Europe here we come! 1957

Reservations made.  Bags packed.  Passports and travel documents at the ready.  House-sitter/poultry-guardian in situ.  We might be ready for a journey to a foreign land… or not.  Crossing t’s and dotting i’s these days when it comes to taking a little trip is not like it once was.

I was trying to think when it became so difficult.  The first time I went to Europe back in the oughts (actually, 1957) it was all about having proper immunizations, a passport, and five dollars a day.  I don’t remember stressing too much over what to pack or what would happen to pets and house while we were gone.  There were no TSA or KTN protocols to think about.  We didn’t even worry about leaving any emergency contact information for anyone; we didn’t know where we’d be.  If necessary, get in touch with the American Embassy (somewhere) I told my parents.  And we were off!  For a year!  And with an 18-month-old baby!

Charlie, 1958

Aaaah!  To be young!  But also, the world was less crowded, making travel plans was simpler and Rick Steves was just a year older than my son!  We were just on the verge of world-wide travel for the masses.  The cruise ship industry wouldn’t get going for another nine years and, among the wealthy there were still echoes of ‘taking the grand tour.’  Europe on a shoestring was a new concept and we were right on the cutting edge!  It was easier then, no doubt about it.

Part of the current travel stress, of course, is that old bugaboo, TMI.  Gone are the days when you buy a book, get the information you want, and go.  There’s the internet with all of its informative and educational possibilities.  And the various devices you may want to have with you in order to stay connected.  It’s megawhomping!  We used to say, “If you wait for all the lights to be green between here and New York, you’ll never begin the journey.”  I’m not sure that applies any more.  In any case, we have begun!