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Be your own travel brochure

Pretend you have a friend or family member who you are trying to convince to take a trip with you. What is a place in Europe you want to share with them, and what can you say about it to sell them on the idea? It can be a country, region, city, historical site…whatever.

Since my hometown is currently on a more restrictive lockdown, my wife and I had plenty of time this weekend to play this game. We agreed it’s cheating to answer, “all of it.” My mind usually heads to big cities first and I settled on London. To me, London felt like I was in a new and strange place, but still at home. As a boy, I loved knights and castles, and a lot of the historical fiction I read now is based in England. A day didn’t go by on the trip when I wasn’t fascinated by something. Castles-the Tower of London or a daytrip to Warwick Castle. Intriguing historical figures-Henry the VIII and Hampton Court Palace, Westminster Abbey and the tomb of Queen Elizabeth I. A place where Charles Dickens, Shakespeare and even A.A. Milne wandered the streets…

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9183 posts

London in November and December
The Queen and Buckingham Palace
The Thames
Westminster Abbey
St Paul’s Cathedral
Tower of London
Tower Bridge
LeadenHall Market Place
The Gherkin
The Shard
The Walkie Talkie Bldg
Museum of London to see Remnants of the Roman Wall. Also visible at Tower Hill
Tea at Fortum and Mason
Lords Mayor Show
Bangers and Mash
Pubs
Free Museums
Theatre ( especially a Panto )
Hyde, Richmond, St James, Regent, Battersea, Greenwich Parks and the Hampstead Heath
Hampton Castle
The free to enter Winter Wonder Land in Hyde Park
Santa Runs
Lighting of the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree
Oxford and Regent street Christmas Lights
Meandering about Harrods, Selfridges and Liberty department stores.
Portobello Road and Spitafields markets for ornaments
Museums gift shops for Christmas cards. V & A has stellar card options.
Classical Spectacular Royal Albert Hall
Salvation Army bands, choral groups, local church bake sales
Christmas Eve midnight mass at St Paul’s, St Martin Of the Fields, St James’s of Piccadilly or whatever church your accommodation is by. Always check!
Christmas morning walking in Hyde Park or along The Thames path
Peter Pan Cup Race on Christmas Day in the Serpentine.

And a HUGE heads up that there is no public transport on Christmas Day

Posted by
4231 posts

Thanks for starting an interesting thread. I have to give it more thought before I answer.

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7891 posts

If the friend or family member ever studied a foreign language, I’d recommend they go to a place where that was the principal language, if for no other reason than to try it out, and to get some practice with native speakers.

If they’re English speakers, then the UK works, and they might still get a chance to practice with the language.

Posted by
6501 posts

I'm with Barbara; let us cogitate a bit on this. Great topic, though.

Posted by
4505 posts

London in November and December

Claudia, your description was awesome. Someday I may have to time a trip during the holidays.

Posted by
203 posts

Ha! My poor family. I’ve taken to creating PowerPoints for them with trip itineraries I want to go on. This might be the world’s least productive use of lockdown time. I have general outlines and lots of pictures I’ve found that show the activities I want to do in each location. It’s like a vision board for travel.

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203 posts

James - Yes! I would love to see what you’ve created.

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1103 posts

Here is something that might convince somebody to travel to Rome:

From the introduction to The Smiles of Rome: A Literary Companion for Readers and Travelers (Susan Cahill, ed.)

Rome has the power to blow your mind and heart, bestowing a much larger capacity for the beauty of the world than you started out with… it’s the accumulation of pasts in Rome and one’s consciousness of those layers - in the city and in one’s self - that can make Rome a life-changing experience. Once Rome enters your consciousness, your perspective on human time may change, deepen, mellow… Everywhere, something invisible makes itself felt in the visible, making the whole city seem to pulsate with hidden presences, a register of the human psyche and of twenty-eight centuries of history striated by horror, by thrilling legends, and anonymous kindness. Getting to know Rome, we come home to ourselves…

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9183 posts

Allan, London is absolutely wonderful during those months. Check out my 2019 Richmond, Chiswick and London trip report.

I’d be there now if Covid hadn’t reared it’s ugly head.

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464 posts

Enjoy a trip to the French Riviera! The beautiful Mediterranean coastline set against the backdrop of the Southern Alps provides incredible scenery that has won our hearts. You can fly into Nice and easily get to several of the Cote d'Azur villages by train or bus. These were our favorite places and things to do:
Nice, France
Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais
Take the stairs to Castle Hill, Parc du Chateau to the Tower for panoramic views
Visit the Old Town flower market, the cafes in Vieux Nice on Cours Saleya, and see Place Massena
Villefranche sur Mer
Hotel Welcome has great balcony views of the harbor.
Enjoy the waterfront cafes, charming narrow streets, beach, and citadel.
Take the bus to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and gardens.
St Jean Cap Ferrat
Hotel Royal Riviera is lovely with a pool and beach.
Walk along the Promenade Maurice Rouvier for spectacular views.
Eze
The medieval hilltop village of Eze with its rock-hewn shops and cobbled streets is worth a day trip.
Stop at Chateau de la Chevre d'Or for refreshments on the terrace and a lovely view.
Jardin Exotique offers hilltop views amidst the cactus and succulent plants.
Monaco
Monte Carlo has the Prince's Palace, the Oceanography Museum, Port of Monaco, and the Monaco Cathedral
where Princess Grace and Prince Rainier are buried.
Place du Casino and the Cafe de Paris are famous.
Antibes and Cannes can also be reached by train.

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4505 posts

Allan, London is absolutely wonderful during those months. Check out
my 2019 Richmond, Chiswick and London trip report.

Claudia, I tried to search for it but couldn't find it. Can you post a link?

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4231 posts

Croatia - The Pearl of the Adriatic

Do you prefer a laid back, slow paced, relaxing vacation? Hate museums, Churches, and historical sights? Then Croatia is the place for your next excursion. Numerous islands, miles and miles of coastal beaches, Fresh seafood in restaurants overlooking the Sea, ability to take strolling to a New level, small, personal hotels and B&Bs, lively nightlife, and friendly people. Sounds enticing, right. The catch, because there always is one - travel is during high season and it is difficult to get up and down that coast and to those islands. Not impossible. Be prepared to travel light and by bus, private driver, and ferry. Driving is easy, parking is not. If you trust me, all arrangements will be made in advance, you just need to bring a good attitude.

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9183 posts

Allan, they are about 25 posts down under Trip
Reports. I can try to PM links.

Posted by
4505 posts

Got it, thanks Claudia.

I grew up in the Bay Area and LA weather to me is monotonous. I like
wearing sweaters and scarfs and gloves.

I had to laugh at this comment in your Trip Report. Clearly you're not from the Canadian prairies. We're in a warm snap now, but come January we'll hit -30 Celsius (-22F) for 2 week stretches at a time. Then we too, dream of a time for just sweaters, scarves and gloves ;)

Posted by
325 posts

@Dana what a fantastic tool to create itineraries, glad you mentioned!

@Allan, thank you for another great topic!

Posted by
12313 posts

Hiking up sheer cliff faces.
Exploring nearly unrecognizable 12th century ruins.
Sleeping in a tent and sleeping bag.
Cold showers in the morning.
Eating whatever we find along the way, sometimes skipping meals.

I like traveling alone ;-)