London & Paris
Before I went on my first overseas trip to Finland, my husband and I had finally gotten our shit together and booked our first proper European vacation. I planned the entire thing by myself—flights, hotels, tours… the works. I am the designated planner, and my husband is the navigator.
At first, we were shocked by how cheap flights to the UK were. As a musician, my husband was thrilled about the prospect of seeing London and soaking in the British music vibes. We also chose the UK as our starting point for the obvious reason: the language. We decided four days there would be just enough time to recover from the jet lag, get situated, and still have plenty of time to explore.
Our itinerary was jam-packed with all the classic tourist spots. We flew out of Cleveland and headed to Newark for our layover before crossing the Atlantic. (Fast forward fifteen years, and I now avoid Newark AT ALL COSTS). It was April, which most of us know is the rainy season—likely the reason flights were so cheap. Major thunderstorms were rolling in, and our flight was delayed by a few hours.
Thankfully, since London Heathrow was our final stop, we didn’t have to worry about missing a connecting flight. Once again, I had packed a massive suitcase. There was no way in hell I was going to spend eleven days in Europe with only a small carry-on.
Let me tell you—dragging a full-sized suitcase down the cobblestone streets of London is absolutely fucking awful. My husband and I had no idea how to use the Tube (the underground metro), and since I was still thoroughly traumatized from being stranded in Stockholm, we opted to walk everywhere. Getting across the pond can feel incredibly overwhelming if you've never done it. To ease your anxiety, here is exactly what I learned during my first trip overseas.
Cobblestone streets in London, near Tower Bridge
Lesson #1: Step Away from the Heavy Luggage
Ladies and gentlemen, there is absolutely no reason for you to be dragging a full-sized suitcase through the streets of anyEuropean city unless you are permanently moving there.
We made our way through the historic sites, pubs, and gardens, and all of it was completely mesmerizing. All of this history was standing right here before the USA was even a thought. It made me realize how sheltered my perspective had been regarding other countries and cultures. This experience was changing who I was at the core.
If you go, I’d highly recommend visiting Westminster Abbey. Buy your tickets online in advance, and you’ll bypass all the poor souls who don’t know how to use the internet and are stuck waiting in a massive line. Don’t be that person. If you have a digital ticket on your phone, you just walk right up, show it, and stroll on in.
We saw Buckingham Palace, the Churchill War Rooms, Big Ben, and several stunning gardens. We walked through Soho, Covent Garden, Waterloo, Westminster, and St. Katharine Docks. Honestly, four days (losing one to jet lag) was the absolute perfect amount of time to spend in the city.
Panic in Paris: "What the Fuck is a Sortie?"
From London, we took the Chunnel train straight to Paris. We only had a day and a half (two nights) scheduled for France, and I can confidently say we were seriously nervous when we arrived. I look back now and laugh, thinking about what absolute travel babies we both were.
The moment my husband and I stepped off the train, me gripping my massive suitcase, we looked around for the exit. “What the fuck is a 'Sortie'? And how the hell do we get out of here?” There were paths leading in every direction, crowds moving every which way, and not a soul speaking English.
And here, my dear reader, is where you learn your first French word: Sortie means exit.
Paris was a whole new ball game. The metro system is fucking MASSIVE. To make it even crazier, Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements (think of them as little mini-towns), and they are laid out in a giant clockwise spiral starting right in the center of the city at the Louvre—kind of like a snail shell. Holy shit. Once again, we were frozen like deer in the headlights.
Thank God for Google Maps and the fact that we were wearing sneakers. (Ladies, leave your cute, impractical shoes at home!) We decided to walk all the way to our hotel, once again dragging my massive suitcase down the unforgiving cobblestone roads.
The hotel staff spoke English, which was a massive relief. We checked into our room, which was decked out in red and green striped wallpaper, gaudy-ass furniture, and a bed that… well, it was a bed. It was manageable for two nights.
Conquering the Language Barrier (and the Eiffel Tower)
Our next mission was finding dinner. We were both terrified because we didn't know the language or how to get around. We had also heard the old stereotypes that Parisians didn’t want to speak English and were rude to Americans. We walked around aimlessly until we spotted a British flag on a pub and decided to play it safe.
In hindsight, we were being such travel babies. Over my years of traveling, I’ve learned that people don’t bite. If there is a miscommunication, you just say thank you (Merci!) and try again with someone else.
The woman running the restaurant could clearly sense our anxiety and greeted us warmly in English. We were so incredibly thankful that we left her a $10 tip.
Now, as you may or may not know, Europe pays their restaurant workers a full living wage. Tips are not expected, nor will you ever be rushed away from your table. In fact, you actively have to request your check (L'addition, s'il vous plaît), or you’ll be sitting there all night long.
Locks on bridge fence in Paris
During our one full day in Paris, we wandered the streets and took in the jaw-dropping architecture. We saw Notre-Dame (this was before the tragic fire), walked along the Seine River, did the whole "love lock" on the bridge thing, and ended our evening with a dinner atop the Eiffel Tower.
It was definitely an experience. It was a pricey three-course meal surrounded by lots of other tourists. Now that I’m much more traveled, I’d probably opt for a scenic dinner cruise on the Seine at night instead, but it was still unforgettable.
The next morning, I packed up my big-ass suitcase yet again, and we headed for Amsterdam!