Where would you go?
Rather significant decision about to be made, give me some inspiration 🙂
I would take it to Corsica, via the Alps, then take to Sardinia, then back to the mainland, then down the Italian coast to Sicily. Three very very different islands. Some of the very best parts of europe to go and explore.
Alps, Pyrenees,Massive Central, Verdon Gorge,
hows that for starters.
I'd throw away the map and get lost...
Suisse Normand, the Sierra Espuna, the Alps (All nations thereof), the Black Forest, the Eastern Greek peninsulae, and much, much more...!
I'd grab surfboard and some fishing gear, start off at Calais and work my way around the coast towards Spain, Portugal and beyond
At this time of year I'd be inclined to start north - get a ferry across to Sweden, up to Finland possibly head east, Latvia, Poland, Czech & Slovak republics, Italy, slovenia, Croatia, Albania. Explore bits you might not otherwise have the chance to do. Everyone goes to France & Spain...
Unlimited time? Go everywhere.
North. Norway, Finland. I'm drawn that way for some reason.
I'd be getting involved with some norwegian action too, was over there a while back and the endless forests seem ace for riding for a shortish walk I did. Rootacular.
Isn't Russia now part of Europe?
If so I'd love to roam around there for a bit
'kin hell dude!! Waassup?
Oh and I can sort a parking space in Maribor for you. 😆
House is sold, job is like, meh, so I've decided (well, nearly decided) to take some time off, a year or so. I've got no dependants, no responsibilities, so if I don't do it now, when will I?
Part of the nascent plan is to buy a camper and see Europe.
If you could arrange a hot shower and a good meal in Maribor too, that'd be appreciated 🙂
When we've been off in ours for two months at a time, we've always been suckers for France - such a large, expansive and varied country. You can get lost in an area and spend ages exploring or hit the road for a day and be somewhere completely different culturally, geologically, topographically as well as geographically.
Scandanavia has always been a favourite area but rather more samey from one place to the other.
If (heaven forbid) I found myself no longer tied to the family, then Id be doing long GR walks with a bivvy bag and getting trains back to the van whereever campsite Id left it in "storage" at a cheap rate. Id also spend more time learning about viticulture in some of the AOC's I havent yet studied.
Be in Maribor the first week in July and Alpe d'Huez the first two weeks in September and I'll guarantee both as well as the best Cotswold Masiv rides ever. 8)
Germany (forests, hills, lakes - cheap camping at Stellplatze, nice people).
Croatia and Montenegro - rocky beaches, beautiful Roman cities immaculately preserved, great food, cheap.
Would not go to Russia with a motorhome - miserable people, petty crime, crap traffic and expensive cities, rubbish and pollution, no facilities, no interesting landscape this side of the Caucasus ... except perhaps in Karelia but in that case you might as well stick to Finland, Norway etc.
Actually, Norway and Sweden might be very good places to go in a van - safe, plenty of space, can you use allmensregt (?) for vans?, and it's the only way most people would be able to afford a substantial time there cos it's so bloody expensive otherwise!
skegness, morecambe, barry
I hitchhiked around Europe for over a year. Best advice i can give is to literally get yourself lost and go where your nose takes you. I did and found some wonderful places and very special people.
Stay away from the tourist traps, and when in France always carry a baguette under your arm 😉
S of France - do the heat and coast and surf etc, then Northen Spain, - luscious really was, Potes, did lots of trail motorbiking - truly awesome. Beaches, then mountains, scenery, snow, awesome trails and happy waving people.
Norway, Sweden and Finland.
dont worry about the destination, its all in the journey....man
van plus bike plus no time restraints? sounds like a recipe for a great road trip. ive done 'time out' a few times in my life. if you have the inclination and the means it will only be good.
Lofoten Islands off Norway, just incredible 24 hr daylight now 🙂 Tromso is a very cool place, driving in Sweden and Finland is a bit dull, trees trees trees lake trees trees lake lake trees, Helsinki into Estonia Lit and Lat. Skip through Poland into Germany then head south Austria into Croatia and down the Adriatic, either keep going to Greece or ferry across to Italy and down to Sicily.
Could plan something like that for hours.
One of the things I would do would be go through Belgium, Germany and Denmark to get to Sweden, then to Norway and up around the Baltic to Lapland, coming down through Finland then perhaps the Baltics and Poland if I had time and my insurance covered it.
Scandinavia is a brilliant place all-round. Stunning scenery, everyone's dead nice and speaks English and its safe as houses with emergency services and whatnot.
But I'd also continue to the Alps, and Spain/Portugal. Spain has some great bits unexplored by most tourists I think.