The 2012 Travel Itinerary: Choosing From a World of Adventures

Nov 3—2011

‘Which ones can we cross off the list then?’ he asked with sincere concern. We had been negotiating with nations (I’ll give you Malta for Slovenia and raise you Bulgaria). But suddenly I realised how unrealistic I was being; perhaps we couldn’t see all the places in Europe…

Sure, nine months of travelling seems like a lot of time right now (when I’m living in the land of weekends and post-work evening hours). But how does nine months actually translate into transit, accommodation, visas, budgets and key dates?

After hours of synthesising, spread-sheeting, dreaming, juggling and plotting, we’ve come up with a an itinerary for our 2012 European adventure. The schedule sits somewhere between our wish list, visa requirements and the budget. Here it is…

View 2012 Travel Adventure in a larger map

When	Where	What
January	Fly from Brisbane, Australia to Oslo, Norway then… Tromso Northern Lights Adventure More Oslo Sweden/Finland/Denmark UK/Ireland	Friends’ wedding Northern Lights My first skiing / snow experience Scandinavian culture
February	UK/Ireland	Friends Cider on tap London museums Cambridge Irish music Romantic coastlines
March	UK/Ireland Russia	Architecture in St Petersburg Spring in Moscow
April	Turkey Bulgaria Germany/France	Cappadocia The Black Sea Istanbul culture My first trip to Paris German / French countryside
May	Germany/France The Netherlands Spain	Cheese Sausages Berlin street art Bikes and cafes F1 in Barcelona
June	Spain Morocco	El Camino de Santiago Spanish guitar Friends in Valencia Marrakesh nights
July	Portugal Italy	Portuguese villages Italian farms and vineyards Gelato in summer
August – September	Austria Czech Republic Slovenia Croatia Serbia Greece Malta Return to Brisbane	Hills that are alive Pork knuckle and cobblestones Slovenian mountains and lakes Serbian music White buildings, donkeys and beaches Maltese buses and markets

While we will need to be pretty precise with dates for some sections of the trip, we are hoping to embrace a casual, see-what-happens approach to a lot of our itinerary. In the end, travel, like life, can be so unpredictable, offering surprises and new options at every turn.

Please share your thoughts. Tips? Suggestions? I’d love to hear all you have to tell about your European dreams and travels!

Travel

13 responses

Haiku bear

November 3, 2011

I have nothing to express except my extreme jealousy!

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1. Nic Freeman
  
  November 3, 2011
  
  I’m sorry to make you green Haiku bear! If only we could jump on a plane tomorrow… I’ll do my best to keep you updated so you can live vicariously through me until your next adventure.
  
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Nina Wei

November 3, 2011

How amazing nic! I hope we at least have Morocco together, not sure if you saw me and Clarkey’s banter on FB? http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=176371102451228&id=775655283

I’m so excited for you and for Zac and I to get up there too! xxx

We need to catch up about this stuff sooooon!

Reply
1. Nic Freeman
  
  November 3, 2011
  
  Hey Nina! Yes! Let me just say that I think that travel planning is best done with food, wine and a big roll of butchers paper to mark up! (Shortly followed by lists and spreadsheets, of course). I am very excited about Morocco in particular. The colours!! Think of the eye-boggling photographic splendour!
  
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darragh

November 7, 2011

Hey Nic, do you want me to email you guys some Ireland tips? P.s super jealous.

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1. Nic Freeman
  
  November 7, 2011
  
  Yes please Darragh! Ireland is one of the places I’ve always wanted to go but without any specific idea of what to see… just, you know, the green and the accents and the little stone walls that run through paddocks. Would really appreciate your tips.
  
  Reply
  1. darragh
    
    November 7, 2011
    
    I’ll throw something your way. 🙂
Anita Mac

December 5, 2011

Oh wow – what a wonderful itinerary! Green with envy – but also thrilled – I am sure you will have such great stories! Can’t wait. You are the inspiration that will get me one step closer to something similar!

Reply
1. Nic Freeman
  
  December 6, 2011
  
  Thanks Anita! I have a bit of trouble believing it’s my itinerary some days. Only 28 sleeps until it all starts though!! I’m glad to share a little inspiration – I find the more I read of others’ travels, the more I am inspired. Sometimes I think we forget what we can actually acheive when we just decide to go for it. This trip is a dream of mine – can’t wait to live it!
  
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  1. Anita Mac
    
    December 6, 2011
    
    Hey Nic – I have printed and am putting on my fridge! Love it! Hoping to do the Camino too, although don’t think our times will over lap! Cycling and cafes in May looks awesome! (Not sure if this was on your list – but if you are into cycling – Mallorca is Amazing!!!! Hope skip and a jump from the mainland!!! Heading there in March again – just can’t get enough!)
  2. Nic Freeman
    
    December 8, 2011
    
    Ooh cycling in Mallorca – what a grand idea. Can’t say I know much about our exact itinerary in Spain yet – only that it will include at least 4 weeks for el Camino, time for the Barcelona F1 Grand Prix and time in Valencia and Madrid. But of course, there is so much more to see. It would be great to hear all about your experiences in March. How exciting for you!
rayhaneh28

February 22, 2012

I can’t believe that you’re not coming to Switzerland! Is it the high prices that were a deterrant (although it’s not much pricier than Scandinavia, to be honest? 😉

Otherwise, well, what can I say except that I totally envy you for being able to travel nine months in a row! Although now that I think about it, I think it has probably more to do with a courage that you have and that I do not possess, that is to leave the rather comfortable and reassuring (if sometimes completely boring) routine that office jobs provides to be left to one’s own devices for so long…..

Reply
1. Nic Freeman
  
  February 23, 2012
  
  Hey Rayhaneh28, thanks for reading and commenting! Switzerland hasn’t been completely ruled out yet. It is on my list for someday and this trip still has seven months of surprises left, so I may still end up there. I’ve tried skiing for the first time this week in Bulgaria and am loving it, so Switzerland may be a ski trip in the future! As for having the courage to leave an office job and comfort zone to travel, I have to say it really is easier than you may think. Sure, at first it seems a bit daunting, but if you believe in your ability to support yourself then it’s really just the first step that is hard – the rest is just pure fun. And all the time is filled with other things. I’ve found myself reading more, writing more, drinking coffee, wandering streets taking photos, learning Spanish… all things I love to do but never have time for at home. Cheers, Nic
  
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