My Travel Stuff
OK, this page is definitely
the fledging of the group! And the one that will be developed over the
longest period of time.........
But nonetheless...I have been to a few places (Western Canada and United States, once to the East, the UK, Ireland, Belgium, The Netherlands, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg, San Marino, Czech Republic, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa) *The ones not listed here will be added shortly, either to this page or a separate one(ie, this will be Europe only, and then the rest of the world will appear elsewhere)....in the process of some serious updating on the whole thing, so stay tuned...in the meantime, here's a few picks and pans on some of the has-beens....this is all just my thoughts, mind you...
The UK - In London, there are a million things to see. I lived there for over a year and didn't even come close. Having money definitely helps as it disappears quicker than you can imagine. Trust me. Greenwich was one of my favorites - inexpensive, interesting, historic and that small town feel (despite the fact you have a nice view of the Lloyd's tower and the millenium dome!). You can take the boat out there from Westminster for about 7GBP one way, or the DLR even cheaper. My biggest disappointment was the overrated changing of the guard - be there very early, be very tall, be very lucky or be someone who enjoys watching hats go by. For more in-depth London stuff - go get it!
On the whole - York, with the medieval wall and Minster - worth the trip! Scotland and Wales are excellent - very much their own countries. Edinburgh is a beautiful city, and the countryside is very scenic. But Wales wins for sheep sightings, hands down. Aberystwith, on Wales' Cardigan Bay coastline - cool. If you can, buy tickets for the train at least 2 weeks in advance - they are called APEX tickets and are considerably cheaper than regular ones...(took me until the second time to find this one out....)
The Prime Meridian, Greenwich Tintern Abbey, Wales
Ireland(Eire) - Well, it certainly earns the name 'Emerald Isle'. Or maybe it is just because Calgary is brown much of the year...anyway, had the privilege of being in the thick of St. Patrick's day in Dublin. Despite the crowds, managed to get a semi-prime space at the parade (meaning I was still jealous of those in the flat across from us...). Dublin isn't the prettiest city in the world, but it was a lot of fun on that day...so I was told the next day :). And the home of Guinness. 'nuff said. For those looking for something a little lower key - the Aran Islands are it. There are three - you can literally walk halfway around one in a day hike. Didn't see anyone else for hours at a time. They are located off the west coast in county Galway - 'the last outposts of Europe'. Cool.
Island of Inishmore, Aran Islands, County Galway, Ireland
Belgium (Belgie, Belgique) - One of my favorites! Brussels is an interesting blend of the modern, 'avant garde' and the typical historic European stuff. The 'Palais Royale' is very beautiful with gardens out front and a park across the way. Or maybe I am just bias because I didn't have my changing of the guard experience like in England...one day is more than enough, as the sights are concentrated in one area - Mannekin pis, Grand Place and the Palais Royale are within easy walking distance of each other. Bruges & Ghent - musts. Speaking of musts, so is trying the 'kriek' and many other flavored beers. Some may disagree with me here, but - they were also losing some card/drinking game in a big way when they tried it, so what do they know.. Antwerp? Saw it from the train...it's a city. That's all I know.
The Markt' square from the Belfort Tower, Bruges, Belgium
The Netherlands(Nederland) - Well, my experience here consists of Amsterdam. And no, that is not why! So little time, so many places. Yes, the rumors are true though. I found it a bit gaudy, but I guess that is the attraction for some? Outside the red light district, the place is actually quite nice. Canals and 17th century buildings, Anne Frank's House..Van Gogh museum was cool, missed the Rijksmuseum, but heard it's cool? Can't really judge this one though. But I know the airport is really cool. They have one of those panoramic decks - perfect for all you 'planespotters' out there....
A typical Amsterdam scene
France - Speaking from firsthand experience, it is possible to go to Paris and not fall in love (and that goes for both people and the city). It is definitely one of the classics though. My hostel there was worth mentioning - FIAP Jean Monet, in the 15th arrondisement. Out a bit further, but worth the trip. Saw the Eiffel tower of course - even more touristy than I'd imagined, if possible. But no regrets taking the plunge to go all the way to the 3rd level. The Louvre is huge. Huge. If you go after 15.30, it's cheaper. But ya gotta be quick! And even cheaper is wandering the banks of the river Seine at night. For some good Crepes and entertainment, there was a street vendor called Antonio outside a pizza/pasta restaurant near the Eiffel tower and right by the Metro. But perhaps he has moved on since then...
The Riviera - Ok, if you've heard about the pebble beaches...perhaps it was something from Gulliver's travels. They are rocks. Big ones. I stayed in Nice, saw Antibes, and Monaco from the train. Didn't look long, even that would have broken my budget. So anyway, if you are looking for these Mediterranean sand beaches - best stay on the train for Italian Riviera. There are some other neat things here though - like the Ascenseur de Chateau - the reward for your climb is some cool cemeteries, the view, and the 'tile art'. And it was free at one point...
UPDATE 2000 - France encore! The going to Paris and falling in love thing mentioned above still stands, although more to the opposites, the city of goodbyes for me :(. However, did discover a few more things worth checking out this time around - Notre Dame and Sacre Cœur. The former was full of tourists, and high season had not even begun. So expect to queue for a while, moreso if you want to go up the tower - the lower cathedral is free, but the tower has a charge of F35..was it worth it? Well, I like the story of Quasimodo, so for me, yes, and the views are quite nice as well. As for Sacre Cœur and the Montmartre, I enjoyed both very much(including the numerous nutella crêpes I ate there). There are many buskers and the like around here, as well as people selling art, and a museum of some of Dalí's works.
As for the other bits that I saw this time around - spent a considerable amount of time in the Loire valley in a town called Amboise...well, if you see below the thing about living in Switzerland, this is where I actually ended up instead(same idea though). This area is known for it's châteaux, and justifiably so. The four I saw were Amboise(naturally, but it was the last in the series!), Chenonceau, Azay le Rideau and Chambord. Chenonceau was my favorite, it is a fairly easy bike ride from Amboise(12 kilometres). There are photos of these on a separate France photo album - Here.
...and a little practicality note(along the lines of APEX tickets for Britrail) - the time you commence a train journey in France can make a huge difference in the price - which was something new to me, as last time we had Eurail and did not need to worry about such things....period "blanc"(white) are the peak times, with the peak prices, whereas period "bleu"(blue) are the off peak times, and well I think you know where this is going. At the stations they have a chart showing these times, and it is the START time that applies. As well, check about discounts "tarif découvert" for ages 12-25, over 65, etc. - especially for long journeys as it can really make a difference. Along these lines, when using the metro in Paris, if you plan to make a number of trips, it is useful to buy a "carnet" of tickets - which is 10 tickets for F55 - whereas individual journeys in the main Paris are F8 each. RER are the commuter trains and will bring you to the suburbs, as well as the 2 airports(Charles de Gaulle and Orly). From the centre, it is about F30 - I do not know exactly as I transited through from a western suburb called Conflans fin d'Oise - and paid F66 for the 2 journeys...still cheaper than the F70 bus i took upon arrival in Paris into Gare de Lyon in the centre...but if you are in my situation(every second counts when rushing to catch one of the 2 daily trains to Barcelona, Spain), the bus was not a bad way to go, pretty much direct once you are out of the airport area. Oh, and thankfully, it is entirely possible to use credit cards to pay for your tickets in France...very useful when the only cash you are carrying is South African Rands!(Spain is a different story though...)
Me in Paris
Italy(Italia)
- Ladies, the
stuff about Italian men - true. And the further south you go, the
worse it gets. Looking like you're about to go into battle doesn't help
much. I went as far as Rome, which was far enough! But as for the
city itself - get your walking shoes out. Just as it wasn't built in a
day, you won't see it all in a day. Too many things to list here(most of
which were under scaffolding whilst I was there - the downside of off
season). And maybe I am just thick, but finding an Italian restaurant
there was not easy! There seemed to be more in Belgium. Venice is
lovely - I missed out on this, but the trip to the Murano glass making island is
supposed to be well worth it. Milan - go see the Duomo(cathedral).
That's it. Pisa - ditto for the leaning tower. Plan a stopover,
between Rome and Florence is good, allow 1/2 hour walk each way, follow the
signs. And it's where everyone else is going. Florence is cool -
massive queues at Uffizi, where Michealangelo's David resides. Genoa - very beautiful - walk down the promenade by the sea
with 'gelato'...mmmm, gelato...Burghy, the fast food place - that's another
story....
UPDATE 2000 - What would a trip to Europe be without a trip to Italy? So this is where I took off to upon leaving France - on the Paris - Milan overnighter, and may I suggest, regardless of the difference in price - getting a couchette rather than a "place assis"(a seat)...that was not an experience I am keen to do again! So back in Milan, more of a social trip than anything, and yup, still think the duomo is really the main attraction there, although (BIG surprise)I discovered the shopping streets this time around - Corso Buenos Aires and Corso Paolo Scarpi...and although it IS Milan, things were not as unreasonable as I thought they would be?! The power of expectation I suppose! The food however is another story....price wise, that is!
And I actually did go to new towns this time, one that was a shame I overlooked before - "in fair Verona we lay our scene"...and fair it is. The Relics of Romeo and Juliet, are, of course, a bit pricey, but generally include a small museum rather than just seeing Juliet's tomb or her balcony. For the latter, I would suggest going early in the morning or endure the copious amounts of schoolkids and tourists. Definitely a walking city, I did very much of this, and saw the old palace, St. Stefano(a castle I walked up to at sunset - beautiful!), Piazza Bra', And their old colesseum. The tourist office at the train station has both a telephone book and free maps in English, both of which I found very handy. As well, there is a nice little internet place off to the side on track 1.
Continuing on with the new towns...this time it was Cesanatico/Rimini - also a social visit, but both towns are really beautiful, right on the Adriatic coastline, having beaches that would definitely rival those of the French Riveria(sand!). Although I was there a bit early to partake(spring preparations were in full swing), you could tell they are full of life in the summer(and according to the locals - and my Milanese friend, this is the case).
Still got in some nightlife, shopping at the Markets, and a quick trip up to San Marino - a small republic of its own up on a hill completely surrounded by Italy. They also use Italian lire as the currency. This is definitely worth going to see, and for more than the tax breaks(if you have spent enough in Italy, it is possible to get your tax refund going into here). It is an easy walk between the 3 castles, and the view of the surrounding area is excellent on a clear day.
The 'breath bridge' in Venice - the building on the right used to be a prison that was so bad, if you went there, surely you would die. So incoming prisoners could take their last breath whilst crossing this bridge. Today? It's a museum.
Switzerland (Schweiz, Suisse, Svizzera) - My other favorite..ok, maybe a bit more than Belgium! I was fortunate enough to have four excellent host families - can't say enough good about these people. Spent my time there in the German areas - Bern, Zurich, the Jungfrau - spectacular. I am looking to come live here for a bit, go to school, delay that real world thing a bit longer...anyway, the scenery in the Jungfrau region - we have mountains here in Canada, but these ones definitely have a different beauty to them. In Interlaken, you can find pretty much every mountain adventure that you are looking for. I stayed in a divine little spot called Wengen. Apparently they have quite the New Year's party...and skiing. Not to mention Swiss Army knives. And, if you happen upon the luv bar in Zurich, check out the toilets! Well, after a few 'Landbier' you probably will have to anyhow. Oh ya, and the cinemas have intermission...we-ird....
Carmen & I in Wengen (November 1996 - off season, but no one said I had good timing!)
Germany (Deutschland) - Once again, a bit of a buzz trip(Germany and Holland were at the end of the trip...). So this experience consisted of...Munich! Now, as a beer fan, this was definitely the right choice. Although I would have liked to see more of Bavaria, and possibly the Black Forest...next time? Munich was fun, and a beautiful city as well. They have all these colorful buildings that are just...jolly. Bad word, I know, but the first to pop into my mind. Neues Rathaus, at Marienplatz is pretty neat. So is the Frauenkirke. And we did the tourist thing and hit the Hofbraühaus. Even at the end of November, the place was nearly full, and we were only 2 - but we met some cool people each time we were there. Everything I expected, from the Maß bier(the 1 litre steins) to the singing...the only drawback is that these places close around midnight(kinda like the England pub thing). There were a couple of cool bars I went to after, but by that time....I haven't got a clue what they were called.
Going 180 degrees from this, Dachau is definitely a very sobering experience. Even though the propaganda and letters are in Germen, there are English tours available (but to be there when they start I wouldn't recommend going to the beerhall the night before...hence I missed it). Nonetheless, it was all a bit overwhelming.
Missed out on the Schloß Nymphenburg as well(see reason for missing English tour), but it is something that is also supposed to be quite good....then give the ICE train a try. For 2 backpackers, it was a bit of heaven.
Carmen and I with the Maß bier in Munich
Onion domed towers of the Frauenkirke and Neues Rathaus
Luxembourg
Unless you really want to explore other areas of the country, such as the Moselle valley(for wines), a weekend is really all you need for Luxembourg city. Definitely check out the Bock Casemates, those are cool. Like many places in Europe, the old town is definitely one for walking, including the 'Chemin de corniche', which is called Europe's most beautiful balcony; from here you can see many things as well, including a small church built into the side of the cliff, and The church of our lady(Notre Dame or Liebefrauenkirche). There's numerous neat little places to eat and try 'mousel' beer. In terms of Accomodations, the hostel is in a nice area in the river valley. However, it is somewhat further from the train station. Around the station area, if you are 2 or more, it may be just as cheap to get a hotel.
Luxembourg's national motto: We will remain what we are.
Czech Republic (Česká Republika)
My experience here, like most others, consists of Prague. Hailed as the world's most beautiful city, this certainly applies to the old town areas. There are many beautiful old buildings here, with detailed artwork, and a lot of gold and stars, almost like a sort of dreamland. However, venturing outside this, it was much like any other city. Upon arrival, it reminded me a lot of Amsterdam; many accomodation touts and the like are greeting you. I stayed a bit out of the old town, which was fine since the tram connections were good - and very cheap, 8 kČ for 15 minutes, which was more than enough. Public transport was generally reliable - far moreso than a taxi, or so I found. Be sure to only take a taxi that is marked; and if they refuse to give you a receipt you do not need to pay. so given this, it is useful to know that again, that walking thing applies. I covered Hradcany(castle district), Wencelas square and the national museum(which, at 70 kČ is worth going in just for the building), Charles Bridge and Stare mesto(old town) this way. Did a boat tour as well, which is quite relaxing after all that walking! English is widely spoken, which seem so to be par for the north of Europe. This seems to be for other languages as well - after sending a postcard to Japan, the guy at the post office thanked me - in Japanese. And the French speaking tout selling mozart concert tickets...
Stare Mesto, Prague
Spain (España)
Spain, for me being Barcelona, but a good choice all the same I think. And how did I get around for the most part...take a guess. That is when I wasn't on the metro or my friend's moped. This is where I headed after Africa to ease into the European winter before settling in the much colder France. Not that this lasted long here, it did snow!! Anyway, sights, saw a ton of them. A lot of the Gaudí stuff, which of course meant Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Palau Güell and the various other buildings about the city. As well, did the walk up to Tibidabo, took the cable car to Montjüic and saw the Picasso Museum. And at night there is not a lack of things to do - many Tapas bars, of course, as well as nightclubs(like I can remember the name of these). Most shops and things close entirely on sundays and have funny hours in the rest of the week for 'siestas' - something I found to be true in France (especially small provincial towns!) and Italy as well.
Dragon holding a streetlight on La Rambla
'face' statue near the waterfront
One of Gaudí's creations
Park Güell
Sagrada Familia
The Church at Tibidabo
Well, that's about all...for now. To see the remainder of my travel stuff, check out the Africa and Asia page, as well as the 'Travelog' where i kept an online journal of my 6 month around the world trip. If you have any stories, suggestions, questions or the like, drop me a line. Happy Travels!
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