Should I visit Australia, Brazil, or Italy?

[stevedmc]

I am planning to travel out of the country soon and these are the countries I have to choose from. The votes from DMCTalk will be combined with a poll on Facebook to determine where I go. Please only vote once if you are also on Facebook. Your votes are appreciated. Thanks.

[SIMid]

Really depends what you want to see and do.

Each country listed has it's pros and cons. Also you need to factor what time of year you are planning to go. Don't forget, Australia is upside down, so June is winter and Jan is Summer and the toilet flushes the other way round. :lol:

[08087]

Really depends what you want to see and do.

Each country listed has it's pros and cons. Also you need to factor what time of year you are planning to go. Don't forget, Australia is upside down, so June is winter and Jan is Summer and the toilet flushes the other way round. :lol:

You've been around the world so you are aware of everything mentioned above but in case you need reminding, what he said!

Also Brazil is upside partly down but being so close to the equator it's always hot.

You may want to limit your voters to people that have been to the place they vote for or even been to all 3 places.

You don't say how much time you'll have on this trip and Oz is a long flight, my vote is for Brazil but do be careful if you go.

[jackb]

Well, I've been to Italy a few times, but never Australia. I voted for Australia. Italy is a lot like the rest of Europe, and my cousin and her husband went to Australia a few years ago, I saw the pics, it looked great, and they loved it. It's also one of the only places in the world I really want to travel to.

[SIMid]

You don't say how much time you'll have on this trip and Oz is a long flight

It would be too from where most of you guys reside. Factor your travel time too and how much you want to see as well. I live in OZ and been to Italy and both are completely different for what you want to look at/experience.

Australia is great for food, culture and scenery. We drive on the other side, but language isnt a barrier (unless our accent is too hard to understand). While Italy is more historic, with churchs and old buildings. My highlight was the Vatican and the Ferrari Muesem in Modena. Oh, and the food as well!! :)

Apart from us voting, get the Travel books from your local library and make a list of what you want to see/visit. Then go from there.

[stevedmc]

You've been around the world so you are aware of everything mentioned above but in case you need reminding, what he said!

Also Brazil is upside partly down but being so close to the equator it's always hot.

I know.



You may want to limit your voters to people that have been to the place they vote for or even been to all 3 places.

Most people have never even been outside of the USA. That would eliminate a lot of voters. The purpose of this trip is for me to visit a destination that I didn't choose.



You don't say how much time you'll have on this trip and Oz is a long flight, my vote is for Brazil but do be careful if you go.

It takes about 15 hours to get to Australia from LAX. Its about 22 hours including connections from New Orleans. I've been on flight segments that took this long before and am used to it. I find it amusing how people will spend two or three days driving across the USA but will act like a 4 hour flight to the other side of the USA is a big deal.


We drive on the other side, but language isnt a barrier (unless our accent is too hard to understand).

Language is never a barrier for me. You can go anywhere in the world and there is always at least one person around who speaks English.

My first trip outside of the USA was to London and Paris. Believe it or not, I found it easier to communicate with the French than the English (and I don't speak French).


Apart from us voting, get the Travel books from your local library and make a list of what you want to see/visit. Then go from there.

I usually use Trip Advisor to decide what I am going to do. It is free, has reviews by people who have traveled to the destination, and has great restaurant information. I usually look at the top 10 or so attractions and decide what I am going to do from there. Lonely Planet is nice too but it costs money so I typically avoid purchasing those books.

[TheDutchTexan]

If you want to see some real great stuff the Mediterranean is the place to be. Roman/Greek influences are beautiful! And the sea, is one of the most beautiful things you have ever seen, I can tell you that right now!

[Sidaries]

I've been to Italy several times and I really love the place. The sea is great, the food is awesome, so I think you should try it. I love the Roman civilization too, so that's a great place to go, however I have to say that Italians and ancient Romans are very very far from each other. :)

And to be honest, who doesn't want to live in a country where the weather is hot, everybody is lazy and loud and the president is called Berlusconi. :)

[stevedmc]

The votes are in.

DMCTalk:
Australia 7
Brazil 3
Italy 5

Facebook:
Australia 4
Brazil 1
Italy 7

Total:
Australia 11
Brazil 4
Italy 12

It looks like I'm going to be visiting Italy soon. Europe isn't my favorite continent to visit but at least the plane ticket won't cost anything. Thanks for the votes everyone. This should be an interesting trip to plan.

[SIMid]

If you are a car nut, you should try and swing past Modena and see the Lamborghini and Ferrari Museums.

[whocruiser]

Good for you that I was late to this party because I would have voted for Australia and then you'd have had to flip a coin to decide, LOL

[stevedmc]

Well I went ahead and booked my plane tickets a few days ago. I'm going to be spending a little over two weeks in Europe this Feb.

I'm flying into Athens, will travel all over Europe by Rail (including Italy), and will fly back to the USA from Lisbon, Portugal. Its going to be an exhausting trip but thats what I live for.

[jackb]

Badass. I'm looking forward to reading about it.

[stevedmc]

And today I depart for Europe. I've made zero plans except for my first day in Athens. I'm planning this trip as I travel.

[sean]

And today I depart for Europe. I've made zero plans except for my first day in Athens. I'm planning this trip as I travel.

COOL! So how long will you be gone? Can we expect updates?

[Dangermouse]

Flying out of ATL?

Pick me up one of these, if you see them on the streets. I'll pay you and I'll even drop the finders fee claim from that other thread :)

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?1858-Souveniers-from-Greece&highlight=greece

good luck and enjoy the lovely weather they are having at the mo.

[stevedmc]

I wish I was flying out of atlana. Unfortunately I'm going to DC then Munich and finally Athens. Oh well, it's just more opportunities to get bumped for some free cash.

I'll try to post a few updates here and on Facebook. It might be limited though since I only use wifi on my iPhone when I'm out of the country.

Part of the relaxation is being disconnected from the rest of the world. It's really nice when work can't call you 24/7.

[ccurzio]

And today I depart for Europe. I've made zero plans except for my first day in Athens. I'm planning this trip as I travel.

Coming from someone who has been to Japan, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Egypt, Puerto Rico, and all over the US, I can say with certainty that it's so much better when you have no plan in place.

What I typically do before I go on a trip is make a simple list of things I would like to see. That's the extent of my planning. Then when I get where I'm going, I do what I want when I want and fill the rest with spontaneous sightseeing - mostly in the non-touristy places. You experience so much more of a destination's culture when you're in a place that's not trying to cater to the rest of the world.

As a side note, I can't recommend visiting Italy enough. It's such a great place, and the food is phenomenal. (I'm biased though, since my family comes from Napoli and Calabria.) Europe in general is a great time; I'm going to try and get back to Germany later this year to drive the Nürburgring.

[Dangermouse]

I wish I was flying out of atlana. Unfortunately I'm going to DC then Munich and finally Athens. Oh well, it's just more opportunities to get bumped for some free cash.

I'll try to post a few updates here and on Facebook. It might be limited though since I only use wifi on my iPhone when I'm out of the country.

Part of the relaxation is being disconnected from the rest of the world. It's really nice when work can't call you 24/7.

That's quite a way to get there! ATL-ATH direct is close to 14 hours so you must be well over 24.

If you haven't already - TURN DATA ROAMING OFF when you leave DC. $20 a MB while your phone does whatever it does in the background.

And you know that your phone still works as a phone, so they can still get hold of you :)

[stevedmc]

That's quite a way to get there! ATL-ATH direct is close to 14 hours so you must be well over 24.

If you haven't already - TURN DATA ROAMING OFF when you leave DC. $20 a MB while your phone does whatever it does in the background.

And you know that your phone still works as a phone, so they can still get hold of you :)

I always leave my work phone at home when I travel outside of the USA. I travel with nothing more than 3 days of clothes, a backpack, toothbrush, razor, towel, camera, voltage adapter (with chargers) and an iPhone (without a sim card). I get global wifi for $8 a month through Boingo. There is no need for phone service when I can use Skype on my iPhone.

[dvonk]

since you have an iPhone, check out the free Viber app on the apple store...

and have a good trip! :smile:

[Dangermouse]

Now that Steve's on a plane, who fancies going to LA and converting his car back to k-jet while he is gone?

[ArnieBrandon]

I'd suggest a cruise ship out of Italy. Great fun.

[Ron]

Now that Steve's on a plane, who fancies going to LA and converting his car back to k-jet while he is gone?

:biggrin:

[stevedmc]

Now that Steve's on a plane, who fancies going to LA and converting his car back to k-jet while he is gone?

Where are you going to get the parts and most importantly, will this cost me anything?

[Ron]

Where are you going to get the parts and most importantly, will this cost me anything?Bill was always saying that he had all kinds of the "junk" and would give it away....now if you can get him to bring it with him when you meet up is a different story ;-)

[stevedmc]

Flying out of ATL?

Pick me up one of these, if you see them on the streets. I'll pay you and I'll even drop the finders fee claim from that other thread :)

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?1858-Souveniers-from-Greece&highlight=greece

good luck and enjoy the lovely weather they are having at the mo.

Dang. I forgot all about looking for these. I could have made a fortune selling them on Dmctalk. Sorry man but I left Athens a few days ago. I'm in Romania right now.

[thirdmanj]

.... Sorry man but I left Athens a few days ago. I'm in Romania right now.

I sooo hate you right now... :cry:

[stevedmc]

I sooo hate you right now... :cry:

Why? I honestly wouldn't have been able to carry many anyway. The attached picture shows the size of the luggage I am living out of for almost 3 weeks. I honestly don't have room for anything other than a few post cards. it doesn't look full now but that's because I have most of my stuff scattered around the hostel. 8284

[thirdmanj]

No dude. The fact that your enjoying Greece and shit! Must be nice! I was jus' joshin ya anyway. I hope you're having fun man!!

[stevedmc]

No dude. The fact that your enjoying Greece and shit! Must be nice! I was jus' joshin ya anyway. I hope you're having fun man!!

I'm not enjoying Greece anymore. I left Greece several days ago and ended up in Turkey. Now I'm enjoying Romania and tonight I hop on a train to head to Hungary. My days of enjoying Greece are long gone.

[Dangermouse]

Pics, or you're not there.!!

One of your backpak doesn't count. For all we know, you just stuffed all your k-jet stuff in a bag and took a picture on your kitchen floor :shock:

[stevedmc]

Add me on Facebook if you want to see pics. I'm not posting pictures in both places. I should be the only Stephen Rice on Facebook with a Delorean as my profile picture.

[sean]

Add me on Facebook if you want to see pics. I'm not posting pictures in both places. I should be the only Stephen Rice on Facebook with a Delorean as my profile picture.

Did you load up on $6 jeans?

[Dangermouse]

Add me on Facebook if you want to see pics. I'm not posting pictures in both places. .

Facebookist!

More Facebook discrimination !!!

[stevedmc]

Did you load up on $6 jeans?

Nope but it has been mighty tempting to buy some clothes here. This place is dirt cheap. I went on a free tour of the city and tipped the guide the equivalent of 15 USD. He acted like I gave him a ton of money.


Facebookist!

More Facebook discrimination !!!

What are you talking about?

[Ron]

I should be the only Stephen Rice on Facebook with a Delorean as my profile picture.
That's not the name you gave me!



Facebookist!

More Facebook discrimination !!!:tongue:

[thirdmanj]

I'm not enjoying Greece anymore. I left Greece several days ago and ended up in Turkey. Now I'm enjoying Romania and tonight I hop on a train to head to Hungary. My days of enjoying Greece are long gone.

stevedmc sucks. :tongue_stick:

... I kid, I kid

[Dangermouse]

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about the blatent favoritism prevalent today against people who haven't drunk the blue kool-aid. All you FB-ers keep the best stuff for your self. :smile:

As a compromise, perhaps you could fax them to me :banghead:

[thirdmanj]

I'm talking about the blatent favoritism prevalent today against people who haven't drunk the blue kool-aid. All you FB-ers keep the best stuff for your self. :smile:

As a compromise, perhaps you could fax them to me :banghead:

Or ya could just come on over to the darkside.... Come on, it's fun, just over here... It's just a mouse click away... www.facebook.com

[Farrar]

Isn't Romania where the DeLorean family originated?

[DMCMW Dave]

It does say that in one of the biographies.

[stevedmc]

Isn't Romania where the DeLorean family originated?

That's pretty amazing since he was a big capitalist. I was talking to a few locals who told me Romania was communist until the late 80s.

[Farrar]

That's pretty amazing since he was a big capitalist. I was talking to a few locals who told me Romania was communist until the late 80s.

Could be one of the reasons why his forebears left the country and came to the U.S.

[stevedmc]

In the spirit of this thread I decided to post my YouTube video here. This is a quick 5 minute video of some of the stuff I saw in Europe last month.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL5dOTVEYlY&feature=youtu.be

[sean]

Got a favorite leg of your journey? The Colosseum looks pretty impressive, that would be something Id like to see.

[Dangermouse]

Got a favorite leg of your journey? .

+1 on that.

Fair play to you Steve, that's pretty adventurous just to go it alone like that. Any troubles communicating in the old eastern Europe countries?

[stevedmc]

Romania was really nice but super cold. It was -2 Fahrenheit when I was there. Venice was really nice too.

I've never had trouble communicating in my travels. I speak the international language.

[Farrar]

I speak the international language.

http://personal-finance.thefuntimesguide.com/images/blogs/pay-cash-by-quaziefoto.jpg

;)

[sean]

http://personal-finance.thefuntimesguide.com/images/blogs/pay-cash-by-quaziefoto.jpg

;)

:bigclap:

[skynet]

Could be one of the reasons why his forebears left the country and came to the U.S.

Socialism (communism is a utopia that has never existed in reality) began in Eastern Europe after WWII. John Z was born in 1925 so the parents (actually only the father because the mother was Hungarian) have left way before 1945.

[stevedmc]

communism is a utopia that has never existed in reality

Wrong

[sean]

Socialism (communism is a utopia that has never existed in reality) began in Eastern Europe after WWII. John Z was born in 1925 so the parents (actually only the father because the mother was Hungarian) have left way before 1945.


Wrong

Time to take it to PM. Anymore Socialism/communism talk will be deleted.