Molly Pumper

Europe & Eurail Traveler

When did you go on your Europe trip?
December 2002 - December 2002
How old were you when you took this trip?
22
Including your air ticket and other expenses (incl. air ticket, rail passes, etc.), about how much did your trip cost?
US$1300
Nationality
USA
Where do you live now?
Oregon, USA
Did you buy a rail pass?
Yes
What pass(es) did you buy?
youth pass
Occupation

Before your trip: sales associate
Now: Assistant Editor for international trade magazine

How did your travels affect your career when you got back?
Not really at all because I already had a new job lined up. It was nice to have a break in between positions though.

What is the route you took/places you visited?
Flew from Portland, Oregon to Newark, New Jersey, to JFK in New York, and finally to London where our trip began. We stayed in London for a week, then flew to Germany where we rode the rails all over the country for another week. Then we flew back to London for an additional week before returning back home to Oregon.

Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
My friend and I went to visit a good friend of ours in London and to see another friend of mine in Germany. I couldn't wait to go. I've always loved traveling, especially to foreign places.

What did your family, friends, co-workers, etc. think of your trip? Were they supportive of you? What is their opinion of your traveling and railing around Europe?
They were excited for me. They knew that I'd have a great time and I did. Their opinion of my travels is pretty much that I'm going to do it anyway, so they might as well be supportive.
Out of all your experiences traveling around Europe, what was the:
- Best Moment
  Seeing my friends overseas
- Worst Moment
  Waiting in the airports forever
- Biggest Hurdle, Obstacle or Difficulty?
  Carrying tons of luggage through the Heathrow airport
- Biggest surprise?
  People weren't as rude to us as I thought they'd be
Who is the most memorable person you met on your trip and why?
This kid named Frankie from Queens. He cracked me up. He had the best accent and attitude.

How much planning and preparing did you do?
Just Enough

What was your favorite piece of gear?
My big huge purse that could fit everything in the entire world. Seriously, people started calling me Mary Poppins.

What did you bring, that in hindsight you could've left at home?
Tons and tons of clothes.

How did your trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
It just opened my eyes even more to the world around me. It really makes you feel good because you realize that you're capable of more than you thought.

If you had to sum up your trip in one sentence, what would it be?
It was quite possibly one of the best times I'll ever have in my entire life.

Are you planning more trips and travels for the future? Are you planning another trip to Europe?
Someday. I have to start working, and paying off my last trip first though.

Why do you think people should take longer trips like this? Why not just take a regular old one- or two-week vacation instead?
Because there's no one telling you where to go or what to do. This way you learn more about yourself and the people you're with because you're stuck in a foreign country with no one but each other. It's really amazing.

What is the most valuable thing you learned?
A smile is universal. Even if you don't speak the same language as someone, they understand a smile.

What is the biggest myth that people have about traveling Europe by rail?
That it's hard.

Why do you like to travel?
I love meeting new people and talking to them. It really gives me a greater perspective on life. It's also amazing to witness how small this world really is.

What is your advice for people planning their own Europe trip?
Don't get bogged down with details. Worrying too much will only make you forget to have fun.

What is a tip about Eurailing you would have, that would help other travelers who are using train travel in Europe?
Have your passport handy at all times.

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