Europe in 30 Days: Birkenstocks, Berlin Detergent Drama & Backpack Calves
Ann Marie Elpa ventured on her first-ever European escapade in spring 2024, conquering 11 countries in a single month using a Eurail pass, red-eye buses, and a persistent Birkenstock slip hazard. Destinations included luxurious Luxembourg, slippery-stone streets of Croatian cities Hvar, Split, and Dubrovnik, and budget laundry wars in Berlin hostels where detergent cost more than a nightâs sleep. She discovered that eating out every meal inflated her bill like a Michelin star balloon, despite budget-saving visits to bakeries in Budapest and grocery chats in the Netherlands. Her calves rival professional climbersâ thanks to lugging duffel bags instead of backpacks. Overplanning nearly turned fun into frenzy but hey, next trip = more free time!
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When your Birkenstocks canât handle cobblestone rain and your laundry detergent costs more than your tapas, you know European backpacking isnât just sightseeingâit's survival training for your calves and wallet.
Who needs a gym when dragging a duffel and makeup bag up twenty flights of stairs across 11 countries builds Instagram-worthy calves AND new stress lines?
Saving money by tossing hostels and red-eye buses into your itinerary just to realize eating out in Europe is basically a series of expensive regret dinners.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 9/12/2025 | Author: Ann Marie Elpa
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