Re: HOLIDAY 2013 : Tue Jan 08, 2013 5:37 pm  

Hull White Star wrote:

Yeah its an absolute travesty that we've had to wait for someone to die in the family for us to inherit the sort of money it costs for just two flights to the US (staying with family). Next time I'll default on the mortgage and use my state handouts to abroad.

Sorry I wasn't having a go at you (in fact I hadn't read your post - and still haven't) - it was just a general point on the thread. Apologies for any offence taken, though not intended.

Re: HOLIDAY 2013 : Tue Jan 08, 2013 5:43 pm  

Mintball wrote:

Funnily enough...

A combination of fear and lack of money stopped me traveling when I was younger. I'd get the brochures, and gaze wistfully at them for hours, but never do anything about it. As I said, partly a lack of money, but also fear.

Now I've just recently hit the big 50. And when tb did, three years ago, we did a special trip. So the big question for the last 12 months or so has been what would MY big trip be.

Well, I'm going to travel on my own. Finally. I feel that I actually need to do it – I need to prove, to myself, that I can. So, in spring this year, I'm going to toddle off on my own for a week to 10 days. First part is planned already pretty tightly, but the rest is not.

I'm going to go to Germany and ... wander.

I'm both looking forward to it – and bloody terrified already.

You'll love it, I did the same in Edinburgh a few years ago although admittedly I did have the Fringe festival to occupy my mind but the thought of just wandering a city with money in your pocket and no other demands on your time is what holidays should be about.

Re: HOLIDAY 2013 : Tue Jan 08, 2013 6:08 pm  

Dally wrote:

Sorry I wasn't having a go at you (in fact I hadn't read your post - and still haven't) - it was just a general point on the thread. Apologies for any offence taken, though not intended.

No probs

Re: HOLIDAY 2013 : Tue Jan 08, 2013 7:06 pm  

Mintball wrote:

Now I've just recently hit the big 50. And when tb did, three years ago, we did a special trip. So the big question for the last 12 months or so has been what would MY big trip be.

I did that recently too in spite of the best efforts of a white van driver. No big trip for me (unless you count the West Highland Way) but I did treat myself to a 150-500mm Sigma lens.

Mintball wrote:

Well, I'm going to travel on my own. Finally. I feel that I actually need to do it – I need to prove, to myself, that I can. So, in spring this year, I'm going to toddle off on my own for a week to 10 days. First part is planned already pretty tightly, but the rest is not.

I'm going to go to Germany and ... wander.

I'm both looking forward to it – and bloody terrified already.

Did you see Julia Bradbury walking through Germany in a short series a few years back?

Re: HOLIDAY 2013 : Tue Jan 08, 2013 7:39 pm  

Watching the programme about Kavos on Channel 4 last night is kind of making me think I want to go back there.

Re: HOLIDAY 2013 : Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:07 pm  

wigan_rlfc wrote:

Watching the programme about Kavos on Channel 4 last night is kind of making me think I want to go back there.

make sure you only do the birds twice maximum or drink THAT drink!!
Watched some of it last night and those people that go there were worse than animals.
enjoy your holiday if you will remember any of it!!

Re: HOLIDAY 2013 : Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:21 pm  

Neil wrote:

... Did you see Julia Bradbury walking through Germany in a short series a few years back?

I did, yes. And it was repeated not long ago. Some of the countryside looks wonderful.

I intend to travel from London after work on a Friday: St Pancras is just down the road from where I do most of my work. I can go to Paris (which I know pretty well, so that avoids early panic) and get a sleeper to Hamburg. The aim is to spend a day and night there and then go on to Lübeck, where I'll spend a couple of days at least, because there are a number of things I specifically want to explore there.

From there, I'm not sure. Maybe Dresden, maybe straight down to Munich/Bavaria. And then maybe back via the Black Forest.

I've been to Berlin before, so although I love that city, there's no point in using this valuable time to go there again.

I want to combine the urban and the rural, if I can. I'd really like to get into a bit of forest, if possible: the whole idea of the forest lives large in the German psyche – and it's really something that we lost in the UK centuries ago. But that'll depend on the public transport – although everything I know thus far suggests that is good enough to make it possible.

Re: HOLIDAY 2013 : Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:23 pm  

Kavos serves only one purpose - to keep all of those who wish to partake in that sort of "holiday" in one small place at the furthest extremity of what is otherwise a very beautiful island.

I went to Corfu in 1980 and 2011 and I'm pleased to report that in the main the North of the island is pretty much as it was 30 years ago, we visited Kavos for a couple of hours in 1980 and it was one hotel at the end of the island, but yes, it was an club 18-30 hotel and even though I was 23 at the time it just seemed like a good way to waste a two week holiday and several thousand drachma.

Re: HOLIDAY 2013 : Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:48 pm  

I stayed in Corfu, Kassiopi, lovely little fishing village, loved it.

Re: HOLIDAY 2013 : Tue Jan 08, 2013 10:21 pm  

Kavos is great for nights out but the place itself is filthy. I stayed in one night (too much the night before) and by morning my bed was covered in blood from all the mosuito bites on my body.

Anyone been to Magaluf and can you reccomend it?