Europe (my first time)

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crystal ball

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To try and lighten the mood lets recall our first foray to mainland europe, mine was in 1981 with my bride of one year to Yugoslavia (now Croatia & Slovenia), local coach operator ran a daily service to Manc airport, flight was on a Tupolev, a few firsts, flight, cappuccino, police with guns, drunk taxi drivers & a stripper in the hotel lounge
 
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Wasnt the currency very weak then -I recall that £20 would get a big wad of dinars.

I can certainly remember Greek islands when the Drachma was the currency.
 
It was cheap apart from the hotel bar, really good bus services, day trips to the Lippizanner horses & some caves in Postojna also Venice
 
1974, hitched down to Spain, slept rough, tried picking up a ride on a merchant ship in Barcelona docks and ended up getting escorted off a Russian ship at gunpoint.
Lessons learned: don't drink the water and try not to annoy Russian sailors.
 
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The 'magic bus' to Athens.
If you've done that journey you'll never forget it!
 
Notch7 said:
Wasnt the currency very weak then -I recall that £20 would get a big wad of dinars.

I can certainly remember Greek islands when the Drachma was the currency.
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I’m out there now. There are still islands where the whole family can eat out for under £40.

joining the euro wasn’t great for the Greeks. All their dodgy savings had to be spent or declared. Partly why their marinas are so full.

my first time was Spain in the mid 70s
 
1975.Flew Teesside to Venice,school trip.Dan Air Super 1-11.First time in a plane...Completely amazed.Flew to Venice,stayed in Malcesine,Lake Garda,Ski-ing on slopes of Monte Baldo.
 
ellal said:
The 'magic bus' to Athens.
If you've done that journey you'll never forget it!
Click to expand...

Not heard of that before, sounds crazy!

Apart from stopping off in Lisbon on a cruise when I was about 6, first trip to Europe was a school geography field trip to Switzerland when I was 14 (I think). Coach from Essex, stayed in a couple of places I think, cannot really remember. But Switzerland is an amazing place. Remember seeing a glacier, ice creams by a pool up a mountain, and lots of time sitting on a coach. Did some geography stuff, 3 village study. Cannot remember names of the places now though ... I bet there's a photo on FB ... FB delivers!

1989, somewhere in Switzerland ... that's me sitting at the top, above the ginger girl by the tree.
230554_5590085798_4640_n.jpg
 
jonbey said:
Not heard of that before, sounds crazy!

Apart from stopping off in Lisbon on a cruise when I was about 6, first trip to Europe was a school geography field trip to Switzerland when I was 14 (I think). Coach from Essex, stayed in a couple of places I think, cannot really remember. But Switzerland is an amazing place. Remember seeing a glacier, ice creams by a pool up a mountain, and lots of time sitting on a coach. Did some geography stuff, 3 village study. Cannot remember names of the places now though ... I bet there's a photo on FB ... FB delivers!

1989, somewhere in Switzerland ... that's me sitting at the top, above the ginger girl by the tree.
View attachment 174569
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You in the yellow t shirt?.....Fab country Switzerland
 
durhamplumber said:
Jeez...How posh were you!....makes you about 44?
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45. My parents wanted to be posh, we did the holidays, never had the money though! Funnily enough I still dream of cruises, they had a big impact on me as a kid.
4 times on the SS Canberra.
 
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