5 Things Anthony Bourdain Taught Me About Traveling

1.       Get off the beaten path. Sure, the Eiffel Tour is beautiful, and you’d certainly be remiss if you didn’t acknowledge that the tourist traps are famous for a reason, but don’t make the mistake of hitting only the highlights. The real beauty of a place comes in the unexpected surprises that come with a little risk taking—crawling to the bottom of an Egyptian tomb, an evening of Bohemian Rhapsody under the stars with local Mykonians, playing in a local jazz club in the Parisian underground, rolling cigars with a German-speaking Cuban national, and scurrying through hidden passageways in Dubai to buy knock-off watches and handbags aren’t exactly what you had in mind when you were planning your trip, but these are grout that cement and shape your experience into place. Sure, these moments aren’t instagrammable, and your watch might say Bowflex instead of Rolex, but they aren’t cookie-cutter prefabricated dime a dozen experiences. No, these are the raw revelations that can show both a city’s charm and underbelly in ways that are hard to forget.

2.       People are generally the same. Sure, they may look different, speak different languages, and god-forbid, vote for a different political party than you, but deep down we all want the same things—to live peacefully, to provide for our families, to be proud of where we come from, and to belong to something. The more people you meet, the more undeniable it is that the barriers that separate us are figments of our imagination.

3.       Ask the hard questions. It was over a vegetarian meal in Munich, with a friend of a friend, and coincidentally a Green Party Politician, that we found ourselves tiptoeing around political correctness and thanking our hosts for the amazing meal when her husband blurts out, “Well, I didn’t really want you to come if we are being honest.” What followed was a surprisingly refreshing, albeit straightforward, discussion about misconceptions we all had of each other as Americans and Germans. We left with an incredibly different understanding of one another than we would’ve had without such an incredibly German conversation starter.

4.       Home is where the heart is, and no, not your own home. Anthony Bourdain taught us the importance of sharing a meal in someone’s home. When you’re home, your guard is down—conversation flows more naturally in a safe space. If you stick to restaurants, you miss spontaneous living room concerts, Icelandic local handicrafts, and cute little granddaughters teaching you “the floss.” Go out of your way to find opportunities to organically connect. You never know what you’ll uncover. I wouldn’t have found out about the award winning French film “Three Colors: Blue” if it hadn’t been for the movie poster hanging in Giampaolo’s tiny half-bath—I also wouldn’t have met the winner of Top Chef Sweden if it weren’t for taking a risk on an invitation to dinner with a new acquaintance in Milan. When an opportunity presents itself to meet people where they are their most comfortable—jump on it.

5.       Travel is not a luxury. There was a time that travel felt like a privilege for the elite. Maybe it feels that way for you still. But the truth the way I see it is, travel is a responsibility and a constant opportunity to learn. It’s an eye-opening lesson in empathy to be the foreigner for a change—to be required to cover your tattoos in a mosque or your shoulders in a cathedral, and to discover just how handicapping it feels to have to have the menu read to you like a child because not everyone caters to English speakers, are all humbling experiences—experiences that make you much more tolerant. Collect the beautiful things you see, learn from the struggles, and bring them all back home and put them into practice.  

What To Pack (Paris Edition)

So you’re going to Paris? SCORE! The City of Light is a crowd pleaser and every bit as magical as you imagine it’s going to be. From the magnificent Eiffel Tower, the mysterious Mona Lisa to the glorious Palace of Versailles, the city is sure to take your breath away.

While you’re sure you will have a great time, what you may not be so sure about is how to pack. Not to worry, we’ve got you!

Since we are heading there ourselves in March, I’m going to focus this packing list on spring travel in Paris. The weather is all over the place in Paris regardless of the time of year, but you can expect spring in Paris to involve cooler temps and rain.

When tackling a large task like packing, remember to pack light. Bring along layers versus large bulkier outerwear. Parisians are also fashion savvy, so if you don’t want to stick out as a tourist leave the baggy pants and sneakers at home. Also keep in mind that you’ll be hauling your luggage all over the place, not just on the plane, so keep it simple!

My suggestion is always to condense your necessary items into a carry-on size bag if possible. This lowers the risk of your bag getting lost or delayed. You will just want to make sure the bag meets the dimension requirements for the airline you’re traveling with.

If you are traveling with us, you can read up on Delta’s dimension requirements here.

Here is a list of essential items you won’t want to forget to pack.

Travel Aids

·         Chewing gum

·         Meds for motion sickness and sleep

·         Travel Pillow

·         (The airplane will likely supply earplugs, headphones, and a sleep mask so you can leave those at home unless you are partial to your own).

Clothing and Accessories

·         Comfortable walking shoes

·         Shirts (short and long sleeved) Think layers!

·         Socks and underwear/bras (thermals too!)

·         Watch

·         Jewelry

·         Pants/jeans

·         Pajamas

·         Glasses/contacts

·         Sunglasses

·         Belts

·         Dressier outfit

·         Raincoat and/or umbrella 

·         Warm waterproof jacket/fleece

·         Jackets/Gloves/Scarves

·         Collapsible tote/duffel bag for dirty clothes, souvenirs (if only using a carry-on)

·         Luggage tags

·         Journal (if planning to document your trip)

·         Backpack or daybag

Toiletries

·         Toothbrush

·         Toothpaste

·         Floss

·         Mouthwash

·         Shampoo/conditioner

·         Soap

·         Deodorant

·         Hairbrush/comb

·         Hand sanitizer

·         Straightener/curling iron (If you have wattage converter-France uses 230 Voltz)

·         Hair styling products

·         Hair accessories

·         Cleanser

·         Moisturizer

·         Shaving Cream

·         Razor

·         Perfume/Cologne

·         Makeup

·         Makeup Remover

·         Feminine Hygiene Products (if applicable)

·         Nail clippers

·         Nail File

·         Hand wipes

·         Tweezers

·         Cotton swabs

·         Tissues

·         Lint Roller

·         First Aid Kit/Band Aids

·         Lip Balm

·         Washcloths (not standard in European hotels)

·         Any medications (in addition to a copy of any prescription)

·         Spare set of contact lenses/glasses (if applicable)

·         Saline Solution (if applicable)

Money

·         ATM card (Call your bank prior to departure to alert them of the trip; foreign purchases sometimes result in a hold on bank accounts.)

·         Personal credit card (also make sure to notify lender of your travel plans)

·         At least $50 converted to the currency of the first country that you’re visiting (France is on the Euro)

·         Pouch for storing money and passport under clothing

Electronics/Technology

·         An alarm clock (Many hotel rooms won't have one.)

·         An adaptor/converter (Iceland uses type C and E outlet plugs. More info here.)

·         Camera with extra batteries or charger

·         Cell phone and charger (external chargers are worth the investment too!)   

Documents

·         Passport—(Remember to leave one copy of it at home and bring a couple more copies on tour, in case your passport gets lost.)

·         Emergency contact information

·         A copy of your medical insurance card (and trip insurance if you’ve purchased it)

·         A copy of the tour itinerary

·         A list of important phone numbers 

·         Addresses to send postcards home

·         Copy of any prescriptions (Customs officials may want to verify that a container's contents match its label, so all medication should be carried in its original container.)

·         List of medications/prescriptions

Carry-on bag

Here’s a short list of things travelers might need on the first day of the trip. These should be packed in your carry-on in case your checked luggage is delayed:

·         Passport

·         Money

·         Money Belt

·         Airline boarding pass

·         Toothbrush and toothpaste (Check tsa.gov for current security requirements.)

·         Hairbrush

·         Contact lens case/glasses (to sleep comfortably on the plane)

·         A change of clothes (in case luggage is delayed)

·         Medication

·         Any valuables

* If traveling with Land + See, we will do a full day of touring when we first arrive in Paris, so pack anything in your carry-on that you might need for that first day. We won’t check into the hotel until late in the evening.

Hopefully this helps ease the burden of knowing exactly what to pack. You know yourself and what you need so if you see something on the list you know you just won't need, skip it! Now that you're done packing, let's get back to our countdown! If you're like me, you've got this itinerary pinned already and you check it daily, but I'll throw it on here anyway so you can get in the Parisian groove! Paris + Amsterdam

Let the countdown begin!

The REAL Amsterdam

Everyone has an image that comes to mind when they think about Amsterdam. Most images involve the Red Light District. Half-naked girls dancing in windows, trying desperately to get the attention of passersby. Perhaps some late-night news report comes to mind of ragged, coked-out women who have found themselves with no other options but a life of crime. Sound familiar? The added rumors that photographs aren’t permitted in this part of town and that guards will appear if you violate this regulation only perpetuates the naughty and off-color reputation this area maintains.  In many ways this one small district epitomizes the whole of Amsterdam to outsiders. Between this idea that the entire city consists of prostitutes and their scum-of-the-earth patrons, and the city’s reputation as a drug culture, it’s easy for travelers to get the idea that this is all the city has to offer—that it offers nothing to  the everyday traveler.

If you find yourself pondering these same things, you’re not alone. I too wondered if I would even enjoy my time in Amsterdam, not being a social deviant or a pothead.

I’m embarrassed to say that I could’ve easily skipped over Amsterdam in my search of world-travel domination.

I got an incredible deal on airfare and an Air BnB that I just couldn’t refuse, so I decided to go. Truth be told however, before departure I certainly worried about my free time there. Would I even enjoy myself? Would it be full-out debauchery everywhere?

Luckily for me, the real Amsterdam couldn’t have been a starker contrast from my fears. It was SO much more than the Red Light District and seedy coffee shops I’d read so much about in anticipation of my trip.

The real Amsterdam is winding canals, and tulip-lined streets. It is passersby doing everything you could imagine on bicycles, from talking on the phone, holding umbrellas, taking selfies, to having back-and-forth conversations with other cyclists. It is energy and life and art. It is some of the most delicious food I’ve ever eaten—stroopwafels and apple pancakes. It is impromptu flea markets and floating flower markets. It is hand-crafted beer. It is cats lounging on restaurant tables. It is Van Gogh and Rembrandt. It is Anne Frank. It is survival, innovation and ingenuity. It is windmills and Gouda cheese and the tallest swing in Europe. It is taking the harsh realities of society and finding peaceful, safe solutions. It is rowboats and bike bells and laughter. It is hospitality and friendliness without asking for anything in return. It is shadow-churches and daycares and China-town. It’s meeting new friends from different countries and sharing new experiences over food and wine. It is wooden shoes and grachtenpand canal houses as diverse as their inhabitants. It is families, businessmen, and couples jogging in the park. It is so vibrant and full of life.

As usual with fear and anxiety, Amsterdam was none of the things I feared it to be.

I was so glad I trusted my gut and visited this city for myself instead of letting its false reputation scare me away. I laugh to think of my accidental run in with the Red Light District.

We were stumbling along looking for Chinese food and boom, there was a girl in a window. All this time I had been nestled right next to this elusive district and hadn’t even known it. Ironically, our apartment was only a street over from the Red Light District--sandwiched between a church and a daycare in a quiet little neighborhood. That’s how little it stood out against the beauty of the real Amsterdam. It was a mere shadow amongst an otherwise brilliant and inspiring city.

Aldous Huxley once said, “To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” This was certainly true of my time in Amsterdam. Truth be told, even the Red Light District was no match for my imagination. It was quiet, and safe, and clean. It had been so easy to walk by unaware of where I was. I was glad to be wrong about this gem.

I encourage you to push the boundaries. Don’t ever let fear stop you from exploring and experiencing life. Different doesn’t always have to be scary. It can be incredibly beautiful too, and is most of the time. You might be surprised at what you uncover when you throw caution to the wind. It’s like the old saying goes: Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.