That "dying on a trip" thread is so darn depressing. I want to travel wild, free, and without regrets from holding back!

Any recommendations for really cutting loose and "setting the town on fire". Give me some daring, funny or crazy things that would make the "nuns from hell" from my old high school chase me with a ruler again!

Skinny dipping in the Tevi fountain at 4AM?

A "stress release" massage in Amsterdam?

Pigeon hunting in Venice?

These are probably tame but I my first thoughts are:
Staying in the MOST expensive hotel in Paris, with nary a thought to the bills when you get home. Along with that comes the eating in the MOST expensive restaurants.
Did I mention shopping?

Hiring guides and trekking in Nepal, staying in really posh tents

Taking a really nice boat out with guys running everything for you and seeing all those little islands in Cambodia and Viet Nam..

Taking one of those African safaris but with just the Yankee and dozens of men who set up camp and cook and butlers etc. They would also have Insect wranglers who would make sure I never see a spider or creepy crawlie thing.

Sorry, I am not at my most extravagant now- I am going to just be happy to be on a trip and having watched them set Atlanta on fire, I can enjoy just hanging out in the Crillon for a few months and be happy

I know its hard for a refined and proper grand lady to talk of distasteful things that reek of scandal.

Still, I bet you have "kicked your pretty heels up" in Paris on more than one occasion? I won't mention that daring little red dress that made front page news!

I was going to suggest taking a baseball bat to the displays in some of the shops in Venice, the ones with the garish red swans and mottled green bowls.
I'd wear a disguise, and leave the owner lots of euro in compensation, but it would be worth it.

Be really rude to everbody .....be the ultimate "ugly American" and never look back ;-). Halter tops to the Vatican...up the down staircase anywhere. Go ahead... be wild & crazy!

>I want to travel wild, free, and without regrets from holding back! <

The problem is that if you survive, you will have to spend the rest of your life paying bills, fighting lawsuits, etc.

And what firearm would one use to pigeon hunt in Venice? And proper dress for pigeon hunting?

suggest taking a baseball bat to the displays in some of the shops in Venice, the ones with the garish red swans and mottled green bowls.


No wonder those ugly things have not sold at my weekly garage/barn sales! Letting the LW buy a crate of those was a big mistake!

kbourbon, I'd use a bow and arrows to pigeon hunt, just to be sporting and to keep with the historical setting of Venice.

What to wear? I'm considering this type outfit (plus cowboy hat) as recommended by ira:

africanacrafts.com/web_store.cgi?page=m11.htm&cart_id=3226354_195 613226354_19561

I've always wanted to hang-glide from the Dome of St. Peter's! But putting ink in the holy water fountain might also provoke a lightening bolt or two!

I've had recurring nightmares about this. Is there something wrong with me?
Here is my nightmare. I'm in Vienna. I have a huge lunch of Serbian bean soup and cabbage.
Next I am sitting in the Great Hall of the Musiksverein listening to a Beethoven Symphony.
Just when the next movement is about to begin and you can hear a pin drop...
well...you know what I'm gonna say.
The concert is over.

Skinny-dipping in the Seine?

I remember a post a loooong time ago where someone mentioned bungee jumping from the Eiffel Tower and getting your hair wet in the Seine!

Or since you mention pigeon hunting why not do the same in the Jardin du Luxembourg a la Hemingway. Who said anything about needing a gun????

I believe 'dancing naked in the moonlight', (in greece?) has already been done. Sigh. Wish I'd thought of it first.

Imagine being told by your doctor that you might feel fine right now, but you only have a month to live.
So you take care of things at home and take off for Paris, do all the things you wanted to do.
Eat Drink Be Merry, Shop, spend lotsa money, Eat Drink Shop...Spend all of your money~

When you get home, satisfied that you ended your days with a big bang, you find a message from the doctor, apologising for the mistake, that you are healthy and will live for a long time

Years ago we used to drink, dance and chase hot-looking babes until dawn, grab five hours sleep and start the party all over again.

Now, I'd settle for being skinny enough to have rich, sinful, artery-clogging dessert four times a day plus stop for wicked little snacks while strolling (or should I say rolling) down the streets.

How about skinny dipping in the Brienzer See in about 8 weeks. Ridethe ferry out to the middle, strip down on deck, dive in, and paddle ashore. The lake will be nice and cool by then thus giving you a prolonged adrenalin rush.

After emerging from the lake, you could ski down the Greater Aletsch Glacier from the Jungfraujoch. That would make for a wild and hairy ride.

Hi degas
>Years ago we used to drink, dance and chase hot-looking babes until dawn, grab five hours sleep and start the party all over again.<

Five hours of sleep? Slugabed!

>Now, I'd settle for ...dessert four times a day ...<

Gelato, gelato, gelato, gelato

As one on the board would profess:
One might wear linen trousers , dear, to look appropriate for pidgeon hunting. Make sure to bring the most suitable clothing for ones dangerous adventures lest you be noted for looking tacky.

robbiegirl, linen pants might be just the ticket - a welcome change from gym shorts and jogging suits. Besides, its getting harder and harder to find a lime green polyester jogging suit anymore.

Ah, my dear Degas, you are so full of ideas.

Here are my meager thoughts:

Crash every "hen party" you can find in Barcelona. I'm sure linen slacks will be proper. Bring out the old velvet wide tie and you'll certainly get glances from jealous folk. Or, you could try cross-dressing.

During the days you can celebrate your late night adventures at Cocao Sampaka with the finest chocolate. Be sure to drink lots of cava and all the wonderful Spanish wines.

I'm sure you remember it's always best to forget your white sneakers and wear appropriate "European approved" footwear. You can dress up as a metalic street mime and work the Ramblas: Can you think of a better way to live like a local and obtain an income to subsidize your adventure?

For more Ramblas fun, you could gather your own gang of n'r be good's and form your own shell game. I'm not sure what the regular gang might think... or how they might react, so do be careful and have good exit strategies in place. It would be best to case out the regular shell gamer's while performing your metalic routine. This way you can recognize all the "shelly" gang members and glean some wisdom from their exit strategies.

And, please, please, please.... remember all of us at Fodors and post a detailed trip report of your adventures!

-Sharon