HOW TO PLUG-IN WITHOUT A MELTDOWN: ELECTRICAL ADAPTERS & CONVERTERS

When traveling outside the United States it is very likely you’ll encounter different electrical plugs, outlets and voltages than here at home. That’s because most of the world uses an electrical system that requires twice as much voltage as we do in the United States. Years ago, the only travel concern, relating to electricity, was how to plug in a blow dryer or curling iron without causing a meltdown. But not today, just think of all the gadgets we have: mobile phones, mp3 players, laptop computers, tablet computers, video cameras, digital cameras, and more. With all these electronic gadgets, it would seem that traveling with electronics is complicated.  It’s not that difficult… here are my hints and suggestions.

YOU’VE GOT TO PLUG IT IN

No matter what the gadget, you’ve got to plug it into something.  In the USA, that would be a socket in the wall like the one pictured below.

Typical wall socket in the USA

Logically, anywhere there is electricity, we expect to find some sort of socket in which to plug our stuff. However, the design of the socket is not universal!  Practically, every country has its own modification of the basic design.

Typical continental Europe wall socket

If traveling to continental Europe, notice how this socket is recessed/inset about one inch.  It is important to purchase an adapter like the one pictured below so it will fit inside the recessed hole.

Continental Europe ADAPTER PLUG

If traveling to the UK or Ireland, notice how their outlets have toggle switches. The outlet will not have power until the toggle switch is turned on. This is usually indicated by a red signal on the top of the switch.  However, if you find your appliance is not working, and there is no red indicator, consider toggling the switch and try again.

UK and IRELAND wall socket with switches

VOLTAGE MATTERS

Originally, electricity was used for lighting, and depending on the country, the best suited material for the wiring differed according to what was readily available. The United States agreed on a standard of about 110 volts AC.  Meanwhile, in Europe, they agreed on a standard of around 220 volts AC.

Originally, appliances designed in Europe would work only in Europe.  Those designed in the USA, only worked in the USA. You could not “mix” voltage.  That’s why the sockets and plugs differ.  You’ve heard the saying, “you can’t put a square plug into a round hole?” So, this was an easy way to keep “dummies” from plugging in mismatched devices and melting down appliances when visiting countries other than their own.

Plug designed for use in the USA

Plug designed for use in the UK and Ireland

Plug designed for use in continental Europe

When traveling from one country to another became common, not having “common” standards of electricity became a problem.  Thus, the invention of the wall socket/plug ADAPTER and the VOLTAGE CONVERTER.  With these two gadgets, theoretically, anyone could travel from one country to the other and never have to worry about electrical problems with their gadgets.

Worldwide plug Adapters and Voltage Transformer

However, the best intended plans never seem to work all the time.  I recall traveling on several occasions when suddenly the lights would dim and go out in our hotel or B&B.  All too often, it was someone in my group trying to use their own USA hairdryer or flat iron, it overheating, and blowing a fuse or circuit.

If you bring a curling iron, flat iron, straightener, or hair dryer from home (USA), you will need to purchase an electrical power converter and wall socket adapters.  In theory, these electrical power converters step down the 240 volt power used in Europe to the 120 volts we use in the USA.  These devices work most of the time, however, using them in older buildings with antique wiring will sometimes cause a meltdown of your appliance or even “blow” a circuit or fuse in the building.

MODERN ELECTRONIC GADGETS

Practically every electronic gadget manufactured since 1990 is designed to operate on multiple voltages.  Mobile phones, computers, iPads, tablets, digital cameras, and camcorders will recognize and adapt to the voltage in which it is plugged… without damaging the gadget.  However, just to be sure, always look at the device’s power cord, power supply, or documentation for a statement similar to that shown below.

Notice - INPUT 100V-240V 50/60Hz

If your device falls into the category above (and it will if it is some sort of mobile electronic gadget or camera) all you need is an adapter to plug into the wall socket.  Here are examples for the UK and Continental Europe.

UK and IRELAND

Continental Europe

TWO RELATED ITEMS

Some blow dryers, curling irons, and straighteners are made to accept dual voltage.  These generally have a small dial on the handle which can be rotated to select the appropriate electrical voltage.  Often you can pick up this type of appliance at Walmart, Walgreens, Target or other retail outlets for $20 or less.

When traveling in the UK or Ireland it is common to find the blow dryer in a drawer in your hotel room, NOT in the bathroom.  Apparently, there is a building code that does not allow electronics or outlets in the bath area.

SUMMARY

The world does not operate on a standardized electrical system, each country has their own standards.  Consequently, our appliances and gadgets will not work outside the USA without some electrical modification.  For modern-day gadgets, you will need and electrical adapter that fits the wall socket for the country in which you will be traveling.  Occasionally you may need an electrical converter and adapter if you use a blow dryer, flat iron or curling iron from the USA.

If you found this article informative, please share it with your friends, family, coworkers and associates. If you have something to add, just leave a comment in the box below.

Do you want to learn more about traveling to Europe? There is a wealth of information and special discount pricing on my tours at my website. Visit now at http://davidmcguffin.com/.

David McGuffin is Founder and CEO of David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe, Inc., based in Middleburg, Florida. You can connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn and YouTube. David spends his time in Europe organizing and leading small group and independent tours to European destinations. In business since 2001, David has provided exceptional travel opportunities to several thousand satisfied customers. You can find out more about David and his European tours at his website, http://davidmcguffin.com.

ROME’S COLOSSEUM GETS A COLOSSAL CLEANING

 by David McGuffin

Before cleaning circa 2009

Construction on the Colosseum began in 70 A.D. and it took only ten years to completely finish the building project. It has held up pretty well over the last 2,000 years! With the fall of Rome, the Colosseum fell into disrepair and stood there derelict through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Only a third of the original Colosseum still stands today. Some of it was destroyed in earthquakes but most was deconstructed after the fall of Rome and used as stonework for newer buildings.

It was not until 1749, when Pope Benedict XIV declared it a religious site, that it again gained recognition and received some much needed repairs. The 20th century brought motorized traffic, air pollution and an onslaught of tourism which again attacked the structural integrity and appearance of the Colosseum. At the beginning of the new millennium it was evident that the Colosseum needed a serious sprucing up.

 Jumping through lots of hoops and cutting miles of red tape, the Italian government’s archaeological service finally began the Colosseum’s first-ever cleaning project in November 2013. Scaffolding began to enshroud segments of the ancient amphitheater and a thorough cleaning of the exterior was under way. Cleaning was a tedious task done solely by hand and without harsh chemicals or high pressure sprayers.

During cleaning in 2014

The process involved spraying a fine mist of water onto the porous stones to soften the 2,000 years of filth that had collected on the exterior. After a few hours the cleaning technicians would go to work with toothbrushes to scrub away the grime in the nooks and crannies. Larger brushes were used on the face of the huge stones. It was a tedious task but there was no other way to attack the problem and be sure the structural integrity would not be affected.

Travertine, a type of limestone, was used to build the Colosseum. It is a porous stone that, when newly quarried, is creamy white in color. With age the travertine takes on a light pink patina which protects the stone. Over the last 2,000 years the travertine had collected a thick black crust of soot, pollution and algae. With this cleaning the Colosseum once again glows with the characteristic pink patina.

Although this cleaning project was carried out by the Italian government, it was funded totally by private donations. Diego Della Valle, the founder and CEO of Tod’s, contributed 25 million euros to this project. Tod’s is a well-known Italian leather and fashion store. There is more in store for the Colosseum’s clean up. Next up is work on the foundation and basement area where the gladiators and animals were originally staged. Once that’s finished, the plan is to install a floor in the amphitheater just as it was in Roman Imperial times. Finally, a new visitor center and ticket area will be installed to accommodate the four-million tourists who visit each year.

Newly cleaned in June 2016

The Colosseum was constructed by the Emperor Vespasian (the first of several “Flavian” emperors) and was inaugurated in 80 A.D. as the Flavian Amphitheatre. The Romans were always seeking ways to take a Greek idea and put a new Roman twist on it. The Flavian Amphitheatre is no exception. In essence the Romans took the plans for a Classical Greek theatre and built two of them end to end, coming up with the design for a huge freestanding “amphi” theatre.

Nero, Emperor Vespasian’s predecessor, had constructed a lavish palace just over the hill, behind the modern-day metro station. The site where the Colosseum sits today was once a large man-made lake surrounded by porticos, balconies and grand walkways. This palace complex, known as the Domus Aurea (Golden House), contained a colossal 33-meter-tall (100 feet) bronze statue of Emperor Nero. After the Flavian Amphitheatre was constructed, Vespasian had Nero’s colossal statue placed out in front of his new colossal amphitheatre. The combination of the colossal statue of Nero and the colossal amphitheatre seemed to stick and the amphitheatre took on the nickname of the Colossal-seum, or Colosseum. Nero’s statue has perished, but you can see the site where

it once stood on the grassy area between the Colosseum and the wrought iron fence flanking the forum area.

The Romans were known as great builders and pioneered many construction techniques still in use today. One such idea was that of the “rounded arch” and concrete. Essentially, the Romans would construct a shell of bricks and mortar and then pour concrete in the void making for a super strong and sturdy structure. This concrete-filled shell was then covered with gleaming white travertine marble for a finishing touch of grandeur. The exterior of the Colosseum is loaded with potholes

in the walls. The huge stones flanking the exterior were originally held together with iron pegs, buried into the stone. When the Colosseum became a relic after the fall of Rome, its ready-cut stones were cannibalized for easy building material. When iron was at a shortage, the Colosseum’s iron pegs were chiseled out to make weapons for war, as well as hinges, railing, and the like.

The next phase of the restoration involves the interior foundation and flooring.

The exterior resembles our modern-day soccer and football stadiums. In Roman times, the citizens attending an event at the amphitheatre had a ticket noting their seating assignment and which doorway to enter to get to their seats. Even today, you can find “Roman numerals” etched above the rounded arched “doorways” on the ground level noting the doorway’s number. Just like our stadiums today, the wide walkways and stairs were designed to get people into and out of the amphitheatre very quickly. Inside, along the walkways, were a multitude of kiosks in which vendors would sell official team merchandise, bowls of spaghetti, pizza, hot dogs and beer.

To summarize, the Flavian Amphitheatre was constructed for the enjoyment and entertainment of the citizens of Rome. Admission was always free and events were often sponsored by politicians. The Colosseum opened in 80 A.D. with a 100-day festival of events in which 2,000 men and 9,000 animals were killed in one sort of competition or another. These events continued for almost 500 years. Then the Colosseum fell into disrepair and was neglected until the 1800s when the pope declared it a religious site. The last three centuries have seen some attempts as repairs but the rise of tourism and the evolution of air pollution has adversely impacted the structure. Now, a colossal cleaning has spruced up the Colosseum and it glows with a proud pink patina for all to enjoy.

If you found this article informative, please share it with your friends, family, coworkers and associates. If you have something to add, just leave a comment in the box below. 

Do you want to learn more about traveling in Europe? There is a wealth of information and special discount pricing on my tours at my website. Visit now at http://davidmcguffin.com/.

David McGuffin is Founder and CEO of David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe, Inc., based in Middleburg, Florida. You can connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn and YouTube. David spends his time in Europe organizing and leading small group and independent tours to European destinations. In business since 2001, David has provided exceptional travel opportunities to several thousand satisfied customers. You can find out more about David and his European tours at his website, http://davidmcguffin.com.