by Scott Leonard with Zoe Alexander
(Scott Leonard and his brother, David, at the summit of Mt. Rainer, were there played Sherpa to some climbers who should have never tried to summit. The genesis of Scott being a Sherpa.)
One of a Sherpa’s jobs deals with the logistics of moving all the “stuff” necessary for an expedition. In our family, that role falls to me, hence the term “Papa Sherpa.” We have traveled a lot as a family, ever since Griffin was 6 months old when we took a two-week surf vacation to a remote part of Mexico. Our boys have club membership on an airline and are already on their second passports. This experience inspired me to create my 5 Golden Rules of Travel for our family.
1) Never miss an opportunity to use the bathroom.
I know, sounds simple. Whenever we pick up a rental car with bathrooms nearby and I ask if anyone needs to use the restroom before we leave, I hear “No, were fine.” Then, ten minutes later when we’re on the road the kids chime in, “I have to use the bathroom!” You can imagine the conversation from there, “We were at a bathroom 10 minutes ago!” “I didn’t need to go then…” “Then you mustn’t need to go that bad, you can wait.” “No, I have to go really bad!” So, if we pass a bathroom, everyone goes, whether they have to or not.
2) If you like it, don’t ask what it is.
This rule, as with the rest, relates to food. If you have done any international travel with small children, you will embrace this one quickly. Keeping young kids fed while traveling can be very difficult. And nothing is more defeating than having the kids try something new, like it, but then discover what it is, and suddenly state that they can no longer eat it. There is a reason we don’t tour a sausage factory, or when visiting a farm, go to the slaughterhouse. If your child eats a food they like, encourage them to just be happy and eat it. And the next time your child asks you what they are eating, reply, “Chicken.”
3) Don’t fight the menu.
If there is a Chef’s Special, it is usually pretty good. So don’t try and redesign it because it’s been prepared a certain way for a reason; be open-minded and experiment. The locals know what is good and fresh. If you try and customize your order, it should be no surprise then -especially when language is an issue- that it never comes out right. Just point to the Chef’s Special and you’ll be fine.
4) Lime fixes many ills.
I learned this one traveling around Central and South America. Lime kills germs, which is why it was rubbed around the lip of beer. It also has a pretty distinctive flavor, which can mask many bad tastes. When the “Chef’s Special” (prepared by the mother of a local family that has invited you to dinner) is different than what you are used to, lime can really help. Order lime with your beer, and keep it around for dinner.
5) Bacon makes everything taste better.
I don’t think this needs any explanation. If it is on the menu, and it has bacon in the description, it trumps the Chef’s Special. Eat it.
