Hey Trippers,

I was perusing, in an amusing way, an interesting article on the CNN.com website.  The headline:

“Kissing, chewing – the ‘germiest’ tourist attractions”

The provocative headline made me smile.  I clicked on it and then all the unsanitary tourist attraction horrors I’ve seen came to mind.  They listed the top five (in their minds) as The Blarney Stone in Ireland, Market Theatre Gum Wall in Seattle, St. Marks’ Square in Venice, Italy, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, and Oscar Wilde’s Tomb in Paris.

I’ve been to three of them (Oscar Wilde’s Tomb, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, and St. Mark’s Square) but I could think of dozens more that are just as creepy.  When given an opportunity to go to The Blarney Stone in Ireland.  I dismissed it in kind because I couldn’t imagine kissing something hundred’s of thousands of people have kissed, nuzzled, sneezed-on, or licked before me – let alone have someone hold on to me as I hang over backwards while doing it.

I’ve been to the Pike Place Market in Seattle where the Gum Wall is hundreds of times and I have never heard of the “Gum Wall” – not even once.  I’ll have seen it by week’s end just as a curiosity.

St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco) is truly one of the top 20 squares in the world and honestly, during all of my dozens of visits I CRINGED at tourists who sprinkle food on themselves, allow the pigeons to perch on them, peck at the food, leave behind their poop, all while flapping their feather mites all over the tourist.

At first, I was very impressed by Oscar Wilde’s Tomb because of the Egyptian motif, but secondly, I was not expecting it to be covered in lipstick kisses.  It was truly an oddity!  Good luck or not, I wasn’t going to attach my lips anywhere on the tomb (besides, I forgot my lipstick).

Back when I lived in LA, I would take family and friends on “The Tour” of which Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was always a stop.  As we all fit our hands on top of the star’s imprints, it never crossed our minds that there had been many before us who probably scratched a scabie or two first.

When in Munich last May, I watched with fascination, people from all walks of life, as they detoured (far away) from their daily activities to rub the Lions Statues at the entrance of The Residenz (Royal Palace).  At least, two dozens strokers in the 15 minutes I watched.

Then, there was the sculpture of Everard ’t Serclaes in Brussels’ Grand Place that was worn shiny from the stroking of multiple parts and all the statues and plaques on Prague’s Charles Bridge.

On my flight back from Montreal this month, the gentleman behind me coughed and hacked his way through the 4 ½ hour flight . . . . . no wonder how the Swine Flu finds its way around the world so quickly.  Just pack your hand sanitizer, a good immune system, and here’s hoping that all the traveling you’re doing is actually inoculating you against all the germs . . . .

Happy Tripping,

Carter

Hey Trippers,

So much has been written about the incredible story of US Air Flight 1549.  One thing that the episode has shown is that experience trumps even the best training.  Experience enabled Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and his crew to keep their cool and guide that massive and fragile machine into the Hudson River.  Sully used his glider pilot experience and transferred that knowledge to a multi-ton aircraft.  Miracle?  Call it what you want.  It is fate that that pilot and crew were on that flight under those circumstances.

There has not been a flight I’ve taken where I don’t stop at every take-off and landing and think of those I love and whether they’re all right if something tragic happens.  If disaster strikes, the statistics overwhelmingly show that it will be during the take-off (12%)* or landing (45%)*.

I’ve culled an important testimonial from the preponderance of coverage of this amazing outcome.  I found a useful account by a passenger who was on the flight.  He tells quite a story (if you want the whole story, e-mail and I’ll send it) and I found his final observations the most useful to what I hope I’m accomplishing with this blog and knowyourtrip.com.

(This is from a Partner at Heidrick & Struggles in New York who was on Flight 1549.)

There is a great deal to be learned including: Why has this happened 
to me? Why have I survived and what am I supposed to do with this 
gift? For me, the answers to these questions and more will come over
time, but already I find myself being more patient and forgiving, less
 critical and judgmental.
For now I have 4 lessons I would like to share:

1. Cherish your families as never before and go to great lengths to 
keep your promises.
2. Be thankful and grateful for everything you have and don’t worry 
about the things you don’t have.
3. Keep in shape. You never know when you’ll be called upon to save
 your own life, or help someone else save theirs.
4. When you fly, wear practical clothing. You never know when you’ll
end up in an emergency or on an icy wing in flip flops and pajamas and
 of absolutely no use to yourself or anyone else.

Words to take to heart.  Fitness is important to every aspect of travel and now, first hand, you see a testimonial from someone who lived it.  Clothing is always a consideration.  Every flight I take, I see someone with flip-flops.  Every overnight flight I see someone under 18 in pajamas!  Stop them!  It’s for their own good, their safety – and yours.  You may need their help. And as you travel in foreign destinations, don’t think of what they don’t have but all they DO have.

Word to take to heart, remember all that you do have, and you may be embarrassed . . . .

Happy Tripping,

Carter

*When accidents/fatalities happen, this percentage is based on the overall flight from taxi to landing.

When Trippers travel, safety is always the most important concern.  Trippers need to be aware of everything around them, especially in large cities.  Nothing will impact a trip more than finding yourself a victim of a crime.  

Paris is the only city where violence (albeit minor) has been used on me.  While boarding a Metro train, I was “knee-ed” from behind in an effort to strip me of my wallet.  Lesson learned.  I never carry my wallet in my back pocket.  He didn’t get my wallet because it was too fat to get out of my pants!  If he had used the “box cutter” method – it would have been his.  Thankfully, he didn’t.  A Money Belt is now part of my travel packing.

I bring this topic up now because I just received a call from a friend who’s in Paris.  He alerted me to another scam being perpetrated on tourists. You can add this to the list of methods to bilk tourists that’s being used successfully.  Despite spending days in Paris last December, I didn’t encounter this particular scam myself.  But it’s out there.

My friend said he was wandering around the Trocadero / Eiffel Tower at the time.  The usual harmless ebb and flow of North African souvenirs-on-a-blanket hawkers spooked by police was going on.  The gypsies from Eastern Europe are responsible for this one.

A Gypsy approaches unaware tourists.  While the tourists aren’t paying attention, the Gypsy drops a gold ring on the ground.  The Gypsy pretends they’ve just found the gold ring on the ground.  So, they appear to find it in front of the tourists, they stop the tourists, and ask if it is theirs (of course it’s not).   Then, they say “It appears to be real gold.  I don’t need it.  Would you take it from me for five Euro?”  And my friend watched tourist after tourist hand over money for the rings!  Maybe, they felt they were, at least, getting something for their hand out.

Just be aware and when approached dismiss them swiftly in kind.  Don’t feel like you’re being rude. They’re invading your space!

Good Tripping,

Carter