For the past two years, we have splurged on two “big” trips, 2 weeks each year in Europe to travel to Rome, Florence, London, Edinburgh, and Paris.
We are late to the party when it comes to big trips like these, and we realize that traveling will only get more difficult due to our age and the wear and tear on our bodies. I might like to take another trip to Paris since it is my favorite, and there is still so much to see and experience.
In the meantime, there are so many places in the United States I haven’t explored. I’m beginning to create a list and need help prioritizing it!
Dear Reader — what is your top recommendation for a place of beauty, inspiration, and joy in the United States?
On this last trip, I had a few random thoughts to share.
Foreign Cities
1) We live in the suburbs, and a car is essential. But when we travel, we often visit urban areas. The urban scene, with shops, cafes, and businesses all clustered together in and among the hotels and tourist areas, is very different.
Would we feel the same if we vacationed in downtown Nashville, Norfolk, or Austin?
2) The foreign cities we have visited have extensive public transportation opportunities, from subways to trains, buses to water taxis.
Why do the cities I have lived in not prioritize public transportation?
3) The iconic sights of Great Britain, France, and Italy are steeped in ancient history, with buildings that have stood for centuries. In contrast, our country is relatively young. While we do have our own iconic sights, they are viewed from a different perspective.
How might the presence of ancient historical buildings and artifacts influence the culture of European people, particularly the youth and their education?
Hard vs Soft Wheat
4) I am sensitive to wheat—or at least I am when I am in the United States. The results of eating wheat are not pleasant. But when I travel in Europe, I enjoyed the baguettes, croissants, and pasta. Since I resonate with the lyrics, “I like bread and butter, I like toast and jam,” I want to figure out how to bring European wheat products to my breakfast table!
Why can’t we grow the “soft” wheat so well-known in Europe?
Space and Time
5) We went to Europe during the “shoulder” season on purpose in hopes of saving money and experiencing fewer crowds. The crowds, though, were overwhelming. I don’t do well in crowds. The shuffling from exhibit to exhibit following onlookers is particularly tiring. Being short and unable to see over the heads of the crowds is frustrating. Feeling pressed on every side so that all the world can see a single exhibit in a particular moment is claustrophobic. I know it would irritate some, but I wish the entrance to highly sought-after museums, palaces, and events required timed entry. If each building only allowed half the number of people they currently allow, there would be space to view everything!
I wondered about fire marshal regulations in some of those buildings we visited.
6) Space is valued differently in the European cities we visited. This may be due to their status as urban or historic areas. Each hotel we stayed in had minimal floor space and tiny bathrooms. French cafes often feature small, round tables that are closely packed together, barely allowing for four orders of food, and certainly not enough room for elbows on the table.
What makes Americans (or maybe just me) expect more personal space?
7) Are space and time related? I wonder about this in the context of those French cafes where tables are closely packed together. These cafes have a different turnover rate compared to our American restaurants. In a typical cafe, you can keep your table for hours if you like, and no one is in a hurry to finish their food, get their check, or clear the table. It took me a little practice to get used to relaxing around the table and enjoying conversation. I might need to return to Paris to master that art!
What contributes to our tendency to eat quickly and leave, rather than linger over dinner?
I will save other random thoughts and questions for later!
Dear Reader – tell me about your travel! What advice do you have for a novice wanderer?
