What Should We Do?

posted on: April 18, 2007

We'll be leaving for Norway on Monday and staying for about two weeks (but I won't actually be back home for three weeks). We'll be staying in Bergen for the first week and then the second week is open to going somewhere else. Norway is a pretty expensive country even though the exchange rate looks deceivingly favorable ($1 USD = $6 NOK) and Alex wants to save some money without sacrificing things to do, so we've decided there are a few options which may ultimately be equally expensive and here's why we're torn...

1. The train tour would give us a chance to see the scenic countryside, the capital city of Oslow, and take a ferry tour through the fjords which are unique to Norway.
2. Neither of us have ever been to Ireland, and it would be cool to tour some of the castles and catch some music in the pubs.
3. We went to Spain in 2004 but never made it to Barcelona, where some of the coolest architecture in the world exists.

So, let me know what you think by taking the poll....

PS!!!!! If you have any suggestions for us, please let me know in the comments!!!

Thanks!

15 comments, to add [click here]:

  1. How fabulous!! I've never been to Ireland, so I can't comment on that - although it is on my list of must-visit places.

    And I couldn't vote, because I couldn't pick between Norway and Barcelona!

    Norway - fabulous, I absolutely loved it! I went to Oslo for friends' wedding and they took all the guests on a bus/boat tour through the countryside and the fjords and it was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. It's very relaxing and peaceful. I must have taken 50 pictures of waterfalls (and this was back in my film days) because around every bend there was another waterfall more amazing than the last. The people are some of the nicest I've ever encountered in my travels! So, if you want some relaxation - I say take the train trip!

    Barcelona is city I absolutely adore. The art, the food, the people.... fabulous! And if you want to take some time away from the city, take the hike up to Tibidabo - gorgeous views; the walk is long but beautiful (you can get there other ways, depending on the day of the week and the season - but the walk was a great way to spend an afternoon). At the top of Tibidabo is a church on top of a church and a little amusement park. Another tip - in the afternoon, the Cava Bars serve little snacks for a euro or 2 and then a bottle of cava is usually free with the tapas (or maybe it's the other way around? - either way, it's a great break in the day...).

    Okay, those are my travel tips for today...

    Have a fabulous time!

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  2. My husband lived in Ireland for 3 years and LOVED it. If you are anywhere near by you MUST go see Giants Causeway. Look it up online. Honestly, I think it would be a photographer's heaven...it looks incredible! We are hoping to take a trip to Ireland and see it all! So, if you do go - send some tips our way okay?

    Shannon

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  3. Even though Norway is the only one of those three places I haven't seen, if I were you I think I'd pick that (and not just because I haven't seen it). If you'd get to see more of the quaint little towns I think that's totally the way to go.

    If you are going to Ireland and you can make it up to the Northern Coast (Giant's Causeway) and/or Belfast those were my favorite parts of Ireland. If you will only have time to see Dublin, I'd hold off and go back to Ireland when you really have time to see it all. Two friends and I (including Lauri) did a driving tour and stayed in hostels and we had the best time. The people are so nice and the music is great and it's so green and we LOVED it.

    As far as cities go, Barcelona is definitely worth seeing. It's got a lot of personality and it was by far my favorite city in Spain. They have escalators outside! If you do go to Barcelona definitely go to Park Guell. I'm sure you would have anyway, but it's beautiful and has all these buildings with intricate mosaics on them. One of those things you're not going to see just anywhere.

    Well, whatever you pick I'm sure you'll have a great time. Enjoy!

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  4. oh my goodness- fun! you must be so excited! i've only been to ireland of the cities you listed and would certainly remember going there. go horseback riding in shannon or cork. stay in b&b's and explore little towns by winding back roads- just beware of sheep crossing!

    can't wait to hear what you end up doing!

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  5. Anonymous11:35 AM

    i'm often torn between getting to know one place well, and seeing as many different places as you can. My vote was to see as much as you can, so i said go to ireland, where you hadn't been at all yet. Plus, I can totally see you and alex hanging out in pubs there and singing songs with the locals :-)

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  6. We have a client going to Ireland tomorrow for a month. Want a shoot? lol

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  7. I am so envious you get to go to Norway. i am learning Norwegian, because I'd like to live in Norway some day, so discover Norway.

    Now I am bringing up a 4th option. I am sure you have never been to a town called Leipzig in Germany - stop by, I'll show you the town. ;)

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  8. aufbau - I may take you up on your offer some day!!! However, I think my husband has been there before? We're pretty big classical music people, and I know there's quite a bit of history there!!

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  9. You guys are making it tough to decide!!!! I have to admit that I'm leaning toward the least popular vote - to me it means that there's something very few people know about just waiting to be discovered and explored. ;)

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  10. Darn ... well maybe some day ... just make it before I move to another country. BTW - in the fall I will be in your area (SW-MI).

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  11. Hey Anne! Two summers ago my husband, big pregnant belly and I took a quick weekend road trip... Drove from Berlin into Denmark, across Denmark, over the big bridge to Sweden, camped in a BEAUTIFUL national park there, drove up to the ferry, crossed over to Copenhagen, then drove straight back down to the tip of Denmark (after a detour of Mons Klint- the white cliffs) and hopped on the ferry and returned to Berlin. It was a fabulous time. If you like roadtripping, drive form Norway, straight down through Sweden, Denmark, and into Germany. :) If you make it to Berlin, coffee is on me.

    As for Barcelona.... just went there too, and its fabulous. although we enjoyed a quaint beach town about an hour by train from Barcelona.. called Vilanova. Its GORGEOUS, with a fabulous beach, and countryside.

    So basically, all of your options are great. I guess you just need to decide what "kind" of vacation you want... relaxed, laid back (Vilanova, driving through Scandinavia), high energy (Barcelona - lots of peeps, probably Dublin, too).

    Keep us posted on what you decide!

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  12. Hello fabulous Anne!
    What a delimma you have...all of those wonderful opportunities to explore cool countries!
    When I lived in Europe and friends came to visit they would always want to do a whirlwind tour of as many places as we could get to in a few days. I learned it was exhausting, tres expensive and not nearly as awesome as picking one area and really exploring it. You can't go wrong in any of the magical places you are thinking of, but my 2 cents is to keep things simple. It's quality not quantity.
    We are leaving on Sunday for vacation and we are not going to take my advice. In one week we'll see: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Morocco, France, the UK, Canada, the U.S., Neverland, Infinity and beyond...
    Walt Disney World, here we come!
    ;-)
    Have a blast, Anne, can't wait to see your photos!!
    xo daria

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  13. Daria, you crack me up!!!

    I think I won't announce what we're going to do... we'll just do it and share pictures once we've done it! ;)

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  14. Anonymous10:09 AM

    I'm from Belfast so if you decide to go north from Dublin give me a shout and I can give you some pointers as to where the best spots are :-)

    Mags

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  15. OMG, somehow your blog was stuck on an old post and everytime i clicked i thought there was nothing new and I missed all this great stuff! Anyway, safe trip Anne! can't wait to see your pics!

    ur the best,
    Tina

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