This is a brand new page because I feel the need to share with you the wisdom I've gained over the last month here in Europe.

1.  Sometimes the only way to get what you want in France is to know the correct answer to a        question  you haven't asked or don't even know.  If you can figure it out, doors open up wide for you.  Unfortunately, you'll get far to frustrated trying to figure it out to care in the end.

2.  Airlines are now cheaper than taking the train in most countries but be aware of hidden charges and ridiculous luggage weight limits.  For American travelers, 20 kilos is about the size of your average carry-on bag and is all you are allowed to travel with within Europe.  Any additional weight will cost you more than your round trip ticket to Europe.

3.  Deodorant still has not caught on in all parts of Europe.  Neither has air conditioning.  Enjoy the heat and the funk.

4.  Milan is a bargain for men, a complete rip-off for women.  Speaking English only makes things worse.  Ladies, learn Italian; men smile and wait for the clerks to dote all over you.

5.  Wine and cheese are better in France, unfortunately, so is the whine.  Drink more of the first to tolerate the latter.

6.  You will always be stopped crossing into Switzerland.  Apparently, they want to prevent all of us subversives from threatening their closely guarded neutrality.

7.  You never want to fly into the French side of the Geneva airport.  The one cab driver there will try to screw you every time and its impossible to get to the Swiss side.  When you get off the plane head directly to Switzerland, and appreciate the existence of overpriced chocolate and magazines.  At least the Swiss side has them.

8.  The bread and cheese diet is the key to losing weight.  Even though Europeans drink milk with 4% fat content and drink more beer and wine than most fraternity members, somehow this diet keeps them looking like toothpicks.