It's Official, y'all!!

Amsterdam!!!!!;-)

I am sure you all will need a luggage man; so just IM me the 411

Great news! I'm sure you'll have funn wherever you go.

Barcelona

Great news! I'm sure you'll have funn wherever you go.

My bags are already packed!

Barcelona

Definitely on the list!!! Thanks. I've heard nothing but wonderful things about the city.

If you have never been to Prague, you will be blown away by it. I played in ice hockey tournaments there yearly from 91 - 99. Amazing city!

have a great time

PM Cork, she will have plenty of information I am sure....

Depends on the number of days and dollars that are available as well as what you want to see.

My choice: Prague

Paris
Paris
Paris
Milan
Vienna
Venice
Paris

Salzburg if you want to go smaller.

Paris

so, Kurt, you think Paris might be a good choice?

Prague no doubt. Amsterdamn is AMAZING. I actually went to school over there for a semseter and loved it. Wonderful city HAVE FUN!

Depends on the number of days and dollars that are available as well as what you want to see.

My choice: Prague

I have set aside two weeks to travel. I feel like that's enough time to see a few cities. I don't want to feel rushed or like I've missed something.

I'll think about my likes and dislikes.

Kurt, we've thought about Paris...what did you like about it?

In order, for a first trip to Europe, I'd say:
Paris
Rome (but you said Italy is out)
Barcelona

Hubby has been to Prague. He says it's a beautiful city, but he didn't mention anything specifically.

On my first visit to London I liked seeing Westminster Abbey the most. It is amazing to see the effigial tombs of Queen Elizabeth I, Sir Isaac Newton, Chaucer, etc., etc. On that visit I wanted to see all of the sights that you hear about: Buckingham Palace, the changing of the guard, Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus, the Tower Bridge, etc., etc. I like shopping in Mayfair and Knightsbridge -- you've gotta see Harrod's food hall, totally amazing. I'm not fond of the food in England -- the meat tastes odd -- I can't even eat the breakfast sausage. However, there are some great Chinese restaurants, and I like the fish and chips. We always end up going to Hard Rock Cafe a few times -- after so much different food, we're ready for some good old American burgers. Anyhow, it'll be so exciting for you to see things that you've only read about in books.

Have funn! I know you must be excited.

I love everything about Paris. Everywhere you look is beauty and style. Even the public buildings and bridges are works of art (as are many in European cities). It's one of the great cities of the world. The only problem is you won't want to leave. The area around the Sorbonne is the coolest patch on the planet. Notre Dame will make you weep. The Seine will sing your name. The Eiffel Tower and surrounding gardens will knock your socks off. Even riding Le Metro alone is worth a trip to Paris for hidden treasures and underground musicians.

And Paris in the springtime! Are you kidding me? You'd be a fool to miss it.

Lisbon or Madrid or Barcelona--I think you'll be very suprised by all 3, or each one individually!.

Ohhhhhh .... Prague. It is No. 2 on my Must See list (No. 1 is the Galapagos).

It is a tough choice between Paris and Barcelona. Maybe you would be able to squeeze in two days in Barcelona as you make your way to London? If you love history and architecture and you have a nice shopping budget you can't go wrong with Paris, but I hear that Barcelona is just a breathtaking city.

You will have a great time regardless. I'm going to Italy in May; we don't have time for any side trips but as you say, hopefully there will always be another trip!!

Lisbon or Madrid or Barcelona--I think you'll be very suprised by all 3, or each one individually!.

Love love love Madrid. It's my favorite city on Earth! I didn't get to see Barcelona the time I was in Spain so it would be great to go back and see it!!

One the edge of Europe, another place to visit in your lifetime is Istanbul. You
can take a ferry to Asia.

Ohhhhhh .... Prague. It is No. 2 on my Must See list (No. 1 is the Galapagos).

It is a tough choice between Paris and Barcelona. Maybe you would be able to squeeze in two days in Barcelona as you make your way to London? If you love history and architecture and you have a nice shopping budget you can't go wrong with Paris, but I hear that Barcelona is just a breathtaking city.

You will have a great time regardless. I'm going to Italy in May; we don't have time for any side trips but as you say, hopefully there will always be another trip!!

Yes! These are my likes. Architecture, markets and street fairs, castles and local plazas are things I'm interested in. I've seen enough cathedrals to last a lifetime. I'm up for musuems but don't want to spend all day in one.

Where are you going in Italy? There are so many places I want to go in Italy- the reason I can't go this trip. I want to see Venice, Florence, Milan, Rome, Genoa, Tuscany and Naples.

Have fun and don't forget your sowal stickers. I don't think they've gone international yet.

Paris
Paris
Paris
Milan
Vienna
Venice
Paris

Salzburg if you want to go smaller.

Paris

I love it

Have fun and don't forget your sowal stickers. I don't think they've gone international yet.

:roll:

n00b

On my first visit to London I liked seeing Westminster Abbey the most. It is amazing to see the effigial tombs of Queen Elizabeth I, Sir Isaac Newton, Chaucer, etc., etc. On that visit I wanted to see all of the sights that you hear about: Buckingham Palace, the changing of the guard, Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus, the Tower Bridge, etc., etc. I like shopping in Mayfair and Knightsbridge -- you've gotta see Harrod's food hall, totally amazing. I'm not fond of the food in England -- the meat tastes odd -- I can't even eat the breakfast sausage. However, there are some great Chinese restaurants, and I like the fish and chips. We always end up going to Hard Rock Cafe a few times -- after so much different food, we're ready for some good old American burgers. Anyhow, it'll be so exciting for you to see things that you've only read about in books.

I second everything BR said about London. It is a great city to go to. . . .once. I can't say I'm anxious to get back.

I'm dying to get to Prague! And I think Paris is an amazing city - but very expensive particularly with the $:Euro. (Our favorite part is siting on the wooden foot bridge over the Seine River at sunset. We'd watch the sun go down over the river with a bottle of wine and a baguette. Magical, really.) I would probably try to hit one old city (Praque or Madrid) and one hip city (Paris or Barcelona) but not all in the same category!

Here are my thoughts on Spain -- It's really my specialty, since I married a spaniard.

Madrid: Old historical city. Really neat, I've been a few times. But honestly, I'd probably skip it if we didn't have good friends that live there -- and it's an easy place to fly into.

Barcelona: I have spent 10 days straight there and it's not enough time to see everything. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this city. It's vibrant, alive, beautiful. The Guadi architecture -- particularly his Park Guell -- is amazing and unique. I highly recommend side trips to Sitges or Aiguablava (http://www.parador.es/english/paradores/ficha.jsp?selparador=1). That website is to a Parador in Aiguablava. Be sure to check out the other Paradors, too. They are amazing castles and monistaries and such that they have turned into small hotels.

Valencia: Just thought I'd give you another city to consider. It's not too touristy and very authentically spanish. It seems to be getting a lot of attention lately -- 2007 and 2011 America's cup. 2008 new Formula 1 race course through the city. The architect Calatrava is from there and he's done amazing things!

Anyway, if you end up going anywhere in Spain, PM me. My husband is a wealth of knowledge and he loves to talk to people about his homeland!

Have to agree with Kurt, can't imagine not seeing Paris. Nothing like it.

His description made me want to cry. He is truly, truly correct, 100%, it is almost more than one can describe, and yes I did not want to leave.

My favorite smaller city, Lucerne.

Whitney, I'm so excited for you! Alex and Philippa are going to London over spring break so I'll be sure to tell you all the things they liked best after they get back. Their cousins--one of whom is your age--are going to show them around so it'll be a good trip (especially since their parents aren't accompanying them ;-)). I'll relay all the news to you.

Now you must reconsider Paris!! Everything kurt and tistheseason says about it is true. It's one of the most wonderful cities on earth. If you want to know anything in specific, ask me because there's hardly anything about Paris that I don't know. I can't imagine skipping it, especially when it's so easy to get to from both Prague and London.

HOwever, if you decide to go to Spain, will you tell me about it? We've never gotten there and I was thinking about it when we go back to London in the fall. We're going to our nephew's wedding, so I thought as long as we're there we may as well catch one of those cheapie flights on Ryannaire and maybe go to Spain. Both you and BR loooove Barcelona, as do freinds of ours, so I'm really leaning in that direction.