Things I’ve learned from international travel:

1. You may know the U.S POV on a historical event, but you may not know a different country’s POV.  Ex: The French Revolution.

2. Don’t forget your electrical adaptor in a hotel!

3. European money is quite similar to American money.  But it isn’t exact.  Study how to count it before you travel.

4. Study a different language.  Two years of high school/ college French made this part of the trip much less stressful.

5.Good manners translate into any language.  Be patient with others AND yourself while traveling.

6. To hell with fashionable shoes!  Europe is not friendly to people who do not like to walk or climb steps.  Yesterday, I got in 25,000 steps.  And I got back to the hotel by 6pm.  I’m just saying, be prepared to walk and climb many flights of stairs.

7. I’m glad I am not disabled.  Europe is not friendly to people in wheelchairs.  God bless those people willing to push them through the crowds.  The good news is, as a disabled person, you and your helper get into most attractions for free ( Provided you bring some sort of proof that you are disabled.  A doctor’s note?)