Ok, lets break this down, since I am a bit behind on keeping up on my own thread...
Originally Posted by tfar
not a big problem really. You like Champagne? Go from Paris to Reims. Visit the fabulous Gothic Cathedral and tour one or two Champagne houses. The visit at Pieper Heidsieck is particularly impressive. They take you under earth into a mile long system of tunnels of chalk where you use a laser guided electric train to visit the "caves". Totally amazing and definitely not the usual American tourist destination. So Reims is a clear must stop when you go eastwards from Paris.
Sounds like it would be an interesting stop to make. However, I would like to try and spend atleast 2 full days in Germany, but I will make note of this for "Graduating with an Electrical Engineering Degree" trip I plan on taking in 2010. Pretty much it boils down to I need to get at least two days in getting some German language practice in...
Originally Posted by tfar
Actually my plan originally when I thought about going through Brussels or Luxembourg was to swing my way through Trier. However, since I decided I didnt want to do that route in such a short time (in addition to my reason above for France). Definitley want to visit there...but it is probably going to wait for next year...
As for Frankfurt, it is not necisarilly that I dont really want to spend time there. Just staying there on the 3/13 would cost more then I could afford due to some trade fairs in town that run through the 14th. Luckily the night of the 14th, hotel prices go back down to normal levels. I've been thinking of at least spending the afternoon in Frankfurt, but with having to get a hotel elsewhere I figure my time (and money) is better allocated elsewhere.
Originally Posted by caspritz78
An alternative is Cologne. Easy to reach from the FRA airport by train within an hour. It is also possible to take the Thalys train from Cologne back to Paris or to Brussels where you can catch the Eurostar to London.
Originally Posted by tfar
True. Cologne is a really good alternative. Plenty to do there, too. Have you been there, Berto?
I have never been to Cologne before....in fact the only city in Germany that I have been to is Berlin (unless you want to count stops on the various CNL trains I took last year where we would be stuck at stations like Fulda for 30 minutes while they changed equipment, etc). I am open to the possibilities of Cologne...even though I would rather spend more time visiting also Dusseldorf, Bonn, Aachen along with it....I'm open to the idea, just tell me more what could I do for a day? Would it be worth stopping in Bonn heading south? And I hear that following the Rhine in this area back towards Mainz/Frankfurt is suppossed to be quite beautiful (would be nice to get some time outside the cities).
While I query for that info, anyone else have any feelings on Freiburg and heading north along the Rhine (opposite of heading south on the Rhine from Cologne idea)? Could even swing through Worms or Heidelburg at that rate as well...
Originally Posted by tfar
You could also visit the Goethehaus where Germany's most famous writer was born. If you have not read anything (especially Faust or the poems) by Goethe your education is not complete. It is only due to the incredibly bad American high school education that even otherwise well educated people don't know this writer who was probably more significant in the history of literature than Shakespeare.
http://www.aviewoncities.com/frankfurt/goethehaus.htm
Compared to my fellow American students, at least I have heard of Goethe. Unfortunately, it appears my education is not complete!
There just is not enough time in one week to do and see everything I want to!!!