Most disappointing tourism attractions
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Topic: Most disappointing tourism attractions
Posted By: andu
Subject: Most disappointing tourism attractions
Date Posted: August 18 2007 at 09:14
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I just read an article in our local press, taking from a The Telegraph material about the most disappointing touristic so called attractions. I'll post then with my comments. Top ten most disappointing world's touristic attractions: 1. Eiffel Tower (Paris) ("frustratingly crowded and expensive") - couldn't tell, I wasn't there 2. Louvre Museum (Paris) - as an art lover I could never agree on that. Of course if art is just a "touristic" attraction for those people, I could understand them, but still not excuse them 3. Times Square (New York) - I haven't been there, but is there anything to it except for those light installations and the events that happen there from time to time? 4. Las Ramblas (Spain) - never even heard of it! 5. The Statue of Liberty (New York) - that a symbol, and symbols are important not for the qualities of the product, but because of the ideas it embodies; by itself, it's nothing more than a huge statue... but it's also a lot more 6. Piazza di Spania (Rome) - I've been there; yes the stairs are just normal stairs but, man, it's in Rome, the best place to be!!! Not to mention La Barcaccia, the Michelangelo related architecture in the back and the superb view on Via del Babuino or whatever that avenue is called. I especially recommend coming to see Piazza di Spania in the evening, when the city lights start shining. 7. The White House (Washington) - is there anything so special about it except for being the residence of US state authority? Why on Earth go see it for tourism purposes? 8. The Pyramides (Gizeh, Egypt) - haven't been there, but I'm sure being there should make a great moment. Maybe the tourists flow make that less probable to happen? 9. Brandenburg Gate (Berlin) - myself I'd rather visit the Museums Island If I were to get in Berlin 10. The Tower of Pisa - couldn't tell Top ten most disappointing UK's touristic attractions: 1. Stonehenge 2. Angel of the North 3. Blackpool Tower 4. Land's End 5. Princes Diana's memorial fountain 6. Millennium Wheel (London Eye) 7. Brighton Peer 8. Buckingham Palace 9. White Rocks of Dover 10. Big Ben I'll let out fellow brits  to lay their thoughts on these... I didn't even hear of options no. 2,3,4,5 and 9 before.And finally, Top ten most promising UK's touristic attractions: 1. Alnwick Castle (in Northumberland) 2. Carrick-a-Rede bridge (in County Antrim) 3. Royal Crescent (in Bath residential area) 4. The Globe 5. Backs (in Cambridge) 6. Holkham Bay in Norfolk 7. Lyme Regis Bay and the Jurassic Coast 8. Tate - St. Ives 9. Skye Island (in Scotland) 10. Eden Project (in Cornwall). Only know no. 4 and 8... What are your thoughts on this list, too? ------------- "PA's own GI Joe!" 
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Replies:
Posted By: Atkingani
Date Posted: August 18 2007 at 09:27
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I've been in some of them and I liked what I saw... I agree that you can't visit the Louvre as a "tourist", you have to go as an art/historian appreciator or at least a curious about. Las Ramblas are in Barcelona and all people I know that walked there said things ranging from fair to excellent, so... Maybe only the White House is boring, there are many other better places to see in DC.
------------- Guigo ~~~~~~ |
Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: August 18 2007 at 09:29
I'm replying out of pure talk, I haven't been yet even close to all those places, but, in a mix of personal impressions and pure subjective spirit, here's my opinion
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andu wrote:Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: August 18 2007 at 09:36
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Someone was disappointed with Stonehenge - they said it was just some rocks in a field! And The Grand Canyon is just a hole in the ground, I suppose. |
Posted By: laplace
Date Posted: August 18 2007 at 09:46
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for andu - i live in england and I've been to a lot of these "disappointing" ones; 1. Stonehenge The stones themselves are majestic; it's what's been done to make the place more of a tourist attraction that has ruined it all - you get to slowly shuffle around the stones, themselves cordoned off for fear of benign vandalism (ala people chip off a bit of the stone to take home as a souvenir) while you listen to radio headsets that witter on about some tertiarilly relevant nonsense. Roads are quite close to the site so it's a long way away from the idyllic setting the trilithons deserve. 2. Angel of the North It's sculptoral art and none too ambiguous. You look at it and take away nothing. If there's anything to be impressed about here, it's size, because the statue certainly doesn't carry a sense of history. 3. Blackpool Tower Still nice if you're a traditionalist. Everyone in general is more used to heights because of air travel, more aggressive architecture, rollercoasters etc, so being at the top of the tower doesn't carry as much meaning as it used to. The blackpool halloween and christmas lights are still lovely. =) 4. Land's End I love looking at the sea. Perhaps it doesn't have enough explosions and sex for most people? ;P 5. Princes Diana's memorial fountain Don't care; will never care. 6. Millennium Wheel (London Eye) I wish they had associated this with the Millennium Dome so I could rant about it ;) this one's just a high fairground wheel that gives you the chance to take in the "sights" of central london. I don't go in for industrial, modernised scenery so it's rather silly. 7. Brighton Peer Again; I love looking at the sea. Sticks of rock and bad wurlitzer music come somewhat secondarily and it's a real anachronism that affects every beach town - Brighton is the reason, but I can't blame it (because I love a little creative anachronism) ;) 8. Buckingham Palace Expensive and opulent waste of money and time for a family of expensive and opulent wastes of money and time. 9. White Rocks of Dover beauty 10. Big Ben Big Ben actually scares me to death; it's so menacing. I don't know why; memories of War of the Worlds? I wouldn't want to see it everyday, which is lucky because I live at the other end of hte country. ------------- FREEDOM OF SPEECH GO TO HELL |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: August 18 2007 at 10:25
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As one of the resident Italians, I will comment on the two entries from my country: 1. Piazza di Spagna is not, IMHO, as beautiful as Piazza Navona  , but it is was intended for dramatic effect, which it achieves effortlessly. You should see it in May, decked with many-coloured azaleas.... BTW, Andu, I often used to walk in PdS early in the morning when going to work, and the colours of the houses surrounding the piazza were utterly amazing! Recommended next time you are in Rome.2. The Tower of Pisa may be a curiosity because it leans instead as standing up straight, but it is also a part of one of the most beautiful architectural complexes in the whole world, the medieval Campo dei Miracoli. I've once seen it from the air when flying from Pisa Airport, and the sight of those white, graceful buildings dotted on a green field was definitely something to remember. Besides, the tower itself is beautiful... Look at the pillars and their carved capitals, and the way they seem to climb all over the structure of the tower. Others I've seen from the list: - The Louvre museum may be immense and rambling, but it makes for one of the most rewarding experiences for ANY art lover. Enough said. - The White House IS disappointing. Washington DC is a very interesting, even beautiful city, but if I had to pick out some tourist attractions, I'd definitely recommend the National Gallery of Arts (wonderful museum, chock-full of great paintings, and FREE to boot), the whole Georgetown area (amazing 18th-th century architecture, lots of greenery, great shopping and eating), and, just outside the main city, Alexandria Old Town - where Micky and I had a walk and a nice dinner yesterday evening. As for England, which I know rather well: I haven't seen all those attractions, but the cliffs of Dover are worthy of being seen, and Brighton Pier is interesting. Buckingham Palace is dull as dishwater, the Big Ben is impressive if seen once, and the memorial fountain... the less said, the better.  From the other list, the Royal Crescent is quite stunning, but the whole town of Bath is worth visiting. Alnwick Castle (the set for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films) is fantastic, as is the whole of the county of Northumberland. As to The Globe, it's very interesting indeed, especially if you get to see a play there. |
Posted By: Fassbinder
Date Posted: August 18 2007 at 10:25
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Well, disappoiintments... In order to be disappointed one need to have expectations, in the first place. Personally, I don't have any on La Tour d'Eyffel. I want to visit many other sites in Paris, when I (hopefully, sometime) shall be there, but not this tower (it'll be seen, inevitably).
Piazza di Spagna -- not the greatest site of Rome, in my opinion, but, then again, I haven't too much expectations on it.
If already to speak about the disappointments in Rome then the Sanpietro Cathedral may be one (it was, in some sense, for me). But other sites haven't disappoint me.
As for the Pyramides and the Stonehendge -- never been there, definitely want to see them, and don't understand how is it possible to be disappointed by them. The very fact of their existence already makes them worth visiting, let alone their look itself and all the (hi)story around them.
On the other hand, the Buckingham Palace was really disappointing. But other London sites weren't!!!
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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: August 18 2007 at 10:28
OH gosh, forgot the Eiffel Tower - which IMHO is quite nice if seen at a distance. I'm not really into heights myself. San Pietro (St Peter's) is NOT a cathedral, though - it is a Basilica, and it IS highly disappointing. The best thing about it is the dome. There are much better things to be seen in Rome than the Vatican, and I will stop at that - I'm not the Catholic Church's biggest fan. |
Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: August 18 2007 at 10:53
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Upon seeing the new Seven Wonders that were voted, I really wanna get to Machu Pichu and Petra; I think, at least for now, they among the most sublime natural views you could get to see in a lifetime. Raffaella, I'd certainly spend time seeing San Pietro and the Vatican Square, at least once.  Like I said from the beginning, I can't speak pompously about what is and isn't exciting in this world, out of having got to see almost nothing outside my country - I can tell which places would or not interest me, but that tops it. -------------
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Posted By: mystic fred
Date Posted: August 18 2007 at 12:16
one of the places i was least disappointed with was Venice - fantastic! canals a bit smelly though. 9/10
 -------------  Prog Archives Tour Van 
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: August 18 2007 at 14:24
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Some Random thoughts:
Piazza di Spagna - and the Spanish Steps (as us Romantic Brits know them) - they did not dissapoint me, I loved the place, and the Keats museum.
Brandenburg Gate - I haven't been to Berlin since the Wall came down, (the scar of that cutting across the city was a moving sight), for me this will always be the symbol of reunification.
Stonehenge - as a fenced-off tourist atraction this (as Fred Mystically said) is not as worth a visit as it once was - go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avebury - Avebury , a few miles further north - the stones are older, more impressive, more 'spiritual' and accessable (and free).
Land's End - I love Cornwall and there are plenty of nice coastlines to see. I liked it there, even if the 'theme park' was a bit tacky - the view to the Lighthouse is okay.
Princes Diana's memorial fountain, Millennium Wheel (London Eye), Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, The Globe - I don't like London much, but that may be through familiarity (I use to live there and worked in the West End) - the Globe is the only redeaming feature.
Brighton Peer - Meh, give me Southend Peir any day - it's longer and got a train.
White Clifffs of Dover, Lyme Regis Bay, Holkham Bay - (also see Land's End) - In the UK you are never more than 74 miles from the sea and the English coastline is my favorite place in the whole World, there is so much variety in every mile of seashore. To these I would add Robin Hood's Bay & Whitby in Yorkshire, Babbacombe, Durdle Dor, The Needles, The Essex Marshes, Chesil Beach...
Eden Project & 'Lost Gardens of Heligan' - I like gardens anyway.
I would add:
Pier 39 - San Francisco - apparently the 3rd most visited tourist attraction in the USA - really dissapointing and tacky - Monterey Bay was much nicer.
------------- What? |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: August 18 2007 at 15:37
I'll second that... seeing it for the first time.. my first thought was.... wonder if anyone will mind if a smoke a cigarette. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Syzygy
Date Posted: August 18 2007 at 16:00
------------- 'Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom |
Posted By: andu
Date Posted: August 18 2007 at 18:07
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Thanks for the input, people! Really appreciated. But then...
... was the highlighted part addressed to me? Because if so, I hope someone up there hears you. I hope to get back to Rome someday, and stay longer - or even settle there. For those not knowing what Piazza di Spagna looks like (oh, I misspelled it in my post), here it is, with the La Barcaccia in the foreground:  And again:  And looking in the opposite direction, along one of the avenues starting from it (Via Sistina, I think now):  Another perspective:  Of course I can't say the PdS was one of the highlights of my visit to Rome, but I loved it just as I love any bit of Rome. So I'm biased. I also like San Pietro a lot, but understand others not liking it, as I'm heavily into classical art and architecture (between others of course, like byzantine, gothic, modern, avantguarde, etc). BTW, San Pietro is so big that I can tell you in my home town (which is not Bucharest) there's no public square as big as the surface taken by San Pietro... One minor correction: while a basilica is a certain type of architectural plan & elevation in religious (and civil) architecture, the cathedral is the "residence" church of a bishop. Therefore a basilica can be a cathedral, and San Pietro is both. ------------- "PA's own GI Joe!"
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Posted By: andu
Date Posted: August 18 2007 at 18:45
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This is how the Brighton beach was looking at the time of the honourable Constable, esq.: (click on the thumbnail image to expand) http://img256.imageshack.us/my.php?image=constablebrightonpe9.jpg">  Is it any less superb nowadays? Also I've googled the White Cliffs of Dover. They're splendid.  They remind me of Balcic, a seaside town at the Black Sea, which was set on some similar white cliffs. While it was part of Romania, a superb resort was built, and it's renown spread with the name "The Silver Coast" (as opposed to the Cote D'Azur in France). Because of the place's beauty, many painters come to stay and work there. Here are some testimonies:       Et in Arcadia ego! ------------- "PA's own GI Joe!"
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Posted By: darren
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 00:23
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I've seen the cliffs of Dover. Nice but I think Seven Sisters is a better find.
It's funny, I loved Brighton but I don't remember the pier. I do remember the best name for a restaraunt: The Innocent Bystander Cafe. ------------- "they locked up a man who wanted to rule the world. the fools they locked up the wrong man." - Leonard Cohen |
Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 12:46
Here is one thing in California you can find nowhere else in the world and it is never dissapointing:
 I can't imagine anyone wanting to go to Disney land when this state has so much to offer.
Santa Cruz
 Point Lobos
 Lake Tahoe
 Yosmetie
 Just to name a few
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"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 13:57
especially the studios of Peter Hammill and Peter Gabriel, who both live in Bath -------------  A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 14:44
 yippee.... where do I buy a ticket ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Wilcey
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 14:54
Stone Henge IS NOT a tourist attraction...it's a historical monument..... that's what is wrong with society today..... they need a wlatzer and a candyfloss stall to make something good! 
I used to live in wlking distance from Holkham bay in Norfolk..... nasty rip tides..... try Brancaster instead 5 miles away and much nicer altogether! (ok it doesn't have a "royal beach hut" but you know it's good..... and Queenie did walk the yappers there often!) Lyme Regis is/was great, but last time I visited with the kids (about 2months ago) the thing that struck us most was the ammount of litter.... tons and tons of it, it was really sad, and dirty looking! AND we had promised the kids fish'n'chips..... at £8.50 per portion to take out the most gross f&c's imaginable we felt a bit ripped off!!! Never been to Skye, but I can THOROUGHLY recommend Orkney.... a whole heap of ancient and modern history and a weird mix of Scot and scandanavian culture......totally fell in love with the place!!!! 
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 15:33
To be fair to English Heritage - it's not tacky, but you do have to file through the gift shoppe to get in and out of the site - the real disappointment is that you are roped off from the monument. I don't want to climb over the stones or even touch them (well, may be just once), but I would like to walk amoungst them. That's why Avebury gets my seal of approval.
...and you wanna go easy on those wlatzers, they're full of sugar (what's a wlatzer? )------------- What? |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 15:54
That must have been me, Chris, my apologies! I did happen to go to Barcelona for a stag weekend and ended up in a strip club down Las Ramblas. I can't say much for it during the day, or when I'm sober though... The hostel at Gothic Point we stayed in was wonderful though. As for other places... Land's End - I attended a wedding reception at the hotel there and the weather was a bit grotty, but it did get sunnier. Not bad, but as Mystic Fred says, The Lizard is better. Stonehenge - I went there years ago and cannot remember it too well, but I know Avebury much better, as it's almost on my doorstep and I drive passed it occasionally. Unfortunately, Dean is incorrect with his information, as much of Avebury was man-made in the 1920s and 1930s by a local man. The stones are old and new too, I believe. The actual original site is old though. I'd rather look at the numerous White Horses around Wiltshire. Silbury Hill is also a bit of a disappointed, especially as they've fenced it off (which is sensible, in this day and age, although I'd love to see it open properly). Great places to visit, include The Minnack Theatre in Cornwall (not far from St. Ives) and I also thought Truro Cathedral was quite interesting. Another huge disappointed was the incredibly boring Iron Bridge. Dull dull dull! I'd much prefer to go to The Black Country Museum (which I have). Anthony Gormley is a useless artist and The Angel of the North looks tacky (although I've never seen it in real life). Oh and one more place that I thought was great, was Prague (Praha). Karlos Bridge (Karlóvy Most) is a wonderful place to stand on. I didn't see the Fenicular Railway though. -------------   
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Posted By: Wilcey
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 16:00
waltzer! ..... you know I wasn't advocating whirlygigs at Henge, I too prefer Avebury (after all it's my local!) because to the sense of respect there, you can just go and be peaceful amongst the stones 
There are some STUNNING stones and ancient monuments on Orkney..... really truly mindblowing! I was TRULY dispointed when doing the map reading on the way to Scotland a couple of weeks ago, oh oh oh (said I) lets go see Hadrians wall (I wanted to see Vindalana....... there is NO point of what is left of the wall where you can park safely......OTHER than the £3 parking + £5 entrance fee places.... we just wanted to see a bit of wall on our way to Scotland, we didn't want to spend £13 and be herded to do so.....very disapointed. I knoe English Heritage have a tough job, but to be financially excluded from our heritage is not on in my (some what gobby) opinion! (rant over )
Scotland was great though (and Scottish heritage seem to be much more people friendly than it's english counterpart.... do they get funding from their new devolved parliament I wonder? |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 16:02
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Rach, when I have my car, do you fancy meeting me at The Red Lion? It'll be a blast!
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Posted By: Wilcey
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 16:05
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The Red Lion...... defo! ........ if we are honset it's what we go to Avebury for..... never mind all that druidy/stoney/ stuff!!!!
(not really!) But yup, Red Lion is cool for a lemonade and packet of Cheese & Onion on a summer evening! |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 16:06
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Cool. I'll let you know when I have a car then. I cannot see it being long now, I've been saving up!
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Posted By: Hyperborea
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 20:37
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Skara Brae in the Orkneys is a wonderful and fascinating place, and it was built around 3200 bc. The standing stones of Callanish were built around 3400, and are set in a much more beautiful surrounding than Stonhenge.
Many more sites of interest set in the most amazing and beautiful country in the whole wide world. And even the Romans couldn't conquer us.
Finally, the worlds only rotating boat lift in the world.
See it here: http://www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk/index.asp - http://www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk/index.asp
ps i see this magnificent piece of engineering every time i look out the back windows of my house.
pps.......not a criticism, but a correction....it is called the Isle of Skye. ------------- As i race o'er this beautiful sphere, Like a dog who is chasing his..... |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: August 19 2007 at 21:18
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I've never been there, but I want to see the Anderton Boat Lift in action too. That looks very intriguing. http://www.andertonboatlift.co.uk/ - http://www.andertonboatlift.co.uk/ My neighbours have been to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct too, that looks scary!  I've been over a smaller version of Pontcysyllte on a boating holiday and that was impressive too. I just wish I could remember where it was. I've also been to Farmers Bridge and gone under Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham. Impressive, yet run down.  -------------
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Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: August 20 2007 at 03:50
Sorry, sorry - can't resist... You're referring to the Westminster Clock Tower; Big Ben is the bell +++takes pedant's hat off & awaits insults+++ ------------- 
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: August 20 2007 at 03:54
We've never actually been over this on a boat, but we have walked it - fantastic views, beautiful aqueduct!
Ah yes - done that many, many times, usually with Neil (Heavyfreight); without a doubt the best way to visit & see Birmingham. -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Man Erg
Date Posted: August 20 2007 at 12:46
I'll take your pedant's hat and plonk it on my bonce. Big Ben is housed in St.Stephen's Tower. Here's your hat back. Ta! ------------- 
Do 'The Stanley' otherwise I'll thrash you with some rhubarb. |
Posted By: Syzygy
Date Posted: August 20 2007 at 12:51
Oi Garten! If you check the previous page, I made that very point several days ago.
Yours pedantically.... ------------- 'Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom |
Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: August 20 2007 at 12:55
Sorry guys. Couldn't disagree more with these sentiments. The Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's were probably the highlight of my short time in Rome. |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: August 20 2007 at 12:59
 I suppose all of them, if you take that all too-common, modern, cynical "okay, blow me away or it's way overrated" attitude. 
The Great Wall is just an old wall, after all -- you can't see it all when you're on it.
The Pyramids? Just crumbling old stone blocks stacked in a common geometric form. Yawn.
The Colleseum? It's so run down....
The Mona Lisa? It's just an old painting of a homely lady, after all. Now, if she had big knockers, and a mule....
Redwoods? Really just overgrown trees, aren't they?
Whales? Much like fish on steroids. What have they ever done for me?
Icebergs? Come on -- they're just water in a solid form. Nothing but big icecubes, really. Get over it already.
 Yeah I know -- everything but violent computer games and slasher flics is "boring." Let's face it, life sucks. Let's play some GTA, then go watch Hostel.... ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: August 21 2007 at 07:35
In the immortal words of James May: "Oh, Cock!" -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: August 21 2007 at 07:39
Quote from a couple of weeks ago - "Yes, yes, yes - another bloody whale; well, whoop-de-bloody-doo" Or one of Peter's when seeing an iceberg split in front of us... "holy  , holy , holy ... etc"
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Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Man Erg
Date Posted: August 21 2007 at 08:48
I think that James May should be proposed as an honorary member of the Grey Room...If he isn't one already,that is... -------------
Do 'The Stanley' otherwise I'll thrash you with some rhubarb. |
Posted By: Tapfret
Date Posted: August 21 2007 at 13:23
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My recent trip to - - Schloß Neuschwanstein . This is not a castle, it is a palace. I wanted to see a real castle, one where invaders got hot oil poured on them and rocks and farm animals thrown at them from the battlements. This was just some rich guys house. The tourguide was an incarnation of http://www.triumphtheinsultcomicdog.com/ - Triumph the Insult Comic Dog . You have to follow the tour, which purposely takes you through 3 gift shops before you can escape. Seriously, there is so much to see and do in Bavaria, and this was a monumental waste of time.
One bright spot. It was the day we discovered Koenig Ludwig Weissbier. And unbelievably, its available in the states....YUM YUM!    ------------- https://www.last.fm/user/Tapfret" rel="nofollow">  https://bandcamp.com/tapfret" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: August 22 2007 at 12:54
 Surely you could have easily found out more about Neuschwanstein via the Web before you went there? I've never been there, but I do know that it is a relatively new king's palace, and not a medieval castle.Sounds like the tour was a money-grabbing pain, though. Perhaps if I'm ever there, I'll content myself with taking some pics from outside.
Re the farm animals from the battlements: RUN AWAAAAAY!
The beer looks tasty -- I rode my bike over 200km each way yesterday, to Quebec in order to buy some very good "bottle conditioned" Belgian-style microbrewery beer, of a similar type to that stuff. 4 hours + $20 gas + $10 for two 750ml bottles = rather dear beer!
 It was very good, though! Call me dedicated....
  ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: August 22 2007 at 13:36
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Please, James May isn't allowed here, he hates prog!
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Posted By: Wilcey
Date Posted: August 22 2007 at 13:37
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I could call you dedicated if you like Peter, but it sounds cunningly like "I'm just popping out to buy some beer dear" as an excuse for the lovely long bike ride...... what kind of bike do you have ? (go on make me jealous!)
As far as bridges go...... this little number at Riechenbach I thought was amazing.... 
I tried to go up (as far as you are allowed) with Joe.....but I had a serious hangover and had to let him go alone (even looking up from underneath was making me feel squeamish!) It is apparently a famous suicide venue in Germany..........nice  I took this from about 1/2 mile away with the stage underneath it gives you an idea how big the thing is.....and it was a very big stage!!!
P-C |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: August 22 2007 at 14:02
Well, there was a bit of that (when She asked where I'd been so long, I said "to buy beer,") but my nefarious plan was not announced beforehand (I know, I'm bad).
 Re my bike, here it is:
 It's a 2005 Kawasaki KLR650, a single-cylinder dual-purpose, go-anywhere type of mount that is great fun, and gets about 70 MPG (imperial gallon).
 I love it, but next Spring I'm upgrading to the much-revised/updated/improved 2008 model:
   !Happiness is a warm bike! ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Wilcey
Date Posted: August 22 2007 at 14:11
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YUM!!!!
This is what we keep asking Santa for......... My idea of heaven!!! 
Just imagine how many tourist attractions (good or bad) I could see with a KTM adventure and a tent!!! (just to keep it on topic!) P-C x |
Posted By: Man Erg
Date Posted: August 22 2007 at 14:18
He's just saying that because Jeremy Clarkson likes it. -------------
Do 'The Stanley' otherwise I'll thrash you with some rhubarb. |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: August 22 2007 at 14:22
Yes -- that's a lovely bike (if three times the cost of my KLR!)
You could go visit Dakar!
 Supposedly not a very comfortable saddle though, for the long haul. (Unless KTM have addressed that.)
They have a 640 single version of the Adventure now, as well. 'Twould be lighter of course, better on a tight trail, and better on gas:
 Handsome bike -- but as it's Austrian in origin, it's doubtless very $$$ compared to Japanese (at least here).
------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: KoS
Date Posted: August 22 2007 at 15:17
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The new KLR looks sweet! |
Posted By: Wilcey
Date Posted: August 22 2007 at 15:29
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I agree the kwaka looks good, I just seem to have fallen in love (lust) with the KTM adventure..... I know a couple of guys who have ridden them on the long haul and haven't had saddle 'issues' (monkey butt) but you can never really tell........ I did see a few in Costa Rica when I was there a couple of years ago and thought what a great way to see such an amazing country!
hhhmmmmmm my dreams are of KTM!!! |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: August 22 2007 at 15:34
Yes -- it's garnering very favourable reviews, as well. Just the thing for attaching some soft luggage, and heading down the highways and by-ways to visit some TOURIST ATTRACTIONS.Or just taking a wee run to the beer store in the next province.... ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: August 22 2007 at 15:45
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[QUOTE=prog-chick]I agree the kwaka looks good, I just seem to have fallen in love (lust) with the KTM adventure..... I know a couple of guys who have ridden them on the long haul and haven't had saddle 'issues' (monkey butt) but you can never really tell........ I did see a few in Costa Rica when I was there a couple of years ago and thought what a great way to see such an amazing country! hhhmmmmmm my dreams are of KTM!!![/QUOTE] (You should write such sentiments in ORANGE, PC.
) Save yer shekels, then (though it's a great machine, by all accounts) !
(The big Beemer adventure-touring rigs are reputably great (if rather unweildly) as well.)
Still, I'll stick with the Japanese, and a $6500 bike (that's just $10 per cc), vs a $20,000 one (that's over $20 per cc).
 Oh, to have unlimited funds and garage space, though! Why, my garage itself would be a veritable TOURIST ATTRACTION....
(No Mods, there's no thread hijacking going on here -- perish the thought!) ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: August 22 2007 at 16:21
but Clarkson does (sort of) http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/desertislanddiscs_20031116.shtml - http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/desertislanddiscs_20031116.shtml ------------- What? |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: August 22 2007 at 17:28
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Jeremy Clarkson also apparently likes Henry Cow, so I read somewhere.
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: August 22 2007 at 17:30
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If true, my appreciation of him has just increased a tad. ------------- What? |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: August 22 2007 at 17:36
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Oh, I'm confused... I'm thinking of the other unfanny man... Vic Reeves. He likes Henry Cow. As for Jeremy Clarkson, he does like Caravan! 10. Caravan – In The Land Of Grey And Pink “Talent-less nonsense will never stay the course,” says TV motoring guru Jeremy Clarkson of Caravan, “but sheer musical ability will last forever.” ‘The Land Of Grey And Pink’, heard here in updated form, titled a 1971 album from a band forever associated with the Canterbury Scene – and beloved of Jezza! He wrote the sleevenotes for the "All Over You" Caravan album from 1996. -------------
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Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: August 22 2007 at 18:08
Must interject here, many of the canal regions of Birmingham are NOT rundown but are, in actual fact, very nicely done up over the last 5-10 years. We actually have a city centre that doesnt look like it was built in the 60's and left alone anymore (thank god). ------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005 
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Posted By: Hyperborea
Date Posted: August 22 2007 at 19:56
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For motorbike read...transplant machine....as most victims would testify, but they're dead and other people have their parts anyway. ------------- As i race o'er this beautiful sphere, Like a dog who is chasing his..... |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: August 22 2007 at 21:08
 Wow -- how very original. You're the first person who's ever said something like that to me about bikes...NOT! (I worked in hospitals for 15 years, and my mother was an Emergency room nurse -- nuff said?) One time, I showed up to work (I was working at a hospital, then) when one of the X-ray techs spotted my helmet, and said: 'You ride a bike? You must be suicidal."The ironic thing was, he was smoking a cigarette as he said that.... I have been riding motorcycles for thirty years now, and have never been injured on one. A lot of that is down to sane, defensive riding (act like the car drivers are actually TRYING to kill you -- assume they WILL cut you off). Due to the small size and tremendous braking power and acceleration of a (modern) bike, one can also avoid many accidents that would be unavoidable in a car Yes, I am well aware that my bike does not enclose me in a protective steel cage like my car does. It's a risk I take knowingly, for the enormous payoffs in fun, fuel economy, etc. Though I will minimize my risk by alcohol-free, defensive ridng & always wearing proper protective clothing and a good full-face helmet, I will not let mere fear (mine, or yours), or the stupidity of other riders, deprive me of something that gives me so much pleasure. As you know, lots of hobbies and recreation can (and often do) lead to death or serious injury: see skateboards, snowboards, bicycles, roller blades, snowmobiles, four-wheelers, rock climbing, drinking, swimming, surfing, skiing, hang gliding, horseback riding, figure skating, bungee jumping, hockey, football, boating, kayaking, hunting, hiking, etc, etc. I recently drove my car, towing a trailer, some 13000 km back and forth across the continent, and often on major freeways. Nobody called me an "organ donor" for that. (i put about 3000 km per year on my bike, in contrast. Much of that distance is off-road, away from traffic, and at much slower speeds.)  What about you, Hyperborea? Do you ever willingly partake in activities that are less than entirely safe? Driving a car, riding a bicycle, or even crossing the street, perhaps?Hmmmmm? Finally, it would seem obvious that the vast majority of bikers in the world are alive. But thanks for yourconcern for my welfare -- very touching (and so movingly expressed). ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: August 22 2007 at 21:54
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Andy, do bear in mind I went to Farmers Bridge, Gas Street and Birmingham places on the canal, more than 10 years ago, so to a 12 to 14 year old (or possibly even younger), I thought it looked a bit rundown. Of course, I am sure it looks much better. Gas Street was great and you are indeed correct about Birmingham City Centre, which was rather nice. -------------
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Posted By: Wilcey
Date Posted: August 23 2007 at 02:15
I lost a friend, killed , bike accident, took a week, but you know it did kill him.(he was hit by a speeding drunk in a rolls royce) I also lost a friend in childbirth (she had sex 9 months previous) You can not eliminate ALL risk in your life, you still need to live your life. There is SO much to do, to feel, you can stay home and die of boredom, or you can celebrate life! I am saying this, because for 15 years I could NOT drive (bike or car) because of my epilepsy..... when I finally passed that medical WHOOPEEE!!! Then I spent a year and a half having chemo and surgery..... now I have a little 125 that brings me joy and happiness EVERY day, because life IS precious, but it is to be lived, not watched. I can't find a UK dealer with a new price for the KLR ANYWHERE Peter, is it available in UK? I'm wondering if the price diff is that much here..... Kwakas tend to be more pricey here than over your side of the pond.... It's kind of a "when the kids leave home..." plan to get the adventures a winnebago and see the world ...brings it all back nicely onto topic! .....(no sign of them packing yet though) P-C |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: August 23 2007 at 06:24
I agree with Andy - the amount of works done on the BCN in the last decade or so has really paid dividends - the area around Gas Street's a great place to base a couple of nights of mild-fuelled frenzy & a tour around as much of the BCN as you can fit in gives you a real feel for industrial archaeology. Birmingham's fine by me 
People also tend to forget that due to its industrial heritage, Birmingham has twice as many canals as Venice & much more mild! -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: August 23 2007 at 06:35
What, even more than the long line of body bags outside every motorcycle dealership? Jeez Pete - everyone knows that bikers are all suicical maniacs just waiting for their turn; also, did you know that due to this self destructive tendency, all bikers have recently been excommunicated by the catholic church, as motorcycle riding (aka attempted suicide) is now a mortal sin... ...honest
The mere fact that I was a biker for 15 years & actually survived with nothing more serious than a broken wrist (my own fault - alcohol) doesn't cut it with the Pope. +++sigh+++
Nice bit of backpedalling, there -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: August 23 2007 at 09:42
PC, please bear in mind that the KLR (as with all such big "adventure" bikes) is a very TALL mount. Many folks would have trouble even throwing a leg over one, let alone putting both feet down at a stop. (i am over 6'2" -- not an issue.) Though the 2008 model has a slightly lower seat height, you should still see one up close, and at least sit on it to see if it "fits," before you get serious about buying one.
Re availability in UK, I don't know -- just google "Kawasaki motorcycles UK," or some-such.
Good luck, and keep the rubber side down (and between the ditches -- though I've often crossed ditches on my KLR!),
P. ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: August 23 2007 at 09:57
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UH OH PC -- just checked Kawasaki UK myself, and it looks like you CANNOT buy a KLR there (you'd likely have to go to the continent -- and maybe view some TOURIST ATTRACTIONS while there!).
You can, however, purchase this very interesting model (they aren't sold here, so I know nothing about them):
WHATEVER THE GOING
Model Year 2007 Adventure is where you find it. The KLE500 is designed to offer good all-round performance, great versatility and a dash of style. Urban tarmac jungle or unmade road, the updated and refreshed KLE500 is ready to take on the challenge. With a narrow chassis and wide bars this bike is manoeuvrable and lithe. The 498cm³ parallel twin water-cooled engine is tuned for rewarding low end power extending into a strong mid-range, ideal for tricky roads and city streets alike. The up to date upper cowl and Z1000 inspired headlamp and screen complement the new instruments, colours and graphics to bring the KLE500 bang up to date. Contemporary features also include three exhaust catalysers ensuring that the 8 valve DOHC motor runs clean as well as smooth. Sounds pretty sweet, to me, and I believe the price was just under 4000 Pounds. (Don't have that "pound" symbol on my 'puter!) I'd check it out! (A twin will be better on the highway, and make up for the missing 150cc of displacement. Plus, it's a six speed (KLR is a five speed).
Just the ticket for a trip to STONEHENGE, and other such TOURIST ATTRACTIONS.... ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: August 23 2007 at 10:22
+++admin hat on+++ Sir - please bear in mind that it is considered inappropriate to use the expression "mount" and "leg-over" to a lady on this forum
+++admin hat off+++ Leg over? Mount? WAHEEEEY! PHWOOOARR! Eh? Eh? etc. -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: August 23 2007 at 12:16
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^
Well, at least I didn't offer to take PC for a leather-clad RIDE on my throbbing steely steed, with the massive, pounding pleasure cylinder of.... Er, hang on -- TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, was it?....
How about this one, PC, ever climbed aboard one like that, he asked her knowingly?   Ohhh, er, missus! A nod's as good as wink to a blind bat! Holiday snaps? Could be taken on 'oliday.... Candid photography! Ohh, you're WICKED, eh? ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: August 23 2007 at 12:28
That's rich - you're the one who dresses like this as a tourist:
Now that's just not attractive
Anyway - I'm an Admin, so I can do what I want, where I want, whenever I want, so yah boo shucks -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: August 23 2007 at 12:35
Just don't do it on ME, okay, Jimber?
And stay downwind will you, for the love of Christ!
 Have you been into the scruncheons again?  tourist attractions ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: August 23 2007 at 12:37
Too late, he's done it in the "ringing in your ears" thread.  -------------
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Posted By: Wilcey
Date Posted: August 23 2007 at 12:42
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HE HE HE!!!
I am 5'11" So I can pretty much mount anything that comes my way....... I searched kwaka UK this morning, ...... nothing going, the beloved said he had looked at the KLE500 and found it somewhat lacking...... although he didn't expand on that ..... We often ride down to avebury (about a 1/2 hour jaunt) when the kids are elsewhere, but would love something meatier to get to tourist attractions further afield..... We want to ride down to Poland to visit friends..... taking in some continental tourist attractions on the way. There are a few rental places in Germany/Holland etc and have thought about having a trip that way before we splurge...but to be honest we just can't afford another bike right now, we merely dream....... and plan it all in our heads!
A bike is the BEST way to see the country...and something you can take off road is a MUST...... (ok you kings of the double entendre, pick the bones out of that little lot!!) |
Posted By: Hyperborea
Date Posted: August 23 2007 at 20:41
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Aren't bikes off topic?
------------- As i race o'er this beautiful sphere, Like a dog who is chasing his..... |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: August 24 2007 at 03:32
Not as much as abuse -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Wilcey
Date Posted: August 24 2007 at 03:59
well spotted, strictly speaking they are..... however, without the bike we have no way of getting to the tourist attractions...... so it's a chicken and an egg thing really, they go hand in hand.......
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Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: August 24 2007 at 04:01
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Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: KoS
Date Posted: August 24 2007 at 04:24
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^ genius.
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Posted By: Alucard
Date Posted: August 24 2007 at 05:29
The best way to see 'Le Louvre' is out of the main season on nocturnal (We & Fr up to 10PM) prepare a good music programm on your MP3 (any mind alterating substances are optional
) and get lost...it's quite a strange athmosphere! Has anyone seen this great French TV serial 'Belphegor' That's it!Under the Glass pyramide you have a shopping mall (including a Megastore) and some selfs which are among the cheapest places to get food in the center of Paris! I go quite often there to the Maroccan counter to have a 'couscous' or just a mint-tea...and speaking about mint-tea, one of my favourite places in Paris is 'The Mosque de Paris', it's beautiful and you have an inner garden where you can smoke a waterpipe and have mint-tea (or both) and it's right around the corner of a nice botanic garden 'Le Jardin Des Plantes' and a nice museum of natural History with stuffed mammouths etc. ...so can leave your kids in the museum and go smoke a waterpipe and drink a mint-tea (or both) and have optional one of these delicious 'loucoums'....
  BTW Rico, Foucault's Pendulum is not in the Louvre, there are two in Paris, one in the 'Pantheon' and the other in the 'Musée des Art Et Métiers' ...
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Foucaults_pendulum_pantheon.jpg">
 ------------- Tadpoles keep screaming in my ear "Hey there! Rotter's Club! Explain the meaning of this song and share it" |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: August 24 2007 at 05:36
And the truth behind Christ's origins, of course
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Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Alucard
Date Posted: August 24 2007 at 06:37
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^last hints lead in fact to Japon:
------------- Tadpoles keep screaming in my ear "Hey there! Rotter's Club! Explain the meaning of this song and share it" |
Posted By: Kid-A
Date Posted: August 24 2007 at 19:51
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I think anyone coming to London is in for a disappointment. Consider yourself lucky if you escape without being mugged. This city is going down the sh*thole. ------------- 
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Posted By: Hyperborea
Date Posted: August 24 2007 at 20:04
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Someone's chopped a post of mine on this here topic....why?....was it too near the knuckle and true? ------------- As i race o'er this beautiful sphere, Like a dog who is chasing his..... |
Posted By: Wilcey
Date Posted: August 25 2007 at 04:53
I don't know..... I regularly do the museums with my kids, they still love the NH, the Science and the V&A...... which are now all free to enter (improvement on my day)..... ......unlike the Louvre though, some of the most expensive food in the capital is served in Britains museums and tourist traps..... and without doubt the WORST service of any country I have visited!........ hmmmm maybe you have a point, I so don't want that to be true tho......
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Posted By: NutterAlert
Date Posted: August 25 2007 at 16:52
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tate St Ives is rubbish, was there a few weeks ago, 4 galleries of random scribbles by Brian Wilson. Tate Liverpool or modern much better. ------------- Proud to be an un-banned member since 2005 |
Posted By: Tapfret
Date Posted: August 27 2007 at 16:55
▲▲▲▲▲▲▲ I don't suppose I'll be able to find these guys here.
As far as Neuschwanstein goes, I could have found out more, but the wife wanted to go there. I could have found out that a vital organ transplant was required for admission....it would not have mattered. Besides, I am American. We do everything the same way, including travel. Charge in with no idea of where we are going and no exit strategy. We're doing Canada next year the same way.  ------------- https://www.last.fm/user/Tapfret" rel="nofollow"> https://bandcamp.com/tapfret" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp |