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+--- Thread: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" (/showthread.php?tid=170676)
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - Black - 09-02-2014
I haven't been to Rome, but I've been to Florence and Venice--- in both cases I found it hard to connect with local culture-- your tourist role was pretty heavily defined for you.
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - voodoopenguin - 09-02-2014
Black wrote:
your tourist role was pretty heavily defined for you.
By who?
Paul
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - JoeM - 09-02-2014
For me, Rome was very enjoyable simply for all the touristy sightseeing. The Vatican was really amazing as were the Spanish Steps and all the usual ancient places. Not much else other than that but I am into old Roman history so I really enjoyed the 3 days I spent there.
Florence was really great, again so much history, art, and architecture. Siena and Tuscany were beautiful and I would go back and easily spend a week in Venice. I took hundreds of photos in all those cities, which was a wonderful experience in itself. I didn't feel touristy at all in Venice. My wife and I would just take off walking, not really knowing much of where we were actually going so for us it was a big adventure, especially at night. If you get away from the Piazza San Marco and the cruise ship crowds you'll really see Venice.
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - August West - 09-02-2014
If you get away from the Piazza San Marco and the cruise ship crowds you'll really see Venice.
Always been an alleycat, myself.
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - Will Collier - 09-02-2014
Venice is like New Orleans in many ways. Perfect place to just wander around soaking it all in. Great food. Smells bad, occasionally under water...
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - JoeM - 09-02-2014
Will Collier wrote:
Venice is like New Orleans in many ways. Perfect place to just wander around soaking it all in. Great food. Smells bad, occasionally under water...
I heard Venice is very fragrant in the summer. We were there in April and there was no smell. The weather was perfect too.
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - davester - 09-02-2014
Black wrote:
I haven't been to Rome, but I've been to Florence and Venice--- in both cases I found it hard to connect with local culture-- your tourist role was pretty heavily defined for you.
In pretty much all the places I've traveled (including Florence and Venice), I've made a conscious effort to dress somewhat similarly to the locals (with some obvious exceptions in places with exotic dress), learn enough of the language to be able to ask simple questions and exchange pleasantries, not spend all my time at the major tourist spots, and to try to talk to my neighbors in cafes, bars, etc. When I've followed these guidelines I've found it fairly easy to make friends with local people. I can't think of anywhere that this hasn't been effective.
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - N-OS X-tasy! - 09-03-2014
Black wrote:
I haven't been to Rome, but I've been to Florence and Venice--- in both cases I found it hard to connect with local culture-- your tourist role was pretty heavily defined for you.
Been to Rome once. Crashed a tour at the Vatican Museum (accidentally), had drinks with the tour guide afterward (deliberately), got myself invited to her birthday party at a bar in Travestere that evening, ended up going home with her roommate that night.
Had similar encounters with lovely lasses in Berlin and Paris. All on the same trip, BTW.
Travel is what you make of it.
(I met a dead ringer for Salma Hayek while waiting in line to use the restroom at the birthday party in Rome. She went ga-ga when she learned I was visiting from Los Angeles. I tried my damnedest to get her join me for the evening but, alas, she was there with her boyfriend. You win some, you lose some.)
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - davester - 09-03-2014
N-OS X-tasy! wrote:
Travel is what you make of it.
Exactly!!
Re: "The 6 most disappointing destinations in Europe" - Black - 09-03-2014
JoeM wrote:
[quote=Will Collier]
Venice is like New Orleans in many ways. Perfect place to just wander around soaking it all in. Great food. Smells bad, occasionally under water...
I heard Venice is very fragrant in the summer. We were there in April and there was no smell. The weather was perfect too.
I was there for about 3 hours on what I recall as a cool summer night. No bad smells that I can recall, just calm/still. My main memory is of all the Eurailers sleeping on the floor in/around the train station-- seemed like several hundred.