Starting to Plan a Trip To Europe - where to book and where to go?

[Linda W]

People had warned me before we went to Germany, that the Germans were not friendly people. We found that not to be true. We found them to be very friendly. We had to laugh though. A few of them asked us, why Americans smile so much, ha ha ha ha ha.

Linda

 

[TravelingGal]

Funny you should say that Linda...I was warned by a German (who I met the previous year in Ireland and whose apartment I stayed at while in Germany) that Germans were not friendly people. I actually wrote an entire episode on just that topic alone, on which I ended:

"...Which is the conclusion I''ve drawn during my very limited stay in Germany. They are a people who are fun and laugh with gusto like anyone else...you just have to make a little effort. And what''s life if you don''t give it a little oomph?"

 

[Linda W]

That was a very good conclusion your wrote TG. We just had to make an effort to know them.

I was trying to speak German to this one lady at the Oktoberfest. Mind you it was just a few words and I couldn''t get the right word out. She said the right word for me. She then said, how much she appreciated me trying to speak her language. It really warmed my heart. She was such a sweet older lady. I told her my maiden name, and that both my grandparents were born in Germany and I was her best friend for life.

Linda

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 1/8/2008 12:45:19 PM
Author: Linda W
That was a very good conclusion your wrote TG. We just had to make an effort to know them.

I was trying to speak German to this one lady at the Oktoberfest. Mind you it was just a few words and I couldn''t get the right word out. She said the right word for me. She then said, how much she appreciated me trying to speak her language. It really warmed my heart. She was such a sweet older lady. I told her my maiden name, and that both my grandparents were born in Germany and I was her best friend for life.

Linda

LOL...I had a wonderful encounter with a sweet older german lady as well! I''d post the experience, but I think I''m done with threadjacking Lauren''s thread!

 

[Linda W]

Sorry Lauren, we got carried away with all our jibber jabber about Germany!!. Anyway, you must visit there, it is beauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuutiful!!!!!!!!!!

Linda

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Date: 1/8/2008 1:03:07 PM
Author: Linda W
Sorry Lauren, we got carried away with all our jibber jabber about Germany!!. Anyway, you must visit there, it is beauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuutiful!!!!!!!!!!

Linda

No worries - keep talkling! I'm loving all of this conversation about Europe!

Tell me more!

 

[Linda W]

Alrighty then!!! You will LOVE the pastry there!!! Shops all over, even in the railway stations!! DH must have had 6 pastries a day.. HA!!!!! Not to mention the Chocolate!!!!!! In Austria The APPLE STRUDEL''S are to die for.

Linda

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Date: 1/8/2008 1:19:27 PM
Author: Linda W
Alrighty then!!! You will LOVE the pastry there!!! Shops all over, even in the railway stations!! DH must have had 6 pastries a day.. HA!!!!! Not to mention the Chocolate!!!!!! In Austria The APPLE STRUDEL''S are to die for.

Linda

Every country has their "food".

I remember walking around Brussels and Brugge, and in both cities, I think I ate 2 or 3 waffles. YUMMMMM!

God, I felt like such a pig, but with all of the walking I did when I lived in London, I had dropped from an American 6 to an American size 2, so I felt like it would fall right off me, anyway.

I sooooo enjoyed those waffles.

 

[TravelingGal]

Lauren, any plans to go to Salzburg? It wasn''t my fav place, but I did have a lot of fun there. I really enjoyed the saltmine tour, especially since the two people I was with and myself were the only ones that day. They let us go down the giant slide over and over again...and what adult doesn''t love a good slide ride!

In Salzburg, there is a place called the Augustiner...well worth a look and afternoon kicking back and drinking beer (I swear, that wasn''t the only thing I did when I was in Europe though...I did eat.

) I''m partial to it because it''s was a bit of a turning point in TGuy''s and my "relationship" and while I can picture this place very touristy in peak season, it was very peaceful and quiet when we were there in the winter. I just loved Austria/Germany/Czech Republic in the winter!

Here is the pic of the hallway in the Augustiner Brauhaus...

 

[Linda W]

Oh I know. A size 2???? Can I slap you????

ha ha ha. Just kidding!!!!! Seriously, DH and I ate like pigs too, but we walked everywhere!!!! I could feel myself losing weight over there. When we came home, I had lost 9 pounds. One thing I didn''t care for, were their breakfast''s. Not a cold cut person.

We did enjoy their yogurt and granola though, that was delicious. Their coffee was good too. I really liked their vanilla tea with brown sugar. I drank a lot of that and bought some when we returned home.

We really want to go back to Europe. Hopefully we can, on our 30th anniversary in 3 years.

Linda

 

[TravelingGal]

and one of my fave pics of TGuy and I in the hall. The windows and ambience are really lovely (keep in mind though, it was pretty empty for us!)

 

[Linda W]

Salzburg is beautiful too. OOps, just saw TG post about that. We enjoyed walking around there.

Linda

 

[Linda W]

OK TG, with all of that beer, didn''t spend a lot of time in the ladies room????? ha ha ha ha ha


Linda

 

[TravelingGal]

I agree on the losing weight part...I lost 10 pounds and I ate and drank my way through Europe. I''m not kidding. No restraint whatsoever. I thought my jeans were getting loose because I was getting fat and stretching them out.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 1/8/2008 1:35:10 PM
Author: Linda W
OK TG, with all of that beer, didn''t spend a lot of time in the ladies room????? ha ha ha ha ha


Linda

All the food soaked I ate soaked it up!

Actually, come to think about it..I really can''t recall a single bathroom in Europe. That''s strange...

 

[Linda W]

They are so different then ours. Wood doors that closed, fancy and you have to pay the clerk to use them.

off subject: Their toilet paper is like using paper towels Lauren, be prepared,

Linda

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Date: 1/8/2008 1:33:32 PM
Author: TravelingGal
and one of my fave pics of TGuy and I in the hall. The windows and ambience are really lovely (keep in mind though, it was pretty empty for us!)

What a gorgeous pic to have of you both, TGal! What year were you both there?

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Date: 1/8/2008 1:32:50 PM
Author: Linda W
Oh I know. A size 2???? Can I slap you????

ha ha ha. Just kidding!!!!! Seriously, DH and I ate like pigs too, but we walked everywhere!!!! I could feel myself losing weight over there. When we came home, I had lost 9 pounds. One thing I didn''t care for, were their breakfast''s. Not a cold cut person.

We did enjoy their yogurt and granola though, that was delicious. Their coffee was good too. I really liked their vanilla tea with brown sugar. I drank a lot of that and bought some when we returned home.

We really want to go back to Europe. Hopefully we can, on our 30th anniversary in 3 years.

Linda

Hehehe! I lived there for about 7 months, so I think that was the smallest I''ll ever, ever get!

And wow, I had no idea you''d been married that long! Happy 27th Anniversary!!!!

 

[Linda W]

Thank you Lauren.

Actually it is my second marriage and DH''s first. I am lucky to have found such a wonderful man

Linda We will be married 27 years this coming March, he is so special to me and is a wonderful step father and grandfather to my daughter and grandboys.

Linda

 

[Julianna]

Date: 1/8/2008 12:07:29 PM
Author: TravelingGal
But I still love Germany! Rivers and lakes are gorgeous! There actually wasn''t a whole lot in Europe that I didn''t love.

And if you drink enough beer in a beer garden, people are bound to become interesting!

(I had about 4 of these...which helped because walking into a beer garden alone with all those communal tables can be pretty intimidating. Please excuse how scungy I looked...I was backpacking after all, and not sure when was the last time I had a shower!)

I have to note here: You''ve said in more than one of your picture-related threads how scungy you look, and I''ve gotta say, you may not think you look the most glamourous, but you ALWAYS look happy. And that''s more important. Anyway you''re cute as heck.

And look at that Stein! Looks like you were putting away a dunkelbrau of some sort.

 

[Julianna]

Date: 1/8/2008 12:37:46 PM
Author: TravelingGal
Funny you should say that Linda...I was warned by a German (who I met the previous year in Ireland and whose apartment I stayed at while in Germany) that Germans were not friendly people. I actually wrote an entire episode on just that topic alone, on which I ended:

''...Which is the conclusion I''ve drawn during my very limited stay in Germany. They are a people who are fun and laugh with gusto like anyone else...you just have to make a little effort. And what''s life if you don''t give it a little oomph?''

Incidentally, and I''ll say this from experience, the further south you go in Germany, the friendlier the Germans get. Bavarians are downright fantastic. Fun-loving, always willing to practice some English, laid-back... I miss Munich a lot, now that I start talking about it. *weep*

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Date: 1/8/2008 5:09:32 PM
Author: Julianna

Date: 1/8/2008 12:37:46 PM
Author: TravelingGal
Funny you should say that Linda...I was warned by a German (who I met the previous year in Ireland and whose apartment I stayed at while in Germany) that Germans were not friendly people. I actually wrote an entire episode on just that topic alone, on which I ended:

''...Which is the conclusion I''ve drawn during my very limited stay in Germany. They are a people who are fun and laugh with gusto like anyone else...you just have to make a little effort. And what''s life if you don''t give it a little oomph?''

Incidentally, and I''ll say this from experience, the further south you go in Germany, the friendlier the Germans get. Bavarians are downright fantastic. Fun-loving, always willing to practice some English, laid-back... I miss Munich a lot, now that I start talking about it. *weep*

That''s so nice to hear, and I do love German and Bavarian cars . . .

The more you guys talk about Germany and Austria, the more I''m wanting to focus our trip in that area. I''ve always wanted to see VW''s production plant for the Phaeton in Stuttgart . . .

Hmmmmmmm.

 

[bee*]

ooh your trip sounds like so much fun! I adore Spain and have been there quite a few times. Barcelona is my favourite place there-it has so much to see and do and the food is amazing. If you''re going to go there, the hotel jazz is a gorgeous hotel, close to everything.

Lisbon is good for a relaxing break. There are things to see and do, but not a huge amount. It''s very reasonably priced though and it''s the only holiday that I''ve been on where I''ve actually come home with money.

I adore Germany. D and I traveled around Germany for a while and the whole country is great. I think that Munich was one of my favourites though as was Berlin. The food and beer are so good.

My parents own a house in France which is about an hours drive from Tours- Tours is such a beautiful city. As it''s a bit away from most places, there are not many tourists there and it is so nice to visit. It has some great shops and restaurants.

To answer your questions, as I live in Ireland we are relatively close and I just book my hotels directly. I''m a big planner so everything is usually done to a T. Out of all european cities though, Barcelona is my all time favourite and I cannot wait to return there.

 

[TravelingGal]

Lauren...I can''t believe it...but we were there in 2003. It''s been nearly 5 years. TGuy and celebrate our 5 year meeting date on Feb 3 of this year. That''s why I stopped participating in my travel forum...although Europe doesn''t exactly change in 5 years, it''s hard to know what''s still open, how hotel conditions are, etc. But the history is always easy to recommend!

Julianna, that''s really sweet of you to say...but aren''t we all taught to "SMILE!" in pictures? And anyway, it''s hard to be grumpy when you''re traveling.

That also makes a bit of sense that Germans are more friendly the further south you go...that was my experience as well. Maybe because...it''s warmer? Not?

Linda, you should definitely do something wonderful to celebrate that 30th!

 

[Julianna]

Date: 1/8/2008 5:21:24 PM
Author: LaurenThePartier

That''s so nice to hear, and I do love German and Bavarian cars . . .

The more you guys talk about Germany and Austria, the more I''m wanting to focus our trip in that area. I''ve always wanted to see VW''s production plant for the Phaeton in Stuttgart . . .

Hmmmmmmm.

Yes, yes! Now you''re speakin'' my language!!

Also check out BMW in Munich.

And don''t forget to eat some Lebkuchen!!

 

[Julianna]

Date: 1/8/2008 5:33:56 PM
Author: TravelingGal
Lauren...I can''t believe it...but we were there in 2003. It''s been nearly 5 years. TGuy and celebrate our 5 year meeting date on Feb 3 of this year. That''s why I stopped participating in my travel forum...although Europe doesn''t exactly change in 5 years, it''s hard to know what''s still open, how hotel conditions are, etc. But the history is always easy to recommend!

Julianna, that''s really sweet of you to say...but aren''t we all taught to ''SMILE!'' in pictures? And anyway, it''s hard to be grumpy when you''re traveling.

That also makes a bit of sense that Germans are more friendly the further south you go...that was my experience as well. Maybe because...it''s warmer? Not?

Linda, you should definitely do something wonderful to celebrate that 30th!

Not!!! Hee hee! It was pleasant in the summer and bitterly cold in the winter. I remember walking to school and my nose hairs freezing.

Good times. I prefer the sweltering, brick-wall humidity of Maryland summer to "pleasant" German summers any day!

 

[Independent Gal]

Re Austria: Never mind the strudle... the cakes.. THE CAKES!!! And, frankly, the coffee. THE COFFEE!!!! Austrian coffee houses are the best. Oh and if you''re in NYC and you miss it, check out Cafe Sabarsky in the Neue Gallerie, 86th and 5th Ave. Ganz authentic.

http://neuegalerie.org/main.html?langkey=english

I had a good time in Salzburg about 4 years back. It was snowing heavily the whole time, and very damp and cold, but it was fun anyway. When push comes to shove, I prefer Vienna, though.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 1/8/2008 5:57:52 PM
Author: Independent Gal
Re Austria: Never mind the strudle... the cakes.. THE CAKES!!! And, frankly, the coffee. THE COFFEE!!!! Austrian coffee houses are the best. Oh and if you''re in NYC and you miss it, check out Cafe Sabarsky in the Neue Gallerie, 86th and 5th Ave. Ganz authentic.

http://neuegalerie.org/main.html?langkey=english

I had a good time in Salzburg about 4 years back. It was snowing heavily the whole time, and very damp and cold, but it was fun anyway. When push comes to shove, I prefer Vienna, though.

That''s interesting Indy...I prefered Salzburg over Vienna, but Vienna had the misfortune of a visit AFTER I went to Prague.

 

[Independent Gal]

I think it was because I had nothing to do in Vienna for a week but wander around in the Wiener Wald and sit in cafes reading and writing. It was soooo supremely chilled out. Oh, and it was summer. Vienna is such a liveable city. Not so much exciting as just goshdarn pleasant!

I suspect if it hadn't been snowing endless head-sized damp flakes in Salzburg, and if it had been a more chilled out trip (it was a 2 day whirlwind meet-up-with-a-friend type thing while I'd been staying in Budapest) I might have liked it more. I mean, I really liked it! It's just that I was sooooo relaxed in Vienna that week. Ahhhh!

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 1/8/2008 6:19:47 PM
Author: Independent Gal
I think it was because I had nothing to do in Vienna for a week but wander around in the Wiener Wald and sit in cafes reading and writing. It was soooo supremely chilled out. Oh, and it was summer. Vienna is such a liveable city. Not so much exciting as just goshdarn pleasant!

I suspect if it hadn''t been snowing endless head-sized damp flakes in Salzburg, and if it had been a more chilled out trip (it was a 2 day whirlwind meet-up-with-a-friend type thing while I''d been staying in Budapest) I might have liked it more. I mean, I really liked it! It''s just that I was sooooo relaxed in Vienna that week. Ahhhh!

Ah, I can understand that. It''s the same reason I love Siena...I "splurged" and decided to get a hotel room to myself. I didn''t really talk to anyone that entire week! (hosteling can get to ya). I just wandered around, had coffee, and just laid on my back on the Campo watching the clouds go by with a gelato in hand. Could life get any better?

Lauren, if I could say anything, it would be what Indy said above and my own experience...don''t go too crazy moving moving moving...the best times are often just completely chilling out with no place to be next!!