The King's English, but Does It Matter?

2022-10-28 9 min read Travel Europe Rob Warner

Most people in Europe, especially in the big cities, can speak English. We could have made our way through this entire trip in English. Wanting a fuller, more authentic experience, though, we studied some of the native tongues. Laura already knew a little French. I knew Spanish. And we studied some Italian. We were ready to build bridges through words. Once we learned a little French in Paris, we got cocky. Continue reading

Glorieta de la Transexual Sonia

2022-10-27 3 min read Travel Europe Rob Warner

People used to walk around unfamiliar cities without GPS-enabled smartphones. Picture a flock of tourists huddled around a poster-sized paper map that has been folded and refolded until the creases have frayed. They’re jabbing at the map and waving toward landmarks. They shield their eyes from the sun as they search in vain for street signs, arguing about whether the map is right side up or upside down. Ancient tools for ancient times. Continue reading

The Seething Streets of Europe

2022-10-25 9 min read Travel Europe Rob Warner

The Arc de Triomphe stands at the head of the Champs-Elysses, the Parisian avenue famed for its shopping venues. We took a metro to the avenue’s foot, Place de la Concorde. A convertible gray Ferrari zoomed past, testament to the wealth of the area’s clientele. I couldn’t pull out my phone in time to snap a picture, but I did get one of a subsequent Lamborghini for hire: A missing letter from a protective eyewear shop tickled my sophomoric sense of humor: Continue reading

Culture Nudge

2022-10-01 3 min read Travel Europe Rob Warner

In Europe, “Fast service is considered rude service,” per Rick Steves1. In France, “It’s often frustrating to get even minor issues resolved,” claims blogger Diane2. Before Karen and Chad got ugly with customer service in America, Americans got ugly in Europe. Life moves at different paces, or so I’ve read. Different continents. Different cultures. We have learned that we should expect life in Europe to be different. We haven’t arrived in Europe yet, and haven’t experienced any culture shock . Continue reading

Europe: The Final Countdown

2022-09-14 2 min read Travel Europe Rob Warner

In three weeks, we board a Embraer E175, which is apparently an airplane and not a coffee grinder, and fly to JFK. We’ll fill a few hours dining, lounging, and slouching across chairs designed for discomfort. Just before our nerves snap from ennui, we’ll file onto an Airbus A330-300, which is precisely what it sounds like, with 286 other travelers. Next stop? Gay Paree. We’ve been planning this trip for over a year. Continue reading