Who is famed travel writer Eugene?
Eugene Fodor is a famous Hungarian-American travel writer and long time friend. He joined the US Army in 1942, and was transferred to the Office of Strategic Services. He served in Europe during the Second World War as a spy. Fodor created Fodor Modern Guides under ‘Fodor’s’, a publisher that he also created in 1949.
The famed travel writer Eugene wrote the travel guide, ‘On the Continent – The Entertaining Travel Annual’ which was published in 1936 by Franics Aldor, Aldor Publications, London. It was later reprinted in 2011 by Random House, as an e-book. Within this guide, there’s a huge number of experiences and lessons learned, some of which we’ll cover right here. Whether you’re about to catch an Air Arabia flight for an exotic adventure, or you’re still months away from even planning, we’ve got your covered.
Don’t take: yourself too seriously
Nothing makes sense if you think about it too deeply, we’re all just trying to make sense of it. That said, with everything being so weird, nobody is truly ‘normal’, so it’s best to embrace all the weird aspects of life and your personality. Screwing things up is what is normal, and with the amount of risks that someone like the famed travel writer Eugene took from exploring the world, you’d expect there to be a lot of mistakes along the way. Make the mistakes, laugh at yourself, and you’ll be all the better for it.
Do take: photos (and videos)
Pictures don’t cost a thing besides battery percentage, and each picture is worth a thousand words. Videos on the other hand, are thousands of photos, with the addition of sound. Photos are great ways to reminisce on the good times, and a reminder of where you’ve been and what you’ve done. Best yet, they won’t be in black and white like famed travel writer Eugene would’ve had to take his in.
Keep your mind open
Across the world, there are so many different customs and traditions, even down to the smaller details, that are wildly dissimilar from our own. Perhaps even some that we don’t agree with. For example, in Poland, they clap when the plane has landed. Or in England, strangers are fine with making eye contact and smiling at complete strangers; whereas in Finland, that’s considered really weird. Who’s to say which country is wrong? Either way, listening to other people’s opinions throughout the world, or even in your own space, can open up new opportunities and possibilities for yourself, and there’s a lot to learn.
Slow down
When travelling, sometimes we get impatient, wanting to visit as many places as possible and see all the sights. Sometimes it’s best to just stop, and appreciate the sights around you for a bit before moving on. This goes for anywhere new, and can open up more opportunities for adventure that you may otherwise miss without making time to explore a little wider. Usually the best plans are the ones made on the go, rather than the planned plans.
Have what you need to spend
Money can be an issue when travelling, so it’s important to make sure that you’re not short on the money you need. Whether it be for a taxi to assist you with your trip, to pay for an event that you want to take part in, or just to buy souvenirs, money is something you’ll need to have on hand. In the unfortunate event that your card gets frozen or stolen, taking an extra card or some cash will go a long way to make sure you don’t have to worry in the future if your financial situation suddenly goes awry.
Side note: this’ll also be useful if you want to splurge somewhere – as long as you can fit all those fridge magnets in your suitcase.
Travel light
Another fantastic time from famed travel writer Eugene would be to re-evaluate what’s in your suitcase and/or backpack. Let’s be real here, you don’t need half of the stuff you’re carrying. Simple tips include washing your clothes in the shower so you don’t have to bring as many; keep the sweaters thin rather than the thick ones; and only take things you need rather than things you can live without.
Learn some foreign words
Chances are when visiting other countries, not all of the locals will understand or speak English. You don’t need to be fluent in the local language, but it certainly helps to know a few simple greetings, or knowing how to ask for and receive directions. Some universal hand signals may also be of use, or even a middle man like Google Translate to assist you on your journey.
Free tours
In addition to saving money, free or cheap tours are the way to get the most out of the area you’re visiting. These usually require a lot of walking, but you’ll learn a lot about the local area, possibly make some friends, and get to spend time in the parts that you otherwise wouldn’t have given a second thought about. Furthermore, there’s a good chance that you’ll find many locations in which you can test your photography skills.
