I will be backpacking in Europe during September and October. I'm 22 years old and a recent college graduate traveling a bit before settling into a job. I will be starting in France, then Italy, and Eastern/Central Europe.
My first question is what is the best way to prepare some basic phrases for the country I will be in, and how long in advance do you typically do this when visiting many countries? I already speak conversational French so I'm not worried about that, but in Eastern Europe I want to make the effort and learn the culture some.
My second question is what is the best way to pack when you are in between seasons? The French Riviera will be quite warm but I'm assuming late September/October in Eastern Europe will be a bit cooler. So how do you pack for this, while still traveling light?
Thanks!