Travel/holiday thread

[Mr Celine]

That reminds me. There was a travel specific thread on BR. Anyone care to remind me of the tips for hiring cars in Italy?

Do not rent from Europcar. Pericolo di morte was the new Italian phrase I learned from the attendant at the filling station when topping up the skinny spare, repeated by the driver of the tow truck on seeing the state of the other front tyre.

Europcar took 6 weeks to 'investigate' my complaint then just ignored it.

This is the driver's side front tyre that went flat after 40 km due to being completely worn out on the inside shoulder.

This is the passenger side front tyre with squash ball sized bulge where the cords have completely worn through.

 

[First Aspect]

They are all franchises, so it is not the outliers that are an issue, but what it says about how much oversight there is and how we'll head office addresses obvious issues. (If the franchise doesn't).

 

[Pross]

Not this year but possibly next, friends of ours did a tour through France and Spain by train and we were fancying copying it. We're not well travelled so having an itinerary as a base is useful. We may do another cruise this year and the intention is to start travelling a bit more now the kids are grown up and we have a bit more spare cash. The wife has always wanted to go to India as her grandfather served out there in the RAF during WW2, I quite fancy Oman and we both really want to visit Canada (I think I started chats about India and Canada back in BR days). The wife also has a cousin on the Gold Coast in Oz and we have discussed going out to visit and then doing a cmper van tour down the coast to Sydney.

 

[rakkor]

We've one cruise planned for this year after doing two last year, the highlight of which was getting married on QM2 in Feb. This year's is a fly cruise out of Barcelona. I'm not a massive fan of fly cruises since the big advantage of sailing out of Southamton is the benefit of zero luggage restrictions, but this cruise has the attraction of Ephesus which is one of my bucket list places so I bit the bullet and used a bunch of Avios to fly business out of City Airport which makes it almost bearable.

 

[spen666]

Do not rent from Europcar. Pericolo di morte was the new Italian phrase I learned from the attendant at the filling station when topping up the skinny spare, repeated by the driver of the tow truck on seeing the state of the other front tyre.

Europcar took 6 weeks to 'investigate' my complaint then just ignored it.

This is the driver's side front tyre that went flat after 40 km due to being completely worn out on the inside shoulder.

View attachment 12180

This is the passenger side front tyre with squash ball sized bulge where the cords have completely worn through.

View attachment 12181

plenty of miles left in them. Its obviously user error as you were driving distances in km not miles 🤡

 

[First Aspect]

We've one cruise planned for this year after doing two last year, the highlight of which was getting married on QM2 in Feb. This year's is a fly cruise out of Barcelona. I'm not a massive fan of fly cruises since the big advantage of sailing out of Southamton is the benefit of zero luggage restrictions, but this cruise has the attraction of Ephesus which is one of my bucket list places so I bit the bullet and used a bunch of Avios to fly business out of City Airport which makes it almost bearable.

It is 30 years since I went but I recall that Ephesus is pretty impressive. Lots of walking needed, though.

Bergama(spelling??) where ancient Pergamon is, is worth a visit. There is t much there but I remember the temple on the mountain being picture postcard.

Oddly enough a lot of the less well known ancient sights are under visited, because the locals are more interested in their own Ottoman history than the rubble that the Greeks left behind (and my then travelling companion in think did explain that it was mostly Greek rather than Roman on that coast).

Also worth a day trip are those hot springs (Pammakule?), but like all communal bathing attractions try not to think about other people's skin and toenails.

 

[briantrumpet]

Thinking about this, maybe I ought to get myself a (Royal) Brompton and do a European Interrail expotition from my French base in the next couple of years, when I've wound work down a bit more. I've got a good German friend out there who's done this extensively, so would be a good source of info.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

There is t much there but I remember the temple on the mountain being picture postcard.

To point this in the direction of some of the more quasi-philosophical musings some of us forum members like to indulge in, this raises an interesting point about memory and experience, particularly with holidays and fleeting visits to places we don't live. Does it enrich our lives as much as we think (given that many societies place great value on travel and the cultural experience).? I have very vague memories of most holidays, does that mean they were nice as an "in the moment" experience, or do we also subconsciously "consume" more of the experience that then influences our lives and outlook longer term, perhaps more than we think?

 

[Pblakeney]

To point this in the direction of some of the more quasi-philosophical musings some of us forum members like to indulge in, this raises an interesting point about memory and experience, particularly with holidays and fleeting visits to places we don't live. Does it enrich our lives as much as we think (given that many societies place great value on travel and the cultural experience).? I have very vague memories of most holidays, does that mean they were nice as an "in the moment" experience, or do we also subconsciously "consume" more of the experience that then influences our lives and outlook longer term, perhaps more than we think?

Yes.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Yes.

No

 

[Rusty Nails]

No

Possibly

 

[Pblakeney]

Both

 

[First Aspect]

Both

For some people, neither.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

All succinct responses.

 

[secretsqirrel]

Without going out of my door
I can know all things of earth
Without looking out of my window
I could know the ways of heaven
The farther one travels
The less one knows
The less one really knows
Without going out of your door
You can know all things on earth
Without looking out of your window
You could know the ways of heaven
The farther one travels
The less one knows
The less one really knows
Arrive without traveling
See all without looking
Do all without doing

George Harrison: The inner light

Although I enjoy a good holiday, I quite fancy Greenland while it’s still there. 🤔