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I'm heading off to Europe tomorrow for six months with my best mate. So nervous and excited at the same time. Just wondering if anyone has any advice or tips for spending time abroad. I'll be backpacking so will be living pretty basic and cheap. I'm packing plenty of tissues for toilet paper and I've got a couple bottles of flagyl incase I start getting pouchitis. I'm also taking Multi vitamins, Imodium, Metamucil, and some probiotics that don't require refrigeration, and a few packets of hydrolite incase I need it. If you have any advice on anything important I will need, or general advice regarding toilets such as where to find them, if there are any toilet apps, or how to ask politely if I can use the toilet I would very much appreciate it. Anything that comes to mind that could be helpful would be great.

Cheers
Nick

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I'm afraid that saying Europe is a bit too much generic than you'd expect, probably more than saying America; luckily most of western Europe countries (included mine) have advanced services, but each is different, so it's difficult to give you accurate advice.
In Italy you will have access to every E.R. you find and if (hope not) you need, they will hospitalize you (no insurance at all needed). I don't know how you'd get your drugs (if needed) but am sure you can, and we've got exactly every drug and probiotics needed (vsl3); as for the public toilets every café ("bar" as we call it) has got one and must offer it to everyone needing (even if he'll have nothing, but it's better you thank them at least taking a coffee) Smiler
I
I went to France and Spain post pouch and had absolutely no issues as far as finding bathrooms or anything I needed. Any restaurant or bar has a bathroom you can use. So do most of the places you will be going to sight-see. Like someone said, carry change just in case there is a charge, and try not to worry about it! (I know, easier said than done :-))
D
Congratulations Nork,
What a wonderful adventure!
I live in France and have traveled all over Europe including a bit in the Eastern block...Spain was my favoirite county for perfectly clean toilets with little water spigots to clean off your hinny if needed...all tiled and great paper, I can't remember having problems in Greece or Italy at all. Sophia was a totally different story, I ended up spending much too much time in an airport there with No real toilets but open stalls and military police holding a machine gun at me while I tried to empty my pouch...needless to say, it did not work!
Great Britian was, well, Great. Ditto for Portugal Budapest and Belgium.
My biggest nightmares were actually in France where certain neighbourhood still had the old Turkish toilets with a hole in the ground and an elevated footprint on either side...squat and pray that you miss your shoes.
Beware, in most of those you have to close the door and lock it for the light to turn on (No, I didn't know that at the time and had to keep the door open for enough light to not fall into the hole!)
As for meds, use internet to find the names and spelling of your meds in the languages of the country you are visiting. I would copy your file onto a data stick and translate using an app. That way you are covered.
I even kept xrays and MRIs on my data stick in case of emergency but rarely needed it.
I found that a small water bottle with a squirt top was my favorite friend. I would just fill before entering the stall and squirt when needed.
Mostly, Have fun!
Sharon
skn69

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