Ready to move this trip along to the beautiful and wild city of Amsterdam. First, we stop in Nuremberg for a few hours, grab lunch and quickly set back on the road for an overnight stay in Hiedelberg, Germany. (The way Europe is we were in and out of Germany a couple of times between countries.)
On this day, in my journal, I wrote about all the difference in culture and economy I have seen so far. It is finally setting in how different everything is. So here goes...
My dad has always said, "Nothing in life is free, except oxygen, but if you're on a breathing machine, even then it's not free." (True story; my dad is a realist on all accounts, ha!)
A very true statement and now I can make a list of contradictions based on my European travels. In America, there are far more free things we don't take into consideration. Even if it's not technically free because it is paid for by taxes. Details...
So, first things first- tap water. Water in general, is 99% of the time not free in most European countries. Because water in certain areas is not the best to drink, you will spend more money on bottled water than anything else for the duration of the trip. Even at restaurants, they don't offer free water, it's bottled. And it damn sure doesn't come with a glass of ice. Apparently there are superstitions about ice, but I won't go into details on that (Google it!) If you plan to travel to Europe in the future save yourself the embarrassment of asking for an iced water with lemon. That's only available in your dreams here, ha!
Although there are numerous European cities that provide public drinking fountains with provide cold, fresh, drinkable water, they are not always easy to access or locate. Rule #1 was to always fill up my 32 oz, water bottle before leaving the hotel every morning.
No. 2- In America, if you want to meet friends at a restaurant but you've already eaten so you just hang out, this is free in America. However, in many big cities in Europe there are cover fees for entering restaurants or cafes. Also, if you split a meal, there is typically a 2-5 euro charge on that ticket. Of curse, you pay cover at a club or bar anywhere, but a restaurant? Give me a break!
No. 3 (my favorite) - Public restrooms are free in America. I'm not talking about fast food joints or shopping stores, I mean public restrooms funded by government taxes. When you travel, you don't pay to use a rest stop. Well, in Europe, you do. And you pay plenty. Sometimes .10 euro, sometimes 2 euro. For example: the restroom at Neuschwanstein Castle, a major tourist attraction cost .30 euro, and it had to be paid with .10 pieces (this is not a joke!) On top of paying, restroom in Europe often don't have seats, just the toilet rim so your quads are in good shape after squatting so often to pee! Also, needless to say, I got pretty comfortable at jumping or crawling through the entrances when maids weren't looking. The maids- this is why you pay for restrooms. The maids who clean the restrooms are paid strictly on what people pay to enter the bathroom. Sometimes you even leave a tip. It's an odd fashion over there.
Lastly, when you go to McDonald's, Wendy's or another fast food establishment packaged ketchup is free; that's not the case in the Czech Republic.
These things are miniscule to many Europeans I'm sure, but as a visiting American, who pees frequently, remember to budget restroom stops for your next European travels. Remember the little things we take for granted in America and be happy you don't pay for the millions of Taco Bell packets stuffed in your kitchen drawer at home. :)
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| One of many rest stops. |
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| Nuremberg, Germany |
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| Christmas is EVERYTHING in Germany! |
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| Hiedelberg, Germany |
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| One of many locks bridges |
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| It's good luck to rub the monkey |
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| SUN :) |
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