Europe has long been a magnet for backpackers and others on extended trips. Nowadays, “the continent” has a well-deserved reputation for being an expensive place to visit – but hearken back, if you will, to the days when our forefathers and mothers hopped from one European hostel to the next with the help of a Eurail Pass and a few months of free time before high school and college. Or, we can go even further back, when “The Grand Tour” was synonymous with Europe’s great cities.
Today’s budget travelers have to be a bit more creative if they want to still visit Europe but not spend several times what previous generations might have spent. In short, we’ve got to head east – which is what we’re about to do this week at BootsnAll, learning more about Eastern Europe.
One of the articles coming up this week on BootsnAll is about places in Poland you’ve probably never heard of. Another will offer tips on planning an extended trip through Central Europe. And we’re kicking the week off with an article all about why you should go to Belarus, regardless of what you think you know about it.
Week 13 of the Indie Travel Challenge 2012 is all about Eastern Europe.
For most of us, Western Europe is what comes to mind when we hear “Europe” on its own – and most of us have some inkling of what to expect in Western Europe. We’ve taken the history classes, read the books, or just listened really well when smart people were talking. But Eastern Europe? For many, it’s a mystery – until you actually go there.
Have you traveled in Eastern Europe? What did you know about the region before visiting? If you haven’t been to Eastern Europe, what country or city appeals to you most as a place to visit? Or, more generally speaking, how much does knowing about the history of a place inspire your future travels?
The Indie Travel Challenge is a year-long blogging project. Every Monday, we’ll post a new prompt, question, or challenge that bloggers can respond to via text, photos, or video. Respond on your own blog, and link back to BootsnAll so we can find and highlight the best submissions.
Check out the Indie Travel Challenge landing page for all information related to the event. You can see the week’s daily prompt, follow the hashtag on Twitter, share your posts, and check out submissions from around the world.
Read more about Eastern Europe:
- Beyond Prague: Off the Beaten Path Experiences in the Czech Republic
- 6 Reasons to Visit Romania
- Why You Should Go to Post-Communist Eastern Europe Now
- Experience the Best of Eastern Europe in Budapest
- 8 Reasons to Move Albania to the Top of Your Travel List
photo by Andrea