A2K MEET IN EUROPE, 2005

Thanks for starting this thread, Clary.

Still holding the offer for a stay here in my region (pro's would be only a personal English speaking guide, guided tours to "an unknown country" and staying quite centered in a thermal spa :wink: ), there surely are some more attractive regions/countries in Europe

Eastern Europe is not where I would go on my only possible trip for, say, six years and maybe ever. At least on first thought. I haven't set foot in London or Paris or Spain where I have wanted to go to for as long as I had ever wanted to go to Italy. (We all know I love Italy). But if that is where everyone else wants to go, maybe I could work it out.

What is Eastern Europe, exactly, anyway? is Prague now West? and so on. Turkey? I have a friend who is crazy about Cappadoccia....

And never mind me, I might not make the first euro trip in any case. I think as time passes we will have more than one
big euro meet.

I was thinking of Budapest, perhaps. Cappadocia is famously wonderful and VERY cheap, but doesn't count as Europe - Turkey-in-Asia. Now that would be great..

I love Ravenna, of all Italian cities, because that Byzantine art appeals to me. But Austria is a beautiful place too.

(space for Walter's travel plug)

Check out the Ryan Air and EasyJet destination list for really good prices from London.

Hmmm, Vienna, Venice, Ravenna...

curling toes in joy

But look at where the destination airport is situated ... and if taxes etc are included (that can sum up to the double and more of the offered price!)!

And: Air Berlin is a good alternative, since they offer better service (e.g. free drink/sandwich/newspaper) ... and their price includes all taxes etc!!!!

Checking in on this thread.

I travel in Europe for work and it would be great to be able to combine some play with that.

Walter, I may be working in Frankfurt for a few days this summer (still to be confirmed, especially when!). I looked at the map and it seems to be about 200km from you. Is that right?

KP

Prague !! One of my ex flames is a hotel manager for a bery chic hotel - he might give us rooms at a discounted rate.

Correct. (We have a nice roof-terrace, bicycles, thermal bath can be reached in 2 mins walking ...... :wink: )

My goodness, these are all excellent choices.

I'm game for any of the afore-mentioned locales. I will underscore what Jossobuco has written back on the SF thread, which is that someone with on-the-ground familiarity is invaluable (we're talkin' 'bout you, Walt).

Part of the reason we had such a great Gathering was her travel-guide-like wisdom of good places to visit.

You know what we are going to need (eventually)? A travel agent.

A note to osso; Europe is so compact with good public transportation that the location of the A2K meet shouldn't be a constraint on other travel plans - given the time available.

I'm sure that can be done A2K-made: most airlines offer group tarifs, hotels can be booked online (and in Europe, I get with some chains automobile-club%'s :wink: ) with possible group reductions... .

This here'll be a damn long thread 'til we get there! But we'll try to be there really hard!

Yes, that's true, you're right.

Clary, I love Budapest. And of course there are lots of places in Europe... Walter is right about AirBerlin.

But of course it would also be nice to visit Walter himself. And we could drive there...

I cast my vote for Walter's home town as the Europe A2K Gathering, because of its easy access, economical (cheaper than London), and those who wish can travel to other destinations in Europe easily (relatively cheaply). Besides, I want to visit Walter's home town.

Me tooooo.

Thanks, c.i.! :wink:

I live about 40 yards behind the trees there in back of this photo



These house are in viewside from our kitchen window



and 200yards away is this here



The village itself looks like this


(we live top center of that photo, a little bit left of that main road, which runs from bottom right to top center)



Some really nice picturesque of the region here can be found at this brewery website:

> click on "Brauerei"
than on that now opening line on "Standort/Die Region"

A slide-show should open. (This brewery is three miles away from us - another -worth visiting! 12 miles, and the famous Warstein brewery -not worth visiting- 18 miles.)

A brewery too! I cast my second vote.

Well done, Clary.

Walter's area looks good.

I don't know if I'll make it or not - will I get the prize for travelling the furthest?

But, I do hope to be in Europe, especially Italy, at some time next year (unless I decide to chance my luck visiting those crazy Nortamericanos!)

Walter - what's the airport near you - and who flies into there?