Chapter 9 of
HOW TO EUROPE
The Complete Travelers Handbook
By John Bermont. Internet edition.
A page from
enjoy-europe.com
with photographer and author
John Bermont.
If Marco Polo had not written it down nobody would know that he had gone to China.
TRAVEL DIARY
Why?
A well kept travel journal can be more interesting than a load of photographs, reversing the cliché.
Your friends will want to know all about your trip, and your diary will be your
authoritative reference. Use your travel record as a supplement to your photography. Next winter
you can assemble your photos and notes and the other junque you pick up. Ten years from now,
or fifty, you'll be glad you did. Maybe you can publish your travel memoirs.
In addition to serving as a diary, your travel record should also serve as your personal data
book.
The Book
My favorite type of diary is a small 3½" by 5½" book with 192 lined pages. It has a sewn
binding, flex cover, mini pocket in the back, a ribbon page marker, and a band to wrap around it.
This is a scosche shorter than your passport, but thicker, and easily fits in a hip or breast pocket.
You can look through the rack of little black books in a large stationery or office supply store and select
one that suits you. Don't buy one with the dates already in place. You want to do this yourself because
you will write several pages for some days and almost nothing for others. I found a little book
called "Markings" made by C.R. Gibson on Amazon. It is perfect. I wrote my definition from it. See the
advert at the top of the column on the left.
Before You Go
Start by writing your name, home address, European address (if any), email address, and
phone number inside the front cover. Also, you might state that you will pay the postage and/or a
reward if a finder will mail it back to you.
Record your passport number and place and date of issue and/or glue a copy of your
passport ID page inside the front cover of your travel book.
Record addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of all of your family and friends
in a few pages so you won't need to tote along a separate address book.
Note all of your flight information. This includes your flight record number (reservation
number), ticket number, flight numbers, departure and arrival times, and cities of course. Record
the phone number of your travel agent or whoever it was that you bought your plane ticket from.
If needed, record your ISP's URL, DNS numbers, email and news servers, and dial up
number. If you have roaming access get the details from your ISP. This would be a good time to
sign on for a free email account from one of the major internet service providers. These allow you
to keep in touch using any internet connection anywhere on the planet.
Write in your expected itinerary, must-sees, must-dos, and shopping list.
Tape a calendar inside the back cover. I prefer one like those in the back of small desk
calendars.
Optional
The following information can be recorded in your travel journal but you may want to put it on a
separate piece of paper instead and keep it in your wallet. As you can see, if someone picked
your travel journal your identity would be compromised but not lost.
Record the name, address, and phone number of your bank, insurance company, employer,
boss's home, doctor, dentist, landlord, clubs, church, lodge, friends, a couple of neighbors,
and whomever else you may want to send a card to or who you might want to contact
in an emergency. Include account numbers, I.D. numbers, due dates, and etc.
Record the name, address, phone number, monthly payment date, and last 4 digits of the
account number for each of your active credit cards. Keep the user names, PIN numbers,
and passwords out of your book.
Record the brand name and serial number of each of your traveler's checks, but do not
throw the receipt away.
Go through your checkbook for the last year to see who you do business with. Write
down names, addresses, phone numbers, account numbers, and due dates. You may not need the
information while in Europe, but if you do, getting it will be expensive and a peck of trouble from
the other side of the Atlantic.
If you have a short memory record a clue word for your user names, PINs, and passwords on a separate
small piece of paper or business card, but not the actual user names, PINs, or passwords. Secret
this away in your toilet kit or whatever. The general rule in Europe is that PINs
should be 4 digits. If yours is not 4 digits change it before you go. For your PINs use numbers, not
alphabetic characters, because most keypads only have numbers. The general rule of 4 digits may be
a traveler's legend, but the lack of alpha characters on keypads is nearly universal.
Where and When
After all of the above, the book is ready to serve as your daily journal. Start each day with
an entry of the date, day of the week (you can easily forget while traveling), and city you're in at
the moment, underlined, and the weather report. People always want to know how the weather was.
Make notes while waiting for service in restaurants, waiting for trains to depart
(writing in a moving train is usually difficult), on ships, and before you start counting sheep. It's
interesting to write in restaurants. Service seems to speed up when the waiter sees you writing.
Maybe (s)he thinks you are writing a review of the restaurant. Why not? I have been questioned about
what I was writing in my book. Never leave it on the table unattended. It is more valuable than
your camera.
What
Chronologically record names, addresses, and phone/fax numbers of hotels and
restaurants, room numbers, menu items, and prices you paid. Mention sights, letters and cards
sent, and miscellaneous info that might prove useful later. Make a note on anything that strikes
your fancy or that you might want to recommend to others later. Write in contact information
for people you meet on your trip with whom you intend to keep in touch, even if you never do.
How Much
Also, keep detailed records of your expenses and currency exchange transactions. This
will help you in checking your credit card bills, and in completing your expense report. Many
times you do not receive receipts for small items that add up over the weeks. If you have any
thoughts about becoming a travel writer, even an article for your local newspaper, this record will
be valuable in establishing your expenses when calculating your taxes. It's not deductible —
it's a business expense on your schedule C.
Take the time to write out what the expense was for. My records become so cryptic when
I'm in a hurry that it's difficult later to figure out what some things are.
NETBOOK COMPUTER
One of the handiest travel devices I own is a netbook computer. I take it with me wherever I go. It
is a full blown computer in a very petite case and weighs almost nothing. Well, actually it weighs
1,321 grams, just under 3 pounds. Add in the carrying case, battery charger, and operating manuals and it's
up to a whopping 4 pounds 2 ounces.
My machine is an Asus Eee PC 1000. It runs on the Linux operating system. I chose Linux for security since most
of the hijackers and computer crackers attack MS Windows system computers. MS continues to make it easy
to hack into their system, much to the delight of the hackers and the ones making the really big money,
the anti-virus software companies. The latest model advertised in the right column comes with Windows 7.
You can download and install Linux.
WiFi
The Asus has a built in WiFi device which allows me to go on line in many hotels,
B&Bs, cafes, trains, and ships. Sometimes it is "free." Internet "cafes" typically
charge $5 to $15 per hour. Libraries, if you can find one, are
less expensive and often free for limited time use. If you are planning to do
a lot of internet time a service like Boingo
would probably be worthwhile. Boingo seems to be everywhere.
Photographs
The Asus has an SD card slot. This allows me to take the memory cards out of my
cameras and plug them into the computer for direct transfer
of my photos. I can view them on screen immediately. I use Picassa3. A free download
is available at Picassa. Then, with Adobe Photoshop,
I can crop and edit the ones I want to keep. Here is a link to the latest version,
Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 (Win/Mac).
Spreadsheet
The Asus computer software includes a spreadsheet. I use this on the return flight home
to do my expense report, sorting through my receipts and travel journal to see
where I was and what I bought. If you are in the business world you know how
important that expense report is. The flight home is 8 to
10 hours of dead time, a perfect opportunity to get it all done.
Speak and Peek with Skype
The Asus has a camera and microphone built in. I recently learned to use this to keep
in touch with Stephanie in Paris using Skype. Skype is the greatest invention since round
wheels. You get a free download and free telephoning around the world, with on
screen video of the person you are talking with. See the advert at the bottom of the
column on the left.
Downside
There is no built-in CD or DVD player on an Asus. However there are USB ports to connect external devices,
plus a LAN port.
TRAVEL BLOG
I have never done this but I have seen many other travel blogs on the web.
Establish an account at Blogger
or WordPress. Download the free
software. Follow directions and upload text and photos as you travel. See
Internet and Email in Europe
for details of going on line throughout Europe. Let
your friends know the URL of your blog so they can follow you around Europe, and
comment back. You'll have
a permanent record of your expedition when you return. Always keep a back-up on a
flash drive. Your parents will feel more secure
knowing where you are, and your friends will wish they had gone with you.
My daughter Stephanie spent most of the 2010 summer in Paris and Italy. She started a
blog which you can read at O hey Europe.
My brother Chris and wife Katie also blogged their 2010 summer trip to Holland,
Denmark, and France
at DancinginDenmark&Mo. Ken Northrup,
a reader of this site, recently emailed me with a link to his blog at
Ken's Travel Blog - A Journeyman's Companion.
Ken's slant on some things is not the same as mine, but what the heck. Everybody has a different set
of experiences in Europe and you learn from all of them.
If you start a blog of your European trip send me the URL and I'll get you linked also.
AUDIO TAPE RECORDER
Convenient
A cassette tape recorder is a handy way of making notes of your travels. I have found this to be an
especially worthwhile endeavor while driving alone through Europe. You see a lot of unusual things and don't have
time to stop and write it down or take a picture. I used a tape recorder on drives
through France, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, and Czechoslovakia. The recordings made
on the spot jiggle the memory better than photos. In addition to being interesting and amusing when you play
it back later, the background sounds of radio and street noise bring back more of the experience.
Just imagine yourself as Howard Cosell, turn on the machine, and start talking about what you
see, what you're doing, and what you're thinking (within reason).
Microcassette
Microcassette recorders are much smaller, lighter, and more convenient to carry than
ordinary recorders. This is a plus if you are traveling by train or other public transportation.
I carry one in a pocket of my jacket in all my travels. My Sony has been working like a champ for 15 years.
Tapes
Bring some cassette or microcassette tapes to fit your recorder. Tapes can also be
purchased in Europe.
VIDEO RECORDER
Advantages
A video recorder is an outstanding way to record your travels in Europe. I have
used a Sony 8 mm video recorder for a number of years throughout Europe. It is really nice if you
are traveling with your family. These moments won't come again but you have them forever.
I have upgraded to a tiny digital video recorder, a Canon HD DVR. It is much smaller and
produces better results than the magnetic tape of a VCR. Portable VCRs had a short life
span in the commercial market. New technology comes out every hour.
Battery
DVRs come with rechargeable batteries and a battery charger brick. Check that it is good for
110-240 volts and 50/60 Hz before bringing it to Europe. See chapter 11,
Electricity in Europe:
Travel Voltage
Fundamentals for
details. It is a good idea to carry a fully charged spare battery.
NTSC, SECAM, PAL
With the proper connections, you might think that you can watch your videos using the
televisions in your European hotel rooms. Sorry. Television systems are different in Europe, as
explained in chapter 22, part 1,
Moving to Europe:
Travel to the Max as an Expatriate. The USA uses a television broadcast system
called NTSC. Europe does not. There are several television systems in use in Europe,
including SECAM and PAL. But if your hotel TV is multi-system and includes NTSC you will
be able to watch your videos if you have the video and audio cables with you,
maybe. The audio jacks on European and American TVs are compatible, but the video
jacks are different.
Don't buy a camcorder in Europe unless you have a multi-system television. Multi-system
televisions can be purchased in major department stores and electronic stores in
Europe and from a few stores in the USA.
NOTE TO READERS
I welcome questions and comments. If you have any concerns about your trip to
Europe that have not been covered well enough in this chapter do not hesitate to write and ask.
My email address is
johnbermont@enjoy-europe.com.
When you write please include as much detail as possible. There are about 50 countries in Europe.
It will help me answer if you mention the countries and/or cities you plan to visit.
I will reply in a day or two.
Don't forget to scroll through the Table of Contents below. The other 29 chapters of
HOW TO EUROPE:
The Complete Travelers Handbook
are also available, free to read on line. In addition, the Google search box below can locate specific subjects
in any chapter or page on site.
For a check-off punchlist of everything go to The Finale,
Packing List and Last Call:
For Travel in Europe.
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