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Originally Posted by BartendingAA
My wife and I loved Bordeaux. She loved it for the chateaus, and I for everything else, since I don't drink much wine.
Added to my list, thanks. Might be able to get over there if we go to Andorra & Barcelona.
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Originally Posted by BartendingAA
Normandy is absolutely incredible, would highly recommend it if you get the chance. My grandfather is buried in the cemetery there, and it's amazing to walk through. Think smaller version of Arlington in D.C., but worth it in my estimation.
Excellent, that's the plan. Perhaps surprisingly to some, it's one of the only things our 16 year old son has said he wants to see.
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Originally Posted by BartendingAA
I just recently moved to Europe myself, so I'm not that knowledgeable of most sites around me yet. Switzerland is very expensive but has some great sites to see as well, Matterhorn, JungFrauJoch for 2 examples.
Swinging through there is definitely being considered, but time may be our enemy on that.
Thanks for the suggestions.
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Originally Posted by Mike Haven
BARCELONA DEFINITELY WORTH A SIDE TRIP. I WOULD HIRE A CAR IN SOUTHERN FRANCE AND DRIVE DOWN OVER THE PYRENEES (INCLUDING ANDORRA IF YOU LIKE – QUITE HIGH UP) TO BARCELONA. ALSO SOME LOVELY COASTAL VILLAGES NEAR THE FRENCH-SPANISH BORDER – PLACES LIKE COLLIOURE (WHERE MATISSE PAINTED) AND CERBERE.
Yeah, my original thought was some kind or trip via train from Paris through Tours down to Andorra and Barcelona, but now that I start looking into it more closely it would seem that, incredibly, the train system wasn't designed to fulfill my every whim and such a trip might not be so easy. So now I'm thinking train/bus to Toulouse and rent a car from there to go down to Andorra and back. But I've always been assuming that renting a car and returning it to a different destination is expensive there, as it is here - if I find I'm wrong about that, it could open up a lot of possibilities.
Edit to add: Just checked into a Paris-Marseilles car rental, and the one way fee is only $150 - new doors of opportunity have opened!
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Originally Posted by Mike Haven
EXETER ITSELF ISN’T VERY SPECIAL, BUT THERE ARE SOME NICE RESORTS FURTHER DOWN THE COAST AROUND TORQUAY. THOUGH IF YOU HAVE TIME I’D RECOMMEND HEADING ON TO EASTERN CORNWALL INSTEAD. THE EDEN PROJECT IS WELL WORH A VISIT AND THERE ARE LOTS OF FANTASTIC LITTLE FISHING VILLAGES.
Yeah, staying in Exeter was really about the surrounding area, which we should be able to drive to from Bristol instead.
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Originally Posted by Mike Haven
YES, DEFINITELY BATH AND EDINBURGH. MAYBE STOP OFF IN YORK.
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Originally Posted by Mike Haven
ALL THE ABOVE GOOD PLACES TO GO. BEST CASTLES ARE IN WALES! AND SNOWDONIA IS GREAT (CLIMB SNOWDON?) – COULD ALSO GO TO HARLECH CASTE IF IN SNOWDONIA.
I had been thinking of a side trip to Snodownia from Liverpool/Manchester; good to see some confirmation that it would be worthwhile.
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Originally Posted by Mike Haven
I WOULD AVOID MOST OF NORTHERN FRANCE, MOST OF WHICH IS FLAT, DULL AND NOT PARTICULARLY FRIENDLY TO VISITORS, (UNLESS OF COURSE YOU WANT TO VISIT THE WAR MEMORIALS, ETC, ON THE COAST, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT MATTER).
Yes, war memorials and related historic sites are the purpose.
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Originally Posted by Mike Haven
SPEND A FEW DAYS IN PARIS, OBVIOUSLY, THEN HEAD SOUTH TO A CHATEAU OR TWO IN LOIRE VALLEY AND ON TO THE PYRENEES. I LOVE THE AREA BETWEEN TOULOUSE AND BARCELONA – VERY ANCIENT VILLAGES, BEAUTIFUL SCENERY, INTERESTING FOOD.
Awesome.
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Originally Posted by Mike Haven
ALMOST EVERYTHING IN ITALY IS GREAT THOUGH MILAN WOULDN’T BE ON MY LIST – A MODERN CITY, EXPENSIVE, NOISY. THINK ABOUT BOLOGNA AND PISA TOO. IF YOU LIKE MOUNTAINS AND MOUNTAIN TRAIN JOURNEYS, TRY AND GO VIA SWITZERLAND.
Good to know about Milan; no way I'm going to get to everything I'd like to in Italy anyway. Switzerland's definitely getting some consideration, especially since we have some family living there.
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Originally Posted by Mike Haven
I’M JEALOUS!
I think I'm the one who should be jealous, since you live a hop, skip, and a jump away from all of this!