Still try to make it over one day before…you know. It’s gonna be on our nearby destination favorites list for sure. Cheap flights from Korea and for me the vibes and food hit me better than Japan.
I agree about Taipei; although, I think I like Kaohsiung a little more. The night market is fantastic.
I’ll head down there next time. We were just chilling so hard in Taipei we stayed.
I’m tagging along with my gf to Paris in June to meet up with her sister and brother-in-law. They live in Angola and the lady is going to go spend three weeks with them after our five days in Paris, so I’m going to hop over and do a few solo days in Munich.
I didn’t see much about Munich, looking back through the thread, so would love to hear any thoughts or recs from the group.
It’ll be my first time to visit Europe.
I love Munich. Call me 512 826 5075. I have been there 3-4 times, and the last time was with (son) Mark.
Sounds like a great trip. If you are an oyster person, I highly recommend Huitrerie Regis:
There are only about seven tables in the place and all they serve is oysters and other fresh shellfish. It is one of my favorite restaurant in the world.
I was only in Munich for about a day, but mainly what I remember is that the wurst is the best.
Argh
Does not beat the bier
My son, Big’Un-- he of the day trip to St. Louis, in which he flipped off Busch Stadium when he drove by on game day-- was stationed in Germany for a year. He says that even though it’ll be full of tourists, go to Hofbrauhaus. Good bier, can’t go wrong with any of the food. Don’t wait for a seat, just go find a seat and wait for the server to come to you. The biergarten is in Old Town Munich and you should walk around and take it in. Have a döner kebab from somewhere, and the spicy ones are better. It’s pronounced close to “dooner,” he asked me to specify.
If you can go to Dachau, it is a very humbling experience-- he says “it’s the worst experience that everyone needs to go to.” It’s about 30 minutes from Munich, and there are plenty of tour companies that have van ride-admission ticket combos.
Been there done that twice. There was no wait at Hofbrauhaus either time, and the bier was sehr gut. Pro tip from Jim & Mark: do not go to Oktoberfest on opening day.
Dachau indeed is sobering, but that was a work camp. Many died there too, of course, but I think Auschwitz would affect me more. I have not been there.
When Mr. 94CG and I lived in England during 2022, we took a weekend trip to Krakow, and we did go to Auschwitz and Birkenau. They’re both horrifying and sobering, but Birkenau got me even more than Auschwitz did. You stand there within the gates and see the sheer size of the place, and the realization and understanding is just awful. It was a terrible, gut-wrenching, necessary visit.
Krakow itself is a lovely, vibrant city. We would go there again in a heartbeat. The old town is very walkable and beautiful. People love being outside-- jogging, walking dogs, picnicking, window shopping, people-watching, having beer and wine. It’s very affordable to go (when we went, it was $1 to 4 Zloty) and plenty of people speak at least some English, so you can get around without any Polish. I tried to learn at least a few basic words, but it was so difficult-- and that’s coming from someone who’s studied multiple languages. I would love to go back and visit Krakow and Warsaw, maybe by taking a train between the two.
Sopot/Gdansk, Zakopane, Wieljeczka (sp?) Salt Mine outside of Krakow, Bialowitza Forest Area, Lublin/Kazmierz Dolny, Wroklaw
I should be a sobering fact right now that none of the Nazis’ worst death camps were in Germany.
Hah, you’re looking for reflection. Silly boy.
We’re taking a long driving trip in June, from Houston to Amarillo then on to Denver, where we’ll go to a Rockies game. We fish three days in Thermopolis, Wy., then drive to Rapid City and fish two days. We spend three nights camping near Niobara, Ne., then head home through Oklahoma City. Two weeks total.
If anyone has suggestions (other than don’t do it), they’d be welcome.
I’ll have to talk to my wife to get the name of the place we stayed at in Thermopolis, but it had the most amazing collection of taxidermy I’ve ever seen, and that included museums. Thermopolis isn’t a big place, so I’m sure you’ll stumble across it on your own.
ETA: the hotel is the Hot Springs Hotel and Spa. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend staying there (it’s not awful, but it’s not particularly current, either), but the restaurant/bar is worth a go.
This suggestion would likely require another trip, but the Green River valley north of Pinedale remains one of the most beautiful places that I’ve ever seen.
The road follows the river to its source in the Wind River Mountains.
The hordes flock to the Flaming Gorge tailwater well south of here.
Let them.
This area is worth seeing even if you never wet a line.
Mount Rushmore is a must. Custer State Park - take the wild life loop trail to see the buffalo herd but bring a box of vanilla wafers for the wild donkeys who guard a low water crossing. Badlands National Park is nearby and worth the drive.
If you can squeeze in a trip to The Badlands National Park do it. Drive through the Black Hills on the way there. Also the Devils Tower in Wyoming is ort of on the way to Rapid City.
I was banned from Thermopolis, WY over 35 years ago due to an incident involving the sheriff’s daughter. I’m not certain if it was permanent, but I’m not taking any chances. I avoid Hackberry, LA, or pretty much all of Cameron Parish, for similar reasons.