lesser known places in western europe

[brent!]

hey guys, im trying to work out the places i want to visit while i travel around for 7 weeks in europe (italy, france, england, switzerland, germany, holland)

it's my first time there, and I want to goto some of the less touristy areas and stuff like that...oh i'm going january/february

any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

[worldwidemike]

Hi brent,

I think you'll manage to avoid most of the tourists in Jan/Feb. You'll have to deal with the weather, of course, which may make the more "outdoorsy" and scenic sights less appealing. I went to Lithuania last November and it was c-o-l-d. I definitely enjoyed it less than I would have othewise.

Southern Italy isn't very touristy, outside of Pompeii and Herculanaeum. I rented a scooter and just buzzed up and down the peninsula where my whim took me. The Amalfi Coast -- which normally has its share of tourists -- should be fine during that time. I recommend it. There are also plenty of little hilltop towns to wander through.

My favorite part of France is Provence, for its intense Mediterranean feel. Normally, it is pretty touristy, but there are enough historic and scenic small towns and villages to escape the crowds, and the "rent a villa" crowd should be gone for the year, I think.

Good luck, and feel free to post any questions on specifics...

worldwidemike

[joanofarc]

do yourself a favor - go to munich while you're in germany.

by the looks of your style (thick rimmed glasses/striped sweater/shaggy beatles haircut), i think you would enjoy a visit to MUFFAT HALL while in munich - very "indy" type of feel - concerts, exhibitions, lectures (if you spek german), coffee, booze, etc.

a nice place. though hardly off the beaten path - go anyway!

[brent!]

thanks mike and joanofarc!

do you like the band joanofarc?! if so, you rule! thanks for the tip about the place in munich, definately sounds like my thing! i will definately check it out!

anyways i'm not so much trying to avoid tourists, just the central hubs that I probably won't find so interesting...i definately want to goto some of the more popular areas during the winter though (and i'm not sure what these might be?) so any suggested destinations that would be nice during the time i'm going would be great!

and more tips on places like joanofarc sed would be great also. thanks guys

[joanofarc]

and of course, brent, while in munich - visit the MULLER'SCHES VOLKSBAD - it's a beautiful art deco building where you can sauna nude with a bunch of germans. not too many "kids" hanging out there, but a really relaxing way to spend a morning. i recommend the volksbad above anything else! another place i'm sure you'll love in munich is CAFE AM BEETHOVENPLATZ on goethestrasse (somewhat near the hauptbanhof) this cafe was totally rad. it has a kind of young intellectual vibe (without being stuffy or pretentious) and they play jazz there everynight - have a full bar, delicious coffee and a great atmosphere - it's packed all day everyday - above that beautiful cafe, is a hotel (hotel mariandl), rooms range from 70-95 euros per night, but well worth it - i would try to afford that if i were you. and (sorry for people who have read my previous posts) if you do go to munich (do it, you won't regret it), please try the restaurant LIEBIGHOF im lehel - kind of pricy, but the food is delicious and they play great music there at a reasonable volume - they have a delicious dessert: rote grutze, and a vegetarian menu too - try their roasted potatoes! they have a small but delicious wine selection as well.

oh, i've heard some shit by the band - it's alright, i have some of their stuff on vinyl, but i've been really into 80's music again though, like: italian 80's and more obscure british stuff.

oh, and also in munich, there is an area (easy to find on city map) called SCHWABING it's the university center and there are a lot of students there. it was made famous back in the 70's because it was a cultural/arts center and celebrities like the stones and warhol liked to hang out there - it's lost that vibe, but was still a cool neighborhood. if mariandl should be too expensive, there is a great pension 60 euros for a private double. located in a cool part of schwabing... pension frank - but really, try to stay at mariandl, you won't regret it! all the coolest museums in munich are in schwabing - i recommend their museum of modern art. there's also a cool record store near by with more underground/old type lps - best records is the name of it.

anyway, schwabing, along with other districts in munich and around germany, hold WEIHNACHTSMARKT around christmastime. it's kind of touristy, but local touristy (?) - the tradition is to walk around looking at crafts (not that that seems cool to me) and drink (here's the cool part) hot spiced wine called gluhwein. i missed that by about two weeks, bummer.

[brent!]

wow! thankyou so much i have lots of nice sounding places to visit while im in munich then!

yeh i'm not into joan of arc sorta stuff really, i just know of them..haha i just didn't think any people on here were into punk/emo/screamo/indie/hardcore etc
ps. i get to see converge while i'm in europe!!! plus transistor transistor, i think they are from england? either way they are rock!!!

do you guys (hint hint joanofarc) know any of the areas i should visit while i'm in berlin, hamburg, prague, lucerne, geneva, rome, london, brighton, venice, florence, amsterdam, paris....or places near these cities because these will be the capital cities i will be visiting and well i sorta want to have an idea or what sights i should see, and what areas i should go while i'm there

i leave christmas day and it is fast approaching

[joanofarc]

i just didn't think any people on here were into punk/emo/screamo/indie/hardcore etc

well, i'm certainly not. i'm more a classic rock kind of gal, however- i can tell a scene hang out when i see one. and those places i mentioned (because i hate pretention and like sentiments) are totally chill, great places for anybody - i guess anyone besides a rowdy frat type crowd.

for amsterdam. go to de kuil coffee shop - even if you don't want to smoke weed - it's a beautiful establishment, one of the oldest "coffee shops" in amsterdam, and they serve alcohol. a lot more locals than tourists. and their coffees are delicious and cheap. as you're walking down the damrak, look to your right for PIZZA M SLICE, make a right there, de kuil has a 420 cafe sign over their door - but it's no hippy stoner hang out - and great dutch hash sold there by the way.