Just One Traveller's Insight

Those of you who know me, know my desire to experience different cultures, see new landscapes, taste new foods, hear other languages and have new experiences. I have to admit, It's hard to leave my comfort zone - The United States of America.  But once I do, I realize that the world has so much to see and experience.  From the moment you step onto the flight to the time the car drops you off back at your doorstep, you are having experiences. Some could be life changing. Whether they are life changing or not, they will teach you something about people and other cultures.  I believe traveling changes a person.  You may return home with a mix of good and bad impressions of a culture or place, but you will have seen, experienced and learned more than watching the travel channel or reading travel books by Rick Steve's in your favorite armchair.

• Have an open mind - things will be VERY different.

• Expect the unexpected, because things will go wrong.

• Don't expect other cultures to embrace you straight away. You're the intruder. 

• It will just frustrate you if you think everything should be like it is at home.

• Remember....other cultures think their culture, their country and their way is the best.

• Don't forget that you are visiting their country. Try to speak the language to show respect.

• Many countries do not like the U.S.A.  It's just the way it is.  Just be nice and respectable of their opinion and make America proud. 

• Take notes of the things you especially liked or didn't like.  Hopefully you will return and these will come in handy.

• Take LOADS of pictures.  Digital images give you the freedom to take a lot of pics and just delete the ones you don't like or don't add to your memories.

• Pack light.  Hauling around heavy luggage can ruin a trip.  Elevators/Lifts are not in abundance like they are over here, nor are they always working.

• And finally, be sure to leave room for fun and silliness and don’t take yourself too seriously.

I hope that everyone, given the chance, will allow themselves to experience the real travel experience. It doesn't come with the piped in beautiful background music or the perfect view from the helicopter, but it does come with the smell of freshly baked croissants, church bells ringing, crisp, cool air on your face while looking up a mountain that will take your breath away, walking passage ways that Mozart walked many times in his life or standing in castles where battles were fought that changed the world.

I accept that there are people who are content with staying in their comfort zone. That isn't a bad thing unless those self imposed boundaries causes you to be closed minded and angry at things you don't understand.  The media doesn't really give the full and complete picture.  You'll have to get out there to get that for yourself.

This recent trip with my teenage daughter was priceless.  I got to listen to her expand her knowledge of the French language.  I watched her negotiate her way through transactions with shopkeepers, restaurant managers, vendors and rail personnel. She tried new foods, wore the local fashions and much more.  I was surprised (and very impressed) with her ability to maneuver us through the complicated Metro system in France, quickly calculate the money exchange rate, convert metrics when getting directions, and quickly translated the 24hr time to the 12hr clock.  These are things I cannot do well and it was a tremendous help!   This trip allowed me to spend time with my "soon to be college bound" teenager.  A teenager who may not want to travel with me again anytime soon. I'm sure the day will come when it's just not "cool" to travel to Europe with your mother.  I wouldn't trade it for anything. Each time we travel she is reminded that she has a very good life in a great country that is full of opportunities and I can't think of anything better than a appreciative teenager in the house! 

Tips/Notes/Insights:

"Where are you from in America?"

We met a few French people who asked us where in America we were from.  Here is a conversation that occurred more than once. 

Me:  "Bonjour! (I remembered!)  "Is your Taxi available?" 
French Taxi Driver:  "Oui!" "French babble, French babble" 
Me:  "Merci!"  (In French) "Please take us to Hotel du Palais" 
French Taxi Driver: (In French)  "Where are you from in America?" 
Me:  "Texas.  Dallas, Texas" 
French Taxi Driver:  (His face lights up, he sits up higher in his seat)  "Ahh, Dallas!  "Kennedy! Bang!  Bang!" 
Me and Lindsey:  We laughed!  This is what they connect with Dallas? We found that funny.

Another one...

Hotel Clerk:  (In French)  "Where are you from in America?" 
Me:  "Texas.  Dallas, Texas" 
Hotel Clerk:  (His eyes get big)  "Dallas!  Kennedy! Kennedy! (pulls out his finger guns and points them at us) "Bang! Bang! Bang!.  I know Dallas! 
Me and Lindsey:  Can't stop laughing.

"Pardon Me..."

Trying to get assistance in France 

Me: "Excuse me, do you speak English?"
Frenchman:  "BONJOUR!"
Me:  "Sorry.......Bonjour!" "Do you speak English?" 
Frenchman: "No!" and looks away.
Me: (I smile)  "hmmmmm...." and I walk away

Next situation:

Me:  "Pardon me, do you speak English?"
French lady: "BONJOUR!" and looks at me with scary, piercing eyes.
Me: damn it!  I can't seem to remember that!  "Sorry...Bonjour!"  "Do you speak English"
French lady: (In English) "None at all" and continues to look at me with those scary eyes.
Me:  I walk away.....slowly, making no sudden movements. 

Next situation:

Me: "Par.....wait!.....Bonjour!  Pardon me, Do you speak English? (Whew! I almost forgot) 
French Sales Lady:  "Bonsoir!" and looks at me like I'm an idiot who can't tell if it's Day or Evening.


Damn, Damn!  Ok, next time I'll get it right.

It took me a while to get it...here are a few of the unwritten rules

1. Always greet with a Bonjour or Bonsoir BEFORE any other words come out of your mouth
2. Mainly in Paris, they don't like to hear your broken, crummy French so it's not worth bothering with it and just apologize in advance.  They will pretend to not understand you, even though it is good enough to get the point across.
3. The French do not really see a need to learn English but they surely want you to learn French.  I did my best. 
4. They can tell that you are not French just by the way you dress (how you tie your scarf!), walk, body language, etc.  They already have a plan on how they are going to treat you before you even open your mouth.  Just smile and make the U.S.A proud!

St. Gilgen, Austria

Mirabelle Gardens - Salzburg, Austria

New Memories from Salzburg

I had forgotten how wonderful this city is.  Even if you took away the Mozart component, it's still has more than enough to offer. The beauty of the skyline with the river and castles makes your heart skip a beat.  We have spent the past few days just soaking up the city as much as we can before we have to return home.  This is the city that you could stay in for weeks and never get bored or tired of what it offers.  Yes, there are tourist but it's manageable.  There are two main areas to the city - old and not as old.  Each side has something special to offer.  

We have spent a day in Mirabelle Gardens just strolling through the flowers and pebbled paths.  It  gives me pleasure to daydream about the ladies who strolled in the gardens many years ago in their beautiful gowns arm in arm with their suitors. 

One day we took a tour of the lakes and mountains.  We went up into a couple different villages where the backdrop for the small, tidy Austrian homes was a wall of mountains.   The fields were bright green and some bursting with colorful flowers.  I love the way the Austrians are so tidy.  Not a bit of trash to been  seen.  It was like they knew company was coming and they cleaned the country!

Our last evening in Salzburg we had dinner in the castle overlooking the city and then attended a wonderful concert inside the state room of the castle.  It was magical.  I'll never forget it.  Lindsey enjoyed hearing the musicians play music that she aspires to play one day.  She watched the players intensly and inquired about the music afterwards.  I asked her if she missed playing the viola this past month.  She replied, "of course".  Silly me!

The German people are nice and helpful (unlike the French).  Each person that I have talked to either knows English or is learning English.  They welcomed the chance to practice their English.  This wasn't the case in France. Me in France:  "Pardon, parlez vous English?"  French policeman: "No, not at all" (in perfect English).  Then me:  "Not even a little bit? to help me find my way?"  Frenchman: "No, sorry, I only speak French (once again in perfect English)....hmmm....So I decided to end that conversation and walked away.  I have been to both France and Austria a few times and for me it has never changed. They are what they are.  Either you accept or you move on to the next country.  That's what I usually do!

When I return to Europe for my next adventure I will focus more on Germany, Austria and Switzerland.  They are more in line with my personality.  I'll always visit France but I'll be happy knowing that my next stop is Austria.

Guten Nacht.

Kelly

A few more silly things.....

This is a group of Asian tourists in Salzburg.  Not real sure why they needed matching outfits. Wait...there are 20,000 other Asian tourist in the area...they need to be able to spot their group members.  

One needs a place to wash their Tiger....right?    

 

Not sure what they are trying to say here.  Be careful with my Pies??

Not sure if this advertising is suppose to appeal to the human or the deer?  If you were a deer would you wear this dress?  hmmm......Austrians really like their animals!

hmmm....would you buy this dress for your giraffe?

A shop that makes girdles!

A few silly things

A different, but legal, way of parking a Smart car.

This is the French trying to make an English Sign...didn't quite get it right. 

Seriously?  10 scoops?  I never saw one purchased.

Means something different in U.S.A. This is a fine clothing store in France.