Ok so i will be studying/working in London 8-January- 27 April. I am looking to head over to Europe 26 December, which will give me about a week and a half before I need to be starting school in London. I have a week and half spring break in March (which I may turn into 2 weeks :blink: ) during which I am thinking about going to Greece/Turkey. Then I will have about 3 weeks during April/May before I have to come back, and I have no clue where I will go then.

But for now I'm just trying to decide where to go from 26 Dec-7/8 January. I haven't been to eastern Europe or Scandinavia. I was thinking of going somewhere fairly obscure in eastern Europe (Romania anyone?) b/c 1) it would be cheaper, 2) cool to go someplace before it joins the EU and gets all touristy, and 3) bragging rights. (ok, at least I'm honest!) But now I'm thinking it will really be a shame if I'm 4 months in London and don't really *do* the UK. I won't be able to get very far on weekends. I haven't been to Scotland and regret not going to N. Ireland when I was studying in Dublin. Plus I think New Year's in Scotland/N. Ireland/Ireland would be VERY fun. :mf_w00t2: But is that a good reason? :doh:

I don't know! I feel like it's not that big a deal but I am always so indecisive! I may just put a map of Europe on the wall and throw a dart! I want to go everywhere of course.

Help me tpunks! :surrender:

Wow, what an awful, awful dilemma ;)

I'll be in Spain for most of that timeframe, and I'd say come on down and party it up with me, but I believe that's the last place I saw you!

Hmm.. do you ski/snowboard at all? I know the snow isn't that good in mainland Europe around that time, but the mountains in Scandinavia should be going pretty well. That'd probably be my first instinct. Either that or, like you said, go to more "obscure" places.

The Scotland/N. Ireland idea is a very good one, but those are places that I always feel "will always be there." - hitting up Romania or whatnot before ascension to the EU/homogenization isn't a bad idea!

Don't know if I can help narrow things down as succinctly as Omi did...

From personal experience I can attest that New Years (Hogmanay) in Scotland is a blast.

Haven't been to Romania myself (my husband has), but I love eastern Europe, and always highly recommend it, winter's good because it's not busy and the Christmas/winter customs are always interesting. Often New Years is more of a family event than a big wild party, so you could be a bit disappointed in that regard, particularly as the hostels may not be terribly busy that time of year and you might have slim pickings in the companionship department.

We lived in Lithuania over EU accession, and it was unbelievable how quickly things changed in that time, so if you want to see a pre-EU culture, you really need to go now, because once the blue flag is official, things change right quick.

Doesn't that help considerably?

Good luck with this onerous decision.

:tumbleweed:

If you enjoy skiing at all go to Switzerland for new years and the beginning of january. More expensive than Romania, but its all student loan money anyway right?

well me and a few friends are thinking about going to Edinburgh for new years if you would like to join me!

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Omid, don't give me a hard time; I remember you had this exact same "problem" not long ago! :lol: Btw, what are you doing in Spain?

Ok so I agree that E. Europe is much more exciting for tons of reasons but I think I'm going to head there in May, when I have 1) more time, and 2) more time to plan. I really think it needs a bit more planning and I would get more out of it then as opposed to randomly showing up in Dec....I am thinking of some sort of route starting in Romania, perhaps making various stops in Serbia, Bosnia, Crotia, et al, enroute to perhaps Ljubljana, since my roots are there.

So that means I'm probably on for Scotland/Ireland/etc. in Dec. Briley I may take you up on that offer for New Year's!! :cheers: I'm looking at flights now and just trying to figure out what is the best way to manuever the UK with the monstrosity that will be my suitcase without stopping in London first. :( :blink2:

Alright, I finally made a decision and bought a ticket to Edinburgh! :stoked:

Bring on Hogmanay! (now if I can only pronounce it properly)....:lol:

Och aye, way to go lassie...!

worldwidemike

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(U2fan @ Nov 6 2006, 03:32 PM) [snapback]144229[/snapback]</div>I think you'll find it's called 'Snogmanay' :lol:

ev

Oh my....so I didn't know you've been. Do you have any advice/suggestions?

I may be getting old b/c I am thinking this whole thing may be more trouble than it's worth, considering I don't even have a ticket to the street party. I think 100,000 people in the streets on New Year's sounds like fun but then I remember oh yeah, I hate large crowds, the cold, and am claustrophobic.

Haha, don't I sound like an 85 y/o? :(

Just tell yourself that somewhere among the 100,000 people is Bono. And he's waiting for you to find him. I can see you now....cold, crowd, claustrophobia be damned!!!

worldwidemike

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(U2fan @ Nov 13 2006, 12:54 AM) [snapback]144754[/snapback]</div>I haven't been myself but heard a few stories that people just make out with random strangers.

ev

:naughty: