http://backpackpodcast.com One Summer in Europe - For those who wonder, for those who wander... Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:34:57 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Welcome to One Summer in Europe, the backpacking Europe podcast. Join restless backpackers Ryan and Melissa on this ongoing podcast series as we simulate an extended budget trip around the must-see destinations in Europe, while offering real-world advice to help you create your own European travel adventure. We encourage listener questions and feedback to incorporate into the show, so listen in and tell us where you need help. Ryan Stuckey and Friends clean Ryan Stuckey and Friends questions@backpackpodcast.com questions@backpackpodcast.com (Ryan Stuckey and Friends) © 2009 Rakasa Worldwide, Inc. One Summer in Europe - the backpacking Europe podcast backpacking europe, backpacking podcast, europe podcast, travel europe, hostel, europe trains, summer in europe, europe itinerary, budget travel, http://backpackpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/powerpress/valid-rss.png http://backpackpodcast.com http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/08/episode-7-nice-the-french-riviera/ http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/08/episode-7-nice-the-french-riviera/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:48:47 +0000 Ryan http://backpackpodcast.com/?p=230 http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/08/episode-7-nice-the-french-riviera/feed/ 0 Antibes,Backpacking Europe,Backpacking Europe Itinerary,Backpacking Podcast,Cannes,Cap d'Ail,Europe Podcast,Festivals of Europe,France,French Riviera,Juan-les-Pins,Monte Carlo After several rewarding stops in Spain, it is time to return to France as we head towards Italy. We stop in the legendary French Riviera, using Nice as a base to explore the coast both east and west. - The French Riviera has been a famous travel desti... After several rewarding stops in Spain, it is time to return to France as we head towards Italy. We stop in the legendary French Riviera, using Nice as a base to explore the coast both east and west. The French Riviera has been a famous travel destination depicted in popular books and movies over the years, in fact it might be the original travel destination for Europeans since the concept of leisure travel began over a century ago. With glamorous cities like Cannes to the west and Monte Carlo to the east, and many seductive seaside towns sprinkled along the coast, fun in the sun is the order of the day. We recommend staying in Nice for three nights and taking separate day trips to the west and to the east, no more than 30-40 minutes by train, to experience these places and taste the full flavor of the south of France. On this episode, we welcome Dean to the show and we discuss: losing Melissa in Barcelona (hopefully we see her down the road:-)) arriving in Nice and initial impressions of this sunny, inviting city avoiding this region in certain months of the year exploring Nice and the exciting Vieux Nice part of town heading west for a day trip to uber-rich Monte Carlo with a stop at the beach on the way back heading east for a day trip to glitzy Cannes, where we can walk in the steps of movies stars, with another beach stop in the harbor town of Antibes TRANSPORT IN RENFE (Spanish train system) SNCF (French train system) ACCOMMODATION One Summer in Europe (Nice hostel and budget hotel search) SIGHTSEEING Vieux Nice (old town part of Nice) Prince's Palace of Monaco Monte Carlo Casino Cap d'Ail & Villefranche (beach towns between Nice and Monaco) Cannes (and the famous film festival) Antibes & Juan-les-Pins (beach towns between Nice and Cannes) One Summer in Europe (other miscellaneous sightseeing activities) TRANSPORT OUT SNCF (French train system) Trenitalia (Italian train system) With the French Riviera under our belt, it's finally time to enter Italy. Many people, if forced to pick the one country in the world with the most to offer the traveler, would not hesitate to pick Italy. Things always seem just a little better in Italy, and we'll put that feeling to the test with our first stop in Florence, home of the Renaissance... Ryan Stuckey and Friends clean http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/05/episode-6-barcelona/ http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/05/episode-6-barcelona/#comments Mon, 25 May 2009 23:25:00 +0000 Ryan http://backpackpodcast.com/?p=221 http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/05/episode-6-barcelona/feed/ 0 AVE Train,Backpacking Europe,Backpacking Europe Itinerary,Backpacking Podcast,Barcelona,Eurail Pass,Europe Summer,La Sagrada Familia,Las Ramblas,Montjuic,One Summer in Europe,Parc Guell Coming from Madrid, after a detour around Andalucia, we make our move back east to the cosmopolitan city of Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast. - Barcelona has climbed into the upper echelon of desirable backpacking Europe destinations, Coming from Madrid, after a detour around Andalucia, we make our move back east to the cosmopolitan city of Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast. Barcelona has climbed into the upper echelon of desirable backpacking Europe destinations, ranking right after Paris and London and probably ahead of almost every other city. It's easy to see why this is so, with its decidedly cool and stylish atmosphere and nearly perfect climate. We recommend 3 days in Barcelona to fully experience its offerings, but be careful as it is not a cheap place to stay like most of the rest of Spain. On this episode, we welcome Melissa back to the podcast, and we talk about: Barcelona fast becoming one of the most popular destinations in Europe the last two decades the vibrant and colorful mood of Barcelona that delights visitors as a very popular destination, the expensive nature of the city Melissa's pickpocket experience departing the Hard Rock cafe, and the interesting reaction of the locals witnessing the event several interesting things to see and do in Barcelona (our favorite being La Sagrada Familia) the energetic Barcelona nightlife special focus and attention on traveling alone in Europe: keeping safe, being smart, and meeting people (you don't need to travel with others to have a great experience in Europe, it is actually more liberating) TRANSPORT IN RENFE (Spanish rail system) AVE (high-speed train from Madrid to Barcelona) ACCOMMODATION One Summer in Europe (Barcelona hostel and budget hotel (”hostal”) search) SIGHTSEEING Las Ramblas (famous tree-lined street in heart of the city) La Sagrada Familia (amazing church being built over 125+ years - official site) Parc Guell (pleasant Gaudi-designed park overlooking the city) Picasso Museum (lots of early work) Montjuic (historic hill with many attractions, including 1992 Olympic sites) Barcelona Aquarium (best aquarium for Mediterranean sealife in world) One Summer in Europe (other miscellaneous sightseeing activities) TRANSPORT OUT RENFE (Spanish rail system) SNCF (French rail system) Time to finally leave Spain after a fantastic 2-week jaunt through this wonderful country, and now onward to France: Nice and the tres chic Cote d'Azur (French Riviera). It feels like a 007 movie every day of the week... Ryan Stuckey and Friends clean http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/03/episode-3-paris/ http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/03/episode-3-paris/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:59:52 +0000 Ryan http://backpackpodcast.com/?p=100 http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/03/episode-3-paris/feed/ 0 Arc de Triomphe,Backpacking Europe,Backpacking Podcast,Beauvais Airport,Champs Elysees,Disneyland Paris,Eiffel Tower,Eurail Pass,Europe Podcast,Europe Summer,Jardin du Luxembourg,Luxembourg Gardens We arrive on the European continent in perhaps the most enchanting city in the world, Paris. It may be an acquired taste for some travelers, but it is fairly easy to see why Paris is the favorite city of so many people from around the world. We arrive on the European continent in perhaps the most enchanting city in the world, Paris. It may be an acquired taste for some travelers, but it is fairly easy to see why Paris is the favorite city of so many people from around the world. It's an unmissable destination for your European adventure. With countless sights and activities in Paris, we recommend five days and four nights there on our One Summer in Europe trip. In this episode, Melissa and I discuss: arriving from Dublin and getting acclimated to Paris some basic facts on Paris and France overcoming the stereotype of the "rude French" avoiding theft, and my story on witnessing this on a Paris train daily cost of accommodation and sightseeing in Paris our respective top 5 things to see and do other interesting sights outside our top 5 selections where to go next and the experience of a night train We also hear from our friend Tory, an American living and working in Paris, on her experience as a foreigner in the city. Finally, I speak with Katia on her perspective as a native French person and her advice to travelers to Paris. Here are some relevent websites for Paris based on our discussion (in rough order as we talked): TRANSPORT IN Paris Beauvais Airport (how to get to Paris from there) Paris Metro (subway system) ACCOMMODATION One Summer in Europe (Paris hostel and budget hotel search page) SIGHTSEEING Disneyland Paris (EuroDisney) Champs-Élysées (the famous street in the heart of Paris) Chateau de Versailles (official site) Musee d'Orsay (official site) Arc de Triomphe (Napoleon's triumphal arch) Eiffel Tower (official site) Notre-Dame de Paris (official site) Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Gardens) Sacre Couer-Montmartre Sunset over the Seine in Summer One Summer in Europe (other miscellaneous sightseeing activities) TRANSPORT OUT Elipsos TrenHotel (Paris-to-Madrid overnight train) We find it nearly impossible to leave Paris but we pull ourselves away and head far south into Spain - first the capital Madrid! Ryan Stuckey and Friends clean