European Vacation

Driving 120 km (not miles, which is about 72) down highway A4, I attempted to pass a car on the right.  I accelerate as I move into the left lane when all of the sudden the dash board lights up like a Christmas tree.  Red, green, yellow lights flash all around as the car decelerates down to 60 km per hour (36 miles per hour).  With my hazards on, I quickly scan for the next off ramp as cars and trucks pass.  Finally, I pull of at the nearest stop and try to understand what just happened.  Before phoning the rental service about a problem with the car, we decide to write down the stop which we pulled off at.  I walk down the side of the off ramp and take down the name….Rastplatz.  Proud of my accomplishment of pinpointing our location, I am informed that Rastplatz is German, meaning rest place, which there are upwards of 30 just on highway A4.  After 20 more minutes of driving through the mountains of Austria at speeds ranging from 60 to 110 depending on the ascend or descend, we arrive at a gas station.  After a short rest which the car thought I might scrape it at a junk yard, all was somehow fixed and we were back on the road home.

Having numerous relatives and friends visit over the last couple months, as well as exploring new areas myself, travel in Europe can be different when compared to the US.  To conserve electricity, many European hotels require the insertion of the key card into a slot beside the door.  Arriving into the hotel room late afternoon, I attempted to switch the light on to guide my path through the room.  After several unsuccessful tries and switches (including the TV) to restore power to the room, I ended up showering in a dark bathroom with half hearted attempt to light the room with the reflection from multiple mirrors.  Easiest solution is to insert the key card near the door and power the room. The benefit is you won’t lose your key when you are in the room.  Also, there are times when a hotel may provide you with the heavy, old-fashioned tassel key. When heading out to explore, it’s customary to leave the key with the desk clerk so the cleaning staff knows when the room is vacant.

In the U.S., hotels typically contain two full-sized or one larger bed (a king or a queen). In Europe, many guest rooms consist of two single mattresses, either separated or pushed together. Your “king” will have a seam.  And in most of the world, a luxurious bed isn’t soft and plush; it’s usually firm.  This was the case at one hotel which the bed was literally stiffer than a board, and the pillow was even worse.

Unlike in the US which “Hi,” is used as the conversation starter, it does not fly in Europe. Locals may even be insulted. At a minimum, learn how to say “Good day,” “Good evening,” “Thank you,” in the local language.  In Slovakia, Dobre Rano (Good morning), Dobre Den (day), Dobre Vecer (evening), and Dobre Noc (night) are used when greeting people on the street, and Dakujem (thank you), and dovidenia (good bye) are also very common when ending the conversation.

In some countries, hailing a cab isn’t easy, so learn where the taxi stands are.  Cabbies can be fined for picking up a fare in the middle of the street in some cities.  You have to find your way to a marked taxi stand (ask a local), or head to a hotel lobby and have them hail or call a cab for you.  In Bratislava, it is best to call a taxi, otherwise you might pay 4 times the going rate.

The influence of American casualness can be observed differently through Europe.  Locals in Italy dress for a night on the town which shorts are off limits, while those in  Barcelona, and even London are much more laid-back and diverse, clothing-wise. 

When it comes to food, you get what you ordered.  Meaning the sautéed scrimp on the menu will come complete with head and legs, or the bake fish with head and eyes.  But there is always McDonalds for anyone not brave enough to sample the local cuisines; I am heading to MCDs every other month, but much better than when I originally arrived and went every other day.  Also, living in America, I became so use to seedless…seedless watermelon, grapes, oranges, etc.  That is not the case here, were you have to deal with the seeds, but on the plus side, it does taste better.  Last but not least, as both my dad and brother have pointed out, when ordering a pop or water at a restaurant, it rarely comes with ice unless specifically requested.

At the site of the pedestrian-only sidewalk

Finally, back to driving, which I have become the master of roundabouts, but still unable to drive manual.  In most European countries, head lights are required to be on at all times, even during daylight hours.  Also, the way highway tolls are collected can vary from country to country.  Poland, Italy, and Croatia collect tolls at designated booths, however, in Austria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Slovenia, you must buy vignettes, or toll stickers at the first gas station or face a large fine.  But the nice thing on highways in Europe is people respect the traffic rules, and always pass on the left side only.  Finally, don’t let GPS replace common thinking.  For example, the tourists in Australiawho tried to drive through a bay or the Belgian woman who tried to drive to the nearby train station and ended up at the Croatia border.  While driving up the narrow streets on the mountain in San Marino while searching for the hotel, I let GPS guide me up the pedestrian-only sidewalk to the castle.  After seeing tourists scramble, I aborted the mission, and retreated down a side street which turned out to be the street I was looking for.

Croatian guardrail - I do not even thing it can support itself, let alone a car