Great and not so great travel experiences

[shtferbrains]

The Merry Christmas thread seem to be developing into a post Christmas theme of getting away from winter and book a holiday.
Appears we have some knowledgeable travelers here that have teased with some past experiences and preferences.
As forage says "travelling the world and learning about different cultures, ways of living, and thinking is very educational."
Lots of different ways to experience that.
Like an experienced traveler replied when he where the best place she ever visited was, "It's all good".
That includes booking a 5 star all inclusive to traveling to Tibet along the side of a mountain and trying to get a flat fixed in a communist society, to travel in our own great country.
One of my great regrets in life was not visiting Newfieland when my son worked there.
All about the experiences.

Any little experiences to share at a slow time of the yr?


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[Landdownunder]

in I think 2011 did Denmark Sweden Germany Switzerland
Lady in Switzerland showing us around said we will head the "outback" of Switzerland yes she stayed in oz for 2 years anyway took us to a dairy part way up mountains and we didnt see a single car coming towards us or behind us for maybe 20 minutes was blow away yup real backwood stuff Swiss style.

Once in 83 in a indian bar in cochin not the place for a 21 yr old tested my mettle until Jesse rescued me hour and a half later but ended up being a source of wonder for guys in bar once they knew I was from austrAlia couple free beers from memory and when I was staying with chatfield family helped as well as it lake jackfish or lake Murray one or the other.

Back streets of Bangkok errr lets say eye opener as well but did love kick boxing and **** fighting twas brutal

[furrowtickler]

ahh yes the ole Cochin lighthouse bar lol , that was one very entertaining place on weekends during summer .
Many a young men had their mettle tested there

One of my favourite getaways, on Murray just east of Chatfields

[furrowtickler]

Limited places we have travelled
1. Hawaii, expensive but clean and nearly perfect weather most times good food and no language barriers , Waimea Vally on Oahu a must see , shrimp trucks on north shore as well
2. Belgium, Brugge was like a renaissance experience and remarkable architecture in churches big and small , unreal good beer
3. Barbados, expensive but clean, great food and very few vendors on beaches
4. For me , western Montana and Northern Idaho , Missoula to Sandpoint
5. Rouen France , again historic and unreal architecture in churches
6. St Johns in the Virgin Islands

Bucket list
Australia / New Zealand
Spain / Portugal
Argentina/ Chile/ Peru
Italy
Ireland/ Scotland

would not go back to Paris, great to see it once but culture there is being decimated
Mexico, unfortunately too much uncertainty now . Was great 20 years ago , have to be very selective now IMO

[cropgrower]

Been to several Mediterranean country's, Cyprus was a very nice place , could live there
Malta was very interesting , lots of history , was occupied during ww2 Jersey island again very interesting , very pretty place , also occupied during war , seen the underground control centre that the germans had on island , included hospital , huge amount of tunnels , and they were still digging more when war ended
Tunisia was a dump of a place if you ventured outside the tourist areas , garbage everywhere and people begging , did not feel safe there
been too several other sea/ sun resort places too down there also
all the same , just a huge beach and a line of hotels
since we moved here our trips have pretty much all been back to ireland

[AllisWD45]

Been to Australia and New Zealand. Would definately go back to NZ. Been to Russia Moscow, St Petersberg and to several villages in the country side.This was six years ago very very impressive agriculture infrastructure and huge farms.
Western Ukraine and Kiev twice. Found relatives and researched family tree.Impressed with large farms there as well. On bucket list is to go on the Siberian railroad to China but as things stand now i wont be around long enough for that.
We spent part of one winter briefly in Barcelona and the rest in Cyprus. Stayed in Northern Cyprus and toured the south part a few times.Interesting countries.
Tried the wintering thing in Arizona and Eastern Texas. Didn't like Arizona too much desert.
Will go back to Eastern Texas someday.
Been to Finland and Estonia. Nice in summer.
We are planning a trip to Georgia and Armenia in the future.
Tried a 17 day cruise thru Panama Canal. The sights were interesting but not old enough for cruise life yet.
Sitting in the sun in Mexico this winter. In the past have done several all inclusives. ok for a short break if you are still working but not for a longer time in retirement

[Old Cowzilla]

Enjoyed Italy the cities are very busy and wear good shoes after a few days in Rome was great to get out to smaller towns. Oh and way to much good food and drink. Downtown London didn't seem as busy more relaxing . Scotland was great but need more time to see these places compared to laying on a beach for couple of weeks. Cuba was good a few years ago but getting pretty ruff now so I am told. True what they say travel while your still kinda young these airports uggg! Would like to go to Florida keys and New Zealand.

[rodd]

Loved Australia, people are so great. Maui is favorite warm spot, but pricey. Amazing beaches. Mexico is great, been to many places. Won't say name of spot going to last 10 years, don't need any more tourists there. Did week on Isla Mujeres last February after Wheat Growers convention, is a fun spot.
Spain, Portugal, Italy in March. Great 5 weeks. Driving was easy. So much history. Sicily and Sorrento (Almafi area) were favorite areas. Lots of walking, gelato every day. Amazing food.
Doing 15 day cruise Budapest to Amsterdam in June, on bucket list. 8 couples we know going. should be amazing.
Chicago favorite big city, so cool. Great beaches there.
Want to see more of Texas. Austin is favorite there (music)
Enjoyed Lake Havasu more than Mesa or Palm Springs. More laid back.
Anywhere in Canada is great. Maritimes probably my favorite area.

We have seen a lot of the world, not done travelling yet. Can still do 15-20000 steps/day
Want to see more of Scotland and get to Ireland.

[jamesb]

Long time Varadero Cuba visitor. We have been to the same resort for many years. I love the beach. I wouldn't recommend it to someone who hasn't been there before. Cuba definitely has issues but our resort doesn't have the supply chain issues that some seem to have. Food and drink have always been fine. I'm not going there expecting steak but there is always fresh fish, chicken and pork. For me the people there are a big part of it too. Its a different vibe than Mexico. We always take lots of stuff to give to staff as they just cant get most things we take for granted. Its cheap for us to go there