Let's Go Europe 2019. Harvard Student Agencies

Portugal: 351

      • Spain: 34

      • Sweden: 46

      • Switzerland: 41

      • UK: 44

      • US: 1

      3. Followed by the city/area code,

      4. And finally the local number.

       Cellular Phones

      The international standard for cellular phones is the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM). To make and receive calls in Europe, you will need a GSM-compatible phone and a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card, a country-specific, thumbnail-sized chip that gives you a local phone number and plugs you into the local network. Most SIM cards will work in any country, but the charges for this can vary wildly, so check with your carrier and decide whether it might be cheaper to get a new SIM at your destination. Many European SIM cards are prepaid, and incoming calls are frequently free. You can buy additional cards or vouchers (usually available at convenience stores) to “top up” your phone. For more information on GSM phones, check out www.telestial.com. Companies like Cellular Abroad (www.cellularabroad.com) and OneSimCard (www.onesimcard.com) rent cell phones and SIM cards that work in a variety of destinations around the world.

      BY SNAIL MAIL

       Sending Mail Home

      Airmail is the best way to send mail home from Europe. Write “airmail,” “par avion,” or the equivalent in the local language on the front. For simple letters or postcards, airmail tends to be surprisingly cheap, but the price will go up sharply for weighty packages. Surface mail is by far the cheapest, slowest, and most antiquated way to send mail. It takes one or two months to cross the Atlantic, which may be ideal for heavy items you won’t need for a while, like souvenirs you’ve acquired along the way and the dresser you bought from that antique store that deep down, you know you don’t need.

       Receiving Mail in Europe

      There are several ways to arrange pickup of letters sent to you while you are abroad, even if you do not have an address of your own. Mail can be sent via Post Restante (General Delivery). Address Poste Restante letters like so:

      First and Last Name

       Poste Restante

      City, Country

      The mail will go to a special desk in the city’s central post office, unless you specify a local post office by a street address or postal code. It’s best to use the largest post office, since mail may be sent there regardless. Bring your passport (or other photo ID) for pickup; there may be a small fee. If the clerk insists there is nothing for you, ask them to check under your first name as well. Let’s Go lists post offices in the Essentials section for each city we cover. It’s usually safer and quicker, though more expensive, to send mail express or registered. If you don’t want to deal with Poste Restante, consider asking your hostel or accommodation if you can have things mailed to you there. Of course, if you have your own mailing address or a reliable friend, that is the easiest method.

       CLIMATE

      Europe may be the smallest continent in the world, but it has a surprisingly diverse climate. Some of its countries border the seas while others are landlocked. Some have mountains and glaciers, others have valleys and sandy ruins. Here’s how it works: Southern Europe is known for warm weather surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. This area has mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Northern and Eastern areas are marked by temperate forests, where cold Arctic air contrasts with hot, warm summers and rain whenever the universe feels like mocking you. In between sits the exception: the mile-high Alps, where things are generally colder and wetter.

       MEASUREMENTS

      Like the rest of the rational world, Europe uses the metric system. The basic unit of length is the meter (m), which is divided into 100 centimeters (cm) or 10000 millimeters (mm). One thousand meters make up one kilometer (km). Fluids are measured in liters (L), each divided into 1000 (mL). A liter of pure water weighs one kilogram (kg), the unit of mass that is divided into 1000 grams (g). One metric ton is 1000kg. Gallons in the US and in Britain are not identical: one US gallon equals 0.83 Imperial gallons. Pub aficionados will note that an Imperial pint (20 oz.) is larger than its US counterpart (16 oz.)—we’ll drink to that!

      AUSTRIA

      Arguably the world capital of classical music, Austria is home to many of history’s greatest musical minds. Mozart is, of course, the country’s favorite son, and his homes throughout Salzburg and Austria are remarkable tourist destinations—but the musical landmarks don’t stop there. The Vienna State Opera is world famous, the Haus der Musik demonstrates the creation of music down to the scientific mechanisms of sound reverberation, and Salzburg’s ball season offers dancing until the early morning in the birthplace of the waltz.

      This music scene comes into the modern age with a visit to the country, where melodies old and new seem to hang in the air like electricity. You may find public outdoor symphony concerts in Vienna that draw attendees of all ages to stand, sway, chat with neighbors, and pop open bottles of wine. Classical music has never felt more enveloping yet casual. In Salzburg, side effects of The Sound of Music setting may include running, skipping, and spinning with arms outstretched. Here, the city does indeed seem to be alive with the sound of music, and visitors may find the voice of Queen Julie Andrews (this title is legitimate, just ask the people of Genovia) rattling around their heads, seemingly without end.

      Meanwhile, Austria is a sight to behold, a stunning vision of mountains and man-made edifices wishing they could be mountains, too. Cities boast architectural works that reach for the skies, from the towering Gothic spires of the Rathaus and St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna to the clunky hilltop fortress of Salzburg that cradles the clouds in its own right. In Hallstatt, hillside churches and sharp, elongated steeples sit alongside a glistening lake, nestled between mountains. Home to its own corner of the Alps, the road through Austria winds among jagged peaks and sparkling bodies of water. Here, you’ll find the air fresh, the language German, and the living easy.

SALZBURG

      Coverage by Antonia Washington

      The name Salzburg translates to “mountain of salt,” and it was this very resource—known colloquially as “white gold”—that made this city great (and the archbishops that reigned incredibly rich). With the spoils from mining, the members of the ruling class built opulent state rooms and concert halls. The city took shape within just a few decades, and is now considered one of the most exemplary showcases of Baroque architecture in the world. Salzburg’s city center is arguably the best preserved in Central Europe with tall domes peeking over the rooftops of Old Town and hillside fortresses looming overhead. Additionally, Salzburg is notable for its exquisite cultural composition. Once the social and governmental seat of its region, Salzburg was an independent state for nearly 300 years, after breaking from Bavaria and before becoming part of Austria in the early 1800s. It is also the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (and the von Trapp family—can’t forget about them), whose work is emblematic of the region’s musical legacy.

       ORIENTATION

      Salzburg is a relatively small city built up on either side of the Salzach River, a right tributary of the Inn River and your number-one tool for orienting yourself. The city center spans both sides of the river. To the east you will find the Mirabell Palace and Gardens, the main train station, and Mozart’s residence. Areas to note include