Next week, our very dear friends are leaving on an extended, 3+week tour of Europe. And by “our very dear friends,” I mean their whole family; Grandma, the kids, and the grandkids are all packing up and will travel, together, for nearly a month.
First, I set aside my bogglement at (and envy of) a family for whom being in each others’ company, 24×7, for a double-fortnight will be great fun, and then I noted that for some of them this is their first overseas trip. To help them on their way, I was going to email them some salient advice (aside, that is, from my First Rule of Traveling: bring earplugs).
Then I thought, what the heck, let’s share it with everyone.
And so, for them and for y’all, my Three Top Tips for Travelers…
1. You’re going to get crabby
At some point in every trip we’ve taken, one of us gets crabby. Sometimes it’s both of us. Sometimes it’s both of us at the same time.
It’s inevitable. The stress is high and we’re in unfamiliar places amongst unfamiliar people. We’re way outside our comfort zone; maybe we haven’t slept well, or perhaps those cheese sandwiches from yesterday just aren’t doing it for us today… It doesn’t matter. The bottom line is, at some point, one of us gets crabby.
What to do? Easy. When you realize you’re being a crab or that you’re in a foul mood, make note, own it, and move on. Better yet, look to the person you’ve been crabbing at and say, “This is the thing Kurt said would happen, isn’t it?” Then nod, laugh, and move on.
Important is the “move on” part. Don’t get stuck in your crabbiness. Snap out of it. Move on.
2. You won’t see everything
You already know you’re not going to see everything–it’s impossible–so you’ve already trimmed your itinerary down to what you’ll be able to see in the time available. Whether you’re a cross between Speedy Gonzales and the Griswolds, or you’re Tortoise Tourists like us, you’ve planned your days according to your schedule and your habits.
But here’s the thing: You won’t see everything you’ve planned, either.
Again, it’s inevitable. A museum is going to be closed because of a National Ticket Taker Union strike. A cathedral is going to be wrapped up in Visqueen in preparation for its 600th birthday. A gallery is open, but all of it’s treasures are on tour, currently on exhibit in, say, Seattle. You’ll reach the gardens you wanted to view just in time for a sudden summer downpour.
Don’t dwell on what you are missing. Concentrate on what you’re seeing. Go to Plan B, Plan C, or just take the opportunity to walk around the neighborhood and see it from the perspective of a local.
It’s about more than just the sights. It’s about the experience.
Something is going to go wrong
Apart from being unable to see something you really wanted to see, realize that something is going to go wrong.
You’re going to miss a train. You’re luggage is going to visit Amsterdam while you’re in Paris. You’re reservation is going to get lost. At some point, some part of the logistics of your trip is going to break down, and the likelihood increases with the number of stops in your itinerary. As Scotty said, “The more complicated the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain.”
What to do? Roll with it. Don’t worry about why it happened or about who’s to blame (because, frankly, it very well might be you, and that’s no fun) and concentrate on what to do now. Better yet, laugh at it; it’s your “mission glitch.” Laugh at it and move on.
Some of our “mission glitches”:
- One evening in London, the bed broke. This earned us a nudge-nudge-wink-wink and a “Well done, Guv,” before we had to pack up and move to another room, chuckling all the way.
- In Oxford, we got on the wrong train and instead of a quick express ride home, we stopped in every hamlet in Oxfordshire. Instead of whinging, we spent the nearly two hours chatting with a fellow passenger who took the slow train on purpose, learning about the life of a local.
- In Paris, the lunchtime organ concerts in cathedrals and churches–concerts we looked forward to attending–had all been canceled because it was Lent. We went to the churches anyway, and found that even though it was Lententide, the organists were using the lunch hours to “practice,” giving everyone present an impromptu concert.
- On one trip, my wife discovered that the expensive European walking shoes she’d bought at Nordstrom’s had been mislabeled; they were actually Foot-Killer-201’s, made by Instruments of the Devil, and they were living up to their name. Rather than suffer, she limped into a department store, bought a pair of trainers, and then right there on the high street, ceremoniously dumped the old shoes into a wastebin. Tada!
In travel situations, there’s nothing wrong with throwing money at the problem, if money will fix it. This is no time to be pinching pennies. You’ve spent the money to get there, so don’t let a stupid pair of shoes ruin it for you.
So, dear friends, I wish you a hearty bon voyage, and look forward to hearing the tales of wonder and woe you collect during your time abroad.
Don’t forget your earplugs.
k
So, basically you’re saying, “Don’t worry. Be happy.” As you know, that’s so unlike me, but I will do my best. Great advice, though. I’ll make sure we all go into this adventure with these tips in mind. Thank you, Kurt!
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You’re such a cranky-ass anyway… 😉
All y’all have fun now…
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