Preparations
In September 2006 I started a semester project, which was supposed to last 3 months. But due to my own inefficiency, it took me 9 months, until July 2007, to actually finish it. I was actually planning to go on this trip in May and June of 2007, but I kept procrastinating the writing the report for the project that it took a real big deadline (the threat of the cancellation of the term project) that finally made me finish it. I saw a window of opportunity to go and do the trip after finishing the project. In June 2007 I reconfirmed with my boss about the trip, and he said "Go for it!". In hindsight I guess that's all he could say, he wouldn't have been able to say no, would he?
But his approval also encouraged me a lot, I remember feeling very happy that "Yes, I am going!", after he told me I could go.
As I said, I finished the report for my project in July 2007, and I decided to go after that.
The actual preparations happened at the very last minute, the Saturday before I left. I got myself a map of Europe, a pair of new shoes, a compass, toiletteries (toothpase, soap, shampoo, sun-screen (Don't forget to wear sun-screen!)) and a camping mat.
I got new shoes because I thought I would go hiking, but I didn't get hiking boots because they were a bit expensive, but I got myself walking shoes anyway because I have sneakers made for basketball, but I thought they wouldn't be suitable if I were going to walk a lot on different terrain. Besides, the shoes I've had were a bit too big, with me wearing them loose, and that had always ached my feet when I walk for long distances.
I did not have a backpack, but my cousin Christian did, and he kindly let me borrow it.
Another thing I had to arrange was the clearing out of my room because I was going to rent it out while I was gone. So on Monday, July 16th, 2007, I started packing my belongings into boxes as well as packing my (well my cousin's, but for this trip it will be mine) backpack. I did not sleep that Monday night, partly because I had so much to do, but partly because I was excited that I was going to do the trip!