What went well
- Cameras for the kids. Both kids had cameras and were so excited to be able to take pictures of whatever they wanted. Their cameras (the Nikon Coolpix S33) also allowed them to take video, use special effects (like put people in bubbles), make slideshows, adjust sounds and backgrounds and all kinds of other options. This kept them entertained not only while they were taking the pictures but also in the car between stops, on the planes and trains, and at night. And they will use their own photos to make photo books of each country to remember the things THEY enjoyed most.
- Audio guides in the museums. We had audio guides for about half the museums we went to (Rodin, Louvre, Versailles, and Vatican Museum). They are awesome. It kept everyone moving, learning and entertained.
- Packing. We each packed one carryon bag and had a small backpack. Other than being extremely tired of our clothes the last couple of weeks, it worked out perfectly. Everyone could carry their own things (except for Taylor on a few hot days) and they fit into every mode of transportation without extra charges (rental cars, small planes, ferries, and trains). I kind of wish I would have brought a more stylish pair of sandals, but I could walk 10 hours a day in them with no problem so I guess it’s worth the less than ideal photos that include my feet.
- Unscheduled time. We had the luxury of having quite a bit of time in many places so we could have plenty of downtime to enjoy parks, sleeping in, and last minute modifications to things we had planned to do in case someone was having a bad day.
- Blog. Love love love for so many reasons. It was so nice to come home and visit with friends and family without having to try to recall every detail of the trip. Everyone already knew the highlights. It also forced me to go through my photos regularly so it wasn’t quite as overwhelming when we got home. And now I get to print the blog into a book so that we can revisit it anytime.
What could have been better
- Journals for the kids. They both had a journal and would write in it somewhat regularly, but at 7 and 8, they are probably a bit too young to write down much that will be meaningful later. I wish I would have had interesting and easy to answer preprinted questions so they just could have filled in the answers.
- Snacks. I should have had more snacks with me at all times. The handful of meltdowns would have been totally avoidable if I had snacks.
What I learned
- My family is awesome, and we really enjoy each other.
- We travel well together. We work together as a team. We all like to experience new things. We aren’t afraid of being in places where we don’t know the language or what to expect.
- My kids are not adventurous eaters but as long as they have enough energy to get around, it doesn’t really matter what they’ve eaten.
- Almost 3 months later, the kids are still talking about their experiences. They are never too young to travel!
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