Here are some tips to start off with--I'll post more as they come!
1) Always keep track of your backpacks/luggage. People out there can be quite sneaky and it is apparently very possible for someone to steal a backpack from under a table that people are eating at. Personally, when on a train I do not put my backpack up on the overhead luggage rack. This is because I want to keep an eye on my stuff and because I want to make sure no one "accidentally" takes my bag while I'm sleeping. Today on the train, I had my backpack on the ground in front of me. I was taking naps on and off, and went so far as to put my leg through the strap to make sure it wasn't going anywhere that I wasn't.
2) Know a few useful phrases like hello, thank you, etc. in the language of the country that you are visiting. [Refer to post entitled "Thank You"]
3) Pack as lightly as possible. For my mini-trips, I only take a backpack and a small purse. It makes traveling easier, especially when you have to go on metro-system trains that can be very full of people at times.
4) This may be kind of obvious, but have the name, address, and phone number of the place that you are going to be staying at. You never know if you will get lost or miss a train and then have to make changes in your plans.
5) Bring something to do on the train. You could always just sleep or look out the window on the train, but it definitely helps to have something else to keep yourself entertained. For me, it's Sudoku, my journal, and my MP3 player. (...obviously have not joined the iPad/iPod world lol.)
6) Wander. I think one of the best ways to see a city is to just wander around aimlessly (well semi-aimlessly since the aim would be to see the city). It is definitely okay to get lost sometimes. Just make sure you have a map in case you end up in some sketchy part of town...then it might be a good idea to turn around and try to figure out where to actually go. Also, it would be helpful if you wander in areas where there are people around or stores you can go to in order to ask for directions (just in case!).
7) Be curious. This goes along with #6. While you're walking and come across an interesting road, walk down it. You can always turn around and walk back to the path you were on if it ends up being boring in your standards. On the flip side though, it could be really cool. An example of this is when my friends and I were wandering around the ruins in Rome. I saw a little pathway/tunnel and decided to see where it led. I'm glad I went there because it led to another gorgeous view overlooking the Colosseum.
8) Try new food. If you are like me, you won't be able to fully read most menus that you come across in your travels abroad...unless you're super lucky and the restaurant has a translated menu! As I've said before, one of my goals is to try new things--including food! I've learned to not be too picky (I'm not sure if I could bring myself to eat things like beef tongue or duck liver...). I'm also learning more words here and there (e.g. the German word "Schinken" means ham, not chicken), and most times I want to try to be adventurous and go away from what I know and order something different, especially something native to the country that I am visiting. However, I'm definitely not at all saying that you shouldn't go with what you know!--It is great to be able to eat something that you are familiar with while you are away from home. This past weekend when I was in Paris, I went to a restaurant called Breakfast in America--ate scrambled eggs, pancakes, and bacon--delicious! (Side note: I have been wanting food from Taco Bell for the past month.)
Peace. Love. Happiness.
--TR
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