$420 - Cost of hostels

Free - Plane Ticket

~$2,319 - Total

--- $1,681 left over from my $4,000 budget to spend on museums and souvenirs whose prices vary from country to country between $10-$35.

Day by Day:

Day 1 Arrive in Madrid, take a look around the city and stay the night

Day 2-4 Attend a Real Madrid futbol game and explore the city more
Day 5-6 Jump on a train to Barcelona (2 hours and 50 minute train ride) and explore the city. At night get on the Elipsos 'Salvador Dali' night train (extra 110 Euros/$140 for a double sleeper) where it will take me to Milan which is about a 13 hour train ride. I get a complimentary breakfast when I wake up!
Day 6-8 Arrive in Milan and spend the day looking around and shopping in the shopping capital of the world!
Day 9 Jump on a train from Milan to Rome (3 hour and 40 minute train ride) early in the morning and spend the day there jump back on a train to Milan that night
Day 10-12 Jump on a train to Venice and spend days looking around. Then on the last night jump on the Allegra night train (extra 75/$100 Euros for double sleeper) where it will take me from Milan to Prague (11 hours and 5 minute train ride) where I am provided a breakfast when I wake up!
Day 13-16 Spend the day in Prague and see Prague Castle and history museums while thinking about my heritage.
Day 17-20 Jump a train to Berlin early in the morning (4 hours and 35 minute train ride) and spend the day in Berlin!
Day 21-23 Jump a train to Amsterdam (6 hours and 10 mintue train ride) and see the night life in the true city of sin!
Day 24-27 Jump a train to Paris and enjoy the city of love where I will go to the Louve and the Effiel Tower!
Day 28-30 Jump a train to London (4 hours and 27 minute train ride) where I will end my trip and fly back home to Texas.

** All days will incurr a cost of about $30 a day for meals and $15 a night for a hostel exluding nights where I travel by train.

Real Madrid

Madrid, Spain is home to Real Madrid, the famous club futbol team. They've won nine European Cup titles, the most of any other team in the world.

They've also won eight Spanish Super Cups.

Recently, they built "Real Madrid City" the largest sports facility ever built by a futbol club.

Growing up, I always wanted to see a futbol game live in Europe. With Real Madrid being my favorite team and my plans on visiting Madrid, Spain, this is the perfect opportunity to realize my dream.

Bonus!!

Cristiano Ronaldo is a forward for Real Madrid and was voted the FIFA World Player of the year two consecutive years (2008-2009). He is also Captain of the Portuguese National team.

Czech Republic

January 1, 1993 Czechoslovakia peacefully dissolved into two constituent states, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Situated on the Vltava River, Prague has been the political, cultural and economic center of the Czech state for more than 1,100 years. For many decades during the Gothic and Renaissance eras, Prague was the permanent seat of two Holy Roman Emperors and thus was also the capital of the Holy Roman Empire.

I plan to travel to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic to visit my heritage.

I've always wanted to go to the Czech Republic and see what it was like where my great grandparents came from. If I have time, I also plan to travel to Slovakia for a short day trip to see that as well.

Prague Castle

I plan on visiting Prague Castle while I'm there. It is the castle where the Kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperors and the presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic have had their offices. The Bohemian Crown Jewels are kept here as well. Prague Castle is the biggest ancient castle in the world representing virtually every architechtural style of the last millennium.

Most of the castle is open to tourists and houses several museums that I plan on visiting. Also, the Summer Shakespeare Festival regularly takes place in the courtyard.