EUROPE
History | Travel Facts | Emergencies | Sights

Europe's History
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Draw any line through a map of Europe and you will see the extremes that it covers: from the eternal night of an Icelandic winter to the endless summers of sultry Greece; from Portugal, starting point of explorers to the New World, to the emerging countries of Eastern Europe; from the former Communist countries to the carefree lifestyles of the Republic of Ireland.

Less than half the size of North America, Europe encompasses an infinite variety of cultures that are constantly changing. Cultural identity in Europe is strong, to the extent that within some nations different groups seek separation. It seems appropriate that the headquarters of the European Union should be based in Belgium, a country of cultural differences.

The seeds of today's European Union, which links the economic and, to some extent, legal systems to its member states, were sown in France in 1950 with the suggestion that the steel and coal resources of the western European nations should be pooled. In 1957, the Treaty of Rome brought together France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg as the European Economic Community (E.E.C.), also known as the Common Market. The intent of the EEC was to remove trade and duty barriers, thereby improving the economic strength of the member nations in order to compete with the United States and Britain. Today there are 15 member states in the European Union with more Eastern European nations seeking admittance. Among the sweeping changes introduced by the European Union was the lifting of restrictions on the movement of goods, services, capital, and workers and tourists between member states. This meant that tourists - even non-European Union citizens - were able to cross between European Union countries without showing their passport.

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Europe's Travel Facts
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Custom regulations are relatively few when it comes to what you may take into a country. Please consult your travel agent or contact the country's embassy in New Your, NY or Washington, DC to obtain all the information you need for your destination.

Generally, the weather of eastern and central Europe resembles that of the New England states: freezing temperatures in winter, rising to mid-70's in summer. Areas bordering the Mediterranean and the Black Sea are warmer throughout the year. Most southern European countries have warmer weather than the latitude suggests. Summers are hot and dry; winters mild and rainy.

The electricity supply in most countries in Europe is incompatible with U.S. electrical appliances, which will be damaged. Some US stores sell electrical items for use overseas, but check the voltage requirements before you buy or ask for a transformer.

The primary document for US citizens who travel aboard is the US passport. Some countries require as much as six months' validity. Your spouse and young children cannot be included on your passport; each individual must have one. A visa is a stamp affixed to your passport by an official of the country you plan to visit, indicating that travel to that country has been approved. A Cruise Dealer agent can give you detailed information for each country you plan to visit.

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Europe- Emergencies
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Embassies and Consulates give advice and render assistance to their citizens in case of accident, serious illness or death. Consular agents may also be able to help in such matters as lost passports. In larger cities and capitals of Europe, US tourists can register at American embassies and, in certain other cities, American Consulates. It is particularly wise to register with the nearest American embassy or consulate of you are traveling to eastern Europe or if you are staying in any country for longer than one month.

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