Last year, we had a dinner with some friends during Christmas, during which our neighbor Luo proposed a trip to the UK for the summer, which was an instant hit with our family.
He studied in the UK in his early years, and after his PhD, he immigrated to Canada. He was interested in sending his son to university in England because he had a love for Europe and felt that Canadian universities were far inferior to those in England. My wife and I have never had a long term plan for our children’s education, and we are always led by others after the fact.
My youngest son is the same age as my daughter and goes to the same school, so it was a good idea to travel together. The children will graduate from high school in two years, so the main reason for this trip to Europe is to let them experience the culture of Europe, as well as the atmosphere of those old universities, but I hope to set a small goal in their hearts. In retrospect, this was actually an excuse for the parents to find themselves, and when we arrived, the lure of London’s gay parade, Amsterdam’s red light district, and Paris’ Moulin Rouge made us forget our original purpose.
After the plan was confirmed, the most excited is the wife, a trip to Europe in her heart for years. The daughter is indifferent, for her is just an ordinary vacation, of course, European travel in me is always full of temptation, at any time as long as possible, I am willing to go. For my line of work, Europe is undoubtedly one of the best pure and natural lebensraum, from classical architecture to modern architecture, including the most avant-garde architectural thinking, can be fully found in Europe, so in my heart is also full of expectations for this trip.
On March 9, the two families formed a European Tour WeChat group, and the preliminary preparations were officially launched. First of all, we decided to make a self-guided tour for two weeks, and secondly, we made it clear that London, England was the main destination of the trip. In fact, I want to live in London for two weeks, two weeks is enough to make an in-depth tour of London.
After working for a long time, you will catch an occupational disease! The tour became an expedition for me. City tours are naturally the best for architectural expeditions. If it is up to me, the city center to find a place to live in a public transport convenient, daily storm walking tens of thousands of steps, first the city center with steps measured once. Then spread out to the periphery, looking for places of interest, public transport to sit over and step over with your feet. The next day and then change places. This is my mode of travel alone, family and friends together is not so free.
The first study in the United Kingdom of old Luo think London is not necessary to spend so much time, but also want to go to France, and then add a country they have not been to. Because it is a companion, the views of all parties should be considered, and finally set the British, French and Dutch tour. Then booked a round-trip ticket, considered the big trip rammed. I took the initiative to undertake the development of the strategy, planning a detailed itinerary.
Probably check out the attractions, think Amsterdam city is relatively small, less attractions, from Amsterdam to Paris on the way to cross Belgium, so proposed to stay in Brussels for two or three days. In this way, the original idea of an in-depth tour of the UK turned into a four-country skewer tour of the UK, Netherlands, Belgium and France.
The itinerary planning of the self-guided tour is definitely a huge project, the selection of attractions, route planning, transportation organization, each of which must consume a lot of energy, just like every work to do the same program, a lot of preliminary preparatory work, data collection, market research, case analysis, etc..
The choice of attractions is undoubtedly the most important. Because it is not a one-person trip, we must consider the needs of the whole team, both to take care of the wife and children who are going to Europe for the first time, but also to take into account the old Luo family studying in the UK. The classics are essential, freshness is equally indispensable, and for me there is also the efficacy of architectural expeditions.
Fortunately, the focus of this tour is the city tour, not the natural landscape, and the city tour is basically to see the architecture of the main. Most of the buildings in popular attractions are iconic buildings with characteristics, and conversely, well-designed buildings can often become popular attractions. Therefore, in addition to those most classic attractions, masterpieces became my main selection target this time. England is the home of Norman Foster, and France is the home of Norman Foster. England is the home of Norman Foster, and France is the home of Jean Nouvel. In short, European masterpieces are still abundant.
Transportation is the second major focus, airport transportation, urban transportation and intercity transportation all have to be considered. In international megalopolises like London and Paris, the public transportation system is very well developed and complex, including subways, trains, buses, trams, etc. There are various options and combinations of travel modes that need to be considered in terms of time, cost and convenience.
I think to get to know a city better, you should use the public transportation system like the locals do. The way to get out and take a taxi does not feel grounded. The key is that European cabs are also too expensive.
The only thing I didn’t cover in the 55-page PPT was food and beverage, but I didn’t have the time and energy to do that. The only thing I didn’t cover in the 55-page PPT was food and beverage. Later it is because of the absence of this part of the work, resulting in a lot of time every day to tangle with what to eat, where to eat, and because of eating and the children happened a lot of unpleasant things.
The days of waiting for the trip were always torturous, and the key was to keep on having some situations. First, the airline that took our return flight from Paris went bankrupt. We had to return the tickets and rebook, which cost us a few hundred dollars more.
Then came the terrible news of the fire at Notre Dame in Paris, a Hollywood disaster that nearly destroyed the 800-year-old cathedral.
Then it was discovered that London’s Houses of Parliament and Big Ben entered a state of complete repair, the work period to be extended to three years later, Big Ben was completely surrounded by construction.
Before we even set out, the two most important attractions in London and Paris have become regrets.
In addition to the bad news, there is also some good news. While in London coincided with the London Gay Pride Parade. This event has been going on in London for over 70 years. On that day, the whole city turns rainbow colors.
While in Paris it coincides with the French National Day, an annual essential that includes a military parade on the Champs Elysees, an air show, and a night of fireworks at the Eiffel Tower ……
These might add something to see and enjoy on our trip.
Before we left, our minds were filled with various fantasies of various kinds.
My daughter said: Why not go to Italy?
Why Italy?
Italy has pizza, pasta, lasagne ….
I go, how only think about eating?
The wife said: the whole bag it!
Why are all tastes so low!
I just remember, I have a date with the master!
I firmly believe
As long as “on the road,”
There is hope for everything!
