Late autumn vacation

[Vricklund]

I've been thinking about a trip into euroland now that the exchange rates are at an all time low. I can't get away until late october/early november however and I'm divided as to where to go. I wouldn't mind seeing ireland or southern germany - language wise I could manage but the weather isn't all that appealing. Spain, mediterranean france or even italy would probably mean less clothes but I wouldn't feel as comfortable not knowing the language. I'm not really into shopping and the like, I'd rather see some historical landmarks or breathtaking scenery. Thinking I'll be gone or a week or so. Anyone got any suggestions?

[MadImmortalMan]

I've seen lots of Ireland. The stuff I liked best was the Newgrange tombs, several castles, Battle of the Boyne. County Meath has tons of that, all a short bus ride out of Dublin. You do need to get on a tour to see Newgrange though--it's a controlled-access UN Heritage Site. Worth it. Trim Castle is cool. Same area. Ireland has your pick of distilleries to visit. Jameson is fun, and they do a whiskey tasting class.

Some people don't like Dublin but I think it's awesome. So many pubs. So much win. Lots of historical stuff to see. And you can find really good food there, despite the rep the British Isles have about their food. Also Irish people seem to be friendlier than most Euros. At least to me.

I've never been to Germany, actually. One thing I'm seriously considering is a Viking cruise down the Rhine and Danube. Smaller boats with less people than a ocean cruise and you're not so trapped. The thought of being stuck on a boat with 2000 people and no way to escape them puts me off big-time.

You going alone? My wife says she really likes it when we go someplace historical and I can tell her all the stories behind what we're looking at and everything. Not everyone is like that though. Some people get bored looking at "old stuff". I don't travel with those people.

I've never been to Southern Europe, so no ideas there. I got some good info from Malthus and Cal about Italy the last time it came up.

Someday I'd like to see Greece, but those guys have to get their shit together first. If you look at Ibiza on that 360 degree photo site, you will see lots of beach boobies. 

[Admiral Yi]

It might be cool to go to Greece. 

[Barrister]

I've had very little trouble travelling in Europe being a unilingual Canadian.  You should be able to get by with your english skills if nothing else.

Once you're talking about November I would recommend something more southerly, although not necessarily a beach vacation.

[alfred russel]

The weather is going to start to turn, the days get shorter, and less frequented tourist stuff shut down, so if not the Med then maybe Paris? A very pretty city, enough tourist infrastructure things won't shut down too much.

If not Paris, what about the south of france? Probably the best place to see ancient cave art, Roman ruins like the Pont du Gard, Avignon, the coast outside of high season, and the Alps. A week with a car could cover a lot of cool stuff.

[Maladict]

I find November (and January) ideal for visiting places of mass tourism. Rome, Florence, even Venice should be fairly quiet. I was touring Lombardy last November, great weather if somewhat foggy, and all the cool places were utterly deserted. 

[Ideologue]

Never take a vacation, hardly ever take a day off, because you never know when your job will end and you'll be on unemployment.

Well, your circumstances may be different.  Go to Greece or Spain.  Exploit someone.  It's the northern European way.

[Liep]

Anyone got any suggestions?

Copenhagen. We were mentioned in Newsweek!

[Eddie Teach]

Save your money and stay home.

/moremonothanmono

[MadImmortalMan]

I find myself usually not taking vacations because my wife accumulates time way faster than I do. So we end up taking trips to places I have to travel for work and she take the time off. Usually San Fran or something. Once in a while we reverse that (when she goes to Europe yay!).

[Vricklund]

You going alone? My wife says she really likes it when we go someplace historical and I can tell her all the stories behind what we're looking at and everything. Not everyone is like that though. Some people get bored looking at "old stuff". I don't travel with those people.

I've never been to Southern Europe, so no ideas there. I got some good info from Malthus and Cal about Italy the last time it came up. . 

Nah, I'll have company. She's accepted my antics but isn't overly fond of my history lectures.

Never take a vacation, hardly ever take a day off, because you never know when your job will end and you'll be on unemployment.

Well, your circumstances may be different.  Go to Greece or Spain.  Exploit someone.  It's the northern European way.

My current employer is the county council, there may be a merging with another municipality sometime in the future but it feels like a lifetime job if you want it to be. Also my significant other has 20 days of vacation she has to burn before new years or they will be forfeit.

The weather is going to start to turn, the days get shorter, and less frequented tourist stuff shut down, so if not the Med then maybe Paris? A very pretty city, enough tourist infrastructure things won't shut down too much.

If not Paris, what about the south of france? Probably the best place to see ancient cave art, Roman ruins like the Pont du Gard, Avignon, the coast outside of high season, and the Alps. A week with a car could cover a lot of cool stuff.

Hmm, perhaps southern france would be something. I'm looking at cheaps flights to Nice and then back again from Barcelona. I'm thinking car Nice-Montpellier+surroundings and then train from Montpellier into Barcelona. It's a 600km drive from Nice to Barcelona so it sounds reasonable to do in about a week. Cave art and Pont du Gard is just the sorts of things I'd like to see, more suggestions are welcome!

Copenhagen. We were mentioned in Newsweek!

Been there, done that. Copenhagen is nice though and if you live there long enought I guess you get used to it.

[Maladict]

Hmm, perhaps southern france would be something. I'm looking at cheaps flights to Nice and then back again from Barcelona. I'm thinking car Nice-Montpellier+surroundings and then train from Montpellier into Barcelona. It's a 600km drive from Nice to Barcelona so it sounds reasonable to do in about a week. Cave art and Pont du Gard is just the sorts of things I'd like to see, more suggestions are welcome!

Avignon, Marseille, Nimes, Orange, Arles, Aix, Carcassonne, you name it. Way too much for a week, especially if you include Barcelona.

[Vricklund]

New plans. Friend of a friend of a friend has a small house in Menton on the franco-italian border, so we'll be staying there.

map

Borrowed 3 different cote d'azur travel guides from the library the other day.

[Jaron]

Have fun.

[Vricklund]

Back from the trip I have a few reflections...

* The med is still warmer this time of year than any lake in summer time sweden.
* Driving in southern france is strange to a northerner - one second its a race to see who will swerve first, the next they can be extremly helpful. Double parking to buy your daily baguette despite totaly blocking up trafic is perfectly acceptable.
* The way the alps crashes into the med is absolutely breathtaking. The perched villages up in the mountains are especially nice. The grid of radonnees (hiking trails) up there makes for some lovely excursions.
* Building regulations in southern europe never cease to amaze me. With all that dodgy work I'm surprised they (de)generated from the Romans.
* When in france you'd better talk french. Don't even think about opening a conversation in english. Excusez moi-m'sieur/madame, parlez vous anglais is the way to go. Also they are more likely to be indulgent if you dress touristy. It's an extremely frustrating and embarrasing experience not being able to communicate properly.