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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2009 18:17:05 GMT
So, if you had only five choices of countries in Europe that you could visit, which ones would they be and why? What attracts you personally about each place?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2009 17:40:32 GMT
I would choose England, France and Italy as the "cultural powerhouses," Switzerland for the fantastic scenery, and the last country could be a wild card -- Spain or the Netherlands would top my list for the final place.
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Post by imec on Oct 25, 2009 17:57:27 GMT
Hmm, hard to argue with k's choices... although I'm not sure I'd keep the Netherlands. Personally, I'd like to see medieval Belgium and I've been told by several people that restaurants in Belgium today rival those of France (would be interested in your perspective k.).
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Post by traveler63 on Oct 25, 2009 21:11:16 GMT
For me it would be the rest of France, British Isles, Italy(what we haven't seen), Spain and Portugal. The last two weren't on my list until I watched a special on the food and wine of Spain and Portugal on our public broadcasting station and that fixed me.
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Post by imec on Oct 25, 2009 21:21:55 GMT
Spain and Portugal are fantastic! T63, have you seen "On the Road Again" - Mario Batali and Gwyneth Paltrow on a culinary road trip of Spain? (in a very nice Benz convertible - Mark Bittman and Spanish star Claudia Bassols also tag along - in another very nice Benz convertible).
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Post by hwinpp on Oct 28, 2009 9:52:41 GMT
I'd probably go for France, the three Benelux countries and Germany.
Also check Istanbul for a longish weekend. Go by budget airline. No probs for an EU passport.
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Post by fumobici on Oct 28, 2009 18:15:42 GMT
Given my lineage I really should make a tour of Scandinavia so Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. To be honest though the prospect doesn't thrill me, I'd probably enjoy it better down in France, Italy, Spain.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2009 18:34:49 GMT
I will not disagree with Belgium. I love that country, but its size underwhelms a lot of people.
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Post by imec on Oct 28, 2009 21:20:18 GMT
Yeah well, my size tends to underwhelm a lot of people too.
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Post by hwinpp on Nov 11, 2009 8:43:17 GMT
I love this thread. Where's Deyana? Keep it going!
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Post by existentialcrisis on Nov 11, 2009 9:46:08 GMT
This is tough! I'll pick Greece, Spain, Denmark, Germany, and either Poland/Romania/Ukraine.
Greece: I'm in love with Greek history and would love to see the ruins. I'd like to eat the real food from the real place. And I'd love to check out the beaches and sail around the Greek islands!
Spain: I hear it's a great place to travel! Don't know much about it otherwise, so more reason to go!
Denmark: Always wanted to go somewhere Scandinavian. And my family name is Danish so it would be neat to see where my ancestors came from.
Germany: Aready been there and would like to return. I spent most of my time there in Regensburg... but I'd like to see so many other places there. And play closer attention this time to the food and drink. Would love to do a beer tour around Germany.
The Eastern European countries: Eastern Europe is mysterious to me, and the culture is so different from the West. I would love to experience the food as well. Also wouldn't mind checking out Estonia or Latvia or some such place.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2009 18:19:24 GMT
Estonia is indeed considered to be the best kept secret of Europe (and cheap, too!).
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Post by bjd on Nov 12, 2009 12:42:17 GMT
I have been to the three Baltic countries and must say I much preferred Riga to Tallinn. And when you get to Vilnius in Lithuania, the style of architecture and everything changes dramatically.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2009 20:12:37 GMT
I'm still here, hw  Well, we all certainly prefer a good variety here. My five would probably be, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and Russia. |
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Post by tillystar on Nov 12, 2009 22:44:18 GMT
Spain, France, Italy, Sweden & Finland.
I just love Spain, France and Italy and couldn't give any up.
Since discovering Sweden this year I would love to explore it some more, especially the archipelago where I'd rent a cottage for the summer and play swallows and amazons.
And I have fallen in love with the lakes in Finland, I want to jump into those cold clear waters, but also play in the snow so I need to be greedy and visit in both summer and winter ;D
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Post by lagatta on Nov 13, 2009 2:56:44 GMT
For obvious reasons I'm not interested in anywhere so cold and pristine.
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Post by fumobici on Nov 13, 2009 4:48:07 GMT
Ex-husband? *rimshot*
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Post by cristina on Nov 13, 2009 5:44:01 GMT
Spain will always be number 1 for me.
Then France.
I would like to go to Ireland.
I have never been to Italy. Fumobici makes me want to see Italy.
I can't decide on the 5th place.
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Post by hwinpp on Nov 13, 2009 10:39:29 GMT
You could try to visit counries sort of grouped by theme, e.g. language family.
2 countries with Romance languages (my choice Spain and France)
1 country with Germanic languages (Germany)
1 country with Scandinavian languages (I know actually Germanic but this will give more choice, Sweden)
1 country with Slavic languages (Poland)
OTOH, you'd be missing too much I see now.
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Post by lagatta on Nov 14, 2009 20:11:26 GMT
Fumobici, no. Just because I live somewhere where the countryside can resemble Sweden's and Finland's. I hate the cold, and am not attracted to "the great outdoors". hwinpp, I have to go visit a friend in Vienna at some point, and will probably go to Munich and to another Bavarian village where friends live, so then I'd be into the Bavarian and Austrian varieties of German language. Scandinavian languages are North Germanic. English, German, Dutch/Flemish and some lesser-known languages are West Germanic. I'd go by types of wine and cheese myself.   ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2009 21:57:17 GMT
I'm kind of the same, I'd prefer to visit a country that is warmer rather then colder. And as different as possible from what Canada is, probably why the Scandinavian countries really don't interest me that much.
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Post by hwinpp on Nov 18, 2009 8:50:50 GMT
Whaddya think of this?
Don't know why I didn't think of this myself!
A culinary exploration of certain regions of southern Europe.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2009 18:30:56 GMT
We have to gang up on Deyana and make her add more countries, since 5 is not enough, although she will be lucky to see that many on her next trip.
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Post by lagatta on Nov 19, 2009 12:51:41 GMT
Mostly southern, hwinpp, but I have two friends in Alsace right now and they will definitely be enjoying some fine whites.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2009 14:28:16 GMT
We have to gang up on Deyana and make her add more countries, since 5 is not enough, although she will be lucky to see that many on her next trip. Oh fine, K. Top TEN choices then. I don't know I might surprise you, I mean looking at Europe it seems...well..quite small, at least compared to the distance I've done around North America. I think after India, my next destination has just got to be Cambodia. Hw, has now peaked my interest in that country. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2009 15:55:39 GMT
I mean looking at Europe it seems...well..quite small, at least compared to the distance I've done around North America. No offense, but in some of the areas of North America, you can go 500 miles without finding much of interest. In Europe, you might find it interesting to stop and see things at lesser intervals. |
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Post by lagatta on Nov 19, 2009 16:59:53 GMT
It's not offensive at all. There are a lot of spread-out parts of North America with nothing of interest whatsoever.
I'm not sure I particularly like the idea of choosing countries, or states. Sometimes one could do adjoining regions in different countries. For example, I'm sure my friends who are visiting Alsace will also cross the Rhine to the neighbouring region of Germany.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2009 20:53:15 GMT
I mean looking at Europe it seems...well..quite small, at least compared to the distance I've done around North America. No offense, but in some of the areas of North America, you can go 500 miles without finding much of interest. In Europe, you might find it interesting to stop and see things at lesser intervals. Oh yeah, Kerouac, I am like, SO offended!  The thing is that is one of the things I like about North America, I love driving long distances, the feeling of movement, just chilling out, relaxing, listening to my favorite music. I'm sure the stopping to see different things will slow me down in Europe, yep. |
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Post by lagatta on Nov 19, 2009 22:37:47 GMT
The single thing I hate most about North America is its car dependency. (That does not mean I am unable to appreciate a finely-tuned sportscar or elegant car design, just that it is a dreadful example of woeful planning).
If you like driving, there are lots of thrilling breakneck turns you can do in many parts of Europe, but I wouldn't call them relaxing.
For relaxing, the train, and you can enjoy a tea or even a glass of wine with the book you are reading as the landscape flits by. I can't imagine anything as boring as passing hours on an autoroute.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2009 23:21:03 GMT
Like I said, I love driving. For me, it's relaxing and fun. I'd pick it over a train ride any day.
In Europe though, because don't know my way around much, I'll probably opt for a train, at least if I have to.
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;D
