Traveling to Europe

[clayton]

Hi,

I'm going to go to Europe for the first time in about 2 weeks. I'm going first to Paris and then to Rome. I've never flown or traveled out of the country before. Anyone have any suggestions for a first time traveler? Also, I was wondering about my digital camera battery charger; does anyone know how to check to see if it converts voltage/what I need to do to get it to work?

Thanks,
Clayton

[superbovine]

Hi,

I'm going to go to Europe for the first time in about 2 weeks. I'm going first to Paris and then to Rome. I've never flown or traveled out of the country before. Anyone have any suggestions for a first time traveler? Also, I was wondering about my digital camera battery charger; does anyone know how to check to see if it converts voltage/what I need to do to get it to work?

Thanks,
Clayton

I am assuming you are traveling from the US. protect your passport at all times, and don't travel with your social security card. they are worth a lot of money, and it not something you want to loss it to a picket pocket. another travel tip is i always grab a piece of paper from the notepad next to the hotel room phone, because it has the address. i can't tell you how times i've been drunk, hailed a cab, and just pointed to the address on the piece of paper.

as far the digital camera, you will get a converter plug that you can pick up at local electronic store for a couple bucks. Also, you need to check if your charger supports 220 volts. the charger will probably say somewhere on the back or you will have to look in the manual online. for example my charger says 110 - 240 volts 50/60 hz (US is 120 v). By chance if it doesn't support 220 you will need to get a transformer. Usually can buy and transformer and adapter plugs in a kit from $15-$50. A little tip since you are traveling from france to italy by train. the converter plug for switzerland will work in spain, germany, and italy. I have never been to france, but if it two dual prong it should work in france as well. the swiss plug happens to be one the smallest dual prongs plugs, and works in a lot of places because all other places of larger sizes plugs.

[igucl]

Drink lots of water, and never pass up an offer from the attendants for beverages. Why? Two reasons:

1) You won't believe how dry the air is in the plane; your throat and sinuses will dry up.

2) The more often you get up to go to the bathroom, the better off you're going to be. Keep the blood circulating. People have died from clots in their legs caused by sitting too long.

[atakordie]

Hi! Consider making a couple copies of your passport and store them in different places with you. Also, maybe carry your wallet/money in a separate pocket than your passport, in case something happens to one or the other, you'll have the other. You've got the power converter question answered above. One thing that helped me was I started going to bed early here in the US, and getting up around 3 or so in the morning to simulate the times I would be waking up in europe, so when I got there jet lag didn't affect me whatsoever...it definitely worked for me.

[clayton]

Hey, thanks for you quick replies and the tip for the camera charger. I am traveling from the US and I'm flying from Paris to Rome. What do you mean make a copy of your passport? Just a photocopy? Does that pass?

Also, I'm staying in a hostel when in paris. Does anyone know where I could store my luggage? / Maybe I should try to fit it all in a backpack since I'll only be gone 10 days?

Thanks
Clayton

[superbovine]

Hey, thanks for you quick replies and the tip for the camera charger. I am traveling from the US and I'm flying from Paris to Rome. What do you mean make a copy of your passport? Just a photocopy? Does that pass?

Also, I'm staying in a hostel when in paris. Does anyone know where I could store my luggage? / Maybe I should try to fit it all in a backpack since I'll only be gone 10 days?

Thanks
Clayton

i hope your not traveling alone. i assume you are getting a europass and are hopping to rome. the train station will have luggage size lockers that you can store you stuff in then go see the sites. travel with a smaller back pack. the best thing, funniest thing is to hook up english speaking travelers on your way. seeing stuff is funnier in a group, and if you meet ppl with languages skills this always help. also, some train station will have showers along with lockers. (Zurichs station is very clean) they are usually nearby. anyway, if you want to make the most get a guide that has all that info. (this assume you backpacking) Sleeping on the train then shoving your stuff in a locker to see the sites is not bad way to go.

remember in roma there is a lot of pick pockets. your'll be taking a bus to see all the sites which are a popular spot for you kids to open your pack and take your stuff. even locals have problems. the most popular scam that i have heard of in rome is a small group of young boys/girls that come with to you with a news paper speaking italian training to get you to buy it. it is usually a group of two, one to distract and one to take your wallet. my father actually knocked out a girl that tried to take his passport. however, i wouldn't advice this course of action, but rather to avoid getting in the situation. you don't know if they have a weapon, and it not worth getting cut over a wallet. i have spoken to friends in spain that have had similar expierences in rome.

[combatcolin]

Handy tip,

buy a phone card and keep it in your back pocket or somewhere that is not likely to be stolen.

Then if the brown stuff does hit the fan you can phone home and get everything sorted.

Also right down the number of the respective US embassys.

You should be fine, the rest of the world is not like Iraq you know!
English is spoken a lot more than you would think, just whatever you do don't be a "loud American" - really annoying in the UK, France, Italy or anywhere to the locals.

[virividox]

dont be afraid to try new things be adventurous and you will have a trip to remember!!!

[Blue Velvet]

Learn a couple of words in French and Italian.

'Please' and 'Thank-you' go a long way. :)

[Mechcozmo]

Wrap a rubber band around your wallet. It won't come out of your pocket easily.

Learn how to ride a subway.

Always always always keep your wallet+passport safe.

Know where the U.S. embassy is in that country.

Be nice to people. As BV said, Please, Thank-you, and Where's the bathroom, work wonders.

[Applespider]

Don't carry anything in your back pockets. If you have a jacket with a zipped inner pocket, keep your wallet in there. Keep a couple of small Euro notes in a trouser pocket; that way if you feel uncomfortable getting your wallet out in an area, you have a little cash more readily available. It's also worth sticking a higher denomination note somewhere too; so that even if someone did get your wallet, you have some cash left!

Having given all those warnings, I've been to both Rome and Paris and never been pickpocketed. I've had the 'gangs' of Romanian kids trying in the UK; one shows you a map or tries to ask a question while the others try to partake of your belongings.

Plan your route to your next destination before you head out into the streets. That way you won't have your nose in a map and will look less of a target. Make sure your guidebook/map has a small discreet map that's easy to glance at. The pop-out ones (by Compass (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1841392618/qid=1114939555/sr=1-14/br_lfbnb_b_14/026-4581109-8220410) ) are brilliant.

Don't eat in any McDonald's while you're in Europe or drink any US beer. Part of the joy of travel is eating and drinking the local foods and drinks; and it doesn't have to be expensive. A good croque monsieur in Paris won't cost much and will be much more filling. Investigate the Euro love of Nutella on crepes for breakfast, try to have a good risotto while in Italy.

Enjoy yourself and take lots of pictures. Taking a small journal to note down stuff you've seen/eaten is also useful (you can update it in the evenings or while you drink your coffee after lunch).

[thequicksilver]

English is spoken a lot more than you would think, just whatever you do don't be a "loud American" - really annoying in the UK, France, Italy or anywhere to the locals.

I can't emphasise this enough. I lived in Paris for a while, and a lot of American tourists I saw over there made sledgehammers look subtle.

Be polite, learn a few words of the respective lingos. Nobody will mind you not speaking the language - or even you speaking it badly - but just expecting them to speak English to you without any attempt on your part would come across as arrogant (and more likely than not with about 20% added to your bill).

Safety wise, the same thing applies as it would in any other major city. Especially in Paris, the more savvy you look and feel, the less likely you will be to have anything stolen. If you're like me - 6'4" and built pretty stockily - then you'll be safe from thieves almost regardless of how well hidden your stuff is. There's always more vulnerable looking people than you out there, especially on the métro.

Other than that, have a great time. :)

[puckhead193]

Carry your stuff in the front pocket of your pants. Also don't wear expensive stuff like flashy jewerly etc. Know your surroundings. keep your eye on your stuff.

[mfacey]

Why is everybody so paranoid?!

Just watch your stuff, like you always should irrespective of what country you're in and enjoy yourself!

[plinden]

Hey, thanks for you quick replies and the tip for the camera charger. I am traveling from the US and I'm flying from Paris to Rome. What do you mean make a copy of your passport? Just a photocopy? Does that pass?

Also, I'm staying in a hostel when in paris. Does anyone know where I could store my luggage? / Maybe I should try to fit it all in a backpack since I'll only be gone 10 days?

Thanks
Clayton

10 days? You should be able to take everything in a rucksack and have room to spare. Travel as lightly as you can - take only only clothes for 4 or 5 days and plan on doing your laundry midway through your trip. I travelled for two months around Europe when I was younger and took everything in one rucksack. Take a smaller backpack for day trips.

Get a guide book for Paris and Rome and plan on eating in local places - any student-oriented guide book should give hints on where to eat, even if you're not a student.

Travelling alone is great - the possibility of loneliness is offset by the probability of getting to know other people, which is less likely to happen if you're in a group.

Eidt: Oh, and the Louvre is free one day a month and is closed on Mondays (at least it was 15 years ago). Also, last time I was in Rome, (again 15 years ago) I was able to climb onto the roof of St Peter's. It may not be allowed now, but if you can do it, it's cool.

[thequicksilver]

Eidt: Oh, and the Louvre is free one day a month and is closed on Mondays (at least it was 15 years ago).

As you say, the Louvre is indeed free entry one day a month - the first Sunday of a month - but the queues and congestion in there make it a frustrating experience.

I don't believe it's closed on a Monday - it's certainly something I never explicitly noticed during my three years in Paris - but at the same time I've never explicitly seen it written that it's closed either until your post.

If you're a serious art person and want to spend a day in the Louvre genuinely appreciating the collection, get there first thing in a morning on a weekday that isn't Wednesday (lots of people are free on a Wednesday in Paris). If you're just going for a general touristy glance around though, any time will do really.

[Peterkro]

Why is everybody so paranoid?!

Just watch your stuff, like you always should irrespective of what country you're in and enjoy yourself!

Somebody with sensible advice at last.Its Paris and Rome not the wild west.Enjoy,if your sussed enough not to get pickpocketed in NY you'll be fine.

[EGT]

Learn a couple of words in French and Italian.

'Please' and 'Thank-you' go a long way. :)

I read that as 'Please' and 'thank-you' and 'Go away' :p

but yes, common phrases really do help. Best of luck.

[clayton]

Italian:
Please=per favore
Thank you=grazie

French:
Please=??
Thank you=??

I've been studying Italian for 2 semesters but I don't know any French! Anyone care to help?

Thanks

[plinden]

French:
Please=S'il vous plaît
Thank you=va te faire foudre

PS - don't believe everything you're told

[emw]

French:
Please=s'il vous plaît (seal voo play)
Thank you=merci (MARE-see), or merci beaucoup (MARE-see bow-coo)

[skunk]

In Paris:
"S'il vous plaît, mademoiselle/madame/monsieur" (please, miss/ma'am/sir)
"Merci (bien)" or even "merci mille fois" (a thousand thanks - you get extra points for that)
"Au revoir" (goodbye)

and in Rome:
"Per piacere, signorina/signora/signore"
"Grazie (mille)" and
"Arrivederci"

Pronunciation guides on request... :D

[wordmunger]

A great way to pick up a little French in real-world situations is FrenchNow! by Transparent Language. Nice little CD, works in Mac OS X. I used it to brush up the last time I went to Paris and it was a big help.

My #1 recommendation for good service in France is to greet the shopkeeper as soon as you enter the store with a friendly "Bonjour!"

It's customary in the U.S. to wait for the shopkeeper to greet you, but in France it's the other way around.

[skunk]

My #1 recommendation for good service in France is to greet the shopkeeper as soon as you enter the store with a friendly "Bonjour!"

It's customary in the U.S. to wait for the shopkeeper to greet you, but in France it's the other way around.Good point. And cultivate a Gallic shrug...
:)

[Applespider]

Just what you need

Learn languages on your iPod (http://talkingpanda.com/)

or at least essential phrases!

[-hh]

Hi,

I'm going to go to Europe for the first time in about 2 weeks.

Hope you'll have fun, even though Europe is quite expensive right now.

My first suggestion is to GO BUY NOW! the relevant "Rick Steves" guidebooks. I know he has a Paris & Rome books...I've bought them both...and at the very, very least, they'll help get you from the airport to the city itself.

http://www.ricksteves.com

I've never flown or traveled out of the country before. Anyone have any suggestions for a first time traveler?

0. The suggestion of making a photocopy of your Passport's main page is a good one. Take at least one, preferably two (and store them separately).

1. Do your basic research early ("now"!). Do NOT saving for "reading on the airplane". I've made this mistake.

2. Travel light. For 10 days, you should fit into a carry-on bag. Do be aware that *you* will be the one to carry this bag though the subways, etc, to your room downtown/wherever. Plan on washing clothing en route (sink in room, etc...Rick Steves sells a good "rubber band" type bathroom clothesline on his website).

3. Pickpockets and similar unsavory elements are a fact of life in all cities. The more obvious that you're a foreign traveler, the more likely you are to be targeted. Split up your ID's, credit cards and cash amongst a few money belts. Personally, I use one of the "underneath the clothing" type as well as a genuine leather belt that has a zippered compartment built into it (LL Bean).

4. Pack light. Similar to "Travel Light", but added for emphasis :-)

5. With your research materials from #1, its a pretty good idea to try to map out a general daily plan...see what fits/what doesn't. This is merely a tool to help you prune down your lists.

6. Everywhere you go, watch the locals and how they go about their daily life...you'll pick up how they ride the Metro, etc.

7. Speaking of the Metro, in Paris, take with you a 2" x 2" Passport-type photograph, and when you arrive at the airport, buy your RER tickets (ROUND TRIP!!) to get to the downtown, plus if your arrival is Sunday-Wednesday, ask to purchase a "Carte Orange" (probably for zones 1-3). This costs around 10 Euro's and is your absolute best value for a multi-day subway pass. Otherwise, pick up a "Carat" (10 pack) Read Rick Steve's guidebook for more info...these books are worth their weight in gold.

8. Expect some challenges in sorting out meals...but also, don't be afraid of the little Cafe's and Brasseries...they're great once you sort it out. Do learn the language basics. Barnes & Noble has a tiny little little "10 page" language guide on heavy paper stock...it's better than a "fits in a pocket" guide because at ~1/8 inch thick, you'll never not carry it.

9. The new high-tech travel clothing (www.travelsmith.com etc) is your friend. Not only do they wash well, but they often have nice zippered secret pockets and the like.

10. "Do you know where your towel is?" :-) Bring your own washcloth unless you specifically want to do without one. Also, if you're staying in lower end accomodations, you may need to provide your own shampoo and/or soap. One or two small "hotel" sized is fine to get you started, for Europe has thousands of convenience stores to buy things you didn't pack.

11. Saved the most important one for last: ZIPLOCKS are your FRIEND. They're great for organizing your clothing (clean/dirty) and so forth.



Also, I was wondering about my digital camera battery charger; does anyone know how to check to see if it converts voltage/what I need to do to get it to work?

Most chargers have its voltage rating printed right on them...look for something in the 220-240v range and 50Hz...if so, then you just need a plug adaptor. Your local AAA usually stocks these...you want the simple "two round prongs" design for the Continent...try clicking here (http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=126&id=24).


Finally, despite what you may have been told about "rude" whoevers, you'll learn that they're normal people just like you or me. For the most part, if you make a real attempt to speak their local language, you're not going to have any problems...its when we become "Ugly Americans" and try to insist that they understand English is when they might (IMO rightfully!) decide to become a roadblock...its really not any different than what a foreigner might experience in Texas: "Hey there buddy - - DON'T Y'ALL SPEAKENZE ENGLISH?" :-)



-hh

[Blue Velvet]

4. Pack light. Similar to "Travel Light", but added for emphasis :-)

Great post.

I would add one tip to the packing: roll don't fold.

Rolling clothes up tightly takes up far less space and can prevent heavy wrinkling. Works a treat.

[ddorst]

Dear Clayton,

Please bear in mind that Europe is not some banana republic where you get robbed on every corner. Just be a little careful like in any big city. Do not accept offers or 'spontaneous' help on the streets: they are most likely frauds or attemped robbery (we have shops like anywhere else to buy stuff).

And please please please do not use these belts for valuable stuff. You're an instant target that way. Just put a small wallet in your side pocket and your phone in another so you can put your hand on it if you feel uncomfortable.

And try not to look too much like the stereotypical American (do not wear short trousers, try wearing a buttoned shirt or a polo (remember to wear a t-shirt underneath for sweating, in fact it keeps you cool), be calm and polite, say please etc., and do not pack with your whole collection just-in-cases).

Nice thing: most young people speak English, or at least try to. Most people are quite helpful anyway.

Take as little as possible with you on the streets. It is enough to bring your camera and wallet, but you certainly do not need your backpack.

Leave your important stuff in the hotel vault/locker. Note that credit cards are not always accepted. You don't need to change dollars (it's a scam), just use your regular ATM or credit card to get some money at any ATM you see (watch the charges your CC-issuer imposes). Take about 30-50 euro in cash with you for something to eat/drink.

Consider it to be a regular walk around town. For Rome: do NOT miss the Musei Vaticani (takes you 6 hrs) and Forum Romanum. Impressive.

Take your lunches (sandwich) with you to the parks, squares or the hot spots (sandwiches you buy in a local bakery/cornershop and take it with you, NEVER BUY IN the parks/hotspots, like tourists do). In fact, just buy anything to eat/drink outside the notorious tourist areas: look for small squares or streets 2 blocks adjacent. Sit there or take it with you. Just as nice, half the price.

Regarding restaurants (and all other things like shopping, getting sandwiches, bars): see what the locals do. The more locals, the better the spot is.

Most importantly: enjoy it! Paris and Rome are amazing, and dare to stroll around without your freakin' Lonely Planet / tourist guide. Just walk and enjoy the atmosphere. Pinpoint 1-3 areas you want to see that day, take 1 metro there and walk. Just walk. You might want to pick some spots on the free tourist maps you can get for free at any metro/railway station, but remember to walk. See? Downtown Rome / Paris is not scary at all.

Regards, D

[-hh]

Great post.

I would add one tip to the packing: roll don't fold.

Rolling clothes up tightly takes up far less space and can prevent heavy wrinkling. Works a treat.


While this is true, I personally don't roll anymore.

I have a couple of reasons for this:

1) When "outbound", you never want to pack to 100% of your bag's capacity, because if you pick up any extra "stuff" you won't have room for it. So not rolling outbound means that you can do so on your return so as to tighten up the overall pack and squeeze in your souveniers.

2) Rolling and ziplocks generally don't work too great together. FWIW, my latest refinement on "ziplock-tech" is to pack 1 day's worth of socks and underware into its own bag. This makes it a modular package, with yesterday's dirty laundry going into the newly emptied bag each day.

3) When you pack/unpack a lot, it gets old fast and you get lazy :-) For example, to de-wrinkle non-travel fabrics (cotton blend dress shirts, etc), pull them out and hang them up in the bathroom & then take a nice steamy shower. Its not 100%, but it gets the worst out. Currently, I pack all of my collared shirts on hangers (usually plastic) and I'll turn the hangers down into the stack to fold the whole batch together into 1/3rd original height. This slips neatly into a pocket on my carry-on bag, or I'll place the stack on the top. Its generally only the "inside-most" shirt or two that gets wrinkled much because of they have the closest thing to a "fold", so I'll strategically place one of my high-tech-fabric travel shirts here to take the brunt (their texture tends to hides wrinkles). I pack this way is because it is *fast* to pack and it meets the "good enough" test...typically, I can easily do a complete hotel room sweep and pack in less than 15 minutes.

4) FWIW, I also don't "hide stuff" in my packed shoes anymore...that's also a little bit of space to leave as a reserve in case I need it when homebound.


Gotta run...another business trip for tomorrow.


-hh

[Lyle]

French:
Please=S'il vous plaît
Thank you=va te faire foudre

PS - don't believe everything you're toldDon't believe everything you're told, especially when it's plinden instructing you on how to say "Thank You" in French. ;)

While "va te faire foutre!" might be an entirely appropriate thing to say to some of the Frenchmen you'll run into, I would stick with "Merci" for "Thank you".

[clayton]

Hey,

I have reservations booked at a place called "friends hostel" in paris. I was checking it out online (now after the fact that I've booked it) and I'm reading terrible reviews....Anyone ever stayed here/know anything about it? Should I just forget about the crappyness of it and just go for the experience or should I seriously try and book another place to stay?

[Mechcozmo]

Don't believe everything you're told, especially when it's plinden instructing you on how to say "Thank You" in French. ;)

While "va te faire foutre!" might be an entirely appropriate thing to say to some of the Frenchmen you'll run into, I would stick with "Merci" for "Thank you".

Merci is a much better way of saying thank-you than whatever that was..... :) (bit tired here)

[superbovine]

Hey,

I have reservations booked at a place called "friends hostel" in paris. I was checking it out online (now after the fact that I've booked it) and I'm reading terrible reviews....Anyone ever stayed here/know anything about it? Should I just forget about the crappyness of it and just go for the experience or should I seriously try and book another place to stay?

umm you do know that hostels are "1 star hotels" right?

[saabmp3]

umm you do know that hostels are "1 star hotels" right?


Hmmm. No.


Hostels are not hotels at all. They are places for students, researchers, etc to stay while traveling. Usually in a dormitory configuration you can expect to sleep multiple people in a room, share bathrooms, etc. They're really not that bad, even the ones that get bad reviews. I'll have to go look up the hostel I stayed at while I was in Paris about 10 years ago.

BEN

[superbovine]

Hmmm. No.


Hostels are not hotels at all. They are places for students, researchers, etc to stay while traveling. Usually in a dormitory configuration you can expect to sleep multiple people in a room, share bathrooms, etc. They're really not that bad, even the ones that get bad reviews. I'll have to go look up the hostel I stayed at while I was in Paris about 10 years ago.

BEN

i believe they fit the criteria to be called a 1 star hotel.

[Steradian]

i believe they fit the criteria to be called a 1 star hotel.
Not all hostels are "1 star", When I traveled this past summer and stayed in 6-7 different hostels over the course of a month I ran into some HORRIBLE places and some places I considered better than the marriot of my hometown. Honestly you can tell the difference by how booked the hostel is. The hostel in Sterling that I stayed at was quite nice. While your in Paris be sure to check out the catacombs! Another thing, don't forget an umbrella, sounds bad I know but sudden rain storms can really make for interesting situations.

[redeye be]

Always cary a gun and a knife when walking the streets, carry them in a different location so you won't 'lose' them to easily.
;)

Today's free newspaper has an entire page dedicated to visiting Paris. If you don't mind learning dutch and signing up you can read the full text here (http://www.freemetro.be) on page 21.

These are the url's mentioned in the article:
www.parisinfo.com
www.paris.fr
www.pari-roller.com
www.leprintempsdesrues.com
www.foiresaintgermain.org
www.parcfloraldeparis.com
www.rockenseine.com
www.pariscinema.org
www.tour-eiffel.fr
www.provins-medieval.com
www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr
www.souslaplage.com

On a sidenote: don't go to the cinema unless you're sure you're going to watch the original version of english language films. They tend to dub the movies, not subtitle them.

OT: Steradian, nice signature. Hail to the king, baby! ;)

[jrober]

Clayton,

Lots of good advice above. One piece that has been missed is jet lag. When you arrive stay up until it is bed time for the locals. Try to sleep on the plane when you take off from the US. Otherwise you will suffer for a few days when you arrive if you go straight to bed.

Enjoy Paris it is wonderful but go wandering, pack a small city map to assist if you get confused but there is always a metro nearby and a cheap ticket to take you back to your hotel. - Leave the guidebook in the hotel.

Check out BBC travel languages section for words, spelling and pronunciation in Italian (http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/italian/quickfix/) and French (http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/quickfix/) etc (http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other/quickfix/).

John

[geese]

When in Rome, do as the romans do :o

I went to rome last year- i didn't like it that much. Its too much work on a hot day.

If you have a bit of time, check out Naples though. I loved it- not for the fainthearted though.

[CmdrLaForge]

..double post...

[CmdrLaForge]

Hi,

you should pick up the lonlely planet guides for france and italy. there might be versions for rome and paris only. most of the times they have good advice for places to stay. in the lonlely planet forum (thorn tree) you can get more specific advice.

have fun and don't be scared ! i just travelled around the world and never had any problem or bad experience.

[clayton]

Hello..... Ive been back for a few weeks now, and I did make it out alive without being stabbed, raped, murdered, or robbed. Thank you everyone for all your advice. My trip was awesome, a little bit sketchy at some parts, but I'm so glad I did it. I have tons of stories to tell now and there were so many things that I saw that its just amazing to actually see.... I was at Notre Dame for mass, I looked out across Paris from the Effiel with one of my best friends from college, I stood inside the ancient Coloseium and traveled across the ocean to visit a friend, Ive seen the Sistine Chapel, I threw coins into the Trevi fountain..... I made tons of new friends.

I felt pretty safe for most of the trip. For the first half, I was in Paris and I did get lost, but I found my way. I only really wish that even though my friends sister (who was supposed to show us around) and help us didn't show, I wish I really would have known more french. Its PRETTY HARD to be in a country where you dont' speak the language more than, hello, thank you, please. Some people were really nice, some not so nice, but I had a good time, and the gardens were amazing and beautiful enough to make up for it.

Rome is ancient and has a really cool ora once you get. / learn italian. used to it for a few days. It was so nice to see an old friend and live with a real italian family for a few days.... and try out the italian i've learned in college

I'm definitely going back, if you ever get the chance to go or just want to chat about it, send me a message or an email.

peace,
bonsoir,
ciao,

Clayton

[Duff-Man]

Duff-Man says...glad you had a good time..Europe is almost always an exciting trip for us North Americans. I hope to make my next excursion over later this summer....oh yeah!

[CmdrLaForge]

Glad to hear that you had an amazing time :) For me - travelling is one of the best things to do. I always had good experience and met nice people - even in India which gave me quite a hard time (cannot recommand for unexperienced traveller).

Cheers