Europe - 6 Odd Things You'll Encounter While Traveling

Traveling to different places always comes with surprises - some are expected, like the weird things that people eat in other countries, and some are a bit more unusual. Here are some of the oddities I encountered while traveling through Europe from the United States.

• Easter Eggs are available all the time already dyed in the grocery store.

-- I understand this, but still was quite surprised by it. Do children in Europe dislike boiled eggs so much that their parents trick the kids into eating them by providing brightly colored shells instead of the boring white or brown?

• Bubble Warp Outfits in Clothing Store Windows

-- I've heard of bubble wrap prom outfits designed to win a scholarship, but I've never seen them for sale in the windows of a clothing store. This jacket(?) was one of two outfits made entirely of bubble warp displayed for sale in a small town in Germany. It looks like it would certainly keep the rain off!

• Working Phone Booths

-- These were all over the place in Europe. In the States, it's quite rare to see a pay phone, and almost unheard of to find one that still works. The phone booths scattered across Europe all looked like they are still used regularly. Maybe it's helpful for tourists, or maybe Europeans are just better at memorizing a phone number but forgetting their cell phone.

• Unattended Flower Stands

-- Europeans must be more trusting than Americans. These flower stands were common all over Germany and Austria. The idea is simple - the farmer plants a whole bunch of sunflowers, dahlias, or a similar flower along the side of a heavily trafficked area along with a sign inviting patrons to cut their own blooms. Scissors are provided along with a little box to remit payment. It works on the honor system.

• No Central Airconditioning

-- We stayed at several private homes during our trip, and not a single one of them offered central air conditioning. They all had huge windows which could be opened either from the top or the side, but that sure didn't help much when the temperature outside was well over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of the places we stayed didn't even have a fan available. When asked, each person responded the same way, "It's not usually this hot here."

• No Ice For Sale

-- Americans are used to drinking ice water and iced tea and having ice in our cocktails. In one town, we looked at 4 different gas stations and 3 different grocery stores for a bag of ice. Each time we were directed to the ice cream. It was even difficult to get a glass of ice water at a restaurant. The waitresses told us over and over, "No, sorry, we don't have that here." Perhaps it was a language barrier thing, or perhaps they just don't like ice cubes the way we do in the States.

What have been some of your biggest oddities when traveling to foreign countries? Let me know in the comments. And when you're ready to book an oddity-filled trip, find me at Travel Life Services.

Happy Travels!

Jennifer

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