The Surface of Trust
We don’t ever know what will transpire in our travels whether within states or beyond. What one perceives their travels to be like looking ahead is often not the case as we encounter shifts by things outside our control…the weather, airplane mechanical obstacles, and routing changes. There are the unknowns of unfamiliar airports, language shifts, and international protocols that open one up to more learnings and working through the emotions that arise with the unknown.
On our travels to our destination, we encountered an unplanned stop at another airport to wait out a storm, a mechanical reboot of our plane’s computer system, resulting in a five-hour delay that ate up the layover time at our last US airport before boarding for the international destination. After landing, we quickly raced through the concourses to get to the gate learning as we walked up that our zone was in line to board the plane for the last leg after thirteen hours into our day. Due to the fifth change in our departure flights that came in two weeks before hand, we had the necessary five hours instead of the one-hour layover time which allowed us to breathe a sigh of relief that yes, we had made it as we boarded heading to our seats.
The next step in our journey took us to working through the unknown processes and language at the airport in Rome, Italy going through the passport check, getting our luggage, and finding our way to our ship travel guide for the trip from the airport to our hotel for the next two nights.
One can believe that we have thought of everything when embarking on a trip of this nature and quickly learn on the ground what has slipped through the cracks. We all go through the checks:
· passport ✓
· euros ✓
· US dollars ✓
· credit card ✓
· phone ✓
· global entry card ✓
· the right clothes ✓
· camera via cellphone ✓
· flight confirmation numbers ✓ and
· all the necessary electrical cords for cellphone, watch, and kindle charging ✓
We believe we have thought of everything until we get to the hotel only to realize my new cellphone cord does not have a traditional USB plug on one end which I has understood when I purchased it, however not the full ramifications of that understanding or the lack of an adapter. Due to our ship line having both US outlets as well as the European model this piece didn’t ever cross my mind as an issue until we arrived at the hotel to find traditional USB plugs and non-US plugs in the room which I figured out in the middle of the night. If you have the latest Galaxy and are planning an international trip, make sure your cord has a traditional USB end or a USB adapter.
The next continued lesson in trust included a piece in asking for what you need that began the next day when I had to leave my brand new minicomputer/phone in function and price, that was now dead with our hotel tour guide who believe it or not had the exact same phone with a charger on sight with them that day while we toured the Vatican Museum without my phone which we planned to use for the camera. Luckily my mom’s older phone had the proper USB plug so we could use that camera – and more importantly recharge it in the room. A day later we did visit the local Samsung store to pick up a cord with a USB plug - and yes that was an experience as everything was in Italian - however, most of the people including the clerks spoke English…which was a big thank you, thank you!
We learned quickly that when traveling internationally:
Get more than one thinks they will use of the local money as we used more for the taxis than we thought we would require as prices were different (and sometimes twice as much for the return trip to the hotel). If you go to Rome, Italy - be aware that there are Vatican City taxis as well as Rome taxis when touring the Vatican Museum. The Vatican is considered its own country and therefore the taxies were charging 40-45 euros for a return trip to the Rome area versus 20 which we learned via speaking with a reputable Vatican City taxi driver who explained it to us and then guided us to the Rome taxis. Helpers are everywhere!
If you find that you require more euros or whatever the monies are, find a place to change US dollars into euros. We were guided by the hotel to one that didn’t charge commission. Yes, many places take credit cards, but just as many do not – so a heads up when you travel.
If we had brought a debit card we could have gone into any bank to receive more euros.
We also learned in Europe more people speak some English and thankfully we ran into them at all the places we were.
On every corner, every turn, lessons are waiting for you. These go way beyond the perceived teachings one is aware of to the unexpected. We know foods, beverages, streets, getting to and from places are going to be different from our norm - but what about beyond the surface. Where will your next lesson in trust unfold? Will you be aware, or will it be quite a surprise?
Stay tuned for more shared information on our European journey abroad.
