Europe exploration 30-ish Day Trip
Jul 2nd, 2016, 03:59 AM
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Europe exploration 30-ish Day Trip
I am wanting to make a trip to Europe next May for about 5-6 weeks. Destinations I've had in mind are:
Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Salzburg, Milan, Mallorca, and maybe a spot in Switzerland... I have friends I would like to visit in Mallorca and Milan, also a friend who lives in Czech (not sure where exactly though), maybe Paris...
Was thinking of flying into Amsterdam, then training it from there. Destinations aren't really set in stone. I don't want to be rushed or on a mission impossible schedule. I just want to see different places and have fun travelling... Any suggestions on order/destinations/time frames? I'm more interested in culture,food, history, and art than seeing the giant touristy spots. Thanks!!
Any small hidden gems I could hit in between would be awesome too!
Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Salzburg, Milan, Mallorca, and maybe a spot in Switzerland... I have friends I would like to visit in Mallorca and Milan, also a friend who lives in Czech (not sure where exactly though), maybe Paris...
Was thinking of flying into Amsterdam, then training it from there. Destinations aren't really set in stone. I don't want to be rushed or on a mission impossible schedule. I just want to see different places and have fun travelling... Any suggestions on order/destinations/time frames? I'm more interested in culture,food, history, and art than seeing the giant touristy spots. Thanks!!
Any small hidden gems I could hit in between would be awesome too!
Jul 2nd, 2016, 04:42 AM
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Also, I have a few friends who have said they are going to join... However, if this ends up being a solo trip (which I'm 100% ok with!) Any suggestions geared towards that particular factor would be very helpful as well!
Jul 2nd, 2016, 04:59 AM
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I recently returned from a month-long trip, mostly to eastern Germany, and I regret not having planned somewhat differently. I had heard or read the suggestion that one should start with the simplest, least exciting part of the trip and continue with more interesting, exotic, exciting destinations as the trip continues.
I wish I'd done that. Instead I finished with a couple of very low-key destinations, I was--though I hate to admit it--a bit bored.
My purpose was to stay in places in eastern Germany where little English is spoken, so that I'd be forced to speak German, not English. It never occurred to me that many of the people whom I met did not generally speak Hochdeutsch, and they were often difficult to understand.
I wish I'd done that. Instead I finished with a couple of very low-key destinations, I was--though I hate to admit it--a bit bored.
My purpose was to stay in places in eastern Germany where little English is spoken, so that I'd be forced to speak German, not English. It never occurred to me that many of the people whom I met did not generally speak Hochdeutsch, and they were often difficult to understand.
Jul 2nd, 2016, 06:32 AM
#4
It never occurred to me that many of the people whom I met did not generally speak Hochdeutsch, and they were often difficult to understand.>>
Peg, when that happens to me I tend to blame them! [wrong of me I know, but it makes me feel better]. I also find that it takes a few days for my ear to tune to what I am hearing, and to adjust to the local accent and if you are moving around a lot, by the time you've got used to it, you've moved on to somewhere new and have to start again.
Just think though, next time it'll be easier!
Peg, when that happens to me I tend to blame them! [wrong of me I know, but it makes me feel better]. I also find that it takes a few days for my ear to tune to what I am hearing, and to adjust to the local accent and if you are moving around a lot, by the time you've got used to it, you've moved on to somewhere new and have to start again.
Just think though, next time it'll be easier!
Jul 2nd, 2016, 06:53 AM
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As a city I found Munich overrated, and Salzburg is very much a tourist spot for its Sound of Music associations.
It's much more exciting to go a little bit more to the east, and have a few days in amazingly attractive Leipzig, from where it's just a few hours into Czechia.
In Czechia itself Prague is of course a major destination, but getting overcrowded nowadays. I just finished a trip avoiding Prague and staying, among others, in Hradec Kralove and Brno. Both very interesting and off the beaten path. From Brno it's a few hours to Vienna and the Austrian railway system to bring you to Milan.
It's much more exciting to go a little bit more to the east, and have a few days in amazingly attractive Leipzig, from where it's just a few hours into Czechia.
In Czechia itself Prague is of course a major destination, but getting overcrowded nowadays. I just finished a trip avoiding Prague and staying, among others, in Hradec Kralove and Brno. Both very interesting and off the beaten path. From Brno it's a few hours to Vienna and the Austrian railway system to bring you to Milan.
Jul 2nd, 2016, 07:15 AM
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Pegontheroad -- did you ask the Germans if they spoke Hochdeutsch?
A friend of mine still has trouble with the heavy Bavarian accent, even though she's been living here in Bavaria for 30 years. She unabashedly just asks folks to speak Hochdeutsch.
Fortunately, I'm not nearly as conversant or fluid as you or she . . . Bavarians naturally take it easy on me and use Hochdeutsch and speak slowly. I'm very happy . . . they used to switch to English!
s
A friend of mine still has trouble with the heavy Bavarian accent, even though she's been living here in Bavaria for 30 years. She unabashedly just asks folks to speak Hochdeutsch.
Fortunately, I'm not nearly as conversant or fluid as you or she . . . Bavarians naturally take it easy on me and use Hochdeutsch and speak slowly. I'm very happy . . . they used to switch to English!
s
Jul 2nd, 2016, 07:33 AM
#7
swandav - IME just like english speakers many germans still have an accent even though they are speaking "Hochdeutsch", and once they hear you speak german I find they tend to forget about the Hochdeutsch after a while.
