Leaving the country

[inulro]

As a consequence of having a new job, I have acquired some annual leave. This means I may be able to leave the country for a while around the time of Bonfire Night and thus avoid the total nervous breakdown the non-stop fireworks extravaganza tends to bring on. That's the first week of November for the non-Brits amongst you.

I'm limited to places I can fly directly from Bristol because it'll only be a short break.

I was thinking about Paris or Toulouse because I want to improve my French, but flights aren't cheap. Eurostar is tempting - it starts from £60, and despite my general mistrust ot the Tunnel, it takes 3 hours and dumps you in downtown Paris instead of out at the airport. The down side being, of course, that by the time I factor in getting to Waterloo, it's probably about the same price to fly from here.

There's some ridiculously cheap fares to some other places around that time; but much as I want to go to Copenhagen, Amsterdam & Berlin I'm not convinced November is the best time. Most of the Spanish destinations are affordable too. I really should give Barcelona another try - I didn't like it the last time (1989) but everyone else I know loves it. I haven't been to Bilbao or Valencia. (I really want to go to Salamanca or Zaragoza, but that would involve more time & money).

The sensible thing to do would be to save my money & stay at home & invest in tranquillisers, especially as I appear to have emptied my bank account again.

Any recommendations?

PS If you're going to try to sell me on Barcelona, be advised that I completely fail to see the appeal of Gaudi so that won't wash.

Comments

[zoo-music-girl.livejournal.com]

Zaragoza's nice, but it's not as exciting as some of the other Spanish cities. My friend who now lives in Barcelona used to live in Zaragoza and I went out for a week. Apparently there are some nice Goya murals in the cathedral but we didn't go in. It's mostly an industrial town though, why do you want to go there?

[inulro.livejournal.com]

I can't remember why at the moment; I think it has some medieval/early modern historical connections and classical guitar connections.

[the_axel]

I've always enjoyed my trips to Paris in the cool & damp times of the year.

Ireland would prob'ly be good too.

I would really recommend Morocco, but I suspect that a flight to Marrakech would be out of your price range (plus it would prob'ly involve a change in France which would really lengthen the flight).

[zenmonkeykstop.livejournal.com]

Investigate Venice, it's its cheap time of year.

[aeia.livejournal.com]

Not sure from that list.. Bordeaux maybe interesting. Paris would be OK but could be damn cold. Venice I've never been but is supposed to be nice off peak season.

Could also be worth looking at where you can go to from Cardiff.

I'm almost sorted for Canada now! Got flights for just over £250 in the end from Canadianaffair so thanks loads for that! Would you be able to rat sit from the 16th to the 28th if I brought them round to you?

[aeia.livejournal.com]

Ooo and just thought Germany could be interesting if the Xmas Markets are on by then. Lots of interesting food and craft stalls and mulled wine. But I think they mainly start later in Nov.

[quercus.livejournal.com]

Paris isn't cold until November - and there's still plenty of fun indoorish stuff to do.

I'd go for Barcelona. Even if you don't get Gaudi, it's still a fun place. You could go to the Miro museum, the one with no Miros in it (but good Alexander Calder mobiles)

[inulro.livejournal.com]

Last time I was in Paris was the week before Christmas - I'm not that worried about the cold in early November!

No problem at all about looking after the rats. Give us a call to let us know when you want to drop them off.

[mimmimmim.livejournal.com]

We've been thinking about going to Berlin. As Aeia said, the Christmas markets should be happening later in the year. They're loooovely! It'll be cold, but then you're a Canadian - you'll probably think it's shorts weather...

I know what you mean about Barcelona; everyone raves about it and Prague to me and I'm just not interested in either. Bilbao looks briliant, though, and there's that dramatic-looking Guggenheim Museum there.

[inulro.livejournal.com]

I do desperately want to go to Prague, but as I require a visa, when I get round to it, I'm spending at least a week there and then another week touring round the Czech republic. I'm not going to all that trouble for a long weekend.

Having said that, Prague was probably much better before all the tourists showed up.

I have essentially zero interest in the Christmas markets, and shopping needs to not be the object of the trip. I'm going to be pushed for funds as it is.