Natalie

Every spring and summer I see thousands of tourists specially young Americans crowding the streets of Europe with huge backpacks full of unnecessary items such as binoculars, several travel guides, several cameras, several maps, etc. And then they complaint they are the victims of petty crime and pickpockets (especially in Spain and Portugal).
When I travel I leave everything at the hotel, I do not feel the need to walk around with heavy loads on my back while waiting in line to enter a tourist attraction. I do not carry anything except my wallet when going to a museum back home, so why carry all that when going to a museum abroad?
What do you all have inside those bags anyway?
And why you feel the need to visit several European countries and cities in a matter of couple of weeks? Why not just enjoy one region at a time, and visit other places the next time you go to Europe?

Natalie

tiredofwhining

Why do Europeans take such a long time for their meals when they could hit a drive through and eat in their tinny little cars in a matter of a few minutes? Why does it take so long for them to get to know each other before calling each other "frend"? Why do I have to waste my time discussing the weather with an Englishman before we can get into a real conversation? Why do they think we Americans want to waste time on return trips to their quaint but backward little continent that seems to know so little about doing things quickly and efficiently?

ydoucare

Why do you care what other people carry and how many countries they see? We will see what we can on our schedule with our money and carry what we want and need. Why don't you ask the hoardes of people you see smoking why they smoke? I care more about that then what they carry and where they are going.

mark

To add to Natalie's observations: a friend and I went to Barcelona this past October. I used what looks like a mini bike-messenger bag to carry one guide book and one point+shoot camera. My friend used a book bag and carried his filofax, 2 guidebooks and god knows what else. By the third day he bought a smaller bag but still insisted on carryig his filofax. Why? Who knows. I have learned (slowly) to mainstream myself when I travel - I prefer traveling lightly, it makes for an easier trip. It's been posted on this board before: after you finish packing, go back and reduce it by half. Many people have the tendnecy to over pack. Also - and this may provoke some other Americans - Americans are very attached to their "stuff". One of the advantages of living in a studio apart. in NYC is that I've learned that I don't need a lot of stuff - I've also realized this traveling.

ughIhate

Cool troll. We haven't had a new citizen-bashing post for a while, and the 'response' was fairly predictable, but reasonably clever.

Buyer

Why do trolls exist?

bashme

I'm new. Bash me...but what is a troll?

helper

Bashme - It does take a while to learn the lingo here, but I think you could define a troll as someone who makes posts just to get a rise out of people. The questions are usually not serious and are somewhat loaded. Hope tis helps.

john

One has to admit that the observation of tourist walking around with HUGE back packs (be it whereever) to be somewhat amusing. Haven't you ever wonder what the Queen of England has in her purse (which she carries with her all the time) ? Trolls can be used in an effective manner - just don't play into the obvious baiting. The first 2 responses to Natalie's question is somewhat humourous. Is Natalie a trollete? Possibly. Does her question have merit? I think whether or not to wear white tennis shoes in Europe is a far more important matter (lol).

Hans H

Since I always take a huge backpack when I'm travelling, I can try to explain why I do it. I can't explain why people don't leave it in a hostel, a restaurant etc. instead of carrying it while sightseeing.

The point is very simple: I can carry it without feeling uncomfortable. I don't have to wash more than once every ten days and my packing for a two-months trip takes less than an hour since I don't care about weight, bulk or anything else. I take hiking shoes and a tent for the possibility that I might need them and I don't feel stupid even if I haven't used them more than twice during a trip. Huge backpacks are immensely convenient as long as you are able to carry them for at least half an hour without feeling badly.

Ellen

Amazing what people have to do with their time! But if it is of interest to anyone.....When I travelled about Italy a few summers back, the last thing I wanted to do was carry a santa sack with me, however, being as things are in Italy, it was a necessity. I had to carry a pareo (shawl)for myself & a T-shirt for my husband, so we could enter the Churches. Couldn't wear the stuff, it was 103 degrees F, every day! Also, since we covered more territory than just 'a museum' in a day, we wanted the camera for landmark shots & to document our trip. Of course we also needed extra film. And, what with the heat & all, a water bottle & some motrin. Then there are the sunglass cases for when we take off the glasses to go inside, a map, a guide book, wallet, passports (never leave them at the hotels), baby wipes (for us), toilet seat covers (I have a thing about that & carry them in NYC as well), money converter, extra hair clips, tissues, dog biscuits (Europe has an incredible amount of stray animals--you should be ashamed!), phrase book, bandaids (blisters, the plague of the traveler), spare contact lenses & solution, gum, sunblock for face, lip balm, and a pen. If anyone can suggest how to lighten the load, be my guest. : - )

Buzz

The last time I went to Great Britain my total baggage were two smallish backpacks, TOTAL and I thought I was being surprisingly conservative. When I wanted to change locations I strapped one to my back and carried the other by its hand strap. I certainly didn't feel conspicuous, rediculous or that I was overdoing it in the least. Personally, I feel that anyone who would leave an expensive camera, extra cash or a passport in a hotel room is a few bricks shy of a load. Talk to anyone who's ever lost their passport or had it stolen and I think you'll find that most agree with me.

When I'm "back home" I don't carry much with me either. But if I go on a trip by automobile be assured I take a spare tire.

AAA

No, I'm not xxx or XXX. I don't know how someone gets by with only a backback. I have 2 steamer trunks and hire porters to carry them around.

Joanna

I think you will find most of the young people with backpacks full of things are probably between hostel stops. Also, I don't know that security in hostels and cheaper hotels that younger people tend to use is too great, so that may be why they take all their paraphernalia with them.

sylvester

I'm still pondering what might be in the Queen of England's purse. Is she packing heat (a gun) ? A trashy Daniel Steele novel? You know she is always prepared for any emergency - what would that entail having in her purse?

royal subject

Her majesty is carrying doggy treats for all those corgis.

Cindy

I'm thinkin' breath mints.

Louise

Or a gerbil(sp?)

wendy

I don't think Natalie is talking about travel pack backpacks, she's talking about schoolbag backpacks.
I always carry mine around because I'm sightseeing from early morning until late at night. I drink tons of water, so I carry around a 1.5 liter bottle. I have my guide book, a hairbrush, lipbalm, hand lotion, maybe an umbrella or my raincoat, maybe a sweater, extra film, a camera, lunch, or at least an apple and some cookies, camping cutlery, kleenex, hand wipes of some sort, and a pen. You can never find a pen when you need one. It's true that on a few occasions someone has tried to steal my schoolbag, but I can't imagine what they think they'd find of value in there.
Anyway, if you were out and about for 12-15 hours, what would you carry around with you?

CJ

When changing trains at the border town of Cerbere in the Pyranees (due to change in track gauge between France and Spain), it was funny to see all the compartments in the car robbed by gypsies (we were in first class).
We witness all those backpackers
so despondant over their losses. TYPICAL. This gypsy train invasion continued all the way down to Nice.

CJ