Oxytocin

we thought we'd do the escorted tour thing this time and see how much we like it and what we think we can do ourselves. They actually get pretty decent discounts on some of those rooms they include. I am the type that hates planning, so this made it easy. I would suffer analysis paralysis and almost did just choosing between these package things. We have had 20 years of something I never knew we got, loyalty/credit card points. So, some of this went through that. But even then, I have no clue how to match airfare to tour dates. I mean, you hear of delays, missing flights, etc. I hope none of that happens to us. I just want to get from point A to point B and there are more choices that change by the second. The devil must be in charge of air routes and ticket prices, is what I'm guessing. :)

My first wife and I did one of those one-week tours of Britain. LOTS of seniors on the tour, asking questions that basically amounted to, "Why isn't this more like Des Moines?" But the tour guides were good, energetic and cheerful and we covered a LOT of ground. Mostly because we got up at 5:30 every freaking morning. They did drop us at a few bogus outlet malls, presumably for some sort of kick-back, but we saw a lot of the sights in England, lowland Scotland, and the periphery of Wales. I wish we'd gotten to Ireland, and at least a token site or two in Cornwall. Lots of cathedrals on my tour, but no Stonehenge. I could have spent the whole week in the British museum, but the Lake District and Scotland were the most scenic places. Our visit to Liverpool was almost entirely about the Beatles. (I think that was a good thing.) I really like York, but that was more for the Viking thing than for what was actually there. (Eirik Bloodaxe rules ok!)

Oh, yeah. WAY too many cathedrals. You'd think that they were the only historical site to be viewed. Maybe they all need the "voluntary" tourist contributions to maintain them.

I don't think I need to tour any more cathedrals in my life, unless it's by Gaudi, St. Peter's Basilica, or an Ethiopian rock church.

OK, one last pitch for the train; one of the biggest advantages of high speed rail is that it brings you from centre to centre. London to Paris is 2:15 hours and you're literally from (almost) the heart of the London into the heart of Paris. Only a few tube stops or a short taxiride to your final destination.

As Ron said; airplanes are not worth the hassle anymore on these destinations, too slow.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/12/2011 08:54PM by tliet.

I like and want to ride the trains. Our concern was that we would mess up something.
And, the coach tour is nice because I never know what my body is like one hour to another. Yesterday for instance I vomited more than I have in two years. Not sure why. So, I am the 'good' driver/navigator and unlike the flat, easy to follow roads here, I presume that England's cart-paths (like Boston) would be too much for my wife to negotiate when I get sick. I like getting up early, too. I was on call this weekend. So, pretty much up at all hours Sat/Sun. Sleep where I could. I figure I can rest on bus. I am going to make a game of seeing how little I can pack. Might try to wear the same clothes everyday, too. :) I needs to get me one of those dragon wales shirts, or such. I want to pick up a Welsh accent, too. We loved watching Gavin and Stacey, and Rob Brydon. One of my favorite accents. And having few non-major electives in college, architecture was one I picked up on a whim. And loved it. So, cathedrals will be nice. We visited the church at Notre Dame (INDIANA) and when I walked in I cried. So breathtaking. I just wish I made enough money to do this more than once a lifetime. I need some skill that others could desire.

And Bill, stop clogging up oxytocin with travel stuff.

Setup your own travel thread...

Man that was a good 7 weeks...

So apparently I'm catnip to divorced moms in their 40s. Who'd have thought it?

Just be careful. I would approach not being married in my 40s as if I were traversing a huge minefield. That's just me, though.

Good advice, Bill. And yes, I'm wary.

Cassanunder! The world's second greatest lover?

Good for you Jeff. Stock up on the red roses and prophylactics...

Make sure neither has thorns.

Ow!

There will soon be a Mrs Phred. I asked and she was kind enough to say yes.

Congratulations!

Great news, Phred!

Wow! Congratulations!

Wow, great news Phred!

Phredtastic

Congrats, man!

It's not all bliss. I'm still picking photographs and writing thank you cards.