EuroTrip 2009 :) - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

ASU2003 · 06-15-2009, 04:24 AM

I'm going to be going to London, Paris, Nice and Barcelona for two and a half weeks next month. It's my longest vacation yet since starting my job 5 years ago, and I'm not sure how relaxing it will be. There is the language difference, the train schedule and the time difference that I will have to deal with. But, it should be a good trip, and I am excited to go to Europe for the first time. If you have any tips on traveling in Europe, or any unexpected things you found out, I would like to hear about it.

So, I have to ask, what things should I make sure to do when I am there? I'll be there when the Le Tour De France is going on, so that will be something to see. I have my hotel, plane, and train tickets so I don't need to worry about transportation or where to stay. Well, I do need advice on the best way to get around London, Paris and Barcelona. I will probably walk quite a bit, and I am staying downtown, so it shouldn't be a problem to see the major tourist attractions. I would also like to travel outside of the city to see something in the countryside for a day or two. But, I am also looking for info on the other places to go that would make it a great trip. There have to be some people here that either live in one of those places or has visited that would know something about what to do there...Thanks!

squeeeb · 06-15-2009, 04:38 AM

barcelona is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! spain is one of the easiest countries to get around in. take the metro in barcelona.
Barcelona Metro, Subway System, Barcelona Underground Guide

travelling outside of barcelona in spain, get your train tickets and bus tickets the day of travel. if you try to be prepared and get the tickets the day before, it's a hassle for some reason. if you walk up to the counter an hour before the train arrives, its a breeze.

go to the market Boqueria Market in Barcelona - Boqueria Market in Barcelona and get some jamon de iberico, it's fantastic.

from barcelona, you can take a day trip to figueras and see the salvador dali museum which will blow your mind.

in barcelona, see the sagrada familia and behind it, eat at alkemia http://www.barcelona.com/barcelona_d...uisine/alkimia

Glory's Sun · 06-15-2009, 05:08 AM

Could you steal the Champions League cup while you're in Barca and take it back to Manchester England where it belongs?

nomcat · 06-15-2009, 07:08 AM

Just got back from a week in Barcelona... what an awesome city!!

ASU2003 · 06-15-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squeeeb

barcelona is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! spain is one of the easiest countries to get around in. take the metro in barcelona.
Barcelona Metro, Subway System, Barcelona Underground Guide

travelling outside of barcelona in spain, get your train tickets and bus tickets the day of travel. if you try to be prepared and get the tickets the day before, it's a hassle for some reason. if you walk up to the counter an hour before the train arrives, its a breeze.

go to the market Boqueria Market in Barcelona - Boqueria Market in Barcelona and get some jamon de iberico, it's fantastic.

from barcelona, you can take a day trip to figueras and see the salvador dali museum which will blow your mind.

in barcelona, see the sagrada familia and behind it, eat at alkemia Alkimia restaurant Barcelona - Alkimia Barcelona

Thank you, this is what I was hoping for. I'll be sure to check out the market, the sagrada familia, and that restaurant. Do you have any recommendations on what to get there? My biggest worry is that I won't be able to read the menus (or what is written on the wall), so I will have no idea what it is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomcat

Just got back from a week in Barcelona... what an awesome city!!

What did you do there? Are there any good beaches or parks? Do you know anything about some bicycles you can rent at the metro stations or something? Are there any football matches or bull fights (besides the Pamplona one) that you know of?

noodle · 06-15-2009, 05:06 PM

didn't Halx just do some travelling? i'll bet he has some great Paris advice.

snowy · 06-15-2009, 06:02 PM

Watch for pickpockets in Barcelona. I haven't been, but my 6'6" uncle and his 6'3" son tangled with a gang of them on the Metro there last summer. They're apparently that foolish or brave, depending on how you look at it.

Take good walking shoes. You will be doing a lot of it. Walking is the best way to see Paris and the character of the different arrondissements. When you're done walking for the day, THEN you can take the Metro back to your accommodations. You don't need to pay a lot to eat well in Paris--everywhere you go you will find places selling these baguette sandwiches that you should try. Picnicking in Paris is the order of the day--just grab a baguette and some wine and find a spot (and there are many). Just don't act like a stupid American and you should be fine. Know some basic French before you go; it goes a long way in showing the French people you will deal with that you respect their culture.

London is expensive. Be prepared for that. And don't buy the wrong ticket for the Tube.

Cynthetiq · 06-15-2009, 06:35 PM

awesome! we're going to Madrid for Labor Day weekend, then drive to a parador en route to Barcelona, then back to a different parador on the return to Madrid. 4 days in each city.

looking forward to going to this market. we love going to markets in every city we go to.

Not a fan of the iberco jamon, prefer just regular jamon.

can't wait to go!

n0nsensical · 06-15-2009, 09:34 PM

You'll love it. I'm probably heading to Ibiza myself later in summer. Never been to any of those cities but it's cool everywhere. A different language can be tough but lots of people speak English, especially young people, you have it quite easy relatively speaking (no pun intended). Can't think of any tips off the top of my head but if I think of something I'll post it. (Bring lots of Euros!)

Glory's Sun · 06-16-2009, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASU

Are there any football matches or bull fights (besides the Pamplona one) that you know of?

As far as Barcelona, it's doubtful that you'll be able to attend any matches. Most players are in Confederations Cups or international duties. You may be able to see some training sessions or some international warmups..not real sure. I'm not real familiar with the team schedules out there so you'll have to do some research.

London has plenty to do and see in the football sense if you are interested in touring the grounds. I'll have to check the London teams schedules to see what's going on as far as matches.

squeeeb · 06-17-2009, 06:27 AM

don't worry about reading the menu, its spain, not china. you can figure most stuff out, and they will probably have an english menu. if you don't know what something is, just get it anyway, it will most likely be awesome.

06-15-2009, 04:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
ASU2003 immoral minority Location: Back in Ohio	EuroTrip 2009 :) I'm going to be going to London, Paris, Nice and Barcelona for two and a half weeks next month. It's my longest vacation yet since starting my job 5 years ago, and I'm not sure how relaxing it will be. There is the language difference, the train schedule and the time difference that I will have to deal with. But, it should be a good trip, and I am excited to go to Europe for the first time. If you have any tips on traveling in Europe, or any unexpected things you found out, I would like to hear about it. So, I have to ask, what things should I make sure to do when I am there? I'll be there when the Le Tour De France is going on, so that will be something to see. I have my hotel, plane, and train tickets so I don't need to worry about transportation or where to stay. Well, I do need advice on the best way to get around London, Paris and Barcelona. I will probably walk quite a bit, and I am staying downtown, so it shouldn't be a problem to see the major tourist attractions. I would also like to travel outside of the city to see something in the countryside for a day or two. But, I am also looking for info on the other places to go that would make it a great trip. There have to be some people here that either live in one of those places or has visited that would know something about what to do there...Thanks!

06-15-2009, 04:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
squeeeb part of the problem Location: hic et ubique	barcelona is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! spain is one of the easiest countries to get around in. take the metro in barcelona. Barcelona Metro, Subway System, Barcelona Underground Guide travelling outside of barcelona in spain, get your train tickets and bus tickets the day of travel. if you try to be prepared and get the tickets the day before, it's a hassle for some reason. if you walk up to the counter an hour before the train arrives, its a breeze. go to the market Boqueria Market in Barcelona - Boqueria Market in Barcelona and get some jamon de iberico, it's fantastic. from barcelona, you can take a day trip to figueras and see the salvador dali museum which will blow your mind. in barcelona, see the sagrada familia and behind it, eat at alkemia http://www.barcelona.com/barcelona_d...uisine/alkimia __________________ onward to mayhem! Last edited by squeeeb; 06-15-2009 at 04:42 AM..

06-15-2009, 07:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
nomcat Twisted Location: UK	Just got back from a week in Barcelona... what an awesome city!! __________________ There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming.

06-15-2009, 06:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	Watch for pickpockets in Barcelona. I haven't been, but my 6'6" uncle and his 6'3" son tangled with a gang of them on the Metro there last summer. They're apparently that foolish or brave, depending on how you look at it. Take good walking shoes. You will be doing a lot of it. Walking is the best way to see Paris and the character of the different arrondissements. When you're done walking for the day, THEN you can take the Metro back to your accommodations. You don't need to pay a lot to eat well in Paris--everywhere you go you will find places selling these baguette sandwiches that you should try. Picnicking in Paris is the order of the day--just grab a baguette and some wine and find a spot (and there are many). Just don't act like a stupid American and you should be fine. Know some basic French before you go; it goes a long way in showing the French people you will deal with that you respect their culture. London is expensive. Be prepared for that. And don't buy the wrong ticket for the Tube. __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau Last edited by snowy; 06-15-2009 at 06:04 PM..

06-15-2009, 06:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	awesome! we're going to Madrid for Labor Day weekend, then drive to a parador en route to Barcelona, then back to a different parador on the return to Madrid. 4 days in each city. looking forward to going to this market. we love going to markets in every city we go to. Not a fan of the iberco jamon, prefer just regular jamon. can't wait to go! __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

06-15-2009, 05:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
Glory's Sun Registered User	Could you steal the Champions League cup while you're in Barca and take it back to Manchester England where it belongs?

06-15-2009, 09:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
n0nsensical Junkie Location: San Francisco	You'll love it. I'm probably heading to Ibiza myself later in summer. Never been to any of those cities but it's cool everywhere. A different language can be tough but lots of people speak English, especially young people, you have it quite easy relatively speaking (no pun intended). Can't think of any tips off the top of my head but if I think of something I'll post it. (Bring lots of Euros!) __________________ "Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded." --Abraham Lincoln Last edited by n0nsensical; 06-15-2009 at 09:55 PM..

06-17-2009, 06:27 AM	#11 (permalink)
squeeeb part of the problem Location: hic et ubique	don't worry about reading the menu, its spain, not china. you can figure most stuff out, and they will probably have an english menu. if you don't know what something is, just get it anyway, it will most likely be awesome. __________________ onward to mayhem!