indyfabz

Not everyone uses a handlebar bag, or fenders for that matter.

paulthepyke

My bar bag was with me, I had all my important stuff (money, passport, phone, padlock key) in it so if I was off my bike, my bar bag was with me off the bike. I bought the bag at the last minute just before leaving for the trip because I wasn't sure if I really needed one but during the trip i realised how practical it can be to have one with the easy on/off clip so it takes two seconds to take it off the bike.

They ask for the passport everywhere you rent an appartement, b&b, hotels, train tickets, ferry ticketI never refused because everyone else was doing it but I don't know if they refuse your buisness if you refuse to show them your passport, maybe because if you are a foreigner the only legal paper for them is the passport(i.e. your driving licence is not valid in another country or just dosen't count as official documentation in their country).

Ciao
paul

indyfabz

I did the whole backpack thing around Europe during the summer of '84 and again during the summer of '85. I also toured in Andalucía for 7 weeks back in 2000. You always had to provide a passport when securing indoor accommodations. Even in the large campground in Cordoba I was required to leave my passport with the office. (Don't recall if I did at other campgrounds.) Not sure why either. But in Cordoba I needed to cash some travelers checks so I needed my passport. I think the campground made me leave my credit card, so perhaps it's to make sure you don't skip out without paying.
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