DAY 11 BEWARE and BE AWARE!
Beware of pickpockets! Be aware of your surroundings! Believe it or not, the most frequent pickpocket areas are in the churches. Make sure you have your money belt secure around your waist. When entering highly populated museums, churches, and venues; carry your daypack in front of you. Do not set your day pack down anywhere especially if you are taking a photo or making a visit into the public WC. Beware and Be Aware!
Beware of pickpockets! Be aware of your surroundings! Believe it or not, the most frequent pickpocket areas are in the churches. Make sure you have your money belt secure around your waist. When entering highly populated museums, churches, and venues; carry your daypack in front of you. Do not set your day pack down anywhere especially if you are taking a photo or making a visit into the public WC. Beware and Be Aware!
DAY 12 Rest for the Weary
Our walking averaged 8 to 9 miles a day while exploring the villages and towns. There are times, this pilgrim just needed to sit and to contemplate the day's adventure. My favorite resting spot is in a local church. Most of the time, the local churches are quiet with very few visitors. The perfect place to rest my weary feet and a moment of reflection.
Our walking averaged 8 to 9 miles a day while exploring the villages and towns. There are times, this pilgrim just needed to sit and to contemplate the day's adventure. My favorite resting spot is in a local church. Most of the time, the local churches are quiet with very few visitors. The perfect place to rest my weary feet and a moment of reflection.
DAY 13 Always had the best guide, Rick Steves!
Before I left home, I downloaded all of the Rick Steves' audio tours onto my phone and packed the BOE Book in my carry on. During our travels, before we arrived at a new location, I would tear the pages for the region out of my Rick Steves' bible and put them in my day pack. I referred to these pages on a regular basis for information about restaurants, local must see venues, and general information about the region. By the end of our trip, I left a tortured, torn book at the hotel. As a bible should be; it had been my friend and shown me the way through the backroads of Europe.
Before I left home, I downloaded all of the Rick Steves' audio tours onto my phone and packed the BOE Book in my carry on. During our travels, before we arrived at a new location, I would tear the pages for the region out of my Rick Steves' bible and put them in my day pack. I referred to these pages on a regular basis for information about restaurants, local must see venues, and general information about the region. By the end of our trip, I left a tortured, torn book at the hotel. As a bible should be; it had been my friend and shown me the way through the backroads of Europe.
DAY 14 Try New Things! Do Something Different!
Just because you don't like a certain food at home should not prevent you from a tasting in Europe. I do not care for Pesto! However, in Cinque Terre, I decided I would give it a try. Oh my goodness, DELICOUS! Part of your adventure is getting away from your norm. Give your soul an adventure!
Just because you don't like a certain food at home should not prevent you from a tasting in Europe. I do not care for Pesto! However, in Cinque Terre, I decided I would give it a try. Oh my goodness, DELICOUS! Part of your adventure is getting away from your norm. Give your soul an adventure!
DAY 15 Clean Clothes - Clean Spirit
So much excitement when you find a place to clean your travel outfit. On most of my travels, I rarely use a cleaning service. I usually just wash clothes in my room sink. However, during our travels, we were wet more than we were dry, and our clothes would not dry. The "Wash & Dry" in Cinque Terre was wonderful. They picked up our clothes at the inn and returned them the next day, scented with lavender. So many tour mates had their clothes washed that our bus smelled like lavender for our trip to France.
So much excitement when you find a place to clean your travel outfit. On most of my travels, I rarely use a cleaning service. I usually just wash clothes in my room sink. However, during our travels, we were wet more than we were dry, and our clothes would not dry. The "Wash & Dry" in Cinque Terre was wonderful. They picked up our clothes at the inn and returned them the next day, scented with lavender. So many tour mates had their clothes washed that our bus smelled like lavender for our trip to France.
DAY 16 Hospitality at it's Finest!
One of the greatest advantages of being part of the Rick Steves' tour team is the hospitality that is shown to us at ever turn in the road. Over the years, Rick Steves has developed strong relationships of trust and friendship with innkeepers and restaurant owners on the backroads of Europe. The innkeepers would greet us with such enthusiasm at each stop. They treated us as if we were their first and most important visitors ever. This royal treatment made our Europe
trip unique in many ways.
One of the greatest advantages of being part of the Rick Steves' tour team is the hospitality that is shown to us at ever turn in the road. Over the years, Rick Steves has developed strong relationships of trust and friendship with innkeepers and restaurant owners on the backroads of Europe. The innkeepers would greet us with such enthusiasm at each stop. They treated us as if we were their first and most important visitors ever. This royal treatment made our Europe
trip unique in many ways.
DAY 17 Useful Apps
These are a few of the useful Apps that I used throughout my travels: Rick Steves' Audio Europe, SnapShot Postcard,
Google Translate, AT&T Passport, USA Today, CityMaps2Go, Facebook, and Weather.
These are a few of the useful Apps that I used throughout my travels: Rick Steves' Audio Europe, SnapShot Postcard,
Google Translate, AT&T Passport, USA Today, CityMaps2Go, Facebook, and Weather.
DAY 18 Metro Locations...another photo trail
Once again, our wise tour guide, Keith, gave us a great travel tip. He had us take pictures of the Metro sign that we would take during the day. When we would return "home" for the day all we had to do is refer to our photo to confirm our route number for our final destination. Thanks again, Keith!
Once again, our wise tour guide, Keith, gave us a great travel tip. He had us take pictures of the Metro sign that we would take during the day. When we would return "home" for the day all we had to do is refer to our photo to confirm our route number for our final destination. Thanks again, Keith!
DAY 19 Can you say "BatoBus?"
One of my tour mates had been to Paris before and she suggested to me to take the BatoBus along the Seine where you can get on and off at your leisure in the heart of Paris. Off I went to discover this water taxi. I just walked along the Seine until I found one of the ticket booths and launches. The BatoBus runs about every 20 minutes or so at each stop. This was a wonderful way to explore Paris. The day ticket was less than 20 Euros and got me to all the spots I wanted to experience. At one point during the day, the a chilly rain began. No problem, the BatoBus is heated and a glass covered top. I would suggest this means of transportation to all.
One of my tour mates had been to Paris before and she suggested to me to take the BatoBus along the Seine where you can get on and off at your leisure in the heart of Paris. Off I went to discover this water taxi. I just walked along the Seine until I found one of the ticket booths and launches. The BatoBus runs about every 20 minutes or so at each stop. This was a wonderful way to explore Paris. The day ticket was less than 20 Euros and got me to all the spots I wanted to experience. At one point during the day, the a chilly rain began. No problem, the BatoBus is heated and a glass covered top. I would suggest this means of transportation to all.
DAY 21 Saying Good Bye to Your Travel Family
The gratitude and wonderment I feel towards the tour group of 28 will always hold a special place in my heart. The last day is sad in many ways, as you say "Adieu, mes amis!"
Make sure that you get contact information for your group; emails, addresses, Facebook, or whatever may be your favorite communication format. In months to come, you will want to share photos, greetings, and just a "hello."
The gratitude and wonderment I feel towards the tour group of 28 will always hold a special place in my heart. The last day is sad in many ways, as you say "Adieu, mes amis!"
Make sure that you get contact information for your group; emails, addresses, Facebook, or whatever may be your favorite communication format. In months to come, you will want to share photos, greetings, and just a "hello."