Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted January 14, 2006 I know there's quite a few Europeans on this board; mostly from the UK, I suppose. Where else in Europe have you been? Do a travelogue thing for me, here, since all the guides and shit one can gather tells you all the same crap. The locals are the true source of info. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sideburnious 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2006 I posted this over at the "other board" so I'll rehash it here. I've been to several European countries so I'll give you a run down of the ones i've been to. Ireland: It depends on what you want to see. In the west of Ireland (biggest city out there is Galway) is where alot of tourists go to find out their heritage, see all the tourist sites and all the green fields etc. If your interested in it, you'l enjoy it. The east of Ireland go to Dublin. It's the best city in Ireland, but if you live in a city like New York etc it's nothing big. Again a little bit of culture and sights to see but most people tend to go there to get pissed etc (see Temple Bar). England: I haven't been to alot of England but i'm guessing you'd majorly be around London, or if a Beatles fan, Manchester. London's a huge city, plenty to do etc. It's been a few years since i've been there (2000) but there is still lots to see, and i'll probably go back again soon as I have a friend living over there. *Just a warning though, Ireland and England are pretty expensive, not just to currency conversions. Even for food or other commoditys.* Mainland Europe Germany: Great country, plenty to do, great culture etc. I was mainly in Bonn, but I had a friend who was in Berlin and they said the same. Prices are pretty resonable. If I had to pick another European country to live in outside of England/Ireland, it would be Germany. My only problem is I didn't speak any german. (I'm definatly moving back to America though) Holland. The dutch countryside is pretty beautiful but most people would just focus on Amsterdam for getting high etc. People have already commented on it alot so I wont bother. i'd just like to say the whores are like fashion models, incase the point hadn't been stressed enough. It took a few moments to get it wrapped around my head that these weren't high end strippers but actualy whores. Cheap enough whores according to a friend of mine: about €50-100. I guess it depends if you haggle. Belgium: Nice country, I didn't see much/enough of it though as I was there mainly for a music festival "Rock Werchter". If anyone actually plans on going in the summer and has about 4 days to spare i'd recommend attending. Great facilities, laid back people and a great environment all round. *I guess it would be worth pointing out that the further north you go (some of germany) but particularly Holland and belguim, almost every body speaks fluent English, German and French. Kind of makes you jealous about how shitty the school systems are. Well, makes me feel shitty anyway* Spain: I was only around the touristy areas but they are alright. If you like English/Irish hooligans screaming "get your tits out for the lads" and then vomiting all over the place while all the other European tourists look on shocked it could be the holiday for you. Around the Barcelona area there are plenty of sights to see there. If your an Art fan there's the Salvador Dali museum near by. Mainly people go for the beaches etc and they are pretty decent. If you're looking mor for a cultural side i'd say head more inland. I once spent a week in a spanish village that pretty much hadnt had any tourists before. Nice people, but couldnt wrap their heads around me being a vegitarian. Yet again I was a social outcast. Living standards around the touristy areas are alright, I guess the same for Portugal (but ive never been so I'm just going to play the Irish/Scottish, American/Canadian : whats the diff? strategy). They are still considered second class countries as far as I know so the more you travel away from these areas, the less comfortable they become Italy: Was only in Rome but it's a beautiful city. Plenty of sights to see. You'd often walk down a side alley and come across a giant renaissance fountain. Around the vatican the city appears a little delapidated but the further you travel to the fashion centres, the better the city looks. There's not much more to say outside of beautiful City with many sights and nice clothes/food. Again with the other mainland European cities, prices aren't too bad. France: Never been, dont really want to. Friends say its class (Paris etc) I dont really care. *Just a warning though, alot of mainland Europe is supposed to be slightly racist. It mightent depend to you but just incase it took anyone by surprise* Turkey: Not quite Europe but I guess it technically is a member of the E.U now (is it?). You can't use Euro's here but it doesnt really matter as you can change euro's/dollars in alot of places and you get shitloads of money when you do (well when I was there in 2002, I got something like 2million turkish lire for a euro, which by the second week had gone up to 3million turkish lire for a euro). I was only in the touristy areas and I wouldnt want to be in many of the other areas. again, great weather, excellent prices for meals etc, some historical sites (the area I was near was near the roman city Ephisus (sp?) and that was great. On hot days it can be hell though. Alot of American's will probably be put off traveling since the war etc (and for example, at the airport you had to buy a visa pass for 3 months, for the rest of the people I was with [who are Irish] they only had to pay like €6 for this visa, while me with my american passport had to pay something like $63 [which had changed, in a letter <written in turkish> which I guess said that the price for a visa had been changed from about $48 to $63] I wouldn't know how much it would be since the war has taken place or how hostile it will be. I guess having an Irish accent let me blend in with the other Irish tourists anyway. Well, thats all I'm writing/ I can think of. I hope it helps someone anyway. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Decemberists 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2006 England: I haven't been to alot of England but i'm guessing you'd majorly be around London, or if a Beatles fan, Manchester. What? The Beatles were from Liverpool, about 40 miles away from Manchester. Very different places... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Renegade 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2006 UK, Italy, France and Spain. Not been nor would I want to go to any other Euro countries. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mystery Eskimo 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2006 Prague is a great city to visit if you like tall, slim statuesque blondes and cheap vodka. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sideburnious 0 Report post Posted January 16, 2006 England: I haven't been to alot of England but i'm guessing you'd majorly be around London, or if a Beatles fan, Manchester. What? The Beatles were from Liverpool, about 40 miles away from Manchester. Very different places... Whoopsey-doodle (how the fuck did I make that mistake). Em, yeah if you like Oasis or The Smiths or the Happy Mondays... or the Stone Roses go to Manchester. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alro 0 Report post Posted January 16, 2006 Paris is one of the dirtiest cities I've ever been to. I have absolutely no desire to ever go back there. London was OK. I really like Edinburgh, Scotland. Beautiful city. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hank Kingsley 0 Report post Posted January 16, 2006 I'm going to Ireland for 9 days over Spring Break with some of my best friends. 40 degrees and raining, I can't wait. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Baron 0 Report post Posted January 16, 2006 I'd like to go to Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Greece and Scotland in the near future. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob_barron 0 Report post Posted January 16, 2006 I've been to England, France, Hungary, Switzerland, Italy, Slovakia, Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Tom 0 Report post Posted January 16, 2006 Italy: I spent most of my time in Rome. I thought it was a very dirty city (trash all over the place, etc), but there are about infinite interesting things to go and see. The people are generally laid-back and cool, even if you don't speak the language (many people I encountered in Rome spoke at least passable English). I also went to Pisa, which is basically notable for the Leaning Tower, which they don't let tourists go into anymore for fear that it'll sink more or fall over. France: Apart from the commute to England, I spent all my time in Paris. The problem with Paris is the Parisians. Most of them are just assholes. It really is a true stereotype. You'll meet some good eggs occasionally, but they're in the minority (probably moreso now than when I went). Loose French women in discotheques are good times, though. England: It rains a lot. Another true stereotype. And another: English food sucks. You're better off eating in small pubs than big restaurants, in my experience. There are a ton of things to do in London, so I'm sure you'll find no shortage of entertainment. The people are generally cool, though the older folks tend to be very proper in that British way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Mandarin 0 Report post Posted January 17, 2006 Florida was very nice when I went. Except for the hostage-taking and eventual police shooting that caused problems driving out of my visit to Epcot, but still. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
