How the UK has changed and not.

[Swanny]

I live in the southwest of England and it's good here, it's not dangerous in my area. People are friendly and happy enough.
England in the summer is a beautiful place, one of the best IMO, ok the winters are a bit rubbish but they pass.
I'm not a city type of person but I'm lucky enough to live near Bath which is my favourite city in the world but I love to live in the country side.
But there are good and bad places to live in all countries.
I've traveled to many different countries (25 I think) either working or as a backpacker spending months in the country and mixing with the people of that land rather than a tourist who goes on holiday and stays in a hotel for a couple of weeks, so I think I have a pretty good idea of life in those places.
Of all the countries I've visited I have to say that France is one of my favourite places.

If you've never been Cornwall is a nice place.

[Czymra]

Originally Posted by Swanny

I live in the southwest of England and it's good here, it's not dangerous in my area. People are friendly and happy enough.
England in the summer is a beautiful place, one of the best IMO, ok the winters are a bit rubbish but they pass.
I'm not a city type of person but I'm lucky enough to live near Bath which is my favourite city in the world but I love to live in the country side.
But there are good and bad places to live in all countries.
I've traveled to many different countries (25 I think) either working or as a backpacker spending months in the country and mixing with the people of that land rather than a tourist who goes on holiday and stays in a hotel for a couple of weeks, so I think I have a pretty good idea of life in those places.
Of all the countries I've visited I have to say that France is one of my favourite places.

If you've never been Cornwall is a nice place.

Backpacking is something I'd love to do but it doesn't seem to be the best time for it. O_o

[Steve_A]

Hi Swanny,

I used to do a lot of back packing and hitch hiking in France and Spain (although Spain was **** for getting a lift).

I once made it from the UK to the southern border of Andorra in 24 hours, touched the Spanish soil then went back to the UK, just for something to do. I was around seventeen. Great life hitchhiking and always speaking to someone new, trying out different languages. It was a hoot!

I'm niot too sure if people would give lifts these days, nor give me a lift as I think they expect hitch hikers to fit into a certain profile, young, long haired, jean clad, studenty type etc. However, with cheap flights and off peak train fairs or National coaches, it's taken the sheen out of this traditional form of travel.

Best regards,

Steve

Originally Posted by Swanny

I live in the southwest of England and it's good here, it's not dangerous in my area. People are friendly and happy enough.
England in the summer is a beautiful place, one of the best IMO, ok the winters are a bit rubbish but they pass.
I'm not a city type of person but I'm lucky enough to live near Bath which is my favourite city in the world but I love to live in the country side.
But there are good and bad places to live in all countries.
I've traveled to many different countries (25 I think) either working or as a backpacker spending months in the country and mixing with the people of that land rather than a tourist who goes on holiday and stays in a hotel for a couple of weeks, so I think I have a pretty good idea of life in those places.
Of all the countries I've visited I have to say that France is one of my favourite places.

If you've never been Cornwall is a nice place.

[Czymra]

Originally Posted by Steve_A

I once made it from the UK to the southern border of Andorra in 24 hours, touched the Spanish soil then went back to the UK, just for something to do. I was around seventeen. Great life hitchhiking and always speaking to someone new, trying out different languages. It was a hoot!

I'm niot too sure if people would give lifts these days, nor give me a lift as I think they expect hitch hikers to fit into a certain profile, young, long haired, jean clad, studenty type etc. However, with cheap flights and off peak train fairs or National coaches, it's taken the sheen out of this traditional form of travel.

Too true, but then again maybe we're just too depressed. I always think of the situation, what would it be like if everybody just picked up anybody at the side of the road. Public transport would be unnecessary!
But I suppose that's too idealistic, as well.
Maybe one has to think about it like the internet. Less than 1% (If I remember correctly) of the users of Wikipedia actually create content.
I bet that's about as many as they are drivers that pick up hitch-hikers.

[Swanny]

In New Zealand they apologize as they go by if they can't give you a lift
I hitched round there for 6 weeks and only ever had a problem getting a lift and that was when I was trying to get along Arther's pass.
Kiwis are fantastic people, them and the Dutch are my favourite people

[Allie]

I like the sound of New Zealand!

I 'did' Europe with a car and a tent. Mostly slept in the car but we put the tent up if we fancied staying for a while. It was probably less stressful than backpacking. Having said that, we certainly encountered the odd weirdo - car or no car. (Probably me! - Steve )

I think spending so much time abroad was really beneficial. It's wonderful to soak up other cultures and, like Czymra mentioned, you can't really compare your own country to others unless you've been about a bit. What may seem like utter poo is clover compared to some places The backstreets of Naples springs to mind here

Living in Israel was perhaps my most insightful journey. It really isn't what it seems via the news.