I'm Goin' to Europe

[aReformedPatriot]

My friend Mike and I are planning on going to Europe in October for a little over a week or so. We haven't necessarily decided which country(s) yet, but Im partial to England, Italy, or Greece.

If England I'd like to see a bunch of Castles. If Italy I'd like to see the Vatican, drink wine, and eat at one of those small little cafes. If Greece I want to ride around on a boat in the Mediterrainian and eat things like lamb.

So as you can see, its not too specific a list yet (not really a list at all) as we just decided today. So if you've ever been or have ideas as to how you would spend a trip in Europe (no matter where) let me know.

If I go to Italy I will never hear the end of it from Ms. Wilcox.

[Tony Merritt]

My friend Mike and I are planning on going to Europe in October for a little over a week or so. We haven't necessarily decided which country(s) yet, but Im partial to England, Italy, or Greece.

If England I'd like to see a bunch of Castles. If Italy I'd like to see the Vatican, drink wine, and eat at one of those small little cafes. If Greece I want to ride around on a boat in the Mediterrainian and eat things like lamb.

So as you can see, its not too specific a list yet (not really a list at all) as we just decided today. So if you've ever been or have ideas as to how you would spend a trip in Europe (no matter where) let me know.

If I go to Italy I will never hear the end of it from Ms. Wilcox.
My sister used to live in England. She had to travel all over Europe. She loved it in England. She always mentioned how beautiful it was. I do not know for sure...but it sounds as if you can't go wrong with any one you choose.

Tony M

[arunma]

Sounds awesome Mark! Unfortunately I don't know a thing about Europe. But the pastor of the church I'm currently attending is from Britain, so that place can't be all bad.

[daveleau]

London is great, but Brittain is EXPENSIVE!!! :) The exchange rate is near 1.75 to 1, and everything costs as many pound (quid) as it does dollars. If you decide to go, London is awesome, and is not far from Stonehendge and lots of really old stuff to see. North of London are a lot of castles. But beware! Lots of things called "castles" are nothing more than a person's land. We got hoodwinked by two of these in between London and Swindon. We saw signs for a castle, and turned into the drive, only to drive for miles and never find anything. We were later told that these were not castles, and that the people who owned the area simply named their land that. So, know what you are going to see, have a plan and get photos of the place to confirm it's not just a bog. :)

I've never been to Italy or Greece, but if you want to see castles, I'd suggest the Loire Valley, south of Paris. The chateaus are wonderful. My wife and I spent 10 days there for our honeymoon. ...And, France is much cheaper than England. The French were awesome, and all it took was my attempt to speak (butcher) their language before they would smile and begin speaking in English. They get a bad rap for being rude only because we go there and expect them to speak English.

Have fun!

http://www.castles-france.net/loire-valley/

We are going to eastern Europe in April, and we are looking forward to it. We are hitting Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Bukarest, and then flying home.

[DeaconDean]

When I was in the Marine Corps, I had to take a "cruise." Mine took me to the Med. While there, I got off the "ship" in Greece. What a beautiful city! And, oh, the Ozo! Anyhow, in the big cities, like Athens, the architecture is amazing. To know that the Parthanon is still partially standing. And the temple of Zeus. It really is a pretty city. But...venture outside the big cities, and you'll really be amazed. Open sewers, etc. And most of the women, pardon me ladies, but the women, ever seen Robin Williams without a shirt on?
And from what my Mom told me, Germany is very beatiful also. Also, do not drink the water. I'm not sure about England, but in almost every country in Europe, wine, beer, or liquor is common with all meals. Clean, safe, bottled water can cost upwards of $10.

And daveleau, I have a friend who goes once a year on mission trips to Romania, so while your there, do not drink the water. Seriously. Very few of the countries in Europe have the level of water purification we have here in the USA. I know, that is what I do for a living. That is why there is so much beer, wine, bottled water, liquor, sodas, served at meals, so be prepared. And that good old southern treat "Iced Tea" forget it. lol

God Bless

Till all are one.

[dave90]

My friend Mike and I are planning on going to Europe in October for a little over a week or so. We haven't necessarily decided which country(s) yet, but Im partial to England, Italy, or Greece.

If England I'd like to see a bunch of Castles. If Italy I'd like to see the Vatican, drink wine, and eat at one of those small little cafes. If Greece I want to ride around on a boat in the Mediterrainian and eat things like lamb.

So as you can see, its not too specific a list yet (not really a list at all) as we just decided today. So if you've ever been or have ideas as to how you would spend a trip in Europe (no matter where) let me know.

If I go to Italy I will never hear the end of it from Ms. Wilcox.


ITALIA, ITALIA,ITALIA or Greece, last england which has awlful weather.

[leytonstones]

I live in England and there are plenty of places to visit. There is more to our country than just London. Why not go south to Hampshire or West to Gloucestershire or up a bit further to Shakespeare country ?

We have been to both Italy (Rome) and Greece (Athens and Corinth). The Romans were very rude and my purse was stolen while we were there. Pick pocketing is rife there.
Greece was lovely and cheaper. The Greeks are very friendly people and their country is very beautiful. The Greeks are very hospitable. I wouldn't hesitate to go back there but have no desire to return to Rome.

Blessings :wave:

[aReformedPatriot]

I live in England and there are plenty of places to visit. There is more to our country than just London. Why not go south to Hampshire or West to Gloucestershire or up a bit further to Shakespeare country ?

We have been to both Italy (Rome) and Greece (Athens and Corinth). The Romans were very rude and my purse was stolen while we were there. Pick pocketing is rife there.
Greece was lovely and cheaper. The Greeks are very friendly people and their country is very beautiful. The Greeks are very hospitable. I wouldn't hesitate to go back there but have no desire to return to Rome.

Blessings :wave:

How is England in October? And what is there in those towns?

[leytonstones]

Gloucestershire and Hampshire are not towns, they are counties. England is divided up into counties as the US is divided up by States. Gloucester is the cathedral city of Gloucestershire and Winchester is a cathedral city in Hampshire. Both are rich in history.


England in October can vary quite a lot. It can be fairly mild but it can also be wet and windy.


Blessings :)

[Joykins]

I have only been to Northern Italy but the Italian Alps are awesome, the food is to die for, and Trieste is kind of neat. I've also always wanted to visit Venice, Florence, and Rome. So much history, all the art treasures there plus all the classical stuff.

DeaconDean is right about the water, too. You can drink the tap water in Austria and Germany (about which I could give better tourism info) but I would only drink bottled in Italy.

[arunma]

I have only been to Northern Italy but the Italian Alps are awesome, the food is to die for, and Trieste is kind of neat. I've also always wanted to visit Venice, Florence, and Rome. So much history, all the art treasures there plus all the classical stuff.

DeaconDean is right about the water, too. You can drink the tap water in Austria and Germany (about which I could give better tourism info) but I would only drink bottled in Italy.

You know, my electrodynamics professor had a funny story about his time in Trieste. He once attended a conference there. When he went to a local restaurant, there was an old man eating with his wife at a nearby table. My professor noted that this old man looked especially dull, boring, and depressing. He essentially thought to himself, "ugh, I'm glad I'm not that guy." A few hours later at the conference, Paul Dirac* was giving a lecture, and it turned out that he was the old guy from the restaurant!

*Paul Dirac is one of the more famous modern physicists from the early twentieth century. He's in the same league as Albert Einstein.

[Argent]

Get a good guide book. Let's Go Europe is one of the best for young travelers on a budget. Let's Go also has guide books for specific countries. Definitely get a guidbook and start going through it now. When you actually go, take it with you and tear out the pages you will need for that days adventures. You don't have to carry the whole book around with you all the time, and tearing up the book is no big deal as guidebooks are out-dated by the next year anyway.

If you go to only one country, say England, then you can fly into and out of the same airport. If you are going to visit several countries and at the end of your visit be far away from the airport you arrived at, pay the extra fare to get a ticket (it has a special name, but I dont' remember what it is) where you fly into one city, but depart from another. It's just not worth losing a day trying to get back to your arrival city.

You can drink the tap water north of the Alps. South of the Alps only drink bottled water. But most Europeans don't drink tap water. If you ask for water in a restaurnt, it will be bottled water and you will be charged for it.

I would:

Arrive in London, then go to Amsterdam, then Paris (the most beautiful city in the world), and then Venice (beautiful, romantic and like no other city), and then Rome (second most beautiful city in the world) and then fly back from Rome.

Of course, there's a lot worth seeing in between those places, and it might make sense to stop in a couple of them along the way, but on your first trip to Europe, you should see those cities.

[RED that's ME]

Nice Mark. :clap: I hope you have an awesome time. You might want to post in the Regional forum here for Europe and get some ideas too. :D I know a couple of missionaries over there too that you should visit if you're in their area. :)

[Monica02]

I have always wanted to go to Greece! My sister had a layover in London and did not realize that they did not offer free refills on her tea. She ended up with a $72 (American) bill for two people drinking iced teas for a couple hours.

I have been to Italy. Rome is crazy for driving so do not even think about driving in Rome. The Collesium (sp?) and Catacombs were awesome. Just about everything is awesome in Rome. The Eternal Citiy---Yuup. My tour guide told us the Romans were a little stuck on themselves which might explain why some might be rude. Florence and Assisi are also a must see. I would love to go back and see Pompei, Venice and the rest of Rome and the Vatican Museums.

Have a great time wherever you decide to go.