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+--- Thread: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" (/showthread.php?tid=170676)
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - voodoopenguin - 09-02-2014
eustacetilley wrote:
The link in the OP just stinks of near-sighted petty arrogance. It is very easy to be offended, if one seeks offense out.
I totally agree.
It's not a secret that Scandinavia isn't cheap and capitals are the most expensive areas. However we spent a few days in Oslo earlier this year in the Anker Hotel which is next door to the Anker Hostel mentioned and we didn't pay those prices. Good modern hotel with excellent service and staff. I guess he was charged more because he moaned a lot. I also note that the picture used for Oslo is of a statue in The Vigeland Park an absolutely amazing place which I have been to three times now and will happily go again, oh and it's free.
Paul
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - Billybob - 09-02-2014
Will Collier wrote:
...
Having heard tales of rude Frenchmen (and -women) all my life, I was quite ready to hate Paris in the single brief day I spent there (I'm not counting getting stuck at De Gaulle Airport a couple of other times; getting stuck in any airport by definition sucks), but to my mild consternation, every single Parisian I so much as bumped into on the sidewalk went out of their way to be nice to me.
...
I have to concur with this assessment. I love Paris. The author didn't believe there would be poor people in a major world city? Get a clue!
A few years back, we arrived at Gare du Nord with too much luggage and needed to get to Gare de l'est for a trip south. Unfortunately the taxi queue was way long, so I stupidly thought that the Metro was a good alternative. Several Parisians helped rescue us from this foolish decision even to the extent of carrying some of our luggage up several flights of steps.
If I had to pick a city that didn't thrill me, it would probably be Milan. Nothing really disappointing, just nothing memorable. It's a nice, old, generic European city with not much to do except eat Italian food, which isn't my passion.
However, overall, I have to say that I enjoy my visits to Europe, even Milan.
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - eustacetilley - 09-02-2014
GuyGene wrote:
Now that's the way to travel eustace! Don't know wha' nary au pair is, but ye did right.
Nah, me and the Hooligan just looked after her. It's a big-brother kind of thing.
Eustace
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - JoeM - 09-02-2014
The guy who wrote that blog sounds a bit pretentous. My first trip to Europe was Paris for 7 days and I have to say the people were very friendly and nice to us and it was very romantic. All spoke English and kind of smiled at my feeble attempts at French, jumping right into English to help me out. Yes, there are areas close to Paris where less than savory types lurk around at night and some frequent the Metro but I wonder if this fop ever spent a night out on the streets in some parts of NYC or in the subway there.
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - bazookaman - 09-02-2014
I think it's all about your expectations. The wife and I have been to Paris twice. And we loved it both times. We went in February one time and it was cold and wet and snowed a couple times. Every single time one of us commented on the weather. The other one was quick to jump in with "but we're IN Paris!" And we were. And we had a great time despite the weather.
However...one day we were sitting at a cafe just people watching as you are wont to do. A couple at the next table leaned over and said "oh my god! It's so nice to hear someone speaking english!". They seemed to be at their wits end. While we were just soaking it all in. We chuckled and exchanged pleasantries. But afterwards we both were thinking the same thing. Those people were probably utterly miserable. B/c of their expectations. It's frickin' France. Why would you expect to hear people speaking English?
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - Black - 09-02-2014
rz wrote:
The guy knocks Paris because one person stared at him on the Metro. And that some "sketchy" people hung around the Metro stations while he "expected fashionable people running for the train before it leaves". He also went in February and seemed shocked that it was "grey and cold." Duh! It's winter dumbass.
OK, the guy's a goof, no question. What are your experiences?
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - JoeM - 09-02-2014
Black wrote:
[quote=rz]
The guy knocks Paris because one person stared at him on the Metro. And that some "sketchy" people hung around the Metro stations while he "expected fashionable people running for the train before it leaves". He also went in February and seemed shocked that it was "grey and cold." Duh! It's winter dumbass.
OK, the guy's a goof, no question. What are your experiences?
I went the last week in April-first week in May, which is their spring. The weather was fantastic. We had a number of days that hit around 80 F.
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - cbelt3 - 09-02-2014
This person (Appears female)... definitely a whiner.
"I expected only fashionable people travel on the Metro in Paris !" :barf:
"I went to this little village as a tourist, and there were a lot of tourists there !" :terror:
I like (and follow) Eustace's approach. Enjoy yourself no matter where you are.
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - rz - 09-02-2014
Black wrote:
[quote=rz]
The guy knocks Paris because one person stared at him on the Metro. And that some "sketchy" people hung around the Metro stations while he "expected fashionable people running for the train before it leaves". He also went in February and seemed shocked that it was "grey and cold." Duh! It's winter dumbass.
OK, the guy's a goof, no question. What are your experiences?
I've only been to Paris and Rome. Spent about 5 days in each. We went in the beginning of October. First day in Paris was in the mid 80's, but it dropped into the upper 70s for the rest of the week. Temps were in the 80s in Rome the following week.
We loved Paris. Taking the Metro everywhere was easy. The food was excellent. Didn't meet any really rude people, but I also know a bit of French, so that may have helped. I'd go again in a heartbeat.
Rome was nice. Substantially cheaper than Paris. People were friendlier, and English was spoken much more often. Food was not as good as I had expected. The best Italian food we had on the trip was in Paris. We were warned about the pickpocketers on the buses, so we stuck to the metro and walked a lot. The churches are jaw-dropping. Even ones that don't look like much on the outside were amazing inside. I wasn't aware how dilapidated the Colisseum and surrounding areas were though. One cool thing we did was take the train to the beach... yes, Rome does have a beach on the Mediterranean. It was a 45 minute trip from the center of town and only cost 1 euro. I liked Rome, but I have no real desire to go again. I'd pick a different city if I went back.
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - dk62 - 09-02-2014
This did remind me - Rome was a disappointment all 3 times I was there (on business, but I always sneak some free time in anywhere I go). Not bad or boring, just a bit of a disappointment, no desire to go back. Milan is boring, best thing to do is to go to the lakes from there. For some reason, I did not like London very much the first time (or even two times), but it is slowly growing on me. Favorite cities - Paris, Stockholm, Barcelona, Vienna, Florence.