20 Biggest Travel Mistakes

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This traveler is already a victim of CNN's #1 Biggest Travel Mistakes (Overpacking). Will she also suffer from #6 (Not tightening shampoo caps...all the way)?

This traveler is already a victim of CNN’s #1 Biggest Travel Mistakes (Overpacking). Will she also suffer from #6 (Not tightening shampoo caps…all the way)?

The CNN Travel staff put together a list of what they consider the 20 biggest travel mistakes their own people have made — and in some cases, continue to make.  The list is hilarious, though you might find yourself gritting your teeth and saying, That is SO true.

Which one is your favorite? Mine is #10. Read it for yourself. Do you agree?

Source: 20 biggest travel mistakes

 

Au Revoir!

 

Going to Paris This Fall?

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Boulevard Beaumarchais offers new, hip, clothing and food shops.

Boulevard Beaumarchais offers new, hip, clothing and food shops.

Source: Paris: Fall 2015 – Indagare

Paris is the truest of cosmopolitan cities, for it blends the old with the new like no other. Of course you want to see the monuments and attractions that Paris is famous for. But let’s face it: Paris is also the fashion capital of the world, so new shops are popping up all the time. Indagare’s article offers information some of the newest, hippest shops (clothing, coffee, food) on Boulevard Beaumarcharis, which runs from the Bastille Monument to the Place de la Republique.  While the Maison Kitsune sounds oh-so-chic with their pret-a-porter fashions, Leon & Harper sounds like it is more for me these days, since they sell “flattering women’s wear.” Ha!

By the way, “pret-a-porter” means designer wear sold off the rack (in other words, not made-to-order). Your French lesson for the day!

Au revoir!

 

 

 

 

 

Treaty of Paris – Sept 3, 1783

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On this day in History, Treaty of Paris signed on Sep 03, 1783.

Source: Treaty of Paris signed – Sept 03, 1783 – HISTORY.com

While the United States had 6,824 troops killed in battle fighting the Revolutionary War, France had 10,000 casualties fighting with us against Britain.

While the United States had 6,824* troops killed in battle fighting the Revolutionary War, France had 10,000 casualties fighting with us against Britain.

I believe that cultural understanding goes hand-in-hand with good travel experiences. In the spirit of understanding how important France has been to history — even American history — read here how the Treaty of Paris signed in 1783 formally ended the American Revolution.

Salut!

 

 

*It is estimated that for every casualty due to fighting, 10 died from disease, www.revolutionarywararchives.org/warstats.html. Other statistics taken from “American Revolutionary War,” Wikipedia.

 

 

August 28-30, 2015 — Rock-En-Seine Festival

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A scene from Rock-en-Seine 2010 by Sylvain Sechet.

A scene from Rock-en-Seine 2010 by Sylvain Sechet.

The Rock-en-Seine Festival is a 3-day rock music festival and starts today. It is held at Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, the Chateau de Saint-Cloud’s Park, west of Paris, inside the garden designed by Andre Le Notre. This year marks the 13th year for the festival.

Think of it as Woodstock with a French accent. Three days of music. Camping for 3-day package ticket holders (which, according to my information, are sold out). In 2014, the festival had 5 stages with 65 bands split among them; 110,000 spectators attended in 2013.

The closest subway station is Boulogne-Pont de Saint-Cloud, 5 minutes away from the venue. To get information about the festival, follow it on Twitter @rockenseine.

 

Salut!

 

 

Image of Rock-en-Seine Festival 2010 (“Foret humaine” “Human drill”) by Sylvain Sechet, courtesy of Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Source material from “Rock en Seine,” Wikipedia, CCBY 2.0.

August 25: Liberation Day in France

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General Charles de Gaulle and his entourage proudly stroll down the Champs-Elysees to Notre Dame Cathedral for a Te Deum ceremony following the city's liberation on August 25, 1944. (Photograph and caption from Wikimedia.)

General Charles de Gaulle and his entourage proudly stroll down the Champs-Elysees to Notre Dame Cathedral for a Te Deum ceremony following the city’s liberation on August 25, 1944. (Photograph and caption from Wikimedia.)

August 25, 2015 – Today marks the 71st anniversary of Paris being liberated from the German army during WWII. While it not a national holiday, it is still a day of remembrance.

In my experience, even though the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and therefore necessitated the U.S. going to war, many Americans view WWII as a war we fought to help other nations. Imagine if soldiers occupied your local hotels, ate and drank without paying at your local restaurants, and entered homes on your block at will. This is what Parisians faced – and probably only a fraction of the horror – until Paris was liberated. General Charles de Gaulle was integral in the fight to retake Paris. After the Vichy government (pro-Nazi) had fallen, de Gaulle, as the leader of the French Resistance, served as provisional head of government. He was subsequently voted in as French President. He is widely regarded in France as a hero of the highest caliber.

So, as you sit at Paris cafes, drink cappuccino, and enjoy the charms that Paris has to offer, take notice of the war monuments around you. Perhaps this is an insight into why French people believe in enjoying life to the fullest and in the moment: they don’t take their freedom for granted.

 

Salut.

 

 

You Can Be Robbed While Travelling and Still Have Your Purse or Wallet

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RFID Blocking Passport Case by Travelon protects your identity and is a must have for all travelers. Best selection of RFID Blocking travel solutions.

Source: RFID Blocking Passport Case

Thieves don't need your actual credit card to rob you; they can use a scanner and get your information from the RFID chip embedded in it from as far as 10 feet away.

Thieves don’t need your actual credit card to rob you; they can use a scanner and get your information from the RFID chip embedded in it from as far as 10 feet away.

This explanation of RFID technology by CorporateTravelSafety is very clear and should be read by all travelers. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips are being used in passports and credit cards, and though convenient, can be read up to 10 feet away (reported by CNN, according to CorporateTravelSafety.com). This means that if someone has an RFID scanner, they might be able to steal your identity from your passport and your credit card information while they are tucked away in your purse or pocket.

One word of caution: Don’t necessarily think that an exotic, expensive wallet skin will protect your identity and financial information as well as an RFID Blocking Passport Case. I used to work retail, and many customers returned exotic skin wallets (such as alligator and crocodile) because they demagnetized their credit cards; it therefore makes sense those same wallets could interfere with RFID chips, though I don’t know that for sure.

Salut!