Top 5 things to do in Munich

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Munich is very much the modern city you would expect. Yet the German metropolis does an excellent job of mixing old tradition with new style; qualities which comprise my top five list of things to do while in Munich.

If you’re planning a visit to Munich, go in late September to experience Oktoberfest. The city lives and breathes for the annual event, and it puts you in direct contact with locals. You will run into plenty of Australians and Irish, but the German people take several days of vacation during the 16-day festival to celebrate their heritage. Read more about my Oktoberfest experience in a previous blog post.

The night before Oktoberfest, have dinner at Spatenhaus. The classic Bavarian food is some of the best, and the traditional setting gets you in the mood for beer slinging the next day. It is also located in the center of where old town meets high-end shopping in Munich, so the people watching is top rate.

After a day or several days at Oktoberfest, you might not want to leave the party cold turkey. Enter Hofbrauhaus. Located in the building where Hofbrauhaus beer was originally brewed, the beer hall now holds up to 1,300 people, and there is additional space in a lovely beer garden behind the building. Touristy? Yes. But the live music and spontaneous dancing are a sight for anyone who wants to do Oktoberfest on a smaller scale.

If you are searching for Munich’s more refined side for some quiet time, look no further than the city park. Englisher Garten or “English Garden” is a large park located near the center of Munich. In fact, it is larger than New York City’s Central Park, spanning just under 1.5 miles. The park has much to see, including a waterfall, Japanese garden, over 100 bridges, an open-air theater and stone structures. Be aware that nude sunbathing is permitted between the Japanese garden and the stone structures of Monopteros if you are strolling through the grounds. I was not visually prepared to see two men playing naked frisbee early one Sunday morning.

The hidden gem in Englisher Garten is, you guessed it, a beer garden. Regularly voted one of the best in the city, Seehaus Beer Garden is a terrific spot to watch the old men of Munich play chess, bantering back and forth. If you place the city park on your “must see” list, visit on Sunday. Live bands play throughout the day from the 82-foot Chinese pagoda that watches over patrons.

Pinakothek der Moderne is everything old Munich is not. After beer and dancing, it’s nice to step into a contemporary world of art, architecture and design from the 20th and 21st centuries. The modern art museum is a fascinating look at German artwork, and its contribution to cars, furniture and even computers. There is a rotating gallery as well as an active schedule of cultural events held at the museum each week.

There is enough sightseeing, shopping and “festing” in Munich to occupy yourself for many days, but I do recommend you take time for a variety of things to get the best sense of the people and culture of Munich.

What do you recommend?

Not your mother’s Oktoberfest

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When I bite into a salted radish, I am instantly transported to the Hippodrome tent at Oktoberfest.

Advertised as the world’s largest fair, Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany draws more than six million people from mid-September to early October every year. This year is the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest, and I suspect there could be record-breaking crowds.

Several years ago husband and I journeyed to Munich with friends, but you certainly don’t need to be with a group to enjoy Oktoberfest. The picnic-style tables in each tent hold 20-30 people, so you’re likely to make quick friends with the person in lederhosen sitting next to you.

The benefit of being female in an Oktoberfest-going group is simple. Ladies can send the men to the fairgrounds early in the morning, which is what our group did. While reservations are preferred for groups, it’s still best to stand in line as the sun is rising to ensure you get the choice table once doors open to the tent. It’s the perfect job for men dreaming about their first liter, right? The men took an early morning train to the fairgrounds, but the ladies and I hailed a taxi to the site. The cheaper option is certainly public transportation, and you can check out this link for Oktoberfest-specific routes.

But back to those radishes …

When the ladies and I arrived on the grounds mid-morning, we headed to the Hippodrom tent where the men had claimed seats for us several hours before. It was opening day of Oktoberfest and there was a buzz in the air. The keg was scheduled to be tapped at noon, so a snacking smorgasboard of meats, cheeses and tiny radishes had been brought out on wood boards by our beer maidens. I had never eaten a radish dipped in salt, but the crunch, sting and fresh salt forever converted me.

At 12:00 p.m. the ceremonies began. There were a few words spoken, singing, and then a famous German actor (we were told) tapped the keg in the Hippodrom. Oktoberfest was on. Prost!

First, the liters of beer. Our beer maidens fit the stereotype. Young blonde women carried six to eight full liters of Spaten to each table. Not a serious beer drinker, I opted for a glass of sparking wine and sat back to watch the scene unfold. Prost! Clinking glasses. Laughter. The Germans knew how to throw a party.

Not wanting to lose beer-sloshed patrons after one liter, our maidens immediately brought food to the table as soon as drinks were served. Pork knuckle was a favorite, along with roasted chicken, sausages and sauerkraut. Our table devoured every morsel.

After many hours of beer, dancing, singing and a Boris Becker celebrity spotting, we moved on to the Kafer’s Wies’n-Schanke tent, one of the smaller tents on the fairgrounds known for its roasted duck and chicken. That’s right, more food. And singing. And a little dancing. Kafer’s is also known for celebrity sightings, but we did not spot anyone recognizable.

When our group left Kafer’s later that evening it had grown dark and the grounds were aglow in amusement park lights. A large hill at the exit was sprinkled with lovers and men holding their heads. It had been a spectacular day. I chose not to drink more than a few glasses of wine and it never felt like I wasn’t part of the Oktoberfest experience. I hope to go back some day.

Tips:

If you are attending Oktoberfest with friends, download the Wiesn app. It allows you to text, chat and find your friends on the fairgrounds via GPS!

If you want to buy a traditional Bavarian costume for Oktoberfest, don’t be shy. A majority of people do wear a costume, especially the locals.

Try your darnest to find a spot at the end of a table. It’s hard to move around when you are between eight people on your left, and eight people on your right. After that much food and beer, you will need to walk and use the toilet. It’s also an excuse to meet people sitting across from you.

Treat your beer maidens well. They will withhold drink from anyone who is rude.

The enchantment of Prince Edward Island

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North of Nova Scotia is the enchanted land of Prince Edward Island (PEI), a maritime province of eastern Canada.

I consider PEI enchanting because it’s 114,000 residents are 85 percent Scottish and Irish, most of which still have a distinct brogue. In fact, the sea-kissed hills are almost as green as Ireland. And the undisturbed fishing villages take you back more than 50 years in time.

The inspiration of Lucy Montgomery’s novel series, Anne of Green Gables, is found here on the island. While Anne was a part of Montgomery’s imagination, the house Anne lived in was actually the home of Montgomery’s cousins who lived in Cavendish. Today the home is part of Prince Edward Island National Park, and you can tour the grounds seasonally.

PEI is so narrow, you are never more than 10 minutes from the ocean, even from the center of the island. However, if you are driving to the sea, do not expect signs to help map your route. PEI has the worst road signage I’ve ever encountered, and a co-pilot to navigate the roadways is a must. Review a map to determine which towns you will travel through and even make a checklist, if you can. Road signs only designate what town is ahead. Your map might state you’re on Hwy. 2, but you’ll never see a sign indicating the roadway.

Some other observations of PEI:

  • Do not panic if you come upon a full-service gas station. PEI does not have self-service stations.
  • Expect people to smile the first time they hear you speak. I was told I had an accent – a “TV voice.”
  • Do not expect to find a Starbucks or any coffee shop on the island. If you do find a cafe that serves coffee, skip it. These people are known for their tea, so enjoy as the locals do.

You can cover PEI in a few days, then ferry over to Nova Scotia or drive to New Brunswick. But the enchantment of the land, the sea and the people of PEI stays with you.

Eat, pray, love going solo

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This weekend’s release of the movie Eat, Pray, Love has unleashed a mountain of travel stories in the news media, mostly written by women who have jogged around the globe for months at a time by themselves. I am the first one to advocate such behavior. I do not believe you need a partner to enjoy traveling.

That said, I wonder how many women have read these same news stories over the last week and thought, ‘Fine for her, but I would never gallivant around by myself. Too frightening.’

Even my independent spirit falls into that category. I easily identify with Rosalba, the main character in my favorite Italian movie, Bread and Tulips. In the story, frumpy housewife Rosalba is accidentally left behind by her family at a rest stop while on vacation. Instead of waiting for them to pick her up, she hitch-hikes to Venice, Italy and meets new characters along the way. She soars in her new-found independence but there are moments when it suddenly hits – Oh God, I’m alone. NOW what?

While I have traveled overseas “by myself” in the past, I was never alone for very long. I have been on three Rick Steves tours, two of which I traveled without a partner. But the security of being with a group heightened my travel experience because I was comfortable. If you are independent, a tour with loose rules and minimum group tour time is a great alternative. I look for tours that offer a few hours of tour highlights, and then free time each day, with bonus free days included. If you want to skip the tour that day or skip dinner with the group, more power to you. The beauty of this type of tour is the complete independence or complete tour structure you crave. The choice is yours.

I cringe when movies portray travel situations that I am willing to bet a small percentage of women would never consider. That’s not what solo travel is like for most of us. But there are plenty of good tour options for even the most adventurous at heart who want to eat, pray, and love every minute of it.

Getting away from it all

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I have to remind myself that “vacation” does not mean spending two weeks in Europe. The definition of vacation is actually a period of suspension of work, study or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation or travel.

By that definition I have to classify my last weekend getaway as vacation. I took a day off from work, and more importantly, I went to an area without cell phone or data service so I could not answer e-mails. Sure, I had the shakes after 24-hours without checking in online, but it’s remarkable that you can still find a cafe with WiFi in the middle of nowhere.

One of my favorite areas in Minnesota is bluff country, located in the southeast corner of the state. Husband and I decided to fast-track it to Lanesboro, and then wander home on two-lane roads. Located in the heart of the Root River Valley Trail system, you can bike 60 miles through the limestone bluffs inside the river valley or tube down the Root River in Lanesboro, or one of the neighboring towns like Preston.

After a day in Lanesboro we went went east on Hwy. 16 and spotted hawks, rabbits, beaver, coyote, deer in addition to farm animals and a many mosquitoes. We passed through Fountain, Whalan, Harmony, Rushford and Houston. Arriving at the end of Hwy. 16 in La Crescent, Minn., we traveled up Hwy. 61.

If you are driving on Hwy. 61, put down the windows, turn up Bob Dylan’s Hwy. 61 Revisited and take in the North Country. My favorite stops are:

You can see much of Minnesota bluff country in one day or take your time over a weekend. Just remember not to get frustrated with the hills when they block your cell service. You’re on vacation.


Exotic cruising

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The two words “exotic” and “cruise” are typically not in the same sentence together. “Exotic” on many cruises is just dress-up night by the wait staff. But in Tahiti, everything is exotic, even on a cruise ship.

The m/s Paul Gauguin of the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet was designed specifically to sail the shallow seas of Tahiti and French Polynesia, visiting small ports that larger ships can’t reach. This is my field journal about my experience on the Society Islands of the South Pacific.

Arrival – Papeete

The warm breeze is the first thing I notice when I disembark from the plane in Papeete (pronounced pa-pee-eh-tae). The second thing I notice is the smell. Tahiti’s national flower is Tiare, a heavily scented gardenia, and it’s tucked behind the ear of most of the ladies greeting me at the gate.

Prior to arrival I fill out the necessary paperwork given to me by my flight attendant. Not knowing what Tahitian officials want as my official address while visiting, I leave the space blank. When I go through immigration I’m instructed to place the m/s Paul Gauguin as my residence for the next week.

And I’m off to the ship!

Raiatea

Tahiti can feel like the Caribbean – until a local fisherman pulls up to the boardwalk, whips a freshly caught swordfish onto the dock and proceeds to filet his catch right there in the marina while friends driving by honk their horns in happy congratulations for a fine day at sea.

Welcome to Raiatea. (re-eh-tah)

I decide to take an easy day of it after seeing the fishing spectacle on the docks. I sign up for a general island tour overview that will take me through the tropical forests of the island and up into the hills. My guide is an American who came to Raiatea to surf 12 years prior, and wound up meeting her Tahitian husband and staying to raise a family. She gives us a nice overview of the regional landscape and flora, and takes us to meet a family that serves juice and fruit known in the region. Back to the boat in just a few hours, I have the afternoon to explore the ship and meet my fellow passengers. In an hour, I’m having tea with an Australian couple on their honeymoon and a woman from Vienna who decided she wanted to see the sunset in Tahiti before she was “too old to care about such things.” Once again, travel brings the beauty of life to the forefront.

Taha’a

Day two gives me time to explore a pearl farm on Taha’a and then snorkel in a crystal blue lagoon. I swim with fish that have previously been just an image from a televised National Geographic special.

After snorkeling for an hour, I’m taken to Motu Mahana, a private island specially reserved for guests of the Regent Seven Seas. I sink into a shaded lounge chair and examine my once-fair skin. I have quickly discovered my sun block is no match for the Tahitian sun. SPF 30 did not work, and I had bumped up to SPF 50 after getting a mild sunburn on Raiatea. This change will be helpful, but I recommend even SPF 60 for the fair-skinned. This trip will prove the Tahitian sun is merciless.

Bora Bora, Day 1

Rumbling full-speed up the rugged cliffs of Bora Bora in an open Land Rover is my expedition highlight thus far. Songsfrom “South Pacific” play through my head as the tour guide explains the basis of United States occupation on Bora Bora during World War II. There is a little magic in the air, along with those gardenias. By the end of the tour, my appendix is still vibrating but it is well worth the jiggle. The vistas are breathtaking and the jungle can be exciting for botanists and birdwatchers. There is even a stop at a native gallery for fresh fruit, music and hand painted fabrics – which equates to stopping at another home of a local who entertains visitors for tips. There is no pressure to buy though, and we just sit back and listen to the music being played on the porch until it’s time to leave.

Bora Bora, Day 2

A tender boat from the cruise ship drops me off at the main dock of Bora Bora. Tourist information is located there, as well as a few shops and a free shuttle to a nearby pearl farm. Weighing my options, I decide to explore Bora Bora on foot.

Taking a quick walk around I quickly realize the people of Bora Bora have never stopped to adjust their lives for tourists. While there are some shops and boutiques available, the offerings are few. I decide to take a dive into the culture by stopping into a grocery store to check out the French bread sitting in shopping carts right at the front door. I also stroll down the cereal aisle to find out what unusual combinations Kellogg sells to the islands. I’ve found that cereals differ country to country, wherever I go. And there it is – chocolate infused cereal pieces in the shape of croissants. Only in French Polynesia!

Moorea, Day 1

If Bora Bora is magical, Moorea (pronounced Moe-oh-ray-ah) is mystical. Throwing open the shade on day five of my cruise reveals a jagged and mountainous place. I can almost hear drums beating in the hillside. Or is that my stomach asking for breakfast?

This being my fourth cruise, I know to expect an ongoing parade of gastronomic delights. That said, I had no idea to expect THIS. Every day the restaurants provide gorgeously presented five-star quality food. Breakfast is a never-ending buffet of breads, fruit, nuts, meat selections, tuna and lox, omelets, pancakes, cereal and oatmeal, plus exotic fruit juices. Lunches have a different theme everyday, and the German and TexMex buffets are well received. Dinners are the crème-de-la-crème of six-course French and Polynesian fare. In between, there are light snacks and fresh appetizers delivered to your room by 5:00 p.m. each day. Regent Seven Seas is known for their all-inclusive cruising style, and it doesn’t disappoint.

Moorea, Day 2

AM

Moorea’s rugged beauty is the perfect place to delve into the ancient aspects of Tahiti. There are several good excursions tochoose from on this stop, including an archeological tour. If you want to explore on your own, cars and scooters can be rented right at the dock. A small market is also open at the tender boat’s landing sight, where necklaces and redwood carvings are available for sale. Beyond that, Moorea is just a lightly populated place with nothing more than one road wrapping island. Perhaps day two is best spent on the ship.

Tahiti is known for its water sports, and the marina off the back deck of the ship compliments this feature beautifully. A quick walk down to Deck 3 puts me in the ocean within minutes. Cook’s Bay in Moorea is calm and a perfect place to enjoy a quiet kayaking adventure. I can’t stay out for long though. The ship sails at 5:00 p.m. for Papeete.

PM

Pulling back in to civilization just a few short hours after leaving Moorea is bittersweet. I’m sad to be thinking about going home. Then I see “Le Truck” in the Papeete port below. We are free to disembark once in port, so I head down to the plank to check out the scene.

Steak and frites, crepes and pizza, Asian bowls and suckling pig – “Le Truck” is an outdoor gathering of locals who come together for dinner on the dock every night. Small trucks roll out their awnings and the smell of food coming from the tiny kitchens inside makes my mouth water, even though I’ve just had a gargantuan dinner. While children play European football on a nearby field, adults greet each other and catch up on the week’s events. This is Papeete, the city in action.

Papeete

I’m able to stay on the ship overnight and disembark in the morning. After saying goodbye to many new friends, I head into downtown Papeetee. With time to kill before my flight, I make the Public Market my first stop of the day.

The sights and smells of the market are almost more than I can handle. If the coffee from breakfast hasn’t woken me up, this does. Fabrics, baskets, flowers, fish, fruit, jewelry! You name it, it is here and the locals are buying.

From the market, I tool around downtown, checking out churches and bookstores. Close to 1:00 p.m. I’m hot and ready for a shower. I hail a taxi right outside the Public Market for the airport not more than a mile away.

As I sit in the airport waiting to board my plane back to the U.S., a quote from Paul Gauguin comes to mind. “Life is hardly more than a fraction of a second. Such little time to prepare oneself for eternity!”


Making the old, new

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I’m in the process of having some 35 mm film negatives transferred to digital images. Over the last few days I went through all of my travel images to see what I really wanted to preserve and what could be left for a later day.

The greatest thing about looking at old travel photos is the reality check it provides. In your hands you have proof that 1)  the hairstyle you had was not ‘da bomb’; 2) your Euro fashion attempt was just an American in a scarf; and 3) your travel pictures look just like everyone else’s.

I was mortified at my photos. Boring! I have stood in the center of some majestic, ancient cities, and my pictures make me want to take a nap.

You probably know the remedy – take a look at your subject from a different angle. That theory is harder than you think when you’re standing in front of the Eiffel Tower. You want to take a picture of the whole darn thing. And you should. But then it’s good to play around with angles to see what other lines, shapes and dimensions you can get from your subject.

I’ve pulled a few examples of when I did break the norm just a little bit. As a disclaimer I do realize that at least 1.7 million people also have these “alternative” angles.

First, let’s look at the Louvre Museum in Paris. We know the glass pyramid at the Louvre mixes contemporary in a traditional setting. But how does that feel? I took this picture inside the pyramid to put the modern age in the foreground while blending France’s history in the background. It felt like momma was looking in on what had become of her children over the years.

Next, the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. It’s the most recognized bridge in the city. While this angle isn’t really different (it’s not hard to get this angle, you just have to climb some stairs) it’s still different than the straight on shot that every tourist takes from the bridge opposite of the Ponte Vecchio.

This next picture was taken one early morning in Amsterdam. My photos were starting tolook the same again. Bicycles, coffee shops and canals were filling up my memory card. I needed something a little different – stat. Again, this isn’t the most intriguing picture, but it sums up the quiet Amsterdam neighborhood of Jordaan to me. The reflection has Dutch buildings, a canal and bicycles, just from another point of view.

Finally, this photo was taken in Brussels at night with my point-and-shoot. I had put the digital SLR away for the day and was just enjoying the scene. It was a holiday weekend in Brussels when I was there, so everyone was out. I took this angle for two reasons. The main reason is that I was literally sitting on the ground. People gather in the Grand Place square and just hang out on the cobblestones with a picnic basket or a beer. I also wanted to get the grand spectrum of the buildings, but they are so tall you cannot capture them unless you turn your camera sideways. This is probably one of my favorite things to do now – turn the camera on it’s ear. The scene is kind of interesting, but a different angle and black and white treatment make the lovers walking by more intriguing to my eye.

The moral of the story is sometimes you just need to get up and move around or sit on the ground with a beer. The one thing I do know is that I have a lot of places to revisit so I can get better pictures next time.

Travel 10 days in one bag: the ultimate packing list

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When you travel overseas the last thing you want is a lot of luggage. Drag a big suitcase on wheels over a cobblestone street in Italy and you will get stares and snickers. Take that same large suitcase on any train in Europe and pray for a spare seat next to you. Luggage compartments on the railways are typically not big enough to hold more than a large backpack unless you’re lucky.

I travel 10-12 days with a Rick Steves convertible bag. It’s dimensions are listed as 14 x 9 x 21. It allows me to put my Think Tank Speed Demon camera bag around my waist in the front, carry my clothes on my back, while keeping me completely hands free to fiddle with train tickets, maps, etc.

Think it’s impossible to put everything on your back? Think again. Here is my packing  list that I follow every time I leave home for a few weeks, plus my personal pre-travel to-do checklist with handy hints.

SUITCASE

  1. Alarm clock, jewelry, sunglasses, European adapter, sporks for picnics
  2. Make-up bag and toiletry bag
  3. Hair dryer (if needed)
  4. Under garments (total days travel plus one for insurance in case of travel delays)
  5. Socks (total days travel)
  6. Sleeping t-shirt and shorts
  7. Shirts (total days travel)
  8. Jeans and slacks (one of each)
  9. Scarf
  10. Extra travel books and necessary confirmations, plus maps

Where are the shoes? Don’t need them. Wear the same pair on your feet everyday. It will save a lot of space. Dress-up clothes for fine dining? Not my style, plus it adds several additional layers to the suitcase for a one-time event. Packing light means prioritizing.

I’ve also gotten into the habit of slinging a carry-on sack for the plane that can be easily packed away once I arrive at my destination, and then brought out again for farmer’s market shopping or a place to put books for a long train ride.

TRAVEL SACK

  1. Money belt (which you need to put on once you arrive at your destination!)
  2. Passport and wallet with essentials needed
  3. Airline tickets/EuroRail tickets
  4. Travel books you want to read
  5. Neck pillow (Like the American Express card, don’t leave home without it)
  6. Sweater for chilly plane ride and chilly European nights

I carry more camera equipment than many, but here are the items that I find necessary for my camera bag:

CAMERA BAG

  1. Digital SLR with lens attached
  2. Point-and-shoot camera
  3. Polarizing filter
  4. Extra memory cards
  5. Battery chargers
  6. Lens cleaning cloth

Finally, I keep a pre-travel list handy that makes a great reminder checklist to click-through before I holiday for a few weeks.

TO-DO CHECKLIST

  1. Arrange care and feeding instructions for any pets at home
  2. Water plants
  3. Stop mail
  4. Call credit card companies and alert them of travel plans in specific countries (Note: In Europe most establishments accept MasterCard Euro, which is not the same as MasterCard as we know it in the U.S. Make sure you have a Visa card packed. Medium to larger establishments also accept American Express.)
  5. Compose “out of office” e-mail alert
  6. Pack plan baggie for the best hygiene feeling (travel toothbrush, toothpaste, earplugs, face wipes)
  7. Pack liquid security quart sized baggie to appease TSA, if necessary
  8. Photocopy your credit cards, passport and list out credit card emergency numbers. Hide away in your suitcase, far from your wallet
  9. Compose travel card with flight information for wallet

As much as I resemble a pack mule in this photo, this is a side view of me with all of my travel luggage exposed, just prior to jumping on a train for my next destination. It ain’t pretty, but it works. In the end, less is more.

The days of the travel journal

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Not so many years ago I traveled with 20 rolls of film and a travel journal. I ditched the film in 2006 and the journal in 2008. I wouldn’t trade my digital camera for anything, but I regret not keeping up with my travel writing.

Documenting where you have been is a great way to relax at the end of a busy day of hard-core touring. Are you going to remember the unique characteristics of the Michaelangelo you saw 15 years from now? Probably not. And what about that unique encounter with a local that made you shudder or made your day? Write it down.

The other way of journaling about your travels is to photograph. I’m not talking about the perfect scene of Paris that is hung on a wall. While getting those types of shots can sometimes make your day on a trip, snapshots are what jar memories for me.

When I was in Florence one afternoon, I took the picture on the left. I wanted to show the massiveness of The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (The Duomo) from a side street. As I was photographing, the man on the right walked up to me and said, “I am as beautiful as this street. Don’t you want my picture?” And then he gave me that grin. When I look back at my pictures from that trip, I am always reminded of that moment when I see this silly grin.

Do you have a special travel memory or encounter with a local you want to share? Post your stories and photos at the Travel Snapshots Group Flickr page!

Traveling as a vegetarian in a meat country

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As a strict vegetarian I’m a little harder to travel with than most. I have not sampled the wiener schnitzel in Austria, the foie gras in France or the blood sausage in Ireland. On my last trip I ate either Asian or Indian food every single day because they are the easiest menus to find variety on.

However, I’ve also been in countries where Asian and Indian foods are non-existent. So then what?

My first choice for vegetarian fare is the local farmers market. A delight of most European cities, farmers markets put you in the heart of a local community. You can also get fruit, nuts and easy vegetables for a picnic that day. I always pack a few sporks in my bag for spontaneous outdoor eating.

Locate the grocery store when you arrive at your destination. Even if you are not vegetarian, grocery stores are another lesson on the culture you’ve just stepped into. Ponder over the labels and look for canned goods that have easy open tops. You can also pack a hand-twist can opener in your carry-on bag without TSA problems.

Talk to a local produce vendor at the farmers market about restaurants that have vegetarian meals. They typically know about restaurants that have meatless options nearby. If there is a language barrier in the area you will be traveling in, pack along a good travel dictionary that has phonetic spellings for saying key phrases or words.

If you are staying in a city for a few days, research apartment rentals online. I have always had great success finding apartments with kitchens for less than an average hotel. Considering the money you save buying groceries versus eating out for every meal, it’s well worth the effort.

For a list of helpful vegetarian eating establishments worldwide, check out Happy Cow or the Vegetarian Vacation URL guide.

Happy meatless travels!