U is for Umbrellas through to Z!

"Summertime and the living is easy", and my inclination to stay with this blog is colored by planning my next trip!( And I will be satrting a blog about my next trip soon.) Oh, and going to the pool and loving to be outside....
So, what to do on rainy days while travelling? I do always travel with an umbrella and a trench coat that will serve as a raincoat, just in case. (Actually I did order on-line an 18 pocket trench coat from a travel clothing site! It even has a map for the many pockets-including one for a notebook! However, in my inimitable returner's style, I returned it, as it seemed too gimmicky and not worth the money.)
If it is warm weather, it is not as problematic as it is not cold. Of course, you can still get wet, but if you plan your day, you can also plan how to stay as dry as possible! It is probably worth keeping an eye on the weather forecast so you can go to the special museums (early) and not feel like you are missing something outdoors! Other rainy day option could be dance exhibits or concerts. If you are feeling brave, you could go to a movie and see how much you understand if you are not in an English speaking country! If you are a shopper, that would be a way to spend the rainy day as well.
"V" is for the vital information you want to have left for your exchange family. I know I touched on this earlier,but it is really important to leave a guide to your house. You could also ask your host family if they have left you similar information.

"W" is for the washing machines and other appliances which will probably take some adjustment. However, my use of drying racks in the last two summers "stood me in good stead", when my own dryer was acting up several weeks ago. I just don't find drying racks too easy for sheets, although in the heat on the Sardinian deck last September, they dried very quickly!

"X" marks the spot...Even if you do not rent a car, you might find a GPS helpful in getting around, especially in the bigger cities. You will want to research this before you leave. I watched some Australian friends who had a TomTom,which they downloaded when they got here. i bought a Garmin before I left, but I opted to get the European maps before I left, and that was interesting. I downloaded them, but it probably would have been easier to buy the disc when I bought the GPS at BestBuy.
"Y"=YOU will have the best time doing vacation home exchanges!  It takes some time, and this method of housing is not for everyone, but I love it!
"Z"="z" rest of the story...Start planning , where will you go? Europe, Central America, Kubla Khan?

As always, I will be happy to answer your questions!
Thanks for following this blog.....

"T" is for Telephones and Trip Planning.

Stuffed bear in Sheridan museum

Well, I had no intention of taking a month plus break from writing this blog....Since I last wrote I visited Denver and Wyoming with my friend Nancy. We had hoped to go to Yellowstone, but the snow was still causing major problems to get around with avalanches and rock slides. So I visited Sheridan for the first time and then we spent the night in the Irma in Cody, WY, which was originally owned by Buffalo Bill Cody. This easterner loved the "wild west"! They have a big museum there which someone compared to the Smithsonian of the west, which does stretch it a bit. However, there were interesting sections dedicated to Yellowstone, Buffalo Bill and his life, guns, and Western art.
In fact, while we were in Cody, they had the world premiere about Buck, the "Horse Whisperer". He lives in Sheridan, and it was a fund raiser for a local organization.  
Well, back to my blog....
Telephone usage is easier now with the abundance of mobile phones. AT&T is my carrier, and for a monthly fee of $5.99, I can call for $.99 per minute. Last fall I found this very helpful with my Blackberry. Some people buy an inexpensive phone for use in the country they are in. Phone plans changes everywher on a sneeze, so it is a moving target what is available. You can buy phone cards, but I've had mixed luck with them, as they usually do not have an English version. You might find your guide book has some helpful ideas or any one of the websites, such as Frommer or Lonely Planet. You can buy a Net2phone card on line and use that. It is cheaper if you can use the local access telephone number.

Ferrari Parade as we entered Verona

Everyone approaches his/her trip planning differently. I think it depends on how long your trip will be. Last fall's trip took me a lot of time to plan. (I wished I had kept a record as to how long it actually did take!) That was probably because I was going to be in at least three places, and then I added two more (Venice and Mallorca). Trip planning is a work in progress for me. For example, I read an article about Verona while I was on Sardinia, so Joan and I went to Verona when I visited her in Venice!
Next blog-which will not take me a month to write (I hope!)-will look at U or Umbrellas and what to do on a rainy day!
As always, I welcome your comments or questions.

"S" is for Supermarkets and Other Shopping

"Tested" egg recipe....tasty!

Fish dept in Metz supermarket

Well, I do not complain about going grocery shopping here, so I really like to visit different grocery stores in my travels. Once when I was traveling in the Toulouse area, we visited a market which advertised farm fresh eggs. So we bought a dozen of those and then a dozen of the (not fresh?) other eggs. We ran a "taste test", and I did think I could taste a difference! You will want to check the hours which the stores are open, as sometimes even the European markets will close mid-day, just as the smaller shops do. Last September when I was on Sardinia, the market was open on Sundays. However, at the end of my stay, and clearly when they thought summer tourists had gone home, the market was no longer open on Sundays.
Because there are so many different things available in European shops, you might want to visit shops as you travel. (Somewhere I read that shopping is at the top of the list as to what travelers do when they travel...not the top, but at the top. I was surprised.) Your guidebook will have included the top shops by category, so you might find that helpful. When I was on Sardinia, I wanted to visit a bookstore with books in English. Fodor had listed one in Sassari, but unfortunately when I got there, it was closed for the mid-day break. I just didn't want to wait for an hour. Luckily I could download a book onto my Kindle! I do advise looking into the shopping options so you can plan to visit those places you want to! Most will take credit cards, but not all, so you will want to check that out.
Once when I was in Paris, I heard about some designer outlet, which I did find, but their definition of outlet and mine were many euros apart!
An interesting feature of European shopping is that they tend to have two big sale periods. One is in January, and the other is in June. (However, this may have changed, as our stores have done, so everything always seems to be on-sale!)

Check back when I next talk about telephones and trip planning. As always, I welcome your comments and questions!

"R" Is for Resourcefulness, Ryan Air, and References

I think that travelling in itself helps you expand your RQ or resourcefulness quotient! This is especially true if you are out of the country, because there are more unknowns. Where can you find the solution to the problem? How can you even get to where you need to go FOR the solution? In addition, there may be a language barrier!
What might you like to have in your resourcefulness "first aid kit"? Duct tape, which my brother calls "90 mile-an-hour tape", can serve MANY purposes-from a broken suitcase to you name it! Last summer I took along a package of iron-on appliques which I found at Walmart. With my limited wardrobe, these appliques came in very handy,when I got spots on my clothing that just would not come out. I would just hit the spot with an applique. Another thing I like to travel with is a folding toothbrush, because I can put tooth paste on it and have a ready to use toothbrush when I am flying!You become very resourceful when travelling and may be even more able to "think outside of the box"!

I've mentioned RyanAir before, and I really speak here of any of the low-cost airline carriers. If you decide to use one-and the prices are usually amazingly cheap-be sure to read the fine print! They are usually very strict about the weight of your luggage, fees for checking, baggage, as well as flight cancellation. The good news for me was that this insured I took my small suitcase and kept my clothing to a minimum. (So all those appliques were all the more helpful!) Being on RyanAir really like flying a "bus in the sky". We all lined up to board behind the travellers who paid a little extra to board the plane early. There were no assigned seats. They were not (yet?) charging to use the toilets-although the rumor is out there!. But if you had lots of luggage it would be worth it to check the difference in cost of a more conventional carrier. Just checked their site which said, "Fares don't incl optional Fees/Charges (Click here)."
When you are planning your exchange, you may want to check references for your prospective exchange partner. (I must admit that I have never done this. I think that by the time I have decided to exchange with this person they are as they present themselves!) You can also "interview" them both live by Skype or conventional telephone or via email. 
Thanks for checking in to look an another facet of vacation home exchanges! Come back again!

"Q" Is for the Questions You Might Ask

Your exchange website will make it easy for you to send preliminary inquiries to see who might be interested in swapping with you. When they tell you they are interested, you will need to start the "second interview process". By that I mean you will be emailing them to learn if this is the correct place for you and your family to be for an exchange.
If you want to check out the site I use, you can go to www.HomeforExchange.com
I've drafted some questions that might work for you. You'll want to make changes and additions, but these are a start!

1.       How many Vacation Home Exchanges have you done? Could I contact your previous exchange partners about your exchange for references?

2.       What do you like best about Vacation Home Exchanges?

3.       How close to public transportation are you? Would you tell me about it?

4.       What is the nearest airport? What is the best way to get to your place from the airport, train station, etc., if I do not rent a car?

5.       How near to your house are walking paths? Grocery stores? Etc. (Or whatever is relevant to your interests.)

6.       Do you have neighbors or people that I can call on for help if I cannot reach you easily?

7.       ANYTHING ELSE THAT IS RELEVANT TO THE NEEDS/INTERESTS OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY…. You will add your own questions to this list, but this will give you a start....

"P" for Pharmacies, Other Health-related Issues, and People Watching!

I've probably talked previously more about health-related issues than you care about....However, recently I was talking with a friend who is planning a trip to France. She has some health issues, so she wondered what she might do to plan for them, in case something health-related occurred to disrupt her trip. She could ask her doctor if he/she knew anyone or had any suggestions about the right doctor where she is going. Your host might have an idea....You could see if you could find an English-speaking organization who could help you. An example would be the American Cathedral in Paris. A local Tourist Information office might help you know who to contact. There are many resources. Check your tour guide, or an online site such as www.fodor.com Planning ahead will help!
I know I also mentioned www.medjetassist.com  However, I just learned that they give an 18% discount for their annual or short-term  membership. So check that out also!

People watching....is this something you enjoy? I don't think there is anyplace this isn't fun...a vaporetto(I was doing a serious shoe study!)  in Venice or a crowded square in Arles or Monaco or___________! Do you have  favorite place where you have watched people? Share it with us!
Next post will address "Questions to Ask"....
Thanks for reading! DO send questions or comments!

"O" Reviews Other Points to Prepare for Your Exchange

In addition to preparing the manual about your house and neighborhood, as discussed in http://atozofvacationhomeexchanges.blogspot.com/2011/03/m-includes-medical-money-exchange-and.html I recommend you have a list of questions you want to ask your prospective exchange host.  
Some to help you get started include:

SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR Vacation Home Exchanges CONTACT       

You’ll want to add to this based on what is important to you and your family as you plan your Vacation Home Exchange!

1.       How many Vacation Home Exchanges have you done? Could I contact your previous exchange partners about your exchange for references?

2.       What do you like best about Vacation Home Exchanges?

3.       How close to public transportation are you? Would you tell me about it?

4.       What is the nearest airport? What is the best way to get to your place from the airport, train station, etc., if I do not rent a car?

5.       How near to your house are walking paths? Grocery stores? Etc. (Or whatever is relevant to your interests.)

6.       Do you have neighbors or people that I can call on for help if I cannot reach you easily?

7.       ANYTHING ELSE THAT IS RELEVANT TO THE NEEDS/INTERESTS OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY….

      This process is really like interviewing. (Think back to those interviews you have had.) You really don't want to rush into an exchange. You will feel much more comfortable if you feel you have established a good rapport with your exchange host. (And even once you have agreed upon your exchange, and prior to buying your tickets, you could back out. People always confirm with me before they buy their tickets that we are all set! Here again, it is the TRUST issue! If we were doing this in person, the proverbial "gentlemen's handshake" would seal the deal.)

Every exchange, of course, will be different. So you will always have new ideas abut what you want to learn from your exchange host.

Some people have mentioned in the adult ed programs I've done that it seems like a big (AKA overwhelming) task to get their house ready for people to come for an exchange. If you are one of those people, you might want to start now planing what you will need to do to get your house ready...even if it is six months away!

Please bear with the variety in the format here....Apparently blogger.com doesn't really like it when one cuts and pastes as I did with the suggested list above!

Next post will review pharmacies and other health-related issues and people watching!

"N" Looks at Nuts and Bolts of Getting Around...

Even if you are doing a single exchange (as opposed to going to two or more places on your trip)...just to get from your house to your exchange home, you will want to plan ahead. How to get around...from the airport to the house and then from there to the places you will be visiting? Hopefully your exchange contact has helped you figure out the best way to get to the house from the airport....I am usually tired after a long trip, so the added stress of sorting out getting to my next destination can add to my frustration. Here planning is key! You may have brought a GPS or rented one if you rented a car. I definitely want to have the directions in my carry-on, so I know I can get where I after a long flight NEED to be!
Maybe you will ask your exchange contact where the nearest market is so you will know where you can buy groceries! Of course, within a few days, you will have passed and maybe even visited several more grocery stores!

When I visited Rome last August, Angela had left bus routes to help me travel around Rome. I took the (cheap) bus from Fumicino Airport (touted in all the guidebooks) to the bus terminal and then (finally) found the bus to my new neighborhood.  Someone on the bus told me which stop I was looking for. Without Angela's help (and the man on the bus), I would have been stuck! Because of our location, it took me some time to get acclimated to getting around. But I DID get it, so Rome became an easy place to get around! Our Rome neighborhood pictured had three bus stops within three minute walk from our apartment!
If you do need to take taxis, I would suggest asking when you get in if the fare will include the tip. I'm not a suspicious type by nature, but I think that taxi drivers can take advantage of tourists, especially if they do not speak the native tongue!
One last help to get you get around is to know what systems are available to help you find your way in teh country you are visiting. Some places have "I" for information or "TI" for tourist information. English speaking employees will help you find you way. These are great places to stop for all sorts of information!
Next post will look at Other miscellaneous questions about home exchanges. As ALWAYS,  I would love you to ask any questions about doing an exchange!

"M" Includes Medical, Money Exchange, and Museums....

Well, I have talked about medical concerns before, in  http://atozofvacationhomeexchanges.blogspot.com/2011/02/hospitals-health-care-and-miscellaneous.html
so there is probably not a whole lot to add. Just by planning ahead as it relates to your medical issues, you will be "ahead of the game". Be sure to remember your prescriptions, and pack them in your carry-on bag. (I did forget mine once, but luckily I could buy them in a local pharmacy in Paris. I do not know if some of our RX are sold over the counter, or they are less strict than in US about having actual prescriptions, or they "felt sorry for me", or what! It would have been easier to just have remembered my prescription!) Take whatever over the counter medication you use, as you will probably not find the exact same thing there, and it will probably be much more expensive. Guidebooks will have a section dedicated to medical issue sand hospitals which can help in a medical emergency. If you can reach your exchange contact via email or phone, it might be worth calling them, depending on how much time you have.
And because I have also talked about Money before in this blog, you might want to check this out.
http://atozofvacationhomeexchanges.blogspot.com/2010/12/atm-and-money-matters.html
In addition to trying to make larger withdrawals than I would in the States and at the risk of panicking about carrying too much money around, I do try to keep an eye on the exchange rate. If the dollar is getting stronger, I will take out extra cash. Then you need to be sure that you have devised a safe system of protecting your money.   I do try to separate my money and my credit cards into several different change purses, so that IF I do lose one, I do not lose EVERYTHING.

You will probably know before you get to your next stop which museums you want to visit. Here is where some upfront planning really will be beneficial. You can often visit many museums via a city pass or museum pass; all the guidebooks will let you know what is available in each location. Some of the bigger cities even have free admission on say, the 4th Sunday of the month. (Some museums in Europe, but not all, will offer or have senior rates, but you might need to ask.) Yes, they will probably be crowded, but if you can get there when your first choice museum opens, it will be worth it. You will also want to plan exactly what you want to see at each museum. A museum like the Louvre has so many wonderful paintings and sculptures to see, you will save yourself alot of frustration by planning which pieces you want to see. The picture above is the Matisse museum in Nice, which I had really been looking forward to seeing in August 2009. Unfortunately when I got there, there was a Rodin exhibit, so unfortunately there were not many of Matisse's paintings. Once before I had gone to Paris, I had read about the Edith Piaf museum in Frommer. It was in the little house where she had once lived. To visit it, you had to first call so the attendant would know you were coming. He gave me the code to get into the building. It was a real treat!

Often the city passes are good for two or three days, and the price will vary accordingly. A place like Buckingham Palace can only be visited when the Queen is not there. You can go on-line and buy your tickets for many places. A (wonderful) place like the Alhambra is so popular that you definitely want to buy your tickets in advance and on-line, and then you will save yourself time by picking them up at the kiosks at the gate.
One more "M" word that is important for the actual home exchange part of your trip is manual. You will want to put together a manual that tells all about your house to help your visiting family feel more comfortable. What to do with trash, how to work your appliances, stores, public transportation, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera... You may find that you keep adding to your house manual as each new exchange family gives you more ideas.
Next post will look at "nuts and bolts of getting around" your new location as well as to your next destination.

And "L" is for Language and Luggage....

We often read that any attempt at a foreign language in a foreign land is appreciated by the people who live there. And it is so easy NOT to do that! Every guide book has a section with basic phrases in the language of the country as well as how to pronounce them. You could take adult ed courses or hire a tutor before you leave. I've never used Rosetta Stone, but that is very popular. Our library has a system called Mango which you can sign up for to practice many different languages. (I must admit that I took a Spanish course last year before I left and tried Mango without much success.) I do always travel with a dictionary in my backpack to help me when I get stuck. I also think it is fun to meanings of new, foreign words if I am in transit from one place to another!
Often you will meet people who want to practice their English. (I recently got an email from Couchsurfer Silvio, a 31 year old civil worker in Brazil, who wanted to talk with me via Skype, since he saw that my profile said I am a former English teacher. His profile said his English is intermediate.) Many whom I met last summer and fall apologized for their "bad" English. It was always very acceptable; they would always try, and some would be looking for help/correction. (Our verb tenses can be really confusing, especially when to use should, could,  and would!)
My Italian friend Gloria, whom I have mentioned before, as I had wonderful visit with her last August in Nice, also speaks French and English. Last summer she had taken an English course in Nice, on her August holiday. This year she is hoping to come to the US to study English again. (If you have any suggestions, please let me know; it is not easy to find such a program for August only, since she is quite proficient already. She needs more than an ESL program.) She wrote this to me, "In my opinion, "Vacation" doesn't mean that our brain is "vacant"; it is just a certain quantity of days that we can "fill" with interesting experiences out of our job, out of our "routine". Do you agree with me?" I LOVE her attitude!

And when we finally get to packing after all of our time planning our trip, Americans do tend to take too many clothes! We have either one huge suitcase or several smaller ones, and just way too much stuff! The added costs of extra bags makes it worth thinking about taking less clothes, so you will need less luggage. Take clothes you love, so you don't mind wearing the same things frequently! And then you can get by with just one suitcase! Pictured is the smallest of the three suitcase set which accompanied me for my three months away last summer. I'll write more about this when I get to R and Ryanair! But when it comes to packing you will be doing yourself a big favor, if you can think SMALL and LIGHT when you pack! You can always buy things at your destination, if you find you need one more thing!
Next post will look at "M" for medical, museums, and money exchange....Do let me know if you have an "M" topic you would like me to include! Thanks....

"K is for Kayaking and Kindles and Keeping in Touch"

I'm not actually a kayaker...maybe a sometime canoeist, but I know lots of people love to kayak-and canoe and boat, too. So in planning for your exchange, you would want to start first with your exchange contact to see if he or she knows about any kayaking (or boating) facilities near where you will be. Then, of course, you can go on-line to see what you can find. For sure, you will find some information in the guide books....When I am travelling, I love to get out of the total tourist mode of visiting churches and museums, etc!
I talked briefly about Kindles when I wrote about books here.  http://atozofvacationhomeexchanges.blogspot.com/2010/12/books-books-books.html
Now you have an additional option if you own an Ipad, but any electronic book is a great companion when you travel! The ability to be able to download a book when you are thousands of miles from home saves you the trouble of finding an English book store as you move about. And you never have to worry about not having something to read!
Keeping in touch is also easy with the internet-whether email or Skype-as well as phone cards.I tlaked about computers in this post. http://atozofvacationhomeexchanges.blogspot.com/2011/01/computers-and-your-exchange.html It is very easy to set up a blog account with google, if you want to keep your friends and family tuned in to your daily activities. Then when you have posted an update, you can just link it to your Facebook or Tweeter account.
I hope you will check back in when I talk about language and luggage....

Jewelry and Valuables

Everyone always asks me, "What do you do with your valuables?" I ALWAYS repeat that I believe that home exchanges ARE based on TRUST!! We could probably have bumper stickers that say something like HOME EXCHANGERS ALWAYS TRUST....
Still, if you have things of value, you will want to put them away, lock them up, or have a friend store them for you while you are gone. You might also want to do that with your food or alcohol that you want untouched when you return as well. You do not want to leave out anything that you will be really upset about losing.
Some exchangers want to hold some money as security in the event of breakage. So each swapper gives their exchange hosts say, $500, "just in case" anything is broken or damaged. So each host is holding $500 from the other.

I have never done this because I am in the "it is an accident" camp, and things will or might be broken. I especially like Angela in Rome's philosophy...."Let me know what has broken, but don't rush out to replace it, as there may be a better solution!" I would expect someone to offer to replace what is broken, and then we would negotiate the particular circumstances.
I really believe that by the time I am ready for leave for my exchange, I have gotten to know my host very well through email. I am not going to take anything of theirs that is not a part of the exchange, and I expect that they'll do the same! In the event that anything is broken, I will certainly let them know so I will take care of it before I leave either by replacing the item or leaving money so my host can replace with it exactly what they want.
I hope you will check back next time when I talk about any "K"s related to vacation home exchanges...kayaking, Kindles, and keeping in touch come to mind!

Insurance Issues and Your Home Exchange

You will want to talk with the company that handles your home insurance to let them know about your future home exchange. My company didn't need to know anything about my exchanges. However, when my daughter and I had the wall oven disaster, as I outlined in http://atozofvacationhomeexchanges.blogspot.com/2011/01/disasters-natural-and-man-made.html, I did email my insurance company from France to explain what had happened. They were always totally supportive, even when my host sent me a bill for the new wall oven and cabinet, which, of course, they never paid.
By the way, I totally forgot to describe the wonderful story as to why Elisabeth wanted to swap with me. When I first contacted her, she told me she had had a pen pal long ago who lived in Townsend, MA, about an hour from me. They had lost touch, but I easily found Linda in Townsend through the White Pages, so I called her and told her that Elisabeth might be coming to Boston. Linda and Elisabeth had become pen pals (or "penwriters", as Elisabeth had called them), because Linda's French Canadian father was stationed in France during WWII. He met Elisabeth's father while he was there, and he was "adopted" by Elisabeth's grandmother, who invited him to dinner, did his laundry, and was so kind to him! After Linda's father returned home, he continued to correspond with Elisabeth's grandmother for years. Before I left for France, I had a party and invited some of my friends, as well as Linda, her husband, and her mother. Linda's mother had saved all of the letters, so she brought them and gave them to Elisabeth!

If you do decide you want to include cars in your swaps, your insurance company will tell you what they need. Mine asked me to send copies of the drivers' license for their record.

Next post I will talk about jewelry and valuables....

"I" is for Internet....

When I first outlined what I wanted to talk about in this blog, I thought, "Hmmm, internet here!" Now as I start to write about it, I see that much of what I had written in an earlier blog touches on this....

http://atozofvacationhomeexchanges.blogspot.com/2011/01/computers-and-your-exchange.html

So, sorry I should have written Computers and the Internet....In any case, when you read the descriptions of possible swaps, you will see whether or not  you will be able to use a computer in your house exchange. Usually one will be available, but you will want to check that out. Oftentimes people nowadays are bringing their own computer, so they can readily access the internet by your Wifi or at an outside source. Similarly you may prefer to take your own laptop, so all you will need to do it find a local source, if there is not one at your house. There are also websites which you can check before you leave to see where you might find internet in your travels. Guidebooks also do a good job of letting you know where you will be able to find the internet. My exchange hosts also told me as we exchanged emails where I could find internet access before I arrived. Several local restaurants let me use their wifi just by buying a drink.

In my next post I will talk about insurance...as it relates to your home exchange.

Thanks for checking in, and PLEASE, do ask any questions as you consider doing a home exchange!

Hospitals, Health Care and Miscellaneous Health Ideas

Surely the worst thing in the world-almost-is to get sick when you are away from home-especially when you are out of the country! But in case this happens, let’s just look at some options.

Before you leave, you will want to check with your healthcare insurance company to see if you have any coverage out of the country. Recently I actually opted to stay with Blue Cross/Blue Shield, since the other company’s plan I was looking at would not cover me out of the country.

In addition, there are different plans which provide different types of insurance. You can check out www.insuremytrip.com  to see what they have to offer. (This is also a trip cancellation insurance program.) There is also a company called www.MedjetAssist.com which you join for an annual fee that will provide you transportation to any hospital, if you require hospital care. This includes a trip back to the US! 

Of course, it will depend on how sick you are. It is easy to get many prescription drugs at the pharmacies in many foreign countries. That plus the internet might give you some ideas how to deal with whatever malady might hit you. You could probably also call your own doctor to explain the situation and see what he or she says.

You will find that the pharmacists are very helpful! Pharmacies are usually as omni-present as Dunkin' Donuts  with their distinctive large green cross outside the door. This pharmacy was on Crete. They are usually closed mid-day for two or three hours, but there is a sign to tell you where the 24 hour pharmacies are.

When Karen was stung by the jellyfish in Aguillas, Spain last fall, our neighbor helped us immensely by calling the local pharmacist, who told her what to get for immediate help and relief!

Speaking of prescription drugs, the tour guides all suggest that you be sure to take existing prescriptions in their original containers in your carry-on, in case your luggage is misplaced. Depending on your medical condition, the books also suggest you take a note from your doctor explaining what your condition in case you need additional medical help on your trip.

When my friend Carol and I were in France, she took a nasty fall, so we went to the Emergency Room in Lyon. They took very good care of her including many xrays. They told her to see a doctor before we returned home to be sure she was well enough to fly home. She incurred minimal fees for her care, plus her insurer reimbursed her for what she did have to pay.( By the way, you would want to take a dictionary with you, if you do not speak the language, as many of the folks we contacted did not speak English.
All over the island of Sardinia, they had small clinic like facilities for emergencies, which were open during the busy tourist season.

HOME EXCHANGE WEBSITES

About six months ago, I did a spreadsheet of the various home exchange websites I could find on-line. Unfortunately I can not use the spreadsheet in this post, but the following gives you the relevant information. 
I actually signed up for the first site I found when I went searching. And I still use www.homeforexchange.com, as I find it to be very reasonably priced and user-friendly. If you want a free forty day trial with this website, send me your email address, and I will link you to this offer.   


www.homeexchange.com  or www.houseswap.com: $9.95 /month for the year; $15.95/for 3 months; 38000 listings in 137 countries


www.homeforexchange.com: $59-1 year;$88-2 years; $110-3 years; 13,572 listings


www.homelink.org: $119-1 year; $190-2 years 13000+ listings in 78 countries 


www.luxeswap.com $159per year 96 listings in US and international; "stylish homes";"more boutique experience" 


http://www.intervac-homeexchange.com/  orwww.intervacus.com: $99-1 year; $179.99-2 years; $239.99-3 years; 30,000 listings 


www.thevacationexchange.com: $49.95 annual fee, waived the 1st year; feature 2nd and vacation homes; $250 paid per each exchange. Exchange co-ordinator helps with exchanges. They also handle rentals.


www.seniorshomeexchange.com:$79 for 3 years; $100 lifetime membership. 4,082 listings for people over age 50. 


www.ihen.com: International Home Exchange $39.95/year.   Rentals also.


www.tradecondos.com:   $79.99 /year


http://boston.craigslist.org/swp/ :Free. VERY limited options, as most listings want yu to use their service. Go to the city you want to visit to post your home. Watch your city listings for possible exchanges. I actually "met" Angela, an american married to an Italian who lives in Rome, through Craig's List, as she only wanted to do an exchange in the Boston area. 


Next post I will talk about (miscellaneous) health care issues that you might find helpful when you do an exchange.

  

Gardens-Yours or Theirs…

Well, now I am home from two wonderful weeks in Park City, Utah. I was lucky enough to see seven movies at the Sundance Film Festival ,thanks to Dayle, who had visited me in Rome last summer, and Anne, a college classmate. In addition to that fun, I also got to ski four days at Deer Valley, which has totally spoiled me for skiing anyplace else! I also spent some time with Dayle’s family, including Mallory, who had also come to Rome. Mallory, who was our resident photographer as we traveled all over Rome and down to Positano and Pompeii, put together a TERRIFIC Shutterfly book called Viaggo Italiani or Italian Travels. This makes a great addition to my coffee table!

And now I am back to thinking about home exchanges. In addition to planning my next exchange to France in the fall, next week I will once again be the "instructor" for a Vacation Home Exchange "course" in the Newton, MA, adult education program. The one night "course" will be listed in at least eleven other programs in the greater Boston area. Now it will depend on whether enough people will sign up for it! 

Since part of your responsibility of vacation home exchange is to keep an eye on whatever is left behind, you may need to water the garden or houseplants at your temporary “home away from home”. You will be left a list of “to do’s” so you can take care of that. By the same token, you may leave a list of similar chores you would like taken care of it your absence. I was most fortunate last summer when I was in Sardinia, as Piero was enjoying doing some yard work at my house, and I was delighted!

Because I have a lot of houseplants, when I did my three exchanges last summer, I prevailed upon my good friend Jane and my sister Helen to “plant sit” for most of them. There were outdoor plants that needed watering, and I didn’t want to over-burden my exchange guests. Jane took the orchids, and I was very happy to tell her when one of them flowered beautifully during the holidays.

Next post I will talk about vacation home exchange websites...and how to find them.

What Can Food Add to Your Vacation Home Exchange?

Since I am a person who lives to eat rather than eats to live, I really enjoy exploring the many food options in my travels.Traditionally when you are travelling, and you think about food, you think about restaurant food….But one of the advantages of doing an exchange is that you have a kitchen so you can cook when you want or are so inclined! Personally I especially enjoy visiting grocery stores when I am travelling! Whether it was the butcher on Sifnos, Greece, or the large grocery store outside of Metz, France, I love to see what foods are available and how they come to market. My cooking isn’t anything fancy, so I don’t have to worry about converting to the metric system, since all the kitchen cookware is metric.

I was surprised to find the kitchens last summer did not have salt or pepper, but that was easily taken care of. I actually brought home some ground red pepper, so I will have a souvenir of Sardinia for a longtime!

When I left for my three week visit in Paris with the previously mentioned Snagglepuss, I must admit that I took along a huge jar of Skippy Super Chunk peanut butter. Every morning I would make a peanut butter sandwich to tuck into my bagpack for lunch. THEN I would treat myself to a wonderful French pastry!

Of course, your friends as well as the guidebooks will give you many restaurant ideas. A friend had told me about Angelina's in Paris, for very tasty hot chocolate! Oftentimes, you will be charged more if you sit down rather than standing to eat or drink. So I should have been (MUCH) smarter one very hot afternoon last summer in Rome. We wanted some gelato before our Vatican tour, so we stopped nearby and ordered. There were no prices on the menu (warning #1!), but we ordered without inquiring about the price (error#2!). Our dishes came, and we LOVED EVERY BITE OF OUR GELATO! But I did (almost) faint when the bill came, as our pre-Vatican treat came to 37 euros or roughly $48 !!!! GOOD thing we loved every bite!

Spain is famed for its tapas restaurants. Karen and I went to one in Alicante, which was written up in every guide book we read. We sat up at the bar, so we could watch the cooks prepare some of the tapas!
I'd love to hear about food experiences you have had in your travels! Next post will look at gardens.

Flora and Fauna

Maybe you will pick the location of your next Vacation Home Exchange, because it is near some wonderful display of either flora or fauna. There are many world famous zoos you might want to visit. Or maybe you want to see some of the many scenic gardens all over the world. The United Kingdom for one has spectacular gardens which many go to visit annually. In addition, England has their National Trust which is an expansive network of wonderful old homes and elaborate gardens. In fact, this network is well documented in the History and Landscape: The Guide to National Trust Properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by Lydia Greeves and HRH The Prince of Wales (Feb 1, 2006), available on Amazon.

I’ve also “just happened upon” very interesting displays of both fauna and flora in my travels. I delighted in walking around the corner in Crete on hot summer afternoon to find six dogs sleeping in the shade or the many cats we spotted on Santorini. Last summer on Sardinia I found a wonderful birding trip on an eight person boat, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and I am not a “birder”! The Italian “tour leader/boat owner” totally enjoyed the birds, and his enthusiasm was contagious. Luckily he had a good DK bird book in English, so the English speakers on board knew what we were seeing! The two donkeys pictured were working in Momenvasia, Greece.    

So for me, the fun of flora and fauna has usually been unplanned, but you will find many wonders of both to delight you!  I' love to hear of any flora and or fauna that have brightened your trips!

....And if I don't get back to this blog before February 4th-which I hope to-it is because I am away in Utah enjoying the Sundance Film Festival and some skiing at Deer Valley!

Next blog topic will be FOOD!!!

Friends you will make…..

No, I do not know who you will meet when you do a Vacation Home Exchange! But I can tell you about a few of the very interesting people I have met through exchanges and hope you will meet people like them!

Gloria walking her daughter's dog in Nice.

I had emailed Gloria, who had a lovely place in Genoa on www.homeforexchange.com. Then I decided that I didn’t want to go to Genoa by myself based on what I read on-line.  But Gloria and I stayed in touch, so when she was ready to buy a studio condo on South Beach in Miami, she emailed me for some advice about her contract. Last spring as my plans to travel to Italy came together, I emailed her to tell her in case we might meet. It turned out that she was going to spend August in her apartment in Nice, France, and she invited me to come spend three nights with her. We had a lovely visit; she was most charming and gracious! I told her she was like Martha Stewart, as she made some wonderful meals for me and some of her other friends. Now I hope that she will come visit me someday!

Earlier I had talked about the great fun of CouchSurfing! Recently I received emails from three other CouchSurfers (from India, Italy, and Germany). They were really just asking me some questions about CouchSurfing, rather than actually surfing! Barbara, who lives in Germany, is ten minutes from Stuttgart where my mother’s family is from. So next September, when I go to Europe, Barbara’s house will be my first stop!

I also mentioned in a previous post the three delightful British couples who lived in our neighborhood in Aquilas, Spain. This was the dinner party for Kathy's birthday party (pictured). I am in touch with one of them still and hope to meet up them either here or there one of these days! Tony loves New York, so I hope they will come to Boston!

Dinner with our Italian neighbors the day after the Disaster!

When I was in Cheltenham, UK, we met neighbors only when we went into the cul-de-sac to get water, since we lost water shortly after we arrived. Actually we mostly met the kids who were sent out for water! But the day before we left, the next-door neighbors invited us for tea, as we did meet one of them picking up water! They were very hospitable, and I wished that we had met them earlier, so I think it is a good idea to introduce myself when I arrive. It was certainly a VERY GOOD thing we had met the Italian neighbors in St.Raphael, France, last summer BEFORE the disaster occurred!

So I hope you will be on the lookout on your exchanges, and you also will make some wonderful new friends!

Next post I will talk about the flora and fauna!

Expectations….

Before you commit to your Vacation Home Exchange, you will want to think about what you want to do in that particular location. Sightseeing?  Enjoying local amenities such as boating, beaches, swimming, golf, horseback riding, or? Look carefully where the town is located so you will have enough to do. When I decided to go to Aguilas, I had not looked carefully at what the area had to offer. While l  did enjoy my exchange there, it was really off the “beaten path”, and there was not really much to do nearby.

Once you have committed to the Vacation Home Exchange, you will need to decide what you will use for transportation. In a major city, you would probably want to use public transportation. If you rent a car, then you need to decide what kind of car to rent, what company to use, etc. (For car rentals in Europe, I like http://www.autoeurope.com/. It is based in Portland, Maine and will ususally match prices from other rental agencies.)

Frances Mayes explains in her book A Year in the World how she and her husband took a year to travel around Europe. As they travelled, one of them wanted to sample different cheeses along the way, and the other one was trying desserts. By the way, this is a great book for travelers to read with wonderful descriptions of all they see! It certainly  made me want to follow their itinerary!

Whatever your expectations might be as you set off on your trip and exchange, you know that there will be many totally unexpected pleasures!

Next post will talk about the friends you will make when you do a home exchange!

 

Disasters-Natural and "Man made"!

Before I start talking about disasters as they relate to Vacation Home Exchanges,  I want to express how badly I feel about the Tucson tragedy and its victims! The horror of it all continues to confound us all. The only bright spot is the fact that Congresswoman Gabby Giffords seems to be making some amazingly positive progress. We can only hope she continues to heal!

Since I was an English major in college, I will often go to the dictionary to help start what I am about to write. The Oxford online dictionary defines disaster as “a sudden event, such as an accident or a natural catastrophe that causes great damage or loss of life”. Perhaps this definition is a bit strong for the “D” of my “A to Z”, but sudden events WILL happen during a Vacation Home Exchange.  The 1986 Oxford Dictionary defined disaster as a “a sudden great misfortune”, which I prefer! If the disaster does involve your exchange host, you will want to present to him or her what happened in a factual, unemotional way.  Accidents happen, and rationale people know this! Sometimes a disaster may only involve you or the people you are travelling with.

One day-actually the only day as it turned out-in Aquilas, Spain, Karen and I went to the beach for a swim. Unfortunately Karen connected with a jellyfish (or medusa in Spanish)! We had had no idea that there were any jelly fish at that beach until then! It was so painful for Karen! Luckily Jean, one of our British neighbors, knew what to do! She took a credit card and scraped it across Karen’s back to press out a stinger. It still hurt, but it did alleviate the pain somewhat! Kathy, our next door neighbor, had the pharmacist’s cell phone number, so she called him for help. He told us we needed to get After Bite (pronounced After Beetay), whose primary ingredient is ammonia. (Pharmacies in Europe often have some terrific remedies for minor aches and pains that we do not have here.) This was a natural disaster which could have happened to anyone. Here it was a case of “it’s who you know, not what you know!” Luckily Jean and Kathy had had experience with these dreadful stings to help Karen. If we had not known Jean and Kathy, we probably would have gone to the pharmacy or found a medical center.

Base where legs had "buckled."

In August 2009, my daughter Melissa and I did an exchange in St. Raphael on the French Riviera. We had been there less than a week when we experienced our “sudden great misfortune”, as we heard the most ungodly crash from inside the house. I rushed inside to see that the wall oven and the particle board cupboard it was on had fallen to the floor! Everything in the cupboard and glass from the wall oven was all over the floor. Luckily our next door neighbors had arrived that day, so I went over to ask if they could help pick up the wall oven. They came to our rescue fortunately! This was an accident; the wall oven had not been properly installed. My host did not see it that way, but that was the truth of the situation. (Remember when I said earlier to run, not walk, if you have any questions about your possible exchange host?)

This was very stressful for both of us, needless to say! Shortly before we left-and we did leave early-I emailed my host and told her what had happened. I expressed my unhappiness at what had happened, but I did tell her we had not used the oven. Nonetheless, she blamed us for what happened! Eventually her insurance company contacted mine, but we were innocent, as we had not caused this disaster!

So when or rather IF you happen to experience anything like a disaster, stay calm to sort out what has happened. The majority of Vacation Home Exchange hosts are rationale and understanding and totally ready to work through any problems that do occur. As Angela in Rome had said, “If something happens, let me know.” The implication was we’ll figure out a solution! So don’t worry about what might happen; enjoy your Vacation Home Exchange!

Actually after I returned home, I emailed two people with whom I had been emailing about future swaps to say that we had experienced this disaster, and I really could not think about a future Vacation Home Exchange right away. They both said they understood. Several weeks later, I emailed them that I was now ready to plan my next exchanges!

Thank you for your comments! My next post will talk about expectations for your Vacation Home Exchange.

About Clothing and Laundry on an Exchange

Probably one of the greatest advantages of doing a Vacation Home Exchange is that there is usually (at least) a washing machine available to wash your clothes. Personally I am not crazy about hand washing, although it is certainly better for our clothes, so I will always opt for a machine where possible!

When I was in Paris with Snagglepuss , I learned how to operate a European washing machine, which is different from the ours here in the US. Hopefully your exchange family will have left directions on how to use their machine, as Angela did for me in Rome last August. She even had pictures! It is not, as “they” say, rocket science, but it is different, so be on the alert for that!

I have also come to feel very comfortable with a limited wardrobe to simplify things. Not only does this keep my luggage weight down, but also it makes it easier to figure out what I am going to wear! (KISS!) I have read enough articles about packing and coming home with clothing you never wear! I am fine with the black pants and variety of tops to get me through my trips.

And when all else fails, if you need another article of clothing, you CAN buy it along the way!

I am still delighted that last summer I managed for three months with one expandable suitcase; it measured 9 ½” X14” X22”, the smallest in the set of three! Originally  I was using such a small suitcase because I had some flights on Ryanair, which requires your checked bag weigh less than 15 kilograms or about 33 pounds. Exceeding this caused a steep fine at the time. At this writing it appears that they are charging people 35 euros or roughly $50 per bag.

Most people use drying racks rather than driers, which, again, does save the wear and tear of our clothes. I’ve only traveled in the summer, when it has been easy to put the drying rack out in the sun. In the winter, I’d need to put the rack inside near the heating source and hope things would dry quickly! The pictures shows where we put the drying rack in St. Raphael, France.

I hope this has given you some ideas about clothing and laundry. My next post will look at possible disasters –both natural and man-made-when you are doing a Vacation Home Exchange!