During spring break we decided it was time to push ourselves a little further and do a backpacking trip across Europe. The kids are now at an age where they could self manage their own gear, and backpacking gave us the mobility and flexibility to be more adventurous in our travels.
We decided to use Paris as our starting point, and move through as many countries as possible before circling back to Paris to fly home. We managed to pack in six different countries over the three weeks we were there, and I’ll blog about each of them separately to give them the attention they each rightfully deserve.
Our plan, was not to plan. Aside from the first two nights, we didn’t book any other hotels or transportation, and beyond that we booked and planned as we went. Crazy you say? Perhaps, but boy did it work out well. In fairness, there is a real trade off travelling like this, you have maximum flexibility, but you run the risk of not having a place to stay, or getting stuck somewhere along the way. For us, the risk was worth the reward.
This is a great time to discuss the interpersonal dynamics of travelling with family. Trying to get four people, with our own distinct personalities, moving in the same direction can be a real challenge. Everyone has goods days, bad days, and everything in between. The real trick is trying to find a groove and tempo that works for everyone; knowing when to take a break, and when to capitalize on energy. Full disclosure, it’s not always rainbows and unicorns.
We’ve found that it’s important for everyone to have a role. First, I need to give full props to my wife. My ride or die travel buddy, who has the attention to detail and computer savvy to research and book our hotels and transport on the move. This was no small feat, but we didn’t have one bad stay throughout, and we never missed a connection. She’s Amazing Race good when it comes to those sorts of details, and if left to me, we would have likely been sleeping in bus stations. The kids took on the role of helping to navigate and figure out public transportation, signage and general directions. They did an amazing job, and I think really learned a lot as a result. What was my role? Thats a good question, and in truth I think I’m the one who fills the gaps. In the end, reaching a destination becomes a group accomplishment, and whether the kids fully realize it yet or not, they were contributors to our travelling success.
This was one of the best trips of my life, and I enjoyed every country we visited, and was pleasantly surprised by a few. In truth, my biggest learning lesson from this trip was that we have come a long way as explorers, and we have the ability to take on so much more. Our next trip, which is in the works, will push our boundaries a little bit further! I’m also growing more confident in the kids ability to take on their own adventures as they grow, and witnessing that growth is priceless; ultimately I hope it gives them the confidence to make the world their stage.