OT: For Those Who Like to Travel

[SLY]

I just stumbled across some photos this morning of some very beautiful places around the world. I was just curious if anyone knew of any places that maybe aren't very popular... And curious where some of you may have visited.

I have been to London and Paris in Europe. Can not wait to go back. Germany is definitely next on my list. I would also love to visit Iceland. But one of my favorite places I have visited so far were the Chichen Itza Pyramids in Mexico.

It was very cool to just walk through an ancient civilization dating back to 600 AD. I am a big fan of pyramids and would really like to visit Egypt some day as well.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

I got to visit a bunch of places while I was living overseas. Most of them were bigger cities - Berlin, Istanbul, Moscow, St. Petersburg, those types of places, but we did hit a few that were a little more off-track.

A couple that I could recommend would be Tromsø in northern Norway. It's a small city, but has some great restaurants and is a great place to be in summer or winter. In summer, the sun doesn't set, and in winter it just barely rises, but it's one of the best places to see the northern lights on the planet.

The other place is a second part of the same trip. From Tromsø, you drive about 8 hours to Nordkapp, which is the very northern tip of mainland Norway. The drive is mostly along the coastline of Norway, so there's lots of fjørds and what-not, but you also have to take a couple of ferry boats, and you'll have to stop periodically to let the herds of wild reindeer cross the road.

Once you get there, there's not much around other than the visitor center and a few small hotels, but the views are incredible, and there's something pretty amazing about watching the sun start to rise again at 12.30 AM when it never even really set to begin with.

 

[SLY]

That's awesome Sabrefan, how are the people in Norway?

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

I could also recommend the ancient Swedish island of Gotland. It's a very laid-back kinda place, but during the summer the party scene in the main city of Visby is pretty intense. It's also got some great cultural stuff because it is an ancient city, believed to be the original ancestral home of the Goths. The center of the city is still surrounded by an old stone fortification too.

And if you're going to Gotland, you also have to visit Stockholm. I'm a bit biased on that one having lived there for two years, but it's an amazing city. Very walkable, great public transit, and water and amazing views everywhere you go.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

That's crazy Jeff, when I saw that thread the first thing I thought of was Chichen Itza. Lots of cool stuff down there. I spent a couple weeks in the Yucatan, Merida, and even down to the southernmost part of Mexico where it starts to get into the jungles and mountains. Pretty nuts down there, we slept in hammocks in huts and were told not to open the door after sundown because of the radical militant groups.

 

[SLY]

Not if, but when I visit Sweden I will definitely be visiting Gothenberg, just because that is where many of my fav bands hail from. But Stockholm looks beautiful as well.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

That's awesome Sabrefan, how are the people in Norway?

They're very friendly, yet very reserved at the same time (I know, sounds weird, but it's hard to explain) - unless they've been drinking, in which case, all bets are off!

The vast majority of the population speaks English and speaks it extremely well.

Biggest downfall of Norway though is the cost. My virtually all measures it's the most expensive country in Europe and by some measures it's the most expensive country on the planet. A little perspective on that: in Tromsø, we had a "cheap" lunch at a Burger King, where a Whopper combo cost the equivalent of about $16.

 

[SLY]

That's crazy Jeff, when I saw that thread the first thing I thought of was Chichen Itza. Lots of cool stuff down there. I spent a couple weeks in the Yucatan, Merida, and even down to the southernmost part of Mexico where it starts to get into the jungles and mountains. Pretty nuts down there, we slept in hammocks in huts and were told not to open the door after sundown because of the radical militant groups.

Lol, your fucking nuts, bet it was awesome though! The bus trip to Chichen Itza was insane, some of those villages were so dirt poor. They were living in houses made of friggin 4 pieces of sheetmetal standing up with like a damn bed sheet as the roof. I cant imagine living like that.

I really would love to visit some of those jungles down there, but like you just saud, it is pretty crazy down there with the militant groups. Wouldn't stop me though, just hard to find other people interested. I really want to go to Pantagonia though, it is gorgeous down there in Argentina/Chile.

 

[SLY]

They're very friendly, yet very reserved at the same time (I know, sounds weird, but it's hard to explain) - unless they've been drinking, in which case, all bets are off!

The vast majority of the population speaks English and speaks it extremely well.

Biggest downfall of Norway though is the cost. My virtually all measures it's the most expensive country in Europe and by some measures it's the most expensive country on the planet. A little perspective on that: in Tromsø, we had a "cheap" lunch at a Burger King, where a Whopper combo cost the equivalent of about $16.

Whats the wages like in Norway, are they comparable? I know in Poland many people can not afford to work in the country and live there because the cost of living is too high and the wages are too low, so many of them work in Germany and other places. At least so I have heard from a lot of Polish workers where I work.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

Not if, but when I visit Sweden I will definitely be visiting Gothenberg, just because that is where many of my fav bands hail from. But Stockholm looks beautiful as well.

I hate to disappoint, but you're not going to see much related to the bands in Gothenberg. Though I understand the reason for visiting.

Gothenberg is a beautiful city as well. It's not as big as Stockholm though, so Stockholm has more going on.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

Lol, your fucking nuts, bet it was awesome though! The bus trip to Chichen Itza was insane, some of those villages were so dirt poor. They were living in houses made of friggin 4 pieces of sheetmetal standing up with like a damn bed sheet as the roof. I cant imagine living like that.

I really would love to visit some of those jungles down there, but like you just saud, it is pretty crazy down there with the militant groups. Wouldn't stop me though, just hard to find other people interested. I really want to go to Pantagonia though, it is gorgeous down there in Argentina/Chile.

Those bus drivers drive like they are in the movie Speed. I thought for sure we were going to die, or kill someone in a Volkswagon Bug. They are like Chicago cabbies in those things. I've never seen anything like it.

 

[loki604]

Good thread. No pictures with me right now, but I lived in Rome for three months in my sophomore year in college (2006). It was such a great time. We took excursions to Capri, Assisi, Pompeii, and Ravenna as a group. The first two offered amazing views and just...different ways of life, I guess I would say. When I was in Pompeii, it was like 95 fucking degrees while this boring-ass Prof gave a tour and wouldn't even let us stop for water. No, I couldn't get put in the group with our other awesome prof (taught my on-site Baroque class) who was the art advisor on the Da Vinci Code and shit. So that place kinda sucked for me. Ravenna was more partying than anything. And we went to an amusement park. It was sort of hilarious because the lines for the rides always had a shit ton of plants and stuff around, so you couldn't see the ride...and since we couldn't read the signs, we had no idea what the hell we were about to ride.

Then my roommate and I took some separate trips. Probably one of the coolest things I ever did in my life was hopping a plane and going to Munich for the weekend for Oktoberfest. Didn't have a place to stay or anything. The first night we found this giant tent (almost like a circus tent) that was basically a hostel. Had bunk beds and lockers. They were booked for the second night though, so we just bar-hopped all night and then slept in the airport at 5am waiting for our flight back to Rome. Never been so tired in my life.

Also took a week trip for our fall break . Went to Barcelona and Malaga. Barcelona is an amazing city. Saw Flamenco, did some partying. Malaga we just went to relax...didn't want to spend the whole break running around. Hung out at the beach, tried Absinthe.

As far as underrated goes, I stayed in a cottage at Niagara-on-the-lake in Ontario with six of my friends for five days (in April). Fucking beautiful sunsets. We went down to the lake every night and just say out there and drank. Took a day and drove to Toronto to see the Hall of Fame. I want to go to Ontario every year now.

Has anyone here tried couchsurfing?

CouchSurfing - Participate in Creating a Better World, One Couch At A Time

I'm dying to try it...thinking when I go see some away Pens games, I will do this. Less about saving money, and more about the experience and meeting people. Plus, I wouldn't have to wait for someone to agree to take a trip with me...just go and hang out with strangers.

 

[SLY]

Those bus drivers drive like they are in the movie Speed. I thought for sure we were going to die, or kill someone in a Volkswagon Bug. They are like Chicago cabbies in those things. I've never seen anything like it.

lmao, yea. Those roads can barely fit 1.5 cars let alone a damn bus.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

Whats the wages like in Norway, are they comparable? I know in Poland many people can not afford to work in the country and live there because the cost of living is too high and the wages are too low, so many of them work in Germany and other places. At least so I have heard from a lot of Polish workers where I work.

They're not as high as the cost of living - relative at least to wages in the US.

Norwegian culture is based less around luxury items though than the US is, so the people don't seem to mind. The basic idea is to make enough to live comfortably, but not lavishly. You won't find many McMansions around.

The country as a whole though is very wealthy because of North Sea oil drilling, so it does pass down to the people to some extent also, though more often in the form of social services, infrastructure, etc. than actual cash.

 

[SLY]

Good thread. No pictures with me right now, but I lived in Rome for three months in my sophomore year in college (2006). It was such a great time. We took excursions to Capri, Assisi, Pompeii, and Ravenna as a group. The first two offered amazing views and just...different ways of life, I guess I would say. When I was in Pompeii, it was like 95 fucking degrees while this boring-ass Prof gave a tour and wouldn't even let us stop for water. No, I couldn't get put in the group with our other awesome prof (taught my on-site Baroque class) who was the art advisor on the Da Vinci Code and shit. So that place kinda sucked for me. Ravenna was more partying than anything. And we went to an amusement park. It was sort of hilarious because the lines for the rides always had a shit ton of plants and stuff around, so you couldn't see the ride...and since we couldn't read the signs, we had no idea what the hell we were about to ride.

Then my roommate and I took some separate trips. Probably one of the coolest things I ever did in my life was hopping a plane and going to Munich for the weekend for Oktoberfest. Didn't have a place to stay or anything. The first night we found this giant tent (almost like a circus tent) that was basically a hostel. Had bunk beds and lockers. They were booked for the second night though, so we just bar-hopped all night and then slept in the airport at 5am waiting for our flight back to Rome. Never been so tired in my life.

Also took a week trip for our fall break . Went to Barcelona and Malaga. Barcelona is an amazing city. Saw Flamenco, did some partying. Malaga we just went to relax...didn't want to spend the whole break running around. Hung out at the beach, tried Absinthe.

As far as underrated goes, I stayed in a cottage at Niagara-on-the-lake in Ontario with six of my friends for five days (in April). Fucking beautiful sunsets. We went down to the lake every night and just say out there and drank. Took a day and drove to Toronto to see the Hall of Fame. I want to go to Ontario every year now.

Has anyone here tried couchsurfing?

CouchSurfing - Participate in Creating a Better World, One Couch At A Time

I'm dying to try it...thinking when I go see some away Pens games, I will do this. Less about saving money, and more about the experience and meeting people. Plus, I wouldn't have to wait for someone to agree to take a trip with me...just go and hang out with strangers.

Thats awesome, I love that I visited many places, but I wish I could live elsewhere for a little while. Kind of missed that opportunity now as I really need to start a career. And couchsurfing, never heard of it, I also cant access the link at work.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

Too bad about your guide at Pompeii Loki.

Visited there a few years back with an excellent guide and enjoyed it immensely. Also had the chance to climb to the top of Vesuvius on that trip. Talk about views!

Kinda funny that you partied in Barcelona and relaxed in Malaga too because Malaga is known (or so I'm told - never been there myself) as a good party destination.

 

[loki604]

Too bad about your guide at Pompeii Loki.

Visited there a few years back with an excellent guide and enjoyed it immensely. Also had the chance to climb to the top of Vesuvius on that trip. Talk about views!

Kinda funny that you partied in Barcelona and relaxed in Malaga too because Malaga is known (or so I'm told - never been there myself) as a good party destination.

Honestly, a shitload of British tourists were there while we were, so it felt like we were meeting less "locals".

Though this one night, we went to a restaurant and ordered Sangria (thinking it would be enough to have a glass and a half or so as it was only six euro). It was this giant fucking pitcher of strong ass Sangria. We had to eat twice at this restaurant just to sober up enough to be able to find our place again. And then there was the Absinthe night. So we didn't go to parties/clubs, but we did drink our asses off there (par for the course for me though).

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Those bus drivers drive like they are in the movie Speed. I thought for sure we were going to die, or kill someone in a Volkswagon Bug. They are like Chicago cabbies in those things. I've never seen anything like it.

The first time I went to Cancun was in my party years and we would ride the double decker open top party bus in the hotel zone that took everyone to the clubs. The first night there we decided to go up and ride on top and some fellow cdn tourists stopped us as we werte going up the stairs and told us it was a bad idea. Why? The driver was crazy and would pretty much jump the curb and make sure that he would hit the overhanging palm tree fronds

people sitting up top were basically getting whipped by them ... and the driver was doing it on purpose ... lol

 

[SuperFlyer13]

That's awesome Sabrefan, how are the people in Norway?

They are fuckin awesome, especially my relatives, lol. I actually have a lot of uncles and cousins that live there, My Grandfathers whole family is still there, Norway is a beautiful place. If you know people who live there it's an even more awesome experience.

 

[loki604]

Thats awesome, I love that I visited many places, but I wish I could live elsewhere for a little while. Kind of missed that opportunity now as I really need to start a career. And couchsurfing, never heard of it, I also cant access the link at work.

We were still "sheltered" as it were because Duquesne has an Italian Campus and we lived with a bunch of nuns who cooked our food for us (we lived with nuns, yet the rules were far more lax than Duquesne's actual campus in Pittsburgh - allowed to have alcohol, boys and girls on same floors, no one cares where you're at and when you're there, etc.).

But I do really value the experience. 1) because it felt like this 3-month long adventure and 2) I worked 80 fucking hours a week all summer at two shitty jobs (gas station and grocery store slicing lunch meat) to get there.