summer plans

[raven]

Hihi, flist. Not sure about this yet, hence the circumspection. But Shim and I are trying sort-of maybe to go away for a few days in the middle of July before my moving-abroad-oh-god-oh-god hell breaks loose.

We have it narrowed down to Copenhagen, Warsaw and Vienna (for various complicated reasons, we're limiting ourselves to places in central Europe). Where should we go, do you think? And where should we stay and what should we do? Personally I know nothing about Warsaw, am considering Vienna with thoughts of architecture and Viennese fancies, went to Copenhagen in 1994, remember Tivoli fondly and would like to go again!

Thanking you very kindly.

Comments

[littlered2.livejournal.com]

Of the three, I've only been to Vienna. It was lovely, and full of things to do (http://littlered2.livejournal.com/6080.html#cutid3) (museums! Cathedrals! The Hofburg Imperial Palace!), but of all three cities I visited on that trip (Prague, Vienna, Budapest) it was unquestionably the most expensive, which might be something to take into account (not that I know the relative costs of Warsaw and Copenhagen).

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It sounds lovely! Still pondering...

[littlered2.livejournal.com]

All options sound good, so I'm sure you'll have a lovely time wherever you go!

[subservient-son.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I can't be much help, the only place on that list I've been too is Vienna, but that was only for a few hours, and I didn't leave the train station. My abiding memory of the place is indignation that I had to pay to use the toilet at the restaurant I was eating at.

My Dad once had an Austrian girlfriend who said that Vienna was a really boring place, but that was 40 years ago, so maybe not so accurate now.

My totally uniformed instinct suggests that Warsaw would be more interesting and Copenhagen more of just a pleasant place to relax in, so it depends what you want, I guess. I would go for a new place, though.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I neglected to mention I was in Copenhagen for six hours in 1994, so possibly it doesn't count as a repeat visit!

[roga.livejournal.com]

I've been to Warsaw twice (2-3 days each time), and to Vienna once, for 24 hours. Vienna surprised me by being absolutely gorgeous, and as someone who loves grand structures and historic museums and the kind of generic big European cities -- which are all very far from what I see on a daily basis -- I really, really loved it. Just walking around Vienna was beautiful, and the weather was great (I was there in April), and I didn't really get the chance to actually go inside anywhere; we just spent most of our time walking around.

Both times I was in Warsaw I was there in Holocaust/heritage related trips, so it's hard for me to see the city out of that context. 90% of the city was destroyed in the war, so most of the city isn't very aesthetically pleasing, IMO, I remember it as kind of drab. The Old City there is beautiful; it was reconstructed based on photos of what it looked like before, and it's a truly charming historical district, but it's not a very big one. If you're interested in WWII history then, you know, there's plenty to see :D and also if you're interested there are certain camps you can tour within driving distance but wow, is that not my idea of a fun trip, so. I'm sure there are other nice things to do in the city! I just don't know too much about what they are. When it comes to Polish cities I thought Krakow was far prettier and more enjoyable.

BUT anyway to me, Vienna > Warsaw :-) Here (http://roga.livejournal.com/170562.html) and here (http://picasaweb.google.com/roga.wind/PolandAustria08#) are some pics I took in both.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Thanks, honey! Shim will be in Poland for several days before yours truly rolls up, so we're seriously considering Warsaw. Your pics are gorgeous, as per usual. :)

[sriti.livejournal.com]

Dammit, I was supposed to go to Vienna in July! Maybe I can go there vicariously through you...take lots of pics to post here if you do go there! Also, if you're into crystals at all, the world's best crystals, Swarovski, is Austrian so you might get it cheaper in Vienna!

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Sorry about your trip; that sucks!

[sir-rosealot.livejournal.com]

Also, if you are going to Vienna it is cheaper to go to Bratislava airport, but it is a hellhole.

[sir-rosealot.livejournal.com]

Vienna is beautiful but expensive. The public transport is incredibly good - the trams arrive pretty much to the second, and the transport is the one thing which isn't expensive. You like coffee, don't you? There are so many wonderful places to drink it! And historical buildings & c. It is apparently extremely hot in summer (I visited a friend who lived there all year in winter), but as I recall you enjoy heat so that might be a good thing!

(Deleted previous comment as had sudden facebook privacy paranoia as I noticed this was a public post. But I have an album there entitled "Vienna"!)

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Oh, coffee and HEAT. *basks* Thanks for this, and I shall check out the pictures. :)

[purplerainbow.livejournal.com]

I've never been to any of them, but I vote for Vienna.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

It does sound rather magical, doesn't it? Although possibly I read too much Chalet School as a child. :)

[jacinthsong.livejournal.com]

I have a poss unfair prejudice against Vienna as chocolate-boxey. I haven't actually been to ANY of those places, but I find the idea of going to Warsaw interesting (also probably cheapest) and Copenhagan is by the sea and thus awesome. And really green. I'd go to Copenhagen if I had the chance.

also looking at wiki Cisternerne is a small but different museum dedicated to modern glass art. It is located in some grotto-like former cisterns that come complete with Stalactites formed by the changing water levels. THAT'S FUCKING AWESOME, MAN.

*looks at comments* God we're all being very helpful in coming to a consensus.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Heh! I saw the exact same thing on Wikipedia and had more or the less the exact same response. :) I am now moving towards Copenhagen mostly because omg, SEA, and also stifling heat not good when you want to go out and see stuff, so prob. not Vienna. I don't mind chocolate-boxey, though; that is the point of it, I think!

[nerves-patterns.livejournal.com]

I can't speak for the other places, but Jim and I went to Vienna for a week or so one New Year and loved it. The architecture, indeed, is stunning; the coffee was out of this world; and there's a little mountain village called Grinzing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grinzing) with a mountain and some churches and vineyards, and it's a little piece of heaven on earth. And the opera house - beautiful! And there's plenty of fun stuff to do in Stephansplatz, in the center of the city. The metro, too, is relatively easy to navigate.

I hope you and Shim have fun, wherever you end up going!

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Thanks, honey! I shall bear your recommendation in mind. :)

[marymac.livejournal.com]

As everyone's said, Vienna's expensive but my mother still speaks of it fondly thirty years after she was last there. She says to tell you to gwt some of the enamel-work while you're there, if you go.

One of our profs got stuck in Copenhagen on her epic Professor vs the Volcano trip at Easter and has been raving about how nice it and the locals were it ever since, but she is a medievalist, and thus was quite happpy stuck in Viking-land.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Heee! Thank you for the disparate recommendations. Still thinking...

[imaginethetruth.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I would say either Copenhagen or Vienna (or both!). As someone who lived in Denmark for many years, I can honestly say that the place holds so many fond memories. And yes, Tivoli is delightful.
Vienna is lovely too, of course. There's fabulous sightseeing and oh my god, the GREATEST food ever.
I'm sure you'll have a great time wherever you decide to go!