Trip Tip a Day

Taking a cell phone, hair dryer, or camera to Europe? Plan to purchase a converter/adapter set. This device converts European electricity that runs at 220/240 volts to "American" 110/120 Volts electricity. Result - your appliance works in Europe. By the way, many hotels in Europe have hair dryers in the bathrooms. Living in Dallas, I headed over to my local Fry's Electronics store. ( www.frys.com ). Before you go, check the wattage on your applicances so you can choose the right converter. They are based on wattage. I settled on the Travel Smart by Conair 1875-watt international converter set. ( www.conair.com ). Dual wattage converters can be VERY heavy - but the Conair is relatively light. Read the instructions before you go. There are details about which setting to use (LO or HI) based on the type of applicance and also DO NOT USE for.....lists. This set worked for us in France, Italy, and Switzerland with cell phones, cameras, and an 1875 w...

Anne Frank House Amsterdam If you don't want to wait in these long lines for entry tickets, purchase online tickets before you leave for Europe. Online, you can pick a date and a one hour window for entry. www.annefrank.org . We wanted a little rest and rehydration before our entry time to the museum. We found a 1 hour Canal Boat Trip that leaves from in front of the Anne Frank House complete with officially dressed skipper. We bought our tickets and a water bottle from the shop on the corner, and departed for a leisurely and somewhat informative journey on the canals. Views from the canal boat trip

Before I left for Europe, a friend clued me in to Paris Macarons and recommended that I find the shop of Pierre Herme www.pierreherme.com. I never made it to Pierre Herme, but found Laduree http://www.laduree.fr / and sampled the french macaron. Delectable. Flavor guide and brochure: http://www.laduree.fr/_docs/produits/_brochures/laduree-flyer-macarons.pdf Brought home an assortment box to share with the family. Raspberry, carmel and coconut were favorites. Something new - always fun.

As an iced tea fanatic here in the States, it was lovely to sit down to a glass of Lipton Ice Tea in the first Amsterdam cafe we visited. There was some floating lemon with a lemon squishing device and, shocking, - ice cubes. Remember the days of no ice cubes in drinks in Europe? Change has come. I live in Texas and drink large Chik-Fil-A unsweet tea/diet lemonade splits with refills. With the thirst I had that day in Amsterdam, it was hard to savor this little glass of Lipton tea and not wish for my super sized drink with refills. That's part of the point of travelling for me - coming to appreciate the little things back home and abroad. Another great treat for the iced tea fan is peach flavored bottled iced tea. Both Lipton, Nestea, and San Benedetto (here in Rome) presented lemon or peach flavored bottled iced teas. Wonder why peach flavored tea doesn't make it to the American market?