avi@utcsrgv.UUCP (Avi Naiman) (04/27/84)
I've recently been looking into American-European Students' Union's (AESU)
Summer student tours to Europe and was wondering if anyone in netland
has gone on any of their programs before? I'm considering the "Grand
Tour of Europe" (20 countries in 58 days). Any comments on this or any
other similar tour companies would be greatly appreciated.
Thanx in advance,
--
Avi Naiman
...!utcsrgv!avi
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{ decvax, cwruecmp, duke, research }!utzoo!utcsrgv!avifaiman@uiuccsb.UUCP (04/30/84)
#R:utcsrgv:-407600:uiuccsb:12200016:000:1456 uiuccsb!faiman Apr 30 14:55:00 1984 "20 countries in 58 days?" What you get is exhaustion, indigestion and a blur of memories and out-of-focus pictures. Run down to your local book- store or library and get illustrated travel books on these places. The photos will be professional, you can look at them at your leisure, you won't have to be shlepped out of bed at 6 am to make that unforgettable hike down to the Chiesa dei Frari (Darling! That Bellini triptych will simply blow your mind), and you can take all that money you don't spend on travel and stuff your kishkes at local ethnic restaurants. Seriously, it's fun, educational and all that good stuff to travel, provided you leave yourself time for some relaxation, to meet people, for the unexpected, and don't try to do too much. 20 countries in 58 days is too much. On innumerable occasions in European cities I have seen busloads of fatigued tourists being rounded up to continue with some epic trip to the next cathedral, museum, mountain peak, or what- ever, before they really had a moment to absorb what it was they were just looking at. They rarely meet people in the countries they visit, and spend nearly all their time with exciting companions from Peoria and Pittsburgh. Be content with a few places, preferably ones where you already know some people who can show you around from the inside, as it were. You don't have to see everything; you might even enjoy it more if you leave a few things for another visit.