There are still 7️⃣ days to go until we finally set off! To fuel a little anticipation until then, there's something super exciting to read about our travel plans every day. Today:
Means of transport
We had already mentioned that we would take around two months for each continent. We would like to spend most of the trip travelling from pool to pool in a luxury hire car and helicopter, sipping cocktails. Unfortunately, we don't have enough money for this (which is why we're currently looking for grandad donations 😉). But it's not just the money, but also the prevailing infrastructure that are key factors. In any case, we are curious and willing to try out different means of transport, which will have a big impact on our travelling experience.
Infrastructure in North America: to put it nicely, car-friendly. So we hitchhike! Sönke has already successfully hitchhiked across Canada in both directions and has been dreaming of a re-match for a long time. His aim is also to dispel prevailing prejudices against hitchhiking and to show that it can lead to unique encounters and a special immersion in the culture of the local population.
Infrastructure in South America: extensive, very extensive, and too mountainous for trains. Long-distance buses are probably the solution. Hopefully less delayed than the Flixbus, but with the option of converting the seats into sleeping berths - bringing back dark memories of a school trip to France. Perhaps we should add a few more sleeping tablets to our first-aid kit.
Infrastruktur in Ozeanien: wässrig. Okay, mal spezieller in Australien & Neuseeland: neben den Roadtrains und unbezahlbaren Zügen sehr autolastig; einige Australier nutzen anscheinend auch öfter das Flugzeug. Schreit nach Trampen, aber wir wollen dort trotz des höheren Preisniveaus ein Auto mieten/kaufen und einen guten alten Roadtrip machen. Sicherlich wird es uns das letzte Geld aus der Tasche ziehen, daher wird vorher und besonders nachher kräftig gespart werden.
Infrastructure in Asia, especially India: train after train. And not, as we know it from old pictures, on the roofs of the carriages, but in what is probably the world's largest train system (measured by passenger kilometres), which is inexpensive and even acclimatised.
Infrastructure in Africa depends on the region, but mostly cars. In any case, Africa as a tourist is quite an expensive undertaking and the idea of "backpacking in Africa", i.e. travelling artificially poor, has not yet been fully discussed for us from an ethical point of view. We want to be inspired along the way and then choose spontaneously if there is perhaps the possibility of a longer hike, a cycle tour or something else. We would be very grateful for any tips, as we both still know very little about our last continent.
📖 Book recommendation: "From the Swede who took the train and saw the world with different eyes". Not a novel, but a kind of essay on different styles of travelling that the author has experienced with a personal touch since the 70s. Makes you want to try them out.