Random thoughts collected during a month of travel in Europe

1. No matter how long you have known someone, there's still lots you can learn. Travel is a teacher bc a) there's often long periods of waiting, and b) things rarely go as planned, so getting to see how someone thinks to adapt to the change is a wonderful insight into her creativity. 
2. Smoking is hugely popular and not stigmatized at all in Europe.
3. While I can't stand the fact that sitting in a beer garden means I'm inevitably inhaling tons of second hand smoke, I also have noticed that Europeans as a whole look way healthier than US citizens. People are smaller. Almost everyone has noticeable muscle tone. People ride bikes everywhere and walk. But they also smoke. They smoke while biking and walking. I have seen 0 morbidly obese Europeans and maybe 5 overweight to obese Europeans. Huge difference. The big people I've seen have been other Americans. 
4. Don't leave lotion behind to save room in your luggage thinking you'll find it in a hotel. I've gone a month without body lotion. I'm like a raisin.
5. Packing: packing for temps in the 40s - 90s for a month is impossible as far as I'm concerned. I should be better at this. I met a couple who were traveling w only carry ons (just a 7 day trip) with the mantra, "if it doesn't stow, it doesn't go." I loved having my paddleboard, but if we are in Slovenia next year again, I want to try a roller carry on along w the paddleboard. Less shoes would save room. I brought hiking boots, a pair of dress sandals (only wore once and about broke my neck on the cobblestone), flip flops, keen sandals, running shoes, and a pair of keen flats that I wore more than anything. Next year I'd just take the flats, the sneakers and the keen sandals. I can hike in sneakers I guess, though I wore those almost daily, too. I need to take a class in packing lighter. It's an art- or at least I skill Is like to learn.
6. ICE ICE BABY Ice cubes are hard to come by in Europe. Simple refrigeration uses less energy than freezing. Many homes and small cafes don't have freezers. Most people buy what they need for a few days and don't freeze tons of stuff for later. So as an iced coffee lover, I have to find a cafe that also serves alcohol, not a cafe that is a bakery. Cocktails require ice. A bakery does not.
7. Recycling is bigger back home than here.
8. Paper or plastic? Neither. You either bring your own bag or cart to the store or you sometimes (not always) have the option of buying a bag. Love this.
9. Paper napkins? Never see them at cafes or restaurants. If I spill, they bring a rag and mop it up. If my iced coffee cup sweats all over the table, too bad for me.
10. Beer is cheaper than soda or bottled water. I noted this in my journals when I lived in Europe in 89-90, but I am still always surprised by it. It's a different attitude about alcohol.
11. You have a wallet for bills and a purse for coins. Europeans don't have bills smaller than 5s, so for something like a coffee, you pay with coins.
12. Most men over 60 have a man purse.
13. Women carry huge purses. Small purses are out, apparently.
14. Tipping is for good service and never more than 10% bc people get paid a livable wage. It's not an affront not to leave a tip. It just means you weren't wowed by the service.
15. Less beggars in big cities here than in the US. When I have seen beggars, they are immigrants. No commentary- just an observation.
16. Dogs, in general, are off leash in big cities; they are tagged and collared and walking right with their people. They are so good, they know what to do. They don't wander off far ahead or lag behind. In the US, this is only seen in small, rural communities like Homer (where it's not legal bc a leash law was put into effect last year). The difference as I see it is not in the dogs but the owners. Maybe my culture is less responsible than this culture, and we need more regulation? Maybe my culture is more litigious if something goes awry, so we need laws to protect us from ourselves? Regardless, the off leash dog is very happy bustling down a busy city street, and any dog is allowed anywhere.
17. Children are less supervised. So many times I'd see a 2 yr old wandering around the lake with no adult in site, and I'd be super worried, looking for its parent. I stopped worry after a week. The parent is somewhere, having an ice cream, back turned, while the kid is chasing a duck. It's not neglect. It's just a different way of doing things.
18. People seem to love ice cream drinks and drink them all day long.
19. Day drinking is way more common here. Alcohol plays a different role in Europe. I'd argue a healthier role. 20. If you want to look like a European, just wear a scarf. If I have a scarf on, my Americaness disappears and people speak to me in their language. So weird.
21. Bc of globalization, you rely on things like scarves and dress style and body condition to know who is from where without asking. Especially in Munich. All colors. It's like a city-wide Benetton ad. 22. More Europeans carry Macs and iPhones than anything else. I'm guessing it's based on designed. 23. European casual looks like Alaska dress up (of course that's not a big bar).
24. In the 4 countries I've spent time in, eye contact is not a thing. I like eye contact. I love this about Chicago and Alaska. I love when strangers say hi.
25. The cars in Europe always used to be smaller, but everything in Munich is a 4 door now. Still no pickups, and an SUV - even a small one - has a business sign on it. Never personally owned. But it's changing. Bigger cars. Less minis.
26. Everyone hates Trump, but our politics and our president's gaffes aren't a big deal and do not make headlines.
27. The autobahn is absolutely terrifying for this Alaskan girl. I'm so grateful R learned to drive here and really knows what she's doing.
28. Less ambulances, less sirens, less police presence than back home. Not sure why.
29. The people in Prague dress better than anywhere I've ever been. Everyone looked like a model. The hairstyles were stunning.