My Trip to Europe So Far

modifica · 19 Sep 2005, 22:28 (Ref:1411791)

I'm currently in Europe with my mom on vacation, for graduating from high school. It's my graduation present she calls it. Anyways, we were in Ireland all last week. Irish roads sucks. Construction ALL over the country. Drivers there are crazy. We are now in Chartres, France. Today we visited Le Mans. I went through the LeMans Automobile museum, which was sweet. Got lots of merchandise(2 posters, a shirt, 45 Euro book, and a LeMans sounds cd). The city of LeMans is bigger than I thought. Driving on the circuit is almost indescribable. Being on the road where my heroes drive is sooo awesome. I took LOTS of pictures. Tomorrow we are probably going to the Normany beaches in northern France; then later in the week its off to Amsterdam, then after that we go into Germany. Hopefully there we will see Nurbugring, idk. We'll probably see Neuschwanstein, that big castle, and Bertchesgaden, where Hitler had his mountain retreat. Going into Italy we might try hitting the Stelvio Pass. That would be sweet to see. In Italy we are definately going to Modena and Maranello. Might go through Bologna. Then we go to Rome. Any cheap places to stay there anybody know? After Rome, we head up the coast and check out Monaco. We won't actually stay in Monaco, as you should know, but in Nice, because they have some cheap hotels there. I just can't wait to drive on the Monaco streets. I'll be taking lots of pictures along the way. After Monaco we head for Paris to fly back to Dublin, where we stay three days and then fly back to Chicago, and back to Minnesota.

I'll be posting pics on my blog http://teferrari.blogspot.com. Already have a bunch up there now.

If any of you have any tips for me that would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks.

Modifica

thebear · 20 Sep 2005, 02:06 (Ref:1411867)

I would have liked to go along! Looks like you have it pretty well `covered'. Have a good trip and don't forget to keep us posted.

Truckosaurus · 20 Sep 2005, 07:53 (Ref:1411972)

I can't wait to see what Tom thinks of Amsterdam.

Dutch chap · 20 Sep 2005, 09:57 (Ref:1412055)

If youre going to Amsterdam, why not have a look at the Zandvoort circuit. It takes just about half an hour to get there by car or train.

http://www.circuit-zandvoort.nl/circuit/routekaart.jpg

The Badger · 20 Sep 2005, 09:57 (Ref:1412056)

If you arrive in Rome by train , there are usually people at the train station that ask you if you need a room for the night , so thats pretty easy .

Sounds like you are having a ball touring europe . While in France ,about 150 miles north east from Toulouse there is the best preserved castle in europe , its called carcasonne . Well worth a visit . Check out the frog legs too .

Pete Fenelon · 20 Sep 2005, 11:29 (Ref:1412101)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Badger

If you arrive in Rome by train , there are usually people at the train station that ask you if you need a room for the night , so thats pretty easy .

Yes, and there's ladies who'd like to show you a good time, too - I'm not sure either of them are advisable

-- the official tourist office (CIT) is a safer bet!

Roma Termini is an amusing station (great architecture though!) - something like nineteen platforms, then behind them another nineteen. It obeys strict Heisenbergian constraints - whenever I've travelled from there, trains have either left from the advertised platform, or at the advertised time -- but never both

Fantastic city though, seek out a little restaurant called La Canaccia on Villa Guglia - the food and welcome are astonishingly good.

Pete Fenelon · 20 Sep 2005, 11:31 (Ref:1412103)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Badger

If you arrive in Rome by train , there are usually people at the train station that ask you if you need a room for the night , so thats pretty easy .

Yes, and there's ladies who'd like to show you a good time, too - I'm not sure either of them are advisable

-- the official tourist office (CIT) is a safer bet!

Roma Termini is an amusing station (great architecture though!) - something like twenty-odd platforms, then behind them another twenty-odd (or at least they often have two trains at any platform!) It obeys strict Heisenbergian constraints - whenever I've travelled from there, trains have either left from the advertised platform, or at the advertised time -- but never both

Fantastic city though, seek out a little restaurant called La Canaccia on Villa Guglia - the food and welcome are astonishingly good.

AllonFS · 20 Sep 2005, 12:00 (Ref:1412131)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete Fenelon

Fantastic city though, seek out a little restaurant called La Canaccia on Villa Guglia - the food and welcome are astonishingly good.

This from a man who used to crisp reviews on his website?

Osella · 20 Sep 2005, 13:17 (Ref:1412196)

review crisps? like salt&vinegar???

AllonFS · 20 Sep 2005, 15:21 (Ref:1412281)

Indeed, although in fairness to Pete not only were the reviews comprehensive they were also very funny.

modifica · 20 Sep 2005, 16:22 (Ref:1412326)

Well, what does Amsterdam entail?

Bernard Bram · 20 Sep 2005, 16:57 (Ref:1412369)

Sounds like a nice trip. Well, except for this one:

Quote:

Originally Posted by modifica

We'll probably see Neuschwanstein, that big castle, and Bertchesgaden, where Hitler had his mountain retreat.

Forget Neuschwanstein. If you're into castles, go to Burg Elz in the Eifel region. Not far from the Ring. It's a real castle and quite spectacular too, not this Disneyland type of fake castle wich calls itself Neuschwanstein. Hurst Castle in California is more interesting. Besides there's a lot more to see in and around the Eifel, like Monschau (historic eifel town), Aachen (Charlemagne) or Trier (Romans). And for the rest, i would prefer a trip through Germany wouldn't include some infamous "Hitler mountain retreat". If you're interested in anything connected to the third reich go to Dachau.

http://www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de/

Have fun.

modifica · 20 Sep 2005, 21:11 (Ref:1412606)

Dude you guys, Europe is stressing me out so bad. Same with my mom. On my blog you can see what happened to us while at a car park. http://teferrari.blogspot.com

It won't stop our trip, but it certainly hasn't helped out spirits. The damage doesn't look that bad I think. Tomorrow we're going to the Normandy beaches. On Friday we leave for Amsterdam, which is a long drive, but our hotel should be cool. Its near the airport there, the Mercure Amsterdam Airport hotel. From Amsterdam were thinking about them staying in Wiesbaden, or Heilbronn, or in Bonn, all with Ibis hotels. From there we will probably go to Sazburg. Don't know after that. Later people. More tips the better. They are GREATLY appreciated!

Modifica

AllonFS · 21 Sep 2005, 10:28 (Ref:1412970)

Thiings to do in Amsterdam - the clean version.

Trip on canal boat.
Go to the Rijksmuseum and see Rembrandt's 'The Nightwatch' - it is huge and magnificent.
Enjoy frites mit mayonnaise.
Depending on your time, then the Anne Frank house is very moving and plenty of other great musuems if that is your thing.

(And you really should walk through the red light district, quite safe and quite an experience. Could be a tad embarassing with your mum though!)

Bramzel · 21 Sep 2005, 11:28 (Ref:1413003)

Quote:

Originally Posted by modifica

On Friday we leave for Amsterdam, which is a long drive, but our hotel should be cool. Its near the airport there, the Mercure Amsterdam Airport hotel.

Tip; leave the car at the airport, take the train to Amsterdam Central, its only 15 minutes. The Centre of Amsterdam is relatively small so everything is easily walkable. Traffic in Amsterdam is quite bad, going by public transport saves you a lot of stress.

For the rest AllonFS pretty much summed it up

Canalboat/Nightwatch/Anne Frank.

The Badger · 21 Sep 2005, 12:18 (Ref:1413048)

You gotta visit the sex museum while in Amsterdam , cuz I think its the only one ive ever heard about in the world . Walk straight outta the train station and straight down Dam strasse about 300 yards on your right !!!

3 o'clock public feeding of the crocodiles ..... at Artis zoo . Find a good Indonisian restaurant and try the rice table . Its excellant . Watch your pockets and enjoy it . Dont forget to get a pair of clogs .

AllonFS · 21 Sep 2005, 13:14 (Ref:1413092)

[QUOTE=The Badger]You gotta visit the sex museum while in Amsterdam , cuz I think its the only one ive ever heard about in the world . Walk straight outta the train station and straight down Dam strasse about 300 yards on your right !!![QUOTE]

clears throat... there is another one in Copenhagen... so I have heard. For god's sake don't go in the sex museum with your mum though, its collection of historic porn is not the thing to view with your parents

Truckosaurus · 21 Sep 2005, 13:39 (Ref:1413100)

The other thing to know about Amsterdam is the difference between a cafe and a coffee shop.

Bramzel · 21 Sep 2005, 14:20 (Ref:1413124)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllonFS

[For god's sake don't go in the sex museum with your mum though, its collection of historic porn is not the thing to view with your parents

Actually a friend of mine went there with his girlfriend, and he was happily surprised it was the first time his girlfriend wasn't angry that he watched porn

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guy Humpage

The other thing to know about Amsterdam is the difference between a cafe and a coffee shop.

Coffeeshops can usually be recognized by the green clouds outside the door

The Badger · 21 Sep 2005, 14:22 (Ref:1413125)

[QUOTE=AllonFS][QUOTE=The Badger]You gotta visit the sex museum while in Amsterdam , cuz I think its the only one ive ever heard about in the world . Walk straight outta the train station and straight down Dam strasse about 300 yards on your right !!!

Quote:

clears throat... there is another one in Copenhagen... so I have heard. For god's sake don't go in the sex museum with your mum though, its collection of historic porn is not the thing to view with your parents

That would all depend on how old the mum is !!!

AllonFS · 21 Sep 2005, 14:43 (Ref:1413138)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guy Humpage

The other thing to know about Amsterdam is the difference between a cafe and a coffee shop.

Aah yes, happy daze!
Beware the space cakes as well...

Pete Fenelon · 21 Sep 2005, 20:13 (Ref:1413379)

Yes. Heed that advice well. On a previous trip to Amsterdam I 'whited out' on one occasion, and on another found myself with a two-hour gap in my memories - I "came to" on a bridge staring down at the pretty water.

The weed you could get in the coffee shops there was much stronger than anything you could easily get hold of in the UK in the mid 90s. -- and eating it of course gets it into your system stronger and faster.

Know your limits

Pete Fenelon · 21 Sep 2005, 20:14 (Ref:1413382)

Oh, and the torture museum in Amsterdam is rubbish. It looks like a collection of mouldy school gym equipment. Which may be someone's idea of fun.... ;P

modifica · 21 Sep 2005, 21:06 (Ref:1413432)

BTW we are taking a train to Amsterdam. We are taking a bus from our airport hotel to the train station, then onto the city from there.

Does anybody know if there are Rome Bus Tours? We're going to Rome, and we are definately not driving into the city. We will probably have to use a Bus Tour if there is one.

Any good cities outside of Rome that have decently priced hotels? Like in the 60-80 Euro region? Thanks for help

Pete Fenelon · 21 Sep 2005, 21:23 (Ref:1413444)

The best way to see Rome is on the little electric minibuses that pootle around. They have big windows, take interesting routes through the city, and are great fun. They're really aimed at getting locals around the strange little backwaters of the city but I found them an excellent way of touring the city.

I forget if they're free or covered by the BIG (day-ticket for buses/trams/underground) - either way they're great value.

I'm not one for "tours", I prefer finding my own way round cities by public transport. You find more interesting stuff that way.

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