I Met Saint Nicholas!

"Twas the night before Christmas . . . "  Actually, it was the twelfth of October!  We were on the second day of our Mediterranean cruise.  We spent the morning in the southern Italian town of Bari and walked from the dock to the Basilica of St Nicholas.  Did you know he was a real person?  Well, not the red suit wearing, reindeer owning, sled driving "jolly old" guy.  He was a 3rd century Christian bishop from Greece who traveled to Turkey to evangelize.  Because of his kindness and generosity towards children and the poor, often giving them presents secretly, his fame spread throughout Europe.  In the 1300s his remains were transported to the newly built basilica in Bari and he was named the patron saint of children and sailors.  Not long afterward, the Western Christian church made his name day (Dec. 6) a church holiday.  The feast was both an occasion to help the poor, by putting money in their shoes and an elaborate feast.  After the protestant reformation in the 1500s, England, Germany, and the Netherlands prohibited the celebration in churches but allowed families to continue in their homes.  Our modern idea of Santa Claus came from a Dutch tradition.  There, he was called Sinterklaas (a variation of saint + nicholas).  He was a mixture of the original Saint Nicholas and the germanic pagan god Odin.  They both flew over rooftops on a horse, both were depicted with long beards and cloaks, both had mischievous helpers, and both were left carrots and hay for their horses in the children's shoes by the chimney and in return they gave the children gifts.  The Dutch version of Sinterklaas (or Santa Claus) was an elderly, serious man with white hair and a long, full beard.  He wears a long red bishop's cape over a white bishop's robe and a tall red bishop's cap.  He holds a staff in one hand and in the other is a book that tells whether each individual has been good or bad in the past year.  Our US Santa is a modern-day relative of this character.  In  1810 a man named John Pintard wanted to make St Nicholas the patron saint of New York and got help from the large Dutch community there.  They provided him with the original Dutch poem and tradition of Sinterklaas.  In the Netherlands, his celebration is seen as a religious tribute to the original St Nick.  Early Americans had a problem with a religious celebration of this nature as their conservative Christian teaching forbid anything not having to do with the Christ child.  So, in 1823, when an American professor, Clement Moore, wrote his now famous poem, "A Visit from Saint Nicholas", he had Santa arriving, not on Christmas day, but on Christmas Eve.  He is the one responsible for our modern American image of Santa Claus which is repeated in one form or another all over the Christian world.  I'm sure the original Saint Nicholas had no idea that his kindness would be celebrated everywhere at the same time as the world celebrates the birth of the Christ child.  Another example of how the early Christians incorporated pagan celebrations with Christian.  If you have time, google all the Christmas traditions - the pine tree, mistletoe, wreaths, candles, holly, even fruit cake - and see what you learn.  In the words of Clement Moore, "Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!"  Joyeux Noël!  A bientôt!

Rediscovering Amazement

I will admit that I stole the title from a blog I just read by the Christian author, Max Lucado.  His blog is, of course, one about our spiritual journey.  But I feel that this title works well in describing a physical journey as well.  So, please forgive me, Max, for stealing your title to use for my travel blog!  We can get so used to our surroundings and everyday routine that we lose the gift of amazement.  Perhaps December helps us remember the childlike wonder of Christmas as we recall scenes from our childhood - trimming the tree with family while singing carols, the excitement Christmas Eve as we anticipated the visit from Santa and Christmas morning as we saw the presents under the tree.  The gift of amazement can come to us as adults also.  For me, this is one of the joys of travel.  When I first got a glimpse of the Parthenon sitting atop the Acropolis in Athens I felt my jaw drop!  As we walked into the original Olympic village in Olympia I had to stop and view with awe all that was left of the Temple of Zeus - once one of the 7 Wonders of the World.  On the island of Santorini we saw a 3700 year old fresco of dancing blue monkeys.  3700 years old!!!  Why they were blue we'll never know, but the crowd around the fresco was silent as we all gazed with great pleasure on one of the oldest art works ever found.  Amazement is good for the soul.  The exhilaration of experiencing something new, something beautiful, something rare is often beyond words.  For me, amazement is something that takes me from my everyday routine thoughts and lifts me into a place that provides me with wonder and pleasure.  It takes me out of my sense of self and brings me to a sense of something so much greater than I could ever achieve.  The more you rediscover amazement, the more you desire it.  The more you desire it, the more you search for it.  You don't have to leave your home to find amazement, but you do have to leave your sense of the mundane and the routine of daily existence.  Can everyone find amazement?  I'm not sure they can.  I think there are people who are so weighed down by life that they can't see beyond their own existence.  I know that children can be amazed by so many things and I often wish I could return to that childlike wonder of hearing thunder and seeing a firefly and believing in Santa.  For me, travel is my childlike experience.  I try, no matter how many times I've visited a place, to see it through the eyes of those who are seeing it for the first time.  Maybe this is the trick to all things in life.  I challenge all of you to rediscover amazement - whatever that means for you.  Search for those moments that make your jaw drop, your imagination run free, that heighten your feelings and give you a broader definition of who you are and your place in the universe.  This is a good month for that, I believe.  As we enjoy the Christmas season, the beauty of winter, the plans for a new year.  May you all find your sense of amazement and relish it.  A bientôt!

The Next Great Adventure

It never fails that as soon as I get home from a long trip - even before I unpack (which by the way often takes me many days!) - I am planning my next adventure.  I don't know why I have such a travel lust.  Well, yes I do.  I love history, art, architecture, culture and self-discovery.  My son, Andy, and I have had many discussions about our love of travel and what a wonderful education it is to see the world outside of our comfort zone.  So then some will ask me why I continue to go back to France.  I'm in love!  I don't know how else to describe it!  So, yes, my next adventure (Lord willin' and the crick don't rise - as my grandma used to say) will be back to France.  I'm looking at a particular tour which includes 4 days in London and 4 days in Paris.  My past trips to London have been way too short and I'm yearning to spend hours in the British Museum and Westminster Abby.  The older I get and the more I have traveled give me a love of museums that I did not have when I was younger.  I study the statues, the paintings, the tiny jeweled earrings, the combs made of bone, the armor, the everyday items of 3500 years ago.  I'm fascinated at how ancient people figured out how to adapt to their surroundings and also be so artistic.  When people hundreds of years from now find my box of "treasures" will they be fascinated?  Am I leaving anything that someone would ever want to "study"?  I think of these things when I'm overseas.  I look forward to London.  And I never tire of visiting Paris!  The huge churches, the tiny churches, the restaurants, the neighborhoods where people go about their daily lives in the most beautiful city in the world!  Do they realize that?  How lucky they are to be in the "city of light"?  I'm really anxious to go out to the palace of Versailles, Louis XIV's incredible palace which he built in the 1600s.  The French government has been doing a huge reconstruction project to bring the palace back to the splendor that Louis' original structure had.  When I was there 2 summers ago they had it about half finished.  I'm in the process of creating a guide book for visiting Paris and Nice - my 2 favorite cities in France.  It will be filled with photos as well as day-by-day itineraries for getting the most from your visit.   When it gets finished (hopefully before Christmas!) I'll post it here and on facebook.  Hopefully some of you will find it helpful in planning your next trip - your next great adventure!  But, you can have adventures from your favorite armchair.  There are wonderful shows on PBS, History, Discovery, etc that will take you away from your everyday life and send you on an adventure.  I encourage all of you to take advantage of those shows and take a "virtual trip".  Those are rewarding too - and no jet lag! :)  A bientôt!

Travel quotes

I thought it might be fun to share some travel quotes and see which ones you like best.  Or add your own!
"One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things" - Henry Miller.  "Not all who wander are lost" - JRR Tolkien.  "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page" - Saint Augustine.  "I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.  I travel for travel's sake.  The great affair is to move" - Robert Louis Stevenson.  "When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money.  Then take half the clothes and twice the money" - Susan Heller.  "A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving" - Lao Tzu.  "Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe" - Anatole France.  "Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind" - Seneca.  "Half the fun of the travel is the esthetic of lostness" - Ray Bradbury.  "I have found that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them" - Mark Twain.  "If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home" - James Michener.  "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts" - Mark Twain.  "I dislike feeling at home when I am abroad" - George Bernard Shaw.

Hello, goodbye, please and thank you!

Finally, I'm back and in the central time zone!  What an amazing trip!  I've been asked what I liked best about the 2 weeks I spent in Europe.  My response is, without a doubt, Athens and Dubrovnik (Croatia).  These 2 cities could be visited numerous times and still there would be more to see and experience.  Athens is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Western world, almost 4000 years of civilization!  And Dubrovnik is the perfect example of a medieval city - small narrow winding cobblestone streets with surprises around every bend and the 3rd oldest pharmacy in the world!  And you can still buy aspirin there!  But what I'm going to write about today is the dining experience we had on the island of Mykonos - a tiny Greek island nestled in the area of islands called the Cyclades.  For any of you who have traveled with me before you know my insistence that you learn, at the very least, the words for hello, goodbye, please and thank you in the language of the country you'll be visiting.  Cindy, Andy, Dave and I had been practicing these words in Greek for a few days and had gotten pretty good at them by the time we arrived in the port city on the island.  We enjoyed the short walk from where the buses dropped us off to the end of the beachfront businesses - souvenir shops, tavernas, restaurants, and the man with the pelican!  We checked out menus as we walked along as we wanted an authentic Greek experience for dinner that evening.  We finally found a lovely outdoor cafe called "Kadena" and greeted the cute waitress with "Kali spera", the Greek word for "Good evening".  When she seated us we all said "Efkaristo" which means "thank you".  We told her our mission for the evening was to have a real Greek feast and she smiled her beautiful smile, with dark eyes flashing and said she'd be glad to help us with that.  As she went over the menu with us we asked lots of questions and wanted to know how to say everything in Greek - the name of the wine (a local white that was wonderful), the name of the 3 appetizers we ordered, the name of the main courses and the official name of the amazing Greek salad. She answered all of our questions and spent time with us as though we were the only people in the place.  We practiced our language skills - which were obviously limited, but she was a good and patient teacher.  When it was time for dessert we told her that we didn't think we could possibly eat any more!  It was all so tasty and filling.  In a little bit she came back with a large rectangular plate.  On it were 3 generous slices of a type of brownie with a chocolate syrup drizzled over the top.  She said it was "on the house".  When we thanked her with the only Greek word we knew for thank you and told her that she was so nice to do that for us, her response was "But you are all so nice!"  We were taken aback by that.  Had the "ugly American" been  to this little island and caused her to think that "polite Americans" were an endangered species?!  Anyway, the dessert was awesome, but it didn't stop there.  After we had finished and wondered how we could possibly make it back to the ship without being rolled (!) she brought a tray with 4 shot glasses on it.  Again saying that it was "on the house".  She said we couldn't finish an authentic Greek meal without the traditional after dinner drink (the French call it a "digestif").  It was a very tasty (and I don't even drink!) cinnamon flavored liqueur.  And she was right - it was the perfect finish to our perfectly Greek dinner.  So the moral of the story is, it doesn't take much to show others respect and consideration.  We were simply practicing the few phrases we knew and were always polite, realizing that we were in someone else's country and wanted to be respectful.  I figured out that she brought us close to $40 in free desserts and drinks.  All because we could say 4 phrases in her language and showed that we loved being in her restaurant.  Somehow, "efkaristo" seemed inadequate at that point.  We shook her hand and waved to the owner inside as we said our goodbyes - "yassis" - to the best dinner experience any of us have ever had.

Anticipation!

I leave next week for Greece!  This trip has been planned for over a year and now it is only a few days away.  How time flies!  This is my retirement gift to myself - a little long in coming as I retired three years ago.  But I've been saving for and anticipating it for a long time.  I've never been to Greece so I will be a true tourist there.  I say that because when I travel in France, I no longer feel like a tourist as it is my second home.  I feel pretty much at home in Italy as well although my Italian needs a little "vino locale" in order to start flowing freely!   But Greece!  The home of western civilization.  The home of the gods of legend and myth.  (The Romans loved the Greek gods so much that they stole them and gave them Latin names.)  I've been reading as much as I can about the places we'll visit: Olympia, the site of the original Greek games;  Santorini, the island famous for those beautiful blue domed roofs; Mykonos, the island of beaches and parties; Athens, the capital of democracy, of learning, of now faded decadence and power, the Parthenon.  Seven days of our two week trip is a cruise which originates in Venice - one of my most favorite cities in Europe.  Our first stop will be in Bari, at the heel of Italy - the home of Saint Nicolas they tell me.  And the last stop before returning to Venice will be Dubrovnik, Croatia - an ancient walled city on the Adriatic coast.  Except for Venice, this will all be new to me.  And I can't wait!!  I love travel.  I love learning new things about new places because it helps me learn new things about myself.  My son has told me many times that the travels he has done since he was 4 and I took him to Mexico (his first time out of the country) have helped him see the world in a different way than most of his friends and acquaintances.  Perhaps with more tolerance and understanding.  And he is extremely grateful for all of those experiences that have enriched his life.  I know exactly what he means.  It's something we talk about often.  The love of travel is such a part of who I am.  I mentioned in an earlier post that my dad's favorite phrase was: "It's just around the next bend!"  So here I go again, around the next bend, not really knowing what's there, but anticipating every turn in the path as I find out. I won't be posting again until I get back the week of October 24.  And then I'll have a wealth of new experiences to share with you.  Enjoy the new season while I'm gone.  A bientôt!   

A Spiritual Experience

In my creative writing class I'm doing an essay on "spirituality".  As I was thinking of what it means to me to be spiritual and was searching my memories of spiritual experiences in my life I realized that my first "recognized" spiritual experience happened in 1973 in France when I lived in the northern city of Reims during my junior year in college.  I expressed in my essay that I believe our idea of spirituality changes with our life experiences - or maybe "expands" would be a better way to say it.  Defining spirituality is a personal thing.  How can I tell you whether  or not you've had a spiritual experience?  And does one have to be religious to have a spiritual experience?  How would you define spirituality? (Or religion, for that matter?)  While I was thinking about all of these things to write the essay I recounted the following experience.  My first recognized spiritual experience happened during the semester that I spent in France during my junior year in college.  I lived with a family in an apartment in the northern city of Reims.  This city is the site of the largest of the gothic cathedrals in France.  It’s ornate beauty is unsurpassed.  While I am not Catholic (and that’s probably why I was worried about sharing this experience with anyone at home), I never passed up the opportunity to enter this imposing edifice.  Every time I walked to town, I would go up the steps where millions of feet had made indentations in the stone slabs, looking up at the smiling face on the archangel, as I opened the small wooden door which had been cut into one of the giant double doors on the front of the cathedral.  I remember feeling so small.  The statues were twice as tall as I am.  Once inside I would sit in the back row.  I was usually the only person in there in this huge vaulted room of stone and glass.  I can still remember how the sunshine filtered through the stained glass windows and fell in patterns on the golden stone floor.  If I was lucky, I would hear the priests practicing their chants for mass somewhere in a back room - or the organist practicing his hymns.  The music would resonate off the stone walls and columns and I could feel the vibrations start in my feet and work their way up into my heart. Always I would see the old lady sweeping the floor and wonder how many years she had done that.  Did she think of it as just a job?  Did she realize how lucky she was to spend part of her day in this building that was over 800 years old, she now being a part of its history? As I mentioned already, I’m not Catholic, but it’s hard not to have a visceral reaction when I enter a gothic cathedral anywhere in Europe.  Such faith to build a structure of this magnitude long before there was any kind of technology to plan or construct it.  Everything was done by the hand of  now unknown craftsmen or artists.  There is such wonderful beauty in these churches that have outlived numerous generations.  I love spending time in them and letting the visual Bible soak into my mind and heart. So now, years later, having spent a lot of time in ancient cathedrals and churches around Europe,  I can look back on that first time I was in France and realize why I was so enthralled with that experience and I can label it as a “spiritual experience.”  I have not been back to that city since and it is on my list of places to visit soon.  I hope that my heart, with that “pressed memory”, will remember how special that first time was.  Want to share a spiritual experience?  I'd love to hear about it.  A bientôt!

How I spend my arrival day in a new city

After numerous trips to Europe over the past 30 years, I've come up with ideas for what to do when you first arrive in a foreign city - anywhere - and are trying to survive on jetlag!  Here's what works for me.  Use some common sense on the airplane.  Drink lots of water or juice.  This will keep you hydrated which is really important.  Caffeinated drinks will dehydrate you and keep you "buzzed".  If you can't sleep (like me!) then at least do something relaxing like listening to music.  Try not to keep your brain active the entire flight by watching videos or playing games.  Remember you're losing a lot of hours on the flight that you will not make up for.  So be kind to yourself so you're not a complete zombie once you land in your new, exciting city!  If it's too early to check into your hotel you can ask the hotel desk where you might be able to store your bags until check-in time.  They always have a room or closet where you can leave your things.  Then take a walk around the neighborhood.  Look for the closest ATM.  BTW, your debit card is the best idea ever for getting cash anywhere in the world (just be sure to let your bank know you'll be out of the country otherwise you risk having your account frozen when they see foreign transactions).  Find the closest market/grocer.  This is actually a fun place to visit.  Other countries' versions of the neighborhood market are very different from ours.  Find some cookies or candies that look different and interesting - or buy some local cherries or strawberries - yummmmm!  See if there's a pharmacy nearby.  You never know when you might have an allergy flareup or trouble sleeping or need bandaids, sunscreen, antacids, etc.  Grocery stores don't sell these things in Europe.  Maybe there's a little cafe where you can grab a coffee or soft drink.  Sit outside and watch the world go by in your new neighborhood.  If there's an attraction close by you might want to enjoy that, but a quick note here - it will be hard to enjoy if you're really dragging from jetlag - save it for later.  Familiarize yourself with the currency if you haven't already done that - and with the public transportation system.  If you're going to be in a city for longer than a couple of days it may be advantageous to buy a metro/bus pass and a museum pass.  In Paris these will save you, not only money, but time!  You won't have to stand in lines!  Once I get checked into the hotel I usually take a shower first thing.  After sitting on a plane for 10-12 hours and wearing the same clothes for over 24 hours a shower is a welcome refresher.  I'm not a napper, but I know some people benefit from a short nap.  SHORT!  You want your body to get accustomed to the new time zone as quickly as possible and this won't happen if you sleep through the first day.  Eat meals at the time they are eaten in your new city.  I like to eat an early dinner and then try to get a decent nights sleep that first night.  And be sure to set your alarm clock or have a wake-up call ordered or maybe both!  I can't tell you how many times I've slept through my alarm that next morning as my body is rebelling against waking up at an unusual time.  The first 2 days for me are the hardest but then once I get into the pattern of things I'm fine.  I hope you'll share what helps you get over jetlag and how you like to spend your "landing day" in your new city.  A bientôt!

On Traveling

My dad had a phrase he'd use a lot when we were traveling or camping, especially when he wasn't sure exactly where we were.  He'd say, "It's just around the next bend."  When I was little I didn't realize the significance of those words.  I'm not sure he did.  It became a little joke between us.  But now, after years and years of traveling (I must have picked up the travel "bug" from my dad!), those five words are the reason why I love to travel.  I don't understand people who say they don't want or don't like to travel, or those who say they would never travel outside the US.  I wonder what they're afraid of.  Are they fearful of what's around the next bend?  I suppose for some, it is scary - the "not knowing".  For me, it's exactly why I love to travel!  I've learned so much about myself from being in a new place.  It forces me to stretch beyond my idea of who I am.  Every new place and adventure adds to the person of "Candy".  I've never been one of those people content to simply read about life.  Oh, I do love to read!  It's the cheapest form of travel.  I learned that when I was a child.  You can be anyone, anywhere, in any time period when you read a book.  As an extremely visual person, I have a "movie" going in my head when I read.  I much prefer reading out loud as I love the sounds of the words and the pictures that they paint on the canvas of my imagination.  But, if I can have the real thing - the actual experience of being in a different place - then I feel that I'm the luckiest person on earth.  I have "lived" with the Neanderthals in the south of France, with the Romans in Italy and France, with Richard the Lionheart as he conquered towns during the middle ages, with Michelangelo as he painted the Sistine Chapel, with Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette as they lived the life of luxury and then were executed by the people they loved, with the Mayans in their temples to the rain god.  Oh, I could go on and on.  And yes, I could read about all of them, but it isn't the same as walking where they walked and feeling their spirits become part of my life.  That's what I mean about stretching who I am.  And so I thank my daddy every time I travel and feel his spirit of adventure in me.  To all of you travelers (in life, if no where else!) I say to embrace the idea that we don't have all the answers and we don't know what will happen next. Seeing things from a new and different perspective is, not only healthy mentally and emotionally, but will change how you view yourself and the world.   So take the challenge to go down that path - either treading lightly or running full steam ahead - to see what's around the next bend.   A bientôt!

Paris Day 1 Part 2

After your visit to Notre Dame you may want to have a soda or ice cream.  There's a little cafe on the street to the left of the cathedral.  If you're lucky you might find an outside table.  Now, walk back towards the metro stop.  As you walk through the flower market you will look straight ahead and see, past the large square, a huge imposing building.  This is the Palace of Justice - the modern one, not the medieval one which was known for it's torture chambers!  If you're ready for lunch, there's a typical French cafe (not a touristy one) on the corner just in front of the Palace.  Order an omelet and fries or my favorite sandwich, a croque-monsieur (a French version of grilled ham and cheese!  yum!).  Ask for a "carafe d'eau" for a pitcher of water or a "carafe de vin" for a pitcher of wine.  After lunch, head across the street to see the most beautiful stained glass in the world in the tiny Sainte Chapelle.  This little church is inside the courtyard of the Palace of Justice so you'll have to stand in line.  If you have a museum pass (highly recommended!) then you can usually show it to the guards and they'll move you ahead. Make sure you go upstairs.  The entire story of the Bible is told in stained glass panels that surround the second floor!  There are laminated guides that will help you "translate" the panels.  Enjoy!  My suggestion for the rest of the afternoon is to spend it at the Louvre.  It's a short and lovely walk from the Ile de la Cite.  You will have to go through the security line, but once inside your museum pass will take you wherever you want to go.  I highly suggest Rick Steve's 3 hour walking tour of the museum.  He hits all the highlights and gives you some wonderful insight and info.  Remember that you're walking inside what was the palace of the kings of France from the 1300s up to the Revolution in 1789.  The building itself is a work of art not to mention the collection on the walls and on the floors. My own favorite story about the Louvre is this:  In 1939 when the French knew that the German's were headed to Paris, they organized the largest art movement in history.  Every piece of art within the miles of halls was removed and hidden in the countryside.  When the Nazi's arrived and opened the doors of the Louvre they found empty frames and missing statues.  Even more amazing to me is that when the war ended in 1945, every piece of hidden art made its way back to the museum.  It gives me goosebumps every time I think about this.  In my next post I'll talk about what to do your first night in Paris.  A bientôt!

J'adore Paris!

People ask me all the time "Where's your favorite place to visit in Europe?" and I always answer "Paris!"  I have an ongoing love affair with this city.  Let me tell you what I advise people to do on their first day in this special city.  Take the métro to the "Cité" stop.  This puts you in the middle of the Ile de la Cité in the middle of the Seine river in the heart of Paris.  It was here that the first celtic settlement began about 3000 years ago.  There's nothing left of this civilization, however you can visit the ruins of the old Gallo-Roman town beneath the square in front of Notre Dame cathedral.  It's a very short walk to get from the metro stop to the square.  The cathedral is a must!  Built almost 1000 years ago, it is a marvel of architecture and survival.  Take time to notice the outside adornments - the statues of the kings of Judah, the statues of Adam and Eve above them looking down on the mass of humanity in tears, the beautiful Rose window and the statue of Christ blessing you as you enter.  Inside you will be amazed at the huge columns holding up the arched ceiling.  How did they build this without modern technology?  With just human determination and artistry?  Obviously with a devout belief in the power of the divine.  Look for the statue of Joan of Arc, patron saint of France.  Once you've made the circuit inside, be sure to walk around to the back of the cathedral to see the buttresses that support the narrow apse.  It is truly a marvel of architectural engineering  The revolutionaries almost destroyed this church and many others throughout France believing them to represent the power of the king as well as a "state enforced" religion. Considering all the wars and battles that Paris has seen, it is remarkable that this beautiful edifice remains.  More on the Ile de la Cité on Thursday.  I love this tiny island for its historical as well as aesthetic representation of all that's wonderful about Paris!  A bientôt, mes amis! .

Those Amazing Gadgets

For those of us who travel often, there are certain little things that make life so much more comfortable, whether in a car, on a plane or in a hotel room.  I'm sure all of you have your "favorite things".  These are mine:  an inflatable back support that fits into its own little bag.  I have a bad back and sitting on a plane for 8-10 hours at a time really hurts.  (Whoever designed airplane seats must have been 6'4" as my head doesn't come close to hitting those headrests!)  The back support and my memory foam travel pillow are musts.  I LOVE my Kindle ereader.  It has tons of books on it (most of them free), music (as it's also an MP3 player), audio books, games, and I can access the web on it.  You can download documents also (I need to figure out how to do that as it would be handy for travel info and contact lists).  I now have a cell phone that has worldwide usage.  I just need to tell Verizon when and where I'll be.  Make sure you've packed all the charger cords for your battery-run gadgets.  I love having hot tea first thing in the mornings (European hotel rooms do not come with coffee makers) so I have a little plug-in coil that boils water.  AAA sells these - I even have one that comes with the European plug!  Then I make sure I have a mug, tea and sugar.  I have a stretch clothes dryer line that I got at AAA.  It has suction cups at either end so you can string it across the shower/tub.  Handy when you don't have time to do laundry.  Tide makes a small spot remover/cleaner in a tube like chapstix.  My travel hairdryer has dual voltage so I don't have to worry about bringing a converter.  A small flashlight comes in handy in lots of situations.  Don't forget a small first-aid kit.  Hopefully I don't have to tell you to bring a DIGITAL camera with at least a 2G disc.  And bring lots of extra batteries as they are more expensive in Europe.  If you plan to buy posters, bring a mailing tube with you.  This way you don't have to fold them or take a chance on your posters being "roughed up" in your suitcase.  If you plan to lock your suitcase, buy only the TSA approved locks.  However, keep in mind that these are only good within the US.  Always ask at check-in if it's OK to lock your luggage.  If it's the wrong lock or not recognized in other countries, it will be cut off!  I always take a handful of ziplock baggies.  They come in handy for all kinds of things.  And don't forget sunscreen (I know that technically this is not a "gadget" but I haven't mentioned it yet and it's so very important)!  A Swiss army knife is also really handy.  You'll have to pack it in your check-in bag, as they won't allow it in your carry-on.   I'm sure I've left out some of your favorites, so please share these in the comments.  Next week, I'll start writing about my favorite places to visit in Europe.  A bientôt!

The Packing Dilema

There's what to pack and then there's how to pack.  And both are an art.  I'll start with the "what to pack" question.  It's all about the art of mixing and matching.  Whether male or female you want to plan your travel wardrobe around which pieces can go with which other pieces.  It's also important to have clothing that is lightweight and wrinkle resistant.  I always watch for "Travel Smith's" sales online.  Their clothing is too expensive to buy it full price, but they have great sales throughout the year and if you travel often, it's worth the extra expense to have clothes that will look good after spending weeks stuffed in a suitcase.  They also sell items that are reversible - one side is a solid color and the other is a print - that makes mixing and matching so much easier.  Look for items that have double uses.  Here's what I pack for a 2 week trip:  A week's supply of underwear (these can be washed out in your room - be sure to take a small container of laundry detergent and maybe a portable clothes drying line - AAA sells these),  2 pairs of slacks (not jeans as they are too heavy and bulky), 2 pairs of capris (if it's colder weather I'll take 4 pairs of slacks instead of the 2 and 2), 2 skirts, 1 dress (that can be dressed up or worn casual), 4 short sleeved tops, 1-2 3/4 or long sleeved tops, (all of  these should be able to be worn with any of your slacks, capris, or skirts), don't bother with shorts unless you'll be on the beach  (European women NEVER wear shorts! also you won't be allowed in any churches in Italy in shorts or sleeveless shirts - true for both men and women),  one pair of comfortable and already broken-in walking shoes (Clarks makes the best in my opinion - look for them on sale at Penney's or QVC),  a pair of dressier shoes/sandals, swimsuit if you'll be near a pool or beach,  my swimsuit cover-up is also what I sleep in (make sure it's light-weight and "breathable"), a cardigan sweater, a light-weight windbreaker/water-resistant jacket that fits in your purse or a pouch (I have one with a hood so I don't have to mess with bringing an umbrella), all your extra toiletries that didn't fit in your carry-on  (NEVER take full-sized products, always put them in smaller containers and in plastic bags in case they leak!), the purse that I plan to carry in Europe (should be able to be worn cross-body,  I like them with outside zippered sections along with a well organized interior and large enough to hold a few souvenirs/postcards, etc so I'm not juggling numerous bags, make sure the top zips shut for security reasons), don't forget accessories! - scarves, jewelry, etc. (stick a scarf in your purse to cover shoulders at churches).   All the colors should be complimentary so everything will go with everything else.   And don't forget any cords you might need for charging phone, ipod, ereader, etc.  Also good to keep copies of your itinerary and passport in your luggage.  OK, now for the "how" to pack.  Invest in packing cubes!  I have 4 medium sized cubes made by "Eagle Creek".  I use each cube for a different type of clothing - slacks/capris, skirts/dress, tops, swimsuit/cover-up/accessories.  The reason clothes get wrinkled in your suitcase is because they shift and slide around.  Packing cubes prevent this from happening and you always know where your clothes are.  So pack the cubes, place in your suitcase, then stuff underwear, shoes, jacket, cords in the cubbyholes.  You'll be able to fit more in your suitcase this way.  In my opinion, don't bother with the so-called "space-saver" bags.  They don't work.  The cubes are amazing.  My son, and others, are firm believers in rolling everything.  This works well if your suitcase is jam-packed to keep things from shifting, otherwise you still end up with lots of wrinkles.  But you can fit more items in rolled than folded.  Must be a physics thing!  Happy packing.  Next time - handy gadgets. A bientôt!

Carry-on Craziness

Long gone are the days when you could throw anything in your carry-on and not have to worry about TSA standards.  (But don't get me started on that!)  So over the past few years I've come up with a list of things that I recommend should go in your carry-on.  Remember that I'm talking here about international travel so my assumption is that you have a bag that you're checking in and then one that you'll take on the plane with you and have at lay-overs, etc.  That's the one I'm talking about.  Think of it as your "everything I might need for a couple of days in case my checked-in bag gets lost" bag.  What is essential for you to have in order to be the most comfortable and to insure that your needs are taken care of?  Let's start with documents.  I keep my Travelon wallet around my neck at the airports.  This contains my tickets, passport, drivers license (not really necessary but I like having a second photo ID with me and I sometimes rent a car in Europe), some American money, at least $25 of currency for the country I'll be landing in, (it's nice to be prepared to grab a drink or snack once you land without having to exchange currency.),  my ATM card (the easiest and cheapest way to get money anywhere in Europe), and a credit card.  By the way, make sure you let your bank and credit card co. know you'll be out of the country otherwise they'll think purchases are fraudulent and will freeze your accounts!  not fun!  OK, here's the rest of the list for the carry on:  a quart size plastic baggie with 3 oz bottles of any liquids that you'll need for overnight, camera, snacks, medicine/vitamins, glasses/contact lenses, sunglasses, extra baggies, travel information/itinerary, address/contact list, small notepad and pen, journal, alarm clock, travel pillow, reading material (I now have a Kindle-so much lighter!)/puzzles/games/ipod, earplugs (I never travel without them!), slippers with rubber soles (I hate wearing shoes on the plane but refuse to walk barefoot or in socks), change of clothes (just in case!).  If you have any favorite things you put in your carry on, please let me know in the comments section.  It's always good to share ideas.   (Thank you, Kristin for the reminder about the earplugs and the slippers!)  Next time I'll talk about actual packing.   A bientôt!

I got new luggage!

I'm so excited!  I have new luggage.  (I feel like Steve Martin in "The Jerk" when he yells, "the new phone books are here!  The new phone books are here!")   It wasn't an easy task - finding what I wanted.  You see, I'm really picky about what I travel with (also who I travel with, but that will be a later blog! ha!)  I am a firm believer in practicality and simplicity when I pack.  So what do I look for?  OK, here's my list:  nothing bigger than a 22" carry on (even though I always check it),  needs to have in-line wheels, not the ones that stick out because they will get broken (even though they can make your luggage do wheelies in the airport), pockets on the outside (these are a great place to stick your coat, scarf, etc before you check it in - you won't need those on the plane),  a few inside pockets (I don't need many as I'm a firm believer in packing cubes - more about those at a later time), a color that's not black (have you seen how many of those are on the baggage carrier?), lightweight before I put anything in it, and expandable!  I always come home with more than I went with and it helps if you can give yourself a few extra inches of depth.  So, what did I get?  Penney's had all their luggage on half-price (never, I say never, buy luggage at full price - check out Ross, or Marshall's or TJMaxx or wait til dept. stores have their sales.)  It's a Samsonite (always buy from a company you've heard of) in electric blue.  But what really was the selling point for me is that this luggage, while it was the same height as others I looked at, was over an inch deeper before expanding it.  For me, that's a lot of extra room.  When I go to Europe, I'm gone for at least 2 weeks, I don't ever plan to do laundry (what a waste of time when there's so much to see and do), so I like being able to take just what I need to get by (I will, of course, wash out some items that will easily dry overnight).
So, here's what I'm planning on taking to Greece in October.  My new 21" Samsonite to check in, my narrower than anyone elses-so it will go down the plane aisles-and fit under my seat Travelon on wheels (I'm also really picky about my carry-ons!), my little Travelon travel wallet on a strap that I wear around my neck (for all my documents - passport, driver's license, tickets - also money for the airport and a small amount of currency for landing in the new country).
In my next entry I'll talk about what I pack in my carry-on.  I don't want to bore you at this early stage of my blog as I'd love for you to come back :)
  "A bientôt" - as the French would say (See you later)