I’m starting to get nervous. Matt and I are leaving in 19 days to spend almost two weeks in England and Paris, and I’m starting to realize what such a huge chunk of time away is going to mean. I have NO idea what my blogging schedule’s going to look like, we’ve actually not booked our hotel in Paris yet (I know, I’m getting on that today!), and as I haven’t spoken French regularly since 11th grade, I’m not really sure how much I’ll be able to do for the “incompetent American who expects everyone to speak English” stereotype. The last time I went to the UK, I traveled with my mom, but this time it’s just Matt and I. And as neither of us are all that experienced with the train stations/tubes/general way of life in England, I think we’re both starting to feel a bit panicky. We know exactly where we’ll be and how to get there when it comes to shooting James & Deanna’s wedding, but after that, things are still pretty vague.
We’ve both been looking forward to this trip for almost a year now, and I’m trying not to let the nerves get to me. We’re SO excited, and we know what a blessing it is to have the means and job situations that allow for such an incredible opportunity! I guess what we’re looking for is a little bit of advice. For you seasoned travelers, what would you suggest for two slightly intimidated Americans heading overseas? We want to be able to really enjoy the time abroad, rather than whiling away the days with anxiety!
Matt got me this book for Valentine’s Day to help us find those hidden gems in London- we’re so excited to spend a couple of days wandering around! AND. When I arrived home last night from a portrait session, Matt presented me with a workbook on French grammar so that I can brush up on my skills after hearing me lament over how I wish I had some means to re-learn. I love this man, and I love that he doesn’t mind me being such a nerd :).
Happy Friday!
Gearing up for travel
May 31, 2013
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Greg and I have been using Rick Steves’ guides for our small amount of travels over here so far. Rick Steves gives very clear instructions on how to find things and we have enjoyed the sights and restaurants so far! 😀 And from my short amount of time in London, several years ago, I seem to remember that the metro was fairly easy, so hopefully that is remembered correctly and eases some stress for you! 😀 Have fun!!
Wandering is definitely a good idea because, remember, part of your trip is vacation and no need to stress. The only thing you should “plan” for is things that you really just can’t miss and food! And, don’t stress about the language barrier — just make an effort. You guys will be fine. I also recommend taking a couple of copies of your passport with you so you can leave yours in a safe in your room without fear of losing it. Pick pockets are notorious in Europe.
Also, for London, email Jenae! She spent several weeks there as part of her study abroad at GMU.
You two will do fine. They will love you as much as we do! By the way, Matt is such a thoughtful guy.
Remember J&Ms pre lunch and your quirky thing about you was you talked in a British accent and I came back with I am British haha 🙂
You’ll be fine. It’s so easy to use the tube.
Enjoy x
The best travel advice I’ve ever received is don’t try to do everything. Assume that you’ll return and take time to enjoy the things that you experience rather than trying to squeeze in as much as possible. We really focused on this during our last trip and as a result came away with a much different experience. Rather than a bunch of snapshots of a bunch of places, we got to know the people and came away with an understanding of a different culture. As far as navigation, everything in the tube is really well marked and intuitive, so you shouldn’t have any trouble. The only thing that we had to think twice about was the way that they structure their tickets. The map is laid out in zones so you’ll want to pay attention to what zones your moving in and out of to avoid buying extra tickets. We stayed in zones 1 & 2 98% of the time we were there. That last statement will make a lot more sense once you’ve bought a ticket. Have fun!
My teenage memory of the tube is that it was very easy to use… if you can use the Metro or the NYC subway, the Underground should be no problem. Paris is pretty English-friendly. It’s outside of the city in the more rural areas of France that you start to need the language. The hard part about Paris is just that it’s so congested. I still remember my hotel there… it was the smallest of the entire trip and the only time we had to bunk three girls to a room instead of 2! Our London room was palatial by comparison!
Hit the landmarks you can, but also find time to just “be” there. Some of the best places to see are the ones without the long lines.
Have a great trip!
Having taken Spanish in high school, I was certainly not up to date on my French when I was in Paris. However, I found that a smile, good attitude and learning a few key phrases got me far. Most appreciated that I was trying and would speak English as much as they could! We stayed at the Pullman when we were there. Gorgeous and a block and a half from the Eiffel Tower. We had a side view of it directly from our balcony that was amazing at night!! Oh and if you walk down along the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower there are some great little cafes for lunch 🙂
The Tube is SUPER easy! If you can get around the subway system of NYC or the DC metro you will be fine! Always act like you know where you are going or what you are doing even if you don’t (fake it till you make it!!). If you are actually lost or confused, go in a shop and ask for help. I had a great experience in Paris. If you TRY to speak to them in French (with a smile), most people will chuckle and then graciously help you. The only grumpy French person I ran into was a man at a news stand when I was trying to figure out what map to buy and he thought I was just going to look and not buy. Have an amazing time!!! 🙂 OH!! Small bit of advice, always be sure you have a few coins on you – sometimes you have to pay to use the public restrooms in Paris. Save yourself from scrambling on a full bladder!!
Hi Abby, I follow your blog from Ireland and just wanted to tell you – you will have FAB time. I’ve traveled to the U.S. and Europe lots and know the last minute panic, but the last time I went to Paris, I remarked to a friend ‘how do they know we speak English before me even speak’ every museum we visited they automatically spoke commands in English, they’re totally geared up for the tourist game. As for things to see, musee d’orsay is beautiful, go to the Eiffel tower EARLY and take the stairs, make the trip to sacre coeur you get one of the most beautiful views over the city, it’s a fab building and there are some cute streets up there. As for London, it’s simple, if you’ve a tube map you can COVER the city in no time, get an ‘oyster’ card for cheaper transport, think it’s similar to a ‘charlie’ card in boston. Enjoy!
I am SO excited to see all those beautiful European photos of yours. 🙂 (I know you love color, but I’ll bet you’ll see some historic places that just scream for black and white… 😉 ). SO excited for your wonderful vacation to let you be less busy 🙂