Exactly 5 weeks til my European vacation! Ask me anything!

[joeybee12]

I'll answer one question for you right now--yes, I am already packed! I did that yesterday!

[Cush]

1. where to?

[joeybee12]

6. Into Prague, and then to Cologne, Brussels, Bruges and back home

through Amsterdam.

[lateo]

59. Cologne Germany?

If so this is one of my most favorite cities anywhere. I lived in Germany for 3 years and during my last month I spent every weekend in Cologne.

Also, have fun in Amsterdamn...lucky you.

[Sanity Claws]

2. Where are you going?

List some of the places you plan to visit so we can live vicariously

[joeybee12]

7. See above--most of my time will be spent in Prague to see if I can

truly live there--I'm seriously considering it!

[CottonBear]

25. Prague is the most beautiful and magical city!

I was there in 1991 during discussions of the Velvet Divorce. I arrived at 5:30 in the morning to a empty city. It was the National Holiday. Two fellow travelers and I walked the streets of the old city for hours. We had the whole city to ourselves. No one was out and about until 9 AM. Sheer magic! That evening, we attended a huge political gathering in Wencelclas Square where they talked about splitting into two countries. A truely historical moment. Drink some great beer for me. I went to a pub where beer had been brewed for centuries. Be sure to see the beautiful clock tower with moving figures, the castle hill and the gothic cathedral and the Golden Lane where Kafka lived. I'm sure much has changed since 1991.

[joeybee12]

28. This is my fifth trip to prague--first time was in 1992---

felt like I was discovering the city! It has changed quite a bit--lots of vendors, and commercialism is taking root. Still, you do feel as if you've been transported back into time!

[RevolutionaryActs]

3. Can I come with you?

:D

[joeybee12]

5. Sure! The more the merrier!

[jus_the_facts]

4. Where ya goin' in Europe?

:shrug:

....I'd like to go to Sussex England where there is a castle that bears my first name...Amberley Castle..s'been there since the 1100's...it's an world renouned hotel now...and also Scotland where my Dad's bloodline originated...and Italy to see all the history there as well! :hi:

[joeybee12]

8. Ah, I have to do the British Isles thoroughly some day!

Been to London and a few day trips outside, but there's too much to see there!

[aneerkoinos]

9. So...

Will you be "Canadian"... or just wearing anti-Bush badge?

[joeybee12]

12. I'm going on a diet so I can be really, really slim and fit in!

Being even slightly heavy is a dead give-away that you're a Yank!

[bigwillq]

10. How many pairs of undies?

:7

[joeybee12]

11. Six!

It'll be three weeks, and I will certainly need to do laundry a couple times, but I don't want to pack too much!

[GOPFighter]

13. I'll beat you there

I'm leaving for France next week.>

But it's a business trip

And I'll be in mind-numbing meetings all day

And I can't afford to eat in any decent restaurants

And it is March, not June

But I will play tourist and take pictures and enjoy spending a few days in a vibrant, secular country with people who have open minds and demonstrate in the streets whenever the government tries to curtail their rights. Someday... Someday....

[joeybee12]

16. Have fun! Do try to get to some restaurants, because even the

inexpensive ones are great! You'll be shocked at how many McDonald's you DON'T see!

[Goldmund]

14. Why did you pack so far in advance?

I'm going to Europe in 3 weeks, and I haven't even bought my ticket yet...

[joeybee12]

22. Well, I was cleaning, and decided to start throwing stuff that i might be

taking into a pile, and then decided might as well pack it all now! Besides, I'm very organized!

Where will you be going in Europe?

[On the Road]

15. Make Sure to Bring a Warm Coat

Europe can be freezing in March. I envy you, though. Do you have any tips on getting a good fare?

[joeybee12]

17. I know--I'm expecting cold and rainy weather!

This ticket is free--cashing in miles.

I try travelocity.com from time to time. They give you an option for flexible dates--if you are flexible, they show the lowest fares currently being offered!

[On the Road]

29. I Like That New Feature of Travelocity

a lot of sites don't have it. I'm looking for tickets to Germany in June, and am having a hard time getting reasonable rates. Sometimes UK-based search engines have good prices. Or places like www.bucketshop.com.

[joeybee12]

37. Summer months are tough to get cheap flights there....

...I thought I could get a cheap flight in September, since travel in the US slows down during this month, but September is actually a big travel/holiday month for Europeans!

[On the Road]

40. Didn't Realize That

I was surprised, though, that June does not seem to be a peak month. You can save a lot by going earlier in the summer.

Here are two sites that have had some great fares in the past. Problem is, you sometimes have to call to confirm availability:

http://wholesale-fares.com/
http://www.economytravel.com/

[joeybee12]

41. Thanks--maybe I'll go again in the summer!

Unlikely, but you never know!:)

[da_chimperor]

18. Wait, you're going to Brugge? Do you like beer? And by that I mean

do you LOVE beer? Because if you do, you MUST go to this place. It's MANDATORY! I don't want to do it, but if you don't visit this place, I'm afraid I'll have to put you in a burlap sack and whip you with a bamboo cane. You'd thank me afterward. Seriously, this place is not to be missed.

't Brugs Beertje
Kemelstraat 5
8000 Bruges, Belgium
Phone: [phone]


It's a whole in the wall place, you'll likely miss the first time you walk down the street. It serves the best beer I had EVER had. Try a type of beer called Oude Geuze. If you love beer, you'll be in utter and complete heaven. Here's some useful links:

http://www.kilkelly.com/bruges.html
http://www.brugge.be/stadspla.htm

EOM.

[joeybee12]

19. Thanks for the tip! I'll be sure to stop in!

I'll need a rest from sightseeing at some point, and that sounds like fun!

[da_chimperor]

32. It was the best 4 hours of my life. Enjoy!

:D

[smirkymonkey]

21. Also the Frites are not to be missed!

Best I have EVER had!

Order Moules Frites (Mussels & Fries) for dinner w/ a Belgian Waffle for Dessert. Touristy, but very tasty! :)

Enjoy, and report back on Prague - that is my next trip!

[joeybee12]

24. Thansk for the tip!

This is actually my FIFTH trip to Prague--let me know what I can tell you about this spectacular city!

[smirkymonkey]

30. What are the things that must NOT be missed on one's first

trip to Prague? Are the people nice? How is the food? Any great day trips from the city?

Anything that stands out for you - I am dying to go as soon as I get my finances in order! :) Thanks!

P.S. Also, do not miss the canal cruise in Brugge - I liked it much better than Amsterdam! Oh, and the chocolate, how could I forget the chocolate!

[joeybee12]

35. You need to see Hradcany--the castle area--it's a huge walled area, not

really a castle, with the most identifiable building being St. Vitus' cathedral. You need also to see the Old Town area--this and Hradcany are now very toursity, but you have to see them anyway.

As for food, be prepared to NOT be thrilled. Czechs have a very heavy, starchy diet. Still you might want to try some potato pancakes or something with dumplings. It's not gourmet food, but quite edible, and very filling. They're really big on beer--Budweiser started in Ceske Budojevice (down south) and they take their beer seriously. Sample some at a local pub.

I can't think of the art musuem--it'll come to me--it's in one of the outlying districts, but was a pleasant surprise. Lots of great works.

Take a half-day trip to Karlstejian Castle. Train service is very frequent--built in the 1400's. Very impressive, and a beautiful rural countryside.

Depending on how long you're staying, go to Cesky Krumlov in southern Bohemia. A well-preserved midevial town.

[smirkymonkey]

67. Thanks, I can't wait to go!

Have a great trip! :)

[pres2032]

20. exactly 4 weeks till my European vacation!!

going to Frankfurt, Dublin, Belfast, and Scotland, back to Frankfurt, then home.


can't wait!!

[joeybee12]

27. Of those cities, I've only been to Frankfurt....

...I wouldnt' recommend staying there long. There's not much to see. The town hall area is nice, as is Goethe's home, but you can do that in half a day!

[pres2032]

31. we're not spending much time there anyway.

our main purpose of the trip is northern Ireland, but we can't get a direct flight from the states, so we're going through frankfurt. the longest we're staying there is like 12 hours after belfast and before we get our flight home.

[joeybee12]

36. I flew out of there, and decided to spend a day there before the

flight...like I said, you only need half a day. I was pretty bored, looking for stuff to do.

[pres2032]

38. ah ok

hehe, i think everyone who is going is at least 21, so i imagine we will visit all the bars :evilgrin: We have a hotel, but who knows if we actually use it aside from maybe showers before the flight. Sleeping is for the flight back!

[bigwillq]

23. What's your favorite curse word? (nt)

[joeybee12]

26. Holy merd!

[bigwillq]

34. What's your least fave curse word? (nt)

[joeybee12]

39. Motherf**ker!

Seems particularly rude to me.

[bigwillq]

44. Favorite Crayon color? (nt)

[joeybee12]

47. Cerulean Blue!

Keep going!

[bigwillq]

48. Fave Peanuts cartoon character? (nt)

[joeybee12]

51. Patty--NOT Peppermint Patty--but Patty...I doubt she lasted long...

...she was in it early, but never got much "air play."

[bigwillq]

61. She should've done something to get her attention

like, say, be a lesbian!:P

[joeybee12]

63. Hey, she could have! She never exhibited any overt hetero

tendencies...maybe she was just too controversial for the era!

[DU GrovelBot]

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[radwriter0555]

42. oh gawd I just got back and your dollar is HOSED against the Euro..

I mean COMPLETELY fucked.

I took out $250 cash from an atm and got dinged just over $300 on my statement.

I would change $300 and get $200. IT'S AWFUL so PLAN AHEAD to blow a 3rd.

[joeybee12]

46. Don't I know it! But it ain't gonna get better this year, so I might as

well go now!

[radwriter0555]

49. oh DEFINITELY go, go go go go go go go go, but just brace yerself

laddie for the exchange shock. I'm STILL smarting from it.

But still a trip not to be missed. I do so adore Venice.

[joeybee12]

54. Did you see the Guggenheim Musuem in Venice?

If so, you know what I mean!

[RedCloud]

43. Ask you anything, eh? Any thing?

Okay,

Let's say that the universe began with a Big Bang and that all matter ultimately degrades into heat energy. Should we be getting a little bit hot any time soon?

[joeybee12]

45. How should I know? I haven't had a big bang in a loooooooong time!

Or even a medium bang!:evilgrin:

[Dark]

50. Vacation? You mean you're coming back? WTF is wrong with you?! n/t

[joeybee12]

52. I know, I know...but there's a possibility I might not!

With this piece of shit as pResident, WWIII might start in five weeks, so I can't come back!

[Dark]

60. Hey, it's better to have you here. We need every liberal vote we can get.

[joeybee12]

65. I can always vote absentee! Hell, my in-person vote didn't count,

so maybe this one will!

[shesemsmom]

53. What would you most like to see while there?

[joeybee12]

56. Actually, one thing I'm really looking forward to are the tulips!

They'll be in full bloom when I get to Amsterdam--plan on renting a bike and going along the leider--the area where there are just fields and fields of them!

[shesemsmom]

58. Oh would love that

please post pics on your return

[joeybee12]

64. Will do!

[gizmo1979]

55. Do european women shave their armpits?

[joeybee12]

57. You'll never know in the miserable weather there!

[MrScorpio]

62. Have you saved up enough cash for the hookers?

Although I do hear that they take credit in Amsterdam.

[joeybee12]

66. Even at my advanced age, I doubt I need to pay for it in Amsterdam!

A nation of tramps! I'll feel right at home!:evilgrin:

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

68. LOOK KIDS...WE KNOW, DAD. BIG BEN. PARLIAMENT.