Hitchhiking

I’ve done it, but I don’t recommend it, for obvious reasons. I once met a five-foot, ninety-pound, 16-year-old Polish girl who had hitchhiked, from Warsaw to Rome, alone. When she told me that I actually felt my skin crawl. If you do wish to hitch, remember that while the violent crime rate in most of Europe is relatively low, such crime does happen. Women should not hitchhike, alone or in groups. Period. Some tips for those who insist on hitching; Using a sign, especially for women, can be dangerous. Don’t use one, and when someone stops, ask where they are going. That way the driver cannot lie about his destination to get you into his car.

0 If at all possible, keep your luggage with you rather than in the trunk, and pull it out of the back seat before getting out of the car. If you put it in the trunk, you may get out at your destination only to watch your backpack disappear down the road in a squeal of tires. The same thing goes for gas and bathroom stops.

- Some hitchhikers use a flag to appeal to their traveling compatriots.

- Most student-oriented guidebooks usually have a few sentences on where to hitch out of major cities.

- Women who hitch (although I’m advising against this) will have rapid success in groups of three or less. Men in groups of one or more will be waiting a long time.

- Finally, if you are hitching, be very, very careful. If it feels wrong, it probably is wrong. A long walk or a bed for the night is better than a ride that ends up in robbery or worse.