Never To Return
Aug 10th, 2013, 08:32 PM
#181
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I've been to several places in Europe that were okay but not places I'd return to -- just "been there/done that" kind of places. But the one that I truly hated was Naples -- crowded, filthy streets with garbage piled up, horrendous traffic - couldn't wait to get out of there.
Aug 10th, 2013, 08:44 PM
#182
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Texasaggie... You summarized my view of Vienna well. I lived in Bratislava so we went to Vienna a good bit (day trips, overnight, weekends).
Vienna always felt like visiting someone and sipping tea on china cups in their living room.
Vienna always felt like visiting someone and sipping tea on china cups in their living room.
Aug 10th, 2013, 10:45 PM
#183
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Salzburg (if I have to look at one more chocolate Mozart ball, I'll choke. And it's not even good chocolate!) -- way too crowded and touristic when I was there.
Bamburg -- The old town center was nice for about 45 minutes, and then I got bored.
Rome -- Too hot, too crowded (when I was there), and too many vespas.
Loch Lomond and surrounding area-- Did a walking/hiking tour of southern Scotland and ended up waist high in mud (like quick sand). Had to be pulled out. That was over 20 years ago, but the memory of it does not fade.
Bamburg -- The old town center was nice for about 45 minutes, and then I got bored.
Rome -- Too hot, too crowded (when I was there), and too many vespas.
Loch Lomond and surrounding area-- Did a walking/hiking tour of southern Scotland and ended up waist high in mud (like quick sand). Had to be pulled out. That was over 20 years ago, but the memory of it does not fade.
Aug 10th, 2013, 10:51 PM
#184
TexasAggie and centraleurope, Vienna is my temporary home, and I can appreciate your impressions of the former capital of an Empire. Even in our first few weeks here, playing tourist while waiting for HHG to arrive, I could see that Vienna, and the Viennese in particular, would require extra effort if I were to enjoy my time here.
A year into that effort, I love the city (it's so much more than Imperial this-and-that, and Rick Steve's "heurigen"), but have made little ground with the Viennese, although I caveat that statement as being a generational issue. I speak American-German and no matter my best effort, the older Viennese will either correct me disdainfully or pretend they can not understand. The younger generation is as eager to practice their English as I am my German; they're also chipping away at Vienna's historical crust and helping to make the city truly an Imperial destination.
A year into that effort, I love the city (it's so much more than Imperial this-and-that, and Rick Steve's "heurigen"), but have made little ground with the Viennese, although I caveat that statement as being a generational issue. I speak American-German and no matter my best effort, the older Viennese will either correct me disdainfully or pretend they can not understand. The younger generation is as eager to practice their English as I am my German; they're also chipping away at Vienna's historical crust and helping to make the city truly an Imperial destination.
Aug 12th, 2013, 02:36 PM
#185
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Vatican City.
What a bunfight. Confusing booking system and admission system. Nasty little Sistene Chapel guards - totally took away the enjoyment of breathtaking art. Overcrowded and bad crowd control overall.
I found more beautiful places for art elsewhere in Italy.
What a bunfight. Confusing booking system and admission system. Nasty little Sistene Chapel guards - totally took away the enjoyment of breathtaking art. Overcrowded and bad crowd control overall.
I found more beautiful places for art elsewhere in Italy.
Aug 12th, 2013, 05:07 PM
#187
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I can't think of any place in Europe that I truly did not like, but there are some places that underwhelmed me, given everything that I had heard about them. I was thinking of Colmar when I read the beginning of this thread but at that point dared not mention it. However, I see that although in the minority, I am not alone in it not being a favorite town in Alsace.
The chateau country of the Loire is another place I would not return to, and I know it is an area well loved by many.
And Versailles!
The chateau country of the Loire is another place I would not return to, and I know it is an area well loved by many.
And Versailles!
Aug 12th, 2013, 07:42 PM
#189
Istanbul.
I gave it two tries, too.
Not sorry I went the second time (if only because now I know that my first impression thirty years ago was, for me, valid), but have zero desire to return.
I gave it two tries, too.
Not sorry I went the second time (if only because now I know that my first impression thirty years ago was, for me, valid), but have zero desire to return.
Aug 12th, 2013, 08:20 PM
#191
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Clicked on this thread out of curiosity...what on earth could have generated 189 replies??? Very fun and interesting thread, though.
Incredible how often Vienna came up. Shows how personal travel is, as Vienna is one of my favorite big cities. Probably due to the fact that I lived there as a student for a year and spoke fluent German. The Austrian women students ignored me, but I made many male student friends. Few spoken English. I loved the opera (cheap standing room), the many museums, the beautiful walks, the Wienerwald, the general romance of the city. I did come back years later with my husband and best friends. We all loved it. Anyway, I can understand how people would be put off by the Viennese sometimes. Very traditional and reserved. I've never been to Paris for the same reason...don't speak French and am nervous about how the Parisians treat you. This is probably "old news" by now. However, I was talking to a French woman several years ago at a small inn and she laughed..."Don't worry...even we French hate the Parisians!"
Am actually thinking about a trip to France next spring, however.
As to a city I would never return to...that's Bratislava. My best friend is half Slovak and we went to visit her relatives. Interesting as long as you were with people to relate to, but I don't remember much about the town that was attractive enough to return to. The relatives lived in typical Communist block housing apartments.
Incredible how often Vienna came up. Shows how personal travel is, as Vienna is one of my favorite big cities. Probably due to the fact that I lived there as a student for a year and spoke fluent German. The Austrian women students ignored me, but I made many male student friends. Few spoken English. I loved the opera (cheap standing room), the many museums, the beautiful walks, the Wienerwald, the general romance of the city. I did come back years later with my husband and best friends. We all loved it. Anyway, I can understand how people would be put off by the Viennese sometimes. Very traditional and reserved. I've never been to Paris for the same reason...don't speak French and am nervous about how the Parisians treat you. This is probably "old news" by now. However, I was talking to a French woman several years ago at a small inn and she laughed..."Don't worry...even we French hate the Parisians!"
Am actually thinking about a trip to France next spring, however.
As to a city I would never return to...that's Bratislava. My best friend is half Slovak and we went to visit her relatives. Interesting as long as you were with people to relate to, but I don't remember much about the town that was attractive enough to return to. The relatives lived in typical Communist block housing apartments.
Aug 13th, 2013, 06:04 AM
#194
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I also enjoyed Vienna.....several times.
Don't speak German.....did not feel " not well treated" at all.
As for Paris and Parisians.......in all( twenty something ) visits
never experienced the "rude French" some here have complained about.
On the contrary, people were polite an helpful.
( my French is far from fluent )
Don't speak German.....did not feel " not well treated" at all.
As for Paris and Parisians.......in all( twenty something ) visits
never experienced the "rude French" some here have complained about.
On the contrary, people were polite an helpful.
( my French is far from fluent )
Aug 13th, 2013, 08:55 AM
#195
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Viennese were never rude to us--I just did not fall in love with city one bit.
I HAVE had a few waiters be rude to me in Paris in about 20 or so visits. Same % as in US. Some people in the guichets were not sweethearts--same as in US. IT'S A HUGE CITY THAT IS IN THE TOP FIVE MOST VISITED CITIES IN THE WORLD--these people are worn out with idiots expecting them to be tour guides.
We will ALWAYS return to Paris.
I HAVE had a few waiters be rude to me in Paris in about 20 or so visits. Same % as in US. Some people in the guichets were not sweethearts--same as in US. IT'S A HUGE CITY THAT IS IN THE TOP FIVE MOST VISITED CITIES IN THE WORLD--these people are worn out with idiots expecting them to be tour guides.
We will ALWAYS return to Paris.
Aug 13th, 2013, 09:04 AM
#196
nubbyrose, we stayed two nights in Cesky Krumlov. It is a pretty little town, but when we were there it was far too crowded and touristy. And this is coming form someone who likes Assisi! On the same trip (a little over a week ago) we also visited Telc and Jrinichuv Hradec. Liked them both better, though perhaps they are less picturesque.
Aug 13th, 2013, 09:23 AM
#198
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Yes, I completely agree, Leely2. I stayed three nights in Cesky Krumlov, intending to use it as a base for day tripping to other towns and sites in the area. It actually wasn't mobbed with tourists when I was there (mid-September) like Prague was, but the place seemed totally devoted to tourism. All of the stores seemed like tourist stores. It didn't seem like a place where locals bothered to come.
At night, the place was pretty dead (even on a Friday night). There were a few restaurants open very late but many were not and others seemed empty, and I worried about finding food if I didn't eat dinner early enough. I originally chose CK as my base because I thought it might be a thriving place to enjoy at night after long days of sightseeing, but it wasn't. I really should have stayed my final night in Jindrichuv Hradec or even Pisek in the north and just eaten the cost of the B&B I'd paid for in CK. Oh, well.
I'm sure a big part of my problem with Cesky Krumlov was too high of expectations. It really feels like a fairy-tale town with a cute castle up on the hill, in a beautiful setting, but up close the town itself felt inauthentic.
You know, I find it funny that I still like some places that are very touristy, like the Cinque Terre. I was last there in 2011 and the place was mobbed - and I still enjoyed it, perhaps because the views are so amazing and the Focaccia bread pizza was so good. And I still found locals in the towns.
At night, the place was pretty dead (even on a Friday night). There were a few restaurants open very late but many were not and others seemed empty, and I worried about finding food if I didn't eat dinner early enough. I originally chose CK as my base because I thought it might be a thriving place to enjoy at night after long days of sightseeing, but it wasn't. I really should have stayed my final night in Jindrichuv Hradec or even Pisek in the north and just eaten the cost of the B&B I'd paid for in CK. Oh, well.
I'm sure a big part of my problem with Cesky Krumlov was too high of expectations. It really feels like a fairy-tale town with a cute castle up on the hill, in a beautiful setting, but up close the town itself felt inauthentic.
You know, I find it funny that I still like some places that are very touristy, like the Cinque Terre. I was last there in 2011 and the place was mobbed - and I still enjoyed it, perhaps because the views are so amazing and the Focaccia bread pizza was so good. And I still found locals in the towns.
Aug 13th, 2013, 01:54 PM
#200
Andrew, I (and my husband) feel the same way about the Cinque Terre. We have been 5 times in the last 8 years, and we intend to return as many times as possible.
But I understand people who visit in June, July or August not being able to enjoy it...especially if they choose not to stay overnight for a few nights in one of the five villages. It's not a place for daytripping, imo.
But I understand people who visit in June, July or August not being able to enjoy it...especially if they choose not to stay overnight for a few nights in one of the five villages. It's not a place for daytripping, imo.
