My Backpacking Chronicles

ATHENS · MYKONOS · MADRID · WARSAW · ZADAR · SARAJEVO

The Backpacking
Chronicles
one way, no end date.

After selling everything I owned online, I set off on a trip with no end date in sight. I began by buying a one-way ticket to Greece at 3 AM. I had no idea what to expect from traveling abroad alone — only that it was something I’d always wanted to try, and there would never be a better time than right then.

66 stories, six stops, in the order they happened. Plenty of mishaps and misadventures included.

START AT STORY 01 SEE THE ROUTE
The Casas Colgadas, the hanging houses of Cuenca, Spain, lit up at night
The hanging houses of Cuenca, Spain.
ONE WAY
NO END
DATE

THE ROUTE

Six stops I mostly did not plan.

Scroll to fly it —
then tap a pin.

N 10 DEGREES OF LONGITUDE ONE WAY FROM NEW JERSEY Šibenik GREECEAthens31 DAYSAthensMykonos3 DAYSMykonosSPAINMadrid31 DAYSMadridPOLANDWarsaw30 DAYSWarsawCROATIAZadarA MONTHZadarBOSNIASarajevoA MONTHSarajevo
THE ROUTE I ACTUALLY TOOK THE FLIGHT OUT CURRENTLY: Leaving New Jersey

BEFORE THE TICKET

Selling everything, then buying one ticket.

I sold everything I owned online, booked a doctor’s appointment, worked out what fits in one backpack — and bought a one-way ticket to Greece at 3 AM.

STORY 01I Bought a One Way Ticket To Greece at 3 AMREAD IT STORY 023 Months Until I Leave to Travel: What Still Needs to Be Done?READ IT STORY 03My Travel Health Appointment and the Worldwide Shortage of Yellow Fever VaccinesREAD IT STORY 04What I Packed In My Backpack For A Trip Around the WorldREAD IT

STORIES YOU HAVE ALREADY READ TURN CORAL

NEXT — ATHENS
01

FIRST STOP

Athens
Greece

31 DAYS 11 STORIES

Lost on my very first night, over-complicating currency before I’d even landed, a gay neighborhood found by accident near Monastiraki — and, eventually, the top of the Acropolis.

Athens
The cats of (C)Athens.

Stories from Athens

05 – 15 OF 66

I Made It To Greece Alive & In One PieceSTORY 05I Made It To Greece Alive & In One PieceREAD IT Lost & Alone My First Night in AthensSTORY 06Lost & Alone My First Night in AthensREAD IT A Guide On How to Complicate Converting Currency Before Traveling AbroadSTORY 07A Guide On How to Complicate Converting Currency Before Traveling AbroadREAD IT Buying a Personalized Ath.ena Card For Transportation in AthensSTORY 08Buying a Personalized Ath.ena Card For Transportation in AthensREAD IT I Found A Gay Neighborhood Near Monastiraki By AccidentSTORY 09I Found A Gay Neighborhood Near Monastiraki By AccidentREAD IT A Beautiful Night on Filopappou Hill With The Stop Shopping ChoirSTORY 10A Beautiful Night on Filopappou Hill With The Stop Shopping ChoirREAD IT Crossing Paths With One of My Best Friends in AthensSTORY 11Crossing Paths With One of My Best Friends in AthensREAD IT Milk and Honey… Rekindling a Relationship One Year LaterSTORY 12Milk and Honey… Rekindling a Relationship One Year LaterREAD IT What I Learned After FINALLY Making It Up to the Top of the AcropolisSTORY 13What I Learned After FINALLY Making It Up to the Top of the AcropolisREAD IT A Cockroach Crawled Across My Body in AthensSTORY 14A Cockroach Crawled Across My Body in AthensREAD IT Little Whiskas to Feed the Cats of (C)AthensSTORY 15Little Whiskas to Feed the Cats of (C)AthensREAD IT
NEXT — MYKONOS
02

SECOND STOP

Mykonos
Greece

3 DAYS 7 STORIES

Three days on an island I’d worked out how to reach cheaply — and then arrived to no reservation, a thumb stuck in a door, and sheets that didn’t fit the mattress.

Mykonos
Mykonos. Three days, one stuck thumb.

Stories from Mykonos

16 – 22 OF 66

Which Greek Islands Can You Visit Cheaply?STORY 16Which Greek Islands Can You Visit Cheaply?READ IT Sailing with SEAJETS to the Island of MykonosSTORY 17Sailing with SEAJETS to the Island of MykonosREAD IT Welcome To Mykonos! Sorry, Rocky. You Don’t Have a Reservation Here.STORY 18Welcome To Mykonos! Sorry, Rocky. You Don’t Have a Reservation Here.READ IT Time For The Beach! Oh Wait. Ouch, My Thumb Is Stuck In the DoorSTORY 19Time For The Beach! Oh Wait. Ouch, My Thumb Is Stuck In the DoorREAD IT Who Knew “Paradise” Was Sleeping With Sheets That Don’t Fit Your Mattress?STORY 20Who Knew “Paradise” Was Sleeping With Sheets That Don’t Fit Your Mattress?READ IT Travel Recommendations For Young Gay Men Who Want to Visit MykonosSTORY 21Travel Recommendations For Young Gay Men Who Want to Visit MykonosREAD IT The Struggle Was Real While Trying to Sail With Hellenic SeawaysSTORY 22The Struggle Was Real While Trying to Sail With Hellenic SeawaysREAD IT
NEXT — MADRID
03

THIRD STOP

Madrid
Spain

31 DAYS 9 STORIES

Western Europe prices came as a shock. Then a free place to stay, a stranger’s van pulled over by the police, and a tomato fight in Buñol that left me with pink eye.

Madrid
La Tomatina, Buñol. The pink eye came later.

Stories from Madrid

23 – 31 OF 66

Adjusting to Prices In Western Europe After Landing in MadridSTORY 23Adjusting to Prices In Western Europe After Landing in MadridREAD IT Lovely Summer Nights in Madrid With Old & New FriendsSTORY 24Lovely Summer Nights in Madrid With Old & New FriendsREAD IT Staying In Madrid Can Be Expensive Except For When It Is FreeSTORY 25Staying In Madrid Can Be Expensive Except For When It Is FreeREAD IT Couchsurfing With Friends Is All Fun & Games Until…STORY 26Couchsurfing With Friends Is All Fun & Games Until…READ IT Getting Pulled Over Right After Hopping Into a Stranger’s VanSTORY 27Getting Pulled Over Right After Hopping Into a Stranger’s VanREAD IT The Casas Colgadas and Other Top Things to See and Do In Cuenca, SpainSTORY 28The Casas Colgadas and Other Top Things to See and Do In Cuenca, SpainREAD IT The Story of How I Discovered My Destiny To Attend The La Tomatina Festival In Buñol!STORY 29The Story of How I Discovered My Destiny To Attend The La Tomatina Festival In Buñol!READ IT Let’s Talk About My Rotten Tomato Juice-Induced Pink Eye Infection At La TomatinaSTORY 30Let’s Talk About My Rotten Tomato Juice-Induced Pink Eye Infection At La TomatinaREAD IT Why Quiet Clubbing Is a Fun Way to Party – For Introverts & Extroverts AlikeSTORY 31Why Quiet Clubbing Is a Fun Way to Party – For Introverts & Extroverts AlikeREAD IT
NEXT — WARSAW
The Travel Field Guide by Rocky Trifari

EVERYTHING I LEARNED THE HARD WAY

I made these mistakes so you don’t have to.

Lost on my first night, pink eye from a tomato fight, thirteen hours on the worst bus of my life. The Travel Field Guide is the version of all this I wish someone had handed me before I left.

64 PAGES 40 ONE-PAGE CHAPTERS 12 FILLABLE WORKSHEETS $0 FOR SUBSCRIBERS
SEND ME THE GUIDE SEE WHAT’S INSIDE

Sent to your inbox the moment you subscribe. No spam, ever.

04

FOURTH STOP

Warsaw
Poland

30 DAYS 11 STORIES

A rough start, an Indian restaurant I apparently flew to Poland for, Old Town in the cold, a neon museum that was genuinely lit — and one of the smartest birds in the world.

Warsaw
Warsaw’s Old Town.

Stories from Warsaw

32 – 42 OF 66

Making Plans to Travel Solo to Warsaw, PolandSTORY 32Making Plans to Travel Solo to Warsaw, PolandREAD IT Off to a Rough Start Traveling Alone in PolandSTORY 33Off to a Rough Start Traveling Alone in PolandREAD IT Did I Fly to Poland to Eat Indian Food? Apparently, Yes.STORY 34Did I Fly to Poland to Eat Indian Food? Apparently, Yes.READ IT 5 Things to See and Do In Warsaw’s Old TownSTORY 355 Things to See and Do In Warsaw’s Old TownREAD IT The Crazy Things You Do For Love When You’re in a Long Distance RelationshipSTORY 36The Crazy Things You Do For Love When You’re in a Long Distance RelationshipREAD IT The Neon Museum in Warsaw, Poland Was LitSTORY 37The Neon Museum in Warsaw, Poland Was LitREAD IT Finding My First European Firebug in PolandSTORY 38Finding My First European Firebug in PolandREAD IT Is Warsaw, Poland a Gay-Friendly Travel Destination?STORY 39Is Warsaw, Poland a Gay-Friendly Travel Destination?READ IT In Poland, I Met One of the Smartest Birds in the WorldSTORY 40In Poland, I Met One of the Smartest Birds in the WorldREAD IT Here’s Why You Should Never Rush While Booking a Travel ItinerarySTORY 41Here’s Why You Should Never Rush While Booking a Travel ItineraryREAD IT Solo Travel: My First Time Going Out Clubbing AloneSTORY 42Solo Travel: My First Time Going Out Clubbing AloneREAD IT
NEXT — ZADAR
05

FIFTH STOP

Zadar
Croatia

A MONTH OCTOBER 2018 12 STORIES

My 90 days of free travel in the Schengen Zone were running out, so I found an affordable flight to a city I’d never even heard of. Of everywhere I’ve backpacked, Croatia is the one that changed me most.

Zadar
Greeting to the Sun, Zadar — where I greeted the moon.

Stories from Zadar

43 – 54 OF 66

Revisiting Brighter Times… My Month in Zadar, CroatiaSTORY 43Revisiting Brighter Times… My Month in Zadar, CroatiaREAD IT Greeting the Moon at Zadar’s Greeting to the SunSTORY 44Greeting the Moon at Zadar’s Greeting to the SunREAD IT The Stunning Symphony of Sounds from The Sea OrganSTORY 45The Stunning Symphony of Sounds from The Sea OrganREAD IT Can You Befriend a Wild Pigeon?STORY 46Can You Befriend a Wild Pigeon?READ IT Zadar: Where Birds Meow and Cats Perch in TreesSTORY 47Zadar: Where Birds Meow and Cats Perch in TreesREAD IT Top 5 Foods You Must Try in Zadar, CroatiaSTORY 48Top 5 Foods You Must Try in Zadar, CroatiaREAD IT Why Is There a Sphinx in Zadar? (Croatia)STORY 49Why Is There a Sphinx in Zadar? (Croatia)READ IT Teaching English Online In an Alleyway in ŠibenikSTORY 50Teaching English Online In an Alleyway in ŠibenikREAD IT Why You Shouldn’t Skip a Visit to Šibenik While Visiting CroatiaSTORY 51Why You Shouldn’t Skip a Visit to Šibenik While Visiting CroatiaREAD IT 10 Things to Do When You’re Visiting Zadar, CroatiaSTORY 5210 Things to Do When You’re Visiting Zadar, CroatiaREAD IT How To Harvest Olives For Extra Virgin Olive OilSTORY 53How To Harvest Olives For Extra Virgin Olive OilREAD IT The Storm that Swept Over Zadar Before My DepartureSTORY 54The Storm that Swept Over Zadar Before My DepartureREAD IT
NEXT — SARAJEVO
06

SIXTH STOP

Sarajevo
Bosnia & Herzegovina

A MONTH 8 STORIES

I picked the next country on three conditions: outside the Schengen Zone, affordable, and full of pigeons. Getting there took thirteen hours on the worst bus ride of my life.

Sarajevo
Baščaršija Pigeon Square, Sarajevo.

Stories from Sarajevo

55 – 62 OF 66

I Traveled 13 Hours By Bus to Visit Pigeons In Another CountrySTORY 55I Traveled 13 Hours By Bus to Visit Pigeons In Another CountryREAD IT The Scariest Bus Ride of My Life: Drunken Death Threats, Harassment, and MoreSTORY 56The Scariest Bus Ride of My Life: Drunken Death Threats, Harassment, and MoreREAD IT Dealing with Agoraphobia While Traveling In a New CitySTORY 57Dealing with Agoraphobia While Traveling In a New CityREAD IT Memorable Food: Bosnian Bread and ‘Sarajevski’ ĆevapiSTORY 58Memorable Food: Bosnian Bread and ‘Sarajevski’ ĆevapiREAD IT How to Explore Sarajevo’s Abandoned Bobsleigh TrackSTORY 59How to Explore Sarajevo’s Abandoned Bobsleigh TrackREAD IT Understanding Sarajevo’s ‘Warchitecture’ and War WoundsSTORY 60Understanding Sarajevo’s ‘Warchitecture’ and War WoundsREAD IT Travel Crime: How a Child Tried to Rob Me at an ATM in BosniaSTORY 61Travel Crime: How a Child Tried to Rob Me at an ATM in BosniaREAD IT Feeding Pigeons at Baščaršija Pigeon SquareSTORY 62Feeding Pigeons at Baščaršija Pigeon SquareREAD IT
NEXT — LOOKING BACK

LOOKING BACK

What the road taught me.

Four pieces I wrote later, once I’d had time to think about what all of it added up to.

STORY 63The Greatest Challenges I’ve Faced While Traveling AloneREAD IT STORY 64Reflections on the Digital Nomad Lifestyle After One Year of Traveling AbroadREAD IT STORY 65When You’re Truly Alone… You Appreciate NatureREAD IT STORY 66Are We Taking Enough Chances?READ IT

WHERE TO NEXT

The road kept going after this.

01 · THE ATLAS

Where I’ve been

Every country I have set foot in, with the stories filed by place.

OPEN THE ATLAS

02 · THE SAFARI

The animals I met

The pigeons, cats, magpies and everyone else who turned up along the way.

MEET THEM

03 · START HERE

Do this yourself

Where to begin on this blog — the guides, the gear and the first steps.

START HERE

See you out there.

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