Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Off Topic => Topic started by: balbyrover on February 07, 2018, 09:41:57 pm
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Has anybody been? If so did you enjoy It?
Just booked a 3 day break for the missus and myself!!
Any reccomendations?
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Biggest one. Whatever you do, do NOT eat in the big tourist areas. St Mark’s Square, Rialto Bridge etc. Highest prices on earth for dreadful food.
Go a few blocks off the beaten tracks and there are plenty of reasonably priced places.
Other than that, just take it in. It’s like nowhere on earth. Just go wandering round the little streets off the main tourist drag. There’s beautiful buildings and churches and view las down canals and museums and shops and galleries round every corner.
It’s worth getting on one of the vaporetto water taxis out to the other islands as well. Murano gift the glass workers etc. And you get very different views back to the main part of Venice from the other islands.
How are you getting there?
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I've been a couple of times and I just agree with BST. My only tip would be to get the hang of the vaporetto pretty quickly, it's a bus service that operates on the water. From there you can see just about everything without having to book private tours. The other tip would be the short gondola trips from one side of the grand canal to the other, cost just a couple of euros!
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Been 3 times. Never fails to impress. Do as Billy says lots of good eateries in the back streets which are marvels in themselves.
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Biggest one. Whatever you do, do NOT eat in the big tourist areas. St Mark’s Square, Rialto Bridge etc. Highest prices on earth for dreadful food.
Go a few blocks off the beaten tracks and there are plenty of reasonably priced places.
Other than that, just take it in. It’s like nowhere on earth. Just go wandering round the little streets off the main tourist drag. There’s beautiful buildings and churches and view las down canals and museums and shops and galleries round every corner.
It’s worth getting on one of the vaporetto water taxis out to the other islands as well. Murano gift the glass workers etc. And you get very different views back to the main part of Venice from the other islands.
How are you getting there?
I'm flying from Manchester BST
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Are young flying to Venice Marco Polo Airport?
If so, there’s two great ways to get from airport to Venice.
1) Get the vaporetto from the airport. Fantastic way to travel into Venice.
2) Get bus from the airport to Mestre station, then take the train over the pontoon bridge to Venice Santa Lucia station. It’s like arrivingvat any station in the world...till you exit out of the station concourse and you’re right in front of the Grand Canal. Best way to arrive at Venice. Unforgettable.
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Are young flying to Venice Marco Polo Airport?
If so, there’s two great ways to get from airport to Venice.
1) Get the vaporetto from the airport. Fantastic way to travel into Venice.
2) Get bus from the airport to Mestre station, then take the train over the pontoon bridge to Venice Santa Lucia station. It’s like arrivingvat any station in the world...till you exit out of the station concourse and you’re right in front of the Grand Canal. Best way to arrive at Venice. Unforgettable.
I am yes mate.
Only problem is I am arriving at 21.10 on a Thursday night... I have no clue how to get to my hotel from the airport it says its 44 minute drive away.
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What’s the address of your hotel?
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What’s the address of your hotel?
Castello. 2146. Venezia. 30122 Italy is the one I think we're going for.
Casa Faveretto Guest house
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Did it a few years ago. We used the Venezia Unica card which meant we could hop on and off the vaporettos, also free admission to some museums and churches etc. Agree about avoiding tourist places to eat, there are plenty of places to eat well and cheaply. Enjoy
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We went a couple of years ago for four nights. We got the bus in for about €7 return each then. We were on the grand canal almost opposite the railway station so only a couple of hundred yards walk. Vaporettos are a great way to get around I think that the more days you buy the cheaper they work out. St Marks is a must and bar the Cistine Chapel better than the Vatican I think. There are plenty of places to eat but even some in the side streets can be dear so always look at the menu. We got lost in the maze of streets a couple of times but there is so much to see it is no great problem and we always had our map. The gondola trip can be a rip off, don't get on one near St. Marks and agree a price first. I'd love to go back for another visit. We were there for four nights and loved it.
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I’ve been. It’s a pretty unique place, I thought there was a severe lack of high quality eating establishments, on or off the beaten track.
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Went in 2013, 15 and 17 for the Biennale Arts festival. It is so beautiful - you really could not make it up. Getting lost is the best part. You can walk everywhere it isn't that big. It's cheaper to buy a vaporetto ticket by the day. So a 24 hr ticket kicks off as soon as you use it. Then you can hop on and off as much as you like. We always ate and drank on Via Garibaldi. It's where Venetians go along with the odd tourist. Still only about a 20 min walk along the prom from St Marks sq. It's also in the castello district. Good food and wine at reasonable prices. I'll be back in 2019. Take your camera !!!! It really is stunning.
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The venetians like to eat small dishes they call Cicchetti (bit like tapas) in traditional bars called Bacari. Try it out making sure you have an Aperol Spritz which all venetians drink - men and women. ( Look for a drink that is the colour of lucozade )
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What’s the address of your hotel?
Castello. 2146. Venezia. 30122 Italy is the one I think we're going for.
Casa Faveretto Guest house
Easiest way then is to get the Alilaguna water bus from the airport to Piazza San Marco. Then it’s 10 mins walk from there. It’s a bit pricey but easiest route.
https://www.alilaguna.it/en/lines/linea-arancio/orario
Alternative is you can get a bus to Piazale Roma in Venice then get the water bus up the Grand Canal to San Marco. That might be a couple of quid cheaper but it’ll be a lot longer.
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That b and b is in a top spot near the entrance to the Arsenale (worlds first production line ) and Naval Museum . It's about 5 mins walk from Via Garibaldi that I mentioned. Agree with Billy - get the Alilaguna boat - book a return trip. Print off your receipt and swap it for tickets at the pierhead . There is now a long travel escalator from the airport right to the pierhead. You get off the Alilaguna boat at Arsenale stop - BLUE LINE.
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I was there for 3 nights just before Xmas. It was amazing. I agree with what everyone else has said about the travel and eating places. We walked miles...not always quite sure where we were so came to a few dead ends but that was part of the fun and enjoyment. It really is a magical place particularly so as no road traffic or noise!
It was a great time to visit too as there were no crowds like there are in summer months so walking around was very easy.
I’m sure you will love it.
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Lovely place summed up by BST
Only drawback is summer it’s crowded and smells like an open sewer
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We were there in May and it didn't smell too bad. The thing about Venice is that you walk down a narrow alley that can suddenly open into a pizza or courtyard to something amazing or of interest.
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Docked there xmas 92, only time I was away for Christmas, so cant complain at it being Venice.
Smells bad but is a treat to the eye and an assault on the senses.
Saw the pope in the main sq and got banged up for stealing a gondola!!! Group of us and it seamed a fun way to get back to the ship!!! Let us go in the morning.
You'll remember it for sure.
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I always go in October. It never smells. It only smells in the height of summer which is not a time that sensible folk ever visit,
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Hold my hand up Geoff
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When we were there we went into a church and while I was pottering about the wife opened a door and there was an old man laid out in a coffin with the lid open. Having been a nurse for 25 years it didn't throw her her but was a bit of a surprise.
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Avoid buying anything in St Mark’s square, it’s a bigger rip off than Temple Bar.
If you’re out for a meal try and go where the locals go, better food, much better value.
Good luck, it’s a unique city.
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Oh, go low season if you can. The next few days are Carnivale, an expensive period in Venice.
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Are young flying to Venice Marco Polo Airport?
If so, there’s two great ways to get from airport to Venice.
1) Get the vaporetto from the airport. Fantastic way to travel into Venice.
2) Get bus from the airport to Mestre station, then take the train over the pontoon bridge to Venice Santa Lucia station. It’s like arrivingvat any station in the world...till you exit out of the station concourse and you’re right in front of the Grand Canal. Best way to arrive at Venice. Unforgettable.
I've been many years ago and loved it - same advice as others get away from the main tourist attractions .
My daughter went there this summer and also stopped on the Lido do Jesolo they did it fairly cheaply using airbnb. I believe they also went the 2nd way way you pointed out . The place has to be seen , the 4 of them flew into Milan and took in Florence, Bologna and Lake Garda too using trains .
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Thanks for all advice guys. I'm going at the backend of April.
Still looking to find a hotel. Not wanting to spend silly money but equally would rather it not be a shithole and in a good accessible location is a must really.
Any reccomendations ?
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Have a look on Airbnb, there's some nice apartments on there. I use it a lot when I'm abroad and even when I'm travelling through the UK.
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We stayed at the hotel Grand Canal I think that it was called. On the grand canal opposite the gap between the bus and railway station.
It was about a five to ten minute walk across a bridge. A smallish hotel, not the best but had atmosphere and OK for our four days. St. Marks was about a 15 minute walk away but vaporettos available opposite. We booked our city break through Jet2 travel. Service buses and airport express buses are every 15 minutes or so and were the cheapest transfer from Marco Polo airport. You buy tickets from a machine in the bus station.
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Stayed in the Hotel Agli Artisti, not expensive, convenient for walking and vaporetto, plenty of places to eat nearby. I put it on Tripadvisor and have had plenty of supportive responses from other travellers. Never used Airbnb, but have used Housetrip for Spain and Rome, you can get good deals here too.
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Balby
We go to Italy a couple of times a year to see the in-laws. I rarely pay more than £60-70/night for a double room and in 20 years of visiting regularly and paying those prices, I’ve never once stayed in a hotel that comes anywhere close to the levels of grimness that you get in some English seaside guest houses.
So I guess what I’m saying is that you can go for the budget end of the market and still expect something very, very good by British standards.
If you’re really wanting to cut costs, you could stay in Mestre Near the station and get the train into Venice each day (10 mins - a few Euros return). We stayed at this one at Xmas 2016 for a couple of night after we flew to Venice and before driving on to Bologna to see the relatives. You don’t get the “wow” of staying in the centre of Venice overnight but you do get a very, very nice hotel for a bargain price, and more choice of decent priced places to eat in the evening.
http://mobile-hotels.opodo.co.uk/hotel/it/albergo-villa-serena.en-gb.html?aid=365564;label=opo-link-uk-navtab-conf-mob-of_B;sid=db94ee226f6e4249af18ad73159bbcc0;checkin=2018-02-11;checkout=2018-02-14;room1=A,A,;homd=1;srpvid=80de562947c80156;srepoch=1518351354;atlas_src=sr_iw_title
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Balby
We go to Italy a couple of times a year to see the in-laws. I rarely pay more than £60-70/night for a double room and in 20 years of visiting regularly and paying those prices, I’ve never once stayed in a hotel that comes anywhere close to the levels of grimness that you get in some English seaside guest houses.
So I guess what I’m saying is that you can go for the budget end of the market and still expect something very, very good by British standards.
If you’re really wanting to cut costs, you could stay in Mestre Near the station and get the train into Venice each day (10 mins - a few Euros return). We stayed at this one at Xmas 2016 for a couple of night after we flew to Venice and before driving on to Bologna to see the relatives. You don’t get the “wow” of staying in the centre of Venice overnight but you do get a very, very nice hotel for a bargain price, and more choice of decent priced places to eat in the evening.
http://mobile-hotels.opodo.co.uk/hotel/it/albergo-villa-serena.en-gb.html?aid=365564;label=opo-link-uk-navtab-conf-mob-of_B;sid=db94ee226f6e4249af18ad73159bbcc0;checkin=2018-02-11;checkout=2018-02-14;room1=A,A,;homd=1;srpvid=80de562947c80156;srepoch=1518351354;atlas_src=sr_iw_title
Just curious BST, do you speak Italian or do you leave that to the wife?
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We went back to hotel called Commercio E Pellegrino last october great value and top location. Go - it's good. San Zaccharia vaporetto stop. Out of the door of the hotel it's 50 yards to the Laguna !
http://www.commercioepellegrino.com/
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I speak enough to get by Filo. Not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but I can speak enough.
One of the proudest moments of my life was checking in at a hotel in Venice 10 years back. Dutch guy in front of me spoke no Italian but did speak English. Italian receptionist spoke no English or Dutch. Dutch Guy was going spare trying to get the receptionist to understand that he had an emergency and needed a taxi to the airport pronto. So I suavely asked him if I could help, and inmy broken Italian, managed to explain to the receptionist.
I reckon that might be the only time in history that a Brit has had to translate something for a Dutchman.
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Thanks for the reccomendations guys. I've booked a tour that includes the water taxi 1 hour ride..
Tour commences from the entrance to the Royal Gardens (Giardini ex Reali) near San Marco Square
So ideally want to get quite close if possible without too much hassle of transport etc.
I am thinking to be honest of just booking somewhere reasonably cheap as we will only really be sleeping there and maybe have a bite to eat in the momring. Most of the day we will be out and about.
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I speak enough to get by Filo. Not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but I can speak enough.
One of the proudest moments of my life was checking in at a hotel in Venice 10 years back. Dutch guy in front of me spoke no Italian but did speak English. Italian receptionist spoke no English or Dutch. Dutch Guy was going spare trying to get the receptionist to understand that he had an emergency and needed a taxi to the airport pronto. So I suavely asked him if I could help, and inmy broken Italian, managed to explain to the receptionist.
I reckon that might be the only time in history that a Brit has had to translate something for a Dutchman.
Nice one, I suppose you have to learn enough to speak with the inlaws, unless the speak English ofcourse.
I firmly believe that the school curriculum in this Country should be geared towards every child learning to speak a second language, rather than as they do now learning them grammer of the language
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www.tripadvisor.co.uk/AttractionProductDetail-g187870-d11447792-Skip_the_Line_Venice_in_One_Day_Including_Boat_Tour-Venice_Veneto.html
I was looking at booking this. Is this good value? I think it looks ok to say it includes a ride on the water taxi and it will take up a fee hours on one of the days rather than us just finding our own way around all the time. I just don't want to miss any of the big things whilst there.
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Filo
None of the in laws speak English so I had no choice but to learn Italian. I’m glad it worked out that way to be honest. And I agree with you about how we ought to teach kids the practical use of a second language rather than obsessing about which auxiliary verb you use with a given past participle. Our national uselessness at foreign languages (me included until I met my wife) is an embarrassment.
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Complete waste of money. It isn't like London. It's the size of Doncaster !! You need to walk everywhere. It is like a massive film set .Looking round is the thrill! You will not see it all in 4 days - chill around walking. Go in the Doges palace - up the campanille if you get up early enough. just experience all the life in st marks square.The art is to die for - pm if you want the best of that. Go up the grand canal on the vaporetto as many times as you like on your day/multiday ticket. You don't need a water taxi. Don't' overplan your trip - believe me the best part is just wandering around and stumbling on a little bar at the side of a canal for a wine/beer/aperol spritz.
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Fair enough. I get what your saying. Although we are in Venice Thursday till Sunday we fly in at 9pm Thursday we arrive and we leave at 12.25 Sunday so we really have only got Full day Friday and Saturday to go at it.
Just don't want to waste any of our time. I am very much looking forward to it though.
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Little tip. If you can choose your seats on the plane, get a window seat on the right ofthe aisle as you look down the plane. The direction that 99% of the flights to Marco Polo Airport take as they come in to land means that Venice is on the right of the plane just before landing. It’s a cracking view from low down.
And about 50% of the planes taking off circle round the lagoon so that you have a view of Venice from the right of the plane as you leave. That’s not a given though as it depends on routing. But if you do go that route, the view 5-10 mins after take off is unforgettable with the whole city visible beneath you froma couple of thousand feet up.
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Great tip Billy as are the comments of Geoff above. Don't overdo it , you have 2 full days but you don't want to spend the whole time travelling to and fro . Pick out 2-4 places you want to visit and give yourself at least half a day for a wander around aimlessly - its surprising how much more you will enjoy getting off the beaten track or rather tourist track. Watch your stuff though- it's easy to get too relaxed in that small bar or that lovely ice cream parlour.
Remember you can always go back - if you rush around trying to see everything you might not feel so inclined to revisit . I think you will see why most if not all here love this city ....so great choice.
Bon voyage
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We stopped at Lido di Jesolo too fantastic place and like the rest of Italy stunning ladies.
Strange that Italian girls seem to be stunning then haggard overnight.
Sorry Billy hope that’s not true lol
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We stopped at Lido di Jesolo too fantastic place and like the rest of Italy stunning ladies.
Strange that Italian girls seem to be stunning then haggard overnight.
Sorry Billy hope that’s not true lol
On my first visit our family travelled down by caravan from northern Germany ( dad in the army ) and toured all the way down to Rome and stayed at the Lido di Jesolo too .... a fantastic place and 3 week holiday
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I've never been to Venice but I experienced the floods in Bentley in 2007. Comparing photos of the two places there's nowt to choose between them, although if you're a culture vulture Bentley under water takes precedence.
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Worst thing though B.B. it drained
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We stopped at Lido di Jesolo too fantastic place and like the rest of Italy stunning ladies.
Strange that Italian girls seem to be stunning then haggard overnight.
Sorry Billy hope that’s not true lol
I have been looking there but am i right in saying its miles away from the main part of Venice I.E St marks square,riatlo bridge etc??
It's just we don't drive and would like to get to the centre really.
Or is there easy transport ?
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We stopped at Lido di Jesolo too fantastic place and like the rest of Italy stunning ladies.
Strange that Italian girls seem to be stunning then haggard overnight.
Sorry Billy hope that’s not true lol
I have been looking there but am i right in saying its miles away from the main part of Venice I.E St marks square,riatlo bridge etc??
It's just we don't drive and would like to get to the centre really.
Or is there easy transport ?
If you're only there for a few days stay in the centre and sample the nightlife of Venice.
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We stopped at Lido di Jesolo too fantastic place and like the rest of Italy stunning ladies.
Strange that Italian girls seem to be stunning then haggard overnight.
Sorry Billy hope that’s not true lol
I have been looking there but am i right in saying its miles away from the main part of Venice I.E St marks square,riatlo bridge etc??
It's just we don't drive and would like to get to the centre really.
Or is there easy transport ?
If you're only there for a few days stay in the centre and sample the nightlife of Venice.
That's what I thought and had planned.
Lido de jesolo looks lovely though.
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If you stay in Jesolo, there’s a bus to Punta Sabbioni which takes about 25 mins. The bus stops right by the water bus stop. It’s about 30 mins on the boat from there to St Mark’s Square.
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I think we could start a new travel app between us lads . I wonder how many countries we have visited between us around the world ?
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I will put 28 on the board - using this link
https://www.state.gov/misc/list/index.htm
Here they are - so see how near we can get to "the lot"
AUSTRIA
BELGIUM
CANADA
CZECH R
ENGLAND / IOM
ESTONIA
FRANCE
GERMANY
GREECE (+30 of its populated Islands)
HOLLAND
HUNGARY
ITALY
LATVIA
LITHUANIA
MEXICO
MONACO
MOROCCO
NORWAY
POLAND
PORTUGAL
ROI
SCOTLAND
SLOVAKIA
SPAIN ( + Majorca Ibiza Tenerife Furtev Lanza)
TURKEY
UAE
USA (24 States incl Hawaii)
WALES
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MALTA
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The sunshine states of
Afghanistan
Kuwait
Saudi Arabia
Bahrain
Oman
The rainy state of
Brunei
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Using your list Donnywolf I have;
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Hungary
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Kenya
Kosovo
Latvia
Libya
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Morocco
Netherlands
Norway
Panama
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
San Marino
Serbia
Sint Maarten
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Ukraine
England/Scotland/Wales (of course)
And a few dependencies which are not on the list, such as
British Virgin Isles
Guadeloupe
Cayman Islands
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Gibraltar,
Seychelles,
Egypt,
Sri Lanka.
In addition to many on the lists above. Not quite the number as SM tho!! All football related sm?
Mine mostly in the Navy.
Edit, India thought it was on sm's list. How could I miss out the madness of India.
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Ok I can add ...
Australia
New Zealand
Cambodia
Vietnam
Malaysia
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Gibraltar,
Seychelles,
Egypt,
Sri Lanka.
In addition to many on the lists above. Not quite the number as SM tho!! All football related sm?
Mine mostly in the Navy.
Edit, India thought it was on sm's list. How could I miss out the madness of India.
A lot of foootbal ones, and a few family holidays too! I'm adding Thailand to the list in a fortnight.
I must admit I didn't realise it would be so many until I typed it out.
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Christ I've only done 13. :laugh: all mentioned on the lists above too
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Italy
France
Switzerland
Austria
Luxembourg
Belgium
Holland
Germany
Czech Republic
Greece
Turkey
Croatia
Spain
Portugal
USA
Canada
Brazil
Chile
UAE
Singapore
Malaysia
Vatican City
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Best stab from me
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
China
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Japan
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Monaco
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
San Marino
Serbia
Singapore
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
UAE
USA
Germany's the only place I’ve ever seen a football match abroad, and that was only because I was there at the time.
Bayern Munich 1-0 FC Homburg. August 1989.
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Germany and USA for football for me. I always look for local fixtures when I travel with work, but more often than not there aren't any whilst I am there..
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Disappointing thread for a middle-aged person. When I was a kid, I’d read book and look at atlases and I assumed I’d visit everywhere in the world. And the Solar System come to that. Turns out I’m probably into the last 1/3rd of my time and I’ve only visited 20% of the countries on earth. And most of those have been airport-train-hotel-meeting room-taxi-Airport.
As a 10 year old, I had the Readers’ Digest Book of The World’s Natural Wonders. 1000 amazing natural features from Mt Everest and the Amazon to rock outcrops in Greece. I’d assumed I’d get to visit every one in my life. I’ve ended up ticking off about 150, and that includes ones I’ve seen from the windows of planes.
Might be time for the mid-life crisis, the Harley and the road trip along the Silk Road.
Or maybe just the Keepmoat tomorrow and work on Monday.
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Looking back the navy was as they say a good way to see the world, regret now the amount of taxis to nearest pubs/hotels but on the whole a good way to see places as your usually in the oldest areas of cities (ports obviously came first) so off the tourist route. Its kind of random as you have no say where the ship goes! Again with the time of year you visit. I just missed out as my time was gulf/bosnia. Both my brothers have done fare more exotic locations, I got all the medals tho!! Id swap em with our kids tho for their visits!
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My favourite places have been ones that have some big historical background to them.
Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
Tiananmen Square in Beijing
Dante’s villa in Ravenna
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
Vesuvius in Naples.
Green Line in Nicosia.
Places where you can breathe in the things that have happened in the past.
Best one of the lot for me was the ramparts facing the sea at Valetta in Malta. Picturing the Sultan’s navy besieging them 500 years ago, or the Axis Air Force trying to bomb them into submission in WWII. Everything calm and peaceful today, but knowing that there was a turning point in history at that very spot in the past.
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Mine :-
Algeria
Andorra
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Denmark
Egypt
France
Germany
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
India
Ireland (N)
Italy
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Macau
Malaysia
Malta
Morocco
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
San Marino
Singapore
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Tunisia
Turkey
USA
Yemen
I'm sure there are more though but not as much as some here
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I would think between 8/9 Rovers supporters we have covered at least half the world.
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I can add
Belize
West Germany
East Germany
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I make that a shed load of countries between us . I think the whole of the continent of Europe covered , a fair bit of Africa and the Far -East . In addition N.America, S. America and Oceania .
Perhaps Wolfie can draw this all together - all I know is that us Remainers are a well- travelled lot ;)
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Disappointing thread for a middle-aged person. When I was a kid, I’d read book and look at atlases and I assumed I’d visit everywhere in the world. And the Solar System come to that. Turns out I’m probably into the last 1/3rd of my time and I’ve only visited 20% of the countries on earth. And most of those have been airport-train-hotel-meeting room-taxi-Airport.
As a 10 year old, I had the Readers’ Digest Book of The World’s Natural Wonders. 1000 amazing natural features from Mt Everest and the Amazon to rock outcrops in Greece. I’d assumed I’d get to visit every one in my life. I’ve ended up ticking off about 150, and that includes ones I’ve seen from the windows of planes.
Might be time for the mid-life crisis, the Harley and the road trip along the Silk Road.
Or maybe just the Keepmoat tomorrow and work on Monday.
I have that same thought a lot seen but so much more I wanted to see but know I'm no longer fit enough or have the time left to tick off.
Please can I have another 15 years or so just to finish off Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji , Tonga, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Japan, China, The Baltics, Brazil , Argentina, S.Africa, Kenya, Mongolia
I can do the Baltic States, Finland and Russia, Iceland amongst other more local countries but now I also want to go to Macedonia, Slovenia , Slovakia etc . The more places you go to - the more places you want to go to . I'm sure , like others , i regret going to countries 3/4/5/6 or more times ho hum .
Like you Billy my atlas was and still is my prize possession. lol
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BST/Hoola,
I share your sentiments.
I was a late starter, didn't travel until I was in my early twenties and landed a job in Algeria. Not looked back since. I still have lots that I want to do. My two passions are football and travel, combining the two is a dream come true, every time there is a world cup or euro qualifying draw I cross my fingers hoping for something exotic to come up, alas that's becoming less likely theses days.
I know you have your health issues Hoola, which is one of the reasons I try desperately to keep doing this while I can. I don't regret doing several countries over and over again though, I could quite happily retire to some of those places I've been to 15 or 20 times.
I'm due to retire in a few years, my plans all revolve around doing even more of what I've done, you'll get your chance BST, I'm sure of that.
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I make that a shed load of countries between us . I think the whole of the continent of Europe covered , a fair bit of Africa and the Far -East . In addition N.America, S. America and Oceania .
Perhaps Wolfie can draw this all together - all I know is that us Remainers are a well- travelled lot ;)
Amazingly there ARE a number of Maps on which you can count by ticking a Box of the Country visited which in turn Colours in the appropriate Country
Here is the first one - I could of course keep it on my PC and enter all the above but does anyone have the nous to make it interactive so we could add to it - or are we not that bothered now ?
https://www.amcharts.com/visited_countries/#
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Yet we are bothered thanks for that Wolfie , from what I've seen so far we are a well-travelled lot . Hence one of the reasons I for one don't want to see any future difficulties travelling ( pricing and restrictions) as well as hiked up insurance costs. What is being done in my name saddens me .
We forget that we ourselves are in danger of becoming undesirables in countries where we were once considered friends !
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Been to several countries won't bore with a list.
Weirdest thing I visited was the useless canal Ceausescu built. That was not long after he was executed.
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I can add Greenland, Estonia, Russia, and Finland to the list. Don't like warm places me!
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Bosnia and Serbia.
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We are a well travelled bunch... With so many amazing places in the world I don’t understand why people go back to the same places over and over again. My parents are buggers for it, they even stay in the same hotels.
I’ve been to:
USA (Boston, NY, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando)
Dominican Republic
New Zealand
Spain (Tenerife & Gran Canaria)
France
Germany
Netherlands
Denmark
Poland
Argentina
Brazil
Peru
Ecuador (including Galápagos Islands)
Bolivia
Republic of Ireland
I imagine my exploring days are on hold for a while now we have a little one, but can’t wait to see more of the world! When I am old and grey there will definitely be a world cruise on the agenda.
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We are a well travelled bunch... With so many amazing places in the world I don’t understand why people go back to the same places over and over again. My parents are buggers for it, they even stay in the same hotels.
I’ve been to:
USA (Boston, NY, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando)
Dominican Republic
New Zealand
Spain (Tenerife & Gran Canaria)
France
Germany
Netherlands
Denmark
Poland
Argentina
Brazil
Peru
Ecuador (including Galápagos Islands)
Bolivia
Republic of Ireland
I imagine my exploring days are on hold for a while now we have a little one, but can’t wait to see more of the world! When I am old and grey there will definitely be a world cruise on the agenda.
That's an impressive and unusual list there Jenny and a great one to build on - you appear to be working inwards which is great for you .
All the best for you all and for your future globetrotting . I'm very jealous of those S.American countries you have visited did you do a prescribed tour, hitch-hiked or seperately ?
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I tell you what, between you lot you've done some countries and sights .
Kind of embarrassing really in comparison to me,I've literally been to 3 countries :ohmy:
Hopefully when the little man is old enough in years and years to come I will get my oppurtunity to visit a load of places!
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I tell you what, between you lot you've done some countries and sights .
Kind of embarrassing really in comparison to me,I've literally been to 3 countries :ohmy:
Hopefully when the little man is old enough in years and years to come I will get my oppurtunity to visit a load of places!
I hope you do balby , nothing can give you a more rounded view of the world than seeing it for yourself. The main thing it has taught me ( and many others ) is just how much that every single place or foreigner encountered is precious in its own unique way . I don't fear foreign foods, concepts or people , don't always like them or fully understand them but absolutely recognise .,their fundamental right to exist.
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I tell you what, between you lot you've done some countries and sights .
Kind of embarrassing really in comparison to me,I've literally been to 3 countries :ohmy:
Hopefully when the little man is old enough in years and years to come I will get my oppurtunity to visit a load of places!
Balby there are ways to see a few countries that you want to visit in groups . Simply choose an area where borders intersect and tick off as many as 4/5 within 10 days especially if you drive and have a camper / trailer or caravan ..... they soon add up and can be done fairly cheaply especially with a young family. Once you use the Channel tunnel it's easy and there's loads of people on here willing to give you advice on short stays - see the stunning list of SM following England or Jenny's interesting South American tour . Now for accommodation there is airbnb too and whilst we still have them very cheap flights . Just to give you an idea , we are going to Copenhagen a few times this year but Malmo ( Sweden ) is a short train ride away ; voilá 2 for the price of 1 , same applies to The Algarve and Western Spain and of course Northern and Central Europe. More unusual and places further afield
I.e. Karnak, Petra, Ephesus can be planned separately
10 years time with careful planning you could be back on here having ticked off 30 - 40 countries and Rovers would be in the Prem ;)
As others will tell you on here , it's not all about having loads of money but being able to plan well and then taking that opportunity. There are people I know that have gone to the same places in Spain and Greece twice yearly for the last 20 years but that's their choice. Never let just 1 person's advice put you off a place you fancy as well : i did that about Budapest for years and finally went last year and loved it not necessarily the people but the city, fabulous buildings and the mighty river....
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You never know what life throws at you as well. My daughter attended college in Vermont, USA for a while which gave us the opportunity to explore those northern states such as New Hampshire and Maine. My son lived in the USA for about 15 years too, firstly in Boston and then New York, which allowed us to visit on a very regular basis and took in all the states of New England.
I sometimes wish he'd go back so I can enjoy my cheap holidays again!
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That's an impressive and unusual list there Jenny and a great one to build on - you appear to be working inwards which is great for you .
All the best for you all and for your future globetrotting . I'm very jealous of those S.American countries you have visited did you do a prescribed tour, hitch-hiked or seperately ?
Certainly helps to go inwards, I absolutely loved NZ but the flight was an absolute killer & not on to do again in a hurry!
I did SA on an overlanding trip, so it was primarily organised for me, I just added on parts at the start.
I flew to NYC, and then on to Buenos Aires where I had a night before making my way to Iguazu Falls, so I ticked off Brazil for a day as well as Argentina as the falls border the two countries (and Paraguay but I didn't make it there!). I then went back to BA where I met up with a group of people and we travelled through Argentina, Bolivia, Peru & Ecuador on a truck, either camping (sometimes we camped just in random places at the side of the road!) and hostels. The best nights we had were definitely bush camping - I learnt that you stayed very warm drinking Captain Morgan!
I experienced so many amazing things in 3 months, including doing the Inca Trail. We finished off in Quito in Ecuador, and I then flew out to the Galapagos Islands, which are out of this world, before flying to Chicago to meet my mum before coming home. It was 3 months that changed my life and changed me as a person and allowed me to meet some fab people from all corners of the world.
This was the trip I did albeit in reverse.
https://www.oasisoverland.co.uk/trips/south-america/details/113/quito-to-buenos-aires-53-days-peaks-plains.html
I then went back to Brazil a couple of years later with friends, we had 10 days in Rio for Carnival which was a great experience as you can imagine, there I developed a love for caipirinhas before heading into the Amazon via Manaus for 4 days. I'd been into the Amazon in Ecuador so it was nice to see a different aspect of it.
I have set up a fund for Charlotte so she can travel once she is older, I have told Andy that I don't want her using it to buy a house or boring things like that. I want her to see the world!
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I tell you what, between you lot you've done some countries and sights .
Kind of embarrassing really in comparison to me,I've literally been to 3 countries :ohmy:
Hopefully when the little man is old enough in years and years to come I will get my oppurtunity to visit a load of places!
Don't worry, you're still more well travelled than me. I've had a couple of day trips to France but that's it as far as I can remember.
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I have done 24 States of the USA - wonder if we can get the lot between us.
Here they are
Arizona
California
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Illinois
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Missouri
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington State
Washington DC (Not a State but ...)
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I can only add Texas, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi to that list Wolf.
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I did Route 66 a few years ago which goes through
Illinois,
Missouri,
Kansas,
Oklahoma,
Texas,
New Mexico,
Arizona
California.
This year we drove from Seattle to San Francisco which adds Washington and Oregon to the list.
(On the country list I can add Indonesia and Angola).
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I have done 24 States of the USA - wonder if we can get the lot between us.
Here they are
Alabama
Arizona
California
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Illinois
Kansas
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Mississippi
Missouri
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
More added above !
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You can add Washington State and Ohio (very briefly) for me
And DC if we aee counting it.
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I’m going to Bucharest tomorrow, those of you that have been is there much to do there? Any recommendations?
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I’ve only been to Timisoara in Romania. Taxi driver pulled a face like thunder and made w**ker signs when I mentioned Bucharest. Don’t know if that helps!
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I’ve only been to Timisoara in Romania. Taxi driver pulled a face like thunder and made w**ker signs when I mentioned Bucharest. Don’t know if that helps!
All sounds very positive!
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Doesnt Devilmaycry come from Romania ?
EDIT .... yes I was right and only posted a few days back so he may see this and comment !
You could PM him ? Have you got your Super6 on ?
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Doesnt Devilmaycry come from Romania ?
EDIT .... yes I was right and only posted a few days back so he may see this and comment !
You could PM him ? Have you got your Super6 on ?
Yes he does and I'm pretty sure from Bucharest too ; perhaps you could take him a signed shirt or summat ? You could smuggle him back - he's desperate to live here. Hmm perhaps that's not a good suggestion in the current xenophobic climate .
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I’ve only been to Timisoara in Romania. Taxi driver pulled a face like thunder and made w**ker signs when I mentioned Bucharest. Don’t know if that helps!
I had never heard of it before but out came the atlas and then Google images - it looks like a lovely little city .
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My favourite places have been ones that have some big historical background to them.
Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
Tiananmen Square in Beijing
Dante’s villa in Ravenna
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
Vesuvius in Naples.
Green Line in Nicosia.
Places where you can breathe in the things that have happened in the past.
Best one of the lot for me was the ramparts facing the sea at Valetta in Malta. Picturing the Sultan’s navy besieging them 500 years ago, or the Axis Air Force trying to bomb them into submission in WWII. Everything calm and peaceful today, but knowing that there was a turning point in history at that very spot in the past.
Liking your tangent BST..
This might not be a conclusive list, but from memory the places of "historical interest" I can add:
Pompeii
Christ the Redeemer - Rio
The cafe/bar where "The girl from Ipanema" was written (same trip)
Raffles hotel Singapore
Ground Zero NYC (from 9/11)
Guy Gibson's dog's grave (Dambusters) at RAF Scampton
Plus more I can't remember or may be too common to many..
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Using your list Donnywolf I have;
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Hungary
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Kenya
Kosovo
Latvia
Libya
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Morocco
Netherlands
Norway
Panama
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
San Marino
Serbia
Sint Maarten
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Ukraine
England/Scotland/Wales (of course)
And a few dependencies which are not on the list, such as
British Virgin Isles
Guadeloupe
Cayman Islands
That's insane SM!
I thought I'd travelled a bit but your list makes me look like a stay-at-home!
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If you get on a Gondola, try get one on the side streets if there's any water there at the moment.
Water Taxi's are super expensive, avoid.
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Don't forget to buy a Cornetto 😀
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Their harder to drive /move than they look!! Respect to the owners
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Their harder to drive /move than they look!! Respect to the owners
Have you nicked one like? 😀😀
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We paid and it was a right rip off. It was sold as be serenaded as you travel through the canals of Venice. Queued for over 30 minutes to share a gondola with a mother and teenage son. We then joined a convoy of 5 or 6 others. We went onto the grand canal where a guy with a guitar in the lead boat sang to everybody. We then had a ten minute toddle round uninteresting areas with the gondolier on his mobile most of the time not hearing the guy singing at the front. He put is phone away just before the end to take a cornetto type ice cream and start eating it. I was more annoyed than the wife and not only didn't leave a tip but felt like kicking the tip bucket into the canal. This was from the gondola station round the corner from St Mark's square. Make sure what you have paid for before handing over the cash.
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A bit like some Rovers games eh ?
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Like a Rovers game John, apart from that bit I will go back.🙂
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And the bars were dearer...
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They were Billy. We also stopped at a cafe/patisserie and looked at prices in the window. They looked good and reasonable but when we sat inside and payed it was a lot more than what must have been the take away price.
We still loved our four night break. Like anywhere there are expensive and reasonable places to eat.
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Would love to go back to Florence, only had a few hours there and was amazing Fiorentina club shop was very smart too in city centre
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Not directly relevant but thought this picture was interesting:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-43119445/photographer-stephen-wilkes-shows-day-to-night-in-one-image
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We paid and it was a right rip off. It was sold as be serenaded as you travel through the canals of Venice. Queued for over 30 minutes to share a gondola with a mother and teenage son. We then joined a convoy of 5 or 6 others. We went onto the grand canal where a guy with a guitar in the lead boat sang to everybody. We then had a ten minute toddle round uninteresting areas with the gondolier on his mobile most of the time not hearing the guy singing at the front. He put is phone away just before the end to take a cornetto type ice cream and start eating it. I was more annoyed than the wife and not only didn't leave a tip but felt like kicking the tip bucket into the canal. This was from the gondola station round the corner from St Mark's square. Make sure what you have paid for before handing over the cash.
Yep got ripped off in a similar way - they are adept at it, possibly some of the best in the world.
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Using your list Donnywolf I have;
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Hungary
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Kenya
Kosovo
Latvia
Libya
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Morocco
Netherlands
Norway
Panama
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
San Marino
Serbia
Sint Maarten
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Ukraine
England/Scotland/Wales (of course)
And a few dependencies which are not on the list, such as
British Virgin Isles
Guadeloupe
Cayman Islands
That's insane SM!
I thought I'd travelled a bit but your list makes me look like a stay-at-home!
Hi Pancho,
I hate to say this but I've just added two more countries to my list, in the last two weeks I've managed to visit Thailand and Laos. I did actually step on Myanmar territory too, although only made my way in by about 30m or so. I would find that one difficult to claim as it wasn't official as such.
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Hope you enjoyed Thailand & Laos SM. I visited Thailand 30 years ago and loved it.
Here's my list:
Barbados
Belgium
China
Cyprus
France
Germany
Greece
Holland
Ireland
Hong Kong
Indonesia (Bali)
Italy
Kenya
Luxembourg
Macau
Malta
Monaco
Poland
Singapore
Spain
Switzerland
Thailand
Vietnam
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I loved it Pancho! Its taken me a long time to persuade my wife to go in that direction rather than heading west towards the Caribbean at this time of year. To be fair she thoroughly enjoyed it too and I must admit some of it was a real eye opener for us.
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I loved it Pancho! Its taken me a long time to persuade my wife to go in that direction rather than heading west towards the Caribbean at this time of year. To be fair she thoroughly enjoyed it too and I must admit some of it was a real eye opener for us.
Ping pong shows eh?
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Have a look on Airbnb, there's some nice apartments on there. I use it a lot when I'm abroad and even when I'm travelling through the UK.
Good advice just used them last year for Budapest, just booked for Amsterdam and looking at Copenhagen now . April a nice time of year to go . Been twice to Venice got burnt twice once really badly on Jesolo beach mid-summer.
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Have a look on Airbnb, there's some nice apartments on there. I use it a lot when I'm abroad and even when I'm travelling through the UK.
Good advice there Andy , will be going to Malmo as well in August . Our young'un in Copenhagen for about 9/10 months. So there will be other trips there :)
Good advice just used them last year for Budapest, just booked for Amsterdam and looking at Copenhagen now . April a nice time of year to go . Been twice to Venice got burnt twice once really badly on Jesolo beach mid-summer.
If anyone ever gets a choice between Copenhagen or Stockholm, do Copenhagen - more to see, less expensive (slightly, as Scandanavia isn't cheap) and more to do. If you get bored of Denmark, Malmo is only a hop over the Oresund as well.
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Hope you enjoyed Thailand & Laos SM. I visited Thailand 30 years ago and loved it.
Here's my list:
Barbados
Belgium
China
Cyprus
France
Germany
Greece
Holland
Ireland
Hong Kong
Indonesia (Bali)
Italy
Kenya
Luxembourg
Macau
Malta
Monaco
Poland
Singapore
Spain
Switzerland
Thailand
Vietnam
Pancho, How how was Vietnam? This is on my visit list along with South Korea and many more out here, due to the proximity to me in the Philippians.
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Using your list Donnywolf I have;
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Hungary
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Kenya
Kosovo
Latvia
Libya
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Morocco
Netherlands
Norway
Panama
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
San Marino
Serbia
Sint Maarten
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Ukraine
England/Scotland/Wales (of course)
And a few dependencies which are not on the list, such as
British Virgin Isles
Guadeloupe
Cayman Islands
That's insane SM!
I thought I'd travelled a bit but your list makes me look like a stay-at-home!
Hi Pancho,
I hate to say this but I've just added two more countries to my list, in the last two weeks I've managed to visit Thailand and Laos. I did actually step on Myanmar territory too, although only made my way in by about 30m or so. I would find that one difficult to claim as it wasn't official as such.
Just noticed being nosey - have you omitted to put USA ?
Seems unusual to have such an ecclectic mix but without USA (or Canada) - or are you a conscientious objector ?
Signed Nosey Parker
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It does well spotted John , i too think it may be an ommission .
Looking at all the lists it does go to show what a well travelled lot we are .
Incidentally if I have been to Hong Kong and Macao can I technically claim them as China ?
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Oops!!
Yes I did, but not sure how I did that.
I've been thinking about this list for quite some time ever since I took the trouble to type it out. As I said then I had no idea what it would look like when I started it and was surprised just how it turned out. But my thoughts recently have been on how this list fails to acknowledge the true nature of how some of us travel. For instance we can all list Spain as a destination but does that really acknowledge our experience of Spain? Personally I've done the Balearics, the Canary Islands, most of the Costas, Madrid, the north west of Spain including Santiago de Compostela and the surrounding region. And not just once but several times!
Some countries crop up on numerous occasions for all kinds of reasons, and we visit multiple times, shouldn't we find a way of acknowledging that?