Directions for a perfect vacation: Part 3

7. Pack light.
Remember, anything you take with you you're going to have to lug around. If you're on a cruise, you can just leave it in your room the whole time. But if you're traveling, really traveling, everything you take with is one more thing to carry. Take just the essentials.
I traveled for ten weeks with a single pack. Because I stayed in hostels, I had my own sheets in there, along with towel and washcloth. I brought just one pair of shoes (but a second pair of shoe inserts). My clothes were all light (no jeans). I did not buy many souvenirs, knowing that I'd have to take them with me from place to place.
Packing light may mean that you do laundry often, or (gasp) wear clothing two or three days at a time. Not to worry--Europeans don't have the same need to shower every single day, and a little bit of body odor isn't going to kill you or them.
My big indulgence? An MP3 player and a big set of headphones.

8. Be street smart.
Most of this is common sense. Crime and scams can happen anywhere, but Eastern Europe, Italy, Spain, and any touristy area are going to have a high rate.
Realize that almost all crime is non-violent. Don't take a purse or wallet. Put your valuables inside a money pouch, and put the money pouch in front of you, underneath your clothing. Pickpockets and purse-snatchers are plentiful. Don't chance it. I think someone tried to rob me in a subway station. A woman in her mid-twenties kind of collided with me, and ran off as she said "sorry". My money and passport were safely in my money pouch, and she went away empty-handed.
Be suspicious whenever dealing with money. Beggars are often disguised thieves. People selling stuff on the streets are often out to scam tourists. I bought a 20 euro painting that the man claimed was hand-painted...and realized ten minutes later that there's no way a hand-painted painting like that would go for just 20 euros. I then saw the same type of painting for sale for 4 euros. Ouch. I'm proud to say that that was the only scam I fell for in those ten weeks.
I ordered a single-scoop ice cream cone in Venice, and was told a crazy-high price as the lady handed me a cone with three scoops. I didn't take the cone. She started yelling at me...I walked out. If they're used to tourists, a lot of them will try to rip you off. Don't stand for it.
Europeans are generally honest, good people. Most won't take off with your luggage or try to scam you. But, as a tourist, you need to be aware and a bit suspicious.

9. Enjoy the people.
It's hard to meet the natives if you're traveling in a pack.
I got lost in a Swiss town. I walked from the train station to the post office, and tried to get my bearings from a map posted outside the building. A young lady walked out and said something in French. It being only a few miles outside of German-speaking Switzerland, I asked her if she could speak German (I should've asked for English...I think her English was better than my German). She showed me where my hostel was, and then offered to drive me there.
I had a bit of the same problem in Karlsruhe, a large non-touristy city in Germany. I bought a map in the train station and walked outside. Within two minutes, two different people came up and asked if I needed directions.
I bought lunch at a recommended restaurant in Venice. The owner came out and talked to me for a couple of minutes, just to say hi.
I rented a bike in the Netherlands, and promptly got a flat. I started walking my bike, and a man asked me what the problem was. I asked him if he spoke English. He gave me detailed directions to a bike store where I could get the flat fixed. The store couldn't fix my flat without a bit of a wait, but they sold me some parts and let me borrow their pump.
I left my journal on a bench outside of a museum in Vienna. I went back to the scene, and asked three old ladies sitting on the bench if they'd seen it. They had, and they'd given it to the man at the front desk at the museum for safe-keeping.
Just some examples of the kindness of strangers.