Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
• Scandinavians number their weeks. Instead of saying, “Spring break is the
third week in March,” they'd say, “Spring break is week 12.”
• On escalators and moving sidewalks, Europeans keep the left “lane” open
for passing. Keep to the right.
A kilogram is 2.2 pounds, and l liter is about a quart, or almost four to a gal-
lon. A kilometer is six-tenths of a mile. I figure kilometers to miles by cutting
them in half and adding back 10 percent of the original (120 km: 60 + 12 =
72 miles, 300 km: 150 + 30 = 180 miles).
1 foot = 0.3 meter
1 yard = 0.9 meter
1 mile = 1.6 kilometers
1 centimeter = 0.4 inch
1 meter = 39.4 inches
1 kilometer = 0.62 mile
1 square yard = 0.8 square meter
1 square mile = 2.6 square kilometers
1 ounce = 28 grams
1 quart = 0.95 liter
1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds
32°F = 0°C
When shopping for clothing, use these US-to-European comparisons as gen-
eral guidelines (but note that no conversion is perfect).
• Women's dresses and blouses: Add 30 (US size 10 = European size 40)
• Men's suits and jackets: Add 10 (US size 40 regular = European size 50)
• Men's shirts: Multiply by 2 and add about 8 (US size 15 collar = European
size 38)
