Backpacking Diplomacy by Andy A blog dedicated to sharing world culture, travel tips and building community.

American vs European Culture After the Natives, no group of people has influenced the United States of America greater than the many different cultures of Europe.  Europeans were and have been instrumental in the foundation of the Country.  Although, the demographic outlook of the United States is far more mixed today than ever, Europeans were still the primary instigators in this …

Visit the Balkans A Few Quick Reasons to Visit the Balkans The Balkans combine to make a region of Europe that is often passed over by visitors.  In fact, there are far few visitors to Eastern Europe annually than to most Western European nations.  The most visited places in Europe tend to be France (Paris), Italy (Rome), Spain (Barcelona), and …

Best Things about America What America Does Well The U.S. of A.; some love it, some hate it, but I guarantee that most who live in it can agree that a few aspects that exist within America are worth missing.  After some contemplation, I have come up with my own list of things America does better than other places that …

73 Fun Things to do in Louisiana Here is a list of things to do in Louisiana should you be looking for something to do.  They are not in any particular order, so do not think that they are from worst to best, least to greatest or vice-versa because they are not.  The last number could be just as good …

Working Internationally Times have changed, and so have careers.  It was hardly 50 years ago and the average lifestyle seemed to be routine.  Go to high school, graduate, then either find a job or go to college.  If you went to college, you would be expected to start work immediately after.  Usually not far from where you grew up.  In …

A List of Things to do in Dubrovnik Croatia Beautiful Croatia Croatia is a beautiful country.  Located across the Adriatic from the Eastern shores of Italia is Dubrovnik.  Dubrovnik is a medieval-like walled city surrounded by a picturesque landscape.  If you are ever wondering what to do in Dubrovnik, here is a list of 10 things to do in Dubrovnik …

 Reasons to Enjoy life There are endless ‘purpose of life’ philosophies out there.  Simply type ‘the purpose of life’ in any major search engine and you will have reading material for years to come.  Philosophies primarily differ depending on religious creeds, cultural backgrounds, family values, and the economic focus of the person.  At some point, most of the philosophies boil …

Detroit in Photos A photo essay of Detroit This is a photo essay about Detroit.  If you haven’t read my article Is Detroit that Bad? try to read it when you get a chance.  I think that you would find it interesting.  Especially if you want a personal opinion on the current state of Detroit.  I recently visited there and got …

Famous landmarks of Louisiana Louisiana is famous because of its unique history and heritage.  The State is known internationally for its ties to colonial Spain and France, as well as its influence as an economic trading port via New Orleans.  Like any other place, Louisiana has several famous landmarks that have become synonymous with its brand.  I came up with …

Why you should go to less touristy parts of a country Motivation for travel off the beaten path More authentic experience.  A friend once told me that if you want to truly understand people, you have to live right next to them and walk a day in their shoes.  Although I think very highly of large cities, I find that …

Hostel Demographics: The Types of People at your Hostel Right Now This post is about the types of people who you usually find in a hostel.  Let’s call them hostel people.  It is not meant to be taken overly seriously.  It is just for fun, tell me what you think! The socialite – You have to start it off with …

The Best Travel Books that I have read 5 Good Travel Books that I Recommend Reading Reading is like traveling in many ways.  When a person is reading, every page can be a new adventure or twist to a story line.  People can live out their wildest dreams by reading a book, just as the traveler experiences a whole new …

Detroit Michigan The state of Detroit I have always been perplexed by places that people seem to despise.  In fact, if someone ever tells me that I shouldn’t go somewhere, I always seem to find my way there sooner or later.  Driven both by curiosity and intrigue, I seek answers.  I want to get to the bottom of things and …

An Unconventional Perspective on Backpacking Why you should go for it Surely not everyone is meant to or even has the desire to travel like a backpacker.  There are those who seek the comforts of home even when traveling abroad.  Then, there is the backpacker; the somewhat undefinable person, who seeks the difficult and thrives in the challenges of the …

New York, New York 10 Things to do in the Big Apple New York City is probably the most interesting city that I have ever been to.  This is true for multiple reasons, but most noticeably due to its uniqueness in character.  The City is one of the most interesting mixes of everything that I have experienced.  People from all …

Why Entrepreneurs Should Travel A look at supporting evidence for the international entrepreneur Partly due to my past university studies, I tend to be more idea oriented to the business side of things.  Because of this, I constantly look for opportunities, and whether I choose to pursue them or not, I still look into their feasibility and overall outlook as …

Facts about Louisiana This is an article including facts about Louisiana from a local.  I have included a few random interesting facts, but others that are more obvious as well. Louisiana does not have counties.  There are no counties in Louisiana.  As a sign of our cultural history in Louisiana, the connections to the Cajun French heritage has yielded Parishes.  Therefore, …

Avoid pickpockets The Psychology of a Thief In backpacking, few things are more frustrating than thieves. We try different methods for avoiding them; sometimes those methods are successful and sometimes they aren’t.  In my experience, there is no guarantee to avoiding pickpockets and thieves completely, but it does not mean that you cannot be doing something more.  I believe that …

A Gap Year: A unique time when someone does something random and different for a significant period of time, to experience new things. A gap year is a great idea for anyone.  Whether someone is fresh out of school or has been on the grind for a few years and looking to take some time off in the form of …

Changes that Come Through Traveling Traveling is not only an experience.  Traveling also has an effect on you.  To what extent, changes of course, but change still occurs nonetheless.  Mainly, I have found that the change depends on a person’s willingness to learn and overall difference between a person’s homeland and the place that one is traveling.  Change is additionally …

A day in an Alligator Plant (Alert: some pictures in this article depict alligators being skinned.) Recently, I was afforded a unique opportunity that I couldn’t resist: the chance to tour an alligator processing plant in full operation.  Not only do I like to see how things work, but I also liked the opportunity to see the other side of …

Talking Politics Abroad A How To Guide for the Conscious Traveler My first time traveling, I was adamantly instructed not to discuss politics.  They told me, “it was better to leave politics out of the conversation.”  After doing a good bit of traveling on my own, I can firmly say that I disagree.  Although there is some logic to keeping …

26 Things to do in Barcelona Spain   Barcelona is a great city to add to your list if you are traveling through Europe. According to most reports, Barcelona is one of top most visited cities in Europe.  Parts of the city are becoming increasingly touristy, but the city itself is still beautiful.  Should you find yourself in the city, …

Study Abroad Europe: Make the most of it This article is for people who are currently studying in Europe or look to study in the future.  I am writing it to help you get around Europe efficiently on a budget.  Read on and I will teach you how to fly around Europe for under $10 and get bus tickets to …

Standing out Abroad Traveling to foreign lands is nice because you get to experience how others live.  Additionally, you can get to participate and engage in cultural traditions that are much different from your own. The problem is that when you are in other’s lands you are the foreigner.  When I travel, I do everything in my power to blend …

Sleepless nights: When finances and timing just aren’t in your favor Every once and awhile when traveling we are forced to do things that are less than desirable.  Especially when backpacking on a budget, you may find yourself in a situation where you have to sleep outside or not even sleep at all.  This could arise from poor planning, over booking, …

Things to do in Brighton Beach (Little Odessa) Бра́йтон-Бич (Маленькая Одесса) Brighton Beach, New York is one of those places that really embodies the idea of America being an emigrant nation.  The area is located in the lower part of Brooklyn next to Coney Island. Travelers would be surprised to find that the signage is written in Russian. The region became …

There are breakfasts, and there are breakfasts. If there is one meal a day that seriously it’s breakfast. In this article, I breakdown 5 iconic American breakfasts experiences, where to find them and what you will be surprised to eat. From the classic American breakfast complete with a staple omelette, sausage and toast to the southern comforts of biscuits, grits …

My 5 Reasons to visit Louisiana Traveling through the states is always a fun time.  The states are an interesting mixture of people, to say the least.  Usually, people will stop in the major landmarks to see things like the Grand Canyon, or New York city, but often skip the other interesting things that the states have to offer.  Truthfully, those …

 5 Ways to Ensure that you get the most out of your Upcoming Trip Whether you have traveled extensively in the past or are a first timer, there are some things that you need to consider at least a few weeks before jumping on a plane to the ends of the earth.  Surely, by now you are thinking, “Well, I …

The Possessions You Need to Safeguard Most When Traveling It seems as we travel that we value different possessions to varying degrees.  I have found though that regardless of any personal belongings people travel with on trips there are several things you really cannot travel without.  Obviously, if you are ranking things using emotions, an object with sentimental value might …

A Quick How To Guide To Getting a Taxi and Not Getting Ripped Off Photo courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net   Taxis are everywhere.  Depending on where you live in the world, it is quite possible that you have taken a taxi (cab) at least once before.  If not, you will likely in the future.  Handling taxis at home is one thing.  …

The benefits of working in a hostel   Is working at a hostel the dream job that it’s cut out to be?  Moreover, is working and traveling the way to go?  Let’s face it, people who work at hostels have to put up with a lot of problems.  Guests can be both demanding and messy.  Hours can be long, and …

Customs: What you should not say Passing customs, and its degree of intensity, depends on many factors.  For example, where you come from, your travel history, finances, age, appearance, and intentions will all come into play at some point during an official checkpoint. Customs officers are highly trained officials that are taught to effectively screen all people coming into their country.  …

Finding Cheap Flights When one decides that they are going to take a trip somewhere, one of the first things that they usually consider, is the flight.  Typically, this is one of the more grandiose expenses travelers incur; however, it does not have to be.  In fact, finding cheap flights is easier than you might think.  You just need to …

My Common Travel Tips These travel tips here are just common travel tips to anyone. Travel light – Do not bring too many things.  Too many times have I seen people who leave with half of their closets and personal belongings only to realize that not only do they not need the things, but also that they are exhausted from carrying …

How To Stay Entertained When Flying After you have read the safety manual and sky mall booklets multiple times, you might be thinking how am I going to burn the time?  After all, what are you going to do with the Skymall magazine full of things that you find useful, but yet cannot quite pinpoint when you would use it?  Some people, …

Hitchhiking in Morocco Hitchhiking has always been an intriguing travel option to me.  Mainly for two reasons I think: One because it is an economic and practical way to get around, but also because in so many places it carries with it a stigma or is considered somewhat taboo. Well, after a long time of actually wanting to  do it, I finally …

Why we travel… Recently, when staying in a hostel in Dublin, I took part in some of the more interesting conversations that I have had in my life.  Perhaps, it was just the people or the timing, or both.  Or maybe, it was that we were all seeking the same thing: answers and knowledge. We were all fixated on getting …

The other day my friend asked me how a single traveler meets people.  “Isn’t it difficult”, he asked. In my experience, it is actually easier to meet people when you are traveling by yourself than with a group.  The reason is when you travel with a group you tend to alienate yourselves and stick together.  Whether you realize it or not …

This article is basically dedicated to the new traveler, or any traveler unfamiliar with what to expect when traveling abroad.  In effect, this article is a compilation of the kinds of things that people are usually not ready for when traveling.  By saying this I mean, that these are the challenges and ‘cultural differences’ that can lead to cultural shock.  Culture shock is no phenomenon.  …

Maintaining Security in the Hostel Life Keeping safe on the road is a constant concern to most travelers.  In this light, maintaining security of ones personal goods is no exception to this rule.  After all, when you are traveling your bag is both your lifeline and your house, if you think about it.  Below are a few tips that I …

Are there rules to staying in a hostel? Hostel Etiquette 101: How to be a good guest and roommate The other day when I was staying in a hostel with a friend, I was asked if there are rules to staying in a hostel.  After contemplating the question for a little while, I realized that there are not always exact rules, but there are a …

When you are traveling, there are some unwritten laws that I believe should be followed.  They are more moralistic than real laws, but still nevertheless I feel that they are relevant to all travelers. Manners It’s all about the experience How fortunate you are These may seem like a somewhat different list, but it is what I feel works.  People should …

Boston Marathon 2012 I was so inspired by the performance of the Boston marathon that I chose to write about it.  Perhaps, it was the weather, which was absolutely perfect.  Or was it the mass amount of people? The food? The determination that I saw in the runners?  To me, it could have been some culmination of the above.  The marathon housed …