What European city would you return to and stay a week or longer?
Sep 25th, 2007, 07:24 AM
#21
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Paris
Arles
Villefranche - as a base for the Riviera
Rome
Venice
Montalcino
Florence
Eyeries on the Beara Peninsula, Ireland
Madrid
Barcelona
I agree with Ira though, it would take longer than one week to settle in like a local.
Arles
Villefranche - as a base for the Riviera
Rome
Venice
Montalcino
Florence
Eyeries on the Beara Peninsula, Ireland
Madrid
Barcelona
I agree with Ira though, it would take longer than one week to settle in like a local.
Sep 25th, 2007, 07:25 AM
#22
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RG - Our first trip to Europe was to Rome - our daughter was working and attending school there - we rented an apartment and spent a little over two weeks there (including one three-day side trip to Florence). We absolutely loved being in Rome for that much time. Of course we saw all the usual sights, but we were also able to wander the back streets and to get to know the smaller shops and piazzas.
I think the key is partly in renting an apartement - ours was outside the center of the city, so we came to know the green grocer (the little grandma who sat watch over the vegetable bins helped me learn some "Kitchen Italian"
, the meat shop, etc.
We hated to leave Rome - had a wonderful slow-paced time there.
I think the key is partly in renting an apartement - ours was outside the center of the city, so we came to know the green grocer (the little grandma who sat watch over the vegetable bins helped me learn some "Kitchen Italian"
, the meat shop, etc. We hated to leave Rome - had a wonderful slow-paced time there.
Sep 25th, 2007, 07:28 AM
#23
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RG, Rome gets another vote from me. The historic center of Rome is surprisingly compact. It is much less spread out than, say, Paris. With a week or two you could see all of the "major" sights and also explore some of the marvelous neighborhoods that are a little more off the beaten track (Trastevere and the Ghetto come to mind). I have been to Rome three times (first trip - 2 days, second trip - 6 days, third trip - 4 days) and would return for a longer visit in a heartbeat.
Sep 25th, 2007, 08:00 AM
#24
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Yet another vote for Paris & Rome.
A week is a rather long period in "travel time". If I'm limiting it to just one <b>city</b>, it has to be someplace that holds my interest.
Both Rome and Paris are bottomless wells of experience, culture, history, great food, and all the other things that make urban travel so memorable.
Having said that...I prefer to spend a week at a time (or longer) in non-urban settings such as the Berner Oberland, Amalfi Coast, Dordogne Valley, etc.
A week is a rather long period in "travel time". If I'm limiting it to just one <b>city</b>, it has to be someplace that holds my interest.
Both Rome and Paris are bottomless wells of experience, culture, history, great food, and all the other things that make urban travel so memorable.
Having said that...I prefer to spend a week at a time (or longer) in non-urban settings such as the Berner Oberland, Amalfi Coast, Dordogne Valley, etc.
Sep 25th, 2007, 09:54 AM
#30
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Looks like Paris is the winner so far.
I did go to Paris about 20 years ago and although I'm sure I had a very good time, I oddly can't remember much about it in detail, such as where we stayed or ate or little streets I walked down. I wonder if that's just normal; after all 20 years is a long time. Will I feel the same way about Venice, which right now is vividly etched in my memory because I've been there twice in the last 3 years. As amsdon posted, I think we all feel more at ease and comfortable when we return to a place that we visited fairly recently. So for me, my vote for the topic would probably be Venice.
I did go to Paris about 20 years ago and although I'm sure I had a very good time, I oddly can't remember much about it in detail, such as where we stayed or ate or little streets I walked down. I wonder if that's just normal; after all 20 years is a long time. Will I feel the same way about Venice, which right now is vividly etched in my memory because I've been there twice in the last 3 years. As amsdon posted, I think we all feel more at ease and comfortable when we return to a place that we visited fairly recently. So for me, my vote for the topic would probably be Venice.
Sep 25th, 2007, 10:11 AM
#34
Week or longer winners:
Would love to spend more time in Amsterdam. I loved that city for 4 days in the pouring rain but left with lots more to do - mostly strolling and eating and maybe some more great art and flower admiring. I loved the people there. I traveled alone and never felt lonesome - even hit a "coffee bar" and I'm probably a little old for that kind of thing, but the shopkeeper was very kind, helpful and welcoming - I'd do that again too...I came home and asked my husband if there was any chance he could get transferred there - please!
Paris - spent 10 days there many years ago - it flew by... am going again next month but only for a few days
Will have to make another trip when I can stay for much longer. I love the French who seem to get a bad rap like New Yorkers (I consider myself a NYer) but are actually usually very charming and helpful.
London - spent 9 days there and loved it!! Would definitely go again but have to get some other cities out of my system first.
Probably not:
I spent more than a week in Rome - which is not really a lot of time for there - but I do admit I found it fascinating and exciting but also really tiring. I'm not sure I'll ever go back - too many other places are calling to me.
Venice - kind of felt like I did after Rome although I liked Venice a lot better - still was pretty tired at the end - guess I just don't do well with crowds and lines and the claustrophobic feeling...Next time may try it in the winter...
Vienna - 4 days - enough - didn't warm to it for some reason although I've dreamt of going for 25 years (I think I need there to be visible water to really be taken by a city) Would give this another try though since there is so much great culture there it really warrants more time. Of course not until I've been everywhere else first!!
Would love to spend more time in Amsterdam. I loved that city for 4 days in the pouring rain but left with lots more to do - mostly strolling and eating and maybe some more great art and flower admiring. I loved the people there. I traveled alone and never felt lonesome - even hit a "coffee bar" and I'm probably a little old for that kind of thing, but the shopkeeper was very kind, helpful and welcoming - I'd do that again too...I came home and asked my husband if there was any chance he could get transferred there - please!
Paris - spent 10 days there many years ago - it flew by... am going again next month but only for a few days
Will have to make another trip when I can stay for much longer. I love the French who seem to get a bad rap like New Yorkers (I consider myself a NYer) but are actually usually very charming and helpful.London - spent 9 days there and loved it!! Would definitely go again but have to get some other cities out of my system first.
Probably not:
I spent more than a week in Rome - which is not really a lot of time for there - but I do admit I found it fascinating and exciting but also really tiring. I'm not sure I'll ever go back - too many other places are calling to me.
Venice - kind of felt like I did after Rome although I liked Venice a lot better - still was pretty tired at the end - guess I just don't do well with crowds and lines and the claustrophobic feeling...Next time may try it in the winter...
Vienna - 4 days - enough - didn't warm to it for some reason although I've dreamt of going for 25 years (I think I need there to be visible water to really be taken by a city) Would give this another try though since there is so much great culture there it really warrants more time. Of course not until I've been everywhere else first!!
Sep 25th, 2007, 10:32 AM
#37
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1. Paris
2. London
3. Rome
Those three cities are far ahead every other place I've been. But Paris is the only city I've ever visited where, no matter how long my visit, I *always* feel like I could stay longer with so much to see and do.
Other places that could easily fill a week:
Amsterdam
Barcelona
Prague
Florence
2. London
3. Rome
Those three cities are far ahead every other place I've been. But Paris is the only city I've ever visited where, no matter how long my visit, I *always* feel like I could stay longer with so much to see and do.
Other places that could easily fill a week:
Amsterdam
Barcelona
Prague
Florence
Sep 25th, 2007, 10:36 AM
#38
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Rome
London
The first time I visited Rome, I did find it "monumental" (what an apt word): I didn't get it. We stayed for two days.
The second time, I was intrigued, but not enamoured: we stayed for three days.
The third time, I fell in love: we lived about 90 minutes away and went into Rome every month for as long as we could...I fell in love.
Now, I would live in Rome if I could...it is a seductive and long-lasting affair.
London
The first time I visited Rome, I did find it "monumental" (what an apt word): I didn't get it. We stayed for two days.
The second time, I was intrigued, but not enamoured: we stayed for three days.
The third time, I fell in love: we lived about 90 minutes away and went into Rome every month for as long as we could...I fell in love.
Now, I would live in Rome if I could...it is a seductive and long-lasting affair.
