Europe Road Ways. How We Do It. Two on the Loose. Dan with down travels anywhere.: 2007

Why We Do It: After-the-Fact, Spin-Off Interests

The After-Home Rewards. Research at Home

Dan as Samson in Spain, but with Roman Ruins

Our idea from the start was this: Skip the bus. And it works.

Here are some of the areas we explored after getting back:

1. Petr Ginz. From our trip to the Czech Republic and Poland, see the places known to the child diarist, Petr Ginz, from Prague, World War II, at Places of Petr Ginz; and reflections on what his life means to those of us who come after, at Petr Ginz, Life and Legacy.

2. War. From battlefields in Europe, see World War Sites; and Studying World Wars.

3. Cultural/political looks in the mirror. For political and philosophical topics, and our own culture through our camera's eye and our mind's eye, see Joy of Equivocating and the Fear of Fog.

4. Disposable people.

Dec

Pictograph T-shirt for the traveler's holiday

Sign Language: Universal Symbols

The Brightest Idea on the Block

We have no connection with this product at all, but if we find one, we'll carry it.

In the glove compartment.

Sometimes you really need a fast answer, or a fast point.

Shopping. Other need? Like the necessary?

Don't get lost in the phrase book. Point.

Sep

Pay child support before asking for a passport. Pay all bills.

Pay your bills in advance

Make extra payment to tide you over.

Also pay that child support before requesting a passport.

Family in ticket line, Bosnice, Slovakia

.

Pay your bills before you go. Use online to set up payments while you are away, even a flat amount anticipating charges. Take no chances on late fees.

Estimated taxes, anything. Get it done or set it up.

Child support. If this topic applies, pay up first, seek passport later.

Sep

The Necessary; the WC. The Way to Go.

Wallet Phrase List

Where is the WC?

When In Need....

We found WC facilities, and even if just in time, at each need-related event. Just learn how to ask for it. WC means "water closet" in most of Europe. Or just say, toiletten, or a variation. Pointing gets you nowhere. They may think you are seeking to buy pants, and lead you to a haberdashery.

Europe's WC's are usually very well maintained. However, there can be a distance.

Aug

Juggling languages and currencies - Your Own Crib Sheet

Currency Converter Crib Sheet -- Your Own.

Set it up for multiple currencies.

Take baggies.

Slovakia, currency and coin

Money.

1. Crossing several country boundaries in one trip takes some planning, for money changing, emergencies and eating, and directions.

If you act spontaneously, you will need to find bank-o-mats - ATM's - for your plastic. They are there, but not always outside. End up in a bank. While you are there, ask where the local ATM's usually are.

2. Plan ahead in the US.

Jun

Airport tips; Jet lag; Cash stash; Fares

Surviving the Airport Maze

Locating the Airport

Write Out the Name of your Airport

There can be several near your city

Oops. Wrong airport. Spin that wheel! Go back! Go back!

A. Airports

1. Be sure you have directions to the specific airport you need, and by name.

The generic airport plane symbols on the road may lead you to a secondary airport, not the one you wanted. Paris -- multiples. Prague, same.

Jun

Mechanics: Cell phones; Travel insurance; GPS

Cell phone optional.

Our system doesn't do reservations anyway.

Travel insurance. Yes.

Take a GPS.

High Tatras, Poland, Slovakia border

Exposure travel. Here we are, in the High Tatras, between Slovakia and Poland.

1. So far, we do not carry cell phones.

We have always found helpful people and like human contact. Too hard to understand accents on phones anyway. We use email at public internet or hotel internet to contact home.

This may backfire.

Jun

Guide to the blog cluster, Europe Road Ways

Outline of Europe Road Ways Blog Cluster

And following people in bronze

See Site indexes now, at Gristmill Sites by Dint

Country road, Poland.

The more years that we take our trips, the more complex our homespun web sites become. Here is the needed road map:

1. The nuts and bolts of our trips are here at Europe Road Ways - How We Do It. We also have a URL at Europe Road Ways on the Web

2. All our photos, comments, link addresses and history are at country blogs.

Jun

2007: Back from Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia. Our Domesday Book.

A Preparations Inventory

Our Own Domesday Book of Travel tips

Dan and Travel Night Life, in his trusty travel rain jacket;

Everybody needs an inventory sometime. An early one was The Domesday Book, a land and other inventory commissioned by William the Conqueror in England in 1085. For Domesday Book, see learningcurve.gov.uk/focuson/domesday; or domesdaybook.co.uk.

Jun

Mapping by Music

Follow songs.

Polka band, Czestochowa, Poland

We had no place songs for Poland, and only heard a few polkas. Still, we sang Roll Out The Barrel. This group was playing for a Polish banquet in Czestochowa.

We map by songs, where we can. In Ireland and Scotland, or Italy and Spain, we went to a place because there was a song about it. Then sang it loud while we went. If we couldn't get to it, we sang anyway.