Thank God, my last few trips have been wonderfully smooth and adventure-free, in answer to many, many prayers! :) I pray that my next journeys will be equally pleasant and easy, God willing.
In ruminating over previous trips, full of unforeseen and unwanted adventures, I realized how many handy travel tips I've gained from said adventures...things like:
- always take a spare pair of undergarments, even if only going on a day trip b/c you never know what may happen (one of my day trips turned into an 8-day "adventure")
- a finger and some soap does not an adequate toothbrush make
- one's socks make an excellent loofah in the shower - not only do they ex-foliate your skin, but they are also cleaned in the process
- no matter how nice your clothes were when you started your trip, after wearing them day and night for 3 days straight, you might receive free hand-outs b/c people think you're homeless
- a good 2nd-hand store is a priceless gem worth finding
- eat where the locals do - you'll not only save a lot of money, you'll experience the local culture and cuisine
- a circus freak may not the safest bunkmate make
- at ATM is God's way of making sure you remember to "pray without ceasing" - receiving money or getting your card back usually takes a miracle
- while many of us may not have even glanced at the date of issue/expiration of our passports, knowing this information can save extra scrutiny when traveling overland by old, dilapidated bus
- there's always a reason for the empty seat on the bus in a prime location when the bus is nearly full - always check to see if it's broken before getting stuck sitting there for a 15+ hour journey
- contrary to popular belief, fresh air really does not make a person sick, especially in summer (it actually gets rid of the germs, and stuffy hot air allows them to breed like fruit-flies) - so be kind, open a window
- claustrophobia may strike suddenly and without warning when trapped by the window for 20+ hours in a hot, airless bus with a hot, heavy infant on your lap - learn to make use of free babysitter grannies on the bus whenever possible ;)
- calling the border officer "stupid" and arguing is not usually the most conducive way to solve the problem of him/her not letting you into a country b/c he/she doesn't understand something correctly (btw, this wasn't me, but a friend with whom I was traveling)
- empty plastic bottles may be considered dangerous ;)
- always keep your ticket stubs handy, you never know when you might need to show them, especially when traveling in Prague
- no matter how many times you say "gutentag" "yah" or "bitte" or nod your head and point, it really won't help you find your way to your pensionat
- those who can fall asleep at a moment's notice despite cramped, painful conditions are extraordinarily blessed
- sleeping in the trunk of a compact car is not the most restful, especially if you have a fever
- a hole-free gallon "zip-lock" bag is a must for every trip - it can hold a whole lot of vomit very discretely while traveling by bus...and it's reusable, just empty and re-fill...
- having the hutzpah to ask a nearby tour bus driver for directions, about local transport, how far it is to walk to where you're going, etc. may just land you a free, safe ride to wherever you're going
- catching a train does you no good if you're on the part that stays behind without any signs or warnings
- if it isn't supposed to rain/sleet/snow, be prepared anyway, it usually will ;)
- and finally (although there are many, many more left to share with you), the fresh bulochkyi (sweet rolls) in the Warsaw train station's underground shopping area are really the best in the world :)
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