EUROPE 2023 - INTRODUCTION

From July 12 until August 1, we took a 21 day trip to London and France. 

We flew in to London Gatwick airport and stayed in the Fitzrovia area of London for approximately one week.  We took the Eurostar train from London to Paris. We stayed in the 16th Arrondissement of Paris for approximately one week. We took a train to Rouen, rented a car and went to the Normandy district. We stayed there for approximately one week. We took a train to return to Paris.  We flew out of Orly Airport in Paris.

The entries in this blog entitled EUROPE 2023 will have my thoughts and musings on this amazing trip!

EUROPE 2023 - SUITCASES & PACKING

I bought two new pieces of luggage for the trip we took to Europe in 2023. I got a carry-on size and checked size. I also found a very nice travel back pack  

Everyone told me not to take the large piece - to try to only use the carry on size. But we were going to Europe for three weeks, and I just couldn’t imagine being gone that long with such little stuff. 

But within a few days of being on the trip, I realized I didn’t need most of what I took and I really could have survived with just the carry on. And about half way thru the three week trip, I was sick and tired of lugging this big suitcase around. I had taken it thru airports, in taxis, on subways and buses, across cobblestone streets and up and down curbs, and it wasn’t worth the effort. 

Try your hardest to not check luggage - most AirBnB places have laundry facilities, take advantage of that.

I felt like I packed very reasonably, and I really did. We were going to be gone for 21 days. So I brought with me - 3 pair of long pants (one I wore on the plane), 2 pair of short pants (because the weather said it was going to be warm), 5 tshirts (one I wore on the plane), 1 tank top, 1 long sleeve shirt, 1 sweat shirt (which I wore on the plane), a cardigan, 4 dresses, 1 pajama dress, undies and bras and socks. I wore one pair of shoes on the plane, and packed my sneakers and my sandals. I had shower supplies, a small medicine bag for Rx meds and what OTC meds I brought. I had a makeup bag and extra Rx glasses. That doesn't seem like too much stuff, it seems quite basic, but I needed to use the large suitcase to pack all this up. And had I known the weather was going to be cold, I wouldn't have brought the short pants, the dresses, the tank top, the sandal, etc. I needed less makeup simply because I didn't really end up using much makeup since we were running around so much, I didn't have time.

I have a toiletries bag that is super nice and functional.  But I wish I had not packed it because it is somewhat rigid and it took up a lot of luggage space. I also never really used it as it’s designed to work, so ziploc baggies would have done the trick.

I used packing cubes, which were super great and helpful. They don’t make the suitcase any more compact or anything, they don’t really help with the luggage itself. But when you get to your hotel, packing cubes are a lifesaver! It’s easy to unpack, stay organized, pack up to leave, etc.

EUROPE 2023 - SHOES & CLOTHES

I know Europe is considered so fashionable and Paris is considered the fashion capital of the world, but trust me, 99% of the people you see are dressed for comfort. You rarely see a lady in high heels or a gentleman in dress shoes and suit. 

Shoes 

Before we left Florida, I got some new shoes specifically for the trip. These shoes were the most important things I brought with me and I highly suggest making sure you have excellent shoes for your trip. 

Brooks Glycerin 20 

Hey Dude

White Mountain Harley Sandals

I wore the Brooks the most - they were excellent shoes and really saved by feet and knees.  But near the end, I started wearing the Hey Dudes all the time because my feet were starting to swell, so having a less structured shoe was so helpful.  I put the White Mountain sandals for about a half hour and realized that they weren’t going to work for all the walking and hills in the area.  I never wore them again for the entire trip. 

Clothes

Bring things that are easy to wash and dry. Don't bring heavy things that you will have difficulty laundering. Bring clothes that you feel comfortable in, now is not the time to try out some new jeans.

Bring clothes that you can layer. Depending on when you are traveling and what weather you're used to, you will need to be able to put on or take off layers. 

EUROPE 2023 - STAYING IN LONDON

 I don't have a lot of info on this, but from what I learned, these are the better places to find an AirBnB or hotel in London - 

Fitzrovia

Hammersmith Bridge

Oxford Street

Piccadilly Circus

Or find stores or malls you want to visit, and try to stay near there, such as Harrods.

EUROPE 2023 - GETTING AROUND

London

🚍 In London, we found the public transit to be super easy to use. We were able to hop on and off of buses and subways by using our tap to pay with our Apple Watches and iPhones. 

⛴️ If you want to use the hop-on, hop-off boat in London on Thames, you will need to have the Uber app, get that all set up before you leave.

Paris

🚇 Our experience with the metro in Paris was this - On a Sunday going to the Louvre, it was pretty easy and not too crowded. On a Sunday getting to our final AirBnB, it was crowded and hot and difficult to maneuver. I think maybe it just depends on where you're heading and what time, since both of these were on Sunday.

🛥️ We used the hop-on, hop-off boat in Paris, the BatoBus, and it was a good alternative. We didn't need to hire a Bolt car to go far distances, we just took the BatoBus. However, it is a slow way to go, with the boat going slow and stopping often. On the bright side, you get to see amazing sights the whole way!

Uber and Bolt 

⚡️ Trust me, just get the Bolt app and use that if you need a taxi. Bolt was super convenient and super easy. We always felt safe and it was priced fairly.

EUROPE 2023 - WiFi & CELLULAR

Our cell provider is T-Mobile, and I didn’t have to do anything when traveling. When we landed in London, we got a text explaining what are data was and how much it was to make a phone call. Same thing happened when we arrived in Paris. So I didn’t have to go to change my plan or add anything. 

Sign into WiFi at absolutely every place you can. Sit down at a café? Sign in. Going to a museum? Sign in. Everywhere asks you to fill in your email address and check off some boxes. I didn’t use a fake email address or anything like that. But you will find that you are in cellular dead zones or super slow areas and you will be so thankful to the WiFi. 

EUROPE 2023 - APPS

There are many apps you need to download and get all set up before your trip. 

Make sure your phone and watch - whether they are Apple or Android - are set up with payment form attached. You want to be able to click to pay for stuff. Make sure you know how to use your phone or watch to do tap to pay. Make sure your phone and watch and apps are all up to date with any software updates. You don’t want to deal with that while traveling. 

I found that Apple Maps was the absolute best to use for any type of navigation. We tried Google maps, but it didn’t seem as easy to use or as accurate. I downloaded an app called Citymapper, everyone said it was so important, but I didn’t like it when I used it. So I just stuck with Apple Maps. 

In Paris, we used this app - BOLT - to get cars, like Uber. You can use Uber in Paris, but I didn’t like the Uber experience we had the one time we tried using Uber in Paris. All of the experiences with Bolt are great and I quickly used Bolt exclusively when needing cars. 

In London, if you want to take the hop-on hop-off boat, you need the Uber app. But we were unable to download the Uber app when we needed it because we had bad service in that area and no WiFi. So it is super important to make sure all your apps are up to date, you have an account and it’s all set up, before you find you actually need the app. 

In Paris, another app that was good was LIME. You can use Lime to rent e-bikes and scooters all around town. You can also rent bikes and scooters using the BONJOUR RATP app. That is also the app you use for the buses. You use the SNCF CONNECT app for the metro trains. However, we only took the metro train twice, and you have to buy a ticket from a kiosk and I never used the apps for the train or bus. 

The PARIS AÉROPORT app is super helpful if flying into or out of any Paris airport. I found it super helpful when we needed to know our gate number and when they were boarding the plane - it gives you little alerts.

Also if you plan to take the EuroStar train, you will need download that app also.

In Paris, we used a hop-on hop-off boat service called BatoBus. It was super helpful and allowed us to get around Paris and enjoy the view on the River Seine. 

EUROPE 2023 - PARIS CAFÉ CULTURE

Café culture in Paris can be a bit of a culture shock for Americans. We are used to being busy, fast, eating and leaving quickly. We are used to waiters being on the ball and bringing you things without asking, including bringing you the bill.

In Paris, it seems like sitting around the café for a very long time is expected. Sometimes you will sit down, and the waiter will take a little while to come over to you. Then you order, sometimes it’s super fast, sometimes it takes a little while. But you are just expected to relax and not worry about it. Then you eat and drink, and if you want a refill or anything else, you sorta have to catch the waiter’s eye and he will come over to the table to check on you. French waiters don't stop by all the time like American waiters. They leave you alone. Then if you decide its time to leave, you will again have to catch the waiter’s eye to get the check. They do not bring you the check unless you ask for it. You shouldn't call out or use hand signals or snap or anything like that. You just have to wait and try to quietly and subtly get your point across.  

You just have to kinda slow down, treat being at the café as an event itself, not just a stop between events. You have to learn to just enjoy chit chat and people watching. Eat slowly, drink slowly, enjoy it all a little more.  It is quite nice once you get used to it, but for a lot of people, its a different experience than they're used to.

EUROPE 2023 - PARIS ARRONDISSEMENTS

If you're looking for a place to stay, its important to know the arrondissements. If I were to stay in Paris again, I would probably stay in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 8 or 16. We stayed in 16 when we went in July 2023, and it was very nice. Be sure to spend time on wikipedia or google learning about the attractions in the areas, as well as crime or concerns before you pick a place to stay.

The city of Paris is divided into twenty neighborhoods or areas called "arrondissements." They are numbered 1-20. In addition to the numbers, each arrondissement also has a name, usually due to a local monument in that area. The arrondissements spiral clockwise out from the city center, starting at 1 and ending at 20. Street signs have the arrondissements listed on the street name in Roman numerals.

1st - Louvre, 2nd - Bourse, 3rd - Temple, 4th - Hôtel-de-Ville, 5th - Panthéon, 6th - Luxembourg, 7th - Palais-Bourbon, 8th - Élysée, 9th - Opéra, 10th - Entrepôt, 11th - Popincourt, 12th - Reuilly, 13th - Gobelins, 14th - Observatoire, 15th - Vaugirard, 16th - Passy, 17th - Batignolles-Monceau, 18th - Buttes-Montmarte, 19th - Buttes-Chaumont, 20th - Ménilmontant

THIS IS SOME COPY-PASTE ABOUT THE ARRONDISSEMENTS 

The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th are grouped together as "Paris Centre." 

The 1st and 2nd Arrondissements are known as The Heart of Paris. For centuries the seat of royal power in France, these two historic Paris districts comprise the heart of Paris. Home to many iconic Paris attractions — Palais Royal, the Louvre Museum, Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde — it's is a very popular locale for travelers to call home.

The 3rd and 4th Arrondissements are known as The Marais.  Encompassing the 3rd and 4th Arrondissements, the Marais is one of the oldest and most charming quartiers of the city. Here's where you'll find trendy shops, the liveliest alternative community (LGBT), the hub of the Jewish community, the Hotel de Ville, and popular restaurants frequented by Parisians. It's also home to Place de Vosges, the first royal park in Paris open to the public.

The Islands of Paris -  Île de la Cité and Île St. Louis are two of the most romantic places to stay in Paris. Home to Notre Dame Cathedral, La Sainte-Chapelle, and the Concierge, the two islands also have cute, tiny parks, green spaces and, cafés overlooking the Seine River.

The 5th Arrondissement is known as the Latin Quarter, may be the most well-known district of Paris. Latin in this context refers to Romans. It's ancient, too — dating back to when Paris was a Roman settlement. Here you'll find the Pantheon; the Sorbonne; Rue Mouffetard, the bustling market district; and winding cobblestone streets. No wonder many travelers choose to stay here when visiting Paris.

The 6th Arrondissement  is known as St-Germain-des-Prés. One of the prettiest areas in Paris, Saint-Germain-des-Prés was the haunt of both the French existentialists and the Americans of the Lost Generation. Home to the Jardin du Luxembourg and the church of St-Germain-des-Prés, travelers choose to stay in St Germain for the luxe shopping, the famous cafes, and the parks.

The 7th Arrondissement is know as Eiffel Tower, the grandest symbols of Paris, is where you'll also find Musée d'Orsay, Les Invalides, and the Rodin Museum. Travelers choose to stay here for the glittering facades, wealthy residential streets, tree-lined parks, the banks of the Seine, the famous food street Rue Cler, and a string of lovely restaurants and hotels. The 7th is one of the most attractive quartiers in Paris — the Eiffel Tower is just a bonus!

The 8th Arrondissement  is known as Champs-Elysées and is know for luxury. If you have a comfortable bank account and a taste for the good things in life — luxury hotels, great museums, and expensive shopping — this is where you should stay. Parc Monceau, one of the most civilized parks in the city, is also found in this wealthy arrondissement. Champs-Elysées itself is bookended by Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe.

The 9th Arrondissement – Opéra. Famous for the Grands Magasins — Galeries Lafayette and Printemps department stores - the 9th is home to a plethora of shopping brands. For many, though, it's most famous for the beautiful 19th-century Paris opera house, Palais Garnier. For a restful night after shopping, there are many, many attractive hotels. However, I felt that my stay in the 9th was NOT good - it seemed very sketchy with crowds of men hanging around on street corners, the smell of weed was in the air, and some store fronts had crowds of men outside.

The 10th Arrondissement – Les Gares. If you love interesting, mixed, even funky neighborhoods, head to this arrondissement of northeast of central Paris. Home to the two largest gares in Paris as well as the northern tip of Canal St-Martin, the 10th is full of life, thrift shops, off-the-beaten-path restaurants, some surprisingly good hotels, and lots of Parisians.

The 11th Arrondissement – Canal Saint-Martin. This up-and-coming neighborhood straddles the canal as it winds through the 10th and 11th Arrondissements. Today it's a popular neighborhood where young Parisians live, attracted by cheaper rents and trending restaurants and cafes. You can also hop on a canal boat for a leisurely ride through the locks and on to the Seine River.

The 12th Arrondissement – The Far East. The modernistic Opera Bastille; the Aligre market; Gare de Lyon, the loveliest train station in Paris; Bercy Village; and a great promenade pathway built along an old rail line. Travelers choose to stay here for activities, the cheaper hotels, and the lively neighborhoods.

The 13th Arrondissement doesn't feature historic monuments, cobblestone streets, or vestiges of Roman Paris to attract the visitor. Here you find more of the Paris of the 20th century, thanks to extensive modern projects and rebuilding, such as the postmodern high-rise, Bibliothèque Nationale de France and the neighboring new quartier of Paris Rive Gauche. But there are still the traditional Parisian street markets, an historic train station, a swimming pool floating on the Seine, and a dynamic new arts and entertainment and activities scene, often re-purposing former industrial buildings.

The 14th Arrondissement – The South. 140,000 Parisians can't be wrong about the attractions of this southern district. That's how many live, work, shop, and play in the 14th Arrondissement. Although this is another area not normally on travelers' list of places to visit in Paris, we find there's a lot to like about the 14th.

The 15th Arrondissement – The Far Left Bank. The 15th is another quartier not often on the top of visitors' hotel checklists, but the cozy neighborhood has much to recommend it. This large arrondissement tucks up against the Seine on the Left Bank, across from the 16th. Hotels cost less and are found close to Gare Montparnasse, the Tour Montparnasse skyscraper, plus the charming shopping street of Rue du Commerce, the Grenelle Market, and Parc André Citroën.

The 16th Arrondissement – From the Arc to the Bois. The westernmost arrondissement stretches from the Arc de Triomphe to the vast Bois de Boulogne. It's home to Musée Marmottan, where we go to to view the Monets; to luxury shopping and spectacular food markets; and to some of the most sought-after residential real estate in Paris. The plaza at Trocadero is a well-known and much-visited landmark found just across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower. Go there for some of the best views in Paris. This arrondissement is also home to many of the most glamorous luxury hotels in Paris, and our favorite Michelin-starred restaurants.

The 17th Arrondissement – Where Parisians Call Home. This large arrondissement holds down the northwest corner of Paris, and it's a place many Parisians call home. Here you'll find great street markets, cheese shops, boulangeries, boucheries, and all the other stores and services the residents need.

The 18th Arrondissement – Montmartre. The quartier of Montmartre was formerly a village of the same name, high up on the hill above Paris. It encompasses the 18th Arrondissement, which runs up from the border of the 9th right up to the northernmost edge of the city. This hilltop neighborhood has been home to famous (and not-so-famous) painters and writers, most notably Picasso, Renoir, and van Gogh. From its perch on a hill, Montmartre has spectacular views, especially from the big white church of Sacre Coeur. It's also home to the Moulin Rouge.  However, this is the one arrondissement that everyone said is super dangerous and pickpockets are rampant. We were warned over and over again to not stay in the 18th. Its okay to visit, you should be super vigilant, but you should not stay there.

The 19th Arrondissement – Music, Science & Parks. A bustling neighborhood, with one of the largest populations in Paris, the 19th Arrondissement offers a lot to explore. Home to Parc de la Villette, which features a cluster of museums including the Cité des Sciences, Cité de la Musique, and the spectacular Philharmonie de Paris, one of the world's great concert halls. The 19th's other large park, Buttes Chaumont, sports a tall waterfall, nature walking paths, and a pedestrian bridge. 

The 20th Arrondissement – Belleville. On the eastern edge of Paris, the 20th Arrondissement is a long, half-hour Metro ride from central Paris. It's where you find the fascinating Pere Lachaise Cemetery, final resting place of the rich and infamous. The 20th is also worth visiting for the bustling community of Belleville. 

La Défense is the modern business district of Paris, located six or seven kilometres west of the central city but very visible (due to its collection of soaring skyscrapers) from such vantage points as the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, and even Montmartre. It surprised us to learn that this modernistic collection of buildings gets eight million visitors a year.

EUROPE 2023 - WATER

The American culture around water is different than in London and Paris.  When we sit down at a restaurant, they bring out waters and keep refilling the glasses.  While traveling, we found that we had to specifically ask for water, and we had to specifically ask for refills.

When I was in London, I bought a bottle of water that was in an aluminum bottle.  I carried that bottle with me thru the entire trip, refilling it constantly. I found all the water to be good - I would refill my bottle every morning from the kitchen sink. And there are several public water fountains in Paris, they are beautiful and the water was super cold and tasted good. I tried to keep my water bottle filled at all times. I bought a little water bottle carrier, but never ended up using it because we had a backpack with us that had space for water bottles. 

Speaking of water, when you go to a restaurant, they will often ask if you want - still, sparkling, or tap - water.  Usually still and sparkling are bottles that you will pay for, tap is free. Sometimes if you order sparkling water,  they will even ask if you want large or small bubbles. They will also ask the size of the bottle you want, so brush up on your metric sizes or get ready to kinda hold your hands up to indicate about how big you want the bottle.

EUROPE 2023 - LANGUAGE

I can’t speak French, but we spent about two weeks in France. Here are my thoughts on language. 

From my experience, French people and Parisians were very nice and patient and accommodating to the fact that I couldn’t speak or read French. But the key to having a successful experience in this regard is TRYING. It seems to me that if you at least try to speak French, you try to follow basic social guidelines, people will be kind to you. What I mean is that when you walk into a store or walk into a restaurant, you should always say Bonjour or Bonsoir (good day or good evening) to everyone you see. This starts your interaction off on the right foot. Always say Merci (thank you) or Merci Beaucoup (thank you very much). Say au revoir (goodbye) or salut when leaving. Say s’il vous plaît (please).  These are very basic, minimum polite things to say.  But it really does ingratiate people to you - they think of you as a polite person who is putting in an effort. As soon as they realize you cannot speak French, they will usually pop right up with English and things will go smoothly.  There were only a couple times that there was a difficult language interaction, so we sorta pointed and mimed our way thru. 

Ordering from the menu in French was actually pretty easy. Just using context clues and knowing basic words for some food will make it easy to figure out what the dishes are. 

EUROPE 2023 - CRIME & SAFETY

Basic overview.  You know how you need to be careful and aware of your surroundings anywhere you go? Do that while traveling also. I know it’s easy to get caught up in how beautiful or exciting it is on your trip. Or maybe you feel like you’re on vacation and relaxing. But you must always be a vigilant person. You must always be aware of where you are, who is around you, where your belongings are, etc.

I bought a cross body purse to carry with me on the entire trip. I only carried with me one credit card and my drivers license. I was always attentive to my purse and my phone.

With that said, for my 2023 trip we went to London, Paris and Normandy. 

London 

London felt safe. I never felt worried in London. I just never felt like we ran into a bad or sketchy area.  We rode subways and buses and everything felt fine. We walked on streets at night and down weird alleys and never felt like we were in danger. 

Paris 

Only one time did I feel like we were in a bad place while we were in France. We were staying overnight near the train station in the 9th arrondissement, and that seemed like a very dangerous and sketchy area. I was thankful we left in the morning. But the rest of our experiences in Paris, I always felt safe. We walked around the whole time and I never once felt like - uhoh we are in a bad area. Paris felt very safe. 

Rouen 

I adored Rouen. I felt very safe there. However, family that were traveling with us, their rental van got broken into and they lost several things to thieves. Thieves grabbed what they could quickly, backpacks and iPads and wallets. It really put a damper on a very wonderful experience. They had to deal with a police report as well as rental car insurance. The moral of that story is - make sure your stuff is well hidden, that you don’t leave behind important things like wallets, and try to park in more secure locations. We were going to park in the train station parking lot, but instead opted to park on the street near where we were going sightseeing.

Normandy 

Normandy is quiet area and we never once felt in danger or concerned at all while we were there. 

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Before I left for this trip, Paris had undergone a huge riot after police shot a teenager.  There was nonstop footage of Paris burning and looting and riots.  But while we were there, we saw NOTHING to indicate anything had happened. There was no rioting, no roving bands of troublemakers, no burning buildings, no boarded up buildings, no trash. Maybe all the problems were happening in another arrondissement, but for us, we never saw anything like what the news had shown.

I also watched many TikTok and Instagram videos about Paris. And every one of them mentioned how bad pickpockets are and how you have to keep your phone on a leash so people don’t steal it. I bought those leash things and I was ready to put them on the phones, but honestly I never felt like I needed it. We never felt like we were being targeted or followed or anything like that.  I think it’s good to be aware and vigilant, but also realize that maybe the crime stories are overblown.

Unfortunately, our family members had their car broken into while we were in Rouen. So crime is certainly out there, and sometimes you can’t avoid it. But the best thing you can do is keep your important belongings safe, either by carrying them with you or leaving them at the hotel, or keep everything well hidden and secure in the car.

EUROPE 2023 - MONEY

If you need Pounds or Euros - be sure to use an actual bank for the exchange. There are currency exchange businesses and they charge a fee and also set the exchange themselves. A bank doesn’t do that. Banks exchange it according to the actual exchange rate. 

However, we never needed local money. We just used tap to pay. Only one time did we run into a café that didn’t take cards, so we got Euros from a bank machine. But that was one time in a 21 day trip. 

I used my Apple Watch for 90% of my purchases. It was great to not need to take out my credit card or phone when paying. I was able to use my watch to pay for bus fare, train tickets, food, gifts, grocery. It was a fantastic benefit. 

EUROPE 2023 - ATTRACTIONS & MUSEUMS

If you plan to visit any tourist attractions, by sure you plan ahead. 

All museums in London are free. That makes it so fun and easy to go to multiple museums. Pretty much everything in Paris has an entry fee. While we were in Rouen, everything was free.

If you want to go to an attraction or museum in Paris, sign into the official website of it. Get tickets, pick a date, time, etc. After you get tickets, do screenshots of your tickets with the bar code or QR code. That way you don’t have to rely on cell service to pull up your tickets when you’re at your event.

Sometimes you won't be able to get a ticket for the date or time you want, so try to book in advance if you can. However, we wanted to go to the catacombs in Paris. But they only release 7 days of tickets, and so you have to be ready to pounce to get those tickets when its open. You can't buy tickets a month in advance. 

You don't need to use any tourism services really, just sign onto the website of whatever you want and book it yourself. Its easy and you will save money.

EUROPE 2023 - STAIRS & HILLS

OMG the stairs. I am a Florida girl. I’m used to everything being nice and flat. My house is one story, I never have to use stairs. But London, Paris and Normandy were just mostly made of stairs and hills! I felt like I was gonna die or my knees were gonna break! Everything is either upstairs or downstairs. And the stairs are medieval and wonky. They have worn areas from centuries of people walking up and down the steps. Other steps are made of huge granite or marble blocks. Many places don’t have handrails. The rise and run of the steps aren’t always standard. So what I’m saying is, pay attention to the steps, be careful on them. 

The hills were also kicking my butt. A somewhat gentle incline over a long distance can be exhausting. Even going downhill can sometimes be difficult, especially if you aren’t wearing good shoes. 

The best thing you can do is work on strengthening your legs and knees before you go on the trip. That way you can feel more confident on the stairs and not get so worn out with the hills. 

EUROPE 2023 - TOILETS & BATHROOMS

For me, the biggest difference while traveling to Europe would be the bathrooms and toilets. 

It seems that bathrooms are somewhat of an afterthought in many places.  The buildings are super old, and they didn’t build toilets into the buildings the way we are used to.  Plus, these are some of the most expensive places to live in the world, so they don’t want to waste square footage on bathrooms. Due to that, most toilets are way down in basements of buildings.  And the toilets are cramped, small, no-frills and sometimes it smells unpleasant down there.  

Sometimes the toilets - even specific for the ladies rooms - do not have toilet seats.  So that means you have to squat, hold all your clothes and purse, and hope that you’re good at hovering over the toilet! 

Sometimes toilets require you to pay to use them. I didn’t encounter pay toilets in London, but I did in Paris. You can use your phone for tap to pay if you don’t have coins. And those pay bathrooms aren’t necessarily any nicer than a regular toilet.

The toilet shape is somewhat different than you might be used to, and sometimes they are quite low to the ground. The thing that is different is how to flush. Some toilets have a push button on the top of the tank, some have a push button on the wall behind the toilet, some have a knob you lift up on the tank and some have a pull chain. The basic use is you press the small button for #1 and the large button for #2.  

If you need a bathroom, your best bet is to find a café, sit down and order a coffee or a glass of wine. At that point, ask to use the bathroom.  Places do not have public bathrooms, so you have to prove to be a paying customer and they will let you use their bathroom. And remember, it’s down in the dungeon!

Showers didn’t seem to have good water pressure. And shower stalls can sometimes be shockingly tiny.

EUROPE 2023 - MY FAVORITE THINGS

🏆 The most important thing I took on the trip was cell phone battery packs! I was able to keep my phone and my watch fully charged all the time. I carried one in my purse all the time, it saved me many times over.  Just be mindful about recharging the pack when you’re back to your place for the evening. 

🏆 Another fantastic thing I took was laundry detergent sheets. Easy to pack, don’t weigh anything, easy to use. The AirBnBs we stayed at all had some laundry facilities so these came in super handy.

🏆  I brought big ziploc baggies with me. I packed anything that could leak in those. But I also brought extras, and that allowed me to bring home a bottle of Chardonnay from France!

🏆 Packing cubes. Truthfully, they don’t save any room in the luggage. But when you get to your destination, it makes unpacking and finding stuff infinitely easier. I pack one cube with pants, one cube with shirts, etc. It helps you not make a mess or misplace your stuff. It makes packing back up easier to leave when you’re organized like that. 

EUROPE 2023 - WHAT DIDN’T WORK

🚫 Before I left, I bought an adorable cross body purse from Coach. I love the purse, but looking back on the trip, I would have bought something different. The bag was a structured, small leather bag with a long strap to wear cross body. But what I didn’t like about it was that it was rigid and structured. I had to carefully fit things into the purse, and if I needed something in the bottom, I had to take everything out to get to it. I was able to put a chapstick, my phone and a battery pack, and a tiny hairbrush. I think it would have been smarter to have a bag that was less structure, more of a loose, sack-type bag. It would have just made it easier to get stuff in and out of the bag. 

🚫 I have a small Bluetooth speaker. I imagined that some evenings we might enjoy some music in our room or sitting outside somewhere. I never used it, but I lugged it all around!

🚫 I have two iPads, one mini and one large size.  I brought them both, imagining some reason I might need them, maybe to watch a movie or look at photos or something.  I never needed them, never used them, but still had to deal with them in my luggage and at TSA check points.  

🚫 I have a very nice toiletries bag, but it was too structured and rigid, it took up room in the luggage, and I didn’t really use it as intended. It would have been smarter to just toss my toiletries in a ziploc bag and save room in the luggage.

🚫 Cell phone leashes were something I heard was super important. I bought them, but never used them. I just never felt like I was in a dangerous place or I never felt like I was being careless or forgetful about my phone. I think it depends on you, would you like to have your phone hanging on you like that? It does seem kinda nice and helpful to have it right there like that.

 

EUROPE 2023 - WHAT I WISH I HAD PACKED

I packed what I felt was a very reasonable amount of stuff.  I really don't think I overpacked or brought stuff I didn't need.  However, the weather report made me make mistakes - we were told over and over again how hot it was. But when we got there, it was cold. London was colder than Paris. One day on our trip to Paris it was warm/hot. But other than that day, I needed to dress for colder temps and rain. So the clothes that I didn't end up wearing were going to be used for hot weather, and I just never had the chance to wear that.

But there were a LOT of things I think I should have packed that would have made the trip a lot better.

🧥 A nice raincoat would have helped a lot. I bought a small umbrella in London, which helped a lot with the rainy weather. However, a jacket or coat would have been nice. And I knew I would have a hard time finding something I liked that fit good while I was shopping in Europe. I should have brought a rain jacket or windbreaker with me.

🔌 A small extension cord would have been helpful. I had European plugs, but sometimes the plug was in a weird location, and an extension cord would have helped a lot.  And of course, don’t forget the special plugs you need for whatever country you’re going to. Don’t forget all your electronics charging cables you need. 

🧺 A dirty clothes bag. We were able to do laundry at any AirBnB places we stayed at. It would have been super helpful to have a place to keep the dirty clothes away from the luggage. Good thing - I brought laundry detergent sheets with me and they were fantastic. Super lightweight and easy to carry, they did the job when I had to do laundry. Because I had access to laundry facilities at almost every place we stayed in our 3 week trip, I could have survived with less clothes. Even something as simple as a garbage bag or a pillow case would have worked.

👘 A small, thin robe would have been nice, simply to walk from the bathroom back to the bedroom to dress. We stayed together with our kids and other people, and sometimes you didn't have an ensuite bathroom.

🥿 Some thin slippers with grippy soles. Once you get back to your place, sometimes its nice to take off your shoes and relax - but there are stairs and hard floors just about everywhere - and if you only wear socks, you risk slipping.

📝 A couple post-it notes would been useful to just kinda remind yourself of things you don't want to forget as you pack up to leave. Or a place to jot down important information. Don’t forget a couple pens!

💨 A thing that I know I couldn't take, but it sure would have made the trip a lot better - some kind of a folding, travel fan. London and France don't seem to have air conditioning. Even if the weather is cold, the air is still and stagnant. You have to leave open the windows to get some breeze or fresh air. However, the windows don't have screens, so bugs come in. A fan would have made things better to simply move the air, and hopefully keep bugs from landing on you in your sleep. Just a way to have moving air would have made sleeping a lot more comfortable. Some places will provide you with fans, others don't. Some places have air conditioning, most do not.

💊 The MOST IMPORTANT thing you could bring with you - medicine! I'm not talking about your prescription medicine - you know you need to bring that. I'm talking about over the counter medicine you may need. I do not know what is happening in London and France, but you can't find "real" medicine in the pharmacies. My husband started to get a cold while in London, we stopped into a pharmacy to get something, and they give him some herbal remedy stuff. We couldn't find anything that actually works. While we were in France, I started to get the cold and now it was my turn to need medicine. Again, we stopped into different pharmacies and specifically asked for medicine by name, and even translated from English to French, and all they give you is herbal stuff. It was honestly shocking and upsetting. I felt so sick one day, and I was laying in the bed just thinking that if I had been able to take actual medicine, I wouldn't be this ill. Finally, on the day before we left, the pharmacy in the airport had actual real medicine. But at that point, I was very sick and it was going to be difficult to try to feel better once I had been so sick for several days. And another thing, I prefer to take ibuprofen, but all the places in London and Paris only have acetaminophen. I had to specifically ask for ibuprofen any time I needed it, and they often had it behind the counter with the pharmacist. And they sell it in these tiny boxes, rather than the bottles we’re used to here. It was all just insane, and I would suggest that you bring EVERYTHING you might feel you could need - cold, flu, pain, fever, stomach, allergies, etc. Don't assume you will find medicine you need while traveling. Bring a mini pharmacy with you!

 

EUROPE 2023 - RAMBLINGS

 Some random thoughts that don't have a good place to post them....

🛗 They number the floors differently over there. The ground floor is 0. The next floor up is 1, the next floor down is -1. For Americans, the ground floor is 1, and the next floor up is 2, and the next floor down is basement or underground. 

🚜 There is a ton of construction and reconstruction going on. Some places don't look so good because they are undergoing major work. Notre Dame is still closed and is supposed to open back up in December 2024, but I doubt it will be 100% restored and the work finished.  

🥐 It most places in Paris, shops and churches closes down from 12noon until about 2pm.  They use that as like their lunch break. Cafés are open and many will close down after that and reopen for dinner service. You may find it frustrating to be walking up to a store or a cathedral and find the doors locked. So you just have to go with the flow and settle into a café for a long lunch! 

🥤If you drink any Diet Coke or anything like that, they don't serve it over there. I think the aspartame in it is against the law over there. Something to think about when you come home!

🛍️ Good ideas for souvenirs - make sure you consider if its easy to pack, is it breakable, is it heavy, will it get damaged with temperature changes in the airplane, is it impossible to find elsewhere, is it useful. My suggestions - Christmas ornaments (we found many flat, fabric, wood ornaments that packed up nicely in the suitcases), canvas bags, tea towels, chocolates, paintings, posters or art. 

LANCE 2463 2023 - THOUGHTS

In the books - our first camping trip with our new travel trailer! 

Some thoughts… 

We need better camping chairs to sit outside - the ones we have feel rickety and are too short for us. 

Sleeping with both the AC units on is too loud! My husband figured out a way to make it work without being so noisy. Saturday night, I barely slept because of the noise. Sunday night, I slept great after he made some changes. We didn’t run the bedroom unit at night, we ran the living room unit.

I busted ass the whole time keeping the camper neat and clean. That makes it so much easier when we get ready to pack up to leave. Sweeping up all the sand and dirt is very important. Washing and drying dishes is also an ongoing chore. I think I need a better plan for dish draining. 

I need to make sure we have extra hats. 

The shoe situation starts to pile up outside the camper. Everyone takes their shoes off before entering the camper, so we end up with a pile of shoes. I need to work on a better way to work with all that. 

Remember to pack more firewood instead of trying to gather wood! Remember to bring a big lighter - it’s a hassle to use a little BIC lighter! 

I ordered an area rug for the living area - I hope it feels nice and looks nice. A rug will help with all the sand and dirt in general. I brought a bunch of small rugs with us for this trip - that made a huge difference. One big rug will do wonders.

I’m happy about packing all the beach towels - they were very useful. It’s nice to clear out linen closet space and move the beach towels out to the camper. 

The campground didn’t have sewage at the space, but they did have a dump station at the front of the campground. Also, thankfully they had a community bathroom and shower area. Everyone was “allowed” to pee in the camper, but nothing else. I showered at the camp bathroom, but I forgot to bring conditioner. My hair is still angry. Stopping at the dump station was pretty good, it wasn’t traumatizing! LOL

Anastasia park was super nice. All the spots were back-in only, but with the cameras on the Lance, it was pretty easy.

LANCE 2465 2023

April 2023 we made the leap and finally purchased that RV we dreamed about! We are the proud owners of a 2021 Lance 2465! After out Yellowstone trip in 2016, we did research and would periodically visit RV dealers and see what is out there. During 2020 we sold the Jaguar XJL Supercharged and ended up buying a Nissan Armada. Now we had a tow vehicle and just needed the camper. After tons of research, we settled on the Lance 2465. At that point, we just had to wait for one to become available at our price range and close enough to our location. When we finally found it, we jumped on it and bought it without hesitation. 

We had planned a lot of summer trips with the Lance, but instead we went to London and France for the summer. 

As of this writing, we have only taken the Lance out camping one time! For Mother’s Day weekend, we went to Anastasia State Park. 

But one of my favorite pastimes has been furnishing the camper. I think I have found some very clever and creative things to make our camping trips even more fun!