Vacations Blog

 From Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

“Bicycles are sacred in Amsterdam,” said Michiel Laterveer, director of sales and marketing at the Amsterdam Renaissance Hotel.  “Like cows are to India.”

On a recent trip to Europe, I was struck by the green transportation efficiencies that were created out of necessity.

“You don’t want a car in Amsterdam,” added Brigitta Kroon-Fiorita of the Netherlands Board of Tourism.  “Everyone rides a bicycle.”

In fact, I spotted several business men and women talking on their cell phones as they peddled to work.  The Amsterdam train station had a three level parking garage specifically designed for bicycles.  With its cobblestone streets and numerous canals, Amsterdam is a city to be enjoyed on foot.

Scooters were the preferred mode of transportation in the narrow streets of Madrid and Seville, Spain, as well as Lisbon, Portugal.  While there isn’t a helmet law, most riders sported helmets in the heavily congested city of Madrid.  The upscale city also offers an easily accessible underground and affordable subway system.  The Sunday that I visited Madrid, thousands of bicyclists swarmed the Paseo de la Castellana that had been closed to cars for the event.  I watched from my club room at the Intercontinental as the bicyclists demonstrated their solidarity in demanding bike lanes for riders.  Unfortunately, there is not much room to expand for bicycle lanes in downtown Madrid.

For the green traveler looking to cover a lot of Europe, Eurail offers many alternatives from train to boat.  I selected the 10 day, first class Global Pass, which is valid within a two month period.  For Lisbon, Portugal I took a day trip to the charming city of Sintra.  After several days in Lisbon, I boarded the overnight train, #385, to Seville, staying at NH Plaza de Armas.  The hotel was a 10 minute cab ride from the train station.  For a lovely day excursion, I recommend a train ride to the waterfront town of Cadiz.

Finally, a common mode of transportation spotted throughout my 10 day tour of Europe was the adorable Smart Car.  Squeezed between bicycles and barges in Amsterdam or cozied up next to horsedrawn carriages in Seville, the Smart Car is slowly making its debut in the United States.

While I drive the fuel-efficient and sporty BMW Mini Cooper, I would happily convert to a Smart Car if I didn’t have to contend with SUV’s, Humvee’s and tanker trucks sharing California’s highways.  Our gas guzzling USA would benefit greatly if we were to implement many of the green transportation alternatives offered in Europe.

Is green travel important to you?  Do you find that you travel differently abroad than when traveling in the United States?  For more information on this topic check out the Go Green Travel Green blog.

Seville bicycle photo, Cadiz scooters, Eurail train and horse and carriage photos by Nancy D. Brown

From guest blogger Marsha Takeda-Morrison of Sweatpantsmom

Monday, July 14 was Bastille Day, France’s National Holiday commemorating the 1789 storming of the Bastille that launched the French Revolution. I’ve never participated in any Bastille Day festivities, but thought I would honor the day by talking about shopping. Because I’m sure that’s what those French soldiers had in mind as they charged into battle – how they could get the best deal on a really nice handbag.

Chanel Store – Although I usually avoid Beverly Hills like the plague, the Chanel store on Rodeo Drive is sort of like how my husband describes certain streets in Amsterdam: Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s really fun to look around. Besides, what could be more French than the Parisian fashion house founded by Coco Chanel? So even if you’re not ready to spend your kids’ college fund on a purse, stop in and take a peek. You can at least spray on some Chanel No. 5 for free before you leave the store.

Café Des Artistes – Chances are, you couldn’t resist picking up that five-thousand-dollar keychain at Chanel, and now you want to take a break and have a good stiff drink and a meal to forget your troubles. Head on over to one of my favorite restaurants, Café Des Artistes. Along with the amazing food (I always order the steak and pommes frites but they are known for their French-style mac n’ cheese) the setting is beautiful – it feels like you’re dining in a home in the French countryside. Have a nice glass of Cabernet Sauvignon while you’re coming up with ways to tell your husband about the keychain.

Maison Midi – This is my absolute favorite store for unusual housewares and gifts. It’s an offshoot of clothing retailer American Rag (which is right next door). You won’t find a more beautiful and varied selection of dinnerware and linens, much of it one-of-a-kind and imported from France. The best part: they have an excellent café that’s part of the store, Café Midi, which is modeled after an authentic French sidewalk café. While you’re waiting to be served your Croques Monsieur you can browse the store and pick up those new salad bowls you’ve been wanting.

Samuel French Bookstore – This place is not French, and has nothing to do with France, but it does have ‘French’ in the title and definitely would be the place to go if you were looking for the screenplay for “An American In Paris” or maybe a biography of Edith Piaf. Samuel French is the bookstore for anyone interested in, or wanting to break into, the entertainment business and a place for filmmakers, writers and actors to find plays, scripts, movie-buff material and industry magazines. Maybe you’ll even see Juliette Binoche browsing the aisles.

After your day packed with French-themed shopping, you’ll want to head home, make yourself some crème brulée and put on your favorite DVD featuring Johnny Depp (totally counts since he’s married to French singer Vanessa Paradis.) Très bien!