Friday, February 28, 2014

Backpacker

People, the time has come once again! I have packed and I am all ready to go. I have still last minute panicking, but I am staying positive. I am glad to see my friends again and hopefully I will make some new friends on the way :)
Seven weeks feels like a long time being on the road, but usually when I look back time goes by really fast which sucks in a way.
From now on my biggest worries are going to be what I am going to eat, how I am going to get from place A to place B and to have a roof over my head every night. The "struggles" of a traveller I would say. God bless the internet though, since it makes everything a lot easier!
New backpack! No more carrying around suitcases ;)
 
Today I am heading to Thessaloniki to see my friend for a day and then I am flying to Berlin on Saturday morning! In case you were wondering I will fly back to Greece from Madrid on the 19.4 right before Easter. If anyone wants a postcard while I am travelling feel free to send me your address on my email: karoliina.v@hotmail.com and I will see what I can do for you :)
 
Wish me luck!
 
xx
Karoliina

Friday, February 14, 2014

Bake my stress

When you wake up and realize that you have only two weeks left before a big trip, you get slightly stressed out for not having a clue what the future holds for you so you start baking (at least in my case)! Trying not to plan too much for this coming trip has been hard as I am constantly scared of silly little things that could go wrong. On the other hand being planless is good as I have no timetable and I don't need to hurry anywhere.
Either way, as soon as I get back on the road again I will be more relaxed about everything!

Ps. Happy Valentine's day you crazy little munchkins out there ! Hyvää ystävänpäivää!

Even though this day is supposed to be for the loveeeers for Finnish people today is Friend's day! I am really grateful for having such amazing friends in my life who make my life wonderful :*

Karoliina


Saturday, February 1, 2014

Spontaneous planning

Playing Trivial Pursuit with four over fifty year old women, going out with my other half Greek, half Finnish friend, baking cakes, knitting and "trying" to learn French have been the most exciting things I have done this week. Comparing to my life in Sevilla, life in Greece is a lot different, but it's good to have a break from all the partying. Besides playing Trivial Pursuit with older women is more fun than it sounds!
 
As we have been taking French serioulsy, my mom found a more efficient way to be able to memorize new words. You can only imagine what she did when we were learning the body parts...
 As for the cakes, I made them for my dad's birthday who turned 53 this year (such an old boy)!
 The face of a happy man in his PJs...
 and the cakes.

When I thought that I had no idea what I am going to do once I start travelling again I got two messages from Helpx offering volunteer jobs in Istanbul as an English teacher assistant (where I won't be able to go because I will be in Berlin at the time...meh!) and feeding parrots for two weeks in a city 40 minutes away from Paris in the end of March. I am not sure yet if they will take me or not, but working in a refuge where they save parrots that have been treated badly and illegally brought to the country, sounds interesting. It is going to be one of those strange stories I will tell my grandkids one day.
 
I am really excited to do some travelling in March-April even though the idea of going on my own again isn't that appealing to me anymore. In some magical way though I always meet new people so it won't be that bad. I am planning to do as much couch surfing and helpx to save some money on hostels (poor traveller you see). I also got to know a bit about blablacar which is another website where you can find cheap rides to other cities. The whole concept of getting in the same car with a total stranger sounds creepy, but it seems to work as I know many people who have done it.
 
 The "plan" so far has been to start my trip in Berlin and from there go with blablacar to Hamburg and from there continue to Holland. From Amsterdam I will try to find a ride to France and get to Paris somehow...
Even though I like planning, I have realized that planning too much can turn out to be a bad idea as unexpected things tend to happen. Besides, that's the whole beauty of travelling, being  spontaneous and slightly crazy!
 
Karoliina