It’s been six months since I bought my concert ticket to Depeche Mode in Amsterdam and now that the countdown clock is at less then 2 months to go, it’s time to start planning and putting together this trip.
Originally I was just going to do the same trip I had planned back in 2020, flying into Amsterdam and then continuing onto the Balkans in Eastern Europe for six weeks. I’d spend a few days in Amsterdam, see the Depeche Mode concert, and then head off for the rest of my trip.
Change of plans
That was the plan.
Well, as we all know, plans change. This time, however, it changed for the better!
I was talking about traveling with my friend Nathan at work one night and he mentioned he was going to Paris for a week in August and was thinking of going to Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria for a few weeks afterwards.
Well, I mean, that was literally half of my planned Balkan trip and it would be kinda nice to have a travel buddy. Problem was the trip I had planned out was in May and June whereas his was in August.
What to do? What to do?
Problem solved!
Simple! Instead of one trip to Europe, I’ll now be going there twice this year.
My first trip, dubbed Benelux Trip 2023, will expand the few days in Amsterdam to a full blown three week trip to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg (BeNeLux). I’ll also have one night in Budapest which I’ve visited previously before ending my trip spending a few days in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The second trip will be my originally planned six week trip to the Balkans. Along with Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria with Nathan, I’ll also be visiting Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania on my own. I’ll be there from mid August to the end of September.
So, yeah, after not traveling for five years (seriously? five years? that’s soooo long), I’ll be going on not one, but two trips to Europe this year and visiting 9 new countries bringing my total to 52 countries.
It’s now under two months til my first trip and planning has already begun so you’ll start to see an increase in the blogs coming out now.
Thanks for coming along for the ride!
2 Comments
Hai Todd,
unfortunately our time in the Netherlands has passed far too quickly. What we have experienced in this short time will be fondly remembered.
Among other things, as luck would have it, to have met you. The man with the last Depeche Mode ticket!!! As I’ve already told you, I’ve been browsing your site for a bit and have already learned a lot more about you. I’m sorry about your mother and respect for such an open story about this so sad subject. By the way: we also have a cat and we know the problem very well when you want to go on vacation.
You are now halfway through your BeNeLux adventure and I am really looking forward to yours
Stories about your first
Soccer game Excited.
O. We wish you all the best, still
many exciting experiences,
interesting people that you will continue to get to know and we look forward to new, exciting stories from your travels.
If you should make it to Hamburg, even if only for a short stopover, It is worth it, let me know, I would be very happy.
See you soon,
Bernhard, Randy & YIva
Thanks Bernhard
It was great meeting you 🙂