Traveling to Europe

Dr Dub · Post by **Dr Dub** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:06 pm

I see.

I didn t wanted to say that you would be the classic american tourist, it just ment
it s always a different thing if you visit a place and don t know anybody....
you see different places and get a different picture.
Some places are more friendly to strangers than others and i think in
Amsterdam and also in Cologne it s quite easy to meet "real" people
and see the real life - could be harder in Berlin for example.

One thing is for sure, you will have a good Time.

If you visit Cologne one day - i will be happy to give you some tips and if you
want show you some places/people.

I wish you a nice Trip!

oblique strategies · Post by **oblique strategies** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:30 pm

LOFA wrote:Tomorrow we head out to New Amsterdam, Head straight to Paris for 4 days

Things to do in Paris

Pere Lachaise Cemetery
-A genuine necropolis. Metro: Pere Lachaise: walk down the boulevard to the large entrance on the left. Walk up the main path, but veer right when you have a path running in that direction –that way lie wonderful winding paths through the trees & tombs. The “lower” part of Pere Lachaise is modeled on an English garden, so it winds around in circular paths, the “upper” part of Pere Lachaise is laid out in a grid & is not as interesting. Watch for cemetery cats!

You can also get off at Metro: Philippe Auguste. Walk down Boulevard de Charonne to Rue Pierre Bayle & look for a small entrance to Pere Lachaise –this is the way I came it & it marvelous. Again, veer right when you get in Pere Lachaise.

The Catacombes
-Go on a weekday early in the morning to avoid other people & tourists. Go quietly & bask in the ambience & experience. Think about what you encounter.

Versailles
-You must experience this! Make sure you walk down into the gardens.

Sacre Coer
-Wonderful neighborhood to walk through behind & to the left of Sacre Coer.

Jardin Luxembourg
-Lovely place, go on a weekend & see people sailing small boats in the large pond. Also, traditional Punch & Judy puppet shows take place here in a small theatre.

Cite De La Musique
-Great musical instrument museum.

La Geode
-Very cool architecture.

Place de la Bastille
-Good neighborhood for chic Parisians. I lived here when I first arrived in Paris. Go down Rue de la Roquette to see my old neighborhood. Great café on Rue de la Roquette, can’t remember the name, but one side of it bordered a small street or semi-street. The entrance was right on the corner. I used to get chicken salads that were basically Caesar salads, along with a glass of wine…

Le Chateau de Vincennes
-A grand castle. Take some time to explore.

Hotel De Ville
-Great building.

Pont Neuf
-The oldest standing bridge in Paris, it connects the Left Bank with the Right Bank. Go to the tip of Ile de la Cite, an island in the Seine, after dark. Tres romantique!

Opera Garnier
-Maybe you can find the Opera Ghost…

Place des Vosges
-Near The Bastille. Major historic significance.

Les Halles
-Large underground shopping center. The area behind it has gardens, walks, & a cathedral with unique modern sculptures in front of it.

Arts & Metiers (Arts & Science) Metro Station
-Make sure you check this out, it’s all polished copper & looks like Jules Verne designed it! My favorite Metro station.

Musee Jacquemart-Andre
-Once a residence of wealthy people, now a museum to a lost age of opulence.

And of course, The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre (go early, it’s BIG), etc.

I went to a great Hamas (stream rooms & baths), not far from Hotel De Ville. Very relaxing experience, especially the steam room.

Things To Look For
-Art Nouveaux (Metro Stations, buildings, etc.).
-Parisian cats!
-How the people *are* with themselves, their city, & you!
-Cafes everywhere!
-Dig on the cool Metro system.

Note
-Speak as much French as possible –the French respect that you at least are making an effort, & will frequently speak English with you more readily after you have tried to speak French with them.

Avoid
-Sandwiches sold on the streets. I ate a number of these small baguette sandwiches the first few weeks until I got food poisoning from one, then never again!

LOFA · Post by **LOFA** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:48 pm

oblique strategies wrote:...

Awesome! Thank you very much for the write-up! A number of those things were already on our list, but the other things, and your descriptions helped out a lot.

I am from the east village of NYC and I used to relish giving people advice on what to do (before NYU ate Manhattan), and I can immediately tell that you are coming from a place that I would have. The necropolis sounds so nuts. And I will have my eye out for those cats!

Stoked.

oblique strategies · Post by **oblique strategies** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 4:14 am

LOFA wrote:
Awesome! Thank you very much for the write-up! A number of those things were already on our list, but the other things, and your descriptions helped out a lot.

I am from the east village of NYC and I used to relish giving people advice on what to do (before NYU ate Manhattan), and I can immediately tell that you are coming from a place that I would have. The necropolis sounds so nuts. And I will have my eye out for those cats!

Stoked.

So glad that you got this info before you left!

Have a great time.

forge · Post by **forge** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 11:45 am

oblique strategies wrote: Note
-Speak as much French as possible –the French respect that you at least are making an effort, & will frequently speak English with you more readily after you have tried to speak French with them.

I noticed the same thing - if I at least made an effort people were far friendlier than when I gave up and assumed they spoke English

LOFA · Post by **LOFA** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:42 pm

It seems that I will be keeping myself busy learning French from my girlfriend on the way. I don't know a lick of it.

T-minus 4 hours till I head to the airport.

Angstrom · Post by **Angstrom** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:53 pm

forge wrote:
oblique strategies wrote: Note
-Speak as much French as possible –the French respect that you at least are making an effort, & will frequently speak English with you more readily after you have tried to speak French with them.
I noticed the same thing - if I at least made an effort people were far friendlier than when I gave up and assumed they spoke English

I think you are misunderstanding the situation .

The French are very proud of their language and listening to a foreigner mangle it is like watching their beloved grandmother beaten to death, So they hastily switch to English just to make you stop

landrvr1 · Post by **landrvr1** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:59 pm

b0unce wrote:lol
only time I ever hear about belgium is when it's mentioned in the news, usually because some mute slave escapes from the DIY dungeon of a high-ranking government official.

Hhahahah. Oh man. Tears in my eyes I'm laughing so hard. b0unce, THAT is some funny shit right there you skinny asshole.

LOFA · Post by **LOFA** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:23 pm

Paris has been wonderful. The catacombs were a major treat.

So was randomly catching a Radiohead set...

Booyah!

JDSampo · Post by **JDSampo** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 7:32 pm

Glad you're having a good time LOFA. We just came back from two weeks in Germany. Had a great time.

--JD

telekom · Post by **telekom** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 11:35 pm

mbone wrote:Copenhagen

Yes. Copenhagen is amazing, just got back from there last week on my motorbike. Beautiful girls cycling slowly around in the sunshine with big smiles on their faces... it's like heaven.

SimonPHC wrote:What!?
If there is only one country in Europe you visit, it's Belgium. We have everything, we've got both Romance and Germanic influences, we're where everything comes together. We're pivotal to Europe. Wink

Glad you're being ironic Simon. Belgium can't even do proper fucking road signs. Some pretty landscapes though, and friendly people. Kill all your road sign technicians and employ some Danish or Germans to do it - they truly know how to do a proper road sign. Rant over. Thank you.

Hey LOFA and GF, hope you're having a great time. If it wasn't so expensive and dangerous right now I'd recommend Glasgow.

oblique strategies · Post by **oblique strategies** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:53 am

LOFA wrote:Paris has been wonderful. The catacombs were a major treat.

So was randomly catching a Radiohead set...

Booyah!

Greetings LOFA, so you made it down into the catacombs...

Silence, etres mortels

Vaines grandeurs, silence.

Au banquet de la vie, infortune convive. J'apparus un jour et je meurs; je meurs et sur ma tombe ou lentement j'arrive nul ne viendra verser des pleurs.

Did you have the opportunity to visit Pere Lachaise too? See any cemetery cats?