Advice and observations

We've been on the road for nearly two weeks. During the last month, we've talked about different things we've noticed, points about which we'd advice another traveler, things we have learned, things we wish that we had known. Here are a few of our observations, jotted down in no particular order.

 . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’t walk in the bike lanes.

Drink more coffee than you think you’ll need.

Carry an umbrella to prevent rain.

(Its effectiveness is directly proportional to its weight.)

“Please. Thank you. It’s delicious. Beautiful. I’m sorry.” These are essential phrases, and they can be uttered randomly if accompanied with a helpless expression.

Count on trains to leave on time. But – it’s better to miss a train than get on the wrong train.

Cheese sandwiches on park benches provide the best dining option about 90 percent of the time – depending on the cheese quality – and maybe the weather.

When you travel in hot cities, and you don’t have air conditioning in the room, the street noise at night prevents sleep – and leads to cumulative exhaustion.

Travel with earplugs. Don’t be afraid to use air conditioning if it’s provided.

Hare Krishna are everywhere – and show up when not expected.

Hostels are a good option for housing. They can no longer be written off as collegiate flophouses. They now offer private rooms, apartments, and most importantly communal spaces occupied by travelers of all ages, shapes & sizes. The concierge service offered is extensive and 24 hour – and is some of the most helpful & knowledgeable we’ve experienced on this trip.

There is no perfect formula for finding the perfect place to stay. Summer is hot. Cities are loud. Air conditioning is not always effective.

When booking accommodations on-line, one is instructed to print vouchers & bring them along. Do so. We had to use ours more than once to actually get amenities that were promised.

If you are traveling by train, oversized luggage is a problem. Floor storage is limited. Often the only place to put luggage is on overhead racks.

Do not try to pronounce the Hungarian language as if it followed English pronunciation rules. You will hurt yourself.

When traveling in Hungary, realize that you are traveling in a country called Madya . . . .

Hungarian bathrooms are very nice – some of the best we’ve visited – including Austria and Germany.

Hungarian pastries: Delicious. More than five a day may be excessive.

Zagreb is underrated. Salzburg is overrated.

Slovenian coast – sad to say – is overrated. It’s thick with development, crammed, and expensive.

In Croatia, the hills of Istria are magnificent. You can find ancient and quiet villages, and untouched archeological sites. But – there are also towns that have very developed tourism business.

European public transit compares very favorably to the US. In all the countries we’ve visited. No question.

A lesson learned in taking foreign public transit is – “Slow Down!” This lesson is applicable to life in general.

The world is being crushed by the weight of plastic bottles. Drink tap water when possible. Carry a canvas bag.

In Italy and other countries, small cities & towns still hold siesta hours. Don’t expect to find stores open from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Traveling in warmer weather lightens the load of the suitcase. In addition, purchasing travel garments made by outdoor wear purveyors is wise.

Sending stuff home is an expensive way to lighten your load.

Tourists are the people who get off the couch. Don’t be ashamed. Wave your map proudly.