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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 48. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by larryhoover on June 18, 2011, at 18:58:48
I'm taking my sons to Europe for seven weeks this summer, and I'm hoping that some suggestions for things to do/places to see might come of this post.
We're doing Rome>Prague>Munich>Vienna>Budapest>Berlin>Brussels>London>Orkney(ancestral home)>Edinburgh>Glascow.
Thoughts?
Lar
Posted by no rose garden on June 18, 2011, at 23:22:33
In reply to Europe this summer, posted by larryhoover on June 18, 2011, at 18:58:48
i can't make any suggestions, as I've never been, but have fun! and i'm jealous.... :)
Posted by sigismund on June 19, 2011, at 3:14:36
In reply to Europe this summer, posted by larryhoover on June 18, 2011, at 18:58:48
Prague is spectacular. Budapest, I haven't seen. I have this problem with Austria. Germany, yep, but that's out of interest rather than experience. Anywhere in the former east, maybe. Not interested at all in London, but Edinburgh and Glasgow, yes.
Posted by sigismund on June 19, 2011, at 3:24:57
In reply to Re: Europe this summer » larryhoover, posted by sigismund on June 19, 2011, at 3:14:36
I'd love to go to Cracow and Sigishoara.
Patrick Leigh Fermor died the other day, almost 100. The best travel writer ever. "A Time of Gifts" and "Between the Wood and the Water" will not be linked to Amazon, I guess.
He walked through Europe in 33 at the age of 18 and this is the subject. The books were not published until the 80s.
Posted by sigismund on June 19, 2011, at 3:50:02
In reply to Re: Europe this summer, posted by sigismund on June 19, 2011, at 3:24:57
This, from one of the reviews, is exactly right.
>The Hungary and Transylvania through which Leigh Fermor travels is very rural, dominated by a peasantry still coexisiting with the aristocracy. Transylvania in particular was ethnically diverse with significant populations of ethnic Germans, Hungarians, Romanians, Jews, and Gypsies. These populations were divided also by a variety of languages and faiths. The awareness on the part of the author and readers of fate of these peoples gives much of this book an elegiac quality. Wonderfully written with superb historical digressions and some outstanding descriptive writing about the landscapes, this is book is just a treat. The natural comparison is with the predecessor volume. I think this is the better of the two.
Posted by larryhoover on June 19, 2011, at 5:54:14
In reply to Re: Europe this summer, posted by no rose garden on June 18, 2011, at 23:22:33
> i can't make any suggestions, as I've never been, but have fun! and i'm jealous.... :)
Oh, I'm pretty sure that we'll come back with many stories to tell.
My lads are 17 and 19, and the window to make this work is here, whether I'm ready or not. They're both old enough to experience the trip as adults, but young enough to let their old man drag them away for weeks on end.
We are in Budapest for the Hungarian national holiday. I booked a river cruise/dinner, and we'll be on the Danube for the fireworks over the city. Other than that, I've only booked the odd show here or there (e.g. Bryan Ferry at Edinburgh Castle).
I fought for 19 years to obtain justice from worker's comp over the injury that disabled me and led to my nervous breakdown (because they denied me benefits, and I couldn't work). I won my case, and I hope I can at least act as if I'm okay, during this trip.
Lar
Posted by larryhoover on June 19, 2011, at 6:00:13
In reply to Re: Europe this summer » larryhoover, posted by sigismund on June 19, 2011, at 3:14:36
I've had a few people mention that Austria is not so tourist friendly. It fits my itinerary, however. I had originally planned to go from Berlin to Prague via Warsaw and Krakow, but I just couldn't make it work. I have a couple of stops that needed to be at certain times, and Poland was just too much of a side-trip from those locations.
I'm hoping that I like travelling Europe enough that I will need to go back. Not only for Poland, but there's the France/Spain/Portugal bit, and the Greece/Turkey (and many small countries nearby) zone, too. And if I'm doing Poland, there's always Ukraine and the 'stans.
Lar
Posted by floatingbridge on June 19, 2011, at 8:26:31
In reply to Re: Europe this summer » sigismund, posted by larryhoover on June 19, 2011, at 6:00:13
Have a wonderful time with your boys. What a good place to be, that is being able to travel with them at their wonderful ages.
I have never been, and of all the places you mentioned, Prague interests me most. You couldn't get a stop there to work?
When are you going? Will you be a traveling correspondent for us :)
Posted by Phillipa on June 19, 2011, at 10:58:06
In reply to Europe this summer, posted by larryhoover on June 18, 2011, at 18:58:48
Lar I once flew into Vienna before sick and didn't have time to visit Freud's house I'd suggest that. Also I loved Austria from the air. If you can you must go to Switzerland my favorite of all the countries I visited. The cows each with a different sounding bell so the owner knows which cow is his, the little cities. Lake Geneva from Vevey where we stayed for a while made it accessible to many places, St Moritz, Gestaad, and the Mountains. I heard Geneva was too touristy so didn't go there. I wanted Italy but rental car was not allowed. Today I couldn't do it. So glad you are able now to go. You will have a wonderful time. Phillipa
Posted by sigismund on June 19, 2011, at 12:08:10
In reply to Re: Europe this summer » sigismund, posted by larryhoover on June 19, 2011, at 6:00:13
Australia is expensive at the moment with the dollar being so high.
The Australian landscape is worth seeing.
Posted by floatingbridge on June 19, 2011, at 13:44:42
In reply to Re: Europe this summer » larryhoover, posted by sigismund on June 19, 2011, at 12:08:10
After surviving Kaua'i, that's where I'd love to go. So many birds!.
fb
Posted by sigismund on June 19, 2011, at 14:07:52
In reply to Re: Europe this summer » larryhoover, posted by sigismund on June 19, 2011, at 12:08:10
Australian plants and animals are good, I don't know about the humans and the cities you could skip. Hobart is nice though. The landscape and the plants and the animals. Here's one of my favourite places we are going for my wife's birthday
http://www.cradlemountaintours.com.au/sites/default.asp
Posted by sigismund on June 19, 2011, at 14:08:48
In reply to Re: Europe this summer, posted by sigismund on June 19, 2011, at 14:07:52
It's old. It is so old.
Posted by sigismund on June 19, 2011, at 14:15:12
In reply to Re: Europe this summer, posted by sigismund on June 19, 2011, at 14:07:52
http://www.nimbinweb.com.au/maps/infobrdr.htm
That's what you want to see. Stuff like that. Australian cities are a waste of time.
Posted by floatingbridge on June 19, 2011, at 14:16:24
In reply to Re: Europe this summer » sigismund, posted by sigismund on June 19, 2011, at 14:08:48
sigi, the less humans the better (well, until a certain point, that is).
Looks lovely. And old. So Australia is old? Interesting. I suppose all the odd vestigial type animals and plants (too?).
I'd move there in a heartbeat.
I forwarded the Cradles Mt link to husband. Hope your wife has a very good birthday.
Posted by floatingbridge on June 19, 2011, at 14:20:19
In reply to Re: Europe this summer, posted by sigismund on June 19, 2011, at 14:15:12
> http://www.nimbinweb.com.au/maps/infobrdr.htm
>
> That's what you want to see. Stuff like that. Australian cities are a waste of time.I've already forwarded this.
You must admit, Australian cities pull in some amazing performances and lectures, yes?
Posted by torrid on June 19, 2011, at 20:18:21
In reply to Europe this summer, posted by larryhoover on June 18, 2011, at 18:58:48
In 94 I went to europe for 6 weeks, I saw 4 countrys and two hospitals. Well those storys wouldn't be of any help.
I'd spend more time in fewer places if I were you. Madrid, Vienna and Amsterdan were my favorite places. If biking and windmills appeals to you I wouldn't skip the netherlands.
Posted by torrid on June 19, 2011, at 20:23:08
In reply to Re: Europe this summer » larryhoover, posted by sigismund on June 19, 2011, at 3:14:36
prague was never bombed in WW2 it is worth seeing. absence is legal there, vicious stuff.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on June 23, 2011, at 15:21:25
In reply to Re: prague truely is spectacular » sigismund, posted by torrid on June 19, 2011, at 20:23:08
> prague was never bombed in WW2 it is worth seeing. absence is legal there, vicious stuff.
I think you mean Absinthe, but you would be mentally absent if you drank a lot of it :)
Posted by floatingbridge on June 23, 2011, at 15:26:26
In reply to Re: prague truely is spectacular, posted by ed_uk2010 on June 23, 2011, at 15:21:25
I do like the idea of legal absence :-)
I somehow didn't register before that it had missed being bombed.
Someday....
Nice to see your posts, ed.
Posted by sigismund on June 23, 2011, at 20:59:21
In reply to Re: prague truely is spectacular » ed_uk2010, posted by floatingbridge on June 23, 2011, at 15:26:26
I'd like to see where Heydrich was shot.
Posted by linkadge on July 7, 2011, at 19:52:11
In reply to Europe this summer, posted by larryhoover on June 18, 2011, at 18:58:48
Posted by Lamdage on July 16, 2011, at 12:41:21
In reply to Re: prague truely is spectacular, posted by sigismund on June 23, 2011, at 20:59:21
You guys know almost more european cities than i do..
Thumps up! Americans are not known for knowing anything outside of the states but once again: prejudice
Posted by floatingbridge on July 16, 2011, at 12:47:42
In reply to You guys know europe!, posted by Lamdage on July 16, 2011, at 12:41:21
There have always been pockets of civilization in The States. Probably more so before they became The States.
I haven't been to Europe myself. My grandparents are from Europe. That count for something...?
> You guys know almost more european cities than i do..
> Thumps up! Americans are not known for knowing anything outside of the states but once again: prejudice
Posted by Lamdage on July 16, 2011, at 13:07:30
In reply to You guys know europe!, posted by Lamdage on July 16, 2011, at 12:41:21
Munich is about as good as germany gets, good choice!
Ps: Go to "Hirschgarten", relax on the lake.. You have to in the summer!
Hofbräuhaus if you are into beer and your meds allow it, but i guess thats a no brainer for tourists. Ive seen a bunch of japanese people dancing on the table to traditional bavarian music haha.
The subway system in Munich is perfect.
Been there with school, we were obnoxious "sobriety is lame folks" but anyway. "Deutsches Museum" is worth a go.. supposedly the largest technical museum in the world. Not sure about that but its pretty good.Have a good time!
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