LIVING THE DREAM:
The Murads on a Rick Steve's
My Way Europe in 14 Days Tour
July 1, 2016: Nabil & Toni Officially Retire at Age 70 and Begin Living Their Dreams
"It's never to late to have a happy childhood, and age matters only if you are a cheese. Rick Steves
I think the reason Nabil and I have always gotten along so well together is that we have butterfly souls - always willing to take on new adventures, no matter how large or how small. Retirement opened the world to us; we finally had the time to do everything we had dreamed of but never had the time to do. We were free, guided only by our imagination and our curiosity. A trip to Europe was at the top of our list, but not one that took us to overcrowded tourist destinations and on structured side trips. We wanted to get the feel of the countries we visited: to meet real people, eat local food, and stay in hotels with a genuine, European flair. Rick Steves' "My Way Europe in 14 Days Tour" gave us just that, an opportunity to travel as what he calls temporary locals.
The Plan
Travelling on a "My Way" tour made planning very simple. We had no transportation responsibilities , other than our flights to and from Europe, and no hotel reservations to worry about. That gave us plenty of time to immerse ourselves in everything we could read, listen, or watch about Europe. The Rick Steve's website was loaded with resources, and we used them all: videos, forums, blogs, travel tips, etc. It was really fun to see what people who were planning the same trip or who had gone before us had to say. When I discovered I could install Rick's radio app on my phone, I was hooked and found myself listening to travel tracks every time I had to drive more five miles. I was beginning to feel like I knew what to expect from day one. Once we got to Europe, I realized everything in Rick's materials was completely up to date and correct - what a plus!
See Our Trip Details:
Five Lessons Learned About Planning
1. Get in shape. A couple extra pounds here or there doesn't seem like much unless you're hauling it up and down three flights of stairs. Not to say we were chubby, but Nabil and I had put on a few layers of fluff over the years, and we knew we could be in better shape. The day after we arranged for our tour, we began implementing what we called MURAD BOOTCAMP. It wasn't easy, but it paid off once we got to Europe. We walked at least two miles a day, outside on cool days and on the treadmill when it was too hot. I started planking, lifting weights, and doing sit-ups for a few minutes every morning. Not only did we feel empowered, but on our walks we discovered some beautiful natural places in Nashville we never knew existed. It was fun. We also changed our diet. That was not fun. We gave up diet soda and went on a paleo diet to kick off the plan. It worked, but I still get a little nauseous when I think about quinoa and almond milk.
2. Plan to arrive a couple days early. We decided to arrive in Europe two days before we joined the tour, which was a good decision. Not only did it give us a little time to adjust our internal clocks and get over jet lag, it allowed us some time to figure out the transportation system and learn to move around the city with relative ease. It also relieved some the guilt of taking late afternoon cat naps.
3. Pack only what you need. Deciding what to pack was probably the most stressful part of planning for the trip. September weather is a little unpredictable, so we opted for mostly jeans and T shirts with comfortable walking shoes and light jackets. We weren't too far off. What I learned was I didn't need to be so concerned. Europeans are more practical than Americans, and almost anything is acceptable. If I had it to do again, I would include one dressy outfit I could wear for a special occasion or two. On the Seine dinner cruise we took, I have to admit I felt a bit underdressed in my cotton pants and slightly wrinkled blouse. Never believe ticket sellers who tell you, "Of course, what you have on will be just fine."
4. Learn a little language. There was no way we could master all the languages. English was spoken almost everywhere, but common courtesy goes a long way, and we noticed most people were very pleased when we greeted them in their language and attempted to say please and thank you.
5. Accept that you don't have to see it all. I'm notorious for wanting to experience everything, but in Europe it can't be done. Make a list of all the places you want to go and the things you want to do, then ruthlessly prioritize them. I had to sacrifice more than I wanted to, but those choices gave us the time we needed to really enjoy what we did see. For example, the Louvre was overwhelming, so we chose the Medieval and Renaissance Wing where Mona Lisa is displayed as our focus. We didn't feel rushed, and we had more than enough time to enjoy her renowned, mysterious smile.
