Do you have a favorite ritual for your first day in Europe?

Rose:
While flying in I always prepare a list of things I need to do as soon as I can when I land. Sometimes I take a short nap first and then find a supermarket. Other times I walk the neighborhood first searching for retail or drug stores, restaurants or specialty shops I want to research.

Every town has different needs; every country has different requirements. Sometimes I am hungry and ask the hotel employees to recommend their favorite nearby restaurant.

I ask them to eliminate touristy places. I want to eat where the natives eat. I avoid the hotel restaurants too. Often my priority is a deli or sandwich counter where you save by standing at the counter to eat in lieu of using a table.

If I dont have a car I always scope out the nearest trolley stop and ask which car will take me where I want to go on the first day of sights. Same applies for buses.

Because there are so many cities I want to visit, I seldom return to one; so I dont look for changes. Learning a new city is a challenge which brings indescribable rewards when I learn how to get around.

I too take a walk and check out my neighborhood looking for a grocery store for water & a few snacks. Must have water & it is too expensive to buy from delis, street vendors, etc. I check out posted menus, buy stamps (I send lots of postcards), & ask locals about places to eat.

Flights from Atlanta usually arrive in the morning and after we check into the hotel my husband and I like to take a short nap before we set out for the day. In Paris, we'd go to a museum that's on our list of places to visit--possibly the Louvre or I always return to Napoleon's Tomb at the Les Invalides. For lunch, we'd probably buy a jambon et frommage baguette or crepe from a street vendor. Later in the afternoon, we'd walk though Ile Saint-Louis on our way to Notre Dame--we would then find a bistro in the neighborhood and have a light dinner before falling asleep at 8:00 or 9:00 p.m.

I haven't been to Paris in awhile and your question made me want to return asap! Thanks!

I haven't developed a ritual yet (not enough trips to Europe--the horror!), but I suspect it is similar to a number of other travelers on this board.

Get to the hotel and ditch the luggage, then get out and walk around to familiarize myself with the area and help combat jet lag. I'm usually not hungry when I get off of airplanes, but I do like to get a bottle of water. Accidently bought carbonated water in Rome--blech!

This next trip, I'll have my dad along, so we're going to do Rick's Night Walk Across Rome the first day to give Dad a taste of being in Italy, so he can see the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, etc.

I refresh myself from the trip, change clothes, etc. and then head out the door and just wander -- Check out my neighborhood, go get something to eat. Take it easy and get a good night's sleep, in preparation for hitting the streets with a full schedule the next day.

I'm like BG. Refresh and then wander. Get to know the surroundings. I want to absorb the experience.

My usual routine starts with planning a flight that that lands in the morning. Since the last meal on the plane is usually no more than just a snack, I'm often hungry so the first stop is at a Deli or whatever for a small meal and more importantly some strong Coffee!

After that I head straight for the Hotel. If it's too early to check-in, I just leave my luggage there and take my Daypack or whatever and my Camera and explore the neighborhood. If it is possible to check-in right away, I like to get cleaned up before I look around (I'm usually in need of a shave after the long flight, and a shower helps me to wake up). I sometimes have a short nap just to "take the edge" off the fatigue, and then go out exploring.

I often plan "light" sightseeing ideas for the first day. Nothing too strenuous though.

Cheers!

for the last 3 years I've arried in London on saturday morning, check into my hotel in the Paddington area, then go to Portebelo rd flea market

My first day at any destination is reserved for a general tour of the city. I utilized the Hop On Hop off self guided tour bus. I obtain the flavor of the city. I then utilize the Metro to go to the sights that interest me. I do a lot of preplanning. Inthis way I do not waste time choosing the sights that I intend to visit.

If I get a flight that gets me into my final destination by mid-morning, I opt for a late morning snakc involving some form of coffee (or tea if it's the UK!) for the caffeine fix, then try to be outdoors as much as possible to combat jet lag. Early dinner and then to bed...

I'm going to Dubrovnik in a couple of weeks, and because I'm leaving from the West Coast and need t otake four planes to get there, I don't arrive till after 10 pm. Any advice here? I'm assuming just head for bed and hope to sleep normal European hours.

Our PLANNED ritual is to take a leisurely walking tour of the area around the hotel, noting places to shop and restaurants that sound interesting, eating lightly and taking time to replenish fluids after the flight.

Our REAL ritual is generally to become hopelessly lost once or twice, and to see things we will never be able to find again because we have no idea where we were.

Either way, it's good.

My ritual is to get to whatever accommodation I've reserved, check in, unpack,
make sure the toilet flushes and there's hot water in the shower. Then out the door and on my way to explore the local neighborhood, looking for internet cafes,
a laundry, post office, ATM, etc. If it's London there's the traditional tube ride to Westminster station and exit beneath the shadow of Big Ben. Then a stroll toward Trafalgar Square and a pint at the Red Lion. More walking and exploring, and listening and watching all that is around me. Then a good fulfilling meal and back to my home base to catch a good night's sleep in order to hit the ground running early next morning.

When we go home to Ireland we don't bother eating dinner on our flight; as when we land in Shannon we go freshen up and then head to the cafetiera and enjoy our first Irish breakfast and absorbe the activity around us.

We then pick up our rental and head to Gaillimh/Galway. We always stop in Gort to place flowers on my Auntie and Uncles grave. That is a no brainer. We then head to our rental property to get settled in for the week and do some grocery shopping and end usually w/an impromptu party of sorts w/our Galway relations... fine wine, cheese, family and friends! What a better way to start our holiday!!!!

I cant wait until May of 2009!!