Matt D From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9502 posts, RR: 51 Posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1588 times:
Lately, I've been toying with the idea of planning a trip over to Europe. I've never been out of the United States, and at 30, I'm thinking it's high time that I do it at least once in my life, if for no other reason, just to say I've done it. Perhaps some day, I might get married and have a family, and then I won't be able to. So I figure why not plan for it now when I'm still single?
Problem is: I don't know where I'd want to go. I've thought about the UK/Scotland. I've seen video and pictures of the old craggy sod of Britian and the grey skies, rolling hills, cobblestone streets, and lantern lit old Taverns is something I'd really like to see. I'm not into that whole Louvre Museum or Eiffel Tower touristy thing. About the only thing "touristy" I'd be interested in doing would be to have access to familiar foods (such as ham and eggs or a roast beef sandwich) and maybe "score" in a local nightclub. Otherwise, I'd like to see the Old Country. Perhaps "window shopping" and smoking in Amsterdam might be cool. But all of that can be done in one afternoon. Then what?
I'm looking at possibly going a year or so from now, when I accrue vacation time at my new job and save up at least a few grand in disposable money.
SimpleMinded From Turkmenistan, joined Feb 2004, 77 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1581 times:
You should fly CO from EWR to CDG, then do around France, then take the overnight train to Zurich, then go around there, then go into Austria, Germany, Italy and fly home from CO / LIRF), Italy">FCO, it should take about 3 weeks, and damn is it FUN!!
Matt D From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9502 posts, RR: 51 Reply 2, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1577 times:
I forgot to mention I'll only have about 7-10 days to make my visit.
MYT332 From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 9112 posts, RR: 74 Reply 3, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1576 times:
Well if you come to the UK in summer it ain't grey or gloomy. Lots of people have misconception bout this place. Manchester alone has a larger population than NY.
Anyway London is a great place to see, lively and very buzzing. You could always fly upto Scotland for a few days or drive up from london and visit the lake district en route, lol. Thats quaint and old worldy, which is what you want? The whole island is only 400 odd miles long, you can drive that in a day!
Ben From Switzerland, joined Aug 1999, 1391 posts, RR: 52 Reply 4, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1574 times:
London is a must-see and a good place to be 'based' for seeing Europe.
Since you'll be able to travel on weekdays and at normally unsociable hours, the discount airlines will be good for doing some side trips.
Take your pick of any of the European capitals. Paris and Amsterdam spring to mind, but the choice is massive. There are always good deals to Spain and Scotland too.
I recommend getting a copy of 'Lonely Planet' for Europe and having a look through for anything that takes your fancy.
Matt D From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9502 posts, RR: 51 Reply 5, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1560 times:
One other thing, since I look so blatantly American, can I expect shall I say...less than hospitable treatment...what with anti-American sentiment permeating the globe?
It's one thing to be myself 'here', but I've always believed in the old adage of "When in Rome......." (Like when I was in New York during the World Series, I had to act interested in the Yankees lest I get stinkeye from the locals).
What are some of the customs and cultural differences I should expect?
KROC From United States of America, joined May 2000, 19737 posts, RR: 76 Reply 6, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1554 times:
(Like when I was in New York during the World Series, I had to act interested in the Yankees lest I get stinkeye from the locals).
YOU SELLOUT!!!!!!
No self-respecting individual will ever act like they are interested in the Yankees. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Yankee Fans striking eye is about as worry some as France's military.
*edited to make LHMark's blast like his package...invalid.
[Edited 2004-02-24 15:42:31]
"Never tell anybody outside the family what you're thinking again"
CPH-R From Denmark, joined May 2001, 5745 posts, RR: 4 Reply 7, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1551 times:
Matt,
unless you run around with a shirt saying "I (heart) President Bush" along with a huuge picture of him, I doubt you're going to get into trouble. The whole anti-US thing is pretty much overrated.
LHMark From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 7255 posts, RR: 51 Reply 8, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1550 times:
KROC, are you typing with your nose again?
"Sympathy is something that shouldn't be bestowed on the Yankees. Apparently it angers them." - Bob Feller
Matt D From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9502 posts, RR: 51 Reply 9, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1549 times:
KROC From United States of America, joined May 2000, 19737 posts, RR: 76 Reply 10, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1547 times:
LHMark, are you typing with Singapore_Air's personality again?
"Never tell anybody outside the family what you're thinking again"
Matt D From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9502 posts, RR: 51 Reply 11, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1546 times:
hey just because I acted interested in the Yankess doesn't mean I WAS interested in the Yankees!
KROC From United States of America, joined May 2000, 19737 posts, RR: 76 Reply 12, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1543 times:
Doesn't matter matt D. You have let down the Powers with this obvious betrayal. This is equal to when 777236ER decided to join the rest of his countrymen and lose his sense of humor.
"Never tell anybody outside the family what you're thinking again"
CHRISBA777ER From UK - England, joined Mar 2001, 5964 posts, RR: 63 Reply 13, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1543 times:
London is the place to be mate.
Other great places to see under the "unmissable" heading would be:
Portsmouth (great cuty, lots to see, lovely friendly women)
Plymouth (as above, but cheaper and the women are easier but harder to understand)
Glasgow - (as above but extreme on the women front)
Birmingham (only for the clubs)
Manchester
Dont bother with the overrated stuff:
Oxford
Cambridge
Liverpool
Edinburgh
Rest of Europe.
What do you mean you dont have any bourbon? Do you know how far it is to Houston? What kind of airline is this???
LHMark From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 7255 posts, RR: 51 Reply 14, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1538 times:
I am an elf-respecint individual. Gimme my Keebler Fudge Stripes!
Signed, KROC
"Sympathy is something that shouldn't be bestowed on the Yankees. Apparently it angers them." - Bob Feller
Matt D From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9502 posts, RR: 51 Reply 15, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1538 times:
I can only pray that this abominable act doesn't get me booted from the Shaft comittee.
Can I plead ignorance?
KROC: Just remember these famous words, as spoken by Antonio Luigi Gadje (or whatever the f*** his name was):
KLM777 From Netherlands, joined Dec 2003, 372 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1538 times:
The thing that disgust a lot of European's including me is seeing Asian people walking around with a book like "Europe in ten days". If you plan to see Europe, you should go more than two or three weeks. Therefor I like your attitude towards the "touristy thing".
If you want to go to the UK you'd best make it your first destination, from there on you can fly Easyjet to most destinations in the European mainland. I've never been to the UK so I can't tell you about that.
My suggestion is you fly to Amsterdam after that (since I guess you want to see it as most Americans do, I don't understand why because I hate Amsterdam). You can spend a few days there and if you're interested you can also take a tour through the biggest harbour in the world, Rotterdam. If you visit Amsterdam or Rotterdam I'll buy you a beer.
After the Netherlands you can fly Easyjet to Geneva and visit the beautiful country of Switzerland for about a week. You can stay in some nice "zimmer frei" pension in the mountains for not too much money there and explore the beautiful scenery. To add a little bit of sunshine to your holiday you can take another Easyjet flight to Barcelona from Geneva.
Another suggestion from Amsterdam is to take the high speed Thalys train to Paris, cause Paris is a must, after that you can visit Switzerland.
Instead of Barcelona as a sunny destination you can also go to Italy. Rome, Florance, Venice and more are very nice cities (although huge tourist attractions) and the beaches in Italy are a nice place to rest after a lot of travel.
In general, I would like to say don't pass Switzerland!
KROC From United States of America, joined May 2000, 19737 posts, RR: 76 Reply 17, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1529 times:
Say Matt, never before has reading a post frozen me with fear!!! Oh the humanity of that encounter. Just thinking about that has me shaking worse than AA61hvy around girls.
"Never tell anybody outside the family what you're thinking again"
LHMark From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 7255 posts, RR: 51 Reply 18, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1528 times:
Me and some buddies are going to Amsterdam and Berlin on August 26. If you're in town, I'll buy you an Amstel.
"Sympathy is something that shouldn't be bestowed on the Yankees. Apparently it angers them." - Bob Feller
Klaus From Germany, joined Jul 2001, 20848 posts, RR: 55 Reply 19, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1526 times:
Matt D: One other thing, since I look so blatantly American, can I expect shall I say...less than hospitable treatment...what with anti-American sentiment permeating the globe?
There is indeed a global anti-Bush sentiment, but definitely no anti-american sentiment. Nobody will harrass you for being american. Aggressive promotion of the Bush agenda might result in a heated debate or two, but that´s it.
Don´t worry, we may be evil europeans, but we´re not that bad! You´re welcome!
CHRISBA777ER From UK - England, joined Mar 2001, 5964 posts, RR: 63 Reply 21, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 1511 times:
Guess i should offer you a british beer then....
Carling?
Yeah, better go to Germany geezer.
CM
What do you mean you dont have any bourbon? Do you know how far it is to Houston? What kind of airline is this???
PHX-LJU From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 22, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 1494 times:
Some of my ideas from the "Best Places to Live in Europe" thread are also great places to visit, but remember that this is only a partial list of the many places I love:
Alentejo, Portugal: Photo: portugal-info.net
_________________
Amsterdam, the Netherlands:
Arsenal@LHR From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2001, 7791 posts, RR: 23 Reply 23, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 1477 times:
If you come in the summer, London is the place to be, the weather is great, people are out and about, it's lively it's colourful, it's hard to get bored (not that you will in 7-10 days).
One other thing, since I look so blatantly American, can I expect shall I say...less than hospitable treatment...what with anti-American sentiment permeating the globe?
In a cosmopolitan place like London, nobody can recognise your nationality until they hear your accent, when people realise you're American, they're more likely to go out of their way to entertain you.
KEESJE From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 24, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 1469 times:
Matt, Paris, London, Amsterdam, all great.
However having only 7 days I would go to the roots,
probably the oldest & culturally richest town in the world : Rome
I would buy a good guide & study it before you leave, makes a trip much more interesting & relaxed ..
25 Sabena332: I would recommend the UK, especially London, if you want to get rid of tons of money in very short time, this country is incredible expensive. My favo
26 Matt D: Thanks for the suggestions. Like I said, it won't be for at least a year. Once I'm ready to book, I'll ask for more help. I just want to get some idea
27 PHX-LJU: Oh, yeah, London is definitely one of the places that should also be on my list above.
28 Doug_or: Check out a rick steves guide from a local library. If you want to see Europe beyond the Eifel tower and buckingham palace its pretty good. oh hell, y
29 707cMf: The Alps (France, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Slovenia, Italy): If I might amend that : it is actually France, Elbonia Austria, Swit
30 MYT332: PHX-LJU, whats this all about? You like sheep?
31 EGGD: Manchester alone has a larger population than NY. lol, funniest thing i've heard today.. What have you been smoking coz I want some of it
32 Banco: Yes, EGGD, that bit had me wondering as well. Even if you take the full conurbation of Manchester into account, the population can't be more than a co
33 Jcs17: Cardiff, Wales What could be more fun than sheep? According to KROC, nothing. Chernobyl, Ukraine Lots of inexpensive lodging! Brussels, Belguim Let us
35 NoUFO: The first post by JCS I enjoyed. If you have only ten days, I would suggest not to visit more than three cities: London, Paris, Rome. And if you'd lik
36 PHX-LJU: Considering your hobby, Matt, there is a museum in Rottenburg, Germany, that you may want to visit: http://www.rolaa.de/sehensw/radio/tonband/tape1/ta
37 Lfutia: Go to A'dam (Amsterdam) legal pot and prostitution -- the best of da dutch oh and their gouda cheese and dont forget -- KLM!
38 Cytz_pilot: Anywhere in the UK...here are some photos of mine that I took during my 8 months there in 2003. Wales: London: Northern Ireland: http://webhome.idirec
39 747-451: Try: Anyplace in the UK. My favorite place in Europe and one of the places I really feel at home in. Spain; Madrid, Barcelona and Granada are beautifu
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