Thetownend.com

If you've never been, go.


That is all.  Next up, I'm hoping Budapest, Rejkjavik, Riga or Kiev.  Or many others.  Travelling is wonderful.

I am going to Budapest next month along with Bratislava and Vienna.

Went to Riga last year, can't really remember much about it. Gdansk and Krakow in Poland are worth visiting as well

I went to Krakow back in March, loved the place. Feedback from your travels in Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna would be appreciated.  I'd love to go to Vienna, I studied a lot of Austrian history so really should have been there already.

Oh, and enjoy your trip!

Budapest is a great city, perfect for a weekend break or longer, loads to see and do, Buda is beautiful and it can still be relatively cheap if you search around.

I went to Sofia recently for a weekend and that was great, quite small but dirt dirt cheap. easyjet from gatwick for fuck all too.

Cheers, I'll let you know, First 2 weeks of October will be going with my old man for 3 days in each place. Hiring a Car as well which will be handy as there are supposed to be some great castles and things just outside Bratislava

Aye another vote for Buda from me. Vienna too - it's just so nice to wander around doing nothing. Oh and the 24 hour tram pass actually lasts for 24 hours unlike our tube travel cards. The Haupsburg palaces are fantastic, the parks are beautiful and the pubs are pretty good too. It's a very Sunday afternoon, Antiques Roadshow kind of city - a world of lost empire and a glorious past, not a vibrant future.

Rejkjavik though, I can't say I was that keen. Okay so I went in autumn and it rains all the time which makes it a terrible place to be skint - which every non-Icelander was back before the Icelandic banks collapsed. But the buildings are mostly concrete and corrugated iron, the docks are industrial not attractive and the runtar is over-hyped. Think of Manchester and you won't go too far wrong.

The north of Iceland is warmer, drier and more friendly. It's also harder to get too.

But if you do go to Iceland the volcanic stuff is great - and not roped off like Yellowstone. You can just walk up to a superheated steam vent or mud pool if you want - they are just at the side of the road.

Hmm, disappointing feedback on Rejkjavik - struggling to find decent flight prices anyway.

Have you been to Copenhagen? I have yet to go to anywhere in Scandinavia yet, which will have to be rectified!

<predictable> go to oslo instead </predictable>

I have looked at Oslo before, tis on the (absolutely huge) list.  Me and the Mrs are also trying to plan a long trip to Vietnam or China before we turn 30 - 5 years to go.

I would love to go but have had mixed reviews of the place. Is it really as expensive as some of the stories I have heard or is that an exaggeration?

everything everywhere in norway is expensive, so yes.

it's small enough to cover on foot in a day or two, buy a day pass and you can get anywhere by bus, tram or boat.

£8 for a pint is about average (made no difference to me though)

Rich, or not a beer drinker?

which do you think?

I'm gonna go with non-beer drinker.  I'm not sure rich people come on here.

only dell boy.

copenhagen was dull as fuck when i went there and the little mermaid has to be the mosy overblown and uninspiring tourist attrction in the world.

Milan was dead good.

I'm going to go on a bender to Thailand and stalk Bangkok Red next year.

Look at you rich kids going on your jaunts.

Kind regards,

Envious.

I've been to Scunthorpe once, don't remember the journey being particularly wonderful.

Why would you need weekends away from beautiful newcastle. 

My visit last week made me realise I was on the the most depressing shopping street in newcastle or possibly the country.  Burger king, charity shops, massive empty woolworths, cash a cheque, cash convertors, pawn brokers and bright house (horray we can afford a washing machine.  And its only 30% interest!).  The credit has truly crunched that street!

Pikey in the extreme.  They'll be pawning their yellow + yellow away kits soon.

I must be the only Western male to have failed to pull in Kiev. The totty are said to be 'easy' but I found them a bit snooty to be honest or maybe a drunk sozzled lecher was not what they had in mind. Honestly though, the women are something special to behold. Odessa on the Black Sea coast is a party mecca, far more relaxed and hedonistic than Kiev apparently. I took a coach there via Berlin, 48 hours in all, such is my loathing of flying!!

 Budapest is my fave Eastern European city, surpasses Prague, and not quite so mobbed with tourists.

I'd second Doore's emotion.Florence is indeed a city you should visit if you can.Absolutely stunning place.Oh the thought of the view from the Dome,wish i was going back soon!

I also enjoyed dragging the other half around the Uffizi gallery,his saying 'Who the fuck is Titian' in front of a load of pensioners from the USA is another glorious memory  :)

Went to Borneo once, never saw the "Wild Man", but there were orangutans being fed bananas.