Itinerary and Budget

Preparation

- I intend to purchase and become familiar with using a moderately high-quality camera.
- Although I am told that most Europeans in 1999 are proficient in English, I intend to take a semester of Italian language so that I am linguistically prepared to communicate in all of the countries I'll be visiting. (I have already taken four semesters of German and hope to vastly improve my skills while in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.)
- I will continue my study of German in my spare time by listening to German radio via the Internet, reading publications in German, attending the German language table, and conversing with native speakers of the language.
- Books to take along on the trip (aside from the requisite Lonely Planet guidebook): The Complete Poems of William Wordsworth, Shakespeare's Sonnets, Goethe's Faust, The Hotel New Hampshire (John Irving)

Pre-trip Expenses

Plane ticket, acquired from priceline.com (Estimated cost $750)
Passport (Estimated cost about $50)
HI Youth Hostel Card (about $30)
British Stray Travel Network Pass and Eurail pass (according to the Lonely Planet guide, these are best purchased in the States before the trip- Estimated cost $700 for Eurail pass and $200 for bus pass)
International Student ID Card

Schedule

May 14: Depart from Boston to London
May 15-20: London
May 21: Stratford-upon-Avon
May 22-24: Liverpool
May 25-27: Leeds, York
May 28-30: Edinburgh
May 31-June 1: Glasgow
June 2-3: Glasgow to Bristol, Tintern Abbey
June 4: Salisbury, Stonehenge
June 5: Canterbury, Dover
June 8-11 Hamburg
June 12- Bremen
June 12-14 Moselle Valley
June 15-16 Frankfurt
June 17-19 Stuttgart
June 21: Geneva
June 22-23: Lake Geneva, Swiss Alps
June 24-29: Florence
June 30-July 1: Venice
July 2-4: Vienna
July 6-7: Salzburg
July 8-9 Munich
July 10 Leipzig
July 11 Wittenberg
July 12-17 Berlin
July 17-21: Back to London
July 21: Depart London to Boston, and subsequently to Great Falls, MT

Great Britain and Scotland

May 15-20: London

At the Hammersmith Palais
In Kensington and Camden Town
There's a part that I used to play;
The lovely Diorama is really part of the drama, I'd say
Just look at me, I'm having the time of my life
Or something quite like it
When I'm walking out and about
In London's Brilliant Parade
-Elvis Costello, 1994

This is perhaps the portion of the trip that I'm most looking forward to. London has long been a source of fascination for me. The rich history of the city from medieval times through the "swinging 60s" and into its modern reputation as a center for culture and glamour is something I have always longed to meet face-to-face.
According to various books and people I've consulted, London can be horribly expensive. Luckily, my friend Diana, who lives in the village of Silsoe, about an hour north of London, has offered to let me stay with her during my visit. This saves me the cost of staying in a hostel in the city; instead of the 15-20 pounds a night most hostels charge, I will pay about 8 pounds a day to take the train into the city.

In my Walkman: "London Calling" (The Clash); "Abbey Road" (The Beatles); "Get Happy!!" (Elvis Costello and the Attractions)

- Walking tour of London: St. Paul's Cathedral, Covent Garden Piazza, Leicester Square, Picadilly Circus, St. James's Palace, Buckingham Palace (changing of the guard- 11:30 am), Westminster Abbey (evensong- 5 pm), Big Ben, Trafalgar Square - 1 day
- Museums: British Museum- 1 day (free), Museum of London (4 pounds), Museum of the Moving Image (6.25 pounds), National Gallery (free), Tate Gallery (free) - 2-3 days
- Shopping: Portobello Road, Carnaby Street - 1 day

May 21- Stratford-Upon-Avon

In my Walkman: "Terror and Magnificence" (meditations on Shakespearean ballads in "Twelfth Night" by saxophonist John Harle, with Elvis Costello, Sarah Leonard, and Andy Sheppard)

As a lifelong Shakespeare buff, a day in Stratford was something I couldn't leave out of my trip.

Passport to Shakespearean properties: 10 pounds
Royal Shakespeare Company (that evening), standing-room ticket: 5 pounds
Accommodations- Youth Hostel, Hemmingford House, Alveston: 13.5 pounds
Transportation: 4 pounds
Food: 8 pounds

May 22-24 Liverpool

In my Walkman: "Magical Mystery Tour", "Please Please Me" (The Beatles)

The most influential band of the latter half of this century was conceived and born here. The cultural importance of the Beatles is not to be underestimated. Having read myriad books on the early lives of Lennon and McCartney, I believe it would deepen my appreciation for songs like "Penny Lane" and "In My Life" to see the places that inspired them.

Day 1: Magical Mystery Tour: 9 pounds
1-hour Mersey ferry: 3.3 pounds
Accommodations- Embassie Youth Hostel: 10 pounds
Cavern Club
Food: 5 pounds
Day 2: Self-guided walking tour of non-Beatle Liverpool
Food: 5 pounds

May 25-27 - York

In Carole Straw's Middle Ages class, I learned about the Jorvik Viking Centre- and was inexplicably intrigued by the idea. As I do possess a great deal of Scandinavian blood, it is possible that the Jorvik village might be an ancestral homeland of mine, or at least will give me some idea of how my Viking ancestors lived.

Day 1: Jorvik Viking Centre: 5 pounds
Accommodations- York Youth Hostel: 9 pounds
Food: 5 pounds
Day 2: Walking tour, including Bootham Bar, York Minster (2 pounds), Castle Museum, Clifford's Tower
Accommodations- York Youth Hostel: 9 pounds
Food: 5 pounds
Day 3: Castle Howard, Helmsley
Accommodations- Helmsley Youth Hostel: 8 pounds
Food: 5 pounds

May 28-30 Edinburgh

In my Walkman: Naturally, bagpipe music!

According to the Lonely Planet guide, Edinburgh Cycle Hire has bicycles for rent starting at 5 pounds. This sounds really intriguing to me, and during my stay in Edinburgh I intend to explore the city this way.

Day 1: Edinburgh Castle (admission 6 pounds)
Accommodations- Bruntsfield Youth Hostel, 8 pounds
Food- 7 pounds

Day 2: Bicycle rental 5 pounds
(Spend the day exploring the city and surrounding area by bike.)
Accommodations- Bruntsfield Youth Hostel, 8 pounds
Food 7 pounds

Day 3: Museum of Childhood (admission free)
Food 7 pounds

May 31-June 1 Glasgow

Day 1: George Square, City Chambers, Glasgow Cathedral (admission free)
Accommodations- Glasgow Backpackers Hostel, 9 pounds
Food- 7 pounds

Day 2: Burrell Collection
Accommodations- Glasgow Backpackers Hostel, 9 pounds
Food- 7 pounds

June 3- Tintern Abbey and Bristol

Nor wilt thou then forget,
That after many wanderings, many years
Of absence, these steep woods and lofty cliffs,
And this green pastoral landscape, were to me
More dear, both for themselves and for thy sake!
-William Wordsworth, "Lines composed a few miles above Tintern Abbey"

Wordsworth has long been one of my favorite poets, and having studied him (along with a few of his illustrious contemporaries) in-depth as a first-year at Mount Holyoke, is it any wonder that I feel a great need to see for myself the "green pastoral landscape" that inspired his greatest masterpiece? Pictures that I have seen of the medieval ruins are among the most beautiful I've ever seen. I would love to spend an afternoon exploring, photographing, and sketching them.

Tintern is located midway between Gloucester and Bristol. I would most likely stay the night at the International YHA Centre in Bristol. (Cost about 10 pounds)

June 4- Salisbury/Stonehenge

I honestly don't know why Stonehenge intrigues me so much. This summer, I had a poster of Stonehenge hanging above my bed in my dorm room. It is simultaneously majestic and enigmatic, a religious icon for some long-forgotten religion. Another landmark I'd like to photograph and sketch.

Stonehenge admission/transportation- 5 pounds
Food- 5 pounds
Accommodations- Matt & Tiggy's, Salisbury- 10 pounds

June 5- Canterbury, Dover

Among the motley mix of European literature that has inspired this trip is Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. One of my fondest memories of high school is having the Pardoner's Tale read to me in the original Middle English. The Canterbury Tales remain one of my favorite works of literature for comic and artistic value. I also plan to see the fabled "White Cliffs of Dover".

Canterbury Cathedral- 2.50 pounds
Food- 6 pounds
Accommodations, Canterbury Youth Hostel, 10 pounds

Total basic expenses for England/Scotland: 303.55 pounds = $495.05

From Dover I plan to cross the Channel and board a Eurail train for Hamburg.
In my Walkman: "An American in Paris" (Gershwin); "Brutal Youth" (Elvis Costello); Bach's Cello suites as performed by Mstislav Rostropovich

Germany

June 8-11 Hamburg

In my Walkman: Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers (featuring Lennon, McCartney and Harrison, 1962)

Hamburg is yet another port city rich in Beatles trivia and lore. I plan to do some more Beatles sightseeing and extensively explore the Altstadt for a glimpse into German history.

Day 1- Exploring the Port
Morning Jazz session at the Fish Auction Hall (free)
Harbor Cruise (23 DM)
Food 15 DM
Accommodations- Auf dem Stintfang, 24 DM

Day 2- In die Altstadt
Rathaus tour (2 DM)
War memorial at St Nikolai Church tower (free)
Hauptkirche St Michaelis (4 DM)
Food 15 DM
Accommodations- Auf dem Stintfang, 24 DM

Day 3- miscellaneous exploring
Harry's Hamburger Hafen Basar (3 DM)

June 11- Bremen
Beck's Brewery Tour (5 DM)
Food 10 DM
Accommodations- Jugendgästehaus Bremen, 27 DM

June 12-14 Moselle Valley

By this point, I'll need to get off the beaten path, away from urban areas, and explore the German countryside. Also, it should be interesting to compare a German castle to its British counterparts.

Day 1- Burg Eltz, medieval castle (10 DM)
Food 10 DM
Accommodations, DJH Hostel, Koblenz 23.50 DM

Day 2- Hike into hills near Cochem
Weingut Rademacher (winery tour) 8.50 DM
Food 10 DM
Accommodations, DJH Hostel, Koblenz 23.50 DM

Day 3- Reichsburg Castle, 6 DM
Food 10 DM
Accommodations, DJH Hostel, Koblenz 23.50 DM

June 15-16 Frankfurt
Frankfurt has some fabulous art museums as well as a rich history and a beautiful historical district reconstructed to its pre-WWII grandeur.

Day 1- Städel Museum (8 DM)
Exploring the Römerberg
Food 15 DM
Accommodations, Haus der Jugend, 25 DM

Day 2- Goethe-Haus (7 DM)
Food 15 DM
Accommodations, Haus der Jugend, 25 DM

June 17-19 Stuttgart

Day 1- Mercedes-Benz Museum and Factory Tour
Food 10 DM
Accommodations, Tramper Point Stuttgart, 9 DM (!)

Day 2- Schlossgarten- Wilhelma zoo and botanical gardens (14 DM)
Carl Zeiss Planetarium (14 DM)
Food 10 DM
Accommodations, Tramper Point Stuttgart, 9 DM

Total cost for first leg of German tour: 372 DM = $200

Switzerland

June 20- Geneva

Walking tour of the city: Ile Rousseau, Tour de I'lle, Cathedral St. Pierre, Jardin Anglais
Food: 7 Sfr
Accommodations: Armee du Salut Hostel, 10 Sfr

June 21-23 Montreux

Having extensively studied Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and the symposium of writers that spent those weekends on Lake Geneva (e.g. Byron, the Shelleys, Wordsworth), I am very excited to see Lake Geneva and the Swiss Alps. I would love to go on a trekking/climbing expedition, but as those are fairly pricey, I am afraid that will have to wait for my next visit.

Day 1- Exploring the lake, walking around and taking pictures, etc.
Accommodations, SYHA Hostel, 27 Sfr
Food: 10 Sfr

Day 2- Chateau de Chillon, 7 Sfr
Accommodations, SYHA Hostel, 27 Sfr
Food: 10 Sfr

Total Cost for Switzerland: 182 Sfr = $119

Italy

June 24-29 Florence

Of all the people I talked to about where to visit in Europe, the vast majority told me that Florence was the highlight of their trip. Admittedly, I am no expert on Italian art or architecture, but the photographs I have seen of the city do confirm its reputation as one of Europe's most beautiful.

Day 1- Duomo Cathedral (10,000 L)
Uffizi Gallery (12,000 L)
Accommodations: Ostello Santa Monaca (22,000 L)
Food: 15,000 L

Day 2- Palazzo Vecchio (10,000 L)
Ponte Vecchio (shopping)
Hike to Piazzale Michelangelo
Accommodations: Ostello Santa Monaca (22,000 L)
Food: 15,000 L

Day 3- Galleria dell'Accademia (12,000 L)
Palazzo Bargello (8,000 L)
Accommodations: Ostello Santa Monaca (22,000 L)
Food: 15,000 L

(Note: Bicycle rental and lodging are included in this price- this tour is conducted through I Bike Italy.)
Day 4-5- 2-day bike trip from Florence to Siena ($235)
Food: 30,000 L

June 30-July 1 Venice

Day 1- Piazza & Basilica di San Marco (admission to Basilica museum, 3000 L)
Food: 15,000 L
Accommodations, Istituto Canossiano, 20,000 L

Day 2- Murano Glassworks museum (ferry 9000 L)
Food: 15,000 L

Total base cost for Italy: 206,500 L + $235 = $346

Austria

Although I am not likely to find the Pension Grillparzer or the Hotel New Hampshire when I visit Vienna, I am sure to have a meaningful encounter with the city that my favorite author, John Irving, has portrayed so vividly. I want to be sure to visit as many of the places described in The World According to Garp and The Hotel New Hampshire as I can. I think I'm likely to stay a few more days in Vienna than I have indicated in my itinerary, but I won't know for sure until I can see (and fall in love with) the city for myself.

July 2-4 Vienna

Day 1- Karntnerstrasse, Naschmarkt (shopping and exploring)
Accommodations, Porzellaneum, 175 AS
Food: 100 AS

Day 2- Hofburg (Imperial Palace, admission 150 AS)
Prater (amusement park featured in the Welles film The Third Man, approximate cost about 100 AS)
Accommodations, Porzellaneum, 175 AS
Food: 100 AS
Sachertorte in the Hotel Sacher Café (50 AS)

Day 3- Live, free classical music in the Café Braunerhof
Miscellaneous wandering in die Altstadt
Accommodations, Porzellaneum, 175 AS
Food: 100 AS

July 6-7 Salzburg

Admittedly, Mozart isn't my number-one favorite composer (that distinction is probably Gershwin's, or Elvis Costello's). Still, he did lead a very intriguing life, and as a musician I do appreciate the complexity and beauty of his work. Salzburg itself is much more than Mozart's birthplace, as I have discovered.
In my Walkman: Le Mozze di Figaro (Mozart, naturally!)

Day 1- Festung Hohensalzburg (admission/transportation 150 AS)
Food 100 AS
Accommodations, International Youth Hostel, 130 AS

Day 2- Mozart's former residence (admission 65 AS)
Haus der Natur (admission 55 AS)
Food 100 AS
Accommodations, International Youth Hostel, 130 AS

Total base cost for Austria: 1855 AS = $141.35
Germany

July 8-9 Munich

Day 1- Die Altstadt- exploring, photographing, etc.
Center for Unusual Museums (admission, 8 DM)
Food 12 DM
Accommodations- Jugendherberge Munchen, 25.50

Day 2- Deutsches Museum (admission 13 DM)
Food 12 DM
Accommodations- Jugendherberge Munchen, 25.50

July 10 Leipzig

Egyptian Museum (free admission)
Accommodations- Jugendpension, 22 DM
Food 12 DM

July 11 Lutherstadt/Wittenberg

I was raised Lutheran, and as a result am well-versed in Protestant history. I most definitely need to see the door on which the 95 theses were nailed in order to make my Germany trip complete.

Lutherhaus (7 DM)
Wittenberg Castle
Food 10 DM
Accommodations, Lutherstadt Youth Hostel, 20 DM

July 12-17 Berlin

Day 1- Museum Day Pass, 8 DM (for Palace of the Republic, Pergamon Museum, and Altes Museum, among others)
Food 15 DM
Accommodations, Backpacker, 25 DM (recommended very highly to me by my friend Jody, who spent three months in Europe early this year)

Day 2- German Historical Museum (admission free)
Deutscher Dom (also free)
Food 15 DM
Accommodations, Backpacker, 25 DM

Day 3- Haus am Checkpoint Charlie (8 DM)
Food 15 DM
Accommodations, Backpacker, 25 DM

Day 4- Zoo and Aquarium (19 DM)
Food 15 DM
Accommodations, Backpacker, 25 DM

Eastern Germany expenses: 362 DM = $194.00

From Berlin, I will return to London and fly back to the States sometime around the 22nd of July.

Total Expenses: $1500 for lodging, food, admission to museums, etc.
$750 for airfare
$150 for passport and other preparation
$1000 for other transportation
$1000 for replacement of summer earnings
$100 for film and processing
$500 for miscellaneous unanticipated expenses and spending money
TOTAL: $5000

Sources

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/Libs/PCL/Map_collection/europe/ (Collection of European Maps at the University of Texas Library)
http://www.vtourist.com/webmap/europe.htm (Virtual Tourist- Europe)
http://www.hostels.com/ (Worldwide Hostel Guide)
http://www.xe.net/ucc/ (The Universal Currency Converter)
http://www.ibikeitaly.com (I Bike Italy tours)
Lonely Planet Guide- Europe on a Shoestring