Need a companion

Hi guys,

I am a 22 year old who lives in Canada and am planning to backpack through Europe for about a month around April 2005. I was looking for someone else who would like to accompany me, so any of you people out there who are interested just email me or reply to this post. I would also appreciate any tips and advice from you guys as this is my first attempt at backpacking.

I find the concept 'backpacking through Europe' to be a bit odd.

Whether one travels with a suitcase or a backpack to hold one's clothing and other belongings, makes little difference. If you wish to travel on the cheap, stay in hostels, etc., you don't need a huge backpack as bedding is supplied. You can get along nicely with a smallish bag, rinsing out clothing as you go, and everything you need is available in Europe.

'Real' backpacking to me means going with a pack into the wilderness and living rough.

Sometimes I travel to Europe with a small backpack, sometimes with a suitcase on wheels. I travel the same way, whatever the luggage.

A huge backpack in Europe impedes travel, gets filled up with useless clutter, and is pretty silly, in my view, unless one is really camping out. It does seem to please those who tote around these monstrous bags, however, leading them to think they are doing something very different than budget travelers who carry less bulky stuff on their

Yeah, but I think that's more of an Americanism, backpacking has a much less defined term and doesn't even really talk about large backpacks, it's more the concept of travelling around an area for a long period of time with only a poorly defined schedule or route. high on flexibility long on time.

True, but the OP said he planned to travel for about a month. I've done month long trips on several occasions and have found I do have to plan

Much more comfortable physically taking a big pack than a suitcase. I have no qualms walking around with a big pack on my back for an hour or two. but carrying a suitcase...

i absolutely agree.. a huge suitcase in europe [or anywhere] impedes travel (so to speak)

i find it much better to have the luxury of a harness no matter what type of travel you are doing

Why do you need a big pack? A small suitcase on wheels does nicely. Or a small pack. I've used both and each has its advantages.

Yup!

When I 'backpacked' in '71-'72 and '75 I was totally self contained although i did not have a tent. Went everywhere with a 20 or 25 kg backpack (a cCanadian Trapper Nelson bag) - Viet Nam during the war, Bangladesh, Milford Track NZ, the gibber plain N and S of Coober Pedy, Paris, Istanbul, Baghdad, Tabriz, London, Serejevo, etc... At the same time I saw folks carrying small packs going from hotel to hotel.... Me? I stayed whit the locals, in inns, and at times in orchards, under trees and in haysheds.

Depends on what you consider a 'backpack' and how and why you are doing what you are doing.