Freshly back from my big European adventure and musing on how much I learned this holiday like – well, like all of this
- A bicycle is a brilliant way to see a city. Beware related bum pain
- Tour guides are not credited nearly enough. They know a heap of stuff and are really good at sharing it
- A souvenir shop will always do well if my son and I are in town. If the souvenir shop sells little bowls or magnets they can be assured a sale. I am a little bowl collector (which sounds weirder than it is) and Little Pencil has just this holiday developed a huge magnet collection
- Supermarket shelves look more exotic when all the items are in a foreign language. Even service station shops can be transformed into magical wonderlands with stocked with Italian produce
- They sell white Maltesers in Europe. We all know chocolate isn’t white and nobody wants a confectionary Malteser. Don’t be fooled
- We should be very grateful for street cleaners and the fact that our country still has the money to pay them. You will find that this is not the case in Italy
- If you live in Europe you almost have to smoke. The fact that I didn’t take up smoking again is testament to my strength (where strength is fear of a smoking related illness)
- Going away with a twelve-year-old is amazing. My son is at the age where he is old enough to be interested in the culture and history (especially where weapons are involved) but young enough to make it more fun for us
- When people who have been on cruises tell you there is no better holiday please believe them.
- There is nothing better than coming home from a day of sightseeing and walking then to be greeted by a friendly face carrying a cold drink and a wet cloth for your face (see my point above about cruising)
- If you eat at a ships buffet every day you will get fat. Likewise for eating every time you see a pastry or ice cream. Trust me I speak from experience
- The whole world would be a better place if everyone treated each other like the Europeans treat their dogs.
- There is so much history in every European city it makes you feel quite humbled. It also makes you realise how little you know (unless you are my husband who knows so much he’s like a text book – but more interesting).
- War is a terrible thing. This is not something that I learned this trip but it really brought home how destructive it is when you come to learn how much history has been destroyed by war.
- Has anyone ever considered that maybe Gaudi was on acid?
- The word selfie autocorrects to selfish.
- If you don’t like people who walk slowly in front of you at shopping centers don’t go to tourist attractions.
- Frozen yoghurt has taken over the whole world.
- European water is delicious.
- Trees are remarkable (also not something I have just learned). Have you ever stopped to think how much history the trees have seen (I mean the really old ones obviously not the ones that have just been planted). There are trees in places in Europe that have innumerable stories to tell – if only they could.
- Twelve year olds (and 45 year olds) will tire of continual sight seeing. It’s at this stage they physically need to swim. When swimming no longer works offer sleep.
- It is possible to put on a ridiculous amount of weight in a short time when you taste everything you see. It is also possible to bring home half of Europe as a layer (or three) of fat.*
- The first time you see a demonstration in Barcelona you could be forgiven for thinking you could be a part of history. The fourth time you see one (after three days) you realise the Spanish protest a lot. When you hear about what the financial crisis has done to the people you quickly understand why.
- If you don’t like hawkers don’t go to Rome.
- Nothing compares to the smell of waking up to freshly baked croissants.
- People still sell postcards. I don’t know why because I am quite sure people don’t actually buy them
- The Italians will take a perfectly orderly queue and convert it into a shambles of people.
- The unemployment in European cities is palpable, in your face and tragic
- Balyage is a big thing in Europe. So are scrunchies. This does not bode well for people who believe that fashion travels to us from Europe.
- After around three visits, okay make that two, the inside of all catherdrals and churches look the same.
- There is nothing more seductive than airport shopping.
- I am an incredibly lucky, fortunate and spoiled human being
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*Repetitive I know but I really ate a lot
What’s been the greatest lesson you have learned while traveling?
If you give your suitcase to a taxi driver to wheel through the crazy alleys of Varanasi in India at nighttime, he’s unlikely to avoid the massive piles of cow poo littering the streets. And if you then leave your cow poo splattered bag for the hotel owner to bring it up to your room, he’s likely to throw it (and the cow poo) onto your bed.
I know that this is not very kind of me but I had to laugh at the scene you painted (even though you painted it with poo) 😉
What a great summary! So glad you had a wonderful time. I’d like to take a European adventure with my family some time…..in the distant future!!
Oh Michaela – it’s so worth it. It was amazing
So glad you enjoyed. Cruises are the best ever! Did you use the Louvre trick?
Never got to the Louvre! (or Paris) but it was still an amazing holiday xx
NUMBER FIVE! YEAH FIVE!
(and for those reading… she is TOTALLY not fat)
WELCOME HOME!!! WOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!
I would have been even fatter if they hadn’t covered their Maltesers in confectionary
I so wish I could use the excuse that I’d been to Europe as the reason I am fat.
And I LOOOVE receiving postcards! I just received one today from my cousin (who arrived back in Australia over the weekend; postcard took a while to get here) and it was of The Sound Of Music tour they did in Salzberg; one of my “to do” things when I win lotto and take my 3 banshees on a holiday.
So happy to hear of your adventures. PS your husband is a spunk and your boy looks divine 🙂
You are too sweet and kind! And I was wrong about postcards 😉 xx
Nice piece Lana. Looks like a ball was had by all (and I don’t mean Lindor). I’m envious but it’s great to live the experience through another’s eyes in the meantime.
I loved Europe and the palpable history (although I have to say Egypt beats it by a mile and so does Jordan and Gaudi must have been “on” something but what amazing architecture and ideas!). The greatest lesson I learned was “just breathe and say nothing” but I was travelling with family and young kids (crazy, crazy woman I am), take those factors out and the greatest lesson was “avoid tourists”.
I also obviously didn’t indulge in enough food as I came home after a month weighing 5kg less than when I left. I didn’t go on a cruise though… I think I should. Soon.
You should definitely go on a cruise. But I have to tell you I think I would have put on as much weight without the cruise. Pasta and ice cream – A LOT OF IT xx
I ate ice cream only twice, in Rome & in Florence but we ate pasta in every country we visited. Italian cuisine has taken over the world 🙂
I’m looking at cruises for Christmas so I can ignore the whole thing if the kids are with their father 🙂 I think that could be very therapeutic 😉
Lana, I had to comment on your joyous, travel-infused post even though I am very late to get there (awful week – sick dog and lost new phone). You really should write a travelogue as you’ve certainly encapsulated the essence of fun in your 32 points. The best thing about travel is coming home to familiar faces and, yes the dog. Ignore those annoying kilos, it was in a good cause…and if you can’t indulge when travelling, when can you indulge? (other than pregnancy!)
Thanks so much Lee-Anne. I hope your dog is better! xxxx
I buy postcards to send to my husband’s grandmother because she’s 85 and not on email 🙂
Glad you had such a wonderful time Lana!