Have you been lusting over Pinterest pictures of Barcelona recently? Or dreaming of a chance meeting with the elves in Iceland? Maybe the undertaking of planning your backpacking trip across Europe has left you exhilarated, but at the same time, feeling a bit like a caricature of â??the ignorant Americanâ??.
Have no fear! Todayâ??s infographic shows us fifty things that will make us all more culturally aware of the countries we visit and better travelers in general. For starters, itâ??s not a bad idea to know the names of at least eight cathedrals or churches in Europe; also, know that Russians like their vodka straight — no mixers, please.
Be sure to know the difference in personal space in South and North America — South Americans like to get close when engaging in conversation, while North Americans may view this behavior as an invasion of personal space; wear clothes with lots of pockets when boarding a flight (if pockets are utilized correctly you could find yourself with an extra carry-on!); and go ahead and memorize your passport number — this can come in handy when youâ??re checking into your hotel, or renting a car, or when youâ??re filling out your customs form on the flight home and the exact location of your passport in your oversized/overstuffed bag escapes you.
Before you score a plane ticket, check out today’s infographic, and bask in your new-found knowledge of the world. [Via]