30 things not to miss:

1. Svalbard, Norway (glacier walks, snowmobile excursions: impressively remote tour adventure tourism centre) ***
2. Vigelandsparken, Norway (phantasmagorical open-air sculpture park) ?? *
3. Aurora borealis, Norway, Sweden and Finland *****
4. Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark **
5. Jotunheim National Park, Norway ***
6. Copenhagen's Nyhavn district, Denmark ***** (veh easy to go one. cfm must go hor lf, it's considered as one of the "most picturesque places" in europe ^^)
7. Inlandsbana Railway, sweden **** ( got chance to take then must take bah! a train through the forests and moutain streams up close!)
8. Vikingskipshuset, Norway ** (on the way then go loh..)
9. Gamla Stan, Stockholm, Sweden *** (i think if it's city centre then become 5star liao. haha...cos it's a "maze of medieval lanes and alleys"!)
10. Flamsbana railway, Norway **** (same as that rail above bah!)
11. Husky safari, Finland (sleigh through silent snow-covered forests and across frozen lakes and spend the night in a wilderness cabin) sounds like a lot of fun... but due to the possibility of dying of cold there, i'll give it **
12. Arhus nightlife, denmark **? just walk around and see see lorh...
13. Icehotel, Sweden! to see and visit, ***** if convenient! if need $$, then *.
14. Stave churches, Norway ** (elaborately carved, distinctive legacy of Norway's viking era)
15. Danish pastry, Denmark *****?? (eat only what. HAHAHA. of cos must eat.)
16. The Munch Museum, Norway * (art museum leh.. don't really know how to appreciate. it's not an eating museum...)
17. Olavinlinna Castle, Finland **** (i dunno convenient or not... but it's "the best preserved medieval castle in Scandinavia" and "perched atop an island". so i think if can it'll be nice to visit!)
18. Sauna, Finland (HOHOHO! i think hor, i'll give this *****! but considering the possible $$$ and time and energy to get there, *.)
19. Tivoli Gardens midnight fireworks, Denmark (It's an amusement park, but not very amusing for 21st century pple. because it's been there since age old denmark! opened on 15 August, 1843. so i think whatever they say abt it being boring, it's worth a visit bah...) ****
20. Skane, Sweden ** (cos it says countryside and "gentle summertime drive". both of which quite unlikely bah)
21. Whale-watching, Norway ** (if on the way to Andenes then see lorh... if not also no point bah. unless the sighting is like right in front of u...)
22. Alta rock carvings, Norway ** (Prehistoric drawings! must see how majestic it is lah... no point making a detour for scratchings right?)
23. Arhus old town, Denmark ****( i think i'll cfm go one bah... lf u can decide :) but from denmark to arhus by bus is 3 hr!)
24. Grenen, Denmark *** (Sand dunes! meeting of the Skaggerak and Kattegat sea... i think the highlight is seeing this church that's already half buried in the sand.. sandstorms mah... but i dunno if it'll be easy to get to)
25. Kalmar Slott, Sweden *** (the picture looks very very very nice!!! but must see if it's convenient to get there bah.)
26. Lofoten Islands, Norway ** (looks and sounds very beautiful.. like european kelong like that.haha.. but i suspect this "fishing village" might be hard or expensive to get to?)
27. Pickled herring, Denmark *** ( drooool.. hahah... food also! but herring might be more ex?)
28. Santa Claus Village, Finland (not christmas go santa claus village quite diao also right?)
29. Furstenburg Galleries, Sweden ("gloriously evocative paintings"... ><>
30. Skagen, Denmark (Seaside... no idea what it is... but as of first impressions it's *)

Denmark

Links:
Official Danish Tourist Board website
Budget travelling!
Wonderful Copenhagen
Legoland, Billund
Museum website with virtual tours of the best places
English-language online newspaper

City's bus terminal @ black building adjacent to City Hall on Radhuspladsen.

Norway

Links:
Official Norwegian Tourist Board
Norwegian Hostelling
NSB state rail way Norges Statsbaner
Connex, runs Narvik line
(** i left out the hiking/cycling sites cos unless we visit in spring or summer i think can forget it bah...)

**** very sleepyyy. going to take a nap... zzz

From Sintra to the sea

Take advantage of your holidays in Lisbon to enjoy some moments of pure relaxation close to the capital. Begin your trip in Sintra, one of the most magical places in both Portugal and Europe, and fill your lungs with the fresh mountain air, refreshing your soul with the immense cooling shade offered by the Parque de Monserrate and the Parque da Pena and visiting their respective romantic palaces. In order to get to know all the tastes and flavours of good living, try the local regional pastries, such as queijadas and travesseiros. Discover the streets filled with old houses and small palaces that spread over the hillside and the Palácio da Vila, with its huge conical chimneys forming the predominant feature of the town’s historic centre. Travel through history by wandering through the different rooms of this marvellous building and see a beautiful and important set of Mudejar “azulejos”. After this, make your way up the zigzags of the road leading to the Palácio da Pena, with the sunlight forcing its way timidly through the trees. This palace’s mixture of different styles, all displaying a highly romantic taste, is like the icing on top of the mountains. Stop here and have lunch, or perhaps you might like to move on to Seteais – another palace now converted into a hotel – offering a sweeping view of different shades of green that lead you all the way to the sea. After lunch, visit Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe, with its superb view over the sea and, arriving at Guincho, relax for a while on the terrace of an outdoor café, while you watch the surfers demonstrating their own special brand of skills. If you choose to stay in Cascais, there is an excellent supply of both restaurants and accommodation, and you can always spend the next day getting to know the town better, either on foot or by bicycle. You may, however, prefer to return to Lisbon by the road along the seafront and spend some time in Belém, admiring two of the most mythical architectural works from the period of the Portuguese Discoveries, each of them classified as World Heritage: the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and the Torre de Belém. Let your sweet tooth be tempted by the famous cream cakes of the Pastéis de Belém café or relax on the terrace of the Centro Cultural de Belém, watching a free concert in the early evening. Have dinner in the riverside area and then relax and have fun in one of the bars or discos to be found there.

Points of interest along the Itinerary
Palácio e Parque de Monserrate
Palácio e Quinta da Regaleira
Castelo dos Mouros - Sintra
Praia Grande do Guincho
Cascais
Cabo da Roca

Page Here!

Sintra town

Visit the magical town of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site.At the top of the mountain range outside Sintra is Pena Palace, built in the 19th Century by king Fernando of Saxe-Coburg Gotha. In the foothills you’ll find small palaces such as Monserrate and the Quinta da Regaleira, surrounded by exotic parks and estates. Strolling through Sintra you can see the Neolithic burial site of Tholos do Monge, marvel at the skyline from the Moorish Castle, experience the austere atmosphere of the Capuchos Convent, and enjoy the romance of Pena Park. In the historic old town, take a walk into the past through a maze of little streets, steps and archways. Towards the middle of town, you’ll see the enormous chimneys of the National Palace, the most fascinating royal construction in Portugal, a combination of numerous tastes that give it a strange beauty. It was here in the National Palace that King Manuel heard of the discovery of India and Brazil, and the great author and playwright Luís de Camões recited the “Lusíadas” poems to King Sebastião. It’s here that you’ll also see the best and largest collection of Mudejar ceramic tiles in the Iberian Peninsula.

considering lifang's latest suggestion that we might not need the full month train pass, lets then explore the possibility of flying! *jump*

Note from ryanair:
"One item of hand baggage per person, weighing no more than 10kg and with dimensions of less than 55cm x 40cm x 20cm, may be carried into the aircraft cabin (restrictions apply from certain countries)
A Baggage Fee is charged for the carriage of each item of Checked Baggage. The Baggage Fee may be prepaid at the current discounted rate of €4.50/£3.50 per item of baggage/per one way flight when making your reservation. If the Baggage Fee is paid after you have made your booking either at the airport, or through a Ryanair call centre, the full rate of £7/€10 per item of baggage/per one way flight is charged. Baby buggies, wheelchairs, scooters and walking frames are carried free of charge "

London -> Paris: don't need train or flight? Ryanair doesn't even fly london paris. i.e., there are more economical ways of getting there?

Paris -> Barcelona:
26.16 EUR by Ryanair, flyout 5th jun 9.00 am, reach 5th Jun 10.30 am
Vueling: 55 EUR

Barcelona -> Madrid: 25 EUR by Vueling, flyout 6th jun 18.30, reach 19.45

Madrid -> Lisbon -> Madrid (Barcelona):
Ex-Madrid: 40 EUR by Vueling 7th Jun 19.00, reach 19.10
Ex-Lisbon: 45 EUR by Vueling 8th Jun 20.30, reach 22.40
Ex-Lisbon (to Barcelona): 45 EUR by Vueling 8th Jun 20.10, reach 22.50 (must stay another night in barcelona?)

Barcelona -> Granada -> Barcelona:
Ex-Barcelona: 25 EUR by Vueling 8th Jun 14:50, reach 16:10
Ex-Barcelona: 25 EUR by Vueling 9th Jun 14:50, reach 16:10
Ex-Granada: 25 EUR by Vueling 9th Jun 16:40 reach 17:55
Ex-Granada: 25 EUR by Vueling 10th Jun 16:40 reach 17:55

[Seems to have a problem going from spain to Nice. I think we might have to reshuffle itinerary a bit? Say we have to give Nice and Lyon a miss, then we go straight down to italy?]

Barcelona -> Milan:
40 EUR Vueling 10th Jun 15:00 reach 16:45
40 EUR Vueling 11th Jun 15:00 reach 16:45
Meridiana seems to have very cheap flights but no info about jun flights yet.


Venice -> Athens:
39 EUR *(exclude tax) Aegean 12th Jun 11:00 reach 14:00
39 EUR *(exclude tax) Aegean 12th Jun 20:20 reach 23:20
19 EUR (special) Alpi Eagles (in march, no prices in Jun)

Cologne (Bonn) CGN -> Prague PRG:
26.91 EUR GermanWings 23rd Jun 11:10 reach 12:20

Berlin (Tegel) TXL -> Salzburg SZG:
40.37 EUR Hapag-Lloyd Express 23rd Jun 11:30 reach 12:45

Cologne (Bonn) CGN -> Vienna (VIE):
46.91 EUR GermanWings 23rd Jun 18:35 reach 20:00

London (1)

Paris (1)

Night Train to Madrid (1)

Madrid: Day tour

Lisbon (1)

Granada (1)

Barcelona (1)

Nice (1)

Lyon (1?)

Lucerne (2) : chapel bridge? Lion monument? Next whole day ALPS!

Venice (1) : gondola

Verona, Pisa (1)

Rome (2)

Travel to Athens (1)

Athens (1)

Fly to Alexandroupolis, Train to Istanbul (1)

Istanbul (2) (cheeap. cheapcheap)

Travel to Budapest (1)

Budapest (2)

Prague (1)

Vienna, Salzburg (1)

Fussen (Castle) (1)

Munich (1)

Frankfurt (1)

Cologne (1)

Berlin (1)

Total: 29 days. MUAHAHAHAHA.

On the other hand, maybe we could pay a visit to the Alhambra in Granada... I think information abt the place is easily available from Wiki or justspain.org bah :) but granada's pretty far down south, not as far as gibraltar but in the middle lahs. so we'll think abt it? :)

Welcome to the

Granada Travel Guide

GRANADA, As the Christian Reconquista advanced, the Moors enclosed the city of Granada in layer upon layer of fortification. The citadel was bitterly contested until 1492 when Boabdil, its last Moorish king, lost the city to the Catholic rulers Fernando and Isabel. Most buildings of that era were destroyed, but the spectacular Alhambra still attracts visitors from all over the world. It is one of the most important monuments in Spain and a UNESCO national heritage site, along with the Albayzin quarter, in the hill just opposite it. The beautiful whitewashed houses and the colourful flowers in the courtyards and on balconies are some of the things worth looking out for, as are the many sights of historic interest. Granada has a very lively flair thanks to the approx. 60.000 students of the local university.

Nonetheless, it was a success, and today Granada is a vast, predominantly modern city, with a population of some three million and growing. The journey in - through a stream of concrete-block suburbs - isn't pretty, but the streets at the heart of the city are a pleasant surprise, with pockets of medieval buildings and narrow, atmospheric alleys, dotted with the oddest of shops and bars, and interspersed with eighteenth-century Bourbon squares. By comparison with the historic cities of Spain - Toledo, Salamanca, Sevilla, Granada - there may be few sights of great architectural interest, but the monarchs did acquire outstanding picture collections, which formed the basis of the Prado museum. This has long ensured Granada a place on the European art tour, and the more so since the 1990s arrival - literally down the street - of the Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza galleries, state-of-the-art homes to fabulous arrays of modern Spanish painting (including Picasso's Guernica ) and European and American masters.

First up, madrid sounds cool to visit lehs. but i came by this particular article at justspain.org...

Madrid Safety & Crime

As far as safety goes, there's little cause for concern. Central Madrid is so populated - and so busy at just about every hour of the day and night - that it never seems to carry any "big city" threat. Which is not to say that crime is not a problem, nor that there aren't sleazy pockets to be avoided. Madrid has a big drug problem, all too evident around the Plaza de España and some of the streets just north of Gran Vía. Drugs, it is reckoned, account for ninety percent of crimes in Madrid, and if you are unlucky enough to be threatened for money, it's unwise to resist.

If you have very limited time, you might well do no more sightseeing than this. However, monuments are not really what Madrid is about, and to get a feel for the city you need to branch out a little, and experience the contrasting character and life of the various barrios . The most central and rewarding of these are the areas around Plaza de Santa Ana and c/Huertas , east of Puerta del Sol; La Latina and Lavapiés , south of Plaza Mayor, where the Sunday market, El Rastro , takes place; and Malasaña and Chueca , north of Gran Vía. By happy circumstance, these barrios have some of Madrid's finest concentrations of tapas bars and restaurants.

Tourists in Madrid, as everywhere, are prime targets for pickpockets, and petty thieves. The main shopping areas, parks, the metro and anywhere with crowds, are their favourite haunts; burger bars and the Rastro market seem especially popular. Be aware that they often work in groups, and associates will try to distract your attention while your pocket is being picked. Tourists are also obvious targets for muggers and in all areas it is advisable to keep jewellery, watches and cameras hidden, and to stay away from dark, empty streets at night.

Unless they have rented expensive garage space, drivers may well find their cars broken into and the radio stolen. The police are generally fairly sympathetic and will give you a report form for insurance claims. In an emergency, dial 112; English is usually spoken on this number.

hmmz. HMMz. hai. like very scary hor? ><

Welcome to the
Barcelona Travel Guide

Barcelona is one of the nicest cities to visit. Its museums, theaters, art galleries and nightlife are of an impressive high standard. Besides that, this art and design centre has a lot of interesting sights to offer to its visitors. The best place to watch people go by, to stroll or simply relax, is 'Las Ramblas', a pedestrian street with dozens of outdoor cafes. Here, you’ll find flower-stands, book kiosks and small market stalls where they sell birds and small animals. You’ll also find an endlessly fascinating flowing receptacle of pageant-jugglers, singers, dancers, puppeteers, sidewalk artists, living statues and assorted oddballs on parade. Nearby is 'Plaça Real', with plenty of bars and restaurants, and 'Palau Guell', built by the Catalan architectural genius Antoni Gaudí in his undulating art-nouveau style. After having seen these sights, stroll the narrow winding streets of the 'Barri Gotic', the medieval Gothic quarter full of interesting tapas bars and cafes. Check out Picasso’s old hangout, 'Els Quatre Gats', which has been renovated without losing its bohemian charm. Or head for the old Barceloneta section on the waterfront. This working-class area, which was always slightly rundown and scruffy-looking, is now packed with paella restaurants. The new beach area, which runs from Barceloneta to the Olympic village, is much cleaner than the old beach area. Although some people believe that it has been cleaned up considerably, it might be a wise idea to stay out of the water. Fortunately, the beach itself is already a feast for the eyes (and ears), with its huge and roaring waves. Catalans are known for their independent spirit and their sense of humour. Salvador Dali was a Catalan and his bizarre sense of humour is just one example of the region’s endearing weirdness. Spring is the best time to visit Barcelona, you can expect a temperature of round and about 20 degrees. During summer, it can get very hot (about 35 degrees) and crowded (because of the cultural events). Barcelona will be as expensive as you want it to be. Attention: Barcelona is pretty rich and so prices are much higher than somewhere else in Spain. Still, restaurants are relatively cheap (at lunch time you can find a two course meal and desert for 7-9€) and for a hotel, three meals and a night out, count on some 145 Euro for two persons.

XXXXXXX

Check out www.justspain.org :) I'm reading off it now... it's got lots of info on it! haha.. check this line: "In summer , the city can be unbearably hot and humid with temperatures averaging 28°C." heheheheh. DOTS. the site also has some maps to use :)

Best of Barcelona

Bars of the Old Town
Enjoy a drink or some tapas in an atmospheric fin de siècle bar.

Las Ramblas
A stroll down Barcelona's famous thoroughfare is a must for both tourists and locals alike.

Montjuïc
The largest open space in the city, with a host of fascinating museums and the impressive buildings from the 1992 Olympics.

Parc de la Ciutadella
Barcelona's favourite park and a Sunday afternoon rendezvous for families, friends and ducks.

Modernisme
The spectacular modernista creations dotted around the city by the architect genius Antoni Gaudí and his contemporaries.

Camp Nou
Home of F.C. Barcelona, one of Europe's premier sides with a cabinet full of trophies to prove it.

The Seu cathedral
Built from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries on the site of a Roman temple, La Seu is one of the great Gothic buildings in Spain.

Boqueria Market
This cavernous iron and glass market in the city centre, filled with fresh produce and colourful characters, is the perfect place to get picnic provisions.

Barri Gòtic
The Barri Gòtic's evocative narrow streets were the centre of Barcelona's medieval prosperity and are now home to much of the city's nightlife.

The Sardana
Traditional Catalan dance, performed weekly outside the cathedral and at national festivals, with everyone encouraged to join in.

Next up... Madrid.

The whole one month planning seems like an ardous task to plan, because I'm sure you guys would want to see more right? not just go to the major cities and leave... But then again I'm not so sure as to whether we'll actually make it that far. Whatever it is, at least I'm going to TRY to plan something like it! haha!

so, where to start? I tot, start with UK lorh. thats where we'll head to first right?

Say we don't take eurail, but raileurope instead. I'm thinking raileurope cos it's cheaper than eurail, and it also includes UK. yah, eurail doesn't include UK... and since we'll only travel for 1 month (which includes UK), it's quite silly if we take something that doesn't have UK and then waste a few days of the train pass. :) Raileurope poses some problems though, cos it's UK based. But I guess in anycase can get my aunt to help get the passes bah... She's living in UK and she's the one who sent me the link. whatever it is, i guess EVEN if we don't take a rail pass in UK, I'm basing the following on BritRail, a rail in UK...

So here's BritRail's site. Alternatively you can just download the map and follow my thoughts!

Some random thoughts before we start:

1. We'll go visit lifang in bath? or is bath on the itinery? will lifang just meet us straight in london?
2. any other parts of england you guys really wanna see cept for london eye?
3. i suggest we stay just one night in london cos its expensiveeeeee. :( poor.
4. Hokay. just found this... check out the scenic routes that BritRail suggest!
5. how far UP are we going?!?!? Scotland (Glasgow and Edinburgh sounds DAMN tempting ><)

On the BritRail site, there's this page on suggested itineraries... http://www.britrail.com/index_planningtools_suggesteditineraries.cfm?countrykey=SG&language=EN

HEH. being ME, i decided to zoom my attention on:

ITINERARY 4- The Grand Tour:
London to York (2 hr); to Edinburgh (2hr ½); to
Inverness (3hr ½); to Glasgow (3hr ½); to Windermere (2hr ¾); to
Birmingham(3hr); to Bath (2hr); to Penzance (4hr ½); to Exeter (3hr ½); to
Salisbury (1hr ¾); to London (1hr ½).

BUT! I think we can skip Inverness, so we'll go straight from Edinburgh to Glasgow which takes 1 hr. And maybe we can skip the trip to Penzance and Exeter which is far in the west... And if thats the case then i dunno if Salisbury must go or not also... hahah... so! here's my version of itinerary 4:

London to York (2 hr); to Edinburgh (2hr ½); to Glasgow (1hr); to Windermere (2hr ¾); to Birmingham(3hr); to Bath (2hr); to Salisbury (1hr); to London (1hr ½).

hrrms. i didn't really take into account the scenic routes part, yet. haha... but here's my suggestion for now... =)

ZONE A
BRITRAIL Great Britain Passenger Railways
CIE Irish Rail
NIR Northern Ireland Railways

ZONE B
NSB Norwegian State Railways
SJ Swedish State Railways
VR Finnish Railways

ZONE C
CFF/SBB Swiss Federal Railways
BLS Bern-Lotschberg-SA (Swiss)
FART Ferrovie Autolinee Regionall Ticinesi (Swiss)
MOB Montreux Oberland Bernois (Swiss)
RhB Rhatische Bahn (Swiss)
SOB Sudostbahn (Swiss)
SOB-bt Bodensee - Toggenburg - Bahn
SSIF Societa Subalpina di Imprese Ferroviarie (Swiss)
THURBO Mittlthrugau - Bahn
DB German Rail
DSB Danish State Railways
OBB Austrian Federal Railways

ZONE D
CD Czech Railways
GYSEV Gyor Sopron Ebenfurt Railway
HZ Croatian Railways
MAV Hungarian State Railways
PKP Polish State Railways
ZSR Slovak Republic Railways
ZFBH/ZRS: Railways of Bosnia-Herzegovina

ZONE E
CFL Luxembourg National Railways
NS Netherlands Railways
SNCB Belgian National Railways
SNCF French National Railways

ZONE F
CP Portuguese Railways
ONCFM Moroccan National Railways
RENFE Spanish National Railways

ZONE G
ATTICA Attica Group (Superfast Ferries - Blue Star Ferries) +
OSE Greek National Railways
TRENITALIA Italian State Railways
SZ Slovenian Railways
TCDD Turkish Republic State Railways

ZONE H
BDZ Bulgarian State Railways
CFARYM Macedonian Railways
CFR Romanian Railways
JZ Jugoslav Railways

+ Sea Operators from Ancona and Bari to Igoumenitsa and Patras (between Italy and Greece)
A Global Inter-Rail includes ALL the zones.

TRANSPORT
Thursday, 28.12.2006
17:00 Copenhagen
18:50 Paris, Charles de Gaulle
1 Adults: 409 DKK
Taxes / Fees: 190 DKK

Saturday, 30.12.2006
10:00 Paris, Charles de Gaulle
11:45 Copenhagen
01 Adults: 666 DKK
Taxes / Fees: 183 DKK
Total price
1.448 DKK (Incl. taxes and fees) [approx S$390]

Accomodation
28th -29th December
Village Hostel 20 rue d'Orsel, Paris, 75018, France
http://www.hostelbookers.com/booking/index.cfm?hostel=1725&fuseaction=hosteldetails
EUR 23.00 (x2)
Bed Linen 2.50
Towel(?) 1.00
Total: EUR 49.50 [approx S$99.00]
__________________________________________________________________

ayes. at this point, i've decided not to go! :) cos for just a mere 3 days i have to spend nearly 600 to 700 sing? i'll go another time bah.

PROPOSED ITENIERY

GERMANY

Berlin 13, 14, 15

Of strategic importance since it first straddled the Spree River in the 13th century, Berlin went on to hog centre stage in the turbulent twentieth. Today the city, restored as the nation's capital, is the focus of a mammoth project of reunification and the barometer of Germany's moods.

This is the heart of Germany, with a stoic beat that echoes through grand public buildings, glorious museums and theatres, urbane restaurants, bustling pubs and raucous nightclubs. The Wall is gone but Berlin is still divided: there's a distinct segue from the glitz of the west to shabby East Berlin.

Weather

Rain is possible in any month, so come prepared. From November to early March, skies tend to be gloomy and the mercury often drops below freezing. On the plus side, there are fewer visitors and shorter queues. Avoid major holidays like Easter, Christmas and New Year and special events such as Loveparade - unless, of course, that's what brings you here in the first place.

Cologne 16, 17

Cologne (Köln) does spoil its visitors: it heaps on the magnificent architecture, splendid museums, superb theatre and concerts, excellent dance clubs, and enormous department stores, and then, if that wasn't enough, it heaps some great food and beer on top. Visit the Rhine River too.



SWITZERLAND

Interlaken 18, 19

Flanked by the Thun and Brienz lakes and within yodelling distance of the mighty peaks of the Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger, Interlaken is a popular base for exploring the region. Kitsch shoulders into the town itself, with horse-drawn carriages and shops crammed with Swiss-style tourist tack.



ITALY

Venice 20, 21

Venezia, La Serenissima, Queen of the Adriatic, city of canals and palaces...or tawdry sewer alive with crowds and charlatans? Venice's nature is dual: water and land, long history and doubtful future, airy delicacy and dim melancholy. When this precious place sinks, the world will be the poorer.

For a thousand years the city was one of the most enduring mercantile sea powers on the face of the earth. Today the brilliance and influence have long since faded, leaving a town of tarnished glories, out of time and out of place, so achingly beautiful it's hard not to look for the back of the set.

Weather

Flooding occurs in November and December, and winter can be unpleasantly cold - although seeing Venice under snow can be the stuff of fairy tales.

Pisa 22, 23

Strangely lonely planet does not have a description about Pisa. But after travelling all the way here why don’t go and see the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa and Michelangelo’s David?

Rome 24, 25, 26

It's hard to say what you'll find most breathtaking about the Eternal City - the arrogant opulence of the Vatican, the timelessness of the Forum, the top speed of a Fiat Bambino, the gory resonance of the Colosseum, trying to cross a major intersection, or the bill for your caffe latte.

Make like the locals and souse your senses in the glut of pleasures the city has to offer, from the grandiose thrill of feeling centuries of turbulent history under your feet to the small but potent intoxication of eating chestnut gelati on a hot day.

Weather

Winters are usually mild with few tourists and some fun events around Christmas time.


FRANCE

Chamonix 27

Chamonix lies in one of the most spectacular valleys of the French Alps. Reminiscent of the Himalayas, the area is dominated by deeply crevassed glaciers and the cloud-diademed peak of Mont Blanc. The Aiguille du Midi, a solitary spire of rock near Mont Blanc's summit, has postcard-perfect views.

No accommodation here. Probably come down early morning, do what we want, then leave for Paris by sunset.

Paris 28, 29, 30

Paris stimulates the senses, demanding to be seen, heard, touched, tasted and smelt. From romance along the Seine to landscapes on bus-sized canvases to the pick-an-ism types in cafes monologuing on the use of garlic or the finer points of Jerry Lewis, Paris is the essence of all things French.

Gaze rapturously at its breezy boulevards, impressive monuments, great works of art and magic lights. Savour its gourmet selection of cheese, chocolate, wine and seafood. Feel the wind in your face as you rollerblade through Bastille, or a frisson of fear and pleasure atop the Eiffel Tower.

Weather

In winter Paris has all sorts of cultural events going on. Things can get a bit hectic around Bastille Day and towards the end of the year so reservations at this time are a good idea.


BRITAIN

London 31, 1, 2

Blah blah blah we all know about London. Yes, countdown there.



TRAVEL

Fly from London to Germany

http://www.ryanair.com
Flight FR8542
Wednesday, 13th December 2006

0625 Depart London Stansted (STN)

0910 Arrive Berlin Schonefeld (SXF)

£0.01!!! (not incl. airport tax of about £10)

This is the reason why we should BOOK EARLY!!!


Train across Europe

http://www.eurail.com/

Eurail Selectpass Youth

Youth Passes are valid in 2nd class only and exclusively for those who are still under 26 on the first day of validity of their Pass. Travelers under 26 years of age may, of course, also buy a 1st-class Pass
Choose either of 3, 4 or 5 countries out of 22 European countries
2nd class travel for 5, 6, 8 or 10 days within 2 months
If you purchase a 5-country pass, it is also possible to choose 15 travel days
Countries must be adjoining by rail or ship
For 4 countries (Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France) and 11 days (17th Dec when we leave Cologne to 26th Dec when we arrive in Chamonix): US$404.



I think it’s because the railways change the timetables in December or wad but I can’t seem to book tickets after 9th December 2006.





Train from Paris to London

http://www.eurostar.com

http://www.tgv.co.uk



£149



This is the stupid one. There don’t seem to be any flights from Paris to London. And both Eurostar and TGV offer the same price. Anytime also this price, before or after the new year.





ACCOMODATION

Prices in Euros and are Per-Bed-Per-Night



13th – 14th December

Heart of Gold Hostel Berlin
Johannisstr. 11, Berlin, 10117, Germany

http://www.hostelbookers.com/booking/index.cfm?hostel=3535&fuseaction=hosteldetails

EUR 13.00



15th – 16th December

Meininger City Hostel and Hotel Cologne
Engelbertstrasse 33-35, Cologne, Germany, 50674, Germany

http://www.hostelbookers.com/booking/index.cfm?hostel=9778&fuseaction=hosteldetails

EUR 17.00



17th – 18th December

Balmer's Herberge
Hauptstrasse 23, Interlaken, 3800, Switzerland

http://www.hostelbookers.com/booking/index.cfm?hostel=7811&fuseaction=hosteldetails

EUR 18.53



19th – 20th December

Hotel Venice Villa Dori
Via Colombara 213 marghera, Ca' Sabbioni, Venice, Italy, It - 4500, Italy http://www.hostelbookers.com/booking/index.cfm?hostel=4652&fuseaction=hosteldetails

EUR 18.00

We have to book the whole room of 4, 5 or 7 beds. Not in central Venice but “15 mins away by shuttle service from the city of Venice”.



21st – 22nd December

Hotel Moderno
Via F. Corridoni 103, Pisa, 56125, Italy

http://www.hostelbookers.com/booking/index.cfm?hostel=7620&fuseaction=hosteldetails

EUR 19.00 (4 bed) EUR 24.00 (triple)

We have to book the whole room of 3 or 4 beds. No more beds on 23rd Dec so I guess should be quite hot.



23rd – 26th December

Hostel Two Ducks
via Calatafimi No:41, Rome, 00185, Italy

http://www.hostelbookers.com/booking/index.cfm?hostel=6597&fuseaction=hosteldetails

EUR 16.50



27th -29th December

Village Hostel
20 rue d'Orsel, Paris, 75018, France

http://www.hostelbookers.com/booking/index.cfm?hostel=1725&fuseaction=hosteldetails

EUR 23.00

Alternatively we all can squeeze in Chye’s place. Haha.



30th December onwards

Squeeze with people studying in London!





ESTIMATED COST



S$2015

Excluding food and miscellaneous (shopping, public transport…)





END

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