travelgeekery

[lagilman]

ok, a Eurail Global pass is probably overkill. But I could go ANYWHERE.... I mean, as long as I'm already there....

If only it weren't so damn expensive. Still...cheaper than renting a car. And easier to navigate/sightsee. And I do like trains... and it does come with a discount for the Eurostar...

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

It's a good thing, that pass, and it can be easier to cross borders that way, sometimes, too, as there are some countries that hire agencies are less keen for you to take cars to. (It's fine throughout Benelux, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Spain, but if you want to go to some countries in from the former communist bloc, it can be difficult).
And we still have a spare bedroom in Provence.

[lagilman]

And we still have a spare bedroom in Provence.

That is very much in my mind. :-)

I'm not renting a car -- have discovered that relying on trains is annoying in terms of timetables but soothing in terms of agita and map-reading.

Right now, the pass doesn't make financial sense, by about $150. If I decide to go to Belgium more than once (likely), and do some in-country day-tripping, then it becomes close to a wash, and the added ease of having the tix already. But. But but but....

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

There are some excellent possible day trips from Lille -- I'd recommend Sedan, if you've never been, and, just over the border into Belgium from there, Bouillon. (As well as more obvious places like Reims and Arras). If you haven't been and want a longer trip, Strasbourg is terrific, too and has the world's best cheese restaurant http://www.cheese-gourmet.com/restous.html
We're staying near Apt in Provence -- Chaz and I can easily come and get you from a train station in any of the Provencal cities/towns.

[lagilman]

this is my first time ever in that part of France, so it's all new to me. *takes notes*

[lagilman]

Drat,. i really wanted to get to Sedan but I can't find a train route that doesn't take half the day. Grrr. Ok, sometimes having a car is a Good Thing...

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

It takes 3 hours by car.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Oh, that is a pain. As with the UK, French trains do tend to assume everyone wants to go either to the capital or away, and never across.
Around Lille, much of the landscape has been affected by WW1, and I suspect a lot of the train routes reflect that, too. It's a long time since I was in that part of France myself (about from Lille itself -- did you know d'Artagnan was once its governor? His former lodging is now the shoe shop called La Botte Chantilly) and I mostly remember battlefield memorials and industrial cities like Charleville Meziers. But Soissons is interesting and has a glorious mediaeval cathedral. And Le Touquet is a sort of mini-riviera, with Edwardian hotels and wonderful 1920s and 1930s villas and so on, which I remember enjoying wandering around.

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

Le Touquet takes 2 hours by car from Lille. Soissons is closer to Paris than to Lille.

[mtlawson.livejournal.com]

No fair!

I am so jealous!

I'm not quite so geeky as other train fans I know, but travel by train is just an awesome way to go.

[jamileigh17.livejournal.com]

I'd go for it, if it would work out cheaper than the individual train trips (given as I typically plan out the places I want to see at least a month before I go on vacation)

[lagilman]

right now, it's more expensive. But it would give me the option of saying "okay, let's go to X today" on a whim. When traveling, I try to balance Plan and Whim as much as possible.

[skidspoppe.livejournal.com]

If you make it south or east, let me know. I'm in Hungary and would be happy to meet you someplace :)

[lagilman]

Much as that side trip appeals, it's not practical this trip. But it's On The List.

(okay, honestly, there are very few places that aren't on The List, and those mostly for safety/health reasons...)

[skidspoppe.livejournal.com]

Fair enough... but nothing is that far away so if you want company in almost any of the middle or eastern countries, just give a shout. As you've said, trains are easy and cheap.