Australia a no go - Going to Europe!!

[Amethyst Rose]

Okay....so we couldn't get a flight to Australia. Remember my husband works for a travel company and the reason we could go was they gave us uber cheep seats....but you can book no more than 1 month in advance. So he tried to book seats, but the only days he could get for us gave us only 4 days in Australia. Not worth it.

So, we've decided to fly to Amsterdam, spend a day there, and take a train to Berlin, where we'll stay another day, then to Paris, where we'll spend a day or two, then to Venice (two days) and then Rome (3 days).

While Australia remains my "place to go before I die" place, 4 days just isn't worth it.... I'm gonna want to take a month, I think. But this....this will be an absolutely amazing vacation. We'll get to see so much!

I am so excited! We're going tomorrow to get a tour book of Europe, but until then.....

Anyone know how I can spend 12 hours in Berlin? :)

[Aidron]

Okay....so we couldn't get a flight to Australia. Remember my husband works for a travel company and the reason we could go was they gave us uber cheep seats....but you can book no more than 1 month in advance. So he tried to book seats, but the only days he could get for us gave us only 4 days in Australia. Not worth it.

So, we've decided to fly to Amsterdam, spend a day there, and take a train to Berlin, where we'll stay another day, then to Paris, where we'll spend a day or two, then to Venice (two days) and then Rome (3 days).

While Australia remains my "place to go before I die" place, 4 days just isn't worth it.... I'm gonna want to take a month, I think. But this....this will be an absolutely amazing vacation. We'll get to see so much!

I am so excited! We're going tomorrow to get a tour book of Europe, but until then.....

Anyone know how I can spend 12 hours in Berlin? :)


The only thing that comes to mind is going to see where the Berlin wall once stood. It was a critical moment in history during our time so you just gotta see it. :D

P.S. Bring me back a souvenir! :T

[arctic splash]

Berlin is a huge city... just travelling through it you see a lot of very interesting modern architecture... I don't really like modern, but in Berlin, it's interesting.

I'd recommend seeing the Reichstag (go up to the top) and Brandenburger Tur. The Berlin Wall, of course -- I spent a summer working to rebuild part of the wall as a memorial! -- and while you're there, the most FASCINATING museum I ever visited was the Checkpoint Charlie museum. It's totally fascinating, especially if you're interested in how people escaped (or tried to escape) across the wall.

Another thing you could do... if you were me.... is read the book Ghosts of Berlin which is all about Berlin architecture controversies (there are a lot of them!) and the connection between history and architecture... and nowhere is that more important than in Berlin.... I think it's more interesting than it sounds. :)

Oh, Berlin... well, if you like techno... I'm sure you'll have fun.

[RubyRose]

Amethyst Rose, when you do get to visit Australia, make sure you don't skip Perth, like so many do, trust me when I say its worth visiting.

[Infinite Grey]

Eh! Perth's ok... Sydney is the place to see :D

[Meiga]

Berlin is Great!! The museums are full with ancient goddesses (don´t miss the Ishtar door), a walk or a bike ride in the Tiergarten, a boatride, and a beer in Kreuzsberg´s trendy pubs. It´s a city full of creative energy, grown out of its turbulent past.

[happyprincessfairy69]

When you do make it to Australia, send me a message if we're still floating around on here because I know a lot of great accommodation all over Australia. I also know of some really good Aboriginal places to visit and some rainforest and bush tours you will never forget! But have a great time in Europe!

[banondraig]

the pergamon museum, where the Ishtar Gate has been reconstructed, is in fact definitely worth visiting. i recommend not going to potsdamer platz, it's nothing but shopping and movies, and the same for the kurfurstendamm (ku'damm).

[charmedkisses1]

hope you have a great trip!

[Psyche Ague]

Come to England sometime and visit me!

But your itinerary sounds absolutely fabulous! It's something like what I have planned for my European tour this spring (haha, sounds like I'm a rock star or something).

Amsterdam is AMAZING.

[Morr]

i dont know about Berlin and Amsterdam, but you will LOVE Venice and Rome. Paris is pretty too, but i loved Italy much more.
I'd reccomend taking the train from Venice to Rome. Even though its a long ride, the scenery is BEAUTIFUL! its like youre being put inside a painting. I loved it.

Have fun and post pics when you get back!

[BabblingImp]

I was in Beriln last week, I got back last night really! Go to Check point Charlie that is Amazing! And there are cobble stones in the road and that is where the wall used to stand, one day isn't really enough but I know you are straped for time, Check point Charlie is the best, it gives you so much info, I spent three hours in there! :T

[Amethyst Rose]

i dont know about Berlin and Amsterdam, but you will LOVE Venice and Rome. Paris is pretty too, but i loved Italy much more.
I'd reccomend taking the train from Venice to Rome. Even though its a long ride, the scenery is BEAUTIFUL! its like youre being put inside a painting. I loved it.

Have fun and post pics when you get back!

Yes, I'm the most excited about seeing Rome....we'll be spending probably 3 days there. It's a whirl-wind tour of Europe, and I'm sure it'll make us want to come back and spend more time.
But yeah, we're doing the entire tour by train, even from Venice to Rome, but a lot of our train rides will be at night, so we don't have to pay for a hotel...unfortunately we'll miss a lot of the country side that way, but oh well.
We also might have to stop in Switzerland depending on the train route....
I'll definately be posting pics, and everyone will be able to read about it in my blog, too. :)