Have a Good Spring/Summer! - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

rockstar · 05-01-2006, 12:27 AM

Hey CP'ers,

I've got me a 10pm flight to London (UK) tomorrow night, and thus begins my 3-month-cross-Euro-backpack-extravaganza. I just wanted to wish all of you a fantastic spring/summer, and hopefully a long playoff run as well (a win tomorrow night would help the cause)! My last Flames game of the year was a great one, a solid 3-2 Flames win. I wish I could see more, but hey, this is my year to go, and I have a feeling the Flames will be contenders for a while yet.

That reminds me, if anyone knows of any places to watch hockey in Dublin, I'd sure appreciate it!

So, again, happy Playoff Season! Cheers to everyone on this site, you guys & gals rock. I'll be reading for updates on how my Flames are doing, so make sure you're thorough in your posts! I'll also try to post updates myself about my trip from time to time.

Take care!

evan

JiriHrdina · 05-01-2006, 12:39 AM

Have a great (and safe) trip!

Jagger · 05-01-2006, 12:47 AM

Have a great time and travel safe and wisely.

I've been on a few European trips including a backpacking/train trip twice and enjoyed them tremendously.

Have fun!

Frank the Tank · 05-01-2006, 07:00 AM

I did the backpacking through Europe thing when I was younger and it was truly life-changing. Have a blast and soak up the culture.

peter12 · 05-01-2006, 09:26 AM

Have a good trip! See you in the fall.

J pold · 05-01-2006, 12:39 PM

Don't know when you will be there, But When I was in London I found a bar called the Maple Leaf (its pretty big over there or at least that’s what I was told by the locals) it has all the Canadian beer and gets the CBC so I'm sure you can watch some Hockey their

I-Hate-Hulse · 05-01-2006, 01:47 PM

The Maple Leaf is on a street just north of the Strand off of Chandos, near Covent Garden. Super easy to get to and find.

Sunday are Hockey Night's at the Maple Leaf. I have to say, I found the place more crammed with locals than ex-pats - not huge hockey crowd but a few people still did recognize the Flames shirt I had on there.

Have a great trip, it'll be life altering....!

Maritime Q-Scout · 05-01-2006, 02:29 PM

I have a friend over there now (left last Wednesday) and another that's heading there soon. Should be a fun time, I have yet to get the desire to packback through Europe, but I love the fact that people do.

If you run into any Cape Bretoners, tell them "Jon says hi"

STeeLy · 05-02-2006, 07:43 AM

Hey, have a fun trip and definitely a safe one!

Tell me how it goes, be nice too if you could provide any tips since I'm probably doing the same thing in several years.

rockstar · 05-22-2006, 06:33 AM

Well, short update for you's!

I hope the suicide rate isn't too high in Calgary. I hate to see the Oilers win, but more importantly, I hate to see the Flames lose.

Spent the last 3 weeks in Dublin. I stayed with family, so 1) I had a great time, and 2) I hardly paid for anything! Talk about good living conditions.

anyway, after much partying, and more drinking than I have ever done in my life, my friend and I have landed in Porto, Portugal. IT's tough not knowing the language, but I suppose you get used to it. Wuite a lovely little city this is. It's quite charming.

We leave tonight aboard a night train destined for Madrid. I can't wait, really. Our trip is now really getting started. It's a little scary, but itºs a hll of a good time!

I hope you're all doing well. I hear the weather back home is quite nice.

All the best. That's all for now!

See you soon, 4X4!

Take care,
evan

I-Hate-Hulse · 05-22-2006, 10:14 AM

You'll love Portugal, was just there in March. Cheap, and we found menus a heck of a lot easier to understand than in Spain. That and many spoke English, particularly the youths. Just don't speak spanish - they take it as an insult. Stay longer if you can in Portugal!

Oh, and on the Lisboa-Madrid Train, getting a 'doble preferente' gets you a sleeper cabin with no shower. Great way to wake up refeshed in Madrid the next morning, vs riding in 'turista'

Jagger · 05-22-2006, 11:22 AM

Madrid's a great city and the language barrier was not a problem for us at all. If you have time hop on over to Toledo, just outside Madrid which is well worth a visit. Also, in Barcelona if you are going there, make sure to visit Sagrada Familia, one of the most amazing buildings.

Where else are you visiting?

@theCBE · 05-22-2006, 12:05 PM

Madrid is awesome .. easily my favourite place in Spain. You should have a blast. I loved Spain wish I had more time there when I went and I really wanted to see Portugal.

Are you guys stopping Scotland at all?? I'm moving to Glasgow in the fall and was curious what its like out there.

Jagger · 05-23-2006, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by @theCBE

Are you guys stopping Scotland at all?? I'm moving to Glasgow in the fall and was curious what its like out there.

Scotland is awesome. I love it there. I've only really passed through Glasgow so can't say much about the city though. The football rivalry (Celtic and Rangers) is one of the best around!

Oban is one of my very favourite place in the UK to visit, along with the Isle of Skye. I'd go back there in a shot.

What is making you move to Scotland?