When you ask people what they'd do with time and money, many, like me, immediately picture epic travels. Personally, I'm embarking on a journey, starting from lively Baku and making my way back to Western Europe.
I love Europe. While I've explored most European countries, the Caucasus remains uncharted for me. The European borders are a bit blurry, and some folks may dispute including Azerbaijan, but it's as good a starting point as any. Baku's unique location at the tip of a peninsula makes it the perfect start for this adventure, and Bretagne on the other end mirrors the journey nicely.
Travel Style
It's not a vacation, it’s an adventure. This is about stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing the unknown. After all, true adventure lies in the unknown. I have no booking, no exact plan, I don’t know how long it will take, I don’t know which cities I’ll visit next, although I have some rough estimations. I expect the trip to be between 40 and 60 days, and go through Georgia, Turkey, and the Balkans.
I've decided to document this trip, even if only a handful of readers follow along. It serves multiple purposes for me. Firstly, my memory is far from perfect, and writing will help remember my experiences. Secondly, it's a motivator to ensure my journey remains full of fascinating experiences. If my path becomes too simple and uneventful, there won't be much to share. Finally, I want to keep my friends and family informed, and I don’t want to spend my time repeating what I’ve been doing.
Traveling solo, but staying social. I'm traveling alone, but I want to meet new people every day – fellow travelers and locals. As an introvert, I need to go out of my comfort zone to connect with other people. I expect lots of opportunities will arise if I meet other people. For example, locals may share their tips, other travelers may join me for some of the adventures. I'll try to meet people through random encounters in hostels and tours, as well as using travel-related websites.
I've embraced a minimalist approach. To keep things agile, I'm packing light with just a backpack. Large luggages and suitcases hinder mobility. I can visit a city or go on a hike while carrying my backpack. I don’t need to store it, or care about it when I need to go somewhere.
Flexibility is key; I have no rigid plans. Last-minute bookings allow me to seize opportunities as they present themselves. If there’s a reason to stay more nights in a place, or visit a city, or change my path, I can do it at any time. There’s little reason to book an accommodation or a means of transport more than 24 hours in advance (I’ll do it if something risks being fully booked or overly expensive).
Variety is the spice. From cozy hotel stays to nights in large dorms, or stays in someone’s house, I'm here for it all. The same is true for transportation, I’ll alternate between many approaches, and probably try hithhiking among others. But, I'll try to avoid flying as much as possible, as the real adventure lies in exploring the places along the way.
Packing
I have found on Reddit a community of people passionate about light travel and how to travel with just one backpack. I have discussed my packing list there and got some useful feedback.
Overall, this is a total of 6.2 kg, including 1.3 kg for the laptop. Many people suggested I shouldn’t take it, but I’ve found it useful enough in some cases.
So, what's in the backpack? Tee-shirts, 2 trousers, underwear, socks, two shorts (suitable for running, swimming, or sleep), and one running shirt. Electronics like my laptop, power bank, and earbuds all use USB-C, so I'll bring along a small USB-C charger. And, of course, basic toiletries - toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, razor, with a quick-dry compact towel, as well as a handy tote bag.
To reduce the amount of clothes, I'll wash my clothes as I go. My material of choice is the Merino wool, which doesn’t keep the smell and dries fast after washing. I have just one versatile pair of shoes, for walking or running.
