I am making an entire book about our trip to Europe this summer.  If you want to see it when I am done, I can give you a link to check it out online. Otherwise, I do not want to bore you with what I’ve whittled down to 224 photos.  Instead I am going to give you my new travel tips learned (mostly the hard way) along the way.

1. Those people in business class you always walk by and hate – you have very good reason to do so.  I am ruined. Flight miles are worth every point!

2. Book your distance train tickets ahead of time. It saves a bundle. Especially the Eurorail under the English Channel  (on a side note…please don’t call it the Chunnel – they hate that!)   Which brings me to number three…

3. Double check, then triple check, then have your traveling companion check, maybe the hotel concierge also check the time of the train departure. If you misread and miss it, they will not apply your ticket to your next one and you will pay TRIPLE! ouch.

4. Check, double check and triple check that you have gathered all of your belongings from the security check points..i.e. backpack, wallet etc..and maybe do it for your absent minded professor husband.

5. Do not toss your passport onto the counter for the British customs agent. When asked why you are traveling somewhere in Britain, do not explain that you love CS Lewis etc, simply answer “business or holiday”.  Or you will be labeled and looked down upon as a stupid rude American.

6. Visiting your favorite dead author’s home and haunts (however much B was unexcited for) IS WORTH IT!

(CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien met here every Tuesday for 30 years to discuss their books. I think I gained at least 5 IQ points just being there? If ever there, order the apple pie!)

7.  When traveling by train in Italy. a) find out the train number and time of departure b) do not read the destination because it may not be where you need to go c) only find out the train number and departure time d) stand and watch the marquis in the race stance position for when they post the platform number ten minutes before departure – join the crowd and run. (wear good shoes) e) do not ask any questions of the ticket sales person f) do not wait in line at the information booth.  Got that?

8. Paris, Charles De Gualle airport has been rated the worst airport in the world for making connections for good reason. You need a minimum of 4 hours.

They say you’ll be lucky in love…

9. Italy does food and socializing worlds better than the US but we could teach them a few things about comfort level of pillows (think carpet sample square in a pillow case) and mattresses – two twins pushed together does not make a king and all workings of public bathrooms. I went into one that the seat automatically lifted up and I had to hold it down in order to sit on it – can you say machismo?

While biking was awesome! Riding a vespa would have been better! Your butt will want to mutiny by the second day anyway.

10. In Italy, just know that lanes and speed limits are merely suggestions that no drivers seem to take.

11. Figure out exactly how to make calls from your cell phone within the country you are in.  1-800 numbers DO NOT work from Europe. Get the airline’s, tour company and hotel’s phone numbers exactly as you need to dial them when you are in their country.

12. Taxi’s don’t need to be tipped but they will charge you extra for luggage. Also, if you are going someplace really close, they will go the long way around (most likely in a fork-like formation) in order to get a decent fare from you – and they don’t speak English.

13. Drink Coke from a can or a bottle. I don’t drink it at home, I don’t know what they do different.  I haven’t drank it since. But I swear it has some kind of magical elixir in it.

Always hit the spot – my alternative to wine?

Go with a fun group!