fourfortravel

It's not just American tourists who carry those "honking" bottles of water. Here in Vienna there are "trinkwasser" fountains supplying alpine fresh water throughout the major tourist areas, and the queues to fill the 1,5 liter bottles resemble roll call at the UN.

kawh

i also need water, and am the master of getting it at restaurants when they are not keen on serving it. (i wave a handful of pills around. shhhhh don't tell.)

i have carried a mesh bag with water, when i can't fit it in my purse. i have also carried the collapsible kind (like a thick baggie with a top) which allows me to only carry it until it's smaller and can easily fit into my purse or pocket.

the mesh bags are hard to find now. they used to be sort of an l.a. trend 15 years ago. at the link below, they aren't for sale anymore, but it will give you an idea. with the mesh, you can also stuff it in a pocket when you are done with the bottle. hope this helps. here's the link.
http://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Mounta.../dp/B001OPK62C

justineparis

Carry a SMALL water bottle in your purse and refill it during the day , easy to do in Rome and Paris and I am sure it wouldn't be any harder in northern countries. Tap water is safe , and many cities have drinking water fountains.

I don't carry water around unless its very hot... I can survive an hour or two without it.. but some people have gotten used to it( you can't all be on medication that makes your mouths dry, lol )

Frankly all that water drinking will lead to another much harder issue to deal with,, finding bathrooms, lol good luck.

sparkchaser

<i>I think it's only American tourists who are carrying those honking big bottles of water. Not sure why they are so much thirstier than everyone else, but whenever I see someone with a huge bottle of water, it's definitely not a local and usually an American.</i>

We do it because it's a comfort mechanism (kinda like Linus's blanket) -- it reminds us of our giant drink containers that we fill with ice and pepsi and get free refills on. It reminds us of more civilized places where you don't get charged for rolls or water with your meals.

sparkchaser

<i>Weird. Carrying water used to be just for wilderness travel. This urban necessity is a genuine mass oddity. What might have caused it? More to the point, why are you all so thirsty? A liter or two a day? I don't drink even that much gin, much less water.</i>

We travelers can't be bothered to stop and buy an overpriced drink every time they're thirsty. We have 17 sites to see today and have a very strict itinerary. And stopping at a cafe for a beverage is not on the itinerary. Now, hurry up, the clock tower is going to start chiming in three minutes and I want to be there when it happens.

Leely2

My last European visit was this July/August, and it was H O T. Many, many people, tourists and "locals" alike (or anyway, Poles and Czechs visiting Polish and Czech sights) were carrying water around. I was very sorry I always forgot to do so. Did I mention it was hot???

It sounds like the size of your purse is the problem. Why not just carry a slightly larger bag and pack one of those aluminum-y looking water bottles? Much better for the environment than buying plastic bottles day after day.

hetismij2

I agree with leely2. Why not carry a slightly bigger bag which will hold a re-usable water bottle?
You can refill it from a tap, since tap water is very drinkable.
If you are unhappy with that idea buy big bottles of water and refill your re-usable bottle from those. Tap water is the most environmentally friendly option. If you buy plastic bottles make sure you put them in the correct recycling bin.

sparkchaser

Yeah, July/Aug was crazy hot. Lots of water and ice cream were the orders of the day.

harriet_hughes

My sister gave me a couple of collapsible water bottles with clips on the top. Great to have since they pack flat;just fill when needed. I also use only a small shoulder bag when traveling, so I clip the bottle to the purse strap. Easy! Not sure where she got them.Check on-line camping/hiking stores like REI.

seetheworld

Some of you who mock people who carry water should have a kidney stone or two. You'd shut up pretty quickly.

sparkchaser

Nobody is mocking anyone for wanting to stay hydrated. The mockery is for self-conscious people looking to stay hydrated and blend in. Nobody cares that you're carrying around a 500mL or 300mL bottle of water.

Snowflake25

DH and I always carry a small day pack, even when we are out for a couple hours. It holds the camera, umbrella, hat for DH, a sweater or rain jacket and reusable water bottles. If you are self-conscious about carrying a water bottle or want your hands free then just use the day pack, you will see lots of people everywhere with them!!

michele_d

<We travelers can't be bothered to stop and buy an overpriced drink every time they're thirsty. We have 17 sites to see today and have a very strict itinerary. And stopping at a cafe for a beverage is not on the itinerary. Now, hurry up, the clock tower is going to start chiming in three minutes and I want to be there when it happens.>

sparkchaser...That is pretty darn close to the truth. I don't want to have to find a restaurant or market every time I am thirsty, and I especially don't want to have to pay for water. I have a budget to stick to after all!

Think of how many more days I can travel, how many more sites I can visit, how many more souvenirs I can purchase because I didn't have to purchase those extra couple drinks everyday!

justineparis

I love it when people throw stuff out like diabetes and kidney stones. Had both,, still manage to live my life with only carrying a small bottle of water that is refilled in my purse. don't need to be a camel and carry a days supply .

justineparis

PS A kidney stone is worse then back labour , in transition, with no break between contractions... worst pain ever, lol So yes, I understand one never wants to experience that twice!

seetheworld

Did I mention a days supply?

No.

Some of you need to figure out what 500 ml really is lol.

sparkchaser

Carry one of those canvas/cotton grocery bags everyone in Europe carries and stick your water in there. Problem solved AND you're doing it how the locals do it when they do it.

nytraveler

Agree about kidney stones - but general health advice is that everyone should stay hydrated - unless there is a specific reason to avoid water.

And it's nothing to do with not wanting to stop.

We always stop for lunch in a cafe or similar and usually stop in late afternoon for a drink (not water) and cafe sitting/people watching. But I don't want to stop 5 or 6 times because I feel like a drink. (And, in my office, when people come to a meeting almost all bring their water bottles - or other beverage of choice - smartwater, fruit water, etc - with them.)

Nikki

I spent the first half of my life thirsty much of the time. I remember many occasions when I had to find a place for a drink and it wasn't so easy. Then I figured out that I could carry around a bottle of fizzy water and my life has vastly improved.

I always carry a purse large enough for a bottle of fizzy water. And it's frequently a full liter bottle. I'm a heavy drinker.

I get an itch in my throat and start coughing, and it is at that moment that I want to feel that fizzy water in the back of the throat and stop it. I am relieved that I don't have look for a place to stop, sit down, and order it whenever I get that feeling.

This has nothing to do with style or cultural trends and everything to do with comfort and convenience.

Christina

I do usually carry some water with me with I am a tourist and out and about all day, but I like smaller bottles, about 33 cl are usually the smallest you can buy. I just have a tote bag and some pockets in it, it's not hard to carry that around. I don't actually find 50 cl (or 500 ml) that big a burden, though. It wouldn't fit in my handbag, though.

It is true that I don't typically carry water around with me as a local, even when I go out for the day to visit or museum or something. I think that's because when I'm at home, I may do some activity like that, but usually only for a couple hours, I'm not gone all day.

I don't think you need a 50 cl bottle if you are only gone an hour or two for a stroll, it's easy to buy 33 cl water bottles.