Just Booked My First Trip to Europe...

[cranked]

...and followed it up with a 79 on the course today.

So stoked to head to that side of the pond...

5 days in London
5 days in Paris
3 days in Amsterdam
5 days in St. Thomas (wedding )

Anyway, if anyone has any must dos in London, Paris, or the Dam (or must don'ts, too), please send them my way.

Also, if anyone has any dives in St. Thomas they would recommend, would love to hear those as well.

[Cliff Huckable]

In general: See things YOU are interested in, don't go see things just because that's what people do when they're in Paris, etc.

Use public transit, not cabs. It's a great way to get the flavour of a city.

Use the language of the country as much as possible. Don't worry about the accent. People will appreciate it - and it is an ace way to meet women, who will love your "cute accent".

London - National Gallery (on a week day) and the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is very nearby. Both excellent. If you can see a play, concert, or opera in the West End you should do it.
Hang out, drink beer and eat Indian food, chat with strangers.

Paris - Picasso Museum is good. Louvre - take a look at the floorplan and go directly to what you think will be interesting, don't spend all day "trying to see it all". See what's happening for Opera and Dance - it could be a once in a lifetime trip - don't waste it seeing shit you could see back home (films, indie bands).
Hang out, drink wine and eat great food, and chat with strangers.

Amsterdam - Is the MelkWeg still around? Decent place - pub/cafe/concert hall. Rijksmuseum is great.
Be streetwise - and don't give "stranded" fellow Americans with a sob story any cash - they're junkies 99% of the time (unless you want to help their habit, which is up to you.) Don't hang around outside the train station after dark.
Hang out, smoke, chat with strangers.

[PassTheDutchie]

That'll be great... I am sure you are aware of this, but the $ is close to being worthless right now. Try not to think about the fact that you will be paying close to $10/beer. Just enjoy. Def. public trans in London & Paris; you can get pretty much anywhere you need to go in Amsterdam on foot (one of the world's great walking cities).

[Odin]

There is a place next to the train station in Lyone where there are whores as far as the eye can see.

[truckeelocal]

There is a place next to the train station in Lyone where there are whores as far as the eye can see.

GF Handel said that Dutch girls are whore before they marry, French girls are whores after they marry, English girls are whores. Don't know about St. Thomas but it looks like he's covering the bases pretty thoroughly.

[Odin]

Don't know about St. Thomas

I think he is getting married there so..... I would think no?

However if not then........ giggidy

[Free Range Lobster]

5 days in St. Thomas (wedding )

The AlsScan chicks shoot there. that should be a yesyesyes2

Also, if anyone has any dives in St. Thomas they would recommend, would love to hear those as well.

Dive shop in Redhook at American Yacht Harbor, talk to them. They're good.

[Odin]

The AlsScan chicks shoot there. that

ALS Is a very serious disability and growing disease. I'm suprised that you would even go there.

*** googling alsscan chicks right now ***

SWEET JESUS GO THERE NOW!!!!!!!!!!
@!
!!!~!~!~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hutash]

I have only been to Amsterdam of the three cities mentioned. Definitely get out and walk the city, especially the red light district. Visit small cafes and shops. The Dutch are super friendly people IMO, so make an effort to talk with them. Most speak better English then Americans.

The Van Gogh museum is a must if you are into art. The Rijksmuseum was under going restoration when I was there in October. It is worth going into the small annex to see the "The Night Watch", otherwise give it a skip.

Of course drugs are illegal to buy and sell, but legal to possess, so they are readily available. Prostitution is also legal, so be sure to ask for a union card...no kidding the hookers are unionized.

[wandering, not lost]

I
London - National Gallery (on a week day) and the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is very nearby. Both excellent. If you can see a play, concert, or opera in the West End you should do it.
Hang out, drink beer and eat Indian food, chat with strangers.

I second the public transit thing. After you've been there for a few days, just wander the city with an unlimited tube pass and pop in and out of the tube whenever you feel like it. That's how I randomly wound up at the place they killed William Wallace one day. Also, if you're there on a Friday, go to the borough market at london bridge. It's an amazing collection of delicious food and beer. Buy a loaf of bread at one stall and then wander around sampling the gourmet cheese, olive oil, etc.

I second the comment about Indian food, and the Thai food is also excellent.

[cranked]

I think he is getting married there so..... I would think no?

However if not then........ giggidy

Alas, I have already done the deed...it is a friend's wedding.

Thanks for the thoughts everyone...good times ahead.

[hemas]

Others have already pointed out what's good in 'Dam...

For Paris, spend an evening walking around Montmartre and check out the Sacre Coeur church... It looks stunning after dark.

The park in front of Notre Dame is also pretty cool place to hang around after dark... Lots of young peeps and fire dancers (or what the heck they are called).

For concrete hell, check out La Defence...


Oh, and if it is warm... Go swim/waddle in the big fountain on the other side of Seine just opposite the Eiffel tower...

[Cliff Huckable]

I forgot to mention Luxembourg garden in Paris - beautiful!

[Mrs Roo]

Anyway, if anyone has any must dos in London......

Drinking with the London maggots. When are you coming?

Other things to do:

London Eye
Waterloo Bridge at night. Ugly bridge but the views are great from it. There are a couple of pub/boats moored next to it. Nice if the weather is warm.
Tower of London- have a tour with a Beefeater
Boat cruise up and down the Thames- there's some fantastic history
St Pauls, Palace of Westminster, West End theatres, British Museum, Tate Modern Gallery, The Globe theatre to watch Shakespeare, Buckingham Palace/Horseguards etc.... there's too much to list.

Some of these things need tickets so check out http://www.lastminute.com/site/enter...lastminute.com for cheaper tickets and some combined deals (e.g. the tower and a boat cruise together). Be warned, things are pretty pricey over here.

[irbis]

A'dam: go to the Cobra museum of modern art - it's not downtown, but you can get there by tram or bus in 20 minutes. There is a superbe exposition called Brave New World. It runs until the 3rd of June.

I also know a couple of restaurants which are not sure infested by tourists and as such the service and kitchen are better :-)

PM if interested in details.

[hutash]

Natural History Museum in London. I have never been, but it is on the top of my list when I get there.

[Mrs Roo]

Yep, I forgot that one. It's a really beautiful old building and the collections are amazing. You need a long weekend to get round it all. It's huge!





Another useful website if you are on a budget: http://www.london4free.net/

[BmillsSkier]

and I'd check out Ledisplein (sp?) square for a good place to hang out and shop/drink/talk to locals. It's nearby Museumplatz and that whole area is generally nicer, less tacky than the red-light, and a good place to meet people. There's also a great park over there at the end of the street with all the expensive shops. Head over there and grab a beer from the outdoor cafe and settle in for some good people watching. Get lost in the wagon-wheel layout of the city, especially down in that area, the streets have great architecture, cool restaurants and cafes. oh, and for a good laugh check out these places.
Attachment 26768

Attachment 26769

Oh and I know it's cliche but seriously, drink alot of Heineken there, it tastes so much better than it does here.
Attachment 26770

[Tippster]

The.

Tate.

Sheesh.

[Mrs Roo]

The.

Tate.

Sheesh.

An art critic, ay?

[philippeR]

A few advices about Paris here.
In Amsterdam, rent a bike !

[hutash]

Oh and I know it's cliche but seriously, drink alot of Heineken there, it tastes so much better than it does here.
Attachment 26770

My Dutch friend will not drink Heineken, they say it is only for export to American. The Dutch in the know all drink Belgian beer, which is amazing stuff. Just watch out for the 13% stuff. It is served in big glasses like the rest, but won't walk away if you have several glasses of the stuff. I love how they only serve beer in the manufacturers own glasses, there are some really cool glases, and they make the Belgian beer even better.

[Storm11]

Check out the 420 Cafe in A-dam. Go straight down the main drag from the train station on the right side until you come to a place that kinda resembles Hooters (sports bar with girls dancing on the tables...also a cool place to check out). Take a right on the street (alley) directly next to it and go a block and a half. 420 is on your left. Best place to get both beer AND weed IMHO.
Walk around the Red Light after midnight...its a trip.

[Tippster]

An art critic, ay?

I blame my mother, who finally got to cross off the last of her "top 5" when she went to the Louvre last week.

In no particular order:

Tate Galleries
Hermitage
Louvre
Prado
Met

[Cliff Huckable]

I blame my mother, who finally got to cross off the last of her "top 5" when she went to the Louvre last week.

In no particular order:

Tate Galleries
Hermitage
Louvre
Prado
Met

Is she interested in the art in the buildings, or in the buildings themselves?