Europe

[AlethiaSi]

Originally posted by sundevil2000
Thanks for all the advice already. I just ran into a guy today at Copymax when I was making copies of my passport and cards and he gave me some helpful hints too. I will be starting in London, then plan on going through Amsterdam, Munich, Paris, Venice, Rome, and some others. I'm going by myself, so I'm a little scared, but I really hope to "find myself" while I am there. My friends make fun of me when I say that, but I definitely hope that this is a life changing experience. How long is a flight from Arizona to London? Are British Airway flights nice? I dont really understand the time zone difference but I leave Arizona at 7:05 PM on Monday and arrive in London at 1:05PM Tuesday. I'm sure I will have more questions throughout the weekend, so I'll post. Again, thank you so much for your tips!

dude! they can laugh all the want- but you are going to have an amazing time! I can almost promise you taht you are going to come back a stronger, more wordly traveler with so many interesting stories- then they can see who will be laughing

as far as traveling by yourself- my advice is to not limit yourself. My friend maria traveled all over italy by herself but she didn't have as great a time b/c she was in the hotel by 9 and didn't get to explore as much. Even if you don't want to- go to the bar you saw around the corner and try to chat people up- there are a LOT of irish/english pubs allover europe- they are terribly in fashion there- so you will definately meet people- but strike up conversations- you'd be surprised who you meet.

also- if you are staying in hostels- try to make friends with the people you meet in the common room or in your hall- we met some incredible people on our travels and had a blast. When i was in dublin- it was just me and my best friend- we met two other girls that weres taying in our room- and we met up with them in london a few weeks later- and we still talk to them (i also met people that went to college in my home town) so don't be shy

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by AlethiaSi
dude! they can laugh all the want- but you are going to have an amazing time! I can almost promise you taht you are going to come back a stronger, more wordly traveler with so many interesting stories- then they can see who will be laughing

as far as traveling by yourself- my advice is to not limit yourself. My friend maria traveled all over italy by herself but she didn't have as great a time b/c she was in the hotel by 9 and didn't get to explore as much. Even if you don't want to- go to the bar you saw around the corner and try to chat people up- there are a LOT of irish/english pubs allover europe- they are terribly in fashion there- so you will definately meet people- but strike up conversations- you'd be surprised who you meet.

also- if you are staying in hostels- try to make friends with the people you meet in the common room or in your hall- we met some incredible people on our travels and had a blast. When i was in dublin- it was just me and my best friend- we met two other girls that weres taying in our room- and we met up with them in london a few weeks later- and we still talk to them (i also met people that went to college in my home town) so don't be shy

This is great advice. I'v never been travelling by myself. But you will definitly meet other travellers along the way. Just be friendly, but be yourself. You'll never run out of people to talk to and to hang with.

[bcdphie]

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
Really? I thought it was illegal. I might have to try me some.

I think it may be a less potent brew...

[ajuhdg]

You'll have a blast! I live in Germany (North of Frankfurt!). The best part about being here, is the ability to see so many amazing things! My nuggets:

-take a boat tour in Amsterdam, especially a late one!

-I hated Paris. The Eiffel Tower was amazing, but the rest wasn't that great. Again, take the boat tour late when everything is lit up. WATCH YOUR WALLET HERE! Wander the cemetaries, they are amazing! And, be careful of where you stay...four star there doesn't mean the same thing as it does in the US!

-Just outside of Munich is Dachau, a concentration camp. I visited there awhile back, and it is just something to experience.

-While in Rome, drink from the fountains! I learned that THIS is wear the phrase 'When in Rome...' comes from! We spent so much money on itty bitty bottles of water, and finally saw everyone drinking from the fountains. It was the coldest, best tasting water I'd ever had!

-If you can stop in Pisa...do it! That's been my favorite place so far!

If I think of anything else, I'll let you know!

aj

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by ajuhdg
You'll have a blast! I live in Germany (North of Frankfurt!). The best part about being here, is the ability to see so many amazing things! My nuggets:

-take a boat tour in Amsterdam, especially a late one!

-I hated Paris. The Eiffel Tower was amazing, but the rest wasn't that great. Again, take the boat tour late when everything is lit up. WATCH YOUR WALLET HERE! Wander the cemetaries, they are amazing! And, be careful of where you stay...four star there doesn't mean the same thing as it does in the US!

-Just outside of Munich is Dachau, a concentration camp. I visited there awhile back, and it is just something to experience.

-While in Rome, drink from the fountains! I learned that THIS is wear the phrase 'When in Rome...' comes from! We spent so much money on itty bitty bottles of water, and finally saw everyone drinking from the fountains. It was the coldest, best tasting water I'd ever had!

-If you can stop in Pisa...do it! That's been my favorite place so far!

If I think of anything else, I'll let you know!

aj

I hope to spend a week in Munich in October visiting my family.

[queequek]

Some suggestions:

- In Paris, don't forget to go to Montmartre area, where the Sacre-Coeur is. One of the most romantic place on earth, where Renoir often got his ideas for his paintings. Also if you like paintings, it is worthed to visit Musee' du Louvre, and perhaps the Musee Picasso, housing the most outstanding Picasso works (duh!)

- In Rome, visit Santa Maria in Cosmedin, by the Isola Tiberina. It is most often ignored by tourists, but then you would regret it, because it is one of the tradition you have to do besides throwing coins to the Trevi - put your hands to the Bocca' della Verita' (the Mouth of Truth). If you have time, attending the Greek Orthodox mass here is unbelieveable. You are in time machine back to fourth century mass!
To understand layer of Rome, visit San Clemente church south of Colosseo. You keep going down, underneath the modern street level - as the 16th century church was built on top of 4th century early church, which had been built on top of an ancient Roman temple. You can see arches literally emerged from the floor.
I agree with ajuhdg - drink as much water fountain in Rome as possible. Nothing is like you experience before, drinking from water fountain in Rome.
If you're in Rome during the Pantecost - visit Pantheon at noon, where you can see red rose petals falling like rain through the occulus of the church. The most amazing thing you've ever imagined.

- In Capagnia region, Positano and Amalfi always come to mind. Riding a bus along Amalfi Coast to Positano or Amalfi, makes you respect the early Italian engineer and the bus driver. Never seen anything bluer than the Mediterranean. Also visit Capri, see the Blue Grotto where all you can see is a natural cave with natural blue light comes from underneath the water.

- In Prague, visit the Old City Hall every hour to see the apostle's parade of the clock. It was cheesey, but it was fun at the same time. Tee-hee Also visit the Vinohrady area, it is NOT a tourist area, but I just don't understand why none of the tourist books mentioned Vinohrady in more details - this is where you can see least tourists and experience Prague to the fullest with locals. See the Church of Sacred Heart in Vinohrady 2 by Jose Plecnic.

- In Amsterdam, if you have time, you need to get out of the city. Yeah, Amsterdam is cool and yadda yadda, but there are more cool things outside as well. Go to Sans Schans (sp?) to see the authentic Dutch Windmill - most of the windmill throughout the Holland were in here, and some of them are still active, and you can enter the mills to see how they made the oil or color essence. Or you may go to the Northern Dam, which WAY cool when you realize that the water levels are different on each sides of the 30 km+ bridge. Or visit Delta Project. Makes you wonder ...

Have fun in Europe. Watch out for pickpocketers, especially where people don't have any personal bubbles.

[thetalady]

I am really enjoying the memories this thread brings back! Visiting Europe certainly makes you appreciate all the conveniences that we have in the US... and also makes you see how spoiled we can get because of them. It opens your eyes to the history there is out there and acknowledge how insulated we can be here in this country. Our history is SO short in comparison.

I hate to say it, but be very careful being an American in Europe right now. We may not be very popular right now

Definitely check into how to call home to check in with your folks. I hear that trying to use your US cellular carrier can be horrifically expensive.

[TigerLilly]

Originally posted by thetalady
Definitely check into how to call home to check in with your folks. I hear that trying to use your US cellular carrier can be horrifically expensive.

How to call home -- In every big city I've been in in Europe, I've seen call shops galore. You go in, go into a little booth, and make your call, then pay at the end. Ask the clerk how much it'll be to call to the States before you start so you don't get surprised by something expensive, but all the ones I've seen have been very reasonably priced.
From what I hear, your US cell phone won't work in Europe anyway -- different, non-compatible systems. Not to mention needing an electrical converter to charge it, and then having to carry it around, too. Don't bother! Your best bet are call shops.

Sometimes those places are also internet cafes, too. My advice about finding a place to go online is to look around and don't go in the first place you see. If you're going to be in a city for a few days, mentally note internet places you see and how much they cost. If you go off the beaten track a little bit, onto less tourist-populated streets, you can generally find a MUCH cheaper deal. It'll mean the difference between 3 Euro per hour and 1 Euro per hour, which can really add up over the course of a trip.

[AlethiaSi]

Originally posted by thetalady
I am really enjoying the memories this thread brings back! Visiting Europe certainly makes you appreciate all the conveniences that we have in the US... and also makes you see how spoiled we can get because of them. It opens your eyes to the history there is out there and acknowledge how insulated we can be here in this country. Our history is SO short in comparison.

I hate to say it, but be very careful being an American in Europe right now. We may not be very popular right now

Definitely check into how to call home to check in with your folks. I hear that trying to use your US cellular carrier can be horrifically expensive.

yes- the first part is sooo true- i was very homesick for minor conveniences... you'll be surprised how much you miss gas stations and taco bell etc lol but you'll find alternatives- you might jsut have to be a bit creative but these are minor inconveinces for the experiences you'll be having

as far as being american... we basically stick out like sore thumbs.. and there really isn't any question where we are from. It's easy to be lost at this fact and you feel very...exposed. However, try to blend it- the locals notice when you try their culture- they think its funny lol- but also- you'll start to appreciate our culture for all its obnoxious splendor

the call places and internet cafe's are alllll over the place- we used them all the time- but careful about the cost- a pound (in england) and a euro or so an hour for internet is appropriate- they try to overprice things- so watch out- also def ask about the rrate to the states BEFORE you get in the booth- so there isn't any surprises- when i was in dublin- it was 10 cents a min which is pretty good.

[cashmoney]

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
I hope to spend a week in Munich in October visiting my family.

Half of my family lives in Oberstdorf, south of Munchen (Munich). It may just be paradise for me. Its at the southern most part of Germany right next to the Swiss border and a shorty drive to Austria. Its like being in Obersalzburg (the famous mountain town you see in many pictures). Bavaria is my favorite state in Germany. The south of Germany is very relaxing and a lot of peaceful fun. The western part of germany and the northern part is more industrialized and more developed and overall a better place if you want to go shopping for clothes, go clubbing and stuff like that. Some of my favorites cities in the western and northern parts were Hannover, Mainz, Bad Homburg, Wiesbaden, Dusseldorf, Hessen, Koln, Hamburg, Bremen, Leubeck, Saarbruken, Dortmand, Frankfurt and and the list goes on and on....

LPPh- If you can make it during the last two weeks of september....you'll be there in time for Oktober Fest.