emyou

Syl,we too will be in Prague in October, the 14th to be exact. It would be interesting to know if your friends will be there at that time. We are also considering the Maximillion hotel.Thank you Meyer for your great info. I will take your advice into consideration when we go especially the restaurants.

Myer

Hey,

I don't want to give anybody the idea I'm negative in any way about the Maximilian.

It's an excellent hotel. Everything was great and they even provide internet computers for free unlike many other places. The staff was helpfule. Breakfast great!!!

They just quoted in Euros (I never thought about it other than curiously asking at the time of booking and they said it's in preparation for when they go Euro (?) and as a "convenience" for clients. I would just tell them to quote in the currency I'm paying. That removes one currency exchange. Any excuses they may give you is a ploy to create another currency exchange.

Syl

Emyou,
Myer also originates from la belle province so as a "landsman", his opinion about restaurants should be valued.

emyou

I highly agree and I already wrote down all his recommendations. Speak to you tonight, now that I know who you are. What a joke.

emyou

We will be going to Prague in October and then on to Vienna and Budapest. We have about 3 nights to spend somewhere else probably between Prague and Vienna. We can go by train or rent a car. We were thinking of Melk, or Saltzburg or cesky krumlov. Any suggestions?

Myer

The only places I've been to in that part of Europe are Prague and Budapest.

When I get a chance I'll post my photos.

emyou

Thanks meyer I would appreciate that. I happen to be an amateur photogragher and even though I know it is heavy, I plan on taking my DSLR Camera with a couple of lenses. Hopefully my husband will not mind carrying the camera bag for a while.

emyou

sorry, I spelled your name wrong. Myer.

FauxSteMarie

Thanks for the informative trip report. I have never been to Prague, Budapest or Brugge, but they are on the list.

I agree that Brussels is a great place to buy chocolate. I got a nice purse there as well (one of those bags with a tapestry motif).

Myer

emyou,

I too have a DSLR. A Canon 350XT.

While I'm accused of taking too long to snap photos, I don't believe that's the case. Now with digital I just snap more rather than take more time for the ones I take. Took over 600 on the trip. Now must review them.

For that reason I do not carry a bag with multiple lenses.

Just my trusty 28-105 II USM lens that has served me very well since my elan7e film days.

With the 1.6 factor (smaller sensor) I find 28mm not quite wide enough for some shots but I'm having a hard time convincing myself to replace it given that every shot I take is sharp (at least to my aging eyes) at all apertures. The lens focuses quickly and quietly. I wish I could find a new and slightly wider lens that I have confidence in. It really hasn't been a pressing issue. Just a thought.

On another topic. While Syl gave me one or two hints, I don't know who he is. From his hints it's quite possible I don't know him personally.

emyou

Hi myer. My camera is a nikon D70s.I got it because it is the one my teacher uses and it was the right price. My favourite lens is my telephoto 70-200. Since I started to use it, I don't use the one that came with the kit so much, a 28-70. I like to shoot close up and the telephoto allows me to do this very well. I am thinking of my next purchase which will either be a wide angle Sigma 10-20 or a macro. In any case I am going on a photo trip next week with my teacher and my daughter in law (she has a Nikon D50 and a great eye) to the Jardins de Metis (the Reford gardens in Matane Quebec (don't ask me where it is but google it and look for the famous blue poppies). Anyway, thanks for the info on Prague you are most informative. We think we will stay at the Maximillion and we will call them directly to get reservations.
By the way I just noticed that you were thinking about Tuscany and Umbria. We were there with the same people we are going with to Prague. We went there because our Prague trip was cancelled because of the flood a few years ago. We rented a villa in a small town and with our car we did day trips. It was a joke, the villa cost about 250.can. for the week and was quite nice. If you ever want to do that, I can set you up with the man who helped us. But that's another story and I don't even know if he does that anymore

Myer

emyou,

Talk about cancelling trips. We had a Spain trip planned for Sept 26, 2001. My wife wouldn't go (she was also spooked by the kids). We cancelled and went to Italy (easier to plan a familiar trip at the last minute) the next.

I then replanned the Spain trip for two 2004. We were in Madrid a month or so after the train station bombings and were that station four times and never saw any damage.

Camera. I believe the Nikons also use a 1.6 factor so that a 70mm lens on a digital is like a 70 x 1.6 on a film camera.

I think you'll find that on a trip the wide is more valuable than the long.

Our eye see wide and not long and we want to capture what we see.

Byrd

Thank you for such a good report, Myer.

We're in the midst of planning our trip to Amsterdam and Bruges in October, so you have lots of good information for us.

Byrd

emyou

Hi again Myer. I am writing this instead of going to the gym. Good excuse. I let my husband shoot the regular photos of our trip and I take unusual shots like parts of things and views that capture the feeling of the places that I see. The shots I take are my interpretation of what I see so they are not necessarily a memory of the place but instead they are my memory (if you get my drift).In any case I will take both lenses and carry them around(oh my aching back) but I seldom take out my 28 - 70.I am looking forward to seeing some of your shots. Maybe you can write a bit about them so I know what I am seeing. Got to go play bridge now.

Myer

Byrd,

After being to Brugge Amsterdam had a bit of a tough time competing. With the views anyway.

There was a time when canals and quaint looking buildings were the view.

Then there's Brugge. One of the storekeepers told me they have rules about how the store is set up. I don't think we saw those tourist stores with all of their goods hanging in front. You actually see the buildings.

Then there are canals, neat buildings, lakes and swans at every turn.

Get in touch with the tourist office. They sent me some folders and one contained their tourist walks. The one through the middle of town passed everything. I had it in my back pocket and followed it. Has a very good map and shows the location of windmills.

Byrd

Thanks, Myer, for the suggestions about Bruges. I will contact the tourist office.

We spent a day in Bruges a good many years ago, and have wanted to return. I'm so glad to hear it's as wonderful as we remember it!

My memories are of yellow leaves floating into the canals (trip was in October, too), beautiful buildings, and sitting at canal-side cafes drinking Heinrik Strasse ("Strong Henry!) beer! I'm sure I spelled that incorrectly, but I don't know where to look it up.


Our plans are to spend three nights in Bruges before heading to Amsterdam.

Any other suggestions will be appreciated.

By the way, we are a group of four couples who travel together nearly every year.

Byrd

Myer

Byrd,

I'm impressed. Four couples travelling together and you're still friends.

Many years ago when our kids were kids we went with some friends (3-4 families) (and the kids) to a motel/resort in upstate New York.

One evening each family was in their own car sitting in a line all haggling about where to eat. I don't remember if the haggling was within each car or between cars.

We've never been on a trip with another couple. I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it. The topic has just never come up.

We plan. We go.

emyou

Hi myer, we are going on our Prague trip with a couple we've been friends with for about 35 years. They live in Toronto and we in Montreal. We are both very easygoing so if one person doesn't want to do something, we say bye bye, you are on your own and the rest of us goes. It worked in Italy and we think it will still work in Prague. As a matter of fact we have also been on trips with Syl who happens to be our cousin and we do well together. She plans, and we go.

Syl

Myer,
Ask Sandi to figure it out:
-I graduated high school with her
-My hubby graduated with her sister
(He's on the organizing committee for
their 50th anniversary reunion in
May 2007)
-We lived on Schubert in DDO

Syl

And Syl is obviously my pseudonym.