Hi Cade-Syd, I know how it feels to get frustrated when you order things online. I remember once I ordered a fair number of books, and about half of them didn't end up being in stock and were cancelled. As for your time restrictions, I'd say either get a friend to buy stuff for you while you're at work or maybe just take a sick day and get all the little annoying things done. As for the optionals, I think I'll at least do all of the first few of them so I can get to know my tour mates a bit better, and then only do the ones I want to do after that.

Hey Everyone, I am excited to see that so many people are already chatting on this forum. I have really no idea how i am going to be packing but there is a place on the Contikipedia page that gives you some pointers. Hey DYLAN are u in Calgary?

Hey, Ashley, I am indeed from Calgary. What part of Canada are you from?

Hey that is awesome. I am originally from Lethbridge but am living in Calgary right now. We should get together for a drink or coffee to chat before the trip. It lucky that we both live here.
Ashley

That's a good idea, actually. Let's figure out sometime when we're both free, Ashley, and we'll get together. It'll definitely make meeting the other tour mates a lot easier when we're all in London.

Hey there to all you guys
Well to let you know that Hopfgarten ( Austria ) is AWESOME!!!!!!! I spent 2 weeks there in Feb - it lookes wicked in Winter so I am guessing Summer is gonna be even more beautiful - I have been to Egypt in 1994 - It was amazing then and I am sure it is gonna be even more amazing - I am really looking forward to the Abu Simble trip - thats a def for me!!!
Packing - the bag size you are allowed is really big and I guess the bigger the bag the more crap you pack - REMEMBER YOU ARE GONNA HAVE TO CARRY IT UP STARS AT SOME PLACES!!!!! I am gonna go for the medium size bag and hope for the best!!!! Can always buy on the way if I need anymore I guess!!!
They were quite strict with the weight of the bags and 20kg is not that much as the bags are quite heavy even when empty!!!!
The dinner options are good when you are in the middle of nowhere but not too bad when you are in a city so I am gonna play those by ear!! I think it all depends on who is going - it is not the food its the company!!!!!
Well almost at the 3 month makr!! Yahoo!!!!
Take care and happy saving
Luv
Jo

Hey Dylan,
I am working mornings downtown through Sunday and then I have monday and tuesday off. What does your schedule look like and what area of the city are you close to? Are u on facebook? I am excited that we leave pretty soon. Talk to you soon.

Hi all, i booked my trip back in nov. and just checked out this site. My name is Nadyne and I'm doing the egypt option with my friend Christine...soo excited!! I'm 29 and also from new jersey. We'll be at the royal national on the 27th at 8pm and definitly looking to explore london before we go.

I also can be found on facebook: Nadyne Perlin or on myspace nfperlin@yahoo.com
talk to you guys soon!

Hi everyone!

I'm 99.9% sure I'll be doing the UE trip with the Egypt option with Jacqui ... just getting it nutted out now. Out of all the places we're visiting, I'm also most looking forward to Hungary coz I'm also half-Hungarian and have heard so many stories from my Grandma about Budapest. Really hoping to see Eztergom while we're there. Whilst in the UK (should be doing the Check out London tour for 4 days before the 29 June departure) I would like to go to the British Museum and have a gander at the Egyptian artefacts (also a huge ancient Egypt and Greece history buff)... The more I think about the more I've convinced myself to go!
Hope to get the plans finalised and see you all in just over 3 months.

PS: Packing suggestions hugely welcomed, I'm beginning to think a suitcase might be the way to go...


Jo

hi Joby,
i think u shuld def come! the more the merrier! haha! u need to convince eachother, itl be the trip of a lifetime!

so iv finally got my suitcase! i managed to find time and get to the shops and i decided to just get one (haha my impulse shopper trait coming out) and now i cant decide whether its way too big (its 68cm i think) or ok! oh well im stuck with it now so itl have to do, although i am soo not looking forward to packing, 20kgs isnt very much weight really... anyway i guess ill find out soon enough!
woohoo, i cant wait!

Hi cade-syd

Should know by this time next week whether or not I'm on the trip.... So excited already! As for your suitcase, we're allowed up to 73cm, so you should be right. Not sure how any of us girls will go with the packing, I know I take a suitcase for a week in Sydney!

Jo

Firstly, this is to Cade-Syd (and to all the women, really): I say pack at heavy as you need to. If there's an instance where you do need to lug your suitcase up a flight of stairs, I'm sure there'll be a stapping young lad or two who'll be glad to help you out haha. The 20 kg weight restriction is enough to worry about, so don't worry about packing to the brim. Or maybe you could do some arm exercises before the trip? ha ha.

Secondly, this is for Ashley. I work until 5 Monday to Friday, and I have the weekends off. I live right by the Calgary zoo, so the LRT is super close by. I say pick a land mark that's easy for you to get to, and then we'll figure out a time, which will probably have to be sometime in the evening, when we can meet up. Hope to hear from you soon.

Lastly, this is for Joby. I'm super excited to meet another Egyptology nerd like me. I'm pretty sure my friends thought I was going nuts when I was in my "read egyptian history books only" phase. I booked an extra couple of days in London after the trip, and I definitely plan on spending some time in the British Royal Museum (I think that's the one with the large amount of Egyptian stuff). Also, that's cool that you're also half Hungarian. I can't wait for Budapest.

Dylan

Oh, one last thing. I booked a flight that arrives and departs from Gatwick airport, and I just recently learned that there's no way to get to Central London, except by taking and ACTUAL train, which costs 20 pounds. So if anybody has yet to book their flights make sure it goes to Heathrow! Learn from my mistakes ha ha.

Hey Everyone,
Firstly about the suitcase issue. I got a suitcase for Christmas and it should be good for the trip. I am definetly going to try to pack light but it is hard to figure out exactly what we are going to be wearing and such.

Second I am going to be in London until the 18th of August. My parents are flying over and we have a wedding to be at on the 16th. I am excited to see London after the tour.

Dylan I am working usually mornings downtown serving. I have next tuesday off so maybe we could get together somewhere downtown or on 17th Ave. I live in the Marda Loop area so we can meet somewhere in between, or after I am done work downtown. Let me know what works for you.

Ashley

haha Dylan,
from what ive heard there r about 50million steps on this trip so i duno how keen ul be to be carrying all the girls luggage up and down them by the end of the trip! but thanku thats a very sweet sentiment!