Advice/Opinions welcomed.
May 25th, 2007 by B.
As you probably know by now, Jim’s cousin and his girlfriend are coming this summer and have completely fucked up our travel plans (me? bitter? never…) This is a huge deal because I really wanted to go to Spain or Greece and now I’m instead faced with a possible third trip to Paris… within a year. Don’t get me wrong, Paris is great, but I need a break.
It was with this in mind that I began negotiations with Jim last week. My stance- call the annoying freeloaders and tell them they can’t come this summer (which I knew was a longshot since they’ve already bought their plane tickets). Jim’s stance- accept it with good grace and plan to go to Greece next year.
After several rounds of tense discussion, we arrived at the following agreement: If I was willing to call and tell them we’d drive them as far as Paris, but after that they’re on their own, then he (Jim) would be ok with leaving them in Paris to fend for themselves. And believe you me, I was willing. We’re now scheduled to drop them off in Paris Aug. 2nd and pick them back up on the 10th. Hey, it’s better than nothing.
And here’s where your advice/opinions come into play… where should we go during our 8 day reprieve? We’ve ruled out flying because we’ll have the car (and also figure we should be nearby in case something catastrophic happens to the cousins), so that leaves some other part of France, Switzerland or the Netherlands. I’ve already ruled out Belgium because… well… it seems boring.
I’d probably prefer the Netherlands (and by ‘Netherlands’ I, naturally, mean Amsterdam) or Switzerland to France, primarily because we haven’t really spent a lot of time in either country. Which would you recommend (and this question goes to people who’ haven’t been to either place too)? I have no idea where the best places are in Switzerland, so I’d really need guidance there.
And wherever we go it needs to be tons of fun as it’ll have to distract from the fact that (a) we still have to babysit the cousins when our time there is up, and (b) I’ll be turning… gulp… 39 while there- A dark day indeed.
I should totally be doing this as a new poll… ‘where should b. go for summer vacation’, but I’m too fascinated with how many of you want to three-way Brangilina to take it down yet… you naughty bloggers, you!
p.s. Holy shit is Nutella good… can’t believe I’ve been here over a year and never tried it. You guys should’ve told me!
On this day..
- Yay! - 2007
I’m going to make a completely off the wall suggestion: Why not let them fly to Paris from Leipzig. Aug 2-10 runs at about 200€ on Lufthansa right now; 273€ on Air France. Dresden runs about 200€ as well — or maybe originate up in Berlin. They could go one direction and you another. (hey! easy jet does SXF to Orly!)
As for the “other” direction, I’m thinking Scandinavian countries. Unless you hate excessive sunshine, I imagine summer is the time to go north. I liked Tallinn, and I imagine there are other northern places to visit.
Adam- no can do on flying them out there. We’re taking them to Poland first… then Berlin… then France. And they’re on a really tight budget, so unless we’re willing to spring for their airline tickets (we’re not- we’re already paying half their hotel bill in Paris) they need to be chauffeured. And we’ve also pretty much committed to staying within 5 or 6 hours of them, so the locales are locked in…
Strasbourg is nice - a Germany/France hybrid if you can imagine it. I love Amsterdam, could live there I think, and they sell Pomelo-flavored Fanta there. Also, great Indonesian food. If you’re up for a longer drive (or a high speed train ride, 3 hours I believe) the south of France feels like paradise. Lots of great seafood and beaches and vineyards (oh my).
Wow! You are too fu… well, freakin’ nice! I would have shown them where the train station is! Or airport!
Belgium actually is not that boring. We lived in the north of France last year, and I went to Brugge and Oostande often. I also enjoyed Brussels quite a bit. Actually, to this day my husband will tell you that he had the best chocolate mousse of his life there. LOL! Anyway, from Paris, drive up around Lille, over in to Belgium and then to the Netherlands, and definitely make a stop in Brugge.
P.S. I rave about Nutella on my blog … I can’t believe you might have missed it! I use it in cookies, cheesecake, brownies… the list goes on and on!
Just go to Amsterdam and get very stoned for 8 days - You wont worry about the cousinas at all!
Oh and good job putting your foot down. We finally started making it clear to visitors that we would not be accompanying them to sights we’ve already seen. And it’s worked well. I’m a much better hostess when people leave my house and give me a breather for a few days, or even a few hours, in the middle of their visit. It’s something I will try to remember in the future when I’m a guest.
Ooo… mad! I hit “submit comment” and my comment is somewhere in cyberspace!
Basically it said that you are too nice!
Oh, and there is a lot to do in Belgium! We lived in the north of France last season, and I went to Brugge and Oostende often! Brugge is an absolute favorite of mine! I also enjoyed Brussels, and to this day, my husband says that he had the best chocolate mousse ever there. So– drive from Paris up towards Lille and in to Belgium (stopping over in Brugge and/or Brussels). From there head over to Amsterdam.
I told people that if they wanted to come visit they were more than welcome. If they wanted to go places I’d already been, they were on their own except for the weekends. If they wanted to go place I hadn’t seen, then we could definitely negotiate. Vacation is precious no matter where you live. Spend it doing things that *you* want to do!
Having said that, I highly recommend either Lucerne or Interlaken in Switzerland. I dont know that you really need 8 days in either, but the Swiss train system is fabulous so maybe it’s a combo trip? Both are stunningly beautiful, but Lucerne is bigger and has more to do. Zurich might also be an option, but again, I don’t think you need 8 days there either. There’s also a scenic train that runs from Zermatt to St. Moritz (I think) that might be a nice change of pace. But just a warning: die Schweiz ist schweinteuer. (It’s expensive!!)
B, what about going to the South of France….Cannes area? It looks really gorgeous, even tho it’s being overridden at the moment w/ the film festival & a million celebrities….The freak factor alone would be worth a look wouldn’t it?
Nutella is friggin’ awesome B….I love it! So delish!!!
Maybe at least an one-way alternative?
I was wondering about putting them on the train as well. We just got a great price on tickets, albeit from the northern part of Baden and with discounts, for 52 a head for a 3 hour superfast train that gets us to Paris in 3 hours (tgv). From Berlin there are night train deals where the two of them could go roundtrip berlin/paris for 100 euros total. If one of them is under 26, there are other good options.
I can only add to the pile-on. If they were coming to visit you, they should have be happy to wander around Dresden. Miss Manners would have a field day with this one.
I can’t wait to get to Belgium - but then, I am a huge fan of belgian style beer (If you can only have 1 or two, best they taste like something), and that’s not your thing. Strassbourg and Freiburg are great cities, but Freiburg gets _hot_! There is the black forest - not that I think you could spend all that much time there, but it’s one of those things one likes to say one has seen.
The oils in Nutella are different in the States and Europe. In the US, they use peanut oil (here it’s some vegetable oil) and all of my Austrian friends complained that it tasted different than what they were used to.
Wow, I can’t believe you’re paying for half their hotel there!! I hope none of my guests ever feel so entitled, or they will be SOL.
I would probably go to Amsterdam or the north of France or the Channel Islands (I think you can get to them by ferry from France).
Nutella rocks! Last year in France I bought an industrial size jar to bring back - it lasted less than a month.
As far as travel, I still love Switzerland. I haven’t been to the Netherelands, but if choosing between France and Switzerland, I’d choose Switzerland. Basel and Geneva are interesting cities and there are always mountains and walking trails and great chocolate. I have no doubt you’ll have a good time no matter where you end up
How about castle-hopping in Bavaria? Herren Chiemsee, Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Hohenschwangau. I know they’re touristy, but they are also so very cool!
Carol
Hey, I agree with going north too, and visiting Denmark, or Schleswig-Holstein. Summer should be the ideal time to go!
Hi B.,
given that I stayed in France for about a year, I very much recommend staying there for a week’s holiday. The Bordeaux region and the coast there as well as probably every other coast in France is recommendable (although also very crowded since August is the main holiday month in France). Lyon is also very nice and Strasbourg as well.
Sabi