Many of you have followed my blog as I detailed my first ever solo backpacking journey around Europe. I won’t lie it’s been a long drawn out affair, but an important one all the same (especially for me).
This blog was to by my journal first and everything else second. There was no delusions of grandeur when I started out. I didn’t want to make money. I just wanted to tell a story and hopefully it’s been a good one so far maybe even helpful too. Now the story is getting a new chapter and that’s about London.
Since my trip around Europe finished I’ve been living in London on my Youth Mobility Visa. A place that is the polar opposite to the country town of 1500-2000 people I grew up in many years ago. Life has been good to me here and I’ve met other great travellers, some bloggers some not and all with a story of their own.
I’ve wanted to live abroad for a long time and now that the dream is here I have embraced it with open arms. This kind of life isn’t all fun though, I’ve seen London defeat people and others thrive on it. I spent over four months living in a London hostel while trying to find a flat to move into that almost beat me. There have been some amazing moments, I got to experience snow for the first time in my life.
So along with pulling back the covers on my London existence I’ll finish up my series of posts on how much I spent backpacking Europe. I’ll also answer all of those other questions I wish I’d known before leaving Australia.
Don’t expect me to deliver you the magic answer you’ve been looking for though, that only comes once you have travelled for yourself. One thing I learnt along the way was that nobody knows you like you so don’t assume someone else’s way of travel will work for you. Use my story as stepping-stones to your own, after all an original movie is almost always better than the sequel and you don’t want to be a sequel to someone else’s movie do you?
There are travel plans a foot as well now that winter is behind me. It looks like I’ll be in Spain for the entire month of June (say Hi if you see me there) and other ideas just floating around in this big old head of mine.
Lastly a small plug for another project I’ve been working on and recently launched. With a settled routine here in the UK I’ve been able to help more and more travel bloggers with the technical side of their blogs. As a result I launched Travel Blog Support to document all of those technical questions people kept asking me. I’ve had some good feedback so far and would love to know what you all think.
Like the title says another chapter in my travel adventure has begun and I hope you’ll follow along with me.
One of my friends spent a few months in Spain last spring. I believe she spent most of her time in Seville. Now I’ll be curious to see if you wind up visiting some of the same places that she did.
Funny you say that Aleida. I’m planning on starting my trip in Seville as I have some friends in the area.
cheers to fantastic past & future chapters! plan sounds great and just checked out travel blog support and can’t wait to dig in! 🙂
Thanks Lorna, I just hope there are many more chapters like the first one to come.
Great post Chris. I’m glad to see those comments you made in Florence about starting a travel blog support service come to fruition. You have really accomplished so much in so little time. I’m sure other travelers can gain a great deal of insight and inspiration from you.
haha Suzy it was a long time coming but yes the dream has finally turned into a digital piece of work. Oh and you are welcome to post flattering comments on my blog anytime 🙂
How exciting to be a part of this new expat-life chapter in the Aussie Nomad! =) Glad to hear that you’re already semi-established there because I’ve heard London defeat more expats than provide a thriving lifestyle. =P Do you have a post in which you talk about why you chose London?
I wholeheartedly agree that everyone has their own way of traveling! In fact, I find the beauty of traveling is how much I learn about myself along the way — the good and the bad. =)
Samantha London sure is a hard beast to handle. I’ll write up about how it nearly beat me soon enough but you can find out my decision to stop in London on this post.
Chris, I know I haven’t been online much lately to really check out your new project, but again CONGRATS on the venture and thanks for all the support you provide to the travel community.
Hoping you’ll stay in London long enough (or close by) to be there when I come (sometime) this summer. And I’m considering hitting up La Tomatina at the end of August…
I’m sure we can excuse you Heather since you have been busy driving around OZ. Right well I was planning to see la tomatina as well so perhaps we will see it together.
If you haven’t already you should log on to the travel bloggers group and come to realise the sheer multitude of us who are utterly indebted to your assistance throughout our travel blogging careers – you’ve saved our ass so often it’s almost unhealth :p We really do appreciate your help and your setting up Travel Blog Support only further proves how much you’re eager to give us a hand. A towering figure in the community you are indeed. Best of luck (bueno suerte) for your future travels – but then I can always say that to you closer to your departure, seeing that you and I never venture far from the cans 😉
Gee Dylan don’t expect me to pay you extra for all those kind words. I just said to promote my new blog a little 🙂
Cheers mate, london wouldnt be half as much fun had you not been around to help form THE crew.
I always forget some people don’t know snow. The wonder doesn’t last lon and you’ll hate it like the rest of us 🙂
Ayngelina come now. Snow was fun and you don’t know how much I felt like I was in a movie as I was walking home that first night it snowed and I found it falling down around me.
How are you able to spend a month in Spain in June? What about the visa agreement? 😮 Or, you still inside your 180? I should be there for the Bull Run, and perhaps La Tomatina. Hopefully catch up then.
I’m actually going to be living in London starting in September. I’ll be there for about 3 or 4 months. Any places you’d recommend to visit? Things to do?