Please help us maximize our time in each European city
Jul 22nd, 2014, 11:26 AM
#41
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<< so mostly we'll be doing Hop On Hop Off tours to get us all of the great photo opportunities. >>
A half day on the HOHO buses won't get you the great photo opportunities. For the best opportunities you need to be walking around in the center of the cities. You'll see more than sitting in traffic on a bus.
Just curious about what you'll do with your afternoons if you do the HOHO buses in the mornings. You'll need to wait for evening for the clubs/bars to meet locals. I'm guessing you weren't planning to start drinking at noon. You have the whole afternoon free with no plans.
A half day on the HOHO buses won't get you the great photo opportunities. For the best opportunities you need to be walking around in the center of the cities. You'll see more than sitting in traffic on a bus.
Just curious about what you'll do with your afternoons if you do the HOHO buses in the mornings. You'll need to wait for evening for the clubs/bars to meet locals. I'm guessing you weren't planning to start drinking at noon. You have the whole afternoon free with no plans.
Jul 22nd, 2014, 11:50 AM
#42
To maximize time in each city, I would simply head to the most central area, have a paper street map in hand, and walk around. That way you can do your poking around, shopping, drinking in cafes, etc. Maybe pull it together by having 1 or 2 places you want to see to anchor things (like the Eiffel Tower in Paris or a canal boat cruise in Amsterdam).
Jul 22nd, 2014, 12:14 PM
#43
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I fear that you will find that all of the locals are not just sitting around waiting for a couple of random americans to wander by so they can start conversations.
They will have work, family, dates, activities planned, friends to visit and hang out with. What is so magic that they will drop all that and focus their evening (you do know they will be working during the day) on talking to you? About what? International geopolitics? Global warming? Their current political or social scandals (do you know what they are?)? Don't think they will have a huge interest in baseball or preseason football or whatever vampire movie you just saw.
Europeans are, as a rule, more reserved than americans, and without a specific connection or common interest conversation beyond a few polite phrases is not common. Especially if you don't understand the language they are speaking (everyone should switch to English for you?) Of course, hotel keepers, waiters and shop clerks will speak English to you - but why the average person in a pub or cafe?
We have often struck up conversations with people in restaurants, cafes or pubs in europe - but they are almost invariably other tourists (granted from a different country or different part of the world) - but other people touring - not locals - who are more likely to be home having dinner or at a restaurant/cafe in their neighborhood.
I'm sorry - I don't mean to be harsh - but I fear that your plans are just not very realistic.
They will have work, family, dates, activities planned, friends to visit and hang out with. What is so magic that they will drop all that and focus their evening (you do know they will be working during the day) on talking to you? About what? International geopolitics? Global warming? Their current political or social scandals (do you know what they are?)? Don't think they will have a huge interest in baseball or preseason football or whatever vampire movie you just saw.
Europeans are, as a rule, more reserved than americans, and without a specific connection or common interest conversation beyond a few polite phrases is not common. Especially if you don't understand the language they are speaking (everyone should switch to English for you?) Of course, hotel keepers, waiters and shop clerks will speak English to you - but why the average person in a pub or cafe?
We have often struck up conversations with people in restaurants, cafes or pubs in europe - but they are almost invariably other tourists (granted from a different country or different part of the world) - but other people touring - not locals - who are more likely to be home having dinner or at a restaurant/cafe in their neighborhood.
I'm sorry - I don't mean to be harsh - but I fear that your plans are just not very realistic.
Jul 22nd, 2014, 12:24 PM
#44
I wouldn't be *quite* that harsh...
I think the outline of their plans are OK, just some of the specific expectations are not realistic.
They can go city to city at a fast-pace, and see a little bit of something each stop. But they won't have time to dive in finding little hidden gems off the tourist path or places to party with locals other than an occasional bar perhaps.
I do think it's possible to rub elbows with locals but it takes time to make the connections. It helps if you have friends living there (is the absolute easiest way to actually "meet locals"). It helps if you speak the language. It helps if there is some common ground (a class, a tour, something...).
I think the outline of their plans are OK, just some of the specific expectations are not realistic.
They can go city to city at a fast-pace, and see a little bit of something each stop. But they won't have time to dive in finding little hidden gems off the tourist path or places to party with locals other than an occasional bar perhaps.
I do think it's possible to rub elbows with locals but it takes time to make the connections. It helps if you have friends living there (is the absolute easiest way to actually "meet locals"). It helps if you speak the language. It helps if there is some common ground (a class, a tour, something...).
Jul 22nd, 2014, 12:38 PM
#45
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Agree - I have spend many dinners with "locals" in europe - but because they worked for the local office of our company and we had clients in common. Naturally some of the relationships ripen from there and we have had one colleague from Germany and a couple from the UK as visitors in NYC. But that wasn't just wandering into a bar and chatting with whoever was standing there.
Just wandering around tourist areas (and some off the beaten road places) we have met/talked with and even a couple of times shared a meal with people from OZ, NZ, Canada, England (they were lost in Austria), Argentina, Mexico, Brazil and Singapore. But - all other tourists who spoke English - not locals.
Just wandering around tourist areas (and some off the beaten road places) we have met/talked with and even a couple of times shared a meal with people from OZ, NZ, Canada, England (they were lost in Austria), Argentina, Mexico, Brazil and Singapore. But - all other tourists who spoke English - not locals.
Jul 22nd, 2014, 01:02 PM
#47
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<<other young tourists would also make for fine company>>
O fer crissakes, be clearer then.
You want young tourists, take walking tours and city bike tours (Fat Tire Bike Tours are available in Paris, London, Berlin, and Barcelona [the last is irrelevant for you]). Again, this goes to the concept I wrote about above - when you're thrown together with people, you can more easily strike up the connection you're looking for. And Aussies would be right in your demographic - run around, snap pics, drain a pint.
O fer crissakes, be clearer then.
You want young tourists, take walking tours and city bike tours (Fat Tire Bike Tours are available in Paris, London, Berlin, and Barcelona [the last is irrelevant for you]). Again, this goes to the concept I wrote about above - when you're thrown together with people, you can more easily strike up the connection you're looking for. And Aussies would be right in your demographic - run around, snap pics, drain a pint.
Jul 22nd, 2014, 01:14 PM
#48
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Www.walks.com is a great and affordable tour company. They do pub walks at nice, a great way to hook up with like minded tourists (and locals...we have taken a few!)
Jul 22nd, 2014, 01:50 PM
#50
Oh meeting other tourists will be WAY easier. As already suggested think about joining a walking tour, bike tour, cooking class, go to a concert, talk to people next to you in a restaurant, in the hotel lobby, etc.
Jul 22nd, 2014, 02:21 PM
#51
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<< Maybe locals isn't the right word - other young tourists would also make for fine company. >>
That is so hugely different from what you first said.
It's certainly going to be a lot easier to mingle with other tourists. They're all over the central parts of the cities. Stop into bar where you hear English spoken and you can't go wrong.
That is so hugely different from what you first said.
It's certainly going to be a lot easier to mingle with other tourists. They're all over the central parts of the cities. Stop into bar where you hear English spoken and you can't go wrong.
Jul 22nd, 2014, 03:22 PM
#52
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We went on an excellent walking tour in Prague. It met in front of the astrological clock. You could google for information, or maybe a guide book will give it or your hotel could help. Check guidebooks in your public library to see which ones you like and take some notes and/or buy what suits you best.
Jul 22nd, 2014, 05:02 PM
#53
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The City Hall in Prague offers a bunch of inexpensive walking tours. We did a tour of the architecture/history of the Old Town with a prof from the university - only 7 of us, all english speaking and practically free. Yes, that is a good way to meet other people - but not locals.
But you can;t do it in 20 minutes - more like 1.5 hours.
You really do need to decide what you want/expect from this trip.
But you can;t do it in 20 minutes - more like 1.5 hours.
You really do need to decide what you want/expect from this trip.
Jul 23rd, 2014, 04:28 AM
#54
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<i>Thanks again, everyone. Maybe locals isn't the right word - other young tourists would also make for fine company.</i>
Then stay in hostels. You can go on the nightly pub crawls with them. Unless they are also Americans, be prepared to spend at least some time defending American foreign policy and explaining why Americans hate "Obamacare" and love guns.
Then stay in hostels. You can go on the nightly pub crawls with them. Unless they are also Americans, be prepared to spend at least some time defending American foreign policy and explaining why Americans hate "Obamacare" and love guns.
Jul 23rd, 2014, 04:59 AM
#55
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Not many Europeans will care about Obamacare or any other aspect of American politics and will definitely not want to spend vacation time debating it, unless they perhaps drunk or get don't out much.
Jul 23rd, 2014, 05:05 AM
#56
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My experiences have been otherwise. Once folks get comfortable, they start asking about things like that. I guess they want to understand the thought process of Americans and I can't fault them for that.
Jul 23rd, 2014, 05:07 AM
#57
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I suspect they are more curious after an event like the presidential election or a school shooting. Or when they find out that the NSA has been eavesdropping on everyone. For example, Snowden: patriot or traitor?
Jul 23rd, 2014, 06:25 AM
#58
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We have made friends in many countries, some have endured for 40 years. They all occurred by accident. We met our oldest friends when we went into a tourist shop of all things and started talking to her about this and that. Another friendship evolved while we were having dinner and someone heard our American accent. Our latest overseas friend, we met on these boards.
My wife made 6 or 7 friends on her Camino. One young girl, who will go to university this fall, is in constant contact with my wife. In fact, she recently helped her with a school project.
Some days I think Snowden is a patriot others a self-serving fool.
My wife made 6 or 7 friends on her Camino. One young girl, who will go to university this fall, is in constant contact with my wife. In fact, she recently helped her with a school project.
Some days I think Snowden is a patriot others a self-serving fool.
Jul 25th, 2014, 07:51 AM
#60
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I just came back from Copenhagen, and I think the 2ish days you have there should be fine. Take a nap when you arrive, then stroll the Stroget and maybe catch a canal cruise. Try the Meatpacking neighborhood for dinner (lots of locals) or Nyhavn. Your next full day I'd recommend renting a bicycle in the morning - there's a cheap service bycyklen.dk/en you can rent by the hour. Head over to Christianshavn and see Christiania. If you decide to try a museum, the National Museum of Denmark is cool. Definitely check out Tivoli - it's not just tourists, there's locals there too. And it's gorgeous and a ton of fun. Stay in the city center - I was at the CabInn (tiny but cheap) near the train station and the location was excellent.
In Paris, see the Louvre (I actually found it somewhat boring inside, but it's gorgeous outside). Definitely go to the top of the Eiffel if you have time (or just take pics beneath/around it if not). It's open late, so you can go at night before hitting some bars. A Seine cruise is a good option to see a lot of the sights, including Notre Dame. The Latin Quarter is good for shopping and a bit less touristy. I think you'll regret not having a bit more time there, but I understand getting a taste.
I agree that it will be harder to meet locals than fellow tourists, but that can be just as fun. I personally have never had anyone ask me about American politics, and while I agree you should know some basics of each language as a basic rule of courtesy, you will not need much beyond that in Copenhagen. Paris, definitely learn a few words and phrases. You can use your travel time to switch languages.
Traveling abroad is the same as traveling at home: be polite, respectful and friendly, and you will get the same in return. People want to help nice people, not rude ones (and it's doing your part to help shore up the American image abroad!).
In Paris, see the Louvre (I actually found it somewhat boring inside, but it's gorgeous outside). Definitely go to the top of the Eiffel if you have time (or just take pics beneath/around it if not). It's open late, so you can go at night before hitting some bars. A Seine cruise is a good option to see a lot of the sights, including Notre Dame. The Latin Quarter is good for shopping and a bit less touristy. I think you'll regret not having a bit more time there, but I understand getting a taste.
I agree that it will be harder to meet locals than fellow tourists, but that can be just as fun. I personally have never had anyone ask me about American politics, and while I agree you should know some basics of each language as a basic rule of courtesy, you will not need much beyond that in Copenhagen. Paris, definitely learn a few words and phrases. You can use your travel time to switch languages.
Traveling abroad is the same as traveling at home: be polite, respectful and friendly, and you will get the same in return. People want to help nice people, not rude ones (and it's doing your part to help shore up the American image abroad!).
