worrying about strikes in france like worrying about rain in ireland n'est pas
― under a mand'rin tsar (darraghmac), Monday, 25 June 2018 08:37 (five years ago) link
Yeah, except when it's your main method of transport and there are scheduled days this summer. Why Brussels? I haven't been in a long time, but I kind of have no desire to go again.I really like a lot of the southern part of France, but if you are short on time Lyon is prolly the way to go.
― Yerac, Monday, 25 June 2018 08:42 (five years ago) link
I am sitting in the Madrid airport right now (after flying 13 hours and missing the connection to London due to Iberia fuckery) on my way to Lyon. I lived in Lyon for 5 months, will be there for a week and then Marseille (lavender fields in season), Toulouse, Barcelona and then maybe on through Rioja, San Sebastian (undecided). 48 hours in Lyon is totally enough. You really can do Vieux Lyon, Croix Rousse and most of presque'ile in a day. It's small.
― Yerac, Monday, June 25, 2018 10:23 AM (thirty minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
If you have half a chance do not miss out on San Sebastian. It's a fantastic city with arguably Europe's finest beach.
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 25 June 2018 08:55 (five years ago) link
And museums, and pintxos, and and and. My two months stay there last year is documented on ilx somewhere, including restaurant and sight seeing tips etc
Brussels purely for an anchor and excellent transport links, its a soft pin on the map for now.
― under a mand'rin tsar (darraghmac), Monday, 25 June 2018 09:02 (five years ago) link
Great! Albert Broccoli was also talking it up. Our last week was supposed to be in Copenhagen (canceled) so we have about 7 days to wing it from Barcelona (having to end in Paris). I figured Rioja, San Sebastian and fly out of Bilbao to make our Paris flight home. I'll look up the thread on it. I wasn't that excited about it but everyone seems to love it.
― Yerac, Monday, 25 June 2018 09:02 (five years ago) link
I'd include San Sebastian on that list as well, Lyon is lovely as well.
Why on earth you're bothering with Brussels is a mystery. To go from Lyon to Germany and not take the train through Switzerland is just plain wasteful - that and Austria are the most spectacular train journeys you can do through Europe.
― Matt DC, Monday, 25 June 2018 09:11 (five years ago) link
In your shoes I'd stop off in either Lausanne or Zurich, not because the cities are especially interesting but because the lakes are completely stunning. Go up via Munich towards Berlin, maybe stopping somewhere in the Black Forest on the way.
― Matt DC, Monday, 25 June 2018 09:15 (five years ago) link
Yeah, I was trying not to ding Brussels, I figured maybe darraghmac was a huge World Bank fan or something.
― Yerac, Monday, 25 June 2018 09:17 (five years ago) link
also deems be in touch if u like when you come to the lowlands obv
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 25 June 2018 09:34 (five years ago) link
I’ve come to like Brussels for its beer, chocolate, and waffles (I always follow my gut). The Magritte museum is excellent and the Sablon quartier is worth a stroll.
― droit au butt (Euler), Monday, 25 June 2018 09:39 (five years ago) link
I’m assuming you are on a rail pass, in which case going from Lyon through Switzerland and up to Germany is a must. I’d go Lyon-Geneva-Montreaux-Speiz-Interlaken-Lucerne-Zurich-Germany (possible side trip or divert by Gruyere).
Alternate longer route Lyon-Chamonix-Martigny-Brig-Andermatt-Chur-Bregenz/Konstans-Germany
Lots of beautiful lakes and mountains and an opportunity to take a boat on Lake Geneva, Thunnersee, Zurichsee or Lake Konstans.
Once you are in Germany you can whip up to hamburg or Berlin from Munich on the ICE.
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Monday, 25 June 2018 10:01 (five years ago) link
ive done interrailing through switzerland but never done the low countries, which tbh is an area it seems comfortable but not too interesting to mooch around (which is somewhat the tenor for the week thats in it)
if opposition continues vociferous i can amend
all decisions in context of:
1) ive been lots of places before!
2) dont want to conprehensively do anywhere new that is a likely future couple trip (so essentially everything north of lisbon all the way around to the Pyrenees is parked
― under a mand'rin tsar (darraghmac), Monday, 25 June 2018 10:25 (five years ago) link
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 25 June 2018 09:34 (fifty minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
hows ur plumbing
― under a mand'rin tsar (darraghmac), Monday, 25 June 2018 10:26 (five years ago) link
anyone have any experience of the new coach travel craze, yr flixbus and what-have-you
― under a mand'rin tsar (darraghmac), Monday, 25 June 2018 10:27 (five years ago) link
plumbings a-running xp
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 25 June 2018 10:28 (five years ago) link
2) dont want to conprehensively do anywhere new that is a likely future couple trip (so essentially everything north of lisbon all the way around to the Pyrenees is parked― under a mand'rin tsar (darraghmac), Monday, 25 June 2018 8:25 PM (eight minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― under a mand'rin tsar (darraghmac), Monday, 25 June 2018 8:25 PM (eight minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
This contains some of the most amazing countryside anywhere in the world so we’ll worth dedicating some of your time and saving for doing with your partner.
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Monday, 25 June 2018 10:48 (five years ago) link
thats the thought alright
― under a mand'rin tsar (darraghmac), Monday, 25 June 2018 10:54 (five years ago) link
Koln is the usual rail interchange if you're coming from Belgium and is worth wandering around for a day or so. I assume you've been to Bruges and Ghent before but if not would go for either over Brussels.
― Matt DC, Monday, 25 June 2018 11:41 (five years ago) link
If you are on a budget and cool with all the obvious flaws or risks of coach travel compared to rail these are fine, comfy enough etc. Recently took a Flixbus within France and they tend to take breaks at services even on journeys less than 3 hours (worth trying to confirm with the driver if they're stopping as I wouldn't bet on the coach toilet being available).
― nashwan, Monday, 25 June 2018 11:52 (five years ago) link
xp good info, not tied to brussels as long as the alternative does waffles, fries with mayo and beer
― under a mand'rin tsar (darraghmac), Monday, 25 June 2018 13:22 (five years ago) link
nashwan- thanks. i was hoping reports that the coach game had changed up meant comfort/chance of sleep on an overnight coach would be equivalent of sleeper train but much cheaper. not the case?
― under a mand'rin tsar (darraghmac), Monday, 25 June 2018 13:24 (five years ago) link
I don't like to disagree with Matt DC, but no way is Bruges more interesting than Brussels. I think Brussels is fantastic, good eating good drinking and surprisingly good wandering; Bruges, while pretty, is a bit of a tourist trap fossil IMO. Ghent's pretty good, a bit more alive. Antwerp, like Ghent, is a good mix of medieval doings and lively good stuff.
On a similar route we once stopped off in Aachen; the town's not much of much but the cathedral is worth basing a whole trip on.
I didn't much go for Cologne, but people seem to really like it. We found a great bar or two and were happy enough (the endless 1 euro beer thimbles is a cool trick) but didn't really think it was somewhere to bother going back to.
― Tim, Monday, 25 June 2018 13:51 (five years ago) link
anyone here been to Leipzig or Weimar? I'm spending a week in each in July, for work and for sightseeing etc. I've never been to the east of Germany except for Berlin, so I'm hoping for a different vibe than the west. heading to Weimar to get lost in kulture, Goethe and Herder and (in nearby Jena) Hegel and Frege.
― droit au butt (Euler), Monday, 25 June 2018 14:40 (five years ago) link
not the case?
not tried Flixbus overnight journeys but didn't get the impression it could really compete with trains for comfort no
― nashwan, Monday, 25 June 2018 14:53 (five years ago) link
thus far
lisbon, three daysovernight flixbus to barcelonaone night there, flixbus to lyontwo nights there? for about a week, probably ranging from bruges through cologne and that general region en route to hamburghamburg, two nights, train to berlinthree nights therefin
travel a doddle and v cheap vs doing it with internet 1.5 back in 2005, and thats without the benefits of eg uber and google maps in my pocket for those finicky in-between steps
― dele alli my bookmarks (darraghmac), Monday, 13 August 2018 15:33 (five years ago) link
keeping a close eye on this thread because I'm considering doing something similar, although probably less robust until I get my traveling feet back under me
― mh, Monday, 13 August 2018 15:38 (five years ago) link
By way of the "? for a week":
Antwerp is totally worth it. I think Antwerp and Ghent are both more interesting than Bruges, although Bruges has its charms of course.
People like Cologne, I didn't take to it much (though the thing with the bringing the constant little excellent beers is good).
I've no idea whether you are interested in cathedrals and that but Aachen Cathedral is unbelievably brilliant. There's not a great deal else in Aachen though we found a few nice bars and there are a couple of wacky modernist churches.
― Tim, Monday, 13 August 2018 15:50 (five years ago) link
Jesus I said all that about three posts ago and I had completely forgotten, sorry.
― Tim, Monday, 13 August 2018 15:51 (five years ago) link
you did but it was good info and thanks!
i hope to get a day in either ghent or antwerp, the cologne stop is to meet up with one of the brothers and tbh is a tough more eastward than id hoped to be at those dates but worth rearranging for the sake of the company
likewise it means one day free between cologne and hamburg, the distances/ease of travel are p negligible so does anyone have any recs for anywhere fun/cool?
― dele alli my bookmarks (darraghmac), Monday, 13 August 2018 16:23 (five years ago) link
sic and matt may be somewhat smug that i have indeed invested in a big donkey of a wheeled suitcase for the purposes
― dele alli my bookmarks (darraghmac), Monday, 13 August 2018 16:24 (five years ago) link
I spent a few hours in a Decembery Bremen once, on a day trip from Hamburg. They have an exceptionally good expressionist alleyway!
It was hammering with rain but we still enjoyed it, I wanted to stay longer. It might have been my pre-Xmas mood but it seemed like the sort of place you could have a drink.
― Tim, Monday, 13 August 2018 16:28 (five years ago) link
Everything between Düsseldorf and Hamburg is skippable, unless you're into sooty industrial architecture, and cows.
― oder doch?, Monday, 25 June 2018 07:16 (one month ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
ha, content noted.
― dele alli my bookmarks (darraghmac), Monday, 13 August 2018 16:29 (five years ago) link
IIRC the best venue in town is shunned by the natives because its owners are from Düsseldorf. And the beer is from the Sauerland.
― oder doch?, Monday, 13 August 2018 16:34 (five years ago) link
I prefer Ghent to Bruges as well although I like both a lot.
― Matt DC, Monday, 13 August 2018 17:05 (five years ago) link
^ into Bruges
― 16, 35, DCP, Go! (sic), Monday, 13 August 2018 18:42 (five years ago) link
^^ ghent say no
― dele alli my bookmarks (darraghmac), Monday, 13 August 2018 18:51 (five years ago) link
Ghent ftw
― breastcrawl, Monday, 13 August 2018 21:23 (five years ago) link
Going to Gent next month, for business but, it sounds like, also for pleasure. I do like Brussels though, more each time I visit.
― droit au butt (Euler), Monday, 13 August 2018 21:45 (five years ago) link
So in the cathedral in Ghent they have Van Eyck’s Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, except that currently it’s undergoing some conservation. You can see the main thing (with high-quality photos of the bits being fixed to give you the impression) in the the cathedral as usual. The conservation process is happening panel by panel in public view in the art museum across town. It’s amazing. And the painting itself is amazing obviously.
― Tim, Monday, 13 August 2018 21:50 (five years ago) link
lisbon-barcelona-lyon-brussels-cologne-bremen-hamburg-berlin is how this is gonna play out
thanks for all the info so far (and happy for any recs for above, esp lyon-hamburg steps)
― liberally social (darraghmac), Thursday, 16 August 2018 19:47 (five years ago) link
It was six years ago, but the tasting menu at Manairo in Barcelona is still the best meal I've ever eaten.
The food in Lyon is glorious as well. Don't eat the andouillettes.
― Matt DC, Thursday, 16 August 2018 20:33 (five years ago) link
I love andouilletteLa politique, c'est comme l'andouillette. Ca doit sentir un peu la merde, mais pas trop
― droit au butt (Euler), Thursday, 16 August 2018 20:46 (five years ago) link
not selling it tbh
lyon v def a food destination
Barcelona gonna be a v quick overnight, looking forward to a late tapas and beer maybe the most realistic prospect as im on the road early morning again. if its close and doable ill look that place up tho, thanks
― liberally social (darraghmac), Thursday, 16 August 2018 20:58 (five years ago) link
If it's your one night in Barcelona then tapas, beer and wandering are a much better bet.
― Matt DC, Thursday, 16 August 2018 21:02 (five years ago) link
been before, will be back again. this trip is pretty unpressured in that sense tbh so its whatever strikes me or whatever whimsy takes me save for the portions of it im accompanied (lisbon, brussels-cologne, berlin)
even then ill have some say in things, except for berlin.
― liberally social (darraghmac), Thursday, 16 August 2018 21:05 (five years ago) link
This is hardly secret knowledge but Ramiro in Lisbon is as good as people say.
― Tim, Thursday, 16 August 2018 22:31 (five years ago) link
Jesus is from Goa is a ridic good tiny spot of a restaurant in Lisbon. I was so into it that I went back to Lisbon a day early (from Porto) to eat there again. And then booked a flight to India to visit Goa proper.
― mom tossed in kimchee (quincie), Friday, 17 August 2018 00:02 (five years ago) link
I guess the proper name is Jesus e Goes with some accent marks thrown in, but you get the picture.
What would you like to eat in Lyon? Do you know what days of the week you will be there?
― Yerac, Friday, 17 August 2018 01:40 (five years ago) link
Don't forget updates on the state of your bowels!
― A is for (Aimless), Monday, 8 October 2018 03:34 (five years ago) link
these are very strange responses!
― Dmac TT (darraghmac), Monday, 8 October 2018 10:16 (five years ago) link
POST
YOUR
SHITS
― shrek and han solo kinda dress the same (bizarro gazzara), Monday, 8 October 2018 10:17 (five years ago) link
enough shitposting on the board nest pas
― Dmac TT (darraghmac), Monday, 8 October 2018 10:19 (five years ago) link
Back atcha dmac, come home to yr board nest soon, spaz
― F# A# (∞), Monday, 8 October 2018 10:26 (five years ago) link
Bon Courage!
― Yerac, Monday, 8 October 2018 11:36 (five years ago) link
ooof
overnight (8.30pm through to 1pm next day) lisbon-barca flixbus was an ordeal, mainly because snorer in front, no wifi and eh tbh our driver kept swerving as if he were a lil sleepy himself which kept me on edge.
tbf at 35 quid there's no arguing with value and it was lynchian ito sleep deprived endless road and the odd lowlife interaction at deserted filling stations.
7/10
― Dmac TT (darraghmac), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 21:27 (five years ago) link
Overnight buses = sleep drugs or similar
― My Gig: The Thin Beast (sic), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 21:37 (five years ago) link
brussels is boring yes
― Dmac TT (darraghmac), Thursday, 18 October 2018 17:08 (five years ago) link
Brussels has the best chocolate, frites, waffles & beer in the world, mon frere.
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Thursday, 18 October 2018 17:30 (five years ago) link
had a bad waffle earlier with bad chocolate on it.
like a kicked cat now so i am
― Dmac TT (darraghmac), Thursday, 18 October 2018 17:37 (five years ago) link
Were you actually looking for a good place to eat or just whatever was convenient
― F# A# (∞), Thursday, 18 October 2018 17:44 (five years ago) link
Brussels has the best chocolate, frites, waffles & beer in the worldno small feat!
― niels, Friday, 19 October 2018 06:23 (five years ago) link
Brussels is the equivalent of being happy a boring department store exists because you know that at least you can use a restroom there when you really need it.
― Yerac, Friday, 19 October 2018 13:49 (five years ago) link
I don’t know what you all look for in a city but to me Brussels is great, though my first few times there I didn’t like it much. It’s a grower I guess.
― droit au butt (Euler), Friday, 19 October 2018 14:31 (five years ago) link
The time I went to Brussels we stayed in a huge noize band vegan squat for a show. My friend tried to leave in the morning to get breakfast and set off all the alarms and the main guy yelled at her. I still think brussels is boring.
― Yerac, Friday, 19 October 2018 14:54 (five years ago) link
Brussels is boring in a very good way IMO
― Neil S, Friday, 19 October 2018 15:05 (five years ago) link
had a good wander today and caught all the buildings and bits that are capturable in a wander
grand but boring is verdict
― Dmac TT (darraghmac), Friday, 19 October 2018 15:20 (five years ago) link
update
livelier at night but very diffiult to find decent food tbh
― Dmac TT (darraghmac), Friday, 19 October 2018 18:58 (five years ago) link
They have rly bad beer
― F# A# (∞), Friday, 19 October 2018 20:17 (five years ago) link
koln is really fuckin nice eh
― lie back and think of englund (darraghmac), Sunday, 21 October 2018 16:53 (five years ago) link
Is it beer garden weather? There's a cracking one by a lake in a park, keep forgetting the name.
― Matt DC, Sunday, 21 October 2018 16:57 (five years ago) link
the rheinpark foodmarkt with its distribution of 50/20/20/10 wine/beer/boar/everything else was just the job this sunny eve thks
― lie back and think of englund (darraghmac), Sunday, 21 October 2018 17:02 (five years ago) link