As I write this I am surrounded by piles of clothes, papers scattered across the floor, and various other personal items strewn about like I’ve had a fight with them. This is not anything out of the ordinary- my room usually looks like this. However today I have an excuse; I’m in the middle of packing to leave for Europe for a month.
Doyle, Yongas and I have decided to go on a fact-finding mission for olilolo, to see if there are better ways of writing about nonsense. Is it better if you do it with the Collosseum in the background, for example? Does the ancient stone lend your inane rambling a certain weight? “Yes,” people will hopefully think, “this man’s opinions about comic books are strangely compelling.”
We’re going to travel across most of the more famous or “civilised” parts of the continent, before you go too far east and everyone starts seeming REALLY foreign. From the culture and sophistication of London and Paris, to the ancient edifices of Rome, to the wall-to-wall drinking in Munich, we’ll take in the sights and sounds through a variety of electronic devices designed to more accurately record the experience than our own brains.
I find it very interesting the variety of people’s reactions when I told them I was going to Europe for a month. Unbridled celebration was common, which I thought was a bit harsh with me standing right there. A less common but still frequent reaction was snide superiority. “Oh, really? We went to the Maldives for FIVE weeks last month. We try to take every other month off and just GO somewhere. It cleanses the spirit.”
I am not friends with those people any more.
Universally though, people would trot out their horror stories of travelling through foreign lands. The time they missed their train and had to beg a lift across France from a driver who didn’t speak English, or French. The time they tried to go to a public toilet in Italy, only to find they’d run out of toilet paper (and what they thought was a public toilet was actually an indoor drinking fountain). The time they went to Europe and Australia blew up while they were away. I began to suspect several people were embellishing the truth slightly.
Pickpockets also seemed to be high on people’s list of concerns. Judging from the number and emphatic nature of the warnings I received about securing my valuables while overseas, I’ve calculated that a full two fifths of mainland Europe makes a full-time living through the practise. In response I’ve decided the best defence is a good offence, and have vowed to punch anyone who comes within a two metre radius of me directly in the mouth. Sure some innocents might get a fat lip, but it’s a small price to pay for safety.
Having said all that, I did receive some valuable advice. I will record it here for any other potential travellers wishing to learn a few tips and tricks to get you out of a tight spot while abroad.
-Londoners really all do speak like in Mary Poppins, but they’re kind of embarrassed since that film came out, so many hide their natural accent. Try to coax it out of them by speaking in your best Dick van Dyke Cockney.
-Germans consider it a great honour to be slapped right in the face. Just right in it.
-French policemen can be paid to perform menial tasks such as carrying your bags or acting as a footrest
-In Italy, always take off your shoes when entering a shop, and whirl them about by the laces to discourage panhandlers.
-In Europe in general, many people do not speak English, however if you speak English to them slowly and in their own accent, an understanding can be reached.
A couple of valuable tips I’m sure you’ll agree. I look forward to trying them out! I’ll report back on how everything goes. Until next time, Bongiorno Voyage!







