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Originally Posted by gruezi;[url=tel:17325242
17325242[/url]]
I’ve spent quite a lot of time wandering around Western Europe. Given your interest in art, history and cuisine, I would recommend the north of Spain. Madrid is an oasis of all of your interests. Plus, you could then visit San Sebastián and Bilbao. You will eat quite well! You might spend a few days walking bits of the Camino del Norte and visit Leon or Lugo. (I say all this as an avowed Francophile.) I liked Andalusia, but not in the same way that northern Spain got under my skin. Andalusia I checked off my list, Northern Spain I’ll need to return to again having only visited twice. There is a hospitality you feel there as well which is hard to find in other places. The Camino de Santiago has a great appeal because of this fame, history and spiritual heritage, as well as the social aspect of hiking a very popular route alongside people from all over the world. However, if you're interested strictly in the hiking, or in the pilgrimage aspect as well as the hiking, there are better, lesser known options. For pure hiking, Northern Spain has a lot to offer, especially in the Picos de Europa and in the central, highest part of the Pyrenees. I think Italy is also very interesting for medium- and long-distance walking routes, when it comes to both pure hiking (lots of options, starting with the Sentiero Italia) and pilgrimages (mainly the via Francigena and the Cammino di San Benedetto, but there are lesser known ones). and when it comes to for hard-core hiking bordering on mountaineering, Sardinia's Selvaggio Blu is nice to hike in late September and October (shorter days than in spring and summer, but pleasant temperatures of both air and seawater)... |
Originally Posted by Fra_Diavolo
(Post 17324284)
We have been asked to babysit our grandson for a couple of nights in Paris, while our son and DiL attend as destination wedding. Since we will be fully retired by then, we have a lot of free time afterwards and thought we might as well stick around. (Covid has kept us from foreign travel recently.). I thought after Paris we might head to Charleville on a Rimbaud pilgrimage, then on to Brussels to check out the art museums. So that's a few days . . .
Ideas: Return to France, see Provence (never been), perhaps another region. Rent an apartment in Naples for a two weeks, visit archaeological sites, etc. Perhaps continue to Sicily for another two weeks. Visit Greece for the first time. Peloponnese and an island (want to get to Delos). Return to Spain after thirty years. Madrid and environs, then Andalusia. We're interested in art and history, particularly Roman and Medieval. We like walking in cities and hiking in scenic areas, good food and drink -- the usual. Restraints are budgetary, I guess. Can't spend all our retirement funds so early on. Hence the idea of staying in apartments for longer stays rather than hotels, which we prefer. Would it be reasonable to assume we could rent an apartment for say $1500 a week? Just trying to get an idea. Will these places be too hot in September? Where would you go if you had a free month? |
You can't go wrong with any of your choices! Do you have a first instinct?
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For scenic area, the Pyrenees, both sides, might be a good choice:
https://flic.kr/p/7T6NCh https://flic.kr/p/29WroeE https://flic.kr/p/28TZ7YU https://flic.kr/p/7v531s https://flic.kr/p/7v1dht https://flic.kr/p/2aax4qr |
Thanks folks for continuing to comment and offer suggestions! Right now I'm thinking two weeks southern France and two weeks northern Spain.
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You can't go wrong with any of your choices! Do you have a first instinct?
Shelemm puts it perfectly. I am done. the fra is in the details |
<<Thanks folks for continuing to comment and offer suggestions! Right now I'm thinking two weeks southern France and two weeks northern Spain.>>
Fra - I was hoping that Provence was still on your radar as SFAIK no-one has yet mentioned Orange where the one of the best preserved Roman theatres in Europe is to be found. [the reason I know about it is that I performed on it about 40 years ago as part of a choir singing in what was then the annual music festival]. More details and other stuff about the area here: https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-b...orange-france/ Also less than an hour from the Pont du Gard, Avignon, Nimes, lovely wine country etc etc. A wonderful place to visit if you've never been. |
Agree with Annhig. I live about 15 minutes drive from the beautiful théâtre. This region is stunning. Though I would not necessarily choose to stay IN Orange, there are a number of surrounding villages that are gorgeous. And the train station in Orange makes visiting a number of other areas in the region very easy.
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Yo 1994: should we commence pitching Uzes to Fra?
I am done. the poster |
Love Uzes.
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As a comic in all seriousness Fra, if you ever end up considering Uzes as a base, we have got a truly outstanding rental to recommend.
Satisfaction guaranteed. I am done. the Theodorit |
Originally Posted by annhig
(Post 17329705)
<<Thanks folks for continuing to comment and offer suggestions! Right now I'm thinking two weeks southern France and two weeks northern Spain.>>
Fra - I was hoping that Provence was still on your radar as SFAIK no-one has yet mentioned Orange where the one of the best preserved Roman theatres in Europe is to be found. [the reason I know about it is that I performed on it about 40 years ago as part of a choir singing in what was then the annual music festival]. More details and other stuff about the area here: https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-b...orange-france/ Also less than an hour from the Pont du Gard, Avignon, Nimes, lovely wine country etc etc. A wonderful place to visit if you've never been. And thanks all -- even you zebec. |
I, too, enthusiastically recommend Uzès. I spent a week there several years ago and loved it.
Here's my story: https://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/a-week-in-uze-s-1 Website for the apartment: Viognier, cottage rentals in the Gard in Uzès - Le portalet, townhouse Edit to add: I see it's also on Booking.com now, https://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/le-portalet-uzes3.html |
I have to confess that I never reply to this sort of subject, because I refuse to put different countries in competition with each other. They all have different things to offer and they are all "perfect" for certain people and totally wrong for others.
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Originally Posted by kerouac
(Post 17330194)
I have to confess that I never reply to this sort of subject, because I refuse to put different countries in competition with each other. They all have different things to offer and they are all "perfect" for certain people and totally wrong for others.
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<<I have to confess that I never reply to this sort of subject, because I refuse to put different countries in competition with each other. They all have different things to offer and they are all "perfect" for certain people and totally wrong for others.>>
i can see what you mean Kerouac, especially when confronted with a list of more or less random places but in this case Fra gave us quite a lot of help with the fact that they will already be in Paris, had never been to Provence and have an interest in Roman art - Provence is an obvious suggestion. |
since you'll already be in paris, why not head south on the TGV to Lyon - a fabulous and interesting and beautiful city to explore for at least 4-5 days. From there, head due south to Provence. I love the idea of staying in St. Remy - and exploring the areas near it -- Avignon (you'll take the TGV the station here and rent a car); Nimes, Arles, Les Baux de Provence, and Provencal towns to the east. So much to do and see and it's so beautiful. No planes and airports, just TGV. You could also head further south to the Riviera, enjoy the coast and fly home from Nice. It's a lovely trip.
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I love the idea of Uzes for a month if public transportation was easier. Does it have a big bus station like Aix?
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lrice,
We spent a week, not a month, in June, in a rental in lovely Uzes (our 2nd visit) but with a rental car, which really would be a necessity. I believe there are buses only to Nimes and perhaps to Avignon. The population of this town is under 9,000, so public transportation is limited. |
Point of clarification around that Uzes rental 'Maison Theodorit'. It can rented in two parts/sections, but we opted to get the whole thing. Would suggest the same for others, as the extra space felt perfect, just right.
I am done. the devil goes to Europe |
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