Why Not See Europe In Retirement?

One of the goals my wife and I had when we ended our working careers was to see Europe in retirement.  While we had made a couple of trips during our working years and enjoyed each one immensely, we knew there was much more to see.  We also knew that retirement offered the opportunity to see the great cities and sites at a much more leisurely pace.  We have been extremely fortunate to be able to enjoy almost everything Europe has to offer.

We have always thought that the United Kingdom should be the first place to start because it is most similar to our own country.  English, of course, is our common language but it is very interesting to hear the accents and expressions that they use.  London comes to mind first for most people, but the countryside of Great Britain is absolutely spectacular.  Stone is the preferred building material as compared to the wood and timber of our own country and the typical English village is a wonderful experience.  The roads are narrow and the buildings quaint and you can’t help but think of one of the British murder mysteries that are such a treat to watch.  If you have any desire to see Europe in retirement, the United Kingdom is a great place to start.  I know that a visit to Ireland is on almost everyone’s list, but I have to say that Wales and Scotland are quite beautiful as well.  I know most people don’t go to England for the food, but a pub meal should be experienced by everyone.  It’s sad to say but the pubs are falling on hard times, and many are closing so get there while you can.

If you're planning to see Europe in retirement, try to spend as much time as possible being there to maximize the effort of getting there!

Food, of course, is a way of life in France and Italy and it’s not unusual for people to build their itineraries around the great restaurants of Paris and Rome.  But, again, don’t just focus on the cities.  Paris is indeed beautiful, but so is southern France and the foods and wines of Lyon are unforgettable.  One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to visit a grocery store because it can tell you a lot about the area.  In France, the cheese aisle is a wonder to behold, and it begins to make sense why almost every block in the French cities have a cheese shop, a bakery for sweet goods and a bakery for the best baguettes in the world.  If you want to see Europe in retirement, make sure you devote enough time to sample the food.  Each region is every country has their own way of preparing food just as the New England chowders and fish differ from the southern barbecues and the Texas steak houses.  The fresh pastas of Italy are legendary, and the French cuisine is still my favorite but there are wonderful dishes to sample in Spain and Germany and Portugal as well.

If you’re planning to see Europe in retirement, there are a couple of things I would suggest.  First, make the most of your trip abroad.  Airfare is expensive, the flights are long and no one really likes an airport with the crowds and the delays so, if you venture to Europe, spend as much time as possible on each trip.  I strongly recommend getting a reputable guide for each locality.  Don’t skimp on this part of your trip.  They may seem expensive, but when you realize all that they do (including private tours of normally crowded landmarks), they are worth every penny.  If you can swing it, the second thing I would recommend would be a river cruise.  Renting a car and driving on European roads can be a real hassle but, when you’re cruising along one of Europe’s great rivers, everything is done for you because you’re basically on a floating hotel.  It is much more relaxing and a great way to soak up the local color (and food!) without a worry in the world.  We have done more than a dozen cruises with Viking and have never gone on a cruise we wouldn’t do again.  They were wonderful in every aspect of and, as soon as you see your Viking representative in the airport, everything is taken care of for you.  I cannot recommend them enough.

Retirement has been better than we could ever have imagined and travelling the world has been a big part of that.  We started our golden years knowing that we wanted to see in Europe in retirement and have gradually expanded that goal to see Egypt, Australia, New Zealand and even South America with Asia on our list of future journeys.  The key is to make a plan and get started.  We have been fortunate to have seen our own beautiful country and have come to realize that we live on an amazing planet with wonderful people who really want the same thing out life: to be able to raise a family in peace and security and to see the world.  We’re going to continue to do our part and hope you join us to do the same because it’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!

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