Le Grand Tour: Planning my next trip

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Planning my next trip - May & June 2013

I just purchased plane tickets for my next trip; 27 days in May and June visiting Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Britain. Here's a rough, preliminary overview of my itinerary via Google Maps.

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My itinerary (27 days in Europe, 26 travel days, 5/15 - 6/9):

Spain

Barcelona (2 days/2 nights) - Plane/Plane

Fly from Barcelona to Madrid

Madrid (2 days/2 nights) - Plane/Car
Toledo (1 day/1 night) - Car/Car
Granada (2 days/2 nights) - Car/Car
Andalucia (2 days/2 nights) - Car/Car
Sevilla (2 days/2 nights) - Car/Plane

Fly from Sevilla to Toulouse

France

Arrive in Toulouse, rent car, drive to Carcassonne

Carcassonne/Arles (2 days/2 nights) - Plane/Car
Dordogne (2 days/2 nights) - Car/Car
Loire (2 days/2 nights) - Car/Car
Normandy (2 days/2 nights) - Car/Car
Paris (2 days/2 nights) - Car/Train

Drop off rental car in Paris, Train to Bruges

Belgium/Netherlands

Train from Paris to Bruges

Bruges (2 days/2 nights) - Train/Train
Amsterdam (2 days/2 nights) - Train/Train

Train to Brussels and then to London

Britain

Train from Asterdam/Brussels to London

London (2 days/2 nights) - Train/Plane

Fly home from London

Things I might cut: Andalucia (freeing up a day or two for London); Amsterdam (in order to add days to London); Bruges (instead of cutting Amsterdam)

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About this blog

Hi everyone, my name is Ryan and this is my travel blog. One of my great passions in life is travel, and specifically travel in Europe. I don't know what it is exactly, but I just love Europe; its culture, its languages, its people, and the living history that exists in abundance there. I have been on several trips to Europe in the past few years, and I plan on continuing to go back as often as I can and for as long as I can. My dream is to maybe one day parlay that experience and passion into a side venture as a tour guide and travel consultant, but for now I'm just an enthusiastic recreational traveler. As I continue visiting Europe I intend to use this blog to share my experiences and impressions with you all.

P.S. a note about the blog's title: "le grand tour" means simply "the grand tour" in French (I think we can all agree that it sounds sexier in a French accent). The grand tour was a traditional trip around the continent that young people in Europe would take upon reaching adulthood. The idea was that one should see and find enrichment from the many peoples, cultures, and historic places which can be found in every nook and cranny there. The tradition has largely died, but its spirit lives on as many budget travelers tour Europe today and get the same experience at an affordable cost. Whereas at one time time such travel was accessible only to the wealthy, today almost anyone can have the same experience with the right knowledge and the gumption to do it. It is my goal to spread that message as widely as possible here at home, to share the beauty and wonder of Europe with Americans who might not otherwise get to see it, and to encourage folks to get out and experience it for themselves.