Alone in Europe?

i'd talk to you about it but it's 3am over there so i won't. :P

i think... you won't necessarily be bored because you went to toronto all on your own and look how well you adjusted. The thing is, you'll be overseas for a limited time and you'll go outside the box to try out new things that will challenge you or "force" you to meet other people. I don't think it'll be totally boring but probably a few instances will go by where you wish one of your friends could share that moment with you. And maybe you might get lonely... but you know how to deal with it. If you don't take this trip, you'll always think about it in "what if" terms. Rather, you go and experience it for the good, the bad and the ugly - and return with a better sense of appreciation for your family, friends and home.

and a better sense of appreciation for this world we live in.

This is a very strong argument for hallucination. If you could create an imaginary friend to romp and skip with through Europe, your problems would be solved. If your imaginary friend could be folded up and put in a suitcase, you'd even save on airfare.

Alternately, if you're going the route of hostels instead of hotels, I think you'll find you won't be alone. You'll be surrounded with other travelers and have the chance to be alone if you wanted or to tag along with other wide-eyed foreigners.

Some of whom *may* be imaginary.

Noreen is a wise woman. Listen to her.
*g*
Scott is a nut, but has a point about hostels.

Back in the day when Mom did her Europe trip, she stayed in youth hostels. She met a group of people her age and wound up travelling much of Europe with them. One of them even gave her "Lady," her guitar.

Excluding the incident in France (which happened when she was not travelling with a group - DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT HITCHIKE!!!) she had an amazing experience in Europe.
~J

Hostels sound like a good idea, but I don't want to use them too much since the purpose of the trip is not to tour Europe, but to see how Europeans live -- that means eating, sleeping, working, commuting, cooking and bathing like the average Roman or Berliner and I don't think you can accurately reproduce that in a hostel environment.

You might find some very seasoned travellers going about hostels, they might just have the advice you need visiting places like that. Instead of visiting stuffy well treaded spaces, might find your way into little corner places.
Idea is, if you want adventures on your vacation hook up with people that don't follow guides about places with large groups of tourists. Hanging with random people from hostels, would probably get you better personal european experience then going about on tours. I mean its alright for museums. They have a ton of interesting information, but I think its better to plan and find out about places you might visit.
Think of that as practical experience for all effort spend looking up information about interesting spots enroute. Plus it will be a good point on starting conversations about finding other things to do in particular place.

ok, here's my thoughts as a traveler, both having gone solo and with friends (althought I've never been to Europe, so I'm not expert there)...
firstly, I understand what you're saying about wanting to experience the culture that you're visiting, that's why i was never a big fan of the whole backpack thing-i feel like when you travel like that, the only culture you experience is backpack culture (which is interesting of itself, but not what i am looking for necessarily)...hence why i moved to another country and befriended the locals (although some might argue i've become korean ㅋㅋㅋ).
but i'm not sure if moving to each country in europe and living in each place for an extended period is really in your plan, so i'm not sure what to say man. especially if you can't speak the language-i guess just be your charming, friendly self and hope no one's trying to steal your wallet in the process ^^
as for the traveling alone part, it's my freakin life! the first few times are pretty exciting actually, but after a while it just becomes lonely and you start despising airports and airplanes
but i won't go into my war stories, i hardly think that's helpful
in fact, this post isnt too helpful, uh...i'm sure you'll have fun and you can always do like that scott guy says and create an imaginary friend ㅋㅋㅋ
and besides, you are friendly, i'm sure you'll meet people, if not out of pure loneliness and despiration
goodluck!

You can take Rygel with you.

shawna's right about the loneliness of a traveler. even though i don't travel as extensively as she does - i do uproot quite often to travel and i hate airports as much as i'm not a fan of "airspace" - on the plane in transit. it's fun and exciting at first - then the line ups, the security check points, the public system - just boarding another bus or lugging your bags around gets to you. mainly because you look around and there's no one to bitch to (esp if they don't speak english) but it is possible to feel disconnected and lonely despite being in a large crowd of happy, smiley, busy people.

Perhaps Europe is not for you, my friend.

In your post you describe a lot of alone time for personal reflection (the water fountain, writing code, quietly strolling through local marts to sample different foods, etc. That being said, have you ever thought of perhaps places like the Great Wall of China or a Tibetan Monastery for a single month?

It will allow you to meditate in complete peace knowing the environment around you will not be filled with the noise and pace of the current technologies of the modern person.

It has been said by those that society has deemed as wise that a single month in a place where there is no sound other than the flutter and sounds of a songbird and the breath and heartbeat of the man living this experience can do what two months in Europe will also do: allow you to see the world in a new way other than that which you have accepted as your own.

At the moment I sense a great confliction in that which you dream is your perfect excursion, thus why I offer not steps in order to help with the current thought, but a path less traveled, less thought about for your contemplation.

Now that I have said my peace, meditate on the collective thoughts of those who have cared about you enough to respond to this post, and find your true decision, the one you can be at peace with.

Plan for the trip, or the trip will plan you. As well, be flexible to deviate somewhat from the plan, these are my thoughts.

I believe it is part of adulthood to learn to be absolutely alone at some point in your life. Sounds drastic, but truly, accomplish this and it builds a good foundation.

Hey thanks for the wisdom nugget Anna :-) ...do I know you? Your IP says you're in Sudbury, and I've spent a total of 2hours in that town 5 years ago... that's about it :-)