To begin the announcement of our independent journey on Europe to get an idea of how we traveled. There are plenty of impressions and more than 2500 photos. I was lucky to visit various cities, live in several French families taste delicious vegetarian cuisine and have time to get used to the variety of cheeses, steer a day without rest, hitchhike, swim in the sea, go to the mountains, almost miss the plane, spend the night 2 times at the airport, wander with backpacks until 4 am in search of the hotel.
Returning from a trip to Europe, I once again understood for yourself that for a more complete immersion, you need to be in the country more time. And not to increase the number of visited places, namely, in order to be able to feel the atmosphere and the way of life of people, so that there is an opportunity to live in the ordinary non-tourist by life. Just watch, just walk, just work, just live and so. We will try to embody it as far as possible.
Also read my other article – Europe on your own, there tips for those who are going to go by car, and a little there about hitchhiking too.
The content of the article
- 1 Recommend hotels in Europe
- 2 Itinerary in Europe
- 3 Belorussia
- 4 Poland
- 5 Czech Republic
- 6 Germany
- 7 France
- 8 Cost of travel to Europe
Contents
I recommend hotels in Europe
Since most, and we too, most often stop at hotels, then lay out a list of hotels that are selected for themselves. Everything hotels with good reviews, rated, and normally located. By the price is something average, although it happens, both more expensive and cheaper.
Prague (Pension U Lilie) Munich (Pension Margit) Grenoble (Logis Institut Hotel) Marseille (Hipark Résidence Marseille) Paris (Hotel Standard Design Berlin (St Christophers Inn Berlin).
Europe travel route
This independent journey in Europe turned out rather overview, as many countries and cities we just crossed and looked at them from the car window. But now I know exactly where I am wanted to go next time and how. For the first trip to Europe to just right Of course, we spent most of the time in France, as Daria is an ardent fan of this country. But also we stopped in for a few days in Germany, and a day in Prague.
The whole trip took 27 days.
By car in Europe, Russia and Belarus traveled – 4000 km (Moscow-Prague-Munich-Grenoble-Marcel-Setfon). Hitchhiker’s Guide to Europe It turned out only 600 km. (Sethon-Grenoble). By train in Europe also had a little ride – 600 km (Grenoble-Paris). And further already by plane: Paris-Berlin (overnight) -Moscow.
It is a pity that the bike did not drive a single kilometer for completeness the pictures. We spent the night at friends, on the lap through couchsurfing, several times – in hotels and in a tent. First we ate the food we took from Moscow, then bought in local supermarkets.
Belorussia
The most beautiful road from the border of Russia to Brest, with good asphalt and a limit of 120 km / h without traffic cops. That’s all impressions of the country. You must come here on purpose, and in another time. They say Minsk is a beautiful city.
Belarusian autobahn.
Poland
Poland, we have not slipped so quickly. No wide roads and 90 km / h limit But the contrast after Belarus is felt right away: neat and beautiful houses, good markings on the road, solar panels to power traffic lights and cameras. Poland. Independent travel in Europe by car begins
Solar panels in Poland
Heat the water in a Polish motel.
Czech
In the Czech Republic, we drove only to Prague, because we dreamed about it. long. I have to say, Prague is worth at least a week visiting is a city with a bunch of little details in everything from railings, ending with bas-reliefs on buildings. And I want to come back here. Czech Republic from a car window and old Prague
Evening romance in Prague.
And in Prague, they know and honor us.
Germany
Here everything is modern, geometrically smooth, and correct in life. At least, such a first impression. Sort garbage by many criteria, bicycle lanes with traffic lights, pedestrians and drivers, rule-compliant and free autobahns without speed restrictions.
The national characteristics of Germany – or these strange Germans
View from the Olympic tower. Modern Munich.
Munich won by its purity, thoughtfulness, modernity, cyclists, as well as the person who sheltered us on in the list.
City of Munich – the first impressions of Germany Metro Munich – impressions and map of the BMW Museum in Munich and the Olympic Tower Old munich city – walk
Cycle paths in Munich.
Metro in Munich.
Berlin conquered its history, almost 30-year tragedy Berlin Wall, which is directly connected with Russia.
East Berlin – a walk through the pseudo Berlin Wall – yesterday’s story, present impressions
Remains of the Berlin Wall.
Berlin graffiti.
France
The French are the most like us. This country combines the advancement of Europe and a certain liberty of Russia. Abundance of various varieties of cheese with mold and without, beautiful mountains, funny and carefree french with scarves, old stone cities like fairy tales, low adherence to traffic rules and twisted cars.
Traveling in France by car – roads and landscapes Hitchhiker’s Guide to Europe – Hitchhiking Features in France
Features of the population and culture of France. What we saw her Conditions and standard of living in France – Our observations
For a variety of French cheeses you can sell your soul.
Grenoble – this city conquers others from all sides. mountains with snow-white peaks. And because he can be forgiven even pollution production. I want to quit and buy a house in the mountains. And here our hospitable friends live. Trekking in the mountains with they turned out to be unforgettable, and from afar we saw Mont Blanc.
Grenoble – our impressions of the city of Grenoble from the height of a bird flight and bastille trekking one day to the french alps Grenoble
Grenoble. On the eggs we rise to the Bastille.
A little hike in the mountains near Grenoble.
Marseille – the azure coast of the Mediterranean Sea, at the time of arrival was littered with trash because of strikes. Overnight on the yacht and swimming at 16 degree water added impressions on the trip. By the way, the French are so and did not understand the meaning of our washing.
Marseille and the Mediterranean coast
“Little” dirty Marcel.
Cold Mediterranean.
Netphone – the depths of the French province. Simple, kind and friendly people. Calm, quiet and happy life. Old but well maintained houses, some like postcards. It is seen that in France live well here too.
Fairy tale house where I would like to live.
Paris in our arrival was rainy and gray. Old and beautiful a city surrounded by ugly and dirty sleeping areas. Eyfeyl Tower with iridescent lights, a large number mattresses thrown on the street, and half of the population – our black counterparts on the mind, carrying their culture to the masses.
See rainy Paris and stay live
Mattresses on the streets of Paris are common.
Overnight at Paris Orly Airport.
The cost of a trip to Europe
I do not know if this information will help someone with the calculations. But I The conclusion made such – not such expensive trips to Europe as considered to be. We did not take into account much, did not know much, therefore we were unforeseen expenses. I am sure that you can go even cheaper if prepare more carefully. It is also worth saying that we do not went to cafes and restaurants, and only a few times spent the night in hotels / hostels.
As a result, we did it – about 50000r for two, and this is over 4 of the week. Of these: – Visas, insurance – 7000r for two; – gasoline for cars for the first part of the trip – 10000r for two (there were four of us in car); – unplanned train 4000r for two (Grenoble-Paris); – return tickets for the plane Paris-Berlin-Moscow – 9500r for two; – unplanned hostels / hotels – 4000r per two (3 nights); – food with you in the car – 2000r for two (enough for 1.5 weeks); – food in the shops, travel on the subway and buses, pocket money, souvenirs – 14000r for two.
Who is experienced, can tell, this is the normal cost for independent travel in Europe?
Wait for the continuation in the following articles. Soon everything more in detail. True! Very soon.
Life hacking 1 – how to buy a good insurance
Choosing insurance is now unrealistically difficult, therefore, to help everyone travelers, I make a rating. To do this, constantly monitor forums, I study insurance contracts and use insurance by myself.
Insurance Rating
Life hacking 2 – how to find a hotel 20% cheaper
First, choose a hotel on Booking. They have a good base offers, but the prices are NOT the best! The same hotel is often possible find 20% cheaper in other systems through the RoomGuru service.
Discount hotels
