Although Lonely Planet travel guides may be must-haves for any backpacker or budget-minded traveler, there really is one thing they can't offer-a good story. Every trip eventually develops into a story, either one told to prove to friends just how outrageously adventurous we can be or to inform wannabe travelers of what they might encounter in some foreign country.
\Europe from a Backpack,"" edited by Mark Pearson and Martin Westerman, is filled with both kinds of stories. While some of the short stories shine more than others, all sparkle with the excitement of a firsthand account of life as a young traveler in Europe.
Arranged into chapters by country, including one for countries that are ""Off the Beaten Path,"" each story offers a colorful description of a personal experience from that particular country-from adapting to a host family in France to working as a lambing assistant in Scotland.
Inspired by studying in Rome, backpacking around Europe and the hundreds of stories he returned with, editor Mark Pearson wanted the book to contain the stories a normal guide couldn't provide.
""I wanted the one must-tell story that people??tell when they return from Europe.??Traveling with a backpack is quite different than traveling with a suitcase,"" Pearson said.??
""The book captures the experiences that come out of traveling on a??shoestring budget-sleeping outside in the rain, a beer at the Hofbrahaus and wild train stories.""
Avi Vichniac, 2000 graduate of UW-Madison, was able to provide one of these ""must-tell"" stories. ""My story for the book was on the infamous Island of Ibiza [Spain] where I have been a regular for four years and counting,"" Vichniac said, ""There is something magical in the air of that island which is hard to put your finger on.""
Vichniac's story ""24 Hours in Ibiza"" provides details of the exhilarating party scene on the island of Ibiza in Spain. For those obsessed with finding the ultimate party set in an idyllic locale where alcohol, music and beautiful people blend perfectly, Vichniac's account will have them drooling.
As a former UW student, this was not his first attempt at detailing a party scene. Vichniac has written other travel pieces and said he enjoys it very much. ""Distributing such guides allows me to relive these amazing experiences, which is my number one motivation for writing them in the first place.""
While some stories provide insight into the ins and outs of getting to and spending time in traditional cultural highlights of Europe, many focus on people, the unique relationship between backpackers or the insights provided by locals. Whether it's the hospitality provided to hitchhikers in Richard Alderton's ""Kindness of Strangers"" or being unknowingly seduced by a prostitute in Christopher Ruth's ""The Greek Goddess,"" these stories reveal the experiences of young travelers and inspire wanderlust in those who dream of doing it all themselves.
""Europe From a Backpack: Real Stories From Young Travelers Abroad"" is published by Pearson Venture Group.
