Help me pick a Vacation

[BourbonFromHeaven]

Aight'

I got some 17 days of leave commin up. Instead of going home to Minnesota, I've decided to head for Europe.

Money isn't much of an issue, I can muster up some 2 grand to blow on this, if it blows my dress up.

Since I'm military, kinda restricts me to NATO countries ( I wanted to hit up Istanbul, but my local S2 frowned on that ). I was thinking of Greece, backpacking and hitch hiking my way about with a friend of mind.

However, I'm open to most suggestions. Lay it on me

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Have you ever been to Italy, Australia or Japan?

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Is Cyprus avaiable?

I have heard (no personal experience) that there is a "family" side of Cyprus and a "fun" side of Cyprus. Go for the fun side.

Oh, and remember, if she asks and you think your employer will hinder your chances, you're a Canadian poet.

Via con Dios!

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

Oh, and remember, if she asks and you think your employer will hinder your chances, you're a Canadian poet.

Yeah. With a buzzcut.

 

[Old One]

What are ya into?

It really depends on what you like to do...

Drink? Chase skirts? Take in the sites/history?

Narrowing it down a bit could help. Some of my favorite trips as a single soldier (way back in the day) include a week on Spain's Costa Brava (in and around Barcelona) - nice beaches, hot babes from all over Europe there on summer holiday, killer night clubs.

Crete is also a pretty cool Med party place...

Ireland and/or Wales. Great trip(s)...tons of history...Guinness...lovely Irish lasses. Relatively cool and comfortable in the summer (most of the time).

Want a real challege? Hike Hadrian's Wall in the UK.

~ OO

 

[BourbonFromHeaven]

Ah! Thanks for the replies!

Drink? Chase skirts? Take in the sites/history?

All that, with more emphasis on Sites/History. I just want to avoid the real touristy kinda stuff, ya know, the sweatshirt tide around my waist, fanny pack on with gaudt sunglasses and sun visor

Want a real challege? Hike Hadrian's Wall in the UK.

Frickin' A, thats the kinda stuff I'm into. Noted.

Is Cyprus avaiable?

Where exactly is that?

Oh, and remember, if she asks and you think your employer will hinder your chances, you're a Canadian poet.

Via con Dios!

lol

Have you ever been to Italy, Australia or Japan?

Nope.

 

[Romnipotent]

Cyprus is an island off Greece.

And SO get sent to Italy and go north on a vespa!
Australia's fine... just avoid the bush. Try the beers though... so I suggest the Transport bar in Melbourne.

 

[Hijinks]

Is Cyprus avaiable?

I have heard (no personal experience) that there is a "family" side of Cyprus and a "fun" side of Cyprus. Go for the fun side.

I lived in Cyprus for a year and a half. The lower 2/3 of the island is Greek and the upper 1/3 is Turkish. If you're not able to go to Turkey, you may not be able to go to Cyprus. However, the Greek side has much to do: beaches (some nude), a wine festival in Limassol, lots of shopping. Not to mention amazing food at every hole-in-the-wall shop you can find.

If you're backpacking, mainland Greece is probably better. There's also more tourist attractions in Greece. But if you want (mostly) unspoiled, natural country, Cyprus can't be beat.

EDIT because I had to leave for work: If you do go to Cyprus, I recommend staying on the Greek side and only going to the Turkish side on day trips, mainly because the American Embassy is on the Greek side and it is still considered a war-torn country. But if you go to the Turkish side you can stll buy gold and Turkish carpets for peanuts, just like in Istanbul. Not to mention Bart Simpson's barbeque stand.

 

[Xath]

If it's your first time going to Europe, I reccomend trying a whirlwind tour. (such as one of these: http://www.contiki.com/en-US/Tours/Europe/ ) It gives you an overlook of a whole bunch of places, and you'll know where you want to spend some real time the next time you go. You travel with about 20-30 people and a guide, but you're not forced into super-touristy places. They essentially bus you to a city, explain the main sites, and then let you go off on your own.

I went on the London to Rome trip about 2 years ago, and now I know which cities I really want to go back to to explore, and which I feel safe avoiding. You also get really close with the people who you're traveling with.

And for the rugged type, to save money, you can opt for one of their camping packages. It's the same tour, but you stay at campsites instead of hotels.

 

[Rel]

Go to GenCon in the exotic land of Indiana! Everybody is doing it.