3 Weeks in Europe

[Skate around the circle]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

That's why you go on pub crawls/stay at hostels and meet people. I would just chill in my hostel at night until a group wanted to go out and then I'd tag along. Always had a blast.

Exactly! I did 10 countries in 2 months staying at youth hostels along the way.We had to be out be out by 9 each morning and they did not open until late afternoon,no chance of sleeping off the night before! Met some terrific people along the way and had quite the adventure . Huge difference between a traveller and a tourist. I will always remember a sign in Dover that read A country that does not preserve its past deserve's no future. This was posted at a bombed out WW2 location.

[FurnaceFace]

Well the thread degenerated but a couple of suggestions from what I read in the first 90 or so posts.

General stuff:
- Pay attention to museum closures, they can really screw up your schedule.
- As others have said, less places is sometimes better. I did the whirlwind 1 month Eurail pass thing back in my youth and while I got to tick a number of places off my list, I didn't see them in a lot of depth. However, I got to see a bunch and learn which countries I'd like and could go back to see again in more depth.
- If you're looking for Paris suggestions, send a PM. Mrs. Furnace was born there so we go frequently to see family. I've been a half dozen times and have seen lots of the city. I likely have as much to say about it as 4x4 does about Rome. (4x4 is a must PM if you're thinking of going there).

Regarding the decision to go to Italy, if you don't have a number of days for Rome, from everything I've read, don't go. We're going to Italy in September and from all the info 4x4 gave me 5 days in Rome would be a piece of cake. If you need to hit Italy then perhaps Florence is a better option as it's a smaller centre. You get the architecture and churches, miss out on the Roman ruins, but it's more doable in a couple of days - especially if you're not into art. It would also be easy to get from the French Mediterranean to Florence on the train. Might even be able to hit a night train. The other option is Venice since it might be "romantic" for dj girlfriend.

[flamingreen]

Originally Posted by dj_patm

London:
Arrive: Relax walk around and get settled. Maybe shop if we arrive in the morning.
Next day: Check out Parliament, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, The Eye or whatever its called and The cathedral where Sir Isaac Newton is intombed. All of which appears to be within the same area, then walk around some more and more window shopping for the gf. (Would love to check out the bunkers from WW2 but don't think we'd have time)
Departure day: off to Paris!

Paris:
Arrive: Walk around, check out the city, get settled
Day One: Eiffel Tower, Arc d' Triumph, more window shopping, More Eiffel
Day Two: Louvre, Notre Dame, walk around more, relax at bars, hang out.
Departure day: Nice at 6am!

Nice:
Arrive: early morning, drop stuff of at hotel, straight to the beach... Beach all day.
Departure: Wake up early, take train to Monaco, look at yhats, cars, head back, depart to Rome at around midnight.

Rome:
Arrive: Straight to bed. Wake up, Hit up the Vatican, Bust over to the Coliseaum. Walk around
Depart: Poland.

I hit these places up last year at the same time as you are thinking of going. I have to say the itineraries for the places you are visiting is pretty ambitious. Budget for standing in lines. For example, the London Eye at that time of year is a 2-3hr wait. Vatican is a day in itself, so is the Coliseum (and surrounding area).

I stayed in Nice for 5 days and it was the best part of my trip. If you only have two days there, skip the Nice beach, unless you like laying right on top of other strangers on hard ass rocks. Instead, train it over to Cannes (10 mins) and pay 5 Euros and lounge on a nice, non crowded, sandy beach. Monaco is best done at night, if you get there 2 hours before sunset you will be able to see some of the nicer cars as they park infront of the casino before going to dinner, plus that area is gorgeous during a sunset.

Not sure what your accommodation will be like in Paris but I would recommend renting an apartment, better bang for your buck, especially if you can find one in the Bastille area. Very trendy part of Paris with shops, restaurants, coffee houses, etc. Plus you can hit all the major sites from the Bastille metro station without having to transfer.

Just my two cents.

[jjbouma]

Man sure looks like this thread went off the rocker... shouldn't have let you hijack the thread to begin with!

[dj_patm]

Hahaha my bad man. I was going to post a thread on my own but this one was posted moments earlier...

[Hi-Psi]

Originally Posted by dj_patm

Anyways. I couldn't stay in a hostel though. I need my own room.
I'll save the partying for Poland with my cousins and stuff...

Have you never heard of a private room in a hostel?

I'm telling you, it's stupid to pay for a hotel in Europe. They're waaaay too overpriced and they're boring as hell. You can book a private room in a hostel, have your privacy and still get to meet people and go out at night and have some fun.

[Aeneas]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

Well the thread degenerated but a couple of suggestions from what I read in the first 90 or so posts.

General stuff:
- Pay attention to museum closures, they can really screw up your schedule.
- As others have said, less places is sometimes better. I did the whirlwind 1 month Eurail pass thing back in my youth and while I got to tick a number of places off my list, I didn't see them in a lot of depth. However, I got to see a bunch and learn which countries I'd like and could go back to see again in more depth.
- If you're looking for Paris suggestions, send a PM. Mrs. Furnace was born there so we go frequently to see family. I've been a half dozen times and have seen lots of the city. I likely have as much to say about it as 4x4 does about Rome. (4x4 is a must PM if you're thinking of going there).

Regarding the decision to go to Italy, if you don't have a number of days for Rome, from everything I've read, don't go. We're going to Italy in September and from all the info 4x4 gave me 5 days in Rome would be a piece of cake. If you need to hit Italy then perhaps Florence is a better option as it's a smaller centre. You get the architecture and churches, miss out on the Roman ruins, but it's more doable in a couple of days - especially if you're not into art. It would also be easy to get from the French Mediterranean to Florence on the train. Might even be able to hit a night train. The other option is Venice since it might be "romantic" for dj girlfriend.

Not necessarily. There are Roman ruins just up the hill from Florence in Fiesole. Also you would be close to older Etruscan ruins. Not a colosseum or Pantheon mind...

[FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by Aeneas

Not necessarily. There are Roman ruins just up the hill from Florence in Fiesole. Also you would be close to older Etruscan ruins. Not a colosseum or Pantheon mind...

I'm going to have to hit you up for info on Italy too. Sounds like you have similar interests. Did you go to Lucca? I think that town looks awesome.

[4X4]

Lucca is awesome... For a day or so. The fortified wall is pretty neat. And it's one of only 4 cities in the world where I find my last name.

[Aeneas]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

I'm going to have to hit you up for info on Italy too. Sounds like you have similar interests. Did you go to Lucca? I think that town looks awesome.

Lucca is fantastic. Torre Guinigi (Sp ?), the awesome walls, piazza teatro ...really liked it. Have a book on Lucca if you want it.

last trip...
Lake Como
Milan
Cinque terre
Pisa
Lucca
Florence
Siena
Volterra
San Gimignano
Orvieto
Rome
Umbria
Perugia
san Marino
Venice
Lago di Garda
With lots of other smaller towns.

[FurnaceFace]

Thanks, would like to see the book.

Either of you been to Cavita? It looked interesting.

So far the very tentative plan is:
Rome about 5 days
Pompeii/Herculaneum overnighting in Sorrento
Florence
Siena
Lucca, Pisa
Cinque Terre
maybe Assisi
Cavita
Last few days in Paris

We're going for up to 3 weeks total. We've done Venice already. All of course very tentative at this stage so suggested hidden gems are appreciated.

[Aeneas]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

Thanks, would like to see the book.

Either of you been to Cavita? It looked interesting. Yes, it is.

So far the very tentative plan is:
Rome about 5 days
Pompeii/Herculaneum overnighting in Sorrento
Florence
Siena
Lucca, Pisa
Cinque Terre
maybe Assisi
Cavita
Last few days in Paris

We're going for up to 3 weeks total. We've done Venice already. All of course very tentative at this stage so suggested hidden gems are appreciated.

There are many interesting sights near Assissi.
I would keep Pisa to a minimum, half day at the most. Just my opinion.
I could show you a book/pics of Orvieto, bet you'll want to see it.

5 days is great for Rome, you can do well in 3 days but you will be pressed for time.

Are you museum goers? If so, make sure you book ahead for the Uffizi, Bargello academia in Florence. really nice if you can be the first group in the Uffizi when it opens.
When hitting the highpoints of Florence (museums, Duomo, etc.) do not forget the Pallazo Vecchio and Santa Croce (Tombs are amazing)

Cinque terre is simply stunning. Hope you do the hike.

[Montagna]

Do the Catacombs in Paris. Creepy and cool and not all that busy the day I was there. Well worth it.

[FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by Montagna

Do the Catacombs in Paris. Creepy and cool and not all that busy the day I was there. Well worth it.

Unfortunately closed in September due to vandalism.

[joe_mullen]

Originally Posted by dj_patm

I've already seen all there is to see in Poland. I've been there too many times to count. I'm still going for a while as my Grandparents are getting old and I won't have much time to see them again.

Well there's only one airport in Nice and the Rome flight is to the main one I'm pretty sure. I should double check Paris though but I think it was the main one as well.

And yeah Poland is sketchy at best. Stay out of the smaller towns and walking alone at night isn't the best call. Flashing cash is never a good idea even if you're with locals.

Not sure when was the last time you've been to the motherland but I find Poland extremely safe and most crime statistics back this up. It's all propaganda.

[dj_patm]

I went in '06. I always feel safe cause I'm polish, speak polish, with polish people but I've heard stories. You're fine in the big cities and you won't get murdered or anything but I've had friends who got the crap kicked out of them for there camera and stuff...

My worst experience in Poland when I managed to get stuck on a train with people after a soccer game... Head down and avoid the drunks.

[CrusaderPi]

Jesus H Christ, Dj_idiot would you just stop talking? I'm so bloody sick of reading every little thought that falls out of your head.

[dj_patm]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

Jesus H Christ, Dj_idiot would you just stop talking? I'm so bloody sick of ready every little thought that falls out of you head.

Then don't read them?
He asked me a question. I answered him. You try too hard man.

[CrusaderPi]

Seriously, shut the hell up.

[Hi-Psi]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

Jesus H Christ, Dj_idiot would you just stop talking? I'm so bloody sick of reading every little thought that falls out of your head.

Actually could you do everyone a favor and disappear from this forum? Your posts are absolutely useless and the last thing this site needs is more useless posts.