[ToecrusherHammerjaw]

Whew! Been away for quite some time.  Anyone here who has never been to Italy:  go there.  Now.  My trip there was awesome.  I was almost sorry to return to the States (and a freshly busted computer).  Anyone else been there?  Comments?

[Ghostavo]

Just out of curiosity, was this your first time in Europe?

[ToecrusherHammerjaw]

It was. Great place to start, too.

[Mefustae]

You get over to it after a few times there, but it definitely has more lasting appeal than France, and even more so Britain. Anyway, where exactly did you go? Tuscany? Florence?

[Shade]

Italy is great, just... don't drive in Rome unless you really know what you're doing, have cat-like reflexes and 360 degree vision. They're crazy there, absolutely crazy, and they don't care whether they live or die as long as they get where they're going, fast.

[Fineus]

and even more so Britain.

Out of interest, what didn't you find appealing about Britain? I mean I know what I don't like about the place.. but I'm interested to see an outsiders point of view.

[aldo_14]

and even more so Britain.

Out of interest, what didn't you find appealing about Britain? I mean I know what I don't like about the place.. but I'm interested to see an outsiders point of view.

I'd suggest the cold and rain, but then again i am currently sitting in an office in Cumbernauld.......

[Shade]

Well, at least in Britain, and especially Scotland, you always know when it's about to rain...

[Colonol Dekker]

North Lancs? Damn i dont envy you, i bet its windy as f**K.......

[ToecrusherHammerjaw]

You get over to it after a few times there, but it definitely has more lasting appeal than France, and even more so Britain. Anyway, where exactly did you go? Tuscany? Florence?

I was in Rome, Tuscany, and Umbria.  I think Assisi had to be my favorite part of the trip.  Or St. Peter's.  Both are appealing, even for Non-Catholics.

Italy is great, just... don't drive in Rome unless you really know what you're doing, have cat-like reflexes and 360 degree vision. They're crazy there, absolutely crazy, and they don't care whether they live or die as long as they get where they're going, fast.

You got that right.  I almost got run over, what, 20 times I think?  They drive like that even outside of Rome, especially on the highways.  I like those SmartCars, by the way. They remind me of Star Trek shuttlepods  . Very efficient, too.  Now, if only my own country would catch on...... : .

[Mefustae]

Out of interest, what didn't you find appealing about Britain? I mean I know what I don't like about the place.. but I'm interested to see an outsiders point of view.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great place to visit, and I actually wouldn't mind living there [I have family there, which is a plus]. But it's just... there isn't as much immediate history as there is in, say, Paris or Florence [Rome is just birds, don't bother IMO], in that I mean London for example doesn't retain that classical feel that Paris still has. Sure, there's an old Roman villa a bicycle-ride outside my Grandparent's village, but it's just not the same as visiting freakin' Versailles [now that is a house!], y'know?

It's all about history.

[aldo_14]

Well, at least in Britain, and especially Scotland, you always know when it's about to rain...

We call it dawn.

Out of interest, what didn't you find appealing about Britain? I mean I know what I don't like about the place.. but I'm interested to see an outsiders point of view.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great place to visit, and I actually wouldn't mind living there [I have family there, which is a plus]. But it's just... there isn't as much immediate history as there is in, say, Paris or Florence [Rome is just birds, don't bother IMO], in that I mean London doesn't retain that classical feel that Paris still has. Sure, there's an old Roman villa a bicycle-ride outside my Grandparent's village, but it's just not the same as visiting freakin' Versailles [now that is a house!], y'know?

It's all about history.

Tried Edinburgh?

[Wobble73]

Out of interest, what didn't you find appealing about Britain? I mean I know what I don't like about the place.. but I'm interested to see an outsiders point of view.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great place to visit, and I actually wouldn't mind living there [I have family there, which is a plus]. But it's just... there isn't as much immediate history as there is in, say, Paris or Florence [Rome is just birds, don't bother IMO], in that I mean London for example doesn't retain that classical feel that Paris still has. Sure, there's an old Roman villa a bicycle-ride outside my Grandparent's village, but it's just not the same as visiting freakin' Versailles [now that is a house!], y'know?

It's all about history.

You can't call London, Britain! Come over again and view a bit more of our history, there are plenty of historical sites in Britain, all over the place. Ever been to Bath for Roman history for example???

[Mefustae]

Tried Edinburgh?

Didn't get that far north, unfortunately. Had to to stop right at the edge of Scotland due to time constrains, and turn around to haul-arse back home.

You can't call London, Britain! Come over again and view a bit more of our history, there are plenty of historical sites in Britain, all over the place. Ever been to Bath for Roman history for example???

I did visit Bath, come to think of it. Got some great jelly-beans there, too. We went to all the places you would normally visit, like Stonehenge [that reconstruction thing really killed the magic] and soforth, but it just ain't the same as walking the Roman Forum, or checking out the Louvre and going next-door to see some Picassos.

[Shade]

There's a ton of history there. Try visiting some of the castles, I know Warrick and Arundel are (or at least have been) open to the public, and neither are obscenely far from London, and the Tower of London is also a nice visit if you like that sort of thing. If you go to Southampton, you can visit the HMS Warrior, one of the last surviving Ironclad warships, and right next door in Portsmouth is the even older HMS Victory, Lord Nelson's flagship. Then there's Stonehenge, of course, if you're into the really old stuff.

It goes on and on really, you just gotta look a tiny bit harder as most of it's not in the middle of the city.

[aldo_14]

Tried Edinburgh?

Didn't get that far north, unfortunately. Had to to stop right at the edge of Scotland due to time constrains, and turn around to haul-arse back home.

Ah, so you missed the best bit of the country.

[Wobble73]

There's a ton of history there. Try visiting some of the castles, I know Warrick and Arundel are (or at least have been) open to the public, and neither are obscenely far from London, and the Tower of London is also a nice visit if you like that sort of thing. If you go to Southampton, you can visit the HMS Warrior, one of the last surviving Ironclad warships, and right next door in Portsmouth is the even older HMS Victory, Lord Nelson's flagship. Then there's Stonehenge, of course, if you're into the really old stuff.

It goes on and on really, you just gotta look a tiny bit harder as most of it's not in the middle of the city.

Unless you count Chester! Oh no that wall is around the city isn't it! 

[Mefustae]

Ah, so you missed the best bit of the country.

I'll be sure to trek up there next time i'm in the neighbourhood. Any places you'd recommend?

[Fineus]

Meh, don't worry I wasn't trying to criticise your opinion of the UK. Heck I don't like it and I'm supposed to be all patriotic right?

Personally I think our country needs some new history. Sure we have the Tower of London and Big Ben and Stonehenge and what have you but they're old. We need something new.. a step into the future. The Dome could've been it but it failed miserably. Something that says "not only do we have a diverse history, but we're innovating even now".

But we aren't.

[aldo_14]

What about the Armadillo?