Places to Go, People to See
I’m back from Mexico for less than two weeks and I’m already planning my next trip. Like last summer, I want to return to Europe. The current plan (which has already change a gazillion times in my mind) flies Randy and me into London around Memorial Day weekend. We’ll stay with his friends for a few days then fly EasyJet (low cost European carrier) to “someplace else”. From “someplace else” we’ll fly to Paris for a few days and stay with my friend, Mark. Randy would fly home from there and I’d stick around for a few more days.
Now our problem is finding “someplace else.” Does anybody have suggestions? We’re thinking Prague, Budapest, Rome, Naples, Athens, Madrid, Barcelona, or Istanbul. Does anybody have suggestions/recommendations? I’ve never been to any of those places. I’m leaning towards Barcelona since I’ve heard Sitges is really fun (a Mediterranean version of Provincetown that’s not far south). But I’m open to the other places, too. I’m a huge urban planning fan so I don’t think any of those cities would dissapoint me.
HELP!
9 Comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
I havent been there…but my former boss fell in love with Prague/Budapest….he went on a cheap package once for a weekend and immediately went back an additional two times for long visits….he said it was remarkably beautiful and very reasonable.
Barcelona is spectacular. Gaudi’s architecture must be seen.
I second Barcelona. I haven’t been there in 15 years or so but had a fantastic time. The architecture is fantastic especially La Sagrada Familia.
All those sound great, but how about someplace weird, like Tunis, Beirut or Cairo? I like Istanbul and the Barrcelona/Sitges ideas too.
Barcelona has amazing architecture & nightlife. I think you would enjoy it, and definitely more than Madrid. Prauge is beautiful and has maintained it’s old world architeture and ambience. So it’s like apple/oranges. Unless you really want to see the ruins I’d say no to Athens (oy, the smog, the slowness, the chaotic city that DOESN’T WORK) or Rome, and I’m not a big fan of Naples. I’d chose the Italian coast over that – or Venice. LOVE LOVE LOVE Venice. Truly unique. Istanbul — that sounds exotic though. Oh, and I hate you. 😉
Ive been to Provincetown and now live in Sitges, it is great and just a 20 minute train ride from BCN.
maybe not so far-flung, but you could do aix-en-provence. 3 or 4 days there is a nice relaxing getaway from paris. the restaurants, the tiny streets, the local culture and architecture and the roman baths made aix a fave of johns and mine. you dont need a car to get there, but if you do drive the surrounding countryside in provence is **DEADLY** gorgeous, and marseille is 45 mins away for a quick day trip to the mediterranean. i cant stress enough how stupidly beautiful provence is, and if you let yourself, you may be charmed enough to never want to leave.
I second Lise on Athens unless you have a VAST desire to see the Parthenon…I’ve been there only in the (disgusting, I think now replaced) airport some 25 years ago, in the middle of the night, with the lepers and the scruffy cats…but I’ve never heard a single thing to recommend the city as a tourist destination, Parthenon aside. They tore down most of the historic city in the 50s-70s for nasty concrete boxes, the pollution is awful, etc.. Go to the islands instead, if you want a good experience in Greece. Istanbul would be phenomenal – and the most exotic – and might also rule out going to Greece in rapid succession (I don’t know that it’s still as problematic as trying to go to an arab country after Israel, but….no love lost). I vote Istanbul, not least as I’d like to hear your take on it!
I vote Rome or Florence. Then Athens. Barcelona is first runner up – my friend Sammy loves loves loves it there … and Istanbul a close second runner up.
And for fuck’s sake, deal with the post office and send postcards.