Very Interesting Questions

By Dave Fox

When I was growing up, my teachers told me there was "no such thing as a stupid question." This may be true, but some situations in life seem to hinder the brain's ability to function in a non-stupid manner.

Overseas travel is one of these situations. When we throw ourselves into foreign turf, we get anxious. Fear of the unknown overrules logic.

As a travel consultant for Americans planning trips to Europe, I deal with a lot of nervous people. Sometimes, they ask me questions I would swear were stupid, had my teachers not set me straight on that matter years ago.

The following is my list of favorite "very interesting" questions people have asked me:

• If I want to contact a hotel in Paris, isn't easier to phone them than it is to fax them? If I faxed them, I'd have to do it in French, and I don't speak French.

• Is there a train that goes from France to the South of France? How long does it take?

• Is Paris a good place to be on the 4th of July?

• Do you know any restaurants in London that will serve a vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner?

• Do trains in Italy run on Columbus Day?

• What city is the Leaning Tower of Pisa in?

• When does flu season begin in Ireland?

• What floor of the hotel will the rooftop picnic be on?

• Where is the best place in Europe to catch an overnight train?

• On Switzerland's Glacier Express train, is the scenery better if you travel west to east or east to west?

• Are the views from the train better in first class?

• What's the difference between France and Turkey?

• How does the amount of walking compare with the amount of calories we will consume?

• Do they have potato chips in Europe? Do they taste the same as ours?

• Are bathrooms hard to find in Europe?

• What kind of train pass do I need to go from Prague to Malta?

• If I have two days in Amsterdam, can I take a day trip to Scandinavia?

• Can I take a day trip from Munich to Australia?

• My flight arrives in Athens at 3 a.m. Should I just get an early start on seeing the ruins?

• Can I catch Mad Cow Disease if I eat ham in France?

• If I ask you something, will you promise not to put me on your list of stupid questions?