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Re: A strictly English speaker in Europe

Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 7:23 pm
by beats me
andydes wrote:Italians are usually good fun (although I'm mainly going by the particularly mental ones who I met in London). Don't get expect to meet anyone in Venice though. It's a creepy ghost town at night. If you've seen Don't Look Now, it really is like that.

Prague is great. Especially if you like girls with died red hair and tattoos. And don't mind running into English stag parties of course.

And of course Germany is like omg, sooo amazing. I have to say that of course, but I like it so far.


I’m 42 and going with my parents so I’m not exactly looking for mind bending nightlife. I’m more looking for centers of history, culture, architecture, and art. Wouldn’t mind at all meeting up with some forum members or having a crazy night, but I’m not going to be sorely disappointed if it doesn’t happen.

As far as when, all I have is “12 to 16 months from now”.

I checked out the distances and it looks like a fairly forward straight vertical north movement. I’ve always wanted to check out Prague but I more chucked it in because it looks like a center stop between Vienna and Berlin. Can I assume this can all be done by train?

Re: A strictly English speaker in Europe

Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 7:24 pm
by aisling
When my buddy and I did an Amsterdam/Munich trip a while back, we started out conversation with "we are dumb Americans, but need help with XYZ,"....
and were very surprised in how receptive that line worked. The first girls we met right off the train from the Amsterdam airport ended up being our tour guides, and girlfriends for the entire trip. It really helps that everyone speaks more than one language. It made me pissed off to reflect that I was to involved in partying and music in high school to get a foundation in a second language.

The comment about meeting other Americans and acting like best friends when in any other circumstance you would not have anything do due with each other is so true :)

Re: A strictly English speaker in Europe

Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 7:26 pm
by beats me
Oh, and the main reason I chose Venice is because that bitch is going to be Atlantis within a decade. :x

Re: A strictly English speaker in Europe

Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 7:41 pm
by 8O
beats me wrote:I checked out the distances and it looks like a fairly forward straight vertical north movement. I’ve always wanted to check out Prague but I more chucked it in because it looks like a center stop between Vienna and Berlin. Can I assume this can all be done by train?
No problem...

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Re: A strictly English speaker in Europe

Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 7:44 pm
by beats me
Nice. Are the trains pretty zippy to the major cities or are there a lot of stops along the way?

Re: A strictly English speaker in Europe

Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 7:48 pm
by 8O
That there route is a one-stop one. Trains mostly offer fast (and more expensive) routes between major cities and also slower (and cheaper) routes with more stops.

Re: A strictly English speaker in Europe

Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 7:48 pm
by 8O
beats me wrote:Oh, and the main reason I chose Venice is because that bitch is going to be Atlantis within a decade. :x
Hurry up!

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Re: A strictly English speaker in Europe

Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 7:49 pm
by beats me
Gotcha. Still has to be cheaper than flying and less time consuming than driving.

Re: A strictly English speaker in Europe

Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 7:53 pm
by 8O
It's often *not* cheaper than flying, but much less hassle. And for those short stretches the train is probably not much slower than flying, door-to-door. Driving really depends on roads, traffic, etc - e.g. Berlin-Munich is faster by car, but you can't sit back and watch a film and make some beats on your laptop at the same time... :wink:

Re: A strictly English speaker in Europe

Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 8:10 pm
by derzai
beats me wrote: I’m more looking for centers of history, culture, architecture, and art.
Antwerpen, Brugge, Gent. Oostende if you like the coast. I do.

Re: A strictly English speaker in Europe

Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 8:16 pm
by re:dream
LOL, yes. Belgium is the only place in Europe with actual culture 8)

Re: A strictly English speaker in Europe

Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 8:28 pm
by derzai
nah, there's many options. when you go down from berlin to venice, somewhere near ljublijana, you will find the lake of bled.

make sure to visit.

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Re: A strictly English speaker in Europe

Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 8:30 pm
by andydes
beats me wrote: I’m 42 and going with my parents so I’m not exactly looking for mind bending nightlife. I’m more looking for centers of history, culture, architecture, and art. Wouldn’t mind at all meeting up with some forum members or having a crazy night, but I’m not going to be sorely disappointed if it doesn’t happen.
That's OK. Like many lounge regulars, I've reached the stage where I'm at least as happy with a quiet drink and a chat as I am with frying my mind for 12 hours. In fact, willing to travel 300 miles for said drink and chat.

For the record, though. If it came to it, I'd like to think I could hold a perfectly respectable conversation with anyone's parents whilst busting my moves on a German Techno dance floor.

Re: A strictly English speaker in Europe

Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 8:30 pm
by Tarekith
Good tips, thanks everyone. Might be moving to Luxembourg in few months, this is all good to know.

Re: A strictly English speaker in Europe

Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 8:31 pm
by derzai
i think france has the size of california. so you got an idea.