Here are some hopefully helpful travel rules, in no
particular order of importance:
1. Get in
walking shape. This is different
from crossfit shape, gym shape, or even running shape. If you have time, put on a heavy backpack and
walk a few miles every day for the couple weeks before you take a trip. Wear the shoes you think you’ll be taking to
break them in or discover any problems before sore feet stop you from walking
to that hilltop fortress or famous brewery or whatnot.
2. Run for
that train (or taxi or bus or flight).
On any significant trip, you’ll inevitably need to, and the few minutes
of stress and discomfort will be worth not waiting the extra couple hours (or
worse) for the next one.
3. Pack
light. I’m not re-inventing the
wheel here; there’s a reason this is always advised. Seriously, just pack light. See rule #2.
Debating whether to bring that third pair of jeans or that cute pair of
shoes ‘in case you go out one night’? If
you’ll have to carry your bags at any point, just leave all the extras at
home. Pick a theme (red? brown? black?)
pack a pair of shoes and wear the other, lay outfits out and make sure you have
all the bits and bobs and that all the pieces go with one another, pack an
extra colored scarf or necklace instead of the extra shirt to save weight, and
then fit it all into one backpack. Rolling suitcases just aren’t practical in
Europe, for the same reason stilettos* aren’t: cobblestones. *unless you have a French woman’s poise
4. Know
yourself. The better you know your
flaws or peculiarities, the less tension you’ll have traveling with
others. For example, I get angry when
I’m hungry. As in hangry. For my and Chris’ sake I know that when I’m
getting to that point we need to just stop for a minute and find an apple or
ice cream or whatever it will take to
stem that ugly tide.
5. Eat as
many fruit and veggies as possible while you’re on the road, because it’s
very common for your, ahem, system to stop up if you don’t. And
that’s no fun.
6. It’s
important to plan but imperative to be flexible. A particular day comes to mind with this rule:
Michelle M. was visiting and the three of us flew to Italy, looking forward to
hiking the Cinque Terre trail. We were at
the head of the trail before understanding that a mudslide had rendered the cliffside
path impassible. Instead of tucking tail
we seriously had one of my favorite days of the past three years. The three of us sat on a rock outcropping, talking,
drinking Prosecco, eating gelato and then finishing the day with honestly the
best meal any of us have ever eaten (at
a seaside mom-and-pop restaurant), and then watched fishermen pull their
rickety boats out of the Mediterranean as the sky turned purple. What a shame it would’ve been if we had sulked
in the hotel room.
7. If you do
no other planning, at least figure out exactly how to get from your arrival
point to your hotel. You can always
figure out the rest of your day (or trip) from there, and you won’t have to
worry about your bags or a toilet.
8. Dress in
appropriate layers and wear comfy shoes.
I’m serious about shoes. Don’t
spend all that money to get somewhere and then be thinking about your feet the
entire time.
9. Always
order different food than your companion(s) and don’t’ be stingy when
sharing. One of those days you’re going
to accidentally order pickled mackerel and your companion will have the perfectly
roasted lamb and you’re going to wish you had gone 50/50 on previous meals. Plus,
sharing means you’ll get to try twice as many local foods as you would have
otherwise.
10. Always
stay on the same side of tram/train/bus/car doors as your travel partner. Or said doors will close, and one of you will have the money and the other will
have the map and you’ll both have to figure out how to get to the hotel. At 11:00 at night. (Amsterdam)
11. If you’ll
regret not doing it, do it. Going to
Egypt was expensive, potentially dangerous, required all sorts of paperwork and
extra safety training for the military to allow us to go, but we would’ve been
so sad to have missed it.
12.
If you don’t really want to do something but
feel like you should, don’t do it. For
us, this is usually the museum we wandered through, glazy eyed.
13.
It’s okay
to not visit every church, castle, or museum. Unless there’s something special about it
you really don’t have to feel guilty for wanting to give it a skip.
14.
It’s your
choice to enjoy a place or be miserable in it. If you think the ‘American way’ is the only
way or only eat your favorite brand of turkey on white bread you may want to
seriously consider just saving your money by staying at home. If you can handle a level of newness or discomfort
and can appreciate things for what they are, your chances of enjoying a trip
are much higher.
15.
In most
of mainland Europe (other than Germany) don’t be fooled when someone gives you
directions that involve the “15 minute” walk. You will walk for 20 minutes and then ask the
next person who will reassure you that in “15 minutes” you’ll be at your
destination, and this will repeat many a time until you have to get a cab or
run the last two miles to get to your train station (Croatia).
16.
Be less
judgmental. Don’t make fun of the
tourists, because you are one. Don’t be
disdainful that people have B.O. (Italy) or talk too loud (Italy) or don’t
follow your rules of a queue (Italy). Believe me, the Italians coming to the States are
be more appalled than you could possibly be (the astounding amount of obese
people, our version of bread and cheese, and wine not available in $5 carafes
with dinner.)
17. Try to
fly into one city and out of another, taking a train or other public
transport between the two. It’s just
such a better way to see more than one place when time is limited.
18. Plan to
be apart from your travel companion a little bit during a trip and
definitely take a good break when you get home.
Needing a break doesn’t mean you don’t love that person!
19.
Enjoy the
hiccups of traveling because no matter how annoying or tough they are at the
time they may well be your favorite stories later!
20. JUST GO!
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