December 18, 2007
Packing for Europe
Well I finished my grades for the semester and am busy answering emails from students:
"Why did I get an A instead of an A+ and what is the requirement for an A+?"
"I know I don't deserve an A+ but can I have one anyway so I can get a scholarship, be an exchange student, get a better job, etc.?"
But soon it will all be finished (until next semester) and I'll be on a plane to Munich! I'm not used to the tough rules (20 kg per person) when it comes to traveling to Europe. When I fly between North America and Asia I think they give each person 2 check-in bags of no more than 32 kg each so I'm not used to packing so light. I think I'm only bringing two pairs of pants and one of them I'll be wearing on the plane...
One thing we're doing to save space is not bringing any guidebooks. We usually do travel with Lonely Planet, Let's Go, or Rough Guides but we're both so terrible with directions we often have trouble finding the restaurant recommendations anyway. And when it comes to museums and such who really needs a guidebook?
Posted by James Trotta at December 18, 2007 6:56 AM | TrackBack
We used segments of several guidebooks, copied at the library, to help us focus on those areas we did not want to miss under any circumstance. If you don't have a plan each day will be a helter-skelter "what do we do next?" and you will lose valuable time on planning which can be done in the leisure of your home in the states. My wife and I carried to small roll-ons and two shoulder bags with all we needed for a three week
Europe trip. Included were throwaway socks and underwear - which made room for small souvenirs etc. All that we wore was lightweight microfiber polyester, mix and match. Carry your money,passports and air tickets in a pouch under your shirt or around your belt. Ready cash should be in a zippered jacket or shirt pocket and never your back pockets! Use a small day bag to conceal your camera, small umbrella, maps, sandwiches for lunch or whatever. Stop often for capuccino, eat at small, family style restaurants and enjoy the people and your trip. Learn at least several words and phrases to get you by in restaurants and train stations etc. It will pay dividends in the help people will give you when they see your interest in their language and culture. Have fun!
Have fun in Europe! I sympathize with you on the whiny students. I swear all my students' parents think we live in Lake Woebegone, "where all the students are above average."
Posted by: Jill at December 19, 2007 2:07 AMKind of like how 80% Americans think they are better than average drivers... I'm one of them...
Thanks for the guidebook tips Michael but it's too late as we've made up our minds. With 1-2 weeks in each city and no expectation to see it all I don't think we'' worry too much if we miss something as long as we're enjoying what we do see.
Posted by: James Trotta at December 19, 2007 9:09 AMHave fun, James.
Don't come back with any material for cautionary travel tips!
You know, if you wanted to you could always photocopy a few pages on restaurants/places to see from the guidebooks and take the photocopies with you. You would still have concrete ideas to fall back on with addresses/phone numbers, but it would be much less weighty.
Although if you are looking forward to being completely spontaneous, I applaud that and wish you happy adventuring.