First trip to Europe--where to visit?
Mar 16th, 2001, 03:54 PM
#21
Guest
Posts: n/a
Message: <BR> <BR>mini wrote: 'This is the old "there's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza" problem...if we knew what our preferences were, we wouldn't need to ask for help in how to determine our preferences' <BR> <BR>and Rex wrote: "I disagree a good bit that they can't know what they like until they have been there to know what they like." <BR> <BR>First, interesting phrase there, mini...never heard that one before. Just how "old" is that saying? :~) <BR> <BR>Second, gotta agree with Rex on this. I'd think people must have *some* preferences they could express in order to help people who want to give advice figure out what might best fit those preferences.
Mar 16th, 2001, 04:44 PM
#22
Guest
Posts: n/a
I agree with the multi-country posts. Go to London, stay a few days, take the Eurostar to Paris (Chunnel train), stay a few days and go home to plan your next trip. FOr a first timer, this is the way to go. For a first trip for 7-9 days, going from Londaon to Rome is a long train trip, but quite nice if you are flying. <BR> <BR>
Mar 16th, 2001, 05:15 PM
#23
Guest
Posts: n/a
Excellent decision to see only one country in that time period. Catherdrals that have been there 800 years will probably still be there next year if you like it and want to return. I would even narrow it down to one area in which ever country you finally chose. <BR> <BR>My personal favorites are Italy and Spain, with France as a close third (sorry to the Francophiles from the Forum). <BR> <BR>In both great food, beautiful things to see every where, wonderful for walking. If you decide on Rome, stay there most of the time with a few day trips and a jaunt to one other city. Venice is unique. If Spain, go for Seville and the surrounding region.
Mar 16th, 2001, 06:15 PM
#25
Guest
Posts: n/a
Capo, I'm afraid that maybe what really is getting old isn't my quote but me...
<BR> <BR>To satisfy such curiosity as anyone may have (or to add to the Things One Never Thought One Would Learn On a Travel Board List)...It comes from a folk song of the same name. During the song a farmer and his wife discuss how to fix a bucket. She proposes a long list of solutions and he replies as to why each is not feasible. Finally, if my dimming memory serves me correctly, she suggests plugging the hole with straw and mud (?) To this suggestion her husband replies, "And how shall I make mud, dear wife?" She replies, "with dirt and water".....you see where this is going..... <BR> <BR>I suspect both approaches suggested here are right. In producing many things, one goes through a series of refinements; one designs a prototype, tests it out in the field, and brings back the results of the 'experiment' to incorporate the next time around. <BR> <BR> I suspect that different people have different ways of stimulating the creative juices. Some of us have definitive tastes and preferences. Others 'know what we like when we see it.' It's too early in the process to start worrying about a 'right' or a 'wrong' way to do this....I think if one just brainstorms for a while, sooner or later something will be the 'switch' that works for Susan. <BR> <BR>Hello, Susan?
<BR> <BR>To satisfy such curiosity as anyone may have (or to add to the Things One Never Thought One Would Learn On a Travel Board List)...It comes from a folk song of the same name. During the song a farmer and his wife discuss how to fix a bucket. She proposes a long list of solutions and he replies as to why each is not feasible. Finally, if my dimming memory serves me correctly, she suggests plugging the hole with straw and mud (?) To this suggestion her husband replies, "And how shall I make mud, dear wife?" She replies, "with dirt and water".....you see where this is going..... <BR> <BR>I suspect both approaches suggested here are right. In producing many things, one goes through a series of refinements; one designs a prototype, tests it out in the field, and brings back the results of the 'experiment' to incorporate the next time around. <BR> <BR> I suspect that different people have different ways of stimulating the creative juices. Some of us have definitive tastes and preferences. Others 'know what we like when we see it.' It's too early in the process to start worrying about a 'right' or a 'wrong' way to do this....I think if one just brainstorms for a while, sooner or later something will be the 'switch' that works for Susan. <BR> <BR>Hello, Susan?
Mar 16th, 2001, 08:56 PM
#27
Guest
Posts: n/a
I'm probably one of the few people in the world who was rather underwhelmed with Paris-sure there are wonderful things to see (Notre Dame and Musee Picasso were my highlights) but walking down the Champs-Elysses I felt I could have just as easily been back home what with McDonald's, the Gap, American music blaring in the restaurants. (Yes, I know, it's a small world, etc.) With this in mind however, I would go back to Italy 10x before I would go back to Paris (admittedly I didn't go anywhere else in France). I absolutely loved the big 3 (Rome, Florence, Venice) and still to this day cannot decide which city was my favorite because they all have their charms. I just wish I could have spent MORE time there. Having said that, if you're not limited to only France or Italy, may I recommend Switzerland? Absolutely incredible scenery and wonderful hospitality (whether or not you speak the same language).
Mar 17th, 2001, 09:50 AM
#29
Guest
Posts: n/a
I was wondering the same. Maybe she checked that option of having Fodors notify her by e-mail when the first response to her Q is posted. (And that doesn't work!) So she may think no one has responded yet. Or maybe she was just fooling around trying to see whether anyone would bother to answer a question that presented absolutely no info about her interests and preferences regarding the two countries.
