The Travel Thread

[Spikey M]

Greece is shit. Just a load of white statues and poor people.

[-james-]

When are you going Giggles? If we're there at the same time :drool:

Left Istanbul after 3 weeks. Strange city. A week would probably be perfect if you're only doing tourist things. My last day I took a ferry out to this island with no cars, filled with old horse carriages and you can rent a bike and bike around the entire island. It was incredible (and the exact opposite of the rest of Istanbul).

dino I want to go to Greece so badly now...

What was the island called?

There's nowhere quite like the Aegean, you should definitely go.

[-james-]

Greece is shit. Just a load of white statues and poor people.

I'm curious, where did you go in Greece and what for?

[Spikey M]

Only to the main Islands (Kos, Crete and Rhodes) never to the mainland. All of them were alright, I was mostly taking the piss.

[Kikó]

Anyone know how I'd go about getting tickets for Porto - Pacos de Ferreira next weekend? Nothing on the website and viagogo is a total farce. Anyone know if we'll stand a chance if we just rock up before kick-off? I daresay it'll be a popular game?

(@Kikó ?)

How do you tag people on this? :moop:

If they're like Benfica, there will be fan houses which you can go into and buy them there from.

Otherwise, I'm sure the club will be holding onto some.

[Spikey M]

Now Portugal, there's a shithole. Just dry cake and poor people.

[Kikó]

You've got brain aids.

[Spikey M]

Isn't that just syphilis?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Booked part of a trip for end of May/start of June.

Flying to Venice to stay a night (that part is booked) and then mooch over to Croatia (either a ferry to Porec or a flight to Split/Drubovnik) and go round there for a week or so.

[Lewis]

What's her name?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Flying to Venice for one night is serious admin. It takes about eight years just to get from the airport from the city on a fucking pedal boat that someone leased from the Medicis 500 years ago and hasn't given back.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sounds amazing.

Worked out the next part now.

Train from Venice to Trieste then a bus to Rijeka for a night. We'll then hire a car and drive down to Split then Dubrovnik.

[Boydy]

We?

[Spoonsky]

What was the island called?

There's nowhere quite like the Aegean, you should definitely go.

Buyukada, it's the biggest of the Princes' Islands.

I'm in Melnik Bulgaria right now, and it's incredible. Actually it's like Southern Utah. I think I saw Greece in the distance too.

[Lewis]

My friend went to Venice one August and said it was horrendous. Apparently you can't actually stop and enjoy anything because you get herded along by the crowds.

[Boydy]

I've heard it stinks as well.

[Pepe]

Actually it's like Southern Utah.

They should use that in their tourism commercials.

[Offshore Toon]

How long have you been travelling, Spoons, and how long are you planning on continuing for? Did you get a shitload of inheritance or something?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've heard it stinks as well.

I've heard the same.

It's only for a day though so I shouldn't find too many things that piss me off.

Trying to find a hotel was fun because so many had incredibly shit reviews.

[Offshore Toon]

I've heard the same.

It's only for a day though so I shouldn't find too many things that piss me off.

Trying to find a hotel was fun because so many had incredibly shit reviews.


We?

Come on.

[Lewis]

He's got a waifu pillow of that Ukrainian.

[Spoonsky]

How long have you been travelling, Spoons, and how long are you planning on continuing for? Did you get a shitload of inheritance or something?

Today makes it four months, though the first month I was in a school. I go till June 12th but soon I'm joining my parents and a friend from Utah so it will change a little.

Inheritance, not exactly. Two of my grandparents (my dad's mom and step-mom), the loaded ones, started giving money to their kids last year as it's taxed less this way than if they gave it all as inheritance. This doesn't go directly to me but it makes things easier. Being an only child and having no uni to pay for also makes it easier. I'm paying for most of it myself though, saved up the last couple years as well as saving all the money from relatives etc.

You really don't need very much money to travel for a long time. I'm not being incredibly cheap compared to a lot of the people I meet, but seeing them has shown me how possible it is as long as you stick to the cheaper countries.

[Offshore Toon]

Yeah, I know a guy who'd work for a summer in Jersey then travel South East Asia for a year or two. He didn't drink and slept on the beach most nights. Its basically being homeless, but what a place to be homeless.

[Magic]

I got lost because on my way to Mt Florida because Queens Drive was shut and drove through a mini version of Aleppo. It was truly fucking horrible and reminded me of the Islamic no gos in Manchester and Leeds.

So this is still the case and I'm sure it's gotten worse than last time (also how is that road still fucking closed!). Crap diversion! And no wonder Alison St is called ground zero.

[-james-]

I'm in a departure lounge and some woman is going around surveying people on their airport experience. I'm not sure I can think of a better way of ruining it.

[Kikó]

My last week in my current job will end with a magical mystery tour of Europe. Thursday going to the in laws in Scotland then going to get the Caledonian sleeper back to London. Monday night visit the brother in law in Milan then Wednesday to Sweden to meet maz. Thursday fly back via Oslo then Friday off to Warsaw for the bank holiday weekend.

#happylife #magic

[Giggles]

My last week in my current job will end with a magical mystery tour of Europe. Thursday going to the in laws in Scotland then going to get the Caledonian sleeper back to London. Monday night visit the brother in law in Milan then Wednesday to Sweden to meet maz. Thursday fly back via Oslo then Friday off to Warsaw for the bank holiday weekend.

#happylife #magic

Bragging git.

Are your in-laws not Portuguese?

[Kikó]

Both.

[Giggles]

Ah :thbup:

[Magic]

I'm in a departure lounge and some woman is going around surveying people on their airport experience. I'm not sure I can think of a better way of ruining it.

Some woman did that to me when I was queuing to board and I said no and gave that reason. She said in a snarky voice 'your plane hasn't even landed yet you'll have plenty of time' i still said nah it's ok. 2 minutes later 'flight MYFLIGHT is delayed for an hour'. She came back two minutes later and handed me the form. Tenacious little bitch.

[Offshore Toon]

I just answered the questions the lady had 'cause I had time and airports are pretty shit unless you're pissed.

[Magic]

She personally asked? Fair enough. I got a form with about a thousand questions.

[hfswjyr]

My last week in my current job will end with a magical mystery tour of Europe. Thursday going to the in laws in Scotland then going to get the Caledonian sleeper back to London. Monday night visit the brother in law in Milan then Wednesday to Sweden to meet maz. Thursday fly back via Oslo then Friday off to Warsaw for the bank holiday weekend.

#happylife #magic

Funnily enough I'll also be in Warsaw for the bank holiday weekend. Have you got the sights sorted out? My plan so far is just to walk around the old town and drink.

[-james-]

Porto game was good, stadium was half empty and nobody was very cheerful (Benfica won the title this weekend, "o espírito de campeão vive apenas nos nossus adeptos" apparently. Pacos brought about 50 fans. Porto should have had about 5 penalties.

The city itself is pretty nice, has grown on me. Lots of good tiled buildings. Very happy to just arse about drinking espresso, eating de natas and smoking rollies.

[Kikó]

Funnily enough I'll also be in Warsaw for the bank holiday weekend. Have you got the sights sorted out? My plan so far is just to walk around the old town and drink.

My mate has organised a van to take us about run by some guys (this isn't the plot for the new Hostel film). They drive you around for 3 hours and stop and talk about all the historical monuments.

[Henry]

https://d36tnp772eyphs.cloudfront.net/travel-maps/4785ae2b1b6d0fce0cb374072ffc721d-1494851701/my-travel-map.png

I'm going to get to colour in Greece at the end of the month too...

[wullie]

Travel Stoke is an underwhelming hashtag.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've done 19 (Antigua, Barbados, Belgium, Cyprus, Dominica, England, France, Germany, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, USA, Venezuela* and Wales).

I'll be adding Italy and Croatia in just over 2 weeks.

Venezuela has a star by it as I went to Margarita Island which is part of Venezuela.

[Magic]

6 for me.

[Pepe]

Three for me. :(

[Magic]

Count the UK as one and it's 4 for me.

[phonics]

Ten but having only really done New York I can hardly state that I've visited the U.S. so lets say nine.

[Henry]

Yeah, I was in Mexico for less than a day and yet I get to tick off that entire part of the map. :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was in Mozambique for about 2-3 hours, but they all count.

[7om]

Does it count if you are in a country to transfer for a flight?

[phonics]

Oh I went to Ireland. Back to the big one zero.

edit: If we play by 7om rules then I'm up to 15. That fucking South Africa flight...

[Magic]

Does it count if you are in a country to transfer for a flight?

Absolutely fucking not.

[leedsrevolution]

Scotland / Wales / USA / Canada / Netherlands / France / Spain / Greece / Bulgaria / Turkey / Dominican Republic / Egypt / Belgium.

There might be more I'm struggling to remember. That's not too bad tho considering I have literally zero interest in traveling and never seen much more than a few towns / beaches.

[Lufcdanny]

South Africa, Turkey, Egypt, Spain, Portugal, USA, France, Netherlands, Greece, Dubai, Wales.

Enjoy seeing different places but hate flying. South Africa was definitely the best experience mainly because it was all paid for through work. They ended up giving us a daily allowance to live off, whilst not converting it to the cost of living out there. Lived like a king for 3 months.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've just realised that I can't find my passport :uhoh:

[wullie]

England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Greece, USA, Canada

Not a huge list but aside from Belgium and Czech Republic I've been to each a few times. I'm in one of them now!

[niko_cee]

One visit to Newark (or wherever) generating a tick for the entire US (including the freak states) is such BS. I think I've stayed in/visited 12-15 states and probably been physically in another 10 or so in some way or other. Tick.

Then again, I once took a day trip to Chichen Itza (back when you could climb up the pyramids) so that's Mexico 'done'.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've been to Mexican Hat, Utah, so I definitely get the whole thing.

[hfswjyr]

My mate has organised a van to take us about run by some guys (this isn't the plot for the new Hostel film). They drive you around for 3 hours and stop and talk about all the historical monuments.
That sounds like my sort of thing. I'll have a look for something similar later. No eye contact if we end up in the same van...

Also 22 countries for me. I've basically had no savings for two years cause I've spent it all on travelling.

[Kikó]

I can ask my mate for his details if you want them?

[phonics]

They had loads of similar things in Berlin but walking. I just kept on going to famous places and then joining other groups to listen in. The Scots would be proud.

[hfswjyr]

I can ask my mate for his details if you want them?

Great, yes please!

Waiting to board for Budapest at the moment. EasyJet let us all get on the tarmac, and have now just shuttled us back in the terminal because the plane isn't ready...

[Kikó]

Here you go: http://adventurewarsaw.pl/en/

[Spoonsky]

I've been to Mexican Hat, Utah, so I definitely get the whole thing.

For fuck's sake. :D

Did you make it to Spanish Fork as well?

[Spoonsky]

I've been to the U.S., Canada, Iceland, England, Scotland, France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia, Turkey, and Vatican City if I'm trying to be a shitmuncher.

[Kikó]

http://i.imgur.com/wa1yRJX.jpg

And for Jim
http://i.imgur.com/XJuPoeO.jpg

[Jimmy Floyd]

For fuck's sake. :D

Did you make it to Spanish Fork as well?

No, just went across the bottom on the way to VEGAS BABY and California, although I preferred the Mexican Hat vibe to the Vegas vibe it must be said. Wikipedia puts the population at 31, but it felt like a few more than that when I was there. It had a proper motel and a restaurant of sorts.

[Mellberg]

Greece, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, England (lol), Scotland(loool), Wales (loooooool), Switzerland, Andorra, Belgium, Holland, Portugal, Slovenia, US, Thailand, Czech Republic, Austria, Oman.

Decent amount of states in the US considering I drove across the entire fucking country. Worked it out at the time and it was around 15. I'm gonna do NW to SE soon.

[Smiffy]

https://www.imageupload.co.uk/images/2017/05/15/5b19fdf9-62a1-4eab-a0f4-2e2d202b01a4.png

Infamous in most too. I would love to do proper road trips in the states or actually go backpacking around Europe. £££ if only.

[wullie]

http://i.imgur.com/aYUb4h8.png?1

[Giggles]

http://i.imgur.com/wa1yRJX.jpg

And for Jim
http://i.imgur.com/XJuPoeO.jpg

Smug twat.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I went to that four corner place actually, so that's a large amount of the US total land % done with a five second tap dance.

[Henry]

I can't be arsed filling the map in, but I've done New York, California, Nevada and Arizona (if flying over the Grand Canyon in a chopper counts for the latter).

[Giggles]

Where do you get the map?

[wullie]

https://www.gasfoodnolodging.com/visitedstates/us-canada/

Choice of clicky colours on this one

[Adamski]

England / USA / St Lucia / Thailand / Singapore / Australia / Dubai / Latvia / Austria / Slovakia / Germany / Italy / France / Portugal / Spain / Holland / Egypt / Greece / Turkey / Cyprus / Norway / Sweden

Travel :cool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've only done Florida and New York.

[Adamski]

New York, Chicago, Florida, Vegas for me in USA terms. Rubbish.

[Giggles]

http://i66.tinypic.com/2draweo.png

http://i68.tinypic.com/nb9d38.png

[Spoonsky]

https://www.gasfoodnolodging.com/vsmap/M0000111000011111001001110101111011001110101101110 100000000001007-800.svg

Not so bad. Id really like to drive around the South at some point though.

Friend and I want to road trip to Alaska :cool:

[Mellberg]

http://i66.tinypic.com/2itoneh.png

Eat my goal.

Edit: Fucking Yank.

[Spoonsky]

Youve gone coast to coast though which I never have.

Giggles has traveled about as much as Kiko has tbh. The smug twat.

[phonics]

My Dads time in America gets weirder and weirder. He never likes to tell stories about it but he was a bit pissed the other night as it was his birthday. He'd previously told me he used to hide in his car boot crossing state lines due to an expired VISA. He hadn't elaborated that the reason his VISA was expired instead of being renewed is that he was caught running Tequila across the Mexican border and then skipped his court date.

I'm going to ask how he ended up having a SWAT team pointing guns at him driving down the 5 next year.

[7om]

Spoon's map is pretty good, doing all those northern states. The only place I'd like to visit that I haven't already is Massachusetts and Texas. Maryland is still the best state, though.

http://i65.tinypic.com/2uqounm.jpg

[Adamski]

Youve gone coast to coast though which I never have.

Giggles has traveled about as much as Kiko has tbh. The smug twat.

He's about three times older though.

[Giggles]

He's about three times older though.

And four times less smug.

[Adamski]

I've just realised that I can't find my passport :uhoh:

It didn't come back from Ukraine did it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It didn't come back from Ukraine did it.

The people that owned the flat we were staying in wanted my passport as insurance actually.

I handed over my driving licence instead.

[Adamski]

Grim.

[7om]

I 'lost' my passport a few weeks ago. Searched everywhere for it and finally admitted defeat so I had all the paperwork ready. Lost passport, replacement passport, emergency passport and lost US visa. Just as I was leaving the office to go to the post office I checked in my work's copy machine and there it was. I'd scanned it a few weeks earlier and left it in there by mistake. I spunked my pants when I saw it.

[Giggles]

That made me realise that I have no idea where mine is or if it's even in date.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm sure I saw it like a couple of months ago too which is annoying.

[Kikó]

That made me realise that I have no idea where mine is or if it's even in date.

Mines in date and has the chip.

Bet you still need to go to an actual human at border control :harold:

[Giggles]

Mines in date and has the chip.

Bet you still need to go to an actual human at border control :harold:

Mine has the chip but that's always the biggest queue coming home so I always go for manned.

[hfswjyr]

http://i.imgur.com/Gm2cs3U.jpg

23 countries. Poland, Singapore and South Korea to be added to the list this year. Then I suspect it'll stay stagnant for a long while.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

First TTH member to go to every continent (not including Antarctica) gets whatever is left in the TTH kitty and a go on a webcam girl.

[7om]

23 countries. Poland, Singapore and South Korea to be added to the list this year. Then I suspect it'll stay stagnant for a long while.

I went to Singapore for the first time this year and it's a really great place. The only drawbacks are the ridiculously priced fruit and vegetables and the thunderstorms which can turn up out of nowhere.

[John Arne]

Hate Singapore. Soulless, classless, overpriced concrete jungle. Few decent restaurants, though.

[John Arne]

I thought mine may be more than this... Apparently I need to travel to the Americas.

http://imgur.com/aHawgSH.jpg

[phonics]

Just remembered it's my monthly holiday next week. Not sure if I can be arsed to go anywhere but at the same time I've almost completed Zelda. Decisions, decisions.

[Giggles]

Back to a proper part of Ireland, ie not Dublin.

[Henry]

Hate Singapore. Soulless, classless, overpriced concrete jungle. Few decent restaurants, though.

"Concrete jungle" surely describes a place where there are buildings with few parks or trees or anything. Singapore has an astonishing amount of that stuff.

"Disneyland with the death penalty" is probably a more accurate criticism. Was it William Gibson who wrote that piece?

[niko_cee]

Singapore is ridiculously soulless. It's just one massive shopping mall.

There are interesting bits, but they seemed to have become more marginalised by all the development last time I was there. Even the once amusingly corny Sentosa Island is now some sort of mega theme park with all your western coffee shop needs catered to.

[John Arne]

"Concrete jungle" surely describes a place where there are buildings with few parks or trees or anything. Singapore has an astonishing amount of that stuff.

"Disneyland with the death penalty" is probably a more accurate criticism. Was it William Gibson who wrote that piece?

Yeah, concrete jungle is probably the wrong phrase.... though even the green spaces feel so purposeful and engineered (except perhaps the centrel green space, which I haven't actually been to) - its doesn't really feel like a natural environment.

I do support their attitude towards chewing gum though - and I would support the death penalty as punishment for breaking said law.

[-james-]

Oh dear.

Landed in Seville at 00:10 or something. I guess I had booked the hotel and the flight some time apart, because I've clearly seen the arrival date of 21/05 and booked the hotel from then.

Rocked up at about quarter to one and my asking for the room in my broken Spanish was met with a lol m8 try again tomorrow.

Wandered about for half an hour, everywhere is booked to fuck obviously. Found some 2* place with some old geezer at reception and he has a room.

The hotel, the old guy and the room itself are very strange. It's actually fairly nice but there is definitely something amiss. I have many questions. Either way my girlfriend is murdering me in my sleep before anyone else can get to me.

[hfswjyr]

Haha, been there, done that before. They didn't have an extra room to put you up for the night?

That one extra night in India cost me more than the next 4 nights following it combined. But I was hardly going to start wandering the streets at 2am to find another place.

[Magic]

Yeah but India, mate.

[hfswjyr]

Here you go: http://adventurewarsaw.pl/en/

Booked in for the Sunday. Maybe see you there...

[Kikó]

Did you enjoy it?

We did it and it was pretty good except when they wanted to show us old Warsaw in Praga. Praga is where all the destitute, lower welfare and criminals were rehoused by the Communists so it's a bit rough. We got out of the bright pink van and the guides were like "take everything with you, this might not be safe". We walked into their courtyard and they basically told us to fuck off and we made a swift exit. Burly piss heads and us turn up for poverty tourism. Mental.

Otherwise, Warsaw is great. The Stalin building is an amazing artefact of the time and the rebuilding of the old town is stunning. We went to a couple of cool places and then a strip with clubs on which was basically Newcastle. As a place though, in the summer like now, it's great and dirt cheap.

[-james-]

Man I love Cádiz.

Seville was lovely but I had the shits the whole time so that unfortunately dominates my memory of the place.

Cordoba was very good. The Mezquita is one of the best things I've seen. It was fair week while we were there, the fair itself was a bit shit; just rubbish stalls, shit food and 16 year old Josés getting pissed up. There was some mad evening long procession featuring 2 fuck off bulls pulling a huge Jesus cart around town with 100 odd horses in tow.

I wasn't that enamoured with Granada. The free food is good obviously, and most of it is pretty tasty, but nothing special. You get a free tapas with each drink, obviously you'd be a fool to decline, so you just end up stuffed by half 9. The city itself isn't anything special and I thought the Alhambra was a bit overrated.

Cádiz is the one though. Everything is pretty, it's got a pleasant bustling atmosphere, there's no massive squads of Japanese mums (key), and the food is all brilliant at no great expense.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mezquita > Alhambra is a correct, but all too rarely encountered opinion.

[hfswjyr]

Did you enjoy it?

We did it and it was pretty good except when they wanted to show us old Warsaw in Praga. Praga is where all the destitute, lower welfare and criminals were rehoused by the Communists so it's a bit rough. We got out of the bright pink van and the guides were like "take everything with you, this might not be safe". We walked into their courtyard and they basically told us to fuck off and we made a swift exit. Burly piss heads and us turn up for poverty tourism. Mental.

Otherwise, Warsaw is great. The Stalin building is an amazing artefact of the time and the rebuilding of the old town is stunning. We went to a couple of cool places and then a strip with clubs on which was basically Newcastle. As a place though, in the summer like now, it's great and dirt cheap.

Yeah, it was good thanks. Our guide was Lukas (or whatever the Polish spelling of Lucas is), who was essentially cracking jokes the entire time while sometimes giving too much of his own political opinions.

When we got out of the van in Praga, we were basically milling around the sidewalk while he was talking. There must have been about 10 angry looking and obviously drunk people squeeze through us while we were standing there, each with bottles of beer in their hands. Had what I can only assume is a very authentic lunch in the milk bar in Praga also.

I know it's an original-ish Nysa van, but god does it need air conditioning.

Tonight's my last night here (5 nights total, probably 1 or 2 nights too many), and I've managed to get through with 250GBP while eating very decently.




Cádiz is the one though. Everything is pretty, it's got a pleasant bustling atmosphere, there's no massive squads of Japanese mums (key), and the food is all brilliant at no great expense.

In my experience, it's hardly ever Japanese. Chinese and Korean are abundant, but very very rarely elderly Japanese groups.

[-james-]

They were definitely Japanese in Granada. I probably should have generalised though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

On the public water bus.

Christ it's slow, I'm looking longingly at every speedboat passing us easily.

Edit: Hit a 20 kmph zone \0/.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just had a bit of entertainment, a geezer just smacked his baby's head on the boat ceiling. The chorus of 'oooh' that reverberated in the cabin was great.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

So yeah, Venice is a bit pointless.

Impossible to get around effectively (3 and a half hours from landing to get to our hotel which is pretty central in San Marco) and it's such a fucking tourist hotspot. So many dickheads trying to sell roses and drag you into a restaurant. It's also incredibly easy to get lost.

Christ knows how we're going to get to the train station tomorrow, would probably be easier to just build a pedalo and get into the canal.

Did go to a nice little 'trattoria' which was half the price of most other restaurants and almost all tourists were just walking right by.

Had some seafood antipasti platter which was lovely then tried some spaghetti with mixed seafood and then a stunning black cuttlefish risotto which was heavenly. I've never 'got' Italian food until tonight. Did help that all the seafood was perfectly cooked too.

[Boydy]

Who are you with?

[Mellberg]

Arriving in Venice after midnight with the ex, only for both our batteries to die whilst looking for the hotel was...eventful.

[Kikó]

Felt the same in Florence. Full of tourists milling about and ultimately it's all geared to that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

San Marco square is pretty cool though and I did like walking past the Basilica knowing that I climbed it on Assassin's Creed 2.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Boat to the train station was so much better than the one from the airport. It was nice to be out on deck to see everything.

Pizza at the station is damn good too.

[Ian]

Lithuania today. First holiday I've been on with people who I'm not related to. Only three nights so hopefully I don't despise any of them by the time it's over.

[Magic]

Mahow nobody wants to read your fucking holiday diary you sick fuck.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Train is heavily air conditioned, it's fucking lovely.

[ScousePig]

Arriving in Venice after midnight with the ex, only for both our batteries to die whilst looking for the hotel was...eventful.

When we went at Christmas, we arrived just as it was getting dark and there was possibly the thickest fog I've ever seen*. Luckily I'd been before, otherwise it would have been really tricky finding the hotel.

I wasn't fussed about Venice in the summer, but really liked it in the winter. Much less touristy and smelly, as you'd imagine. I loved Florence though and didn't see as much touristy stuff as other people suggest.

We've booked five nights in Nice when we break up. I like places which have a mix of being by the sea but also plenty of sights/places to see.

*Landing you couldn't see the runway until you were about 10 feet from the ground.

[Reg]

Mahow nobody wants to read your fucking holiday diary you sick fuck.

Half an hour later:

Train is heavily air conditioned, it's fucking lovely.
:D

Did Venice smell of poo, Mahow?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

There was a whiff of stench but it wasn't as bad as I thought. A few degrees higher and I reckon it could have been horrible.

Trieste looked lovely but I only stayed for about 10 minutes after hoping off the train and onto the bus. I'd go there before going back to Venice.

Rijeka is also so much better, there's a much more relaxed vibe around the place as it isn't being rammed by tourists. Had a lovely baked octopus stew and Croatian pasta (like super thick spaghetti, it's really doughy which I like) with steak and truffles.

[Magic]

Did it follow you to Trieste?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm going to push that being a RACIST jab at Italians.

Disgusting behaviour, Magic. I hope Italians bans you.

[Magic]

Sorry I'm just imaging you with bits of baby octopus legs sticking out of your beard.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Went to pick up a car in Rijeka today, booked a VW Passat or similar and it was obviously changed.

Surprisingly it was actually a good change. Got given a Volvo S60 with less than 3000 miles on the clock and it's a really nice car.

Stopped in Petrcane in a stupidly set up hotel. Parked the car, then walked down 2 flights of stairs to reception, then walked back up 2 flights (which can only be accessed via reception) to the room. The car is just outside of our room and can be seen as soon as I step out. Which makes the stair walking really fucking annoying.

Drive down was amazing though, the E65 is the nicest road I've driven on. Right by the sea and you're driving on winding mountainous roads. It's great to see all the little islands just to the side as well.

I did spot Magic's wife on the way down too:

http://i.imgur.com/jqh1F2d.jpg

Working the road like a true pro, although she could have shown her wares to bring in more punters, the lazy bitch. Doubt the kickboxer would approve.

[Pen]

I didn't know Mahow was so close to me. We're in Split today having worked our way down from Pula in the past week. The National parks and Rovinj, Rab and Zadar have all been really good and the rest haven't been bad either, well apart from the night I spent throwing up after a food poisoning. All the cities are so small and close by you end up seeing a shitload of places. We're off to Vis in the morning.

If you're coming to Split Mahow, make sure to grab something to eat at Vill Spiza. Great food and quite cheap. Well worth the half an hour wait for a table.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm going tomorrow.

In Skradin today.

Went to an amazing restaurant by the marina today and had loads of great fish. Waiters and owner were really nice too and they set up a really nice apartment for a discount. Walked round and the place is a little gem, so many amazing old buildings including some houses that are from the 14th century.

Going to get an early boat to the Krka national park tomorrow (which looks stunning), stay there for a few hours, get lunch at a restaurant that barbecues whole pigs and then off to Split.

[Pen]

Krka was pretty great, but the food looked shit and/or with a good tourist extra slapped on the price too. Go in early as it will get ridiculously packed by the afternoon. Swimming next to a big waterfall was boss though.

Oh, and Villa Spiza was so good we went again tonight and it was even better.

[Spoonsky]

Mahow (or any of you) if you go to Dubrovnik make sure to take the tram up the top of the mountain for the sunset. It's stunning.

Dubrovnik was so expensive though, holy fuck. Worse than anywhere in Italy. I spent a couple hours in Split and it seemed nice. Accidentally saw the Prime Minister at a rally for a mayor candidate (with no security at all, incredible) in that amazing square with the Sphinx.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Took a boat to Krka. Only got to see Skrandinski Buk which is the waterfall at the very bottom of the park. It is genuinely stunning and coupling it with a nice cheap ice cream (about a pound for one scoop which was about the same size as 3 in the UK).

Only stayed an hour or so as we had to move but I'd happily go back and spend a day walking around the whole national park.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://i.imgur.com/68Ys36B.jpg

It really was stunning.

As was the whole pig that was roasted. We went to a little village restaurant that had no menu.

For starters there was only a local soup and then it's either roasted lamb or pork ordered by the kilo (the woman gave us 1.2kg) with chips and salad.

[Pen]

I got interviewed for a Japanese tv-show today at the harbour in Split. Big in Japan :cool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The palace is amazing.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

As is the whole place, my feet are killing me though as I walked round the town so much.

Was enjoyable eating mini doughnuts with nutella sauce right by the harbour. A drunk local pissing into the ocean about 2m away from me, less so.

[Spoonsky]

I got interviewed for a Japanese tv-show today at the harbour in Split. Big in Japan :cool:

Happened to me in Tokyo, but I don't think it aired at the time they told me it would. Small in Japan.

[Pen]

Today has probably been the best day of the trip so far. We hired a private boat for the two of us to take us around Vis and the surrounding small islands for the day. We swam in beatiful beaches and caves and went to an old Yugoslavian military base for boats. Only negative thing was that I got stung by a jellyfish, again :moop:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Vis looks great, I wanted to go but we didn't have enough time sadly.

We decided to go near Prapratno beach but it the areas were a bit small but we did see the walls of Ston and have an amazing fish lunch on the sea in the town of Broce. The waiters would take your order, then get the shellfish needed from traps in the bay and take them to the kitchen, completely fresh.

Ended up going to a place called Lapad just outside of Dubrovnik.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/hr/apartment-barbara.en-gb.html?aid=304142;label=gen173nr-1FCAEoggJCAlhYSDNiBW5vcmVmaGWIAQGYAS7CAQp3aW5kb3dz IDEwyAEP2AEB6AEB-AELkgIBeagCAw;sid=314ff0b3f3693d4f6efacb8964977c47 ;checkin=2017-06-05;checkout=2017-06-08;dest_id=-79996;dest_type=city;dist=0;group_adults=3;group_c hildren=0;hpos=1;no_rooms=1;raw_dest_type=hotel;re q_adults=3;req_children=0;room1=A%2CA%2CA;sb_price _type=total;soldout=0%2C0;srfid=097dbd19a4ccbc4c61 3b80db71768e34b6ef21ffX1;type=total;ucfs=1&#hotelTmpl

Two bedroom apartment with a private pool just outside of Dubrovnik for just £100 a night. We'll be staying here until we go as it's fucking brilliant.

[Adamski]

Considering basing myself in Split rather than Zadar later in the year after reading this thread.

The little one will be coming with us so I'd want to base us in Split and still do day trips to Zadar and some of the islands. Is this realistic do you think with travel times? We'd probably be there for a week but wouldn't want to travel much more than 2 hours each way to places for the day.

Any recommendations?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Zadar might be a push, it's about 2 hours there in a car on a good day I found.

Split is a great hub to go to islands though.

I also wouldn't go to Hvar unless you're prepared to pay. The guy who owned the small hotel we stayed at in Split said it's a proper money grab. 55 Kuna for a pint (about £6.50) over there.

You could also go on a little day trip to Solin as it looks amazing.

[Adamski]

Yeah seems like theres a decent amount of things to do nearer Split so probably wouldn't bother with Zadar.

£60 return flights in September :drool:

[Foe]

Hvar is beautiful though. Certainly compared to split, which is a bit shit.

[Pen]

If you want to spend time on the islands Split is the better choice for a 'base'. I preferred Zadar myself, but it is much smaller and you don't have that much to do there. From Split you could do the islands (Vis and Korcula were amazing in particular) Zadar, the nature parks and maybe Trogir (was ok) in a week. The landscape here in Korcula were probably the best I've ever seen. Alsowe only stopped in Hvar for a few hours, but it isn't as expensive as Mahow was told. Wasn't all that great either unless you're into clubs and such.

[ScousePig]

Split's decent, and definitely a good base. When I stayed there I went to Hvar and a day trip to Mostar in Bosnia which was well worth it.

[Pen]

We are going to Mostar tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to that and Bosnia and Montenegro in general. Still debating wether or not go to Podgorica just for the qualifying game. Would be cool to see Montenegro-Armenia, but getting there and back is a bit of pain.

[Magic]

Omg everyone stealing my perfect holiday tho :(

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Went to Bosanka today for dinner to a tavern as it had good Google reviews. Didn't realise that you need to pre-order the sucking pig 3 hours in advance so had some mixed meat grill thing. The restaurant though was on top of a mountain and driving up/down was proper brown trouser stuff. Stunning views of Dubrovnik though as it completely overlooked the whole old town.

Also went into Dubrovnik old town for an hour or so after. I can see why people rave about it but it wasn't made for unfit people like me, steps/stairs everywhere. Will go back in tomorrow but for a good while, will shed fucking pounds.

It's also pretty damn expensive in Dubrovnik ofc. Just over £4 for 250ml of Coke Zero at a bar.

[Pen]

Had to make a big snake my beta cuck bitch today in Ston. We were walking from Ston to Mali Ston on this really long (a mile or so) wall when I noticed a snake there slithering away. I had seen a few already, but not on the two feet wide footpath. I started taking stomping steps towards it to guide it away from us and for the next 20-30 meters thats how we went down in a queue before the ultimate showdown where the snake threw itself off the wall as a sign of defeat.

We're now in Mostar and it seems very nice and cheap at first glance.

[-james-]

Going to Madrid for a couple of days, not sure what to expect. Any tips? Got a couple of day trips to Toledo and Segovia on the itinerary, as well as a few of the obvious museums/parks, but not sure aside from that.

[Mazuuurk]

Had to make a big snake my beta cuck bitch today in Ston. We were walking from Ston to Mali Ston on this really long (a mile or so) wall when I noticed a snake there slithering away. I had seen a few already, but not on the two feet wide footpath. I started taking stomping steps towards it to guide it away from us and for the next 20-30 meters thats how we went down in a queue before the ultimate showdown where the snake threw itself off the wall as a sign of defeat.

We're now in Mostar and it seems very nice and cheap at first glance.

That must've have been a bit of a sight from the sidelines, where the Snake wasn't visible :D

[John]

The sight of Pen goose stepping through Croatia would have had the elderly heading for their bomb shelters.

[ScousePig]

Going to Madrid for a couple of days, not sure what to expect. Any tips? Got a couple of day trips to Toledo and Segovia on the itinerary, as well as a few of the obvious museums/parks, but not sure aside from that.

I quite liked Madrid. It was different to just about any other major city I've been to as there's no river/coastline, and no real central focal point that I could establish. It seems to have a very distinctive feel and smell, but that might have been the heat.

I'll have a think but I don't remember doing much other than the regular 'sights'.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Wasn't feeling too well yesterday so swam a bit in the pool and slept a lot. Owner of the apartment brought round some pig that his butcher Dad had cooked in a baker's oven with potatoes which was amazing.

Had to leave at 10 so went to Cava beach for the day. It's stunning but shit due to pebbles but that's a problem across Croatia. Expensive as fuck for sun beds though.

I'm going to miss Croatia.

[-james-]

Our AirBnB doesn't have fucking WiFi. Wonder if anywhere is doing an election night lock in

[Pen]

Bosnia has been great and people have been really open about the war stuff, which has been somewhat of a surprise (might be because Sweden took in a lotbof Bosnian refugees and they see us almost as a line for like for Swedes). I think I preferred Sarajevo to Mostar, but I really have no complaints.

dino if it's still alive, Ojala was a nice restaurant back in 2011. Malasana and Chueca in general were pretty great for food and drink. Check spottedbylocals if you wwnt some more recent suggestions.

[Pen]

And it really is a shame that the snake incident wasn't caught on camera (because the missus is dead afraid of snakes) but I'll try to get a photo up of the snake so you all know how heroic I was.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I fucked my legs up, well the inside of them.

Was working on my laptop for a bit in the beach restaurant and they had to close all the umbrellas due to wind. I didn't think to put any sun cream on them and they're raw as fuck. I can barely move them and the flight home was hellish as they were burning up.

[Clunge]

Absolutely fucking loved Croatia - Dubrovnik and Split were ace and Skradin was beautiful.

I'm in Japan atm. Penultimate day sadly, five days in Tokyo, two in Fuji, three in Osaka/Kyoto/Nara, back in Tokyo now waking up to the election result.

Has been incredible - on the surface, was less different/mad to what I expected, but the nuances really make it feel alien at times.

[hfswjyr]

That is almost the exact itinerary to what I'm doing next week.

Did you get a good look at Fuji? Apparently it's closed season, so no climbing?

[Clunge]

Yeah, we saw it pretty well - clouds lifted enough for a few mins over the two days to see it. The trails will be closed until late-July, iirc. We went to 5th Station, the highest point you can get to by bus.

Top tip though, just by the bus stop, there is a little set of stairs that lead up to something called the Uchodo Trail. It slowly winds down from 5th Station (2,300m) to some of the lower bus stops and lower trails. Best thing you can do if you can't climb. We meandered down and got some great views of the summit and the landscape.

Give me a shout if you want any more info or ideas.

[Spoonsky]

Back home. :|

[Pepe]

Is your whole perspective of life changed?

[Spoonsky]

Only in the sense that everything seems shit now.

[Pepe]

:D

Oh well, only 80 more years to go.

[Spoonsky]

If I live till 99 I'll be a don anyways.

My great-grandfather was born in Sicily, and if I can get Italian citizenship I'll basically be set for life. Aren't you moving to France soon as well?

[Pepe]

Still not decided. Most likely unless Tronald gives us a job.

[Spoonsky]

See you at the TTH ex-pat meet then.

[Spoonsky]

I'm in Utah for the next two months though, if you ever decide you're man enough to bike up an actual mountain.

[Pepe]

I'm in Utah for the next two months though, if you ever decide you're man enough to bike up an actual mountain.

Just checked the racing calendar for UT. If only we had some of those races over here. :drool:

[-james-]

Basque food. Oh my fuck. I'm never leaving.

[Pen]

That's so true. Probs the best cuisine in the world.

[Giggles]

What is it? Because Spanish food is tomatoey shit.

[Pen]

Mixture of all sorts as they were heavily influenced by trade withs Asia etc., but definitely a big Spanish influence.

[Magic]

Lol so it cost me €75 to see a doctor and €7 for my antibiotics meaning I can't drink for the remainder of the holiday.

That €100 investment on booze isn't looking so clever now...

[Pepe]

:hb:

[Spikey M]

I thought we got free treatment in the EU?

[Pepe]

I thought we got free treatment in the EU?

Lynch May.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I thought we got free treatment in the EU?

http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/health/unplanned-healthcare/payments-reimbursements/index_en.htm

I'm guessing he didn't have the European Health Card.

[Spikey M]

:harold:

[Magic]

Nah it was private as the public one was shut today. Needed to start asap so I don't feel shit for the rest of the holiday so took the plunge.

Excess is €60 so can claim £20 or so back.

[Magic]

:hb:

Cunt. :D

[Magic]

I bust my toe fuck knows how the other day. All bruised and shit. And now my crown/bridge has fallen out so here goes a probably expensive trip to the dentist.

What a holiday. :drool:

[Magic]

Lol even dental hospitals don't do emergency appointments. May as well be in Sudan tbh.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Must be hard for them to keep up with your body breaking down.

[Magic]

Found one at 4pm today so that's ruined the plans. Write this one off, lost 2 days to the heatwave, 1 in bed from tonsilitis and one because of an awkward dentist appointment.

SHIT.

[Pen]

That's riduculously unlucky. Hope you get to enjoy at least a few days before you head back.

[Andy]

Went to Ibiza for 5 days with 21 of my mates a couple of weeks ago which was awesome. My body can't handle that sort of abuse anymore though. Took me a full week to recover.

In August I'm going to Bradford for a week and a half, first weekend we are there for a wedding and the second is for some little music festival.

Then in November I'm taking the missus to Maya Riviera in Mexico for her 30th. Can't wait for that trip. The food will be insane.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Well you've certainly covered all tastes there.

[Baz]

Found one at 4pm today so that's ruined the plans. Write this one off, lost 2 days to the heatwave, 1 in bed from tonsilitis and one because of an awkward dentist appointment.

SHIT.
Why is a heatwave a write-off of a day on holiday? :scratch: Get some factor 50 on, all inclusive shandies, plenty of pool time, amazing.

[Magic]

Why is a heatwave a write-off of a day on holiday? :scratch: Get some factor 50 on, all inclusive shandies, plenty of pool time, amazing.

Because it was 44/45C mate.

[Andy]

Where are you?

[Magic]

Algarve.

[Adamski]

You been there before?

[Magic]

LOL I got a trainee who put way too much cement on and got it all over my fucking teeth. It hardened and he spent an hour dry drilling some of it off. It was one of the most unpleasant trips to the dentist ever. He had to go and get the boss in the end to resolve it, which he did in 5 minutes.

€30.

[Pepe]

Would be $50,000 over here.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This is sounding like the greatest holiday ever.

[Spikey M]

at least Gerry and Kate could go out for a nice meal while they were there.

[Raoul Duke]

at least Gerry and Kate could go out for a nice meal while they were there.

And an orgy or two

[-james-]

What is it? Because Spanish food is tomatoey shit.

I guess it's not hugely distinct as a cuisine. Bars serve 'pintxos' which are one or two bites of food, so you generally eat one or two with every drink. Lots of grilled meat and fish. Many of the best dishes I've ever eaten have been these in the last week or so. If you're into food I can't imagine there being many better eating destinations in the world.

[-james-]

I guess it's not hugely distinct as a cuisine. Bars serve 'pintxos' which are one or two bites of food, so you generally eat one or two with every drink. Lots of grilled meat and fish. Many of the best dishes I've ever eaten have been these in the last week or so. If you're into food I can't imagine there being many better eating destinations in the world.

new paged^

We're about done with Spain. As expected for people who like eating, drinking, and the sun, it was a winner.

Verdict:

Basque country wins. Food, beaches, stunning landscapes. Bilbao probably edges it over San Sebastián if you have to choose. Cadiz and Valencia are best of the rest.

Madrid is ace but it's Too Fucking Hot and there's no beach.

Seville is lovely but we ran out of stuff to do.

Barcelona is a tourist trap.

Cordoba and Burgos are both great day trips.

Granada is also very overrated

[Adamski]

We're off to Girona and Barca next week. Was planning on doing Bilbao/San Sebastian at the same time but figured that was too much with a 1 year old, will catch them as a city break so good to know they're as awesome as I thought they would be!

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've always wanted to do a drive along the north of Spain and into France, as far as where the French bit of France starts anyway (so about twenty miles in). Basques just get it when it comes to food.

[Spoonsky]

My friend's walking the Camino de Santiago at the moment, which is basically the reverse but you're on foot. It looks pretty great. I really want to go to Spain.

[-james-]

I was a bit harsh on Barcelona. It's definitely very good but aside from Born/Poblenou a lot of it felt a bit naff.

[-james-]

My friend's walking the Camino de Santiago at the moment, which is basically the reverse but you're on foot. It looks pretty great. I really want to go to Spain.

I'm very tempted by the walk. Asturias is definitely on the itinerary next time anyway.


I've always wanted to do a drive along the north of Spain and into France, as far as where the French bit of France starts anyway (so about twenty miles in). Basques just get it when it comes to food.

Food & drink culture here is just spot on. Small portions of everything is the key.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Spanish 'main courses' are actually not a lot to write home about, which is the key - you shouldn't eat them.

[-james-]

I was going to say that. Of any proper meals we've had, starters and deserts were always the best bits.

[Kikó]

Any recommendations for Madrid?

[-james-]

Any recommendations for Madrid?

We stayed in Chueca which was a good area to just wander about/eat/drink in. A woman would tell you that the shopping is good.

Calle De Ponzano has some pretty good tapas places. A Japanese place not far from there called Hanakura was probably the best meal we had.

The roof bar at circulo de bellas artes is a must, costs a few euros to go up but worth it.

Parque de el retiro is good for a lazy afternoon sitting about.

If you have a spare day then Toledo is well worth a visit.

[hfswjyr]

The Palace is stunning. Otherwise there's always both football stadiums to visit. Quite like the area around athleticos, though it'll cause heatstroke in summer.

[Kikó]

Cueca is Going to be rammed with gays the next few days as it's pride. I might give Toledo a go on Saturday when they're marching.

[-james-]

Do ryanair not give you seats next to each other by default if it's the same booking any more? Plenty of pairs of seats left and we've been sat at different bits. What cunts.

[Henry]

Any recommendations for Madrid?

I had my phone stolen there. Don't leave it where anyone else can get it.

[Magic]

Do ryanair not give you seats next to each other by default if it's the same booking any more? Plenty of pairs of seats left and we've been sat at different bits. What cunts.

Book your seats then. They're actively doing it to make you book next time so they make more money.

[Spikey M]

We've booked a week in Costa Sel Sol at the end of September / Start of October. The thought of sitting alone on the flight :drool:

We're flying from Southend, which is the second least stressful airport in the UK. http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/15356288.Stress_free_travel_enjoyed_by_families_at _Southend_Airport/

Que mass baggage handler strikes and Eddie Stowbart going bust.

[Giggles]

If it's anything with Ryanair, then as a rule it'll cost extra.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm still surprised that they haven't made it a pound a piss on their flights yet.

Edit: Google suggests that they tried, can't find anything after 2009 though.

[Boydy]

We're flying from Southend, which is the second least stressful airport in the UK. http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/15356288.Stress_free_travel_enjoyed_by_families_at _Southend_Airport/


Because there's nothing in it. It's the shittest airport ever.

[Magic]

Because there's nothing in it. It's the shittest airport ever.

Sounds like heaven.

[Spikey M]

Because there's nothing in it. It's the shittest airport ever.

Turn up an hour before take off. Through security witho queing, straight on the plane.

Anyway, Stansted is the worst. Getting your baggage back takes fucking hours.

[Magic]

Turn up an hour before take off. Through security witho queing, straight on the plane.

Anyway, Stansted is the worst. Getting your baggage back takes fucking hours.

They're all shite. I fucking hate them. Swissport are a set of cunts too having seen behind the scenes at a major airport I hate it even more.

Small ones are the best.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Least stressful experience I've had was in Dubrovnik airport.

We sat down in arrivals for a bit as we got there early to drop the car off, walked to the check in about an hour before and there was no one there. We then went through security with no one else there again (they were able to hoover the place) so straight through into a practically empty duty free.

Until we got to the departure gate we had only seen about 5 non-staff.

Can't really comment on the UK as I fly from Luton about 95% of the time but Stansted is the pits from what I can remember.

[niko_cee]

The fact that they make you walk through some sort of bizarre maze before having to board a train to get to your gate at Stansted is beyond irritating. That and the fact that quite a lot of their fucking car hire places are off site which they don't really bother to warn you about if you are one-waying it there.

[hfswjyr]

Southend is amazing. There were more staff than passengers when I went through there.

Took about 5 seconds to clear security.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Inverness Airport is the true king of airports.

[wullie]

Birmingham is normally alright but going away in April, I'd never seen queues like it. Using it again in a few weeks, hopefully it's not the norm.

[AyDee]

Southend is amazing. There were more staff than passengers when I went through there.

Took about 5 seconds to clear security.

I flew from and into Southend last week. Simply glorious.

[Kikó]

Dundee airport is great. Basically a bus stop.

[phonics]

They shouldn't be able to call it 'London Southend Airport' though. It's ridiculous. Was a nightmare when I was working for EasyJet. So many foreigners telling you they're flying to London when there aren't any flights there that day.

[Jimmy Floyd]

None of the London airports are anywhere near London, except City and to some extent Heathrow.

Stansted and Luton particularly take the piss in that regard.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I love all the 'Welcome to London' posters that they have in Luton as you're walking to the passport control.

[Spikey M]

They shouldn't be able to call it 'London Southend Airport' though. It's ridiculous. Was a nightmare when I was working for EasyJet. So many foreigners telling you they're flying to London when there aren't any flights there that day.

We also have London Beach. just calling it a beach is generous enough. Stones and needles everywhere

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's only a matter of time until some football club sticks 'London' in its name. West Ham have done it on the badge but haven't had the bottle to change the name.

Southend United an excellent candidate.

[phonics]

We also have London Beach. just calling it a beach is generous enough. Stones and needles everywhere

Ah yes, the famous coastal city of London.

[niko_cee]

Doesn't Oxford Airport claim to be in (that) 'London' these days?

Yep (http://www.oxfordairport.co.uk/)

Although, in fairness, it's no further away than Stansted, maybe.

[phonics]

I'm off to London East Midlands soon.

[niko_cee]

This (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7369322/Anger-as-Northamptonshire-rebranded-North-Londonshire.html) is still the high water mark in that regard.

[Spikey M]

It's only a matter of time until some football club sticks 'London' in its name. West Ham have done it on the badge but haven't had the bottle to change the name.

Southend United an excellent candidate.

We're the Eastiest club in London, mate.

[Kikó]

That's Norwich.

[Spikey M]

They're North London.

[Spikey M]

We should just go full China and make London a mega-city really. And Birmingham (although they won't want Coventry) and Manchester.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-40421811

Old cunt.

[Lewis]

It's only a matter of time until some football club sticks 'London' in its name. West Ham have done it on the badge but haven't had the bottle to change the name.

Southend United an excellent candidate.

The London Arsenal.

[Disco]

We can just amalgamate all the London clubs into one franchise, much simpler that way.

[Raoul Duke]

London United and London City :drool:

[Magic]

London Rovers and London Academical in the lower leagues.

[Disco]

Just imagine the half and half scarf but with about 10 clubs on there.

[ScousePig]

Slightly related but there are some Sunderland fans who think we should train in London.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If so they have completely lost all perception of what a football club is.