I'm off on a road trip to Ha Giang end of this week. Can't bloody wait.
I'm off on a road trip to Ha Giang end of this week. Can't bloody wait.
You're a banker, go see the world's first bank in Siena. The interior of the duomo in Siena is fantastic (better than in Florence), especially the little side room. Otherwise go see St. Catherine's head and her house of birth. If you walk a bit from the cathedral with her head there's a great view on the city.Originally Posted by Kikó
Florence is so full of things it's almost futile, you can't go wrong in two days. Boboli Gardens are meant to be really good but they close weirdly early so don't fuck up like I did. Look for the MASSIVE flocks of birds at sunset around the train station (disclaimer, may not happen every day). The Ponte Vecchio is shit but the walk downstream along the Arno is lovely in the late afternoon.
Giggles will eat me alive for that one.
Thanks for that spoons.
I watched one of Rick Steins 'Weekend in...' and it was Bologna, looked absolutely incredible.
I suspect Spoonsky had his fingers in his mouth when he said that.
Anyone got any travel blogs or the like that they would recommend?
I like this by this Russian man who's been fucking everywhere: http://www.tema.ru/eng/travel/countries/
His most interesting photo of Geneva is that our Bendy Buses have two bends in them...
Florence:
Climb the Duomo for an amazing view over Florence (like assassins creed if you've played that)
Pizza from anywhere, even cheap side stalls
See David
Walk the main drag, squares, river and bridge
Amazing nightlife (may have been a Friday night)
That doesn't sound like it reflects very well on Geneva.
He does often regress to the mundane though. I like the odd little details that he captures.
I wonder why the fuck he went to Mogadishu. Seems like completionism.
This may be the most underwhelming city guide I've ever read
What a life. Must be fucking minted.
Just back from Paris, loved it. I was expecting a huge dirty and bustling city I'd just grumble my way around, but it seemed a lot more compact and welcoming with everything being close by, although we must have covered about 25 miles walking overall. Only there for four days, but the St Phillipe du Roule area felt like home by the end of the first.
I was up at 3am today. Two hour flight and SEVEN hour bus later, just arrived in the rather stunning Ha Giang.
Very close to where I stayed last time. Nice area.
I liked La Marais too, mainly because I got to see the Pompidou which is a bucket list item. Montmartre was nice enough but felt the most tourist and pickpockety place out of everywhere we went.
Siena is gorgeous. The architecture is fantastic and the front of the Duomo is probably the best looking building I've ever seen. It's truly stunning. Now in Florence and it's a hell of a lot busier which is annoying. Failed to get into the museum with David as we made no planning and hit a massive queue, ended up at the church of Santa Croce (?). Another fantastic looking place though, can't wait to tackle it properly tomorrow.
Two weeks till Marbella lads
Always thought it was a bit of shit hole to be honest. Liked the Notre Dame though. Also would not describe it as 'compact'.
Sorry.
Finishing up in Bologna today. Great city as well and actually enjoyable because there isn't 5000 American tourists. It's been a great trip though and spiked my interest in the Renaissance. The architecture and art from this era is jaw dropping. Shame we build everything in glass now.
What's been the highlight? Bologna and Florence are on my list next time I'm in Italy.
It's ok, I'm not the mayor
Siena. The place is delightful and not full of tourists.
I'm off to Berlin in a couple of weeks. Any tips?
Burgermeister is maybe the best burger I've had. Probably have to queue 5-10 minutes but worth it.
The Reichstag tour is pretty good.
I tend to just wander around Kreuzberg when looking for bars and stuff.
Tiergarten, Berghain, Dachau, Hertha game if it's on. Currywurst anywhere.
Mitte or Kreuzberg for drinks.
I don't want to do any Nazi stuff. This is the beginning of a new, positive outlooking, financially capable phonics and dead Jews would just be a bit of a downer tbh.
Thanks for the other tips, any good arty districts? I've heard the city has quite a young populace so I wouldn't mind picking some stuff out to go up on the walls.
P.S. Is there an Uber like app that doesn't need a credit card like you can just pay on hand? I still don't have one from several financial crises ago.
Worthwhile sights requiring booking / booking suggested.
1. Dome of the Reichstag - you can book in advance or there's a portacabin across the road where you can book in for the next day or two. Suggest booking in advance.
2. The top of the TV tower in Alexanderplatz - very busy, only let a few up at a time, can usually get it for the following day or queue if you wish.
Other things worth seeing:
1. Berlin Cathedral - a few Euros to get in, but very good. Can go to the dome and walk around, and has the tombs of the Hohenzollern dynasty in the crypts.
2. Various museums - they're just beside the cathedral, but the queue can be significant and you might struggle to get in. I haven't had a chance to go yet.
3. Potsdamer Platz - main eating / shopping area.
4. Charlottenburg Palace - very good. It was about 15 euros to get in with an audio guide, but definitely worth the money. The gardens in the back etc. are great (and free)
5. Prussian victory monument - just up from the Reichstag - you can go up for a couple of euro, I recall. There's gardens nearby with decent seating and food options.
6. Tiergarten - there's a huge Soviet monument to WWII here commemorating the defeat of the fascists.
7. Brandenburg Gate - this is an obvious one. The bus tours leave from here, and it's beside the holocaust memorial.
8. The former HQ of the Gestapo (I think) - the building has been demolished, but there's an exhibition etc. here. It's okay (and free) - there's an original section of the Berlin Wall outside which is preserved.
9. Checkpoint Charlie - this isn't great. The actual checkpoint itself outside is cool enough to see, but the actual museum itself is just loads of Wikipedia articles printed onto massive boards and then pinned onto walls. I wouldn't bother going in.
10. Potsdam - you can get the train down, and the lakes etc. are great
11. Sachsenhausen - train again - it's grim, but interesting to see.
12. Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church - it's at the end of the main shopping street.
You can hit the majority of these with the hop on, hop off bus tour, so I'd suggest using that as a starting point for getting around.
Cheers for those.
Can anyone tell by my questions that I've not actually been on holiday since I was a child? I went to Naples 3-4 years ago to visit my parents for Christmas but that's the closest to a holiday I've been on.
I've booked a four day weekend after pay day of every month for the rest of the year so the plan is to do a different country every month. Should be exciting.
I'm a big boy now.
It was Sachsenhausen I meant, not Dachau but yeah.
There was a famous squat there called Tacheles which has since shut. Was decent for street art but not sure what's there now.
Kreuzberg is your best bet.
This is quite thorough : http://www.fodors.com/news/understan...hborhoods-5831
Where's decent for basic all inclusive, where you do nothing else but lounge? Location isn't important (bar sun) but I'd pay a lot more if it has less people, especially brats.
My plan of hoping she'd forget about the honeymoon has backfired and the suggestion that I wouldn't mind if she went on a holiday with her mates didn't go down well.
Syria.
5/10, but a hearty pat on the head and a chortle.
Try-hard mong.
Uber accepts a debit card.
Surely any of the usual holiday places would be fine for that? Just avoid going during school holidays.
Both the facts that the wedding is in August and she's a teacher means that's not an option. What are the usual holiday places anyway? We normally do city things so haven't a clue about the regular sun stuff.
Sorry forgot you were a fun vacuum.
Haven't been all inclusive for a while, I like exploring and eating out too much.
I reckon something like Lanzarote would be decent for it though. Like Boydy says, avoid school holidays and it's guaranteed weather.
It's never meant as fun with you.
School holidays are out and Lanzagrotty is out because most of her school ends up in it religiously every summer. Apparently it's as rough as fuck anyway. What are the best resorts like that in Greece, or does Malta have any? We liked Malta before but spent a week in the built up areas.
I just meant Spain and its islands, really. What about Italy? It seems like a classier destination. Although I don't know if all inclusive package holidays are as much of a thing there.
Depends where you go. We were in Playa Blanca and it was brilliant. Really quiet.
Playa Del Carmen is a hole though.
Not been to Malta but have done Crete a good while ago. Chania is nice but not sure on all inclusive or busyness.
Really quiet. Those are the magic words, I'll call a few agents tomorrow about that one.
You'd probably struggle for somewhere 'very quiet' in July and August unless it's very much off the beaten track.
I can imagine Tunisia, Morocco and Turkey are quieter than normal.
Yeah, your little protege already used up that one.
Probably the best place I can think of is somewhere like Dubai. Probably not too full of squawking kids and has the weather/hotel combos you're looking for.
Don't you get your cock chopped off and 25 years in prison for holding hands there?
We've had a falling out Giggles, so you can chill.
Only if you upgrade to the premium package
Try the Algarve Giggs. Especially Albafuera. Basically child and tourist free.
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