[GatorGirl]

We were in Europe last year and no problem. Going to Ireland this summer.
An attack could occur ANYWHERE. The only places to avoid would be Tehran, Baghdad and perhaps Israel if you're really afraid of terrorist attacks!

Tell your wife to enjoy her trip! GG

[Quix]

Would personally stay away from AThens airport.

But then, that's just because terrorists machine gunned, grenaded etc. where my tour group had been standing 5 minutes earlier.

There's been plenty of evidence that the Athens airport is very lax on security and has not greatly improved as far as I understand it. . . . least not sufficiently for my comfort.

Carry lots of wetwipes.

The bread in Italy was wonderful.

The Vatican museum etc. was worth a lot of time.

The service at the new _____ hotel in London was horrible and surley.

Avoid frenetic anything. Go at your own pace even if it means skipping some things. Less enjoyed is likely worth more than more exhausted and stressed out over.

Soak up the people--especially the people who are just real, themselves vs the performers out for every ounce of tip they can get out of you.

Enquire about their lives, perspectives. Seed some conservative thoughts and facts.

Be alert but not paranoid. Watchful with 2-3 escape routes pegged immediately in ANY NEW SITUATION OR ROOM. Insure you've noted suitable furniture to hide behind if needed.

AVOID VIRTUALLY ALL JEWELRY and other flashy stuff. A variety of colorful scarves and a minimum of clothes changes--all seersucker or similar wash/wear saves time, hassle, stress. Wash the basics out in the sink at night; hang to dry in the shower overnight; ready to go. soap for such. Stain removers. Tide bleach pen.

A small, NONAPPLE MP3 player that's inobtrusive but with plenty of memory would be useful as would a high megapixel digital camera.

Carry extra charged batteries for all the above as well as a means to charge on a variety of plugs.

Some of the wines, cheeses and breads can carry one for quite a number of hours and deliciously.

Wash the fruit with a few drops of chlorine bleach or other such effective cleanser. Rince with boiled water.

On your MP3 player, record impressions of each day and maybe some interviews with authentic locals.

Take 100's of pics and delete from memory the obvious wastes each night.

Carry 2-5 extra memory chips for the camera and for the MP3 player.

WARNING: STRONG PERSONAL BIAS. Avoid a lot of souvenir collecting unless they are small, memorable, compact treasures. Carry things in your memory, journal and photo memory which can't be stolen as easliy as expensive trinkets.

Gold may likely be hollow tubes sold as solid.

Local postage stamps and post cards can be worth some bother depending. Mail some post cards every day back home to closer people in your life. Tell them what you specifically miss about their personality; their relationship with you.

If you're a potter, get a good mug or plate. If a fabric crafter, a small tapestry or handweaving or crochet or knitted something. But not packages upon packages. THINGS are not the answer. Heart communication is.

Get destination directions in local language in writing BEFORE approaching a taxi. Agree on the price at least close BEFOREHAND--if meters--get an estimate. Ask a reasonable local about average taxi tips etc.

Take pics of the conventional, average, mundane . . . LIFE. Grains in bags; wild flowers; flower boxes beside shacks . . .

Watch the relationships. Watch the styles of affection and conversation.

Enjoy. It will be gone before we realize it.

Be safe. Cover each day in prayer. Ask loved ones to pray for safety as well as God arranged appointments throughout your day. Be ready for them. Walk into them prepared.

[Lx]

If she goes to Paris avoid St. Dennis like the plague. I've never had any incidents in Europe except for when my car was broken into outside of Paris at a train station.

[nutmeg]

Care to offer any advice to Big Guy and Rusty 99 regarding travel to Europe this year?

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I'm with Rush; see it while it's still there. She'll need a burqua even for the touristy spots in 10 years. Notre Dame'll be mosque by the time my grandchildren get there and Le Tour Eiffel a minaret.

[trimom]

Both kids studied in Spain for 6 months while in college. Here's some tips:

No sneakers! Only Americans wear them routinely. Wear leather shoes and sandals, etc.

No logos! Apparently, wearing things labeled Broncos, Disney World and Nike are things that mark you as an American.

No shorts! European women wear cotton skirts and lightweight dresses or linen slacks rather than shorts.

Passport cover: you can buy these at any of the travel supplier websites. It's just a leather jacket that holds your passport and that gold eagle isn't so visible to those around you if you should have to show ID.

Slow down! Americans walk with purpose and drive. The pace we walk (and we don't make much eye contact) also marks you as an American.

Skip McDonald's! Don't go to places where large crowds of Americans go. Our daughter went to Europe Jan, 2002 and our son in April, just after the Madrid train bombings and they never ate at an American brand eatery or tavern. Gather some of the local flavor instead and you will likely find that you are very welcomed in those places.

I am not suggesting that anyone should be ashamed of being an American. I am merely suggesting that when in Rome (or Madrid or Dresden) one should do as they do.

[nutmeg]

There's a lot of excellent advice on this thread. The only thing that pops into my head that others may not have mentioned is to avoid public transportation (ie, Paris Metro, London Tube) during rush hours...

[posterchild]

One way the Americans frequently get noticed is that they have an expectation of faster service in restuarants than do most Europeans. Some countries serve at slower paces than we do. Also, if it takes 15 minutes for the barmaid to return with your Budvar it's because it truly does take that long to pour.

[Coldwater Creek]

My granddaughters have spent the last two summers touring Europe. Another will be going this year. These are older teens and their mother. No problems whatsoever.

[James Ewell Brown Stuart]

I wish I could help, but I chose to go to grad school in Israel. The summer ulpan started a week after the war began... but I came anyway.

[DustyMoment]

Due to the relative unpopularity of Americans in Europe, I think she has more to fear from the Europeans heaping verbal abuse on her than a terrorist attack.

That doesn't mean that the chances of a terrorist attack in Europe are remote, but it is more likely that the Europeans will not be particularly welcoming.

[leda]

timely travel thread :)

[Logic n' Reason]

I have just returned from living in Europe for the last 18 months. Traveled extensively in: Germany, Belgium,Switzerland, UK, Ireland, Scotland, Austria, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and spent a bit of time in Sweden.

Had absolutely no problems...anywhere. Nicest folks were the Austrians, the French (sorry Freepers - they really were), and the Swiss. But overall, never ran into any group or nationality that was bad.

Tips: prepare a detailed itinerary (stick to it) and give a copy of it to those remaining in the US; keep copy of your passport in safe place; never travel without passport - anywhere for any reason. Learn a phrase or two in German, French, and Italian.

Most of all...take 100X more pictures than you think you need!

I envy you the trip!

[TexasRepublic]

Terrorist incidents in Europe are rare, despite the publicity when it does happen. She is far more likely to be mugged at Walmart than blown up in Europe. Tell her to just go and blend in and not look/act like an American. Any woman with a bit of fashion sense should be able to gauge the current styles once she arrives in Europe and buy some local nondescript clothes.

[eleni121]

We are in the planning stages of a trip to Greece.

Never has been a problem. And it shouldn't be a problem.

[isom35]

I tell anyone about to travel watch the movie "Hostel".

[chilepepper]

stick to the ex-iron curtain eastern european countries - Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia/Lithuania, even Romania or Bulgaria, or a bit more risky Slovenia, Slovakia or Croatia.

I believe *none* of the above countries have any significant muslim population, ergo no terrorism! ...and I believe *all* of them a friendly to the US

[RepoGirl]

Yipes! Thanks for the huge response!

I have to admit, I've been a bit of a nervous nelly as of late, re: foreign travel, but many Freepers raise valid and logical points regarding safety here and abroad.

As far as protective coloring, I've got that covered. I've got my 'city vibe' down pat, and always dress and act a little more formally over there. I lived in London and have traveled extensively throughout the UK, France and The Netherlands -- but all pre 9/11.

The itinerary for this upcoming trip will be France and Italy -- Paris, and then Rome and I believe, Florence. I'm excited, but have to admit, I've probably ingested a little too much of the doom and gloom from the news lately. Again, I haven't traveled abroad since before the war started, so I've had these nightmare visions of encountering angry leftists, Mohhamedeans with molotov cocktails, etc. Guess I just wanted to take a pulse check from those who have traveled abroad these last 6 years before I stepped back into the fray.

One question, if I'm traveling with an iPod -- what kind of power adaptor would or should I buy so I can keep it charged?

Thanks for everyone's comments, I'll say this again -- Freepers are some of the finest folk around.

[WesternCulture]

First of all, as a European, I'd like say:

Welcome to Europe!

In resemblance to many FReepers above, I'd say most of Europe is very safe.

In the case of France and Italy remember:

- Watch out for pickpockets in surroundings where many tourists gather.

- Try to avoid looking and behaving like too much of a "tourist".

- If strangers confront you, or even just, seemingly, bump into you in the street by accident, be on your alert, especially if they are Gypsy-looking! (Not wishing to say ALL Gypsies are thieves - but they are heavily overrepresented among pickpockets in France, Italy and elsewhere in Europe).

- As a friend of Italy I hate to say this, but the further south you go in Italy, the more of street crime you're probably exposing yourself to. Naples, Calabria, Puglia and Sicily still have problems with different mafias like the Camorra/'Ndrangheta/Cosa Nostra/Stidda/Sacra Corona Unita. However, tourists are seldom targets for the most violent of attacks. Sooner, what one should be aware of as a tourist is that mafia crime leads to spin-off effects like robberies, drug abuse and all kinds of minor thefts. Again, few tourists get into deep trouble in Southern Italy.

When it comes to terrorist attacks and riots, it's worth pointing out that:

- Large, especially large capital, cities of Europe have much more of immigrant problems than small and mid size cities/towns. Hardly surprising, opposition and violence between different ethnic groups is a much bigger problem in London, Berlin and Paris than in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

- Concerning muslims, there are muslims and there are muslims. For instance, Germany is (permanent/temporary) home to millions of muslims just like the UK and France, but has the lowest crime rate in the EU (at least it had one or two years ago). One reason is that many German Muslims are of Turkish origin. Turkish muslims in general seem to be more law abiding than many other Muslim immigrants (I've walked around in ghetto areas of Istanbul at midnight - safest place on earth. Turkish law enforcement is brutal, but it's efficient).

- Concerning terrorist attacks, the safest "tourist" areas in Europe are probably places like the countryside of Tuscany, Loire Valley, Provence and other such wonderful rural parts of the continent. Naturally, terrorists choose targets in well known cities like NYC, Madrid and London as they'll get much much more attention from doing so than blowing up a barn in the Chianti district or something like that. Even if they attacked a famous tourist attraction like Le château de Chenonceau (famous palace in the Loire Valley), what would the point be? What would such a deed signal? - Down with symbolic remnants of the pre revolutionary France upper class!?

Images of the Loire Valley by the way;

http://france-for-visitors.com/photo-gallery/loire/index.html

If anyone wishes to feel completely safe on his/her trip to France and Italy, while still experiencing some of the best things Europe has to offer, then one could always arrive at a smaller European airport (not Heathrow, London), perhaps in Switzerland and forget about big cities like Milan, Florence, Paris, Marseille and Rome. Instead there's the opportunity of exploring the magnificent countrysides of these nations. You'll eat better (lots of tourist traps in Paris, Venice, Rome and Florence) and it'll be cheaper buying a famous wine directly from the producer etc, etc.

By the way, one mistake we Northern Europeans (I'm Swedish) and you Americans often make is that we fail to give proper attention to the fact that in Italy and France, POLITENESS and MUTUAL RESPECT are much more important things in everyday life than in our "Protestant" culture. If you want people to be service minded and helpful, try speaking a little Italian/French and display interest in and - even better - genuine acquaintance to their local/regional history and traditions.

Generally speaking, places like Volterra or San Gimignano, Tuscany are not the center of the universe, but to the locals they ARE and respecting this fact can, contrary to being a burden, turn into a very rewarding thing.

Undeniably, large cities like Florence often feature great attractions, but, as a matter of example, just check out what Pistoia, a rather unknown little Tuscan town has to offer:

http://digilander.libero.it/pistoia_tour/home_page.htm

- A perfect place for enjoying a glass of Carmignano or Brunello di Montalcino and getting repatriated to Roman Antiquity and the Renaissance, the cradle of modern Western Civilization.

Speaking of Tuscany and safety, the overwhelming attractions and experiences Florence offer are actually more than some tourists can handle and yearly people end up in hospital, suffering from the famous "Stendhal Syndrome". It's not just a myth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stendhal_syndrome

Many people would say a tour of France and Italy excluding visits to big cities like Paris, Florence and Rome is incomplete. While this remains true, all friends of Western Civilization likewise once ought to encounter the "Terroir", the "Contado", the "Campagna" of these three cities that once nurtured these triumphant urban accomplishments.

The surrounding countryside of Florence, traditionally known as "Il Contado", is not only beautiful. It also gave birth to a son like Leonardo da Vinci, to whom we are all indepted.

The same goes for the Loire Valley (south/south west of Paris) and a french renaissance genius like François Rabelais.

Just like Leonardo and François, we ought to make full use of our ability of rational thought while, simultaneously, keeping all of our senses open to beauty. Doing so, we'll be safer, happier and also more productive heirs to such common Western fore-bearers - despite the fact that the world is part ugly. This spirit is in fact expressed in the "national" hymn of the EU. Friedrich Schiller wrote the words (in the form of a poem) and later on, Ludwig van Beethoven based his most famous symphony, the 9th and last one, on them.

As long as Westerners have a spirit like this, the West will not be endangered:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_an_die_Freude

Greetings from Gothenburg/Göteborg, Sweden!