"Are we there yet?"
5.6.2018
Translation: machine translated
The summer holidays will soon be here again. For many, this means: off to the roads of Europe. This is usually only partially pleasant - I speak from experience. But there are a few things that (can) help.
I have four siblings. What often becomes a pain in everyday life comes to a head in the car. Short journeys are fine. I simply breathe away the noise or, if necessary, put my foot down. But if you spend several hours in a cramped car, it can be quite exhausting. I have to mention that there are 15 years between me, the eldest, and my youngest brother. This means that on previous journeys we've had everything from whinging babies to grumbling teenagers. Now you cram this super group into a car and add two parents and a dog to the mix. Regardless of whether you know the situation or not, I think you can roughly imagine the initial situation.
For many years, we travelled a good 660 kilometres to Austria every summer. Once there, our children's eyes immediately started to sparkle. Direct access to the lake, a huge garden and usually lots of cousins of the same age. We were outside all day, whether on water or on land. Hundreds of more or less intelligent games sprang from our imaginations. It was all wonderful. But we just had to get there first.
Seven people, one dog, one car. Because of our dog, the boot is full, so we have to fit a roof box or, even better, a trailer. Great, the journey takes even longer! You just can't win a spontaneous road race with a top speed of 80 km/h.
Well, we're all in. Peace, joy and pancakes for the first few metres. Maybe this time it'll be nice? Think again. The bickering between the boys begins. It's especially nice when you're sitting in the middle as a buffer. I try the usual car games: "I see what you don't see" or licence plate guessing. That goes quite well for a while, but at some point either my brothers or I don't feel like it anymore. Okay, mostly me. I marvel at the stamina of small children. Once you put a flea in their ear, you can't get out of it. Meanwhile, the panting from behind is pretty intense. Our golden retriever is not a fan of long journeys. Welcome to the club.
Just when I thought the worst was over, one of my brothers turns paler and paler. No need to panic yet, just wait and see. But soon the nausea starts. Travel sickness sends its regards. A few unplanned stops follow. At least I can stretch my legs a bit. And we've learnt something from it. From now on, this child sits in the front. But that's not the only thing I've learnt from these years of odysseys. I have learnt how to make car journeys as relaxed as possible. Of course, there are no guarantees, but there are things that make my life and yours a lot easier.
Replace your feet
If you're not stressed, you should stop at a rest area more often. In our case, panting dogs and vomiting children automatically made this a necessity. But even without these accompanying circumstances, it's worth getting some fresh air to clear your head. A few relaxation exercises after sitting for so long don't hurt either. And because of all the cool soft drinks, your bladder will probably pinch from time to time. After the break, you can also swap seats in the car, which may result in more pleasant dynamics.
Whenever you get a little hungry
Eating and drinking is important. After around eight hours in the car, hunger and thirst will come at some point. If there's nothing left, there's a lot of moaning. And this should be avoided. A cool box is recommended so that the soft drink of your choice is nice and cold and the mayo in the sausage roll doesn't start to go rancid. It's nice if everything isn't eaten in the car between stops, but is served as a kind of picnic during a longer break at a nice rest stop.
Playfully light
As briefly mentioned above, car games can be a real distraction. At least for a limited period of time. You also become aware of your surroundings. Our all-time favourite was "I see something you don't". However, the object should be guessed relatively quickly, otherwise it will disappear from the other players' field of vision. Another good game for slightly older children is "Guess the number plate" or "I'm packing my suitcase...". If travel sickness is just an abstract concept for you, you can also play physical travel games.
Music in your ears
Very important: the right song will lift your spirits to unimagined heights. At least for three or four minutes, the whingeing will fade out. It's best when (almost) everyone knows the song. A collective warbling interlude promotes a sense of community immensely. If radio doesn't offer enough substance, you can put together your own playlist on your smartphone or burn your own CDs, just like in the good old days.
Sun visors put you in the shade
Standing heat is not for the mind. And you're always dazzled by the sun. We usually hung towels or items of clothing on the window. To do this, part of the fabric had to be clamped in the window. The biggest challenge: keeping the fabric in place without pinching your fingers. This is much easier with sun visors.
Looking down the tube
I know, this solution is not really educational. But hours of nagging, moaning and whining aren't really good for my nerves either. You don't have to park your children in front of the TV all the time, but a short film in between can work wonders. Even if it means you have to listen to the soundtrack to Winnie the Pooh and a lisping marmot.
Cool breeze for hot tempers
My favourite journey ever was when the air conditioning failed. We were stuck in a kilometre-long traffic jam and the temperature outside was close to boiling point. The perfect time to do without cool air. Doors and windows were ripped open, we walked alongside the car and made fans out of all sorts of things. None of it helped. We arrived at our destination sweating, tore off our clothes and jumped into the lake.
And yes, I know. There used to be no air conditioning, I've experienced that myself. And yes, it worked somehow. But once you've got used to the luxury, it's hard to live without it. A compact fan would certainly have eased our agony...
It was still nice
But these journeys weren't just long and exhausting, they were also beautiful in some twisted way. Maybe I have a distorted perception, triggered by nostalgia. But it was somehow great to have the whole team together. Chatting a bit longer and more in depth with each other. The boys had their sweet and endearing moments alongside all the annoying ones. All the mishaps became running gags that still amuse us today. And of course there was always a lot of anticipation. The trip was simply part of the holiday. First the work, then the pleasure.
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My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.
