Traveling Europe This Summer!

S

Summerlilly

Covert Superhero
Joined
Nov 30, 2008
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706
Age
45
Location
Santa Cruz, Ca
Hey guys! So I'm going to be backpacking through Europe with my sister in July/Aug and wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts or recommendations of things I should or shouldn't miss. Or if there's any bored BB'ers out there who want to meet up with a fellow Whedonverse lover, lemme know!

Our plan so far is to begin in Italy. We're starting in Rome, then Florence and Venice. And definately Paris, Amsterdam, London, and ending in Dublin. We have 25 days to travel and so much to see but I don't want to make it too jampacked. I can't believe its coming up so fast and I'm soooooo excited but would love to hear any thoughts from my worldy peeps out there! 🙂
 
brinkster130
brinkster130
I am so jealous of you right now! I hope you and your sister have an amazing trip!!!
Go to Spain you crazy thing! BARCELONA! Beautiful architecture and people and culture. If you're going to the UK then go to Liverpool. It's such a great party place, the people are lovely and there's just so much to do - from the Cathedrals, to all The Beatles stuff, to the shopping. You haven't been to England in my opinion without walking through Liverpool in the rain with curry and chips.

Have fun - I'm so damn jealous of you. I'm a travel agent, so I hear all about travelling through Europe almost every day. If you need any help with anything then please let me know!
 
S
Summerlilly
Thanks! :)
I know, I know! I REALLY wanted to go to Spain but we decided we just don't have that much time and it would be one more country to add to the Eurorail pass. So in the end we decided to make Spain a whole other trip....it was really hard to decide but we just don't want to whip through too many places!
 
Yes, don't skip Barcelona, it's amazing.

I admire you. I could never go backpacking. Unless I would carry one backpack and one slave behind me would carry my 10 suitcases.
 
When you go to Rome and are going to the Colosseum and the Forum, go to the Forum first and get the ticket that covers both sites ( I think it's €12). That way you get to avoid the crazy lines for tickets at the Colloseum and can just walk in, plus it's cheaper!
 
S
Summerlilly
Will do, thanks!
When you're in London make sure you go to Covent Garden and Camden Market. Brick Lane is good too. I'd also recommend Belgium if you get the chance, it's such a lovely place. Bruges in particular is beautiful.
 
R
Raiys
Come to Belgium...we have chocolate...*lures*
Come and say hi when you're in London 🙂

I don't like Madame Tussaud's myself as it's waaaay too touristy and crowded, but I suppose it's fun if you're into that kind of thing. They have branches in Barcelona and Berlin as well, so they might be less busy there.

I'm not a big Camden fan either, but I agree that Brick Lane / Shoreditch is fun for a night out, esp if you're into live music. Make sure you don't miss Borough Market, it's really fun, they have all sorts of exotic food stuffs and you can put your head into scary fish mouths. Makes for really cool pictures. If you're on a budget, don't go on one of the official bus tours, just get the normal 148 bus at Marble Arch, it takes you around all the sights for the price of a single fare...

I never quite saw the appeal myself, but apparently Berlin is really up and coming among young travellers these days. It's still fairly cheap (using the pint index, you can get one for €2.50 in most bars and clubs!), has loads of history and really friendly people. Plus, most young people speak quite good English.
 
I have no advice, as I've never been to Europe, but WOW I'm so jealous! Have a GREAT time; sounds like no matter what it will be an amazing trip!
 
S
Summerlilly
Yes, it will be!!!!!!! :)
Since you're starting with Italy, why don't you add Verona on that list? I mean, Julia's house is something worth seeing, and it would be a shame not to grab that boobie in front of hundred people everyday, LOL
 
S
Summerlilly
Yes, it has crossed my mind. I'll look it up!
caitaintdead said:
If you're going to the UK then go to Liverpool. It's such a great party place, the people are lovely and there's just so much to do - from the Cathedrals, to all The Beatles stuff, to the shopping. You haven't been to England in my opinion without walking through Liverpool in the rain with curry and chips.
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That's my parents' lives you're talking about there! Although really you need to have a sausage or two on that curry and chips. Yes, I think Liverpool has come on leaps and bounds in the last five years and become what it was always trying to be and never quite managed- one legacy of being European Capital of Culture three years ago is that there are nearly always festivals and exhibitions on, and because my folks are only a few miles out I get to go a few times a year.

I'm going to put a word in for Berlin, though- went there two years ago and while it's become a very international fun city, the history of the last 100 years is everywhere you look. In the last few years I've travelled to a few cities in Eastern Europe and you do start to get a real sense of both the richness of culture and the forces which determined the history of a lot of these places.
 
caitaintdead
caitaintdead
Your parents are scousers?! I knew there was a reason you were a top bloke!
S
Summerlilly
I love festivals! :) I think we're sticking to Western Europe this time!
There are so many different parts of Europe that are worth visiting.. The European part of Turkey - like Istanbul is nice. I liked it a lot.. Greece is amazing, especially Athens!
Scandinavia is a bit colder but it's too awesome.. I can suggest Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsingborg and Oslo.. And since you're gonna visit Italy, too, you should definitely stop by the Balkans 😀
 
S
Summerlilly
I would LOVE to go to Greece but that'll have to be next time. It deserves its own trip!
caitaintdead agrees: Your parents are scousers?! I knew there was a reason you were a top bloke!
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Yes, although they moved to Birkenhead when they got married so I'm a Birkonian not a Scouser.

Did you see either the Everton Superlambanana or the penguin when you were over? If not, I might have some photos for you...
 
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