The Holiday Thread

[V8Granite]

We're going to Rome next Saturday for a week. Never been before and really looking forward to it.

We discovered a few years back that the idea of a "City Break" is a bit of a waste (at least to us) - you spend a fortune, it's a mad dash rush from Friday Tea Time to Sunday evening to try to see enough and you always want to go back. Staying somewhere for a week allows you a lot more time to relax into it. We've pre-booked the main sights (essential apparently) but we've 2 or 3 full days and other afternoons and mornings to do stuff we discover when we're there.

We really want to go as we sent my parents there for their wedding anniversary.

I want to stand in the Vatican and see if I can feel the evil or not

Dave!

[mik]

I enjoyed Rome, but ensure you stay alert. It's 10 years since I was there, but at that time there was a ridiculous level of pickpocket activity. Groups, and very brazen.

There were 1-2 "spotters" hanging around the stairs of every metro entrance, bus depot, and tourist attraction. On a moving train we saw a guy having his rucksack unzipped by a couple of dodgy dudes standing behind him whilst he stared at his phone. Train carriage was about 30% full, but nobody said anything. Thankfully the thieves didn't remove anything as I'd have felt compelled to alert the victim, but the pair got off at the next station, and another two blokes who had been at the other end of the carriage got off at the same time and they immediately regrouped on the platform (presumably to discuss their next moves).

[Rich B]

Having just been to Paris, if Rome is similar then you need to prebook all the big stuff - and early (weeks not days early).

we went to the top of the Eiffel tower and they release tickets 2 MONTHS before (and they all sell out). I found a “hack” which isn’t written on any official sites, but 1 week before at 1pm they release more tickets - which sell out in a hour. We bought ours that way.

If we wanted to go into Notre Dame or anything like that you have to do similar early booking.

Check NOW Dinny!!!!

[Rich B]

and the amount of “official” ticket sellers online for each place is hilarious! Check you have the actual one, it’s usually the cheapest too!

[V8Granite]

I enjoyed Rome, but ensure you stay alert. It's 10 years since I was there, but at that time there was a ridiculous level of pickpocket activity. Groups, and very brazen.

There were 1-2 "spotters" hanging around the stairs of every metro entrance, bus depot, and tourist attraction. On a moving train we saw a guy having his rucksack unzipped by a couple of dodgy dudes standing behind him whilst he stared at his phone. Train carriage was about 30% full, but nobody said anything. Thankfully the thieves didn't remove anything as I'd have felt compelled to alert the victim, but the pair got off at the next station, and another two blokes who had been at the other end of the carriage got off at the same time and they immediately regrouped on the platform (presumably to discuss their next moves).

We saw similar on the bus when we went into Venice. I saw a guy messaging over the other side and the guy was getting them sat 2 seats over from me. I just gave him a long look and they made excuses and got off.

Westminster bridge is terrible for it in London, dense crowds at times and obvious pickpockets. I walk a couple of metres behind Treina and the kids in certain parts as they are very clever about it.

Dinny, you need a Bumbag

Dave!

[DaveE]

We're in SW France for the next two weeks, an inconsequential little village that we've visited twice before

Stayed overnight on Orleans to break the drive (really lovely place, not visited before)

Then a 5 hour drive today (an easy 4 hours on the motorway) then an hour blasting across country on D roads with the roof down

The Boxster continues to impress, not least with its economy on a motorway cruise. Having filled up, we had an estimated range of 490 miles!

That's slightly reduced after that hour of fun to get to the house

[dinny_g]

I originally wanted to go to Hossigor and explore that part of France but was over ruled

[DeskJockey]

France is one of my favourite places to holiday.

[Simon]

Don't you find the French a touch.... sniffly about foreigners though? Especially those that don't speak fluent French.

[jamcg]

I’ve always found the French in England to be more pompous and snooty than the French in France

[DeskJockey]

No, never had a problem. Probably helps that I speak enough French to do the basics, or at least get a conversation going before switching and (inevitably) apologising.

[Rich B]

The french in Saumur were among the friendliest people i’ve ever met, even the Parisians were lovely tbf. All it took was my little boy saying “merci” and they were all fawning over us - a highlight for him was when the lift operator in the Eiffel tower let him into the operators seat and press the buttons to control the lift from the top.

[Jobbo]

Don't you find the French a touch.... sniffly about foreigners though? Especially those that don't speak fluent French.

That’s something I’ve never found - in Brittany, Normandy, Loire, Langeudoc - I’ve not been everywhere but genuinely it’s never been an issue.

Maybe en masse they are fairly patriotic and protect their culture but individually they’re very welcoming.

[mik]

I’ve spent a little time in Beaumes De Venice - near Avignon. I could very easily slip into the routine of fresh bread daily (and fresh epic cheese not much less than daily also).

[V8Granite]

The french in Saumur were among the friendliest people i’ve ever met, even the Parisians were lovely tbf. All it took was my little boy saying “merci” and they were all fawning over us - a highlight for him was when the lift operator in the Eiffel tower let him into the operators seat and press the buttons to control the lift from the top.

Workshy bastards!

Dave!

[Rich B]

The french in Saumur were among the friendliest people i’ve ever met, even the Parisians were lovely tbf. All it took was my little boy saying “merci” and they were all fawning over us - a highlight for him was when the lift operator in the Eiffel tower let him into the operators seat and press the buttons to control the lift from the top.

Workshy bastards!

Dave!

To be fair, i quite enjoyed this part of the day too….

[DeskJockey]

Did you walk over the glass floor one you were up in the tower? We had fun with that when we did it.

[Rich B]

Did you walk over the glass floor one you were up in the tower? We had fun with that when we did it.

yeah, me and the boy were jumping on them to try and freak out the mrs.

[DeskJockey]

Did you walk over the glass floor one you were up in the tower? We had fun with that when we did it.

yeah, me and the boy were jumping on them to try and freak out the mrs.

Top work. Our eldest doesn't like heights, so he was quite uncomfortable watching us walk over it.

[Rich B]

Did you walk over the glass floor one you were up in the tower? We had fun with that when we did it.

yeah, me and the boy were jumping on them to try and freak out the mrs.

Top work. Our eldest doesn't like heights, so he was quite uncomfortable watching us walk over it.

To be fair, they’re not super confident about them - they have nets underneath….