Three Eco-Friendly Travel Tips for Earth Day
I'm not the only traveler who carries reusable shopping bags from
Carrefour.
Photo: Culture Shock Happens, a blog from a couple living in France.
by Wendy Perrin
Why do we travel? To open our eyes to other cultures and the differences between them and us, hopefully with the result that we become better citizens of the world. In honor of Earth Day, here are three earth-friendly tips that I've gleaned from my travels in Europe. They also happen to save you money:
(1) Pack a lightweight, reusable shopping bag.
When you go to an outdoor market or a grocery store, instead of collecting your souvenirs or picnic provisions in disposable plastic bags, carry a reusable bag such as those from Carrefour or a lightweight duffel such as those from Le Sportsac. I started doing this years ago in Germany where, in many towns, when you purchase items in a grocery store, the only way you can get a disposable bag is to buy one.
(2) Wash clothes in the hotel sink.
Carry a small bottle of Woolite with you and, instead of spending an arm and a leg having the hotel do your laundry, wash whatever dirty clothes you can in the sink and hang them out to dry (there's often a clothesline in the bathroom or a railing on your balcony). Why so many people in the United States object to clotheslines is beyond me. In Italy we think the clotheslines strung from village windows add color and charm to the scene--especially when Mama has just laundered the entire soccer team's uniforms.
(3) Take the train from the airport to downtown.
People are freaking out that the price of gas in the U.S. just hit $3.50 a gallon, yet gas has been achingly expensive in Europe for many more years than it has been here. Taking the train is not only much cheaper than renting cars or riding in taxis but it's usually faster and more pleasant and interesting as well. So, next time you fly into a European city, take public transportation into town.
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I have to say that I think it would be an excellent idea if stores like Wal-Mart started charging for disposable bags. I wouldn't have a problem with that at all. Anything that will encourage people to not waste things. They were handing out re-usable bags at Wal-Mart the other day when we were visiting Boerne, Texas. That's great and all, but making people use them would be an even better idea...
And while we're on the topic of stores, why do cashiers in the States have to stand at their registers all day? In the UK and apparently in the EU, they get to sit down. I was a cashier for years, and I remember it killing my back and feet. I don't understand why cashiers here are forced to stand.
Secondly though, much of the United States has no public transportation, and if they do, it's incredibly inefficient and impossible to use half the time. I have lived all over the country and have never once lived in a location where there was a train. Right now where I live, there's not even an Amtrak, much less a local train.
We have buses, but like much of the United States, the buses run Monday through Saturday from 6am to 6pm and do not run on Sundays or Holidays. This has been the case in most of the cities I have lived in, where the buses run limited hours and only run once an hour. It often takes two hours to get anywhere, because you have to change buses at a central station to get to another part of town. Not to mention, many cities are the victims of urban sprawl and buses do not go to the outskirts of the city or to surrounding towns, even if the city has grown out to meet those towns.
I would love a train! We traveled around England on the train and it was fast and efficient and I loved not having to drive anywhere.
So, why can't we be more like Europe? LOL
Posted by: tracker1312 | April 22, 2008 at 02:36 PM
My husband, whom I met when he was living in Europe, asks that question every day!
Posted by: WendyPerrin | April 22, 2008 at 02:45 PM