1. Google maps offline - we couldn't travel abroad without them! I set my Ipad to airplane mode when we leave the US, and operate solely offline while navigating wherever we are. Particularly in Greece, where many signs did not have an English translation or any sign at all, Google maps offline got us where we wanted to go every time!
2. WiFi - Using airplane mode, I use WiFi in hotels and other lodging for internet. Internet in all of Europe is faster than what we experience in the US, so I am also able to make phone calls using WiFi.
Favorites:
Mallorca with Audrey, Lauren & Taylor - we explored a different beach each day, hiked on the ancient trail behind our house, explored nearby towns, and enjoyed meals outside on the patio - loved the time with family!
Time with childhood friend, Pam and her husband, Kenith, in France and Italy - they haven’t spent much time abroad and were willing to come along with us.
Lodging - Par la Rivière on the Dordogne
Restaurants - Every single meal was good, but particularly liked Cibus in Ceglie Messapica, Italy, Mezzaluna in Rhodes, and Valia Caldes in Kalambaka, Greece
Places -
Pylos, Greece - beautiful setting that we shared with the Emir of Qatar and his 404', $300 mil yacht
Delphi, Greece
St. Emilion, France
Matera, Italy
Lecce, Italy
Nafplion, Greece
Epidaurus Theater
Mycenae, Greece
Padirac Cave, France
Meteora, Greece
Navarino Castle, Greece, with its view of Voidokilia Beach below
Lascaux, France
La Roque Saint-Christophe troglodyte village, France
Cuevas de Arta, Mallorca
Palma, Mallorca
Stone walls of Mallorca and southern Italy
Trulli of southern Italy
Castles in Dordogne, France
Chateau Lamothe du Prince Noir - Black Prince’s hunting castle
Roads in Greece - wide and well paved, with long merge lanes, free parking everywhere
Surprises - southern Italy has been “found” and there were people and traffic everywhere.
Peloponnese and mainland Greece were primarily agricultural with little population, great roads, good food, and Oh So Cheap! It seems as Europe did 25-30 years ago, with local people trying to help us everywhere, and restaurants often bringing an extra course “on the house,” such as an appetizer or dessert.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites visited -
Serra de Tramuntana mountains in Mallorca
City of Bordeaux
St. Emilion
Lascaux, La Roque Saint-Christophe
Rocamadour
Cadouin Abbey
Trulli of Alberobello
Matera
Delphi
Olympia
Mycenae & Tyrins
Mystras
Medeival City of Rhodes
Hosias Loukas Monastery
Meteora
Conversations enjoyed along the way -
Julie and Mathieu at their vineyard, Le Grande Clotte near St. Emilion
Cosimo at Masseria San Paulo Grande near Ostuni
Athenisa, her husband, and son at Hotel Dimitra near Patras
Alex and Rebecca, from Barcelona, in a boat in Padirac Cave, and we’ve emailed since
French couple we met in a monastery in Meteora, then talked at another monastery, and saw them again at the grocery
And many more!
Cars driven: Papa is the driver, always! I'm the navigator, always!
Peugeot 208 - favorite of trip, Skoda Citigo, Renault Clio, Toyota Ayo - least favorite. All got good mileage, more than 45 mpg, with Skoda getting 60+ mpg. Many cars we see in Europe are not imported to the US.
So few police sightings over 6 weeks, we can count them on one hand.
Fresh organic foods - Europe doesn’t allow insecticides and other spraying of foods. We had lots of fresh fruits and vegetables every day.
Walked 219.2 miles June 11-July 25, about 5 miles/day.
We enjoy the historic sites in much of the world, outside the US. Much of the rest of the world developed to a higher degree thousands of years before Native Americans were settling into pueblos or Europeans came in the 1500’s, so they have more historic places to visit, longer traditions.
We love traveling on our own. We make the best of every situation, knowing that standards are not the same everywhere. We often find much more luxurious bathrooms when traveling in France and Italy than we do in the US. Meal times are a time to relax and enjoy the meal and conversation - in almost every place we travel outside the US - we don’t opt for fast food in the US and never abroad.
We enjoy travel in Europe without showing passports after landing first time - no more customs until back in US, regardless of number of countries traveled to. We flew on Volotea and Ryan Air, on flights from Mallorca to Bordeaux, Bordeaux to Bari, Bari to Rhodes, and Rhodes to Athens. The most expensive flight was $60. Europeans travel because it is so cheap!
Particularly when traveling, we are aware that we, as people, are all the same, regardless of skin color, religion, language spoken, or profession. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” is what we try to live by, regardless of where we are. We are not better in any way than people everywhere else. We are respectful of others wherever we are. We try to never be “those ugly Americans.” There are already plenty of them!
