06-07-2004, 07:54 PM | #41 | |
Elven Warrior
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: uk
Posts: 134
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It's a big place....you recommend one half and I'll recommend the other Oh, and if ya get the time......read Bill Brysons book on the uk (can't remember the title offhand) ....... a great vision of Britain through the eyes of a yank (and packed with great tips) |
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06-07-2004, 07:59 PM | #42 |
Enting
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: wirral - The Shire of the North
Posts: 72
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indeed..bryson mentions port sunlight,5 mins from me...sadly for him it was closed!
can I have the bit with windermere ?
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. We know where the music's playing, let's go out and feel the night. Because I'm still in love with you, I want to see you dance again, because I'm still in love with you on this harvest moon.Well the sun is surely sinking down But the moon is slowly rising So this old world must still be spinning 'round And I still love you NIL SATIS NISI OPTIMUM |
06-07-2004, 08:07 PM | #43 | |
Elven Warrior
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: uk
Posts: 134
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Yeah, Bryson sorta fell in love with Durham (my abode).......I don't think the place is quite as good as he raved, but then I've never looked on it from a touristy perspective |
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06-07-2004, 08:16 PM | #44 | ||
I am Freddie/UNDERCOVER/ Founder of The Great Continent of Entmoot
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Plainsboro, NJ
Posts: 9,431
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Come back! Come back! To Mordor we will take you! "The only thing better than a great plan is implementing a great plan" - JerseyDevil "If everyone agreed with me all the time, everything would be just fine"- JerseyDevil AboutNewJersey.com New Jersey MessageBoard Another Tolkien Forum Memorial to the Twin Towers New Jersey Map Fellowship of the Messageboard Legend of the Jersey Devil Support New Jersey's Liberty Tower Peacefire.org AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide |
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06-07-2004, 08:22 PM | #45 |
Enting
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: wirral - The Shire of the North
Posts: 72
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hey stop knocking baggy trousers...i can keep my wallet,ciggies,lighter and compass in mine and be able to move freely and with style
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. We know where the music's playing, let's go out and feel the night. Because I'm still in love with you, I want to see you dance again, because I'm still in love with you on this harvest moon.Well the sun is surely sinking down But the moon is slowly rising So this old world must still be spinning 'round And I still love you NIL SATIS NISI OPTIMUM |
06-07-2004, 08:28 PM | #46 |
the Shrike
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: San Francisco, CA <3
Posts: 10,647
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What I want to know is how you lot of the not-so-fairer-sex keep yer baggy trousers up. I mean, we women have child-bearing hips to keep 'em up... Hmm, guess that's why you don't see to many hairy women butt-cracks.
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"Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords |
06-07-2004, 08:32 PM | #47 |
Enting
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: wirral - The Shire of the North
Posts: 72
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we style gurus wear em low and wax alot
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. We know where the music's playing, let's go out and feel the night. Because I'm still in love with you, I want to see you dance again, because I'm still in love with you on this harvest moon.Well the sun is surely sinking down But the moon is slowly rising So this old world must still be spinning 'round And I still love you NIL SATIS NISI OPTIMUM |
06-07-2004, 08:32 PM | #48 | |
Elven Warrior
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: uk
Posts: 134
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They are usually hangin' off their arse like an old potatoe sack ...... although I believe that's "the look" these days |
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06-07-2004, 08:34 PM | #49 |
Enting
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: wirral - The Shire of the North
Posts: 72
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potatoe sacks can have a certain charm if worn in the correct manner
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. We know where the music's playing, let's go out and feel the night. Because I'm still in love with you, I want to see you dance again, because I'm still in love with you on this harvest moon.Well the sun is surely sinking down But the moon is slowly rising So this old world must still be spinning 'round And I still love you NIL SATIS NISI OPTIMUM |
06-07-2004, 08:35 PM | #50 | |
Elven Warrior
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: uk
Posts: 134
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*has plenty of photo's from his younger days which he regrets * |
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06-07-2004, 08:37 PM | #51 |
Enting
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: wirral - The Shire of the North
Posts: 72
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damn...i knew not to wear those birmingham bags and the 3 star tank top
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. We know where the music's playing, let's go out and feel the night. Because I'm still in love with you, I want to see you dance again, because I'm still in love with you on this harvest moon.Well the sun is surely sinking down But the moon is slowly rising So this old world must still be spinning 'round And I still love you NIL SATIS NISI OPTIMUM |
06-07-2004, 08:39 PM | #52 |
the Shrike
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: San Francisco, CA <3
Posts: 10,647
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Oh too bad you have no shame oz, or there'd be a wealth of blackmail material there.
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"Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords |
06-07-2004, 08:40 PM | #53 | |
Elven Warrior
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: uk
Posts: 134
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06-07-2004, 11:00 PM | #54 |
Elf Lord
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Slow down and I sail on the river, slow down and I walk to the hill
Posts: 2,389
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Well, THIS American is perfectly comfortable in the clothes of the Europeans that I encountered.
I bought an extremely comfortable pair of sandals to go with my traveling clothes, but they were also extremely expensive...I prefer dressing to fit in with the culture because 1) I do not want to be an "ugly American" 2) I just plain enjoy it 3) it was more comfortable in 111 degree weather to wear skirts and the more "fashionable" flowy type tops that the natives were also wearing and 4) since I wanted to pack light (we moved around a LOT) and handwashed my clothing, my nicer clothes were a better move. Jeans take forever to dry, and since we were usually only staying in a hotel for one night, I didn't want to pack wet clothing (and yes, I know that you can wear jeans more than once without washing them). I did bring a pair of denim shorts and a pair of jeans for the plane rides for comfort, but actually found them quite uncomfortable to sit in for nine hours, and have since traveled in nice slacks or long skirts. I also agree with Mercutio about Rick Steves. Great stuff. A lot of your questions can be answered on www.ricksteves.com, I believe. Also, anything by Lonely Planet is awesome. You may want to invest in a money belt or pouch that you keep under your pants (but is easily accesible..I found out this is NOT such a good idea when you wear a one piece dress, but you won't have that problem) to store your passport and any substantial amount of money, so it is less likely to be stolen. They also sell neck pouches like these, but they are probably not great to wear in "shady areas" because it could easily be grabbed and used to maybe strangle you. Or so says my father, who is slightly paranoid. Also, if you buy something, count your change before you leave the counter, especially if you don't speak the language well or kind of "look" like a tourist. It's a good way to get scammed. AND...remember, they won't convert Euro coins back into American money, only the bills (unless this has changed in the lsat two years). edit: Whoops, sorry. Just realized in my first post I said I didn't take any jeans, but I did. I didn't wear them while actually out and about in Spain, though, only on the plane rides.
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“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.” –Bertrand Russell Last edited by Starr Polish : 06-07-2004 at 11:12 PM. |
06-07-2004, 11:23 PM | #55 |
Elf Lord
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Slow down and I sail on the river, slow down and I walk to the hill
Posts: 2,389
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I just want to clarify WHY I think dressing in the supposed Ugly American uniform really does identify one as an Ugly American (at least until actual behavior is judged one way or the other):
Since that was pretty much what the original Ugly Americans wore, I try to avoid it, since now many Europeans associate it with bad behavior by Americans. I would not deny my American-ness or whatever you want to call it if a European asked, but hopefully by both my demeanor and the fact that I chose to NOT stick out like a sore thumb will give them a better idea of Americans in general. I have only been to Europe once, but plan on going again (and hope to possibly live there someday), and I try and will always try my hardest to be the opposite of the Ugly American stereotype. Plus, since first impressions are extremely important, I think I would probably be received better from the start if I wasn't in the "uniform." When I travel, I would like to be treated more like a native than a tourist, because I prefer the actual culture of other areas than the "tourist-y stuff," and I feel that it'd be easier for me to experience the real culture if I tried to blend a bit WITH the culture.
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“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.” –Bertrand Russell Last edited by Starr Polish : 06-07-2004 at 11:26 PM. |
06-07-2004, 11:55 PM | #56 | |
Mirthful Maiden
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Rivendell
Posts: 1,252
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About the Ugly American post- I'd wouldn't label only an American as that. Any person, regardless of their nationality, can act that way and yes I would consider the person rude and arrogant for it. It's just a lack of manners. I consider manners to be granting another importance, good communication, and then following local rituals. If it was truly offensive to another culture to wear jeans then I would consider not wearing them, but I'm not offended if others wear clothing that is customary for their culture.
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The Elves represent, as it were, the artistic, aesthetic, and purely scientific aspects of the Humane nature raised to a higher level than is actually seen in Men.~ J.R.R. Tolkien Wanna play? www.thievesguild.com |
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06-08-2004, 01:29 AM | #57 | ||||
Slacker
Warrior Admin Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Alabama
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Thanks for all the well wishes, everyone. I'll be around for about another week before I leave.
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"If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you." Gandalf to Pippin Psalm 107:31 |
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06-08-2004, 02:37 AM | #58 |
the Shrike
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: San Francisco, CA <3
Posts: 10,647
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Hey Khamul, you gonna tell us why you're going over there? Who's paying? And can they pay for me as well?
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"Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords |
06-08-2004, 02:55 AM | #59 | |
Cardboard Harp of Gondor Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: IM IN UR POSTZ, EDITIN' UR WURDZ
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06-08-2004, 03:03 AM | #60 |
Half-Elven Princess of Rabbit Trails and Harp-Wielding Administrator (beware the Rubber Chicken of Doom!)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Not where I want to be ...
Posts: 15,254
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I agree with Starr - pack light! I used a cool backpack/suitcase thingy when I went a few years after I graduated from college - just me and a friend, bought a Eurorail pass (do they still have those?) and stayed mostly in pensions and had a great time. We'd wear them in backpack mode while travelling, then if we wanted to look a bit nicer, would zip up the straps and it would turn into a soft-sided suitcase. I brought clothes that I could hand-wash and had a cool twisty laundry line where you don't even need clothespins.
One of the most important things, IMO, is the attitude - I always considered it a priviledge to be allowed into someone else's county, and acted accordingly. In one place I was even mistaken for a local for a short time, which made me rather proud - my German accent was good, but also apparantly my attitude was not the stereotypical American. In Britain - watch out when crossing streets! We Americans tend to look to the left before stepping into a street, and you gotta switch it around in Britain - look right! In fact, in touristy parts of London, when I was there, there were giant arrows painted on the streets by the corners saying something like "look right" Also, restaurants in Europe (and Britain to a lesser extent) are VERY different from America, where sadly, we're used to generally eating and getting our checks pretty quickly. In Spain, especially, we had to wait really long for our checks, but they were just being polite and not rushing us. As soon as we understood it, it was fine, and it made us slow down and enjoy things more! I'm not sure how much this is the way in Britain anymore, but it's prob. more that way in France and Switzerland. There's this really yummy dish in Switzerland - wish I could remember the name - it's cheese and potatoes and onions.
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. I should be doing the laundry, but this is MUCH more fun! Ñá ë?* óú éä ïöü Öñ É Þ ð ß ® ç å ™ æ ♪ ?* "How lovely are Thy dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! ... For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside." (from Psalm 84) * * * God rocks! Entmoot : Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I got hooked! Ego numquam pronunciare mendacium, sed ego sum homo indomitus! Run the earth and watch the sky ... Auta i lómë! Aurë entuluva! Last edited by Rían : 06-08-2004 at 03:05 AM. |
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