Greece Travel Blog

My brain was fried. I was concerned I was getting a cold, and I felt that getting sick was God’s way of telling me to slow down. It was my last day in Athens after spending several weeks producing two television shows on Greece. Instead of heading out on a shoot, I ditched work and spent the day lounging poolside on the rooftop of my hotel. Thankfully, it worked. The next day, I felt recharged.

Plan as if you are leaving two days before you really are. Keep that last 48-hour period sacred (apart from your normal work schedule), even if it means being frenzied before your false departure date. You will fly away well rested and 100 percent capable of enjoying the bombardment of your senses that will follow.

It’s simple to spring your wristwatch six to nine hours forward, but body clocks don’t reset so easily. After crossing the Atlantic, your body wants to eat when you tell it to sleep and sleep when you force it to go to the Louvre. You can’t avoid jet lag, but you don’t have to condemn yourself to zombiedom either. On the flight over, I eat lightly, drink lots of water, avoid coffee and alcohol and minimize sugar. The in-flight movies are good for one thing — nap time. With two or three hours’ sleep during the flight, you will be functional the day you land.

On arrival, plan a good walk. Jet lag hates fresh air, daylight and exercise. Stay awake at least until the early evening. You probably will awaken very early on your first morning. Get out and enjoy a “pinch me, I’m in Europe” walk, as merchants set up in the marketplace and the town slowly comes to life. This probably will be the only sunrise you will see in Europe.

As in the United States, Europe is dealing with the H1N1 flu. Just heed the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, regularly wash your hands with soap and water, try not to touch your eyes, nose and mouth, and get vaccinated if the shot is available to you.

To stay healthy, it’s crucial to get enough sleep. Most people need seven to eight hours a night. It’s tempting to go, go, go while you’re in Europe. There is always something enticing beyond what you can comfortably experience. The best way to stay healthy is to pace yourself and know your limits. Rather than a marathon of museum visits, I punctuate my sightseeing with cafe stops.

If you get sick, be proactive. Get help to get better quickly. For minor ailments, a good first stop is the neighborhood pharmacy. European pharmacists diagnose and prescribe remedies for most simple problems. They usually are friendly and speak English, and some medications that are by prescription only in the United States are available over the counter (surprisingly cheaply) in Europe. For more serious problems, ask about local clinics. If you are unable to leave your room, the hotel receptionist usually can summon a doctor who makes “house calls” — for less than you might expect.

By Rick Steves, Chicago Tribune; excerpts, edited by Greece Travel Blog. Rick Steves writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. Cf. Rick Steves at Amazon

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