GRcade Travel Topic

Not long until the flights become available and we can book another trip to Mexico

Qikz wrote:

Vermilion wrote:The coach broke down on the autobahn today, was stuck on the hard shoulder before rescue came.

I've only ever used coaches to travel in Europe, it's a great way to get around (when they actually work that is).

Thought i'd post my Germany vlogs here as and when they are uploaded, this first one is a vlog of my hotel.

A closer look at the town i stayed in...

Using the cable car to visit the scenic viewpoint.

Thought i'd post a couple more, the Kathe Wohlfahrt store in particular is a must visit for anyone touring that part of Germany.

Those Germany videos are fantastic.

Godzilla wrote:Those Germany videos are fantastic.

Thank you, i wasn't even sure anyone was going to bother viewing them.

Vermilion wrote:

Godzilla wrote:Those Germany videos are fantastic.

Thank you, i wasn't even sure anyone was going to bother viewing them.

Sorry Vermi, I forgot all about it. I'll watch them when I've got some nice quiet time to concentrate on them.

Here are a couple more i've recently uploaded, Cochem in particular is a gorgeous town and well worth visiting if you get the opportunity. Deutsches Eck at Koblenz meanwhile is where the Rhine and Mosel rivers converge, there's also pieces of the Berlin Wall on display.

A friend has just been to Cochem, it does look lovely.

I still haven't managed to get down to that part of Germany yet. Me and girlfriend often say "oh let's get the train down to Heidelberg" as it's relatively cheap sometimes, but yeah, still not been. It looks lovely though. I love a good castle and there seems to be quite a few around there.


I'm off to Spain for a couple of weeks at the end of October. We're flying into Valencia first for a few days. We've been before, so it will just be a bit of chill time at the beach. Then we aren't sure of the exact route. We're thinking of maybe getting the train towards Seville, Cadiz, Granada, then back up to Madrid for our flight out, doing day trips to Segovia and Toledo. Anyone been to Granada? That and Cordoba seem kind of equidistant from Seville, so either will be doable by public transport. Just not sure which to visit.

SandyCoin wrote:I love a good castle and there seems to be quite a few around there.

The Rhine gorge would be heaven for you then, as there are dozens of castles on the hillsides overlooking the river (some of which seem to have been built into the rocky cliffs).

My partner and I took my two boys on a mini road trip. They have now reached the age where they will probably want to do their own thing (15 & 17 )

First port of call was Europa-Park. We took them there 5 years ago. Unfortunately for me, my eldest now loves roller-coasters and insisted that I go on them with him. We are in the queue for Blue Fire Mega Coaster and all I can hear is screaming. Great. 0-100 kph in 2.5 secs, loops, cork screws, other roller coaster terms. Woop. De. Doo.

Seriously though, if you are a theme park fan, put it on your list.

Next stop was Lauterbrunnen. My gf and I have been there a few times but it was the first time with my kids. My eldest had been doing his research and discovered he could legally buy beer in Switzerland (and Germany). So we hiked from Stechelberg to Gimmelwald (strawberry float me, I had to stop every 10 metres, so unfit). Got to the top and hallelujah there is a bar that is open! Downside, Swiss prices. And it is full of Americans. Upside, Schwarz Monch beer and the Mountain Hostel serves the best pizza I think I've ever had (sorry Napoli). Take the cable car down in the dark.

Next stop, Lake Maggiore for a few days of chilling out.

Start to head home and we have a few days to play with, so decide to go to Luzern. Beautiful city. However, so expensive. Like, strawberry float me expensive. My boys love it. The public transport seems to be free and they discover that there is no age check when using the self service tills in Aldi. I'd naively told them they could explore the city whilst we went to the lido and given them 20CHF. Booze... My 15 year old proudly tells me he bought a bottle of wine.

Next stop, somewhere in northern France. Only thing of note was driving past a field growing weed. We all shout "It smells like Belgium!" which is our code for weed. My youngest enquires later on if we can go back.

They didn't spend the entire time on their phones and I hope that I helped them make some life long memories.

strawberry float, I didn't release some GRcaders have been out to Copenhagen recently. Lived here since April. Could have been a meet up, some drinks and the obligatory get shouted at by cyclists. We live in Norreport, like 5 minutes from that Round tower.

OnlyShallow wrote:My partner and I took my two boys on a mini road trip. They have now reached the age where they will probably want to do their own thing (15 & 17 )

First port of call was Europa-Park. We took them there 5 years ago. Unfortunately for me, my eldest now loves roller-coasters and insisted that I go on them with him. We are in the queue for Blue Fire Mega Coaster and all I can hear is screaming. Great. 0-100 kph in 2.5 secs, loops, cork screws, other roller coaster terms. Woop. De. Doo.

Seriously though, if you are a theme park fan, put it on your list.

Next stop was Lauterbrunnen. My gf and I have been there a few times but it was the first time with my kids. My eldest had been doing his research and discovered he could legally buy beer in Switzerland (and Germany). So we hiked from Stechelberg to Gimmelwald (strawberry float me, I had to stop every 10 metres, so unfit). Got to the top and hallelujah there is a bar that is open! Downside, Swiss prices. And it is full of Americans. Upside, Schwarz Monch beer and the Mountain Hostel serves the best pizza I think I've ever had (sorry Napoli). Take the cable car down in the dark.

Next stop, Lake Maggiore for a few days of chilling out.

Start to head home and we have a few days to play with, so decide to go to Luzern. Beautiful city. However, so expensive. Like, strawberry float me expensive. My boys love it. The public transport seems to be free and they discover that there is no age check when using the self service tills in Aldi. I'd naively told them they could explore the city whilst we went to the lido and given them 20CHF. Booze... My 15 year old proudly tells me he bought a bottle of wine.

Next stop, somewhere in northern France. Only thing of note was driving past a field growing weed. We all shout "It smells like Belgium!" which is our code for weed. My youngest enquires later on if we can go back.

They didn't spend the entire time on their phones and I hope that I helped them make some life long memories.

You sound like a great dad, where were you when I was 17?

Anyone able to offer any recommendations on Barcelona? My partner and I will be there for 3.5 days at the end of this month. I'm also planning on proposing while we're there, if the moment feels right. I'll be doing that at some point reasonably soon anyway and we've been talking about it for years (together for over 9 years now). I'm not concerned she'll say no, but I am concerned that I won't find anywhere that feels right enough to do it.

EDIT: My alternate plan is to wait until we're in Iceland over winter and do it under the Northern Lights.

Igor wrote:

OnlyShallow wrote:My partner and I took my two boys on a mini road trip. They have now reached the age where they will probably want to do their own thing (15 & 17 )

First port of call was Europa-Park. We took them there 5 years ago. Unfortunately for me, my eldest now loves roller-coasters and insisted that I go on them with him. We are in the queue for Blue Fire Mega Coaster and all I can hear is screaming. Great. 0-100 kph in 2.5 secs, loops, cork screws, other roller coaster terms. Woop. De. Doo.

Seriously though, if you are a theme park fan, put it on your list.

Next stop was Lauterbrunnen. My gf and I have been there a few times but it was the first time with my kids. My eldest had been doing his research and discovered he could legally buy beer in Switzerland (and Germany). So we hiked from Stechelberg to Gimmelwald (strawberry float me, I had to stop every 10 metres, so unfit). Got to the top and hallelujah there is a bar that is open! Downside, Swiss prices. And it is full of Americans. Upside, Schwarz Monch beer and the Mountain Hostel serves the best pizza I think I've ever had (sorry Napoli). Take the cable car down in the dark.

Next stop, Lake Maggiore for a few days of chilling out.

Start to head home and we have a few days to play with, so decide to go to Luzern. Beautiful city. However, so expensive. Like, strawberry float me expensive. My boys love it. The public transport seems to be free and they discover that there is no age check when using the self service tills in Aldi. I'd naively told them they could explore the city whilst we went to the lido and given them 20CHF. Booze... My 15 year old proudly tells me he bought a bottle of wine.

Next stop, somewhere in northern France. Only thing of note was driving past a field growing weed. We all shout "It smells like Belgium!" which is our code for weed. My youngest enquires later on if we can go back.

They didn't spend the entire time on their phones and I hope that I helped them make some life long memories.

You sound like a great dad, where were you when I was 17?

Anyone able to offer any recommendations on Barcelona? My partner and I will be there for 3.5 days at the end of this month. I'm also planning on proposing while we're there, if the moment feels right. I'll be doing that at some point reasonably soon anyway and we've been talking about it for years (together for over 9 years now). I'm not concerned she'll say no, but I am concerned that I won't find anywhere that feels right enough to do it.

EDIT: My alternate plan is to wait until we're in Iceland over winter and do it under the Northern Lights.

My partner lived in Barcelona for 7 years before coming to Copenhagen.

You can do a day trip to Montserrat, which is nice. You can walk around the mountain and there's some privacy.

(Partner of Squinty takes over the posting from this point )

Parc Guell. There are free parts of the park you can access and some nice arches there that are beautiful.

Carretera de las aguas offers beautiful views of the city and can be peaceful but it's harder to get to without a car.

Or if you don't mind somewhere busier
El Nacional or El Xampanyet where you can celebrate with some cava - both are very busy so it depends if you're ok with an audience.

Tibidabo is also an option there is a beautiful restaurant with views of the city and maybe not as crowded.

Question for Irish GRcade or anybody that's been there, what is Wexford like for a weekend trip?

My lad loves going on boats and so I've got an idea in my head of taking him on the ferry to Ireland. Driving and parking up in Pembroke/Fishguard, ferry over to Rosslare and then getting the train from Rosslare to Wexford. Other cities/town I've heard of seem a little too far for a kid after the driving/ferrying we'd have already done.

If Wexford is gooseberry fool/boring though then I doubt I'll bother.

Moggy wrote:Question for Irish GRcade or anybody that's been there, what is Wexford like for a weekend trip?

My lad loves going on boats and so I've got an idea in my head of taking him on the ferry to Ireland. Driving and parking up in Pembroke/Fishguard, ferry over to Rosslare and then getting the train from Rosslare to Wexford. Other cities/town I've heard of seem a little too far for a kid after the driving/ferrying we'd have already done.

If Wexford is gooseberry fool/boring though then I doubt I'll bother.

Everything in Ireland is closed on sundays, at least that's what i found.

T'was a decade ago mind so things might be different now.

Got back from San Francisco a week ago and me and the wife had an awesome time.

We stayed at this place and ended up getting a free upgrade to this room - https://www.innsf.com/accommodation/room-22/

We did so much while we was there.
Walked from The Ferry Building up-to Pier 39/Fishermans Wharf
Coit Tower
Went on the cable car from Powell Street to Fishermans Wharf
Went to Mrs Doubtfires house
Walked across and back over the Golden Gate bridge
Went to The Palace of the Arts - Beautiful structure and surroundings
Visited the Yoda statue at Lucasfilm
Lombard Street
Painted Ladies
Alcatraz
Muir Woods (The Redwood trees are amazing)
Sausalito
Day trip to Montery, Carmel by the Sea and 17 mile drive
Watched a MLB game as well at Oracle Park.

The city has so many amazing viewpoints in places. It is stunning and we had two really good meals at these places near our hotel which I recommend. https://www.limonrestaurants.com/locati ... -van-ness/ & https://sanjaliscorestaurant.com/

I also knew San Fran would have a homeless problem but America being America I knew they would have to do it better than everyone else. Its like poverty + it is insane. Also the amount of people who talk to themselves as if they are actually talking to another real person is something else.