I will be leaving North America for the first time ever! I'm going on a 10 day tour of europe. It will be a guided tour, though there will be some free time too.

I'll be visiting Rome, Florence, Padova, Lucerne, Dijon, Paris and London.

I'm very excited since it will be a new experience to me and I am not 100% sure what to expect. Anyone visit these places and have some advice? I didn't expect a vacation but my mom decided to do it For sure I will bring my camera! I don't plan to bring any plants back, I've heard that orchids are expensive over there...

I have first blooming plants in bud/sheath too...hopefully they don't abort while I'm gone. Some pictures I just took of my plants tonight.
Paph Pinocchio

Paph Maudiae ‘Los Osos’ AM/AOS x Red Pepper

Paph Magic Lantern

Paph niveum

Phrag Albopurpureum might just open before I go...It never bloomed last year when I got it since the centre of the plant rotted for an unknown reason.

plus a bunch of reliable blooming phals have unopened buds

maybe I will get more sheaths since I'm packing my luggage

I won't really have a plant sitter, since my brother grows nothing in the house. He has no plant experience at all, and I'm thinking getting him to water will be akward. I think I am just going to make him refill the humidifier everyday, I hope that is enough. And to water the moisture loving phrags for sure.

I think I'm going to try to fit all my plants inside my closet by setting up another shop light and shelf, then there will be no direct sunlight to dry them out, and it will be a small humid area.

How about also sitting my collection in shallow water (just enough water to dry in 3 days, I have too many)? Maybe just get him to try to keep my soon to bloom plants from aborting, I'm thinking a watering halfway through the vacation on those 5 plants.

I don't want to overwhelm him since I have three fish tanks and a outdoor garden plus houseplants and my mom's orchids, none of them he was ever held responsible for.

Anyway what to do in Europe and any plant vaccation care suggestions?