We survived Europe !
Cathy L
countries in a bus. We left on April 21 and returned on May 22. It was
the "European Masterpiece" tour by Cosmos. Everything went fine, with
no problems what so ever. We stayed at three star hotels. We figured
we could have taken other tours with more expensive hotels, but we
didn't think we would spend that much time in them. We were right! A
couple of the hotels were pushing the three star rating, while a
number of others were actually four stars. Breakfasts were always
included and were quite adequate. We signed up for over $2,000 worth
of optional events. It kept us busy day and night.
We have never been on a cruise, so it was nice sleeping on a boat for
two nights. On the trip to Greece we were on the boat for 17 hours. On
the return to Italy it was almost 24 hours.
People ask what country we liked best. We honestly can't say. Each one
was unique, with different attractions. It would be great to return
and spend a month in each one.
Cathy
Jim Ley
wrote:
>People ask what country we liked best. We honestly can't say. Each one
>was unique, with different attractions. It would be great to return
>and spend a month in each one.
Come on, give us a full trip report - glad you enjoyed it.
Jim.
JohnT
"Cathy L" <bill.l...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:mgog72hqhjb0klmmd...@4ax.com...
Well done. When you are recovered and unpacked, you can give us a full trip
report.
JohnT
Unknown
wrote:
>We survived our big trip to Europe! Thirty days blasting around twelve
To spend a month in one country is a much better way of travelling
than most Americans do when visiting Europe! They 'hurry' from one
place to the next! That's not enjoying the beauties of Europe!
Jacqueline
Dave Frightens Me
wrote:
>We survived our big trip to Europe! Thirty days blasting around twelve
>countries in a bus.
I think that would near kill me. I am not surprised you couldn't say
which country you liked best. You wouldn't have had time appreciate
them!
Are you planning on doing a slow trip in the future?
--
---
DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
---
--
PTravel
<Jacqueline> wrote in message
news:smqg72hkrqq38gt2h...@4ax.com...
Please don't assume that most Americans travel this way. My wife and I
don't take organized tours and rarely spend less than a week in a city
That's how all of our friends travel, as well.
There is a stereotype of American tourists, but I believe that is simply
because there were a lot more Americans with discretionary income travelling
for the first time (up until the last few years) and, as inexperienced
travelers they may be more visible. There's nothing inherently American
about, "if it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium." Rather, it's inherently
"I've never been to Europe and want to see as much as possible."
>
> Jacqueline
nicandal
> People ask what country we liked best. We honestly can't say. Each one
> was unique, with different attractions. It would be great to return
> and spend a month in each one.
>
> Cathy
Good to have you back! Did you find the bathrooms alright? What
in-flight movies did you watch? We're all aching to know!
:)
Alfred Molon
says...
> To spend a month in one country is a much better way of travelling
> than most Americans do when visiting Europe! They 'hurry' from one
> place to the next! That's not enjoying the beauties of Europe!
Well, 12 countries in 30 days is better than those 7 countries in 9 days
tours of Asian toursits.
--
Alfred Molon
http://www.molon.de - Photos of Asia, Africa and Europe
Mimi
<Jacqueline> wrote in message
news:smqg72hkrqq38gt2h...@4ax.com...
Jacqueline, Cathy was sufficiently blasted when she posted before her trip.
By frequent posters including Americans.
Remember, Americans get much shorter vacations/holidays than do Europeans.
Making multiple month-long trips across the Atlantic is hard to imagine for
most people, let alone pay for.
Plus there's lots to see in the US.
Marianne
Runge
She posted about travelling and martin could not bear that.
Nvm how long she spent in a country or another, let's hope that first trip
made her want to come back and spend more time in one country or another.
Now of course the title of her post is a joke, but nevertheless....
Cathy has never visited LA downtown in the evening.
"Mimi" <joh...@nowhere.com> a écrit dans le message de news:
Uf-dnZTgjrx3DOXZ...@comcast.com...
LekkerBelgischBier
Its easy. Just leave your job !!
Claim Guy
days on a buse covering twelve countries.
I think those tours should be banned.
Alan
"Claim Guy" <jason....@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1148756014.1...@y43g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> Survival sounds like the correct adjective to describe the chaos of 30
> days on a buse covering twelve countries.
>
> I think those tours should be banned.
>
with sightseeing and milage does it
Cathy L
Oh, please, please don't assume that most Americans travel this way.
Give me a break!
I'm going to get real tired, real fast of people telling us how we
should have spent OUR time and money.
If you're not interested in "how we spent our spring vacation", by all
means block out anything I wright.
It's amasing, the last days were spent in Amsterdam, we visited Anne
Frank's house. We bought two books there. The most important message
they are trying to get across is Tolerance. Being respectfull of other
people's choices. Please respect mine.
Cathy
Hatunen
<michael...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>Mimi wrote:
>> Remember, Americans get much shorter vacations/holidays than do Europeans.
>
>Its easy. Just leave your job !!
My solution: retire.
************* DAVE HATUNEN (hat...@cox.net) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *
Cathy L
wrote:
Ha ha. It did cost me about $20 for bathrooms. They ranged from .20 to
1.00 euros. The uni- sex thing wasn't a problem. The long lines were
brutal.
The United Airlines flight from JFK to London was fantastic! You know
I don't remember the movies. It seems so long ago. We had the TV's in
the seats in front of us. We had a choice of seven movies. You could
watch three of them in the time it took to get there.
Coming home was a differnt story. Lufthansa Had the screens in the
ceiling. They had one movie scheduled, but the system broke, so we saw
nothing!
Cathy
Keith Anderson
wrote:
>We survived our big trip to Europe! Thirty days blasting around twelve
It's good to hear that you're (a) back safe and not dead from
exhaustion, (b) that you enjoyed yourselves and (c) that after all the
ribbing you had before you went about bathrooms, in-flight movies,
toliet paper and whether the French would eat you alive, that you're
back to tell everyone you enjoyed yourselves.
What's better still is that you say you'd like to spend a month in
each of the countries you visited.
Welcome back!
Keith, Bristol, UK
Email: usenet[dot]20[dot]keefy[at]spamgourmet[dot]com
This is a sp*mtrap, but I will get your mail!
Cathy L
wrote:
>We survived our big trip to Europe! Thirty days blasting around twelve
There were 45 poeple on the bus. One gentleman from San Francisco, a
couple from Florida, three people from New Zealand and the rest from
Australia. They were all great! People from Australia have so much in
common with us. Just, like, upsidedown.
Cathy
Cathy L
wrote:
>Survival sounds like the correct adjective to describe the chaos of 30
>days on a buse covering twelve countries.
>
>I think those tours should be banned.
Yep, such a "tolerant" point of view.
Let's see, I don't like it, so it should be banned.
My word!
Cathy
Cathy L
wrote:
Keith,
Thank you for the kind words. France and the French people were
wonderful! Now those Italians, that's a different story.
The worst paper was near the Tower of London. It was like wax paper.
Cathy
Cathy L
wrote:
>We survived our big trip to Europe! Thirty days blasting around twelve
OK, hubby has finished typing on the lap top.
Cathy
Europe Trip
April 21 - May 22
We survived our big trip to Europe! Thirty days blasting around twelve
countries in a bus. It was the "European Masterpiece" tour by Cosmos.
Everything went fine, with no problems what so ever. We stayed at
three star hotels. We figured we could have taken other tours with
more expensive hotels, but we didn't think we would spend that much
time in them. We were right! A couple of the hotels were pushing the
three star rating, while a number of others were actually four stars.
Breakfasts were always included and were quite adequate. We signed up
for over $2,000 worth of optional events. It kept us busy day and
night.
We have never been on a cruise, so it was nice sleeping on a boat for
two nights. On the trip to Greece we were on the boat for 17 hours. On
the return to Italy it was almost 24 hours.
People ask what country we liked best. We honestly can't say. Each one
was unique, with different attractions. It would be great to return
and spend a month in each one.
Friday 4/21
We left JFK 5 minutes early on a B777. We had a 150 mph tail wind,
flew at 36,000 ft. We got whole cans of soda and a bag of trail mix.
Hot face cloth. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, peas and corn. Water,
grapes, cheese & crackers, salad, roll & butter, cake, another full
can of soda. Coffee and tea. Lemon aid. Breakfast roll, butter and
jelly, fruit. Choice of 7 movies replayed 3 times. We could hear
Ground Control, Tower & Departure Control. Couldn't land at Heathrow
before 6 AM.
Saturday 4/22
The plane had to circle a few times because we were early and the
airport had a 6AM curfew. We went through customs and then got our
luggage. We saw the Cosmos "Lady in Red". She led us to the bus.
We got to our hotel at 8AM. We had to wait until 10AM for a room. Then
the hotel screwed up and the room wasn't clean.
We took the #27 bus to Baker St. Then the "Big Bus" around the city,
then a boat cruise on the Themes River. We had a late lunch at
McDonalds, then back to the hotel on the #27 bus.
Sunday 4/23
Back on the #27 bus to Baker St and the "Big Bus". We rode around
some more and got off at Harrods. We had lunch there, ( spaghetti
bolognaise). Then we took the subway from Kingsbridge, to Regents
something. We walked to the British Museum. We saw the Rosetta Stone
and Greek exhibit. Then we walked back to our hotel. It was a bit
rainy today.
Monday 4/24
Rode the Cosmos bus to the port of Dover. We saw the white cliffs.
Rode the ferry, (had a great chicken lunch). We got off at Calais,
France. We met the Cosmos Tour Director and driver. We rode to Paris
in the front seat. We got to our hotel about 8PM. There was a lot of
traffic. We had a bottle of wine in the hotel lounge. It cost 14
euros. We walked around a little bit, but it was raining.
Tuesday 4/25
We took the Cosmos tour around the city. We had a great local guide.
She led us all around the Notre Dame Cathedral. Then the bus dropped
us off in the center of the city. We walked around the Concord and up
the Champs Elysees. We stopped for a good spaghetti bolognaise
lunch. Then walked up to the Arc de Triomphe. We sat and watched the
crazy traffic around the circle. Through the tunnel and to the
monument. Then we took the subway to the Trocadero. We walked the
bridge over the Seine River. Then we took a one and a half hour boat
trip on the river. Then we walked to the Eiffel Tower and hung around
for quite a while. Then we walked to the subway station and took the
#6 train. We had to walk about a mile underground to find the right
train. We took the train to the hotel area, (mostly above ground). We
had to ask directions and made it back to our hotel. We bought a
bottle of coke and a bottle of wine at little market down the street
from the hotel. The wine cost 3 euros. They opened the bottle of wine
for us. The weather was great the whole day!
Wednesday 4/26
Off on the bus again. There is light rain this morning. We travel
south through Blois and then parallel to the River Loire past the
castles of Chaumont and Amboise. We saw the Troglodyte houses built
into the rocks. Then a lunch stop in Tours. We had spaghetti bluenose
at La Tratta. The waiter is going to open a bread and desert store in
New York. His girlfriend lives in Trenton, NJ. The place had a very
small spiral staircase downstairs to the uni-bathroom.
We took the Autoroute L'Aqitaine as far as Pointers. South again to
Saintes, then through the Champagne wine-growing area as far as
Angouleme, then 60 miles to Bordeaux.
We stayed in a nice hotel in Bordeaux, in the center of the city. The
trolley passed right in front. Dinner was included. It was pork,
potatoes and carrots. Nice cake to dessert. Two half crafs of wine
were 8 euros each. Quite high for being house wine, in the heart of
"wine country".
Thursday 4/27
On the road by 7:30 am. We travel eastward bypassing Toulouse to the
old fort city of Carcassonne,(at the foothills of the Pyrenees). We
had more spaghetti bolognaise in a restaurant in the center of the
city. Then across the Spanish border, (no guards were there), on
through Catalonia, and once across the River Ter and on to Barcelona.
We took the optional buffet dinner at a place on the La Romblas,
including wine and soda. Then we saw professional flamenco dancers,
singers and guitarists. We had a glass of champagne during the show.
Friday 4/28
We took a tour around Barcelona. Drove around Monjuich to see the
Olympic Stadium and a panoramic view of the port and city. Then to the
city center to Plaza Catalunya and Paseo de Garcia to see Gaudi's
architectural masterpieces in the Houses Batilo and Mila and the
Sagrada Familia.
In the afternoon we took the optional trip to Montserrat. Monserrat
means the "sawed mountain", in Catalan. It is in the center of
Catalonia, about 25 miles northwest of Barcelona. It sits way on top
of a mountain. The famous Romanesque sculpture of "La Morenta", (the
little dark one), presides over the XI century Benedictine Monastery.
Dinner at the hotel and a little walk around the neighborhood.
Saturday 4/29
Left Barcelona at 7:45. It's a nice sunny day. We backtrack North to
the French boarder into the Herault region. We stopped at Avignon to
see its world famous bridge. Seven Popes resided there during the 13th
century. We were very rushed, but managed to have the best pizza we
ever had in our lives! Then we headed westwards across the Rhone
towards the Mediterranean and our hotel at the Nice airport.
The optional trip to Monaco was fantastic! We rode along the water and
up into the hills. We had dinner in the La Malizia restaurant. Wine,
tossed salad, pork, carrots and string beans. Tiramisu for dessert. We
walked around the Principality of Monaco and saw the Cathedral and the
Palace of Prince Rainier. We saw the houses of Princes Caroline and
her brother's house next door, (Caroline's is white and her brother's
is pink). Then we went to the casino in Monte Carlo. Cathy lost 15
euros. We had a drink at the outside café in front of the main casino.
We got back to Nice close to midnight.
Sunday 4/30
Breakfast was messed up. Another group eat our food. They couldn't
cook more food fast enough. We took a tour around the middle of the
old town of Nice. Cathy and I walked down to the beach. There is no
sand, just rocks. Then we took the high costal road along the Riviera
and stopped at a perfume store in Eze, (didn't buy anything). Then to
the hilly Tuscany region of Italy. We stopped at a truck stop for
lunch. We had a coke-pizza-fries combo. The pepperoni pizza was
crappy.
We now went to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower and the Square of
Miracles. Our tour director rented a little train to take us for the
parking area to the tower. It was a good idea. Not a great area. We
had to walk past about 100 "brothers" from Africa. Selling watches and
other junk.
We spent the night in a little town outside Florence. We had a nice
chicken dinner at the hotel.
Monday 5/1
May Day holiday. We took a group photo, (10 euros), overlooking
Florence. We bought stuff from a nice lady in the overlook. Then down
to a stop at a leather store. We bought Cathy a neckless. Then a one
and a half hour walking tour all around Florence. We left for Rome
around 1pm. Headed through the Chianti country to our hotel in Rome.
We took the optional Night with Dinner tour. We saw the Piazza
Barberini, Triton Fountain, Via Veneto, Villa Borghese, the Spanish
Steps and Trevi Fountain. Then to a restaurant for dinner.
People are starting to get colds. Frank Ryan is first.
Tuesday 5/2
Up and out early, at 7am, in order to get to the Vatican early. The
optional tours takes us through the Vatican museum and then to the
Sistine Chapel. Then through St Peter's Square and to the Roman Forum
and the Colosseum.
In the afternoon we took the optional trip to the Roman Hills. We
drove through the ancient villages in the Alban Hills. To the Pope's
summer residence of Castel Gandolfo and Lake Albano. Then to Frascati
where we had the famous local white wines with our dinner. Two ladies
sang opera songs with dinner. Great pizza!
Wednesday 5/3
We leave Rome at 7am, heading South, down past Mount Vesuvius. Now to
Pompeii, where time stopped in 79 A.D. We had a real good tour guide
that sung songs in the forum. A fantastic place, with villas, temples
and stores.
Now we head for the Sorrento area and our hotel in the little town of
Massa Lubrense.
Optional Sorrento Flavours at a restaurant in Sorrento. Then to a
musical show at the Tasso Theatre.
Thursday 5/4
We head out at 7:20am to catch the boat at Sorrento, to Capri. We took
a fast boat to the island. Then a guided tour of three levels of the
island. The first is the port of Marina Grande. Then the next level,
the town of Capri and finally the top town of Ana Capri. After the
tour, we had lunch and had the 10-euro special. Cathy had spaghetti. I
had pizza with cokes and ice cream. Then we took a boat ride around
the entire island. Then our boat back to Sorrento and bus to our
hotel. Dinner in the hotel was very good. Spaghetti and meatballs,
beans, twice baked potatoes. Then we took a little walk around town
and a good nights sleep.
There a tons of lemon trees around here.
Friday 5/5
We didn't have to leave until 10am. We stopped for two hours in
Sorrento. Bought an 80 euro music box that plays the Capri song. Then
went to a super market and bought wine, soda and cookies. We are
headed to Bari.
The boat left at 8pm. We started the party at 8:30 on the back deck.
The room was quite nice. A great nights sleep.
Saturday 5/6
Breakfast at 8:30am. We had to be out of the room at 11am. We left the
boat in Patras Greece, at 1pm.
We waited for our bus to be unloaded then headed to our hotel in
Olympia. They had a snack waiting for us at the hotel. Some meat,
bread and salad stuff I don't eat. A glass of Ouzo, (liquorish tasting
booze). We took the optional tour of the site of the original Olympic
games to honor the King of Deities. The games were held here between
776 BC and 393 AD. It was a short walk from our hotel. Then a nice
dinner at the hotel.
Sunday 5/7
We left Olympia and rode into the mountains of Arcadia by way of
Tripolis and over the Corinth Canal to Athens. We stopped at the canal
for lunch, (we had some not great pizza), and watched the draw bridge
go DOWN! The coolest ever! Then to our hotel in Athens.
We took the optional evening trip. First by bus to the center of
Athens where we picked up the "train" that took us for a 20 minute
ride through the streets of the old part of Athens and the "Plaka"
district. Then back on the bus to a Taverna for a Greek feast with
unlimited local wine. On the way back to the hotel we view the
illuminated Acropolis.
Monday 5/8
There are 1400 islands in Greece of which 169 are inhabited. We
visited three of the Saronic islands of Aegina, the biggeast one,
Poros and Hydra. On Hydra there are no cars, the only means of
transportation is the donkey. We took another optional bus ride around
the island of Aegina. The trip also included a snack of grilled
Octopus, fried squid, a choriatiki salad along with a drink of Ouzo.
Lunch and a Greek dancing show was included on the boat, (M/V
Georgios).
We got back to the hotel close to 8pm. We walked down to a market and
bought more wine, coke, chips and cookies.
Tuesday 5/9
We took a guided tour around Athens, walking up the hill to the
Acropolis and the Parthenon. Then two hour's free time walking around
the Plaka. We had lunch at a little court restaurant. We had the place
almost to ourselves. Cathy had spaghetti bolognaise again. I had a
real crappy pizza.
We rode the bus to Petra to catch the boat back to Italy. The 8pm boat
was cancelled, so we had to rush and catch the 6pm boat. We boarded
at 5pm, with the party starting at 6:00 and early to bed.
Wednesday 5/10
Got up at 7:45 and went to breakfast at 8:30. Then back to bed till 12
noon. Showered and went to lunch, (spaghetti bolognaise). We docked
in Anconia at 3:30pm. We had to wait a very long time for our bus to
come off the boat.
We then rode to San Marino, up-up-up to the top of Monte Titano. We
had to walk the last part because buses are not allowed. Our hotel is
right in the middle of the town, way up there. It is the most
beautiful place we have been. We had dinner in the hotel roof
restaurant. Then we took a walk around town as dark approached.
Thursday 5/11
After breakfast we walked around town and did some shopping, (bought
the pocket books). We left for the Venice area around 11am. We ride
along the Adriatic coastline through the Po Delta to our hotel in
Treviso. Stopping at Pomposa for lunch.
We took the optional trip to Venice at night. A motorboat ride along
the Giudecca Canal. Then a leisurely walk to St. Mark's Square. Then
walked about four blocks off St. Mark's to a restaurant for a four
course dinner with live music. Saw St. Mark's at night then a boat
ride back to get our bus to the hotel.
Friday 5/12
Took the include tour back to St' Mark's, with a visit inside St.
Mark's Basilica. Then to watch Venetian glass blowers. Then we took
the optional gondola trip for 50 minutes.
Now we took a private boat across the lagoon to the picturesque
fishing island of Burano, with it colorfully painted houses. Looked at
the lace making and walked all around the town. Then back to Venice
and the boat back to the bus to our hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
Saturday 5/13
On the road at 7:45, headed for Vienna. We went by way of the Tarvisio
Pass into Austria. We stopped for lunch and spent two hours in Velden,
on Lake Worth. Then Northwards through the Styrian area. Then to our
hotel in Vienna.
We went to the optional Kursalon Waltz Show. We listened to the
orchestra and the operetta singers performing a program of some of the
most famous melodies of the Strauss family including, the Blue Danuabe
Waltz.
Sunday 5/14
We took the tour of Vienna, including the State Opera, Parliament and
the Town Hall. We stopped and walked in the Heros' Square to view the
Hofburg and then inside St' Stephen's Cathedral. We had lunch at
McDonalds.
Then we took the optional guided tour of the palace of Schonbrunn,
which was the summer residence of the Austrian Emperors for nearly 150
years. It was built between 1695 and 1749 with over 100 rooms and
beautiful gardens.
In the evening we took the optional Wine Village Country Dinner. It
was way outside of the city, in a small town. The meal was great, with
a lot of Heurigen, (new wine). Which has a lot more alcohol than
regular wine, (I know). We met another group that was from Koln,
Germany. Even though we couldn't understand each other, we all sang
together and had a great time!
Monday 5/15
Up and out at 7:45am. We head westwards, almost parallel with the
Danube, to Mozart's Salzburg for a stop. We took the optional one and
a half hour guided tour of Salzburg. We started from the Nonntal
Convent and finished at Mozart's birthplace.
We had Chicken McNuggets for lunch, and then strolled down the
Getreidegasse and around the old town.
Back into the bus and through Bavarian Germany, then back into Austria
and on to the very heart of the Tyrol and its capital, Innsbrook.
We had dinner at the hotel and then took a short walk around. We
bought two bottles of coke for 5.60 euros.
Tuesday 5/16
We take an orientation tour that includes the famous Golden Roof. Then
we visited a glass store and walked around town for two hours. After
that we drove through the valleys and villages of the mountainous
Tyrol to the Arlberg tunnel descending into Switzerland.
We stopped for lunch and a walk around town in Vaduz, Liechtenstein's
capital. It was raining a bit. Then on to Lake Lucerne, Switzerland.
The rain completely stopped when we got there.
We went to the optional Dinner and Swiss Folklore. We walked to the
old town and had a pork dinner. Then the Swiss stuff; yodeling,
blowing the alphorn, accordion playing and traditional dances. We also
had cheese fondue.
Wednesday 5/17
First, the optional boat ride around Lake Lucerne. Then a tour around
the town. Seeing the city walls, wooden bridge, ornate patrician
houses lining cobblestone streets and the Lion Monument.
We walked around the city for about three hours. A ten-year-old girl
tried to pick Cathy's pocket. She was on a little scooter. Cathy
bought a pair of sandals for 150 euros. We went back to the hotel and
took a rest. Dinner at the hotel at 7pm. A lot of noise outside. It
was the big soccer game, (Barcelona won).
Thursday 5/18
We left Lake Lucerne and head North. We enter France for a bit, before
going into Germany. We pass through the Black Forrest area. Trier is
the oldest city in Germany, (just a point of interest). It's raining a
bit as we leave. It clears up in an hour though.
We leave the autobahn and go to the town of Oberwesel. We get on a
boat and cruise the Rhine River past the legendary Lorelei Rock. Lost
of castles along the way. During WWII, America and Germany made a pact
not to bomb historic sites. The Germans disguised some tunnel
entrances to look like old castles so we wouldn't bomb them. Pretty
sneaky. We got off the boat at Boppard. Back on the bus, (speed limit
130k), for the trip to our hotel at the Koln-Bonn airport.
Dinner at our hotel, (Holiday Inn). No chance to go into town. It's
too far and dinner wasn't over until 8:30pm.
Friday 5/19
More rain as we leave the hotel heading for Amsterdam. We go through
the industrial Ruhr . Then into Holland and direct to a diamond
cutting and polishing store in Amsterdam. After the demo and sales
pitch we are loose to wander around the area. We get some hot dogs
from a stand in front of a museum. It's rainy and very windy.
Now we go on a guide tour around the city. Dam Square and a long walk
through the Red Light District. Up and down a number of alleys. Seeing
the girls behind the glass doors. Coffee houses all over the place
where you go buy and smoke pot. Then we all took a boat ride on one of
the canals.
We go to the optional dinner at an authentic 16th century
establishment, the Restaurant Haesje Claes, which is part of Amsterdam
history. We have a great piece of steak!
Back at the hotel we meet at the bar for a farewell drink. Saying
goodbyes to everyone. Most are going back to London to wrap up the
tour. We are spending two extra days in Amsterdam.
Saturday 5/20
We got up a bit late and went down and had breakfast. The best we have
had the whole trip! Then we took the hotel shuttle to the Schiphol
airport, (means "boats in a hole". It seems that the entire airport
property is on reclaimed land. When they emptied the water out they
found a number of boats). Then a train to Amsterdam Center station.
Then we took a tram to Ann Frank's house.
We walked around the city for a couple of hours. We had some more
spaghetti bolognaise and a pizza for lunch. We caught another tram
back to Center station. Train to the airport. Shuttle to the hotel.
Sunday 5/21
Back to the city and walked around some more. It's drizzling, so we
bought two cheap umbrellas. We stopped for lunch. Cathy had some
chicken. I had a crappy hamburger, (should have gone down the block to
McDonalds).
Back to the hotel to pack for the trip home.
Monday 5/22
Up at 5:30am. Packed everything up and went to breakfast. We catch the
shuttle to the airport and get a plane to Frankfort, then another to
JFK. We rented a car at Hertz and drive back to "Good Old Fishkill".
Padraig Breathnach
>Thank you for the kind words. France and the French people were
>wonderful! Now those Italians, that's a different story.
>
>The worst paper was near the Tower of London. It was like wax paper.
>
Hmm. I think we are getting the trip report -- in bits, all over the
place, assemble it yourself.
I presume that you mean toilet paper.
What was wrong with the Italians?
Glad the trip went well.
--
PB
The return address has been MUNGED
My travel writing: http://www.iol.ie/~draoi/
Alfred Molon
jason....@gmail.com says...
> Survival sounds like the correct adjective to describe the chaos of 30
> days on a buse covering twelve countries.
>
> I think those tours should be banned.
What a nonsense. Some people like being in a different place every day.
And since the tour was organised, everything must have been prearranged,
so no chaos at all.
bar...@cix.compulink.co.uk
bill.l...@verizon.net (Cathy L) wrote:
> *From:* Cathy L <bill.l...@verizon.net>
> *Date:* Sat, 27 May 2006 19:44:49 GMT
>
> On Sat, 27 May 2006 14:31:12 GMT, Cathy L <bill.l...@verizon.net>
> wrote:
>
> >We survived our big trip to Europe! Thirty days blasting around twelve
> >countries in a bus. We left on April 21 and returned on May 22. It was
> >the "European Masterpiece" tour by Cosmos. Everything went fine, with
> >no problems what so ever. We stayed at three star hotels. We figured
> >we could have taken other tours with more expensive hotels, but we
> >didn't think we would spend that much time in them. We were right! A
> >couple of the hotels were pushing the three star rating, while a
> >number of others were actually four stars. Breakfasts were always
> >included and were quite adequate. We signed up for over $2,000 worth
> >of optional events. It kept us busy day and night.
>
> OK, hubby has finished typing on the lap top.
>
<snip length report>
As a matter of interest, were the activities within cities (e.g. the trips
around London and the visit to the Eiffel Tower) organised by Cosmos, or
was that all in free time?
You must love spaghetti bolognese - or maybe hate it by now!
----------------------------------------------
The poster formerly known as bar...@cix.compulink.co.uk.
PTravel
No, give me a break. It's incorrect to assume that most Americans travel
this way.
>
> I'm going to get real tired, real fast of people telling us how we
> should have spent OUR time and money.
I didn't tell you what you should do with either. Mine was only a response
to Jacqueline who thought that your experience is typical of how Americans
travel. It's not.
If you had fun, that's fine. It certainly doesn't make any difference to me
how you travel.
>
> If you're not interested in "how we spent our spring vacation", by all
> means block out anything I wright.
What have you wrought?
I didn't respond to anything that you've written. I did respond to a post
by Jacqueline. Are you Jacqueline? No? Then what's your problem?
>
> It's amasing, the last days were spent in Amsterdam, we visited Anne
> Frank's house. We bought two books there. The most important message
> they are trying to get across is Tolerance. Being respectfull of other
> people's choices. Please respect mine.
I respect your choice to this extent: if that's how you want to travel,
fine. Some people are comfortable travelling unescorted, some are not. I
would not, however, want people to assume that this is the predominant mode
of travel for Americans.
You seem very defensive.
>
> Cathy
Runge
laugh at you
"Padraig Breathnach" <padr...@MUNGEDiol.ie> a écrit dans le message de
news: 13bh7295hb84eicne...@4ax.com...
Dave Frightens Me
<alfred_mo...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>In article <smqg72hkrqq38gt2h...@4ax.com>, Jacqueline <>
>says...
>
>> To spend a month in one country is a much better way of travelling
>> than most Americans do when visiting Europe! They 'hurry' from one
>> place to the next! That's not enjoying the beauties of Europe!
>
>Well, 12 countries in 30 days is better than those 7 countries in 9 days
>tours of Asian toursits.
I'd like to see someone travel to every country in 1 year. That would
be interesting.
Dave Frightens Me
<alfred_mo...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>In article <1148756014.1...@y43g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>,
>jason....@gmail.com says...
>> Survival sounds like the correct adjective to describe the chaos of 30
>> days on a buse covering twelve countries.
>>
>> I think those tours should be banned.
>
>What a nonsense. Some people like being in a different place every day.
>And since the tour was organised, everything must have been prearranged,
>so no chaos at all.
Then you can go home knowing you've done Europe. Just what is the
point anyway?
Sorry Cathy, but I just see how that would have been enjoyable!
JohnT
>>Cathy
>
> OK, hubby has finished typing on the lap top.
>
> Cathy
>
> Europe Trip
> April 21 - May 22
>
>
> We survived our big trip to Europe! Thirty days blasting around twelve
> countries in a bus. It was the "European Masterpiece" tour by Cosmos.
> Everything went fine, with no problems what so ever.
And it was a good trip report which I enjoyed reading. I don't think that I
would want to do as many miles in so many days but, having said that, I once
did a 15 day tour in California in which we covered 2,000 miles. It seems as
if you enjoyed the trip and the experience and that is good. and please do
stay in touch with the group. Yes, some of us poked gentle fun at you, but
you soon found out how to retaliate. It was, I hope, all (or most) in good
humour. But one thing Bill didn't cover in his report - did the bus have a
bathroom?
JohnT
Alfred Molon
deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu says...
> Then you can go home knowing you've done Europe. Just what is the
> point anyway?
Looks like you feel they "desecrated" the continent, by quickly moving
from one place to the next. But it's in fact a perfectly legitimate way
of travelling. Some people like spending one month in one place, others
like to rush around. I guess Cathy wanted to see as much as possible in
a limited time.
It's just a pity that she spent just one day in Paris (two or three are
the minimum to at least see the major things) and I wonder why they made
that stop in Innsbruck (not Insbrook), instead of visiting nearby
Munich. And actually they should have moved from A to B by plane,
instead of spending hours on a bus. When you visit so many (far away)
places in a short time you need to fly.
Gregory Morrow
gRunge wrote:
> Curiosity, Cathy you don't have to answer them, they are just trying to
> laugh at you
Like we do with you...???
--
Best
Greg
Padraig Breathnach
>Curiosity, Cathy you don't have to answer them,
>
Of course she doesn't. She is a free individual. But she has exercised
her freedom to participate here, and she is free to answer my
question.
>they are just trying to laugh at you
>
Bollocks. For a start, I am one person, not a "they". If you want to
make your allegation about my motives credible, adduce evidence that I
mock people other than those, who like you, set out to cause trouble.
And I am interested in what Cathy says about Italians. They don't
usually get a bad press here.
Cathy L
Dave,
That's quite alright. I believe you truly "just can't see how that
would have been enjoyable".
I am a little more broad minded and believe people enjoy different
things different ways. Hopefully you can try harder to be a bit more
understanding.
Cathy
Cathy L
Alfred,
We would really love to spend a lot of time in Paris. It is so lovely
and easy to get around. Hopefully some day.
Also, my husband and I both have German roots. We spent the least time
in Germany.
Our next trip we will rent a car and travel around by ourselves.
We have most of the major tourist spots out of the way.
Cathy
Cathy L
Barney,
We didn't do any of the Cosmos optional tours in London and Paris. We
opted to strike out on our own.
Believe me, I don't think I will ever eat another bowl of spaghetti
bolognese as long as I live!
It was just that Italian food was the only food, besides McDonalds,
that we could trust.
Cathy
Cathy L
High John,
The bus did have a bathroom, but they wouldn't let anyone use it. The
stairs down to it was so steep, I don't believe many people could have
gotten down there when the bus was movig anyway. We stopped every two
hours, so it never became a problem.
You don't get much liquid intake in Europe anyway. When we ordered
Cokes, we always got the smallest bottles or cans.
Cathy
dgs
> gRunge wrote:
>
>
>>Curiosity, Cathy you don't have to answer them, they are just trying to
>>laugh at you
>
>
>
> Like we do with you...???
Got a mouse in your pocket?
I snort with minor disgust at the posts that quote spunge's useless
junk. The fewer people that quote his crap, the better.
Into the bit bucket with you - where you can join spunge.
*plonk*
--
dgs
Iceman
>> tours of Asian toursits.
> I'd like to see someone travel to every country in 1 year. That would
> be interesting.
I remember reading about two people who did. They managed to go
everywhere in one year except Afghanistan and one African country. I
assume in the most dangerous countries they probably either flew in and
out without leaving the airport or went to a safer neighboring country,
then stepped over a border line and then right back.
Lennart Petersen
"Cathy L" <bill.l...@verizon.net> skrev i meddelandet
news:67lh72lbuo0dco5pb...@4ax.com...
As long as you're paying for travelling with own earned money I think anyone
should be allowed to travel at the wanted speed and do as many countries and
places you like.
It's the typical outcry from this n.g "you can´t travel that fast" "too
short" "you can't do so many places"
Better to travel by plane ? Don't think so , you'll spend half the time as
a sardine in the plane and rest in the airports and they're typically real
boring.
So travel as you like, ask questions about places and travel modes and have
a real nice trip.
Tamzen Cannoy
Cathy L <bill.l...@verizon.net> wrote:
> Believe me, I don't think I will ever eat another bowl of spaghetti
> bolognese as long as I live!
>
> It was just that Italian food was the only food, besides McDonalds,
> that we could trust.
>
> Cathy
I admit to burning curiosity. Why was Italian the only food you felt you
could trust? For food safety? That doesn't make a lot of sense since it
comes out of the same kitchens. Just for familiarity?
I confess that food is extrememly important to me when traveling and I
try to hit at least one Michelin starred restaurant each trip but that I
love finding a place full of nothing but locals and eating whatever they
eat. If I don't like it then I never have to try that again. :)
Ian F.
news:YS2eg.41671$Lm5....@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com...
> You seem very defensive.
*sigh* It's a troll...<talkingheads>same as it ever was</talkingheads>
Ian
Padraig Breathnach
I wasn't subjected to a similar announcement, but I might now be in
dgs's killfile.
One problem with the killfile strategy for dealing with pest
infestation is that some pests just won't go away, and we have a
considerable transient or occasional membership of the group -- so
posters like gRunge get some readers, and they might manage to distort
people's perceptions of the group.
People who are not here much might benefit from warnings that gRunge
is a special class of participant. That's one reason why I don't
killfile him.
k
>
> There is a stereotype of American tourists, but I believe that is simply
> because there were a lot more Americans with discretionary income
> travelling for the first time (up until the last few years) and, as
> inexperienced travelers they may be more visible. There's nothing
> inherently American about, "if it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium."
> as possible."
>
>
>>
>> Jacqueline
>
>
Thank you Ptravel. You expressed my feelings better than I might have.
Keith
k
Keith
"Cathy L" <bill.l...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:nrah725vsfqrn46o7...@4ax.com...
irwell
go wrong.
The sophisticates may pooh pooh them but for a first
time travel experience they are great, whet your appetite
for more in depth visits.
Thanks for the report.
Joseph Coulter
news:0o2i72tn2bb34pi15...@4ax.com:
> We took the Autoroute L'Aqitaine as far as Pointers. South again to
>>> Saintes, then through the Champagne wine-growing area as far as
>>> Angouleme, then 60 miles to Bordeaux.
check your notes on this, champagne, last I looked is east of Paris, you
were in the Loire Valley then in the area where they make Cognac before
entering Bordeaux.
>>>
>>> We stayed in a nice hotel in Bordeaux, in the center of the city.
The
>>> trolley passed right in front. Dinner was included. It was pork,
>>> potatoes and carrots. Nice cake to dessert. Two half crafs of wine
>>> were 8 euros each. Quite high for being house wine, in the heart of
>>> "wine country".
>>>
>>> Thursday 4/27
>>>
>>> On the road by 7:30 am. We travel eastward bypassing Toulouse to the
>>> old fort city of Carcassonne,(at the foothills of the Pyrenees). We
>>> had more spaghetti bolognaise in a restaurant in the center of the
You entirely missed the dordogne, the center of prehistory, you simply
must go back. Also of note are Albi, for Toulouse Lautrec, and Cordes
sur Ciel for the mow famous Sugar Museum.
>
--
Joseph Coulter
Cruises and Vacations
http://www.josephcoulter.com/
Joe Pessarra
>
> Cathy
>
> Europe Trip
> April 21 - May 22
(Trip Report snipped)
Good report. We read every word. Glad you had a great time. Reminds us of
our trip reports we write each time we go to Europe or on a cruise. We like
to read them over again from time to time, and enjoy the moments that we had
once more.
=========================================================
Your previous post - Also, my husband and I both have German roots. We spent
the least time in Germany.
Our next trip we will rent a car and travel around by ourselves.
===========================================================
When you get ready for that trip to Germany, if you are interested, send us
a note, and we will give you some notes from some of our many trips there to
visit our distant relatives in Bavaria, as well as other places. Except for
our first trip, which we took by train, we have always rented a car. Works
great.
Joe in Texas
joepe...@cox.net
Gregory Morrow
Padraig Breathnach wrote:
> dgs <dgs...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >Gregory Morrow wrote:
> >> gRunge wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>Curiosity, Cathy you don't have to answer them, they are just trying to
> >>>laugh at you
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Like we do with you...???
> >
> >Got a mouse in your pocket?
> >
> >I snort with minor disgust at the posts that quote spunge's useless
> >junk. The fewer people that quote his crap, the better.
> >
> >Into the bit bucket with you - where you can join spunge.
> >
> I wasn't subjected to a similar announcement, but I might now be in
> dgs's killfile.
Doubtful, you are IMO one of the posters here who is *least* likely to
be in anyone's killfile...
--
Best
Greg
Unknown
>Oh, please, please don't assume that most Americans travel this way.
>Give me a break!
>
>should have spent OUR time and money.
>
>means block out anything I wright.
>
I only meant that you enjoy a country (region) more if you stay there
longer! Than you may 'taste and feel' the soul of that area! Often you
discover that there are far more interesting things to see than the
usuall touristic stuff!
Jacqueline
nicandal
> Then you can go home knowing you've done Europe. Just what is the
> point anyway?
>
> Sorry Cathy, but I just see how that would have been enjoyable!
> --
> ---
> DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
> ---
Oh Jesus, here we go again.
Each to their own, people. Peace!
Runge
How right.
"Cathy L" <bill.l...@verizon.net> a écrit dans le message de news:
67lh72lbuo0dco5pb...@4ax.com...
Runge
"Gregory Morrow" <gregor...@earthlink.net> a écrit dans le message de
news: 1148768080.6...@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Runge
bucket of your's !
Thanks for welcoming me
"dgs" <dgs...@hotmail.com> a écrit dans le message de news:
4ds5scF...@individual.net...
Runge
What a twisted explanation just to say you go on reading me....
Let us just say that you tolerant travellers cannot bear one moment the fact
that you could be wrong and others may be right, trying to get through that
mess of OT and other lookie at my site, I'm the best! stuff, just to go on
enjoying travel through a NG.
I said travel, not sausages or chocolate or useless weather reports or
articles about the US and such, neither copy and paste of things we read all
by ourselves without the help of would be self appointed bad journalists.
There are enough on topic things to exchange and the old matuvu's who are
there just to make the world shiver at their intellectual potential are the
real polluters.
"Padraig Breathnach" <padr...@MUNGEDiol.ie> a écrit dans le message de
news: 31qh72d16udn4gg9r...@4ax.com...
Runge
"Gregory Morrow" <gregor...@earthlink.net> a écrit dans le message de
news: 1148790274.8...@j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Runge
"Padraig Breathnach" <padr...@MUNGEDiol.ie> a écrit dans le message de
news: 14kh72hav99d581n1...@4ax.com...
Runge
ummm not so gentle, oh well
Once they discovered Cathy was not a troll, maybe, but that took time and a
lot of thinking---> see martin's posts.
"JohnT" <johnhillri...@gmail.com> a écrit dans le message de news:
PsednUhP57v...@eclipse.net.uk...
>
> "Cathy L" <bill.l...@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:nrah725vsfqrn46o7...@4ax.com...
>>>Cathy
>>
>> OK, hubby has finished typing on the lap top.
>>
>> Cathy
>>
>> Europe Trip
>> April 21 - May 22
>>
>>
>> We survived our big trip to Europe! Thirty days blasting around twelve
>> countries in a bus. It was the "European Masterpiece" tour by Cosmos.
>> Everything went fine, with no problems what so ever.
>
a.spencer3
"Dave Frightens Me" <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> wrote in
message news:ckkh72hrnjf43424i...@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 27 May 2006 22:06:15 +0200, Alfred Molon
> <alfred_mo...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >In article <1148756014.1...@y43g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>,
> >jason....@gmail.com says...
> >> Survival sounds like the correct adjective to describe the chaos of 30
> >> days on a buse covering twelve countries.
> >>
> >> I think those tours should be banned.
> >
> >What a nonsense. Some people like being in a different place every day.
> >And since the tour was organised, everything must have been prearranged,
> >so no chaos at all.
>
> Then you can go home knowing you've done Europe. Just what is the
> point anyway?
>
> Sorry Cathy, but I just see how that would have been enjoyable!
> --
In a totally different context I have just had an otherwise intelligent
USian tell me that his forthcoming self-organised tour 8 or so Euro
countries in 3 weeks is merely 'necessary' so that they can take (literally)
hundreds of photos to enjoy in later life. The trip itself is almost an
annoyance ............
Surreyman
a.spencer3
'Out of the way'?
Is this checklist tourism?
Surreyman
Dave Frightens Me
wrote:
>You don't get much liquid intake in Europe anyway. When we ordered
>Cokes, we always got the smallest bottles or cans.
The coffees in Italy are served with a pipet.
--
---
DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
---
--
Nathalie Chiva
wrote:
>Believe me, I don't think I will ever eat another bowl of spaghetti
>bolognese as long as I live!
>
>It was just that Italian food was the only food, besides McDonalds,
>that we could trust.
Trust?!?!? What do you mean "trust"?
Nathalie in Switzerland
Cathy L
Jacqueline,
Sorry, but do you know how annoying it is to post notes giving my
experiences only to have certain people rip it apart. Do you really
thing my choice was to spend only two days in Paris. Do you NOT think
we would love to have spent months there getting to know the people
and their customs??
Cathy
Cathy L
Surreyman,
Why of course it is. Daa!
Cathy
Cathy L
<lennart....@swipnet.se> wrote:
>
>"Cathy L" <bill.l...@verizon.net> skrev i meddelandet
>news:67lh72lbuo0dco5pb...@4ax.com...
>> On Sat, 27 May 2006 23:30:58 +0100, Dave Frightens Me
>> <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> wrote:
>>
>>>On Sat, 27 May 2006 22:06:15 +0200, Alfred Molon
>>><alfred_mo...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>In article <1148756014.1...@y43g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>,
>>>>jason....@gmail.com says...
>>>>> Survival sounds like the correct adjective to describe the chaos of 30
>>>>> days on a buse covering twelve countries.
>>>>>
>>>>> I think those tours should be banned.
>>>>
>>>>What a nonsense. Some people like being in a different place every day.
>>>>And since the tour was organised, everything must have been prearranged,
>>>>so no chaos at all.
>>>
>>>Then you can go home knowing you've done Europe. Just what is the
>>>point anyway?
>>>
>>>Sorry Cathy, but I just see how that would have been enjoyable!
>>>--
>>>---
>>>DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
>>>---
>> Dave,
>>
>> That's quite alright. I believe you truly "just can't see how that
>> would have been enjoyable".
>>
>> I am a little more broad minded and believe people enjoy different
>> things different ways. Hopefully you can try harder to be a bit more
>> understanding.
>>
>> Cathy
>-------------------
>As long as you're paying for travelling with own earned money I think anyone
>should be allowed to travel at the wanted speed and do as many countries and
>places you like.
>It's the typical outcry from this n.g "you can´t travel that fast" "too
>short" "you can't do so many places"
>Better to travel by plane ? Don't think so , you'll spend half the time as
>a sardine in the plane and rest in the airports and they're typically real
>boring.
>So travel as you like, ask questions about places and travel modes and have
>a real nice trip.
>
Lennart,
Thank you very much for your understanding and support.
Cathy
Cathy L
>She already did, Lennart.
Martin,
Well now that's true, isn't it.
Cathy
Cathy L
Surreyman,
Do you know how totally true that is! That is a major point of
traveling. When we are older and unable to travel, we have the
pictures to remind us of the beautiful places we have been.
Cathy
Alfred Molon
deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu says...
> >You don't get much liquid intake in Europe anyway. When we ordered
> >Cokes, we always got the smallest bottles or cans.
>
> The coffees in Italy are served with a pipet.
That's the Espresso, which is more like a thick cream of concentrated
coffee. Not something which would quell your thirst.
--
Alfred Molon
http://www.molon.de - Photos of Asia, Africa and Europe
Cathy L
<tam...@worldbenders.com> wrote:
>In article <r0mh72t1s1edv7t3f...@4ax.com>,
> Cathy L <bill.l...@verizon.net> wrote:
>
>> Believe me, I don't think I will ever eat another bowl of spaghetti
>> bolognese as long as I live!
>>
>> It was just that Italian food was the only food, besides McDonalds,
>> that we could trust.
>>
>> Cathy
>
>I admit to burning curiosity. Why was Italian the only food you felt you
>could trust? For food safety? That doesn't make a lot of sense since it
>comes out of the same kitchens. Just for familiarity?
>
>I confess that food is extrememly important to me when traveling and I
>try to hit at least one Michelin starred restaurant each trip but that I
>love finding a place full of nothing but locals and eating whatever they
>eat. If I don't like it then I never have to try that again. :)
tamzen,
Thank you for sharing your choice of travel eating. I'm sure there are
a few people out there that enjoy the same as you. Just as many would
mine.
The word "trust" was used in the context of knowing we would like the
taste. Neither I or my husband like fish. When you can't read the
menu, it was easy to just pick things we knew.
Cathy
Cathy L
Sorry, I don't know what a "pipet" is. Besides my husband and I don't
like coffee. We are tea drinkers.
Cathy
Cathy L
<yourDROPTH...@comcast.net> wrote:
>irwell <ho...@yahoo.com> wrote in
>news:0o2i72tn2bb34pi15...@4ax.com:
>
>> We took the Autoroute L'Aqitaine as far as Pointers. South again to
>>>> Saintes, then through the Champagne wine-growing area as far as
>>>> Angouleme, then 60 miles to Bordeaux.
>
>check your notes on this, champagne, last I looked is east of Paris, you
>were in the Loire Valley then in the area where they make Cognac before
>entering Bordeaux.
>>>>
>>>> We stayed in a nice hotel in Bordeaux, in the center of the city.
>The
>>>> trolley passed right in front. Dinner was included. It was pork,
>>>> potatoes and carrots. Nice cake to dessert. Two half crafs of wine
>>>> were 8 euros each. Quite high for being house wine, in the heart of
>>>> "wine country".
>
>
>>>>
>>>> Thursday 4/27
>>>>
>>>> On the road by 7:30 am. We travel eastward bypassing Toulouse to the
>>>> old fort city of Carcassonne,(at the foothills of the Pyrenees). We
>>>> had more spaghetti bolognaise in a restaurant in the center of the
>
>You entirely missed the dordogne, the center of prehistory, you simply
>must go back. Also of note are Albi, for Toulouse Lautrec, and Cordes
>sur Ciel for the mow famous Sugar Museum.
>>
Joseph,
You are probably right. Hubby says he was plagiarizing the Cosmos
book.
It says:
Day 6 Paris-Chateaux Country-Bordeaux
Start the day by motoring south to Blois and then parallel to the
River Loire past the castles of Chaumont and Amboise for a short stop
in Tours. Take the fast and comfortable Autoroute L’Aquitaine as far
as Poitiers, beautifully situated on a rocky plateau above the valley
of the Rivers Clain and Boivre. South again to Saintes, then the Grand
Champagne wine-growing area as far as Angouleme. Another 60 miles and
you’ll be in Bordeaux on the banks of the Garonne.
Cathy
Cathy L
<joepe...@cox.net> wrote:
>
>"Cathy L" <bill.l...@verizon.net> wrote in message
>news:nrah725vsfqrn46o7...@4ax.com...
>> OK, hubby has finished typing on the lap top.
>>
>> Cathy
>>
>> Europe Trip
>> April 21 - May 22
>
>(Trip Report snipped)
>
>Good report. We read every word. Glad you had a great time. Reminds us of
>our trip reports we write each time we go to Europe or on a cruise. We like
>to read them over again from time to time, and enjoy the moments that we had
>once more.
>=========================================================
>Your previous post - Also, my husband and I both have German roots. We spent
>the least time in Germany.
>
>Our next trip we will rent a car and travel around by ourselves.
>===========================================================
>When you get ready for that trip to Germany, if you are interested, send us
>a note, and we will give you some notes from some of our many trips there to
>visit our distant relatives in Bavaria, as well as other places. Except for
>our first trip, which we took by train, we have always rented a car. Works
>great.
>
>Joe in Texas
>joepe...@cox.net
>
>Joe,
Thank you. We love to travel by car, not making any reservations. Just
wandering around, staying out of the big cities.
Cathy
>
David Horne, _the_ chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn and prestwich tesco 24h offy
[]
> Better to travel by plane ? Don't think so , you'll spend half the time as
> a sardine in the plane and rest in the airports and they're typically real
> boring.
It depends. On a trip last summer (Krakow, Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava)
we found the best way to get from Krakow to Budapest was actually to fly
from Katowice! Best in terms of time saved (and I'm counting door to
door here- not just the actual flight time) and cost. Now, if part of
the holiday was about the area covered by the train trip from Krakow to
Budapest, it would have been a fine alternative, but we only wanted to
go from one city to another in this case.
--
David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
http://homepage.mac.com/davidhornecomposer http://soundjunction.org
Joseph Coulter
Well actually it is one of those confusing things, the area that you
were driving through is home to Cognac which calls some of its growing
areas, champagne but there is no relation at all between the "grand (or
petit) champagne" of Cognac and the region where the world famous
champagne is grown other than that they are rural growing areas.
Guide books don't always tell the whole story. sometimes they just want
to make it sound good
Joseph Coulter
Cruises and Vacations
http://www.josephcoulter.com/
Karen Selwyn
prestwich tesco 24h offy wrote:
>
> It depends. On a trip last summer (Krakow, Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava)
> we found the best way to get from Krakow to Budapest was actually to fly
> from Katowice!
Advice please! My husband and I are thinking ahead to next summer and
we're interested in a trip to Prague, Budapest, and Krakow. (Vienna and
Warsaw are also under consideration; however we don't want to cram in
too many destinations.) Assume we'll have sixteen days for the trip, two
of which will be the trans-Atlantic travel days. What seems like a
resaonble itinerary? In what order would you recommend we visit these
destinations?
I do not expect to rent a car. How would you recommend we travel between
destinations?
Thanks.
Karen Selwyn
Cathy L
>On Sun, 28 May 2006 10:53:15 GMT, Cathy L <bill.l...@verizon.net>
>wrote:
>
>I'm glad it was a success. I hope we did help you a bit. I hope the
>London marathon didn't interfere with your holiday too much.
>I'm sure you have been to places and seen things us locals haven't.
>It's a shame that two weeks of perfect weather here had finished by
>the time you reached A'dam.
Martin,
Thanks. We rode the Big Bus around London both Saturday and Sunday. We
saw a lot, but didn't get inside any of the buildings. We did spend a
number or hours in the British Museum. It was fantastic!
We had pretty good weather for most of the trip. We ran out when we
got to Amsterdam. It was not so much the rain as it was the strong
wind. It was cooler than most other places too.
Cathy
Karen Selwyn
taste. Neither I or my husband like fish. When you can't read the
menu, it was easy to just pick things we knew."
Cathy,
I don't share your reluctance to eat only things that I know in advance
I will like, but I'll gently point out that for your husband, this
approach, didn't exactly work. His trip report is littered with
criticism of the hamburgers he ate throughout the trip. I'll offer some
advice that may make meals on your next trip to Europe less repetitive
and tastier.
The DK Eyewitness Guides include a couple of pages that picture the
foods commonly found in the city/country being discussed. Look at the
photographs and read the text to figure out if any of these dishes feel
comfortable based on your tastes. Come back to the newsgroup and ask how
these dishes might be written in the native language so you'll recognize
them on a menu.
Buy and use the pertinent books from the Marling Menu Master series --
separate books for France, Italy, Germany, and Spain. These books list
foods you're likely to see on a menu in each country.
Karen Selwyn
Cathy L
<alfred_mo...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>In article <kqti72hb807oc09th...@4ax.com>,
>deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu says...
>
>> >You don't get much liquid intake in Europe anyway. When we ordered
>> >Cokes, we always got the smallest bottles or cans.
>>
>> The coffees in Italy are served with a pipet.
>
>That's the Espresso, which is more like a thick cream of concentrated
>coffee. Not something which would quell your thirst.
Alfred,
People in Europe sure do like their coffee. That's why we love England
and Ireland, for us tea drinkers.
Cathy
Cathy L
<yourDROPTH...@comcast.net> wrote:
Joseph,
It was very pretty countryside. Lots of grapes growing. I guess it
really didn't matter what the final product was.
Cathy
Gerald Oliver Swift
"Karen Selwyn" <kselw...@erols.com> wrote in message
news:R8geg.17980$8q.10184@dukeread08...
> Advice please! My husband and I are thinking ahead to next summer and
> we're interested in a trip to Prague, Budapest, and Krakow. (Vienna and
> Warsaw are also under consideration; however we don't want to cram in too
> many destinations.) Assume we'll have sixteen days for the trip, two of
> which will be the trans-Atlantic travel days. What seems like a resaonble
> itinerary? In what order would you recommend we visit these destinations?
>
> I do not expect to rent a car. How would you recommend we travel between
> destinations?
Where are you flying in to in Europe?
That would help for starters.
Gerry
Cathy L
Karen,
Thank you for the great tip! I'll sure look up the books you suggest.
Although, I believe my husband only had one hamburger, (in Amsterdam),
other than McDonalds, the whole trip. I'm not sure where you read;
"His trip report is littered with criticism of the hamburgers he ate
throughout the trip."
Cathy
Joseph Coulter
@dukeread08:
Even as the lflame throwers are being loaded, I might suggest a river
cruise for much of hte itinerary that you indicated. indeed many compnaies
go from Buedapest to Nuremburg and then by bus to Prague for a post cruise
extension. aong the way you wil have an overnight in Budapest, two days in
Vienna, time in Melk and Regensburg as well.
As I have been educated and discovered on my own reently, train travel is
very attractive in this area fof the world. Drivng is not a reccomended
form of travel. Flying to Warsaw maybe, but hte countryside is too nice to
pass over in the enter of your search area.
--
Karen Selwyn
>
> Although, I believe my husband only had one hamburger, (in Amsterdam),
> other than McDonalds, the whole trip. I'm not sure where you read;
>
> "His trip report is littered with criticism of the hamburgers he ate
> throughout the trip."
You're right. I incorrectly combined his references to unsatisfactory
pizza and hamburgers. Still, the principle of what I wrote is the same:
identify a couple of dishes per country that you'll feel comfortable
eating for your next trip. If your husband had known that pastitsio
(pasticio) was ground meat and maccaroni casserole with a baked cheese
sauce on top, wouldn't he have preferred that to Greek pizza?
Karen Selwyn
LekkerBelgischBier
Cathy L wrote:
> We survived our big trip to Europe! Thirty days blasting around twelve
> countries in a bus. We left on April 21 and returned on May 22. It was
> the "European Masterpiece" tour by Cosmos. Everything went fine, with
> no problems what so ever. We stayed at three star hotels. We figured
> we could have taken other tours with more expensive hotels, but we
> didn't think we would spend that much time in them. We were right! A
> couple of the hotels were pushing the three star rating, while a
> number of others were actually four stars. Breakfasts were always
> included and were quite adequate. We signed up for over $2,000 worth
> of optional events. It kept us busy day and night.
>
> We have never been on a cruise, so it was nice sleeping on a boat for
> two nights. On the trip to Greece we were on the boat for 17 hours. On
> the return to Italy it was almost 24 hours.
>
> People ask what country we liked best. We honestly can't say. Each one
> was unique, with different attractions. It would be great to return
> and spend a month in each one.
>
> Cathy
now that you are experienced European travellers, you will need to
write the book
'30 days Spaghetti Bolognese'
Dave Frightens Me
A very close definition I would say. How dare posters pour scorn on
those who pour scorn on this type of travel?
--
---
DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
---
--
Dave Frightens Me
wrote:
>On Sun, 28 May 2006 08:42:43 +0200, Jacqueline <> wrote:
Why not just find a way to do it? Many of us have, and no-one ever
regrets living in Europe for a while!
Karen Selwyn
>
> Even as the lflame throwers are being loaded, I might suggest a river
> cruise for much of hte itinerary that you indicated. indeed many compnaies
> go from Buedapest to Nuremburg and then by bus to Prague for a post cruise
> extension. aong the way you wil have an overnight in Budapest, two days in
> Vienna, time in Melk and Regensburg as well.
We've taken a river cruise in both Russia and in China, but I can't
honestly say that I'm inclined to take another. Two days of the four
cruising the Yangtze we traveled through flat land, uninteresting
terrain. The port calls on those days weren't significant enough to
outweigh the boredom of the riverbank views. (Admittedly, we were
cruising upstream in the days before the completion of the Three Gorges
Dam. Now, the trip is at least, one day shorter with the decreased
current.) The tiny towns along the itinerary from Moscow to St.
Petersburg got quite repetitious. We adored Kizhi Island, but by the
fifth rural monastery port call, we began to get iconastsis-ized out.
> As I have been educated and discovered on my own reently, train travel is
> very attractive in this area fof the world. Drivng is not a reccomended
> form of travel. Flying to Warsaw maybe, but hte countryside is too nice to
> pass over in the enter of your search area.
And we're just the opposite; we're long-time train devotees. I drove in
France, through the Loire Valley, in the early 90s and didn't do it
again until last summer, when I drove in Umbria. Our most complicated
train achievement was a trip through the border towns of England and all
of Wales using trains. This was in the days before the internet when we
would buy the annual Thomas Cook railway time table to do our planning.
Still, I'll look at river cruises. Ya never know...
Karen Selwyn
Nathalie Chiva
>On Sun, 28 May 2006 11:07:17 +0200, Nathalie Chiva
><Nathalie.Ch...@gmail.com.invalid> wrote:
>
>>On Sat, 27 May 2006 22:55:36 GMT, Cathy L <bill.l...@verizon.net>
>>wrote:
>>>Believe me, I don't think I will ever eat another bowl of spaghetti
>>>bolognese as long as I live!
>>>
>>>It was just that Italian food was the only food, besides McDonalds,
>>>that we could trust.
>>
>>Trust?!?!? What do you mean "trust"?
>
>Trust a tin of minced meat? No way :-)
Emphatically agree. Plus, not a self-respecting Italian would eat what
passes as "Spaghetti Bolognese" (and isn't even to be found in
Bologna) all around the world...
Nathalie in Switzerland
Dave Frightens Me
<alfred_mo...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>In article <kqti72hb807oc09th...@4ax.com>,
>deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu says...
>
>> >You don't get much liquid intake in Europe anyway. When we ordered
>> >Cokes, we always got the smallest bottles or cans.
>>
>> The coffees in Italy are served with a pipet.
>
>That's the Espresso, which is more like a thick cream of concentrated
>coffee. Not something which would quell your thirst.
Indeed not, but it's funny to see what happens to a newcomer after
drinking a couple in a day!
Some like !!!
thing this
Dave Frightens Me
<kselw...@erols.com> wrote:
>David Horne, _the_ chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn and
>prestwich tesco 24h offy wrote:
>>
>> It depends. On a trip last summer (Krakow, Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava)
>> we found the best way to get from Krakow to Budapest was actually to fly
>> from Katowice!
>
>Advice please! My husband and I are thinking ahead to next summer and
>we're interested in a trip to Prague, Budapest, and Krakow. (Vienna and
>Warsaw are also under consideration; however we don't want to cram in
>too many destinations.) Assume we'll have sixteen days for the trip, two
>of which will be the trans-Atlantic travel days. What seems like a
>resaonble itinerary? In what order would you recommend we visit these
>destinations?
OK, so 14 days then.
I would say:
3 days, Prague
2 days, Czesky Krumlov
3 days, Krakow (Auschwitz etc)
3 days, Budapest
Then you have 3 spare days, which you can use to travel between the
cities. I poo-poo Prague a bit, because it's VERY touristy in the
centre, but the other places are all very cool. Should be a good trip.
>I do not expect to rent a car. How would you recommend we travel between
>destinations?
Train where possible, although bus may be better for some trips.
Karen Selwyn
>
> Out of interest, what do they show for the Netherlands?
They don't. My editions are decades old, but I just went to Amazon. The
four that I listed -- France, Italy, Spain, and Germany -- are still the
only countries for which they've done a book.
Karen Selwyn
Joseph Coulter
> In Greece it used to be normal to be taken into the kitchen to pick
> your meal when there were language problems. Is that a thing of the
> past?
I had to get personally acquainted with my fish in Rhodes, was taken over
and introduced to a whole tray full of the critters.
Karen Selwyn
>
> In Greece it used to be normal to be taken into the kitchen to pick
> your meal when there were language problems. Is that a thing of the
> past?
In Istanbul, we ate at two inexpensive restaurants where the menu was
augmented by a walk-up food counter containing commercial-sized
casseroles filled with a various prepared dishes. We didn't understand
the system the first time we ate at one of these restaurants, and only
looked at the menu. We could decipher the word donner kebab on the
all-Turkish menu so we ordered that. The gentleman taking our order
asked in English if we'd like a salad so that became our complete -- and
completely satisfactory -- lunch. The second restaurant, we were told to
make our selections from the casseroles before we were even seated and
knew there was a menu. We eat enough Turkish food in a local restaurant
that I recognized the general gist of each dish even if I couldn't have
said its name. I never even had to point to place our order as mid-way
through our looking and English-speaking waiter came over to help us order.
Karen Selwyn