Many travelers have rituals they do ASAP when arriving in a certain country.

Here's mine, it'll be fun to learn what are yours?

ITALY
Kosher or not, i immediately head for a cappuccino - even in the afternoon when it's supposedly not cool to drink it - it's not just the cappuccino but watching it being prepared in the steam machine. Then comes a slice of pizza from those great piazza shops - being reminded once again of what an etto is.

BELGIUM
i beeline for the nearest cafe, usually in the Gare du Midi in Brussels and am delighted to be able to ask for a 'Pils please,' and sip one or two of the famous Belgian pils beers, before tracking down the nearest Frites Stand to cop a paper cone full of the world's best french fries - slathered with that sweet Belgian mayonnaise

GERMANY
I begin salivating Pavlov-dog style when my train approaches my destination station to cop a Wurst - on a small paper plate with the ubiquitous piece of bread and dollops of mustard. In winter it's a Wurst first then a hot glass of Glughwein (sp?)

FRANCE
an espresso at the nearest cafe served in an amazingly small cup, which, in the French style,i make sugary sweet, to sip and wash down a fresh croissant (au beurre, or butter, of course and not au naturel, sans butter) - then for 'dessert' a pain au chocolate!

SWITZERLAND
It's off to the nearest candy stand for some of that Swiss cow-fed Milk Chocolate.

HOLLAND
I often land here at Schiphol and immediately head to Schiphol Plaza, to outdoor tables and drink the first of too many Heinekens during my trip - doesn't matter the time of day - then once in town a FEBO or Broodje stand for more Frites and a Bami or Nasi to boot (after a trip to a coffeehouse perhaps) - followed by a visit to the Flying Dutchman pub for another 'Pils please'

AUSTRIA
It's pastries here - anything filled with poppy seeds, redolent of my Czech mother's baking, as soon as possible.

U.K.
I often transit thru Heathrow and during the layover head to Boots for a supply of Aspirin/Tylenol with codeine - for my occasionally ailing knees, potential sore throats, etc. Then it's a 'cup of tea please' - the di rigeueur British breakfast question 'Tea or coffee' begins on my BA flight but i need a real tea right after arrival.

DENMARK
It's always Copenhagen and i make a mad dash to Christiana to see if the place is still there!

What's you First Thing Delights?

cofffeeeeee!!!!

Hi, when I first land in Italy I want a double espresso! Than a long hot shower and then a glass of Italian wine. After that all is well with the world!!

Anywhere in Europe, I first head for the grocery store to purchase supplies for the apartment for a couple of days. Then I unpack, have glass of wine and some cheese on the terrace, and head out the door to explore my newest neighborhood.

In Europe, get into the Apartment & get settled, head out to search my new neighborhood & find some lunch. (Drinks required)

Cold white wine & take a shower. Unpack. Go out for a walk. Have more wine.

(my ritual does not change with the destination)

Put on make up when I land at the airport. All I want is a hot shower or bath. Unpack. Then, refreshed, head out till everything is a blur. Last trip we came back around 4 and took a nap every day -that seemed to help me function till a proper bedtime. I try not to drink coffee on the plane till morning and that is usually pretty bad - so I do pop into a cafe for coffee and lunch. While waiting for my room to be ready in London at the Aldwych Waldorf, I had coffee in the lobby lounge - very expensive coffee but elegantly presented with little cookies!

COFFEE!!!! In the airport, if necessary!! In England, I also head to Boots for the Tylonal with codeine and their store brand of lip balm, which I love.

In France, cafe creme and pastry!

Suze, my ritual does not change with my destination either. As soon as I check in, I leave my luggage to unpack later and hit the sidewalk for a looooong walk. After being on the plane for at least 8 hours and the train(s) for probably 3 or 4 more hours, I really need a long walk to stretch my legs. I also like to get acquainted with the area where I'm staying.

Quick shower to get rid of airline scum (dirt and yucky feeling, not the person who reclines fully in front of me for 13 hours), food (since I can only eat so many pretzels on a flight) and, of course, wine.

London: dump the bags in a flat & go buy myself a huge bouquet of flowers after getting some stuff for snacks.

Pay a visit to airport toilets.

P

For all destinations:
Search for luggage, search for transportation to hotel, search for hotel, check in, drop luggage off in room, lie on bed for a few seconds, freshen up, venture out, forage.

After leaving luggage at the hotel, go to park or garden for a long walk; if in Spain or Italy, go to bar for a double order of fresh-squeezed organge (blood orange preferable) juice first, then a long walk.

I am perhaps the most prosaic of all. The first thing I do is find an ATM.

These are great!
So far I am a creature of habit, I do the same thing wherever we go...
Unpack, freshen up, head out for coffee and a bite to eat. Explore the neighborhood until I start to become incoherent then to the room for a nap ....
Next week I will do this in Buenos Aires ~

As with most Fodorites, my ritual never change as well... first thing is find a cab, check into a nice comfy hotel, unpack, take a shower and send my travel clothes to laundry.

After the obvious (getting to the hotel and taking a well-needed shower!) I love to just roam the streets...and pitch myself to believe that I am really there!

Suze,
Have a great trip and let us on the Europe board know how it compares to places you've been in Europe.

artlover, I'm not going anywhere
must mean someone else? -Suze