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Post by georgemmj on Nov 26, 2002 23:30:48 GMT -5
Hello Haven't talked to anyone in a while. I kind of got past that excited stage and now I am trying to make final touches. I just noticed that the train schedule has been updated. You all gave me the advice to take 2 night trains while in europe: Paris to Florence and Florence to Geneva! These night trains were available on the old schedule, but I am unsure if they are still available in January with the new schedule? Does anyone have any suggestions??? Thanks georgie  |
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Post by nitsansh on Nov 27, 2002 11:07:54 GMT -5
Some online timetables (like the German and Swiss) have yet to publish the new schedule that begins December 15th. It should be online in early December, IE next week. I don't believe those night trains will be discontinued!
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Post by georgemmj on Nov 27, 2002 15:36:13 GMT -5
Thanks for the quick reply! I really appreciate it. I wouldn't think they would discontinue the night trains! Make sense now! Thanks again! Happy Holiday!
Georgie ;D
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Post by nitsansh on Nov 27, 2002 20:10:07 GMT -5
The German rail website DOES have the new timetable. You should use the personal timetable: 81.200.192.72/bin/pf/query-p2w.exe/enI can asure you that there are night trains between Paris-Firenze, Firenze-Geneve, Geneve-Barcelona and as far as I could see the times haven't changed. |
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Post by georgemmj on Nov 29, 2002 12:19:33 GMT -5
Thanks for that website. I have one question. We just found out that one of us has relatives in Nortern Italy. If we stayed in Milan and took a day trip to Florence, would this be alright, or will we be very bored in Milan? Thanks again.
;D
georgie
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Post by nitsansh on Nov 29, 2002 14:55:26 GMT -5
I don't think it's a good idea to see Firenze as a day trip from Milano... it would take about 3 hours by train one way, so unless you take an early morning and late evening trains, you'll have just half-day left in Firenze... I believe it deserves a full day at the very least!
If you want to stop at Milano or elsewhere in northern Italy (could you be more specific about the location?), I suggest that you stop there between 2 other destinations... Milano is connected to Switzerland (Zurich, Basel, Bern or Geneve) and Firenze by frequent trains (every hour or two), to Paris by several trains a day (at least one at night) and to Barcelona 3 times a week. That may require an extra travel day on your railpass, but IIRC you have a day to spare, don't you?
Or in case you arrive by night train from Paris, you could spend the day in Milano and continue to Firenze later on the same day, so you do 2 journeys on the same travel day (remember that after a night train you can travel free for the rest of the day!).
IIRC, your plan was to visit a friend in a ski resort in southern Switzerland (Valais)... this resort should be not far from Milano... so perhaps you could do this leg as day trip?
Or maybe... while the one who has relatives in Milano spends time with them, the rest of you visit your friend in Switzerland (if this isn't the same person...) and you rejoin after few days...
Even if you all stay in Milano, there's no reason you should be bored... if you don't like Milano, you can take a short trip to another town in northern Italy...
But I really don't think a day trip to Firenze would be a good idea...
I've been told recently I shouldn't be negative to other people's plans and opinions, but in this case I have to cry: "Objection"...
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Post by georgemmj on Nov 29, 2002 21:50:25 GMT -5
I don't think you are being negative...We are just trying to get the best advice. I was thinking about going from the resort to Milano...so we should still plan on at least 2 days in Florence? Thanks, and I take criticism well, just advice!!!!!!!!!!!! georgie  |
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Post by LHR02 on Nov 29, 2002 23:42:50 GMT -5
Being as how Florence was probably my favorite stop last trip....I too have to cry Objection! Florence....as a 'day trip'? Slander my friend! ;D
good to see your trip is coming together!
ging
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Post by nitsansh on Nov 30, 2002 9:15:40 GMT -5
You know... I would never say that something is impossible... it's your trip and you make the decisions...
If you decided to go to Firenze as one of your 4 or 5 destinations in this European trip, I assume you like arts and in particular the Italian Renneisance (sp?) period, because this is what Firenze is best known for... if you don't like these, you would probably better pick other destinations... and if you do, there's no way you would be satisfied with one day, even if it's a full day... and you should allways remember that days in January are short, and the sun sets no later than 5PM... it might have been a different story in spring and summer when you have 3 daylight hours extra in the afternoon...
if you have to travel from Milano, and assuming you're not going to leave before 7AM (there's an earlier train at 5.30 if you like...), you'll get to Firenze no earlier than 10AM and have about 7 hours daylight left... and after that, 3 hours journey back to Milano... I don't see any sense in this plan...
I didn't visit Milano so I can't tell you from personal experience... but my impression from reports of people who went there (many visitors to Italy fly in or out of Milano, so they stop there) is that it doesn't worth more than a day. The main attractions there are the Duomo (cathedral) and the famous opera house "La scala". Also, you should see Leonardo de Vinci's 2nd best masterpiece, "the last meal" at Santa Maria della Grazie church (#1 is a lady's portrait which you would surely see at the Louvre in Paris...). The national science museum which houses Leonardo's drawings and models is also interesting. There are also many churches, palaces, galleries etc... but not more than any major Italian city... and If you like high-end fashion, Milano is in close contention with Paris for the #1 center of fashion in Europe... there's no way you should be bored, but if you choose between Milano and Firenze, I would question the wisdom or sanity of someone who prefers Milano... I don't think I have met one of these yet...
If you have 3 days and you want to visit both cities, I would suggest one day in Milano and two in Firenze...
As I previousely said, Milano has good connections to all your other destinations, and you could insert it anytime that suit you between Paris, Firenze, Switzerland and Barcelona.
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Post by georgemmj on Nov 30, 2002 14:15:19 GMT -5
THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!
I realize we have a lot of choices to make about destinations, and of course, it will all be day by day. But the main reason ( I know for the wrong) we wanted to go to Florence was to shop. We were told to shop there? Do you have any other suggestions in our means, maybe not so far south as Florence to shop??? We both really like to shop, and see the sights! Thanks. Georgie
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Post by nitsansh on Nov 30, 2002 14:41:44 GMT -5
shopping is something I'm completely ignorant of... If all travellers were like me, shops in tourist sites around the world were bankrupt... you would need someone else to recommend on favorite shopping places...
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Post by nitsansh on Nov 30, 2002 15:09:54 GMT -5
If you want to shop AND see the sites in Firenze, you definitely can't do that in a single day!
If you are looking for clothes, leather products or jeweleries at bargain prices, the place to go in Firenze is Piaza del Mercato Centrale. This market is open everyday except Sunday.
The main shopping streets are between the Duomo and the river Arno, and of course Ponte Vecchio, Firenze's famous bridge. The brand names of Italian fashion, such as Gucci and Pucci, are on via de Tornabuoni.
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Post by Kim on Nov 30, 2002 15:36:09 GMT -5
Personally, I'm not a big fan of Milan-there isn't much to do. I wouldn't stay in Milan, I thought it would be different-we gave it a chance but won't go back. Maybe it's something you can do as a day trip as you won't need more than a day there.
Kim
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Post by nitsansh on Nov 30, 2002 17:06:53 GMT -5
As I mentioned, no one I know of thinks you should stay in Milano more than a day...
As I understand, you want to stop there because your friend has a relative there... will she have enough with a day?
You don't even have to stay there overnight... you can take the night train from Paris, spend the day in Milano, and take a train to Firenze in the afternoon... or arrive from Firenze in the morning and move onward to Switzerland... or come from Switzerland and catch the night train to Barcelona...
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Post by georgemmj on Dec 1, 2002 1:28:29 GMT -5
Thanks for knowing nothing about shopping. Just Kidding. I am sure we will find plenty of places to shop in Europe. We will spend no more than one day in Milano and more than a day in Florence. Thanks everyone, I always like ideas for our trip! Thanks Georgie......Remember we are going to Amsterdam, Paris, Geneva, Florence, and Barcelona.....tell us if we should change anything or add.....love NEW ideas...  |
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