Bastille Day is the common name given in English-speaking countries to the national day of France, which is celebrated on 14 July each year.
In French, it is formally called la Fête nationale and commonly and legally le 14 juillet.
Plane Etiquette
Flight attendants have compiled a list of some basic etiquette rules airline passengers should follow. Take a look and let me know if you agree.
Don’t stow your luggage anywhere. Place it close to where you are sitting. Use the space by your feet for your smaller bags.
On long flights remember to get up and move around. However, this doesn’t mean to use the flight attendant’s galley space as your own personal yoga studio.
Use your own space…not your neighbor’s space. That means side, front, and behind you.
Don’t take off your socks. The floor is not that clean. Plus, who wants to smell your feet.
Speaking of clean, it’s not a good idea to eat right off the tray table without wiping it with some disinfectant wipes. Someone may have changed their baby’s diaper on it the flight before yours.
Stay hydrated.
Don’t turn off the air vent. If you’re cold, put on a sweater.
Don’t jump up the minute the plane lands to deplane. If your connecting flight is tight, tell a flight attendant and she or he will get you off quickly. Otherwise, wait your turn. Don’t try to jump in front of the little old lady trying to get her bag down from the overhead bin. It just isn’t polite.
State Department Advisories
State Department advisories can be confusing, if you don’t know what you are reading.
Right now, there are about 210 advisories from the US State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs. All destinations are ranked from levels 1 to 4.
Level One says to exercise normal precautions. Level Two says to exercise increased precautions. Level Three says to reconsider travel. Level Four says do not travel as the US may have limited ability to assist you.
Warnings range from possible terrorist attacks in Italy to arbitrary enforcement of local laws in China to extreme and unpredictable weather in Antarctica.
There is an advisory warning of violent crimes in the Dominican Republic.
More than half of the advisories are at Level 1, the lowest level. This tells travelers to exercise normal precautions. Keep in mind, there could be higher levels within a country or a region.
What does this mean for you, as a traveler? Read the warnings before you book and before you go. Pay attention if there are any specific warnings for your area of travel. Be sure to read the entire warning and don’t just look for the level. For instance, the advisory for Barbados says there is nothing to worry about. Keep reading and you will find there are certain areas where two businesses are running pirate ship cruises at night. These have caused problems and issues for many tourists.
Situations change quickly, especially in high-risk areas.
If you sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program you will receive alerts if something changes. It also provides ways for the US Embassy to reach you, if necessary.
Happy July 4th
Off to Europe
Looking for a check list to help you plan your trip abroad? Check out these helpful hints.
Check your cell phone coverage. Do you have a plan that covers you in Europe? Do you need to add a plan? Or, are you planning on buying a SIM card once you land?
Make copies of all your documents. All. Email a copy to yourself and store it in the cloud. Give paper copies to your traveling partner, if you have one.
Register for STEP. I’ve mentioned this previously. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program was created by the US Department of State to notify local embassies about your travel plans. You will be contacted in case of an emergency or security advisory in your destination. It’s free and easy to register. Though you may not need to enroll every time you leave the country, I always do.
Notify your bank and credit card companies of your plans. No sense having a credit card or bank deny a transaction because they didn’t know you were in Paris and not at home in Denver.
Download any offline maps you can. That way you will always be able to look at a map.
Pay attention to the exchange rate. If you don’t get any money ahead of time, you will want to know what it will cost you once you land.
Before you leave, charge all your electronics. Everything. If you have everything plugged in…don’t walk out the door without the devices and their chargers.
Remember to take a plug adapter to use in Europe or wherever you are going.
No Stress Travel
Your trip is just around the corner. Are you ready?
Did you do your research before setting off to the airport? Let’s say you want to visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Maybe even go to the top. Did you know there are thousands of visitors all wanting to do the same thing?
You are sure to be disappointed if you arrive, expect to purchase your ticket, and head to the top. Those long lines? They are full of people who didn’t plan. If you really want to do this, plan well in advance and go online to look at tickets. Once you have your ticket reservation, read the time you need to arrive to stand in line with your ticket.
Perhaps it is your first time in London, and you want to see everything. Not the best idea. For one, you cannot possibly see everything. There is so much to be savored and so many places to explore. Be realistic and decide what is really important to you. Save some sights for the next time. Trust me, you’ll be happier.
Think about your connecting flights, your travel time, and what transportation you will be taking. Remember to factor in the time you need to wait for a bus or taxi or Uber.
Remember to relax. This is vacation, after all.
It is a good idea to schedule but not over plan. Getting lost in the back streets of Venice may be just the most fun of the trip.
Map & Atlas Museum
Map & Atlas Museum of La Jolla
Not your typical museum. Not even what you might think of when you hear map and atlas museum.
Yes, there are maps and atlases. Maps of the world from the 1400s to a map of Disneyland from 1958 to a map of the TWA route from 1930. And, everything in between.
This collection is eclectic, educational, and astounding. With their goal of creating an awareness and appreciation for the geography, history, politics, and artistic beauty of antique maps and atlases, they have succeeded.
Different exhibitions include maps categorized by Exploration, Colonization, California as an Island, and Sea Charts. Other galleries include maps of Europe, Africa, Asia, New England, a 1946 map of California wine areas, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the 1816 first edition of John Melish’s map of the US.
Education opportunities abound for school kids to adults. Keep looking. You’re sure to see something different every time you visit. I have.
The most recent visit featured an exhibit of pictorial maps from Museum Founder Mr. Michael Stone’s collection. Maps including Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Disneyland USA 1958, San Francisco, and one titled A Hysterical Map of the Mother Lode where California was Born and Hell was Raised.
In another room the San Zeno Wheel. It consists of three movable disks that turn on a central axis, a device known as a volvelle. The disks are made of pine, covered in vellum, giving the impression of a huge manuscript sheet. It was originally made for the Basilica of San Zeno in Verona. Just have to see it to believe it.
Next time you’re in La Jolla…stop and visit. Admission is free.
If You Go: The Map & Atlas Museum of La Jolla is located 7825 Fay Street, Suite LL-A (lower level courtyard) in La Jolla. It is open Wednesdays and Thursdays and the 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 11 to 4.
Book It
Travel Sites
With so many travel sites available, what do you use to book your trip?
Travelocity and Expedia: Did you know that Expedia owns Travelocity? Both are fairly transparent when it comes to booking. In fact, there is a feature they use to make sure you understand what you’re getting before you book.
Trip Advisor, the parent of SmartTravel, is probably best known for its hotel reviews. Now, those ratings apply to airlines as well. You may not get the best prices here, but it does give you the option to book with Expedia and Travelocity. I’ve noticed you can also put in non-stop when looking for flights.
Google Flights is a powerful site. Its metasearch capability has no ads. You can give your departure and arrival airports and it will show you prices and dates. It also allows you to get emails and updates. If your dates are flexible, this is a great one to check out.
Kayak has been around since somewhere in the mid-2000s. It’s still one of the most powerful metasearch sites. I like the alert option when I’m searching for flight and their prices.
BookIt.com has many features that others have with one exception. They use a chart instead of a scroll down feature. It just makes it easer to compare, in my opinion.
One Travel is similar to Google Flights in the calendar search method. However, keep in mind they do charge a service fee of up to $35 per ticket.
Travelzoo lets you search broad timelines like this week, next month, or later this fall. You can enter a month or a season.
There are more available. I’d like to hear what you use and what you like.
Luggage…What Kind Do You Want?
What type of luggage do you like? If you’re shopping for new luggage, do you know what you’re looking for? What are your requirements?
You’re probably looking for something that’s durable…especially if you travel a bunch. Do you want a hard shell? Are you concerned it may crack if some airline baggage handler is having a bad day and tosses the luggage onto the belt?
Many new companies who make hard sided luggage have started using polycarbonate. This is a softer material that will flex a little when dropped on hard surfaces. In fact, contact lenses are made from this. It’s also scratch-resistant and lighter than some softer bags.
It doesn’t expand like a soft piece will, so don’t expect to overstuff it.
What about the wheels? Do you want four or two? Four are easier to maneuver. They also roll downhill if left unattended.
How about color? You’ll probably notice more color choices, prints, and patterns in hard luggage. Think about it getting dirty. It will. Is it easy to clean? Is it important to you to find your bag quickly on the carousel? If so, you may not want black.
What are your must-haves when purchasing new luggage?
Happy Father’s Day
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