I convinced myself to go over to Europe to visit my fiance while she is finishing her last semester of college over in Ireland (Semester abroad program).
Planning to go in early March for about a week and was hoping you all could give some advice on what areas would be fun, and what to see. Europe being a big place and all.
She will be in Rome when I head over there, and we will probably plan on meeting elsewhere so we can avoid the places she has already been (Ireland, London, Paris, and of course Rome).
Really just looking for random ideas we probably wouldn't think of, and we all know sailors are far more cultured then everyone else and would have great ideas right?
She has shot down the idea of a sailboat charter... so it has to be land based unfortunately
Monte Carlo and the Cote D'azur would be nice in March compared to Northern Europe. In a week you could take a train through Italy and get a lot of sightseeing in there too. Pompeii, Florence, Venice...etc.
March can be a busy time in the vineyards, so southern France comes to mind. I had a blast in Sicily and Malta.
__________________ S/V Scheherazade
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I had a dream, I was sailing, I was happy, I was even smiling. Then I looked down and saw that I was on a multi-hull and woke up suddenly in a cold sweat.
We found Romania to be inexpensive and wonderful. Visit Brasov, a city spared the bombing of WW I and II and home of the Black Church. Ski at Poiana Brasov, the best ski hill in the Carpathian mountains (eastern Alps). Visit Dracula's Castle and the UNESCO Heritage site Sigisoara. The food is fabulous, unlike anything you can imagine. Lots of wild game, bear, boar and venison.
Learn about Caucescu and his tyranny. Shop in Bucharest.
Fabulous.
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There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
Shakespeare, Julius Caesar IV, iii, 217
I should mention - we probably will want to be lazy and keep the traveling down once we get to nice location. After 2 months not seeing the girl I am planning on not trying to get up to early most days. :P
Cam:
I thought about Monte Carlo - but something about trying to get everyone to call me Bond, James Bond and losing the traveling fund while playing blackjack with a British accent seems like a bad idea...
Admittedly I didn't spend to much time thinking about the French Riviera - any place around there you would suggest?
Freesail:
Any suggestions on wineries to visit in Southern France?
teshannon:
Croatia sounds interesting... what has made it your favorite place?
I should mention - we probably will want to be lazy and keep the traveling down once we get to nice location. After 2 months not seeing the girl I am planning on not trying to get up to early most days. :P
Cam:
I thought about Monte Carlo - but something about trying to get everyone to call me Bond, James Bond and losing the traveling fund while playing blackjack with a British accent seems like a bad idea...
Admittedly I didn't spend to much time thinking about the French Riviera - any place around there you would suggest?
Freesail:
Any suggestions on wineries to visit in Southern France?
teshannon:
Croatia sounds interesting... what has made it your favorite place?
Thanks All!
All of these places are at less than a day-cardrive from where I live (except Croatia, which is a couple of days drive). I know them all well and also other alternatives, but it would be good if you said what your budget is and something about your preferences (urban vs. landscape, well known glamurous places vs. getting a byte of old Europe real life, etc.).
I do have one piece of advice though: avoid doing what very often Americans travel agencies try to induce you to do (i.e., try to see all of Europe in a week) and concentrate in one or two nice interesting places: you will have much less little crosses marked in your atlas but you will get a much higher reward that with the feeling that "you spent a little bit of your life there". But that's my personal preference, which may not match your own preferences.
Prague - Should be on your top - best value for the dollar - and if you wanna live like James Bond you can do it Walmart prices... wonderful place and wonderful people...they love Americans and the city is rich in history and of course international espionage...
London - Forget booking fancy hotels online - there is travel agency in Victoria Station where you tell them the rate of hotel you want to stay at and the price you want to pay... I stayed at Grafton Hotel for Motel 6 prices when I was last there...
Brest, France - simply a wonderful place - lively countryside and some of the best seaside view and shopping you can get....
If you can do Switzerland \ Geneva - also a very cultural and economic place to stay at and within range of many places...
Well - I'm back in Dublin right now and the city, while cold and rainy, is a nice one. I also lived in the south of France for a bit and can recommend a number of watering holes between St. Tropez and Monaco. In March the temps are still cool and the tourist influx hasn't begun yet so it is worthwhile going. If you are going to rent a car then driving from Munich (airport) through Austria, Italy and down to Nice then back up through France makes a great trip with many cultures, good food and scenery on the way.
Well - I'm back in Dublin right now and the city, while cold and rainy, is a nice one. I also lived in the south of France for a bit and can recommend a number of watering holes between St. Tropez and Monaco. In March the temps are still cool and the tourist influx hasn't begun yet so it is worthwhile going. If you are going to rent a car then driving from Munich (airport) through Austria, Italy and down to Nice then back up through France makes a great trip with many cultures, good food and scenery on the way.
Every time I've been there it was cold and rainy. A great place anyway, will be in Dublin this Fall. Have a pint for me.
