Getting from Rome to Athens will literally take you at least 24 hours. Its a long/some what confusing journey that will probably consist of trains/ferrys/bus trips. If you only plan on spending 2 days in Athens I dont think this is worth it—-remember, once your in Athens you will have the same trip back to Italy, that you had getting to Athens (you wont be excited about this). You might want to consider flying from Paris to Athens on easyjet, hang around there for a little bit…then head to italy w/ a stopover in Corfu (cool greek island b/n italy and athens) for a couple days to break up the long trip..

just a suggestion…

I don’t know of any international conspiracies against Asians.
Asian parents are always overprotective. What’s with that?

Give your parents your itin and where you’ll be staying if you know, tell them you’ll call them 2-3 times from certain places within certain time frames, then do it. That should keep ‘em happy enough.

Northern continental Europe is probably safer than England. Still, don’t take crazy liberties in Berlin (you know, don’t invite trouble by hanging out in seedy places at 2 a.m., that sort of thing.) I’d say watch that your pockets don’t get picked in Barcelona, Florence, Milan, Athens, maybe Venice (but there are lots of other truly rich people there whose pockets are in much greater jeopardy.)

Loneliness: I think Asians tend toward reserved behavior. Don’t know if that’s you or not, but if it is, try something different. Talk to people without being invited to do so, and you’re more likely to enjoy your trip with a little company here and there. Hostels are of course good places for this.

I love traveling with my best friends, but I love traveling alone too.

Have a good trip.
Russ

the asian-parent-overprotective-thing is just the way it is! my parents are really worried that ill be called a terrorist or something, while quite clearly im going on a journey of discovery before I finally finish this medical degree. As for contact, im sure ill be spending an awful lot of money just ringing home daily, but if it means i get to go, then so be it!

I am quite a reserved person (dont drink alcohol, dont eat meat – makes for less opportune moments for socialising; also i read someplace that i should get this written out(the meat/alcohol thing) in different languages before i go, would one of the online translators do a good job?) although this is not a major worry for me (im getting teased by my older brothers about ‘not lasting a week’!) i know what i can be like – its quite simple, be nice to people and polite and have a chat! thats all there is to it! im sure ill learn loads from all the people who have travelled for years, and will see it as such.

that rick steeves’ site is quite good although i have been told not to consider it gospel by any means, and that money pouch thing is something im going to be investing in for sure!

i have no major concerns apart from feeling homesick, but im hoping that itll pass once i see some of the beautiful sights that await!

i was wondering what you might think of a camera – im thinking of buying a really nice expensive-ish one (in student terms! £300), and do you think this is a good idea – i have never really taken many pictures in my life but this is one experience that i intend on photographing as much as possible. should i go for a nice camera (with the added risk of being targeted for it?!) or get one thatll do the job for 1/3 of the price?

Thank you very much for the advice, its making an awful lot of difference to how i do everything. im probably going to pre-book my hostel stays in madrid and barcelona and will see how it goes from there, once i arrive in rome.

personally ive only really heard of really bad things happening in barcelona regarding the professionalism of the pickpockets, but you mention other cities too, are the problems as bad in other places?!

i realise i should remain vigilant as much as possible anyhow, and thank you yet again for your help!

One thing that I never understood is why people from the UK worry about travelling to Europe??? Your’re not the first and you won’t be the last. It’s just that you are so close to home, that if anything was to go wrong, you go back home so easily. It’s a different situation for those travelling from other continents.

Anyway, back to your itinerary.

Look at flying from Barcelona to Rome. There is no need to stop in Milan since there’s really nothing to do there anyway. It’s definitly NOT a MUST SEE destination in Italy. Go to www.whichbudget.com to see what flights are available.

I agree with the previous poster that it’s a long trip from Rome to Athens, and if your just planning on going for 2 days, then it’s not really worth it. I haven’t been to Greece yet, but i’ve heard that the Greek islands is where to go and Athens is not worth as much time. Maybe you should leave Greece for when you have more time.

Venice to Berlin is another very long trip, so maybe you could look into flying this leg of the trip too. If not, then maybe you could stop off somewhere in between like Munich.

Ive decided on a change of heart!

an extra 10-or so days!

Spend 2 days in athens instead.

spend 4 days in interlaken (the place with the lakes, beautiful, serene) and i might decide to see some more of switzerland if you can name some more places like interlaken!

im really looking forward to it, sorta managed finally to get the parents on board, and im gonna make the most of it!

Interlaken is AMAZING!!

You will have a great time, especially if you like outdoor activities. I did a canyoning trip to Grimsel with http://www.alpinraft… and it was probably the best day of my entire trip.

I am not sure 2 days or 20 days in Athens will be to your liking. I don’t like Athens. OK, that’s just me. But I have heard many on this board with the same feelings about Athens. If you are going to Greece, most of us go to enjoy the islands, not Athens.

oh, ok.

its just i thought there will be some history there, or is it just the acropolis thing?! if it is just the acropolis thing, then perhaps i could instead go further north – ie venice – interlaken – berlin – amsterdam – norway?! – then back home?!

itll be a different climate, and diff things to see, just dunno how expensive it is up north.

hey 5aboy …its tough letting a youngster out to rome the planet but if i can let my boy do it, anyone can!

get a phone that allows them to call u any time… and number one rule for u is to answer the damn thing by the third ring b4 ur momma starts imagining the horrors that have befallen her precious boy!

my boy has an itinerary planned thats very similar to urs…
he knows about the pick pockets and other dangers ..my only advice for him is not to drink so much that he can be befuddled by others and end up mugged or worse
drinking to oblivion, in my opinion, is nuts if ur paying for a trip overseas ..but hey …thats just me..id rather be clear-headed and absorb everything i can than nurse a head when travelling or have to sleep off a hangover
re homesickness…doubt it…i think if u were going for a year..for sure ud be aching to see ur folks but for the time ur away ull just be thrilled to be taking deep breaths of foreign adventure
i love ur itinerary …i always suggest a visit to switzerland but i understand that it is expensive…

the ferry to athens is great but i, too, think it’s not worth it for just two days.. so maybe go another time and explore the islands, at least…athens itself isnt too great in my opinion

venice…gorgeous..paris too…
have a wonderful time..buy ur momma something pretty in venice…venetian glass jewellery ..ask her if she likes those masks ..some folks hate them!

switzerland?
interlaken and lucerne!

Don’t ask someone for unbiased information about a place they don’t like. I don’t like Athens. It has nothing.

thanks for the replies sparks! im in the middle of my revision, and i just hope i can pass these bloody exams, else this will all just remain a dream

interlaken is definately on the cards, but im also now thinking of perhaps the flam railway in norway i think – its a long way, but i think my ticket covers all the way upto the flam railway itself, so im probably going to do this.
ive sort of sorted-out where i am going to work to get an extra 1000 before i leave, and the stuff about how to deal with my family really has helped! only problem is, once i return im probably going to get down on one knee, and do the deed, so i gotta find a nice diamond ring whilst on my travels! one things for sure, im gonna be so poor after this is all done!

thanks again for your help!

just about the diamond ring… unless u really know what the girl likes dont bother…i know it sounds realy romantic to spring it on her…but..u will have to shop for it and doing it overseas? hmmm i hate even supermarket shopping for food in a foreign place after a while ..couldnt even imagine shopping for an engagement ring…when there are all those places to see…
also,,, where u going to keep the darn thing?…how many heart attacks u want when for five seconds u cant locate it ? nahhh…do it at home…take her window shopping ( get her the ring tho lol)
congratulations and good luck!