what does backpacking mean? like backpacking across Europe?

Answer 1

backpack means carrying a bag and walk over eg.. europe... in a budget stage... as in staying at budget hotels or hostel.. its a cheap/budget kind of travelling..

Answer 2

It means traveling by foot. You only take what you can take in your backpack and you're off to explore the world.

Answer 3

Travelling with a backpack on your back, usually with no other luggage and travelling by public transport and on foot.

Answer 4

Ah, good question, it's a technical term actually, originating from medieval times when people used to back-pack, or unpack the things they had brought with them as they traveled. It was used so that travelers could make their mark on the places and trails they used, a sort of more expensive precursor to the American Johny Appleseed.

The more prominent the person who was traveling, the more extravagant the things he would leave behind would be, backpacking was a sign that one was rich, and could afford to essentially 'unpack' some of ones belongings when on the road.

The term has evolved over time with the invention of the 'backpack' as is commonly known today. The backpack was originally used by doctors world wide to 'eliminate back problems,' by adding weight to the part of the back that wasn't in pain, thus adding pain to that part, and essentially equalizing the uncomfortableness across the back...not surprisingly this idea was short lived and the chiropractor who invented it died penniless and virtually unknown.

However, the backpack lived on and people decided that they could use it to carry things in a convenient manner, while leaving their hands free to do the macerana or have a thumb war.

Now, having two words for the same thing was a bit confusing (we're in the early 1900's now) but there was some synergy between the two meanings, as one could pack things in a back pack to later unpack on ones journey, thus going back to the original meaning of "backpack".

Today, people have resorted to carving their names on things and writing on the walls of public restrooms in order to make their brief presence in a place known. Many uniformed people, believe that this is due to a lack of morals in the current generation, but it is actually because the previous generation got sick of the misnomer that when they were backpacking across Europe (as hippies often did) they were to leave their belongings behind to mark their spot. This upset many hippies as it reminded them that although they believed that everyone should give up on materialism, they didn't want it to apply to them.

In the end, the hippie generation instilled in their children that the backpack had only one meaning, and thus you have an entire generation unaware that backpacking originally meant to "pack in reverse", and now it simply means to pack things up in a cloth bag and put it on your back. It is often associated with the young, and with europe, as well as a summer full of sight seeing and sex in multiple countries whose language you do not speak.

Excellent question.

Answer 5

It means living out of what you can carry on your back. In Europe you can travel by train to different cities and stay in youth hostels for cheap.

Answer 6

backpacking is the most esqusite form of vacationing. you pack everything you need on your back in a pack. catchy name backpacking. then move form location to location. its omg fun

Answer 7

thats how hippies like to see the world... you really don't want to lug a huge backpack around on vacation... just rent a convertible

Answer 8

Won't hurt to wait 2 years til your a little more versed in adult life in your own country before you go experiencing it in another.

Answer 9

Best way to Travel!