That is an incredibly overambitious itinerary to try and do on your own. I'm not quite sure how it is possible. Have you already booked the plane tickets & hotels? If not I would really encourage you to cross off about half the places on your list.

When you say "1 day" here & "1 day" there... what about TRAVEL TIME? You have no time factored in for moving place to place.

It takes at least 1/2 day to change locations and you are moving 8 times in two week! To be realistic, you need to subtract that time from your list. In other words, "1 day in Amsterdam" is more like 12 hrs. max, once you take off the time it takes to get there from Koeln, and then be moving on to Berlin almost immediately.

Organized bus tours can move this fast because of the way they are set up to shuttle people around. I honestly don't see how you can do what you propose on your own.

"<i>moving 8 times in two weeks!</i>"

Its actually worse than that. 8 moves/9 cities/6 countries/2 continents -- in <u>12 days</u>!

Now - if you have omitted all your travel days and are really going for 3+ weeks --- it is still way too much in way too little time. For vegetarians OR carnivores . . . .

I'm a vegetarian and have traveled quite a bit through Europe. I eat no animals of any kind but do eat eggs and dairy. Food is not always going to be the highlight of your destination (I survived on apples, cottage cheese, and chocolate bars in Scandinavia and fried potatoes in Spain) but you can always find something. The egg situation will make it more difficult but not impossible.

In Paris, I highly recommend Le Grenier de Notre Dame, 5th, 18 Rue de la Bucherie--it is on a side street just a block or two from Notre Dame, so you'll be in the area anyway. It is charming and the food is quite good.

The best vegetarian food I've had is in Greece--all the restaurants have an amazing array of vegetarian small plates.

sorry I did not mention that we eat dairy products but just avoid smelly dishes with lot of cheese>>

that's the goat's cheese salad out then!

lol - food is going to be the least of their problems.

perhaps they'll be able to publish a guide to vegetarian food in european airports, because that's where they'll be spending most of their time.

thanks for the correct breakdown, janisj.

i really don't see how this trip is doable. and agree with others that finding vegan food is going to be low on their list of challenges!

This is a very fun string ... looking forward to more posts ... :)

Actually this trip is quite doable with EasyJet and a few trains. I even see time to find food every few days. I'd love to see a trip report - it may read something like this.

Sun 11/8
Arrive Cologne

Mon 11/9
Cologne

Tue 11/10
Check out of hotel at 7:30am or 8, get to train station
Train to Amsterdam
Depart 8:46, arrive 11:25, drop off luggage at hotel. See Amsterdam

Wed 11/11
Plane to Berlin
leave for airport 7:15
EasyJet depart 8:55, arrive 10:20
Arrive central Berlin by 11:30 drop off luggage at hotel
enjoy Berlin for 5-6 hrs.

Thu 11/12
Plane to Barcelona
checkout and leave for airport 7:00
depart 8:40, arrive 11:15
Arrive central Barcelona by noon or 12:30, drop off luggage at hotel. See Barcelona

Fri 11/13
Find something to eat & tour the rest of Barcelona

Sat 11/14
Fly to Paris
Checkout and leave for airport 7:15
Depart 9:00, arrive 11:00
Arrive central Paris by 12:30, drop off luggage at hotel. Visit Eiffel tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame, and Versailles

Sun 11/15
Find something to eat & tour all the other sights in Paris

Mon 11/16
Fly to Venice
checkout and head to airport 5:30am
7:40 depart, 9:20 arrive
11:30 arrive central Venice, drop off luggage at hotel

Tue 11/17
find something to eat, enjoy Venice

Wed 11/18
Train to Pisa
7:00 checkout and head to train station
depart 8:27, arrive 12:06
taxi, bus, or walk to hotel, drop off luggage at hotel 12:30. Stop by the tower and take pictures.

Thu 11/19
Train to Rome
checkout 8:00am
Depart 9:00, arrive 11:50
Taxi or bus to hotel, arrive hotel 12:30, drop off luggage at hotel. Visit the Vatican Museums, St. Peters, the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain.

Fri 11/20
find something to eat, enjoy the rest of Rome

Sat 11/21
enjoy Rome, feast.

Just a caution about risotto: it can be made with chicken or seafood stock.

I would bring some energy bars as getting enough protein may be a problem if you don't eat in specialized vegan restaurants all the time.

ipod_robbie: :D especially 11/14

Oh,that's true, Underhill. So forget the risotto, angel.

I don't understand about the wine DrDoGood, yikes too much information I think. But what, pray tell, are fish finings? Or maybe I don't want to know?

Well, ipod_robbie & janis, I think I like 11/15 best. I think Underhill is right about the energy bars. They're gonna need a boatload.:->

My suggestion-

Go to a 1/3 of the places, eat some chicken, and throw the bones out the window on the way from town to town.

But seriously folks:

Nicegirl states she ate fried potatoes in Spain. But in Spain you never know whose fat they were fried in. There are two common types, the normal french fries and the patatas or patacas bravas. They are cubed potatoes and fried and served with a spicy sauce most often found in tapas bars. Olive oil, however, is often used but not always.

I haven't eaten meat/poultry since 1976, but I will eat fish. When I don't feel like having fish, then I eat vegan as I'm allergic to dairy products which basically rules out dairy laden vegetarian dishes and especially in Europe.

I spend most of my time in Paris and Southeast Asia these days. What I do, in Europe, is either head to a vegetarian/vegan/macro restaurant or an Asian restaurant and then I don't have to deal with the dairy situation. Chinese restaurants are everywhere, so one will never starve. As for Thai restaurants, which are also quite plentiful, one has to ask if there's any fish sauce in the dishes. Once around fish sauce, then dishes can be vegan. I also eat at Japanese restaurants. Go on www.happycow.com for suggestions. In Paris, I've been eating at Guen Mai restaurant for decades. It's in the 6th. There are reviews on Happy Cow.

Thanks Ipod_robbie, our itinerary is somewhat like you have given. We are from India and vegetarians by birth. Nobody from my forefathers have ever eaten flesh, fish, or meat or eggs. Though I enjoy eating chicken or goat meat cooked with lot of indian spices, I cannot eat plain dishes. I was prepared to eat seafood when I visited Bangkok and Singapore, but simply could not because of its strong or different flavours. My mom and sis can manage with bread and butter and fruits and fruit-juices bought at supermarkets. But it being the cold season, we will need to eat hot meals sometimes. May you guys know Indian restaurants in these cities?
As regards the itinerary, we enjoy travelling on such tight itineraries and I put lot of efforts on planning them. Europe being far away and super-expensive for us, we want to just get glimpses of historical monuments and famous places or much heard about things in Europe. May be later in my life I will enjoy holidaying like Europeans (minus a sun-tan), but it is fun rushing around here and there, and I feel proud on saving lot of money as compared to organised tours.
My plan as of now is as follows:
Leave Goa on 9.11.10 with Condor flight.
10.11.10 4.30 am Arrive in Frankfurt.
10.11.10 evening : Arrive in Cologne (by train or if possible with 'Mitfahrenzentrale')Stay with a family-friend.
11.11.10 Enjoy friend's hospitality and Carneval. Koelle Alaaf!
12.11.10 early morning Travel to Amsterdam (by train)
Buy one day travel ticket for travel within Amsterdam. (I still want to go via Brussels)
12.11.10 eve/night Leave Amsterdam to nearest place in Germany (please advise). Head to Berlin with Schoeneswochenende ticket. (We like the perfect 'Umsteigen')
Reach Berlin in the evening. Stay in a Youth hostel, Have nice dinner and rest.
13.11.10 : Explore Berlin.
14.11.10 : Morning: fly to Barcelona. Checkin in a hotel at La Ramblas. Enjoy Rambla, visit to Sagreda Familia, see places with one day bus ticket.
15.11.10 : See rest of the places in Barcelona. Late Evening fly to Paris CDG.
15.11.10 :Checkin to the Paris hostel, drop luggage, eat and rest.
16.11.10 and 17.11.10 : Eiffel Tower, Seine, Louvre etc. or other places(Please suggest). Have dinner and take rest. (Buy eatables on the way)
19.11.10 : Morning flight from Paris Orly to Venice. Arrive in a hotel, get ready to explore venice.
19.11.10: Enjoy venice.
20.11.10: Leave venice early morning by train to Florence, spend few hours in Florence, Head to Pisa. Stay at Pisa.
21.11.10 : Leave Pisa and arrive in Rome. Checkin in the hostel. Buy Roma pass.
22 and 23.11.10 : Explore Rome.
24.11.10 : Afternoon flight to Cairo. Arrive in Cairo and checkin in the hostel.
25 and 26.11.10 in Cairo. One day for visit to Pyramids of Giza. (Suggestions welcome for Cairo trip).
27.11.10 : Take late afternoon flight to Mumbai.
All your suggestions are valuable and thank you in advance.
It is doable!! Any doubts?

14.11.10 : Morning: fly to Barcelona. Checkin in a hotel at La Ramblas. Enjoy Rambla, visit to Sagreda Familia, see places with one day bus ticket.
Sorry - Correction:
15.11.10 : Morning: fly to Barcelona. Checkin in a hotel at La Ramblas. Enjoy Rambla, visit to Sagreda Familia, see places with one day bus ticket.
16.11.10 : See rest of the places in Barcelona. Late Evening fly to Paris CDG.
16.11.10 :Checkin to the Paris hostel, drop luggage, eat and rest.
17.11.10 and 18.11.10 : Eiffel Tower, Seine, Louvre etc. or other places(Please suggest). Have dinner and take rest. (Buy eatables on the way)
19.11.10 : Morning flight from Paris Orly to Venice. Arrive in a hotel, get ready to explore venice.

any doubts? angel - ipod_robbie was joking.

have you ever done a trip like this before? you only need one flight delay/cancellation and the wheels will fall off. the fact is that you won't have time actually to see anything much and what you do see will become a great mush mixed up in your travel-weary heads. who cares if St. Peter's is in Rome or Venice? you won't.

and because of your dietory requirements, which I entirely respect, finding something to eat is going to take up a large amount of time. Paris, Amsterdam and Rome [3 indian restaurants in the via dei serpenti, just off via nazionale, for example] should be fine, comparatively speaking, but Venice? Pisa? Barcelona? there may be places that can accommodate you, but they will take some finding. and you don't have time to find them, AND do any sightseeing.

in an attempt to provide some sort of a sensible itinerary, I would suggest jettisoning Barcelona and Berlin [you really don't have any time to see them, so let's drop them] and Florence and Pisa. this would give you this:

Leave Goa on 9.11.10 with Condor flight.
10.11.10 4.30 am Arrive in Frankfurt.
10.11.10 evening : Arrive in Cologne. Stay with friend.
11.11.10 Cologne
12.11.10 Train to Amsterdam
13.11.10 Amsterdam
14.11.10 : amsterdam
15.11.10 : Train to Paris
16.11.10 : Paris
17.11.10 : Paris
18.11.10 : Paris
19.11.10 : Morning flight from Paris Orly to Venice.
20.11.10: venice .
21.11.10 : Train to Rome.
22.11.10: Rome
23.11.10 : Rome.
24.11.10 : Afternoon flight to Cairo. Arrive in Cairo and checkin in the hostel.
25 and 26.11.10 in Cairo. One day for visit to Pyramids of Giza. (Suggestions welcome for Cairo trip).
27.11.10 : Take late afternoon flight to Mumbai.

that gives you 6 very varied places in 17 days, which is more than enough. you'll have time to enjoy them, rather than feel rushed and worried about catching your next flight. you can always do Florence as a day trip if you get bored in Rome. you'll be missing Berlin and Barcelona, but as you'd only given yourselves 24 or so hours in each place, of which a max of 8 hours could be spend seeing it, i don't see that as much of a loss.

honestly, we are not saying these things just to annoy you. we understand the temptation just to cram in another town or even country. but we know from bitter experience that trips such as the one you have planned are at best unsatisfactory and frustrating, and at worst disastrous. Add your eating requirements in as well, and it becomes impossible. after all, what would you suggest to someone who doesn't eat curry and who was thinking of an itinerary such as this:
Day 1 - fly into mumbai. flight to Dehli
Day 2 - Dehli. late night flight to Rajestan
Day 3 - Rajestan
Day 4 - flight to Goa. see goa.
Day 5 - see goa. late flight to.....

you'd think they were mad.

This is getting more and more hilarous: the itinerary AND the veggie issue.

"We are from India and vegetarians by birth. Nobody from my forefathers have ever eaten flesh, fish, or meat or eggs. Though I enjoy eating chicken or goat meat cooked with lot of indian spices"

Vegetarians by BIRTH???

Vegetarians by birth but ENJOYING meat???

Grrr, by vegetarians by birth thing she meant by faith. Many Hindus do not eat meat/eggs. However, she herself does eat chicken/lamb only if it is properly spiced.

With that established - about the itinerary - WOW.

Angel1 - I am from Pakistan, so I ABSOLUTELY understand that you want to see as much as you can. But this itinerary is something I would never do.

You are barely going to have a few hours in some places.

Now if you have ever travelled to Europe on such a trip before and enjoyed it, that's fine and you should go ahead with it. If not, at least take annhig's advice above.

Also, every time you take a flight, you will have to be at the airport a couple of hours early because your passport will have to be checked for a visa. Factor in the time it will take to get to the airports, and in some cities you will have barely any time at all.

The other thing you could do is take overnight trains for the longer journeys. For example from Paris to Venice you can take an overnight train.

Also, have you checked on luggage storage in areas where you are staying a few hours?

If you omit the words enjoy, explore, rest and nice the itinerary will be complete.

Now I got it: This itinerary is not about sightseeing or a vacation, this is about travelling!

So, why not visiting London and Prague? Why not take another overnight train to those places?

Or Iceland, what about Iceland?

Or Portugal? Why do you miss so many places that are worth a couple of hours?

<we enjoy travelling on such tight itineraries and I put lot of efforts on planning them>

I took that comment to mean she HAS planned these fastpaced trips before, done them, and enjoyed it.

If that's so we should leave off the critiques and try to find her some Indian and vegan restaurants near the train station or airport in each of those cities!

If he/she/they put so much effort in planning their tight itineraries, why come here and ask for advice? No Google in India? Insert "city" and "vegan" / "Indian" and "restaurant", and that´s it.

Again, I insist on visiting Prague.

If you want to enjoy Barcelona, don't stay on Las ramblas.

I really like the burst of everybody's opinions and feelings, and thanks for that. It is making even my planning enjoyable.
Now vegetarians by birth means, we were born in the families where non-veg was never cooked, and now it is too late to try it out. As far as planning is concerned, we are ready for surprises, adequately insured and have alternatives ready. And in Europe, numerous options are available. The flights being cheap, it won't hurt much if alternative like train or bus are required to be taken.
Annheg, I have seen people travelling in India on the mad itinerary given by you, and also who have gone mad, inspite of perfectly peaceful holiday plan, for not being ready for surprises.
grrr, you are right, we are travel freak. Prag, london and east European cities and of course, Portugal are on our next year's plan. And the next next year is New York, Washington alongwith helicopter trip over Niagara fall.

Love your reply, angel1.

Have you considered Poland, Latvia and Russia? Would nicely fit in if you make a stop over from India to the US next year.

grrr, good idea! I will think about taking some rest in Moscow. We like combining trips. Last year we were to Malasia, singapore and bangkok tour which we combined with Trivandrum and Kanyakumari in India. This is year Goa and Europe is combined. I am sure you all would like to hear our experiences.

giving up.

Is this a menu based itinerary?

I would definitely have a snack bag full of protein bars, dried fruit and nuts to keep you going just in case. I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian and also diabetic so it takes a bit of effort to find the right food at times. Happy travels!!!

This will be my last post on your thread because it is clear you know what you want to do. But I have to give it one more shot-- wouldn't have a clear conscience w/o at LEAST trying.

"<i><blue>As regards the itinerary, we enjoy travelling on such tight itineraries . . . . Europe being far away and super-expensive for us, we want to just get glimpses of historical monuments and famous places . . . in Europe. . . . it is fun rushing around here and there, and I feel proud on saving lot of money as compared to organised tours.</blue></i>"

Your plan will essentially not give you much if ANY free time in the vast majority of your stop overs. Many airports are an hour from the central tourist areas. By the time you get your bags, travel into a city, find your hotel and check in -- it will be 2 to 3 hours after you landed. Then the next day you usually must leave the hotel a minimum of 3 hours before your flight out, and 4 hours is more typical.

An organized tour could manage this difficult itinerary because it takes care of your transport, luggage, meals, etc. But even on an organized tour you would not get inside more than one site in any of those cities -- the rest would be drive by's on a large coach (and in some cities you wouldn't go inside anything). This would be a nearly insane guided tour - and next to impossible trying to manage everything independently.

You are right - it is expensive to travel from the subcontinent to Europe -- all the more reason this is a hot mess. You will spend a near fortune to see almost nothing but airports, airport transportation, and a few hours in hotel rooms. And all the extra travel/stops just increases your costs w/o giving you time to <i>see</i> anything much.

you seem to be dwelling on your dietary issues -- finding vegan/vegetarian meals is the VERY LEAST of you problems.

I wish you luck . . . .

oops --one more post: Meant to add . . . ipod_robbie's post was <i><u>satire

I think it's time to declare an all-time prize winner in the Itinerary From Hell Sweepstakes.

AMEN.

Might starve to death before the itinerary is completed, though.

And the next next year is New York, Washington alongwith helicopter trip over Niagara fall.
_________________________________
Please let me know when you do this, so I can go to my roof and throw you some carrot juice.

(I really do not want this topic to end.)

All kind of satire is welcome! It is the same feeling we get when see people spend their hard-earned money for lying on the sand the whole day. It is all relative and understable.
Flanneruk, I think you could understand a problem somewhat. When my mom was in a small coastal tourist place in Spain few years back with her German lady friend on holidays, and when her friend wanted to try out a typical spanish dish (two-three meat pieces with strawberry sauce), the waiter (probably the owner of that small restaurant) was taken aback when only salad was ordered by my mom. And her friend was upset and felt insulted because of my mom's vegan status. Since then we travel on our own. I would be thankful if anybody can give me names of some carry-on food which can be bought in supermarkets. And we have decided to travel without check-in luggage.
Jubilada, any reason why should we avoid hotel on Las Ramblas? then which alternative can you suggest?

Las Ramblas is the world centre for olympic standard pick pocketing, its busy and pretty much the party centre. Too many people there are lots of nicer places to stay. On the other hand it may be perfect for you with lots of open shops and very international crowd. Loads of bus stops at the top of the hill

I know several people who joined a Rick Steve tour and stayed at one of the hotels at the top of the Rambla, by the Catalunya Plaza ... they loved it, great location. We were up and down the Rambla in May (had an apartment in the Barri Gotic) and were very comfortable, but always on the lookout for pickpockets.

Las ramblas is a large tourist trap. You can be better served by a hotel near Placa Catalunya.