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We went to NYC with my sister and her DH. Did the usual touristy things and we saw Wicked and they saw Bullets Over Broadway. We drove to VA and took the Amtrak to NYC. Relaxing way to travel.
We want to take Amtrak to NY for a month long cruise (from NOVA) but I was discouraged when I saw no checked luggage allowed and limit to two smaller carryons. What was your experience as far as luggage and what train did you take? Did you leave from Alexandria?
We left from Fredericksburg VA. I believe the train number was 84, but would not swear to it. Our suitcases are the size that would fit in overhead luggage on an airplane. Both of us had a suitcase and I had a canvas bag with a small book and some magazines and snacks. My DH had a backpack that had his camera, snacks and miscellaneous things in it. I asked my sister about the luggage and she told me that no one had ever checked. I saw signs at the station talking about how much you could have and the size, but no one ever checked ours either. I am like you and would be nervous trying to take more. Good luck and have fun on your month long cruise. Pam
Well, we got back last week after our first European trip. We went to Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris. It was heavenly!!! Had such a wonderful time. Thanks to all for your suggestions and advice when I was trying to decide where we should go. I am so looking forward to our next adventure, wherever that may be.
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simple girl less stuff, more time
(55, married; Mr. Simple Girl, 59. FIRED 12/31/19!)
So MANY photos, I'm not sure how to choose! Here's a couple's selfie at the Eiffel Tower, a classic Amsterdam canal with bicycles and tulips pic, and a yummy waffle dessert in Brussels. Aaaaaah. Vacation. I never wanted it to end!
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simple girl less stuff, more time
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Just returned from a month in Europe (6 countries), including a river cruise on the Danube and Danube Main Canal, as well as some time in Ireland. I won't be posting pictures, but it was a fabulous trip filled with music. Favourite places I hadn't seen before included Budapest, Prague and Upper Austria. I am deferring any new travel plans till my bank account recovers from this one!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Meadbh
Just returned from a month in Europe (6 countries), including a river cruise on the Danube and Danube Main Canal, as well as some time in Ireland. I won't be posting pictures, but it was a fabulous trip filled with music. Favourite places I hadn't seen before included Budapest, Prague and Upper Austria.
OK. I guess we will just have to use our imagination.
Come to think of it, you mentioned music, and that would even require a video so the sound could be included.
__________________ "Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)
"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,401
oh well, since you insist
Edited to add: I think the error was due to the fact that it was recorded on an iPhone and has been transferred to my photo library on my Mac. Not sure how to upload it. Sorry. You will just have to use your imagination after all!
Just returned from a month in Europe (6 countries), including a river cruise on the Danube and Danube Main Canal, as well as some time in Ireland. I won't be posting pictures, but it was a fabulous trip filled with music. Favourite places I hadn't seen before included Budapest, Prague and Upper Austria. I am deferring any new travel plans till my bank account recovers from this one!
That sounds like such a wonderful trip! So many people have raved to me about Budapest and Prague...they are definitely on my travel "wish list" now. And I hear ya on the bank account...I'm relucant to add up all of our expenses from this trip. Europe is expensive! (at least the places we went - especially Paris) We are not used to spending like that. It was all worth it, though.
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simple girl less stuff, more time
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Quote:
Originally Posted by simple girl
We are not used to spending like that.
Figure out where most of your money is going (evaporating) and modify your behavior so that you (mainly) enjoy what you went there to see/do, and cut back on things that are not 'necessary' to attain the desired result.
> So many people have raved to me about Budapest and Prague
Arriving in Budapest in the evening on a river cruise boat is very very nice.
We did this a couple of weeks back (Amsterdam to Budapest cruise - great trip!) and cruising into Budapest at night was one of the high points of the trip.
They light up the city on both sides of the Danube. It's rather breathtaking. Here's one photo I took of their parliament building:
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I have posted the following photo before, taken on Karlův most (Charles Bridge) in Prague. The place was swarmed with British tourists, as it was a popular weekend spot for them.
My wife has also been to Budapest on a trip with friends, but I still have to visit it. We should be traveling like crazy now that we are free of children support as well as care for parents, but my sudden health problem in 2013 still holds us back.
__________________ "Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)
"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
Ladies collecting snails from the bottom of the river in the Tam Coc area near Hanoi. And the cave our boat is about to enter. The river flows straight through these caves and out the other side....right under the mountain!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by simple girl
That sounds like such a wonderful trip! So many people have raved to me about Budapest and Prague...they are definitely on my travel "wish list" now. And I hear ya on the bank account...I'm relucant to add up all of our expenses from this trip. Europe is expensive! (at least the places we went - especially Paris) We are not used to spending like that. It was all worth it, though.
Budapest is quite reasonable and Prague is moderately priced. Highlights of Budapest for me were the Dohany Street Synagogue and museum, the Communist tour, the spectacular river vistas and Vac Street, a pedestrian shopping street linking the Market and the plaza with Cafe Gerbeaud and the buskers.
Highlights of Prague for me included the ubiquitousness of music and cultural performances (Dvorak anyone?), the chocolate box architecture (reputed to have inspired Walt Disney), and a sobering visit to Terezin. The surrounding countryside was resplendent with yellow canola in early May and was quite beautiful.
> So many people have raved to me about Budapest and Prague
Arriving in Budapest in the evening on a river cruise boat is very very nice.
We did this a couple of weeks back (Amsterdam to Budapest cruise - great trip!) and cruising into Budapest at night was one of the high points of the trip.
They light up the city on both sides of the Danube. It's rather breathtaking. Here's one photo I took of their parliament building:
That is beautiful! And I love the idea of a cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest. We absolutely loved Amsterdam and would love a second visit. Thanks so much for the idea!
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simple girl less stuff, more time
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,401
Quote:
Originally Posted by simple girl
That is beautiful! And I love the idea of a cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest. We absolutely loved Amsterdam and would love a second visit. Thanks so much for the idea!
My original plan was exactly that, but my travel agent found a cruise with no single supplement on Avalon Vista (which I highly recommend for new ships, great service and staterooms). My experience was that having several days in the larger cities at each end was crucial to maximum enjoyment. So, for example, 1.5 days in Vienna was simply too short to explore the city properly. But the river cruise is a wonderful way to enjoy the smaller towns, castles, abbeys, etc. In general, there are more attractions per kilometer the farther north you go. Another consideration about Amsterdam to Budapest is that it takes up to 15 days. That's a long time to spend on a river cruise ship unless you take every opportunity to go ashore. On my cruise, someone brought a respiratory virus with them and shared it widely. It was difficult to escape and most guests picked it up despite constant reminders to use the hand sanitizers. Every choice has its drawbacks, but I thoroughly enjoyed my river cruise experience!