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Hi. I'm going to Europe for my 2 weeks leave from Iraq around March 1st, and since I've never been there (other than landing in Ireland for an hour on the way to Iraq). I know there are a lot of people from Europe that read these forums, so I figured this was a great place to ask for advise.

I know for sure they will at least fly me to Germany, but I'm under the impression they will fly me anywhere in the world that I want, so I might be able to start the trip somewhere else in Europe also.

I'm wondering what things you think I should see and do (I really want to do some base) and if you recommend I start in a certain country and do a loop or end in a country that has easy cheap transportation back to where I started. Also wondering if anyone has a couch I can crash on for a night along the way.

I have my base rig here with me and have always wanted to jump Kjerag and see Norway so I'm hoping to include that. I have a friend in Finland and a friend in Norway, I'd like to hook up with.

Any tips, trick or advice from your experience would be awesome, and I'd really appreciate it.

bump

go here for STAVANGER base club info.http://www.basekjerag.com/ check when the jumping season starts, the swiss vally well be you best bid if you got enough jump

Get up with Flummi he is a crazy German that I met at Bridge Day!

Any trip to Europe should start in Amsterdam! If you are planning on Lysebotn then you want to fly into Stavanger. From A-Dam it ran me about $500 Cdn round trip. Ferry ride to Lysebotn was not too expensive. If the weather is crap take the fast ferry, if it is a nice day take the regular ferry as the trip is beautiful.
If you are solo then a tent or the White House (hostel style) are your choices.
Pack a bunch of freeze dried backpacking food pouches. Food and beer is very expensive there. You can pick up some fresh groceries in Stavanger before catching the ferry. Buy some duty free booze to take with you and I don't know if it is stilll the same but packs of smokes were like currency there. Good for trading and bartering.
I don;t know much about the rest of Norway as I just went to Lysebotn both times. If you are in good shape and the weather is good you can get 3 a day there.
If you want jump numbers and are happy with lower jumps, the Swiss Valley wins hands down. A motivated jumper can easily get 5 a day with good weather. Just stay at the Horner, good beer, good people, close to the train station.
For me, nothing beats the rugged beauty and long freefalls of Norway.
Have fun

Dont forget the weather :) We have WINTER in north Europe, that means veeeeeeery cold and snow, especially Norway.

Great to see you doing well Dave...

Have fun wherever you end up going! And of course share some pics afterwards

Michael

Yeah, my bad. Didn't catch the March part when I first read his post. I was surprised how much snow there was on the hike up Kjerag in late June.

I wanted to thank everyone. I haven't had a chance to reply to the PM's yet and I'm going to go work at the TMC right now and will hopefully have a chance to reply to them tonight. In case I don't get a chance for a while, Hey 460 - my phone broke and I won't be able to get his number until I get home and buy a new phone to put my sim card in.