A Gllorious Month in Europe!
Jun 22nd, 2012, 07:53 AM
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A Gllorious Month in Europe!
Just back from my 53rd visit to Europe and my best - the latest is always my best!
Highlights included Barcelona, Paris, Rome, Venice, Florence, the Interlaken or Jungfrau Region of Switzerland, Vienna, Prague, Munich, and last but certainly not least Amsterdamned, damned, damned, damn on the Continent before heading to London via the Chunnel from Brussels!
There was great beer and wine everywhere!!
The weather was a bit cool in France as were the locals!
I was pickpocketed in Paris, Rome, Florence and Prague.
I was mugged in Barcelona.
I saw the Mona Lisa and prayed in St Peter's.
I loved the cheese in France, the beer in Germany, the bud in Amsterdamned, the pizza in Italy, chocolate in Belgium, tapas in Spain, fondue in Switzerland and Sacher torte in Vienna (but in England nothing tasted good!).
I traveled by train with a first-class railpass and eneded up in London via the Chunnel train.
Oh well a fabulous trip of a lifetime. I went to the Isle of wight for my 64th birthday.
I saw the Queen at one of her 60th years on the throne shindigs - and Prince Charles too!
Oh well I can't wait to go back!
Highlights included Barcelona, Paris, Rome, Venice, Florence, the Interlaken or Jungfrau Region of Switzerland, Vienna, Prague, Munich, and last but certainly not least Amsterdamned, damned, damned, damn on the Continent before heading to London via the Chunnel from Brussels!
There was great beer and wine everywhere!!
The weather was a bit cool in France as were the locals!
I was pickpocketed in Paris, Rome, Florence and Prague.
I was mugged in Barcelona.
I saw the Mona Lisa and prayed in St Peter's.
I loved the cheese in France, the beer in Germany, the bud in Amsterdamned, the pizza in Italy, chocolate in Belgium, tapas in Spain, fondue in Switzerland and Sacher torte in Vienna (but in England nothing tasted good!).
I traveled by train with a first-class railpass and eneded up in London via the Chunnel train.
Oh well a fabulous trip of a lifetime. I went to the Isle of wight for my 64th birthday.
I saw the Queen at one of her 60th years on the throne shindigs - and Prince Charles too!
Oh well I can't wait to go back!
Jun 22nd, 2012, 10:38 AM
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DAY 1 - BARCELONA
Landed on time, 10 am - was mugged by 11am. Took train to hotel in historic center. Saw the Familiar Sangria, the Church, the Ramble (mugged again!), the Gaudy's Gooie Park, saw Montjuich and day tripped to Montserrat to pray to the Black Madonna.
Hopped overnight train to Paris.
next DAY 2 - Gay Paree!
Landed on time, 10 am - was mugged by 11am. Took train to hotel in historic center. Saw the Familiar Sangria, the Church, the Ramble (mugged again!), the Gaudy's Gooie Park, saw Montjuich and day tripped to Montserrat to pray to the Black Madonna.
Hopped overnight train to Paris.
next DAY 2 - Gay Paree!
Jun 23rd, 2012, 07:07 AM
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OVERNIGHT TRAIN FROM HELL
Funny I have take zillions of overnight trains and always slept, with aid of some vino, like a baby. But after reading reports from Fodorites who claim one can never get a good night's sleep on overnight trains, weird thing I could not sleep a wink and woke up in Paris sleepless - sleepless in Paree! sleepless in Austerlitz station but roaring to go see the City of Light!
Funny I have take zillions of overnight trains and always slept, with aid of some vino, like a baby. But after reading reports from Fodorites who claim one can never get a good night's sleep on overnight trains, weird thing I could not sleep a wink and woke up in Paris sleepless - sleepless in Paree! sleepless in Austerlitz station but roaring to go see the City of Light!
Jun 24th, 2012, 06:54 AM
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Pal..at last some good old sarcastic humor on a Forum that has turned deathly humorless. More stuffed shirts than a
Wall Street trader's luncheon. Bah, humbug!
Thank you Pal...you came through, unscathed, I hope. Sorry about the muggings in Barcelona. My habitually criminal cousin Jose' is at it again. List what you lost and I'll ry to get it back for you. No promises. There's a slight finders fee, of course.
Wall Street trader's luncheon. Bah, humbug!
Thank you Pal...you came through, unscathed, I hope. Sorry about the muggings in Barcelona. My habitually criminal cousin Jose' is at it again. List what you lost and I'll ry to get it back for you. No promises. There's a slight finders fee, of course.
Jun 24th, 2012, 08:22 AM
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<didn't the gun help?>
Naw it were for some stupid reason confiscated by Spanish police at the Customs - seems, incredible to believe that barbaric Spanish laws preclude not only carrying a concealed Remington like I have in my pants (no pun intended!) or even having a gun!
Wow I guess in Spain on the criminals pack heat?
What a backward country!
Naw it were for some stupid reason confiscated by Spanish police at the Customs - seems, incredible to believe that barbaric Spanish laws preclude not only carrying a concealed Remington like I have in my pants (no pun intended!) or even having a gun!
Wow I guess in Spain on the criminals pack heat?
What a backward country!
Jun 24th, 2012, 08:30 AM
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I am very disappointed in your trip report. You omitted when your flights arrived, who you sat next to, what time you woke up, and how bowel movements you had. Could you please specify by country?
Please include the words amazing, yummy, and outrageous so I know when you liked something.
Where you accosted by umemployed bankers in Spain?
Great report! I cannot wait for the next installment!!!!!!
Please include the words amazing, yummy, and outrageous so I know when you liked something.
Where you accosted by umemployed bankers in Spain?
Great report! I cannot wait for the next installment!!!!!!
Jun 25th, 2012, 09:31 AM
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Thank you Pal...you came through, unscathed, I hope. Sorry about the muggings in Barcelona. My habitually criminal cousin Jose' is at it again. List what you lost and I'll ry to get it back for you. No promises. There's a slight finders fee, of course.>
Stu - thanks a lot for offering to help me - yeh I think that bloke did call himself Jose - he said something like "Jose here at your service" - about the best English I heard spoken in Catolonia!
OK here is what I lost - a 24-carat diamond ring I was wearing along with two gold rings I was also wearing plus a large gold medallion I had around my neck and my $1,000 camera I also had slung around my neck plus several hundred bucks worth of euros I had just gotten out of an ATM (some folks can be real helpful in Barcelona ('barthelona as locals say it) - at the ATM I had trouble entering my PIN number so one really helpful guy asked me what the PIN was and he entered it and voila out came the cash!) Well anyone Jose or whoever robbed me also got my ATM card (thankfully he does not have the PIN number!) and all the cash.
Funny thing is I have been reading with great interest on Fodors about muggings and street crime in Barcelona and always some folks chime in that they have gone to Barcelona many many times and have never taken any precautions on the street and never have been mugged and never heard of anyone being mugged - I wonder why I was a target - a one in a million thing - I tried to blend in but for some reason I became a victim - anyway Stu if you can contact cousin Jose and see if he can retrieve some stuff I'll pay him what they are worth as they are more of sentimental value than anything else to me.
Have a nice day and maybe our paths will cross in Palenque some day! Again thanks for your kind offer.
Stu - thanks a lot for offering to help me - yeh I think that bloke did call himself Jose - he said something like "Jose here at your service" - about the best English I heard spoken in Catolonia!
OK here is what I lost - a 24-carat diamond ring I was wearing along with two gold rings I was also wearing plus a large gold medallion I had around my neck and my $1,000 camera I also had slung around my neck plus several hundred bucks worth of euros I had just gotten out of an ATM (some folks can be real helpful in Barcelona ('barthelona as locals say it) - at the ATM I had trouble entering my PIN number so one really helpful guy asked me what the PIN was and he entered it and voila out came the cash!) Well anyone Jose or whoever robbed me also got my ATM card (thankfully he does not have the PIN number!) and all the cash.
Funny thing is I have been reading with great interest on Fodors about muggings and street crime in Barcelona and always some folks chime in that they have gone to Barcelona many many times and have never taken any precautions on the street and never have been mugged and never heard of anyone being mugged - I wonder why I was a target - a one in a million thing - I tried to blend in but for some reason I became a victim - anyway Stu if you can contact cousin Jose and see if he can retrieve some stuff I'll pay him what they are worth as they are more of sentimental value than anything else to me.
Have a nice day and maybe our paths will cross in Palenque some day! Again thanks for your kind offer.
Jun 25th, 2012, 11:35 AM
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Pal...believe me, if I can't find Jose' I'll find someone else who'll contact you through his brother in NYC who goes by the weird name of "aduchamp"..one way or the other we aim to help!
stu
and please be alert in Roscommon, "AKA" as the Barcelona of Central Michigan.
stu
and please be alert in Roscommon, "AKA" as the Barcelona of Central Michigan.
Jun 26th, 2012, 05:21 AM
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How much did you tip the porter on the over-night train? Maybe it wasn't enough...I don't want to make the same mistake>
well I did not tip her at all and I paid the price as about two hours before arrival in Paris-Austerlitz this burly gal came in and suddenly ripped all the bedding off from under me - saying she was preparing for arrival - so you pay the price by not paying the piper I guess.
well I did not tip her at all and I paid the price as about two hours before arrival in Paris-Austerlitz this burly gal came in and suddenly ripped all the bedding off from under me - saying she was preparing for arrival - so you pay the price by not paying the piper I guess.
