Attn: People that have been to Europe/European People:

[Spoony]

Whatever. Just do your best to get lost.

But not so lost that you can't ever get back to a train station.

Have fun,

C

[Sarah]

A piece of advice for the future:  the next time you go on a European jaunt, choose a month other than August.  Parisians, for example, desert their city that month, and it is populated almost entirely by tourists and those who cater to them.  Plus it's really hot.

[Spoony]

Plus it's really hot.

Hell yeah. French heat-waves have a body count to them.

[Beth]

Thanks for the advice everyone.  I'm going to take out Brussels.  I'll probably also replace Venice with Milan.  I'm not sure how I'll treat any anti-Americanism I encounter.  I think it's pretty easy (and pathetic) to be the apologetic American tourist.  Perhaps I'll just say I'm Canadian?

I've been saving up for this for a well while.  I'm far from a rich kid.

As far as anti-Americanism in Europe goes, I feel like it's partially exaggerated. Everyone I've met in Europe has been super nice. I feel like as long as you make a small effort to learn a few simple words in their language (like hello, goodbye, how much does this cost, thank you, etc.) it's pretty smooth sailing.


Have fun!

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

If you get the chance, check out Ljubljana, in Slovenia.  It's 4 hours from Venice by a brand-new high-speed train, and one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, like a nicer, smaller Prague without all of the Americans.

I generally agree re. not overstuffing your itinerary, though.

[A.M. Thomas]

Bump!

Thanks for the help everyone.  I went many places and had a great time.

[Steve of Bloomington]

They don't really believe in air conditioning there.  I went to Ireland in July once, and I couldn't sleep at night it was so hot.

[Gibby]

I endorse much of the advice here, particularly 'skip Brussels' and 'see Berlin'. I'd like to venture 'definitely see Barcelona' - though again, the heat might just crush you.

[A.M. Thomas]

I don't get the whole "Europe is so hot and has no air conditioning" thing.  It seemed pretty comfortable to me, even in Rome.  Maybe I'm just used to living in an attic bedroom without air conditioning during humid New Jersey summers, though.

I definitely recommend going to Prague.  It's such a great city and if you go an hour or so outside its borders you can do things like this:

[Emily]

Bump!

Thanks for the help everyone.  I went many places and had a great time.

Cool. So that's at the Ponte Vecchio? I never thought about the name Old Bridge (NJ) in relation to ponte vecchio before.