Malta

[Joe 90]

the minimum wage is about €8 an hour and explains why there is a massive SE Asian young work force here.

A correction to that titbit of info, the official minimum wage is €5.50 an hour.

Got talking to some expats in a boozer on our last night.

Funnily enough he went to high school in my shire and has lived there for 14 years working in a hotel.

Rent €500
Food €100
€500 left for bills and miscellaneous.

Not my cup of tea but he seemed content.

[DrWilly]

Until he needs medical insurance…

[katie23]

@joe - I also like Mike's suggestion


I agree with David that Brugge can be done in 1 day. It's a very pretty city (I liked the ducks there) but I would give it 2 days max. If you're going to Belgium, then you can combine it with other cities like Brussels & Antwerp.

Thanks for the pics & stories. Nice thread!

[Edmond]

lived there for 14 years working in a hotel.

Rent €500

Renting where one lives after 14 years there.

Madness.

[cyrille]

Well it could be worse.

He could have been a holidaymaker and gone down the 'timescare' route with crooks like Joe.

[Mendip]

why not fly into seville, 3 late nights and then a 1 hour flight on ryanair to lisbon, cheap as chips and then chill in lisbon for 3-4 days

Seville would definitely be my first choice, but then again it's the only city I've visited out of the shortlist. I really like Seville.

While chilling in Lisbon, why not take a day trip up to see the Lines of Torres Vedras? The defenses that Wellington built during the Napoleonic wars. That would be fascinating (imo).

[cyrille]

Our day trip from Lisbon was to Sintra.

Lovely spot.

These lines seem a bit 'niche' to me.

[DrWilly]

I agree with David that Brugge can be done in 1 day. It's a very pretty city (I liked the ducks there) but I would give it 2 days max!

Jeeze, whaddya all wanna rush through Bruges? Travel is not all about rushing from one place to another…

[Bettyboo]

Very nice photothread, Chitty - fine work. Glad you enjoyed your trip; an excellent location choice.

Belgium is surprisingly nice with amazing food and beer.

[katie23]

^^I went on a day trip to Bruges and I was with friends. I liked the city, the atmosphere but that time I think it was enough for a day or 2. Also enough for that stage in my life when I wanted to see lots of things in minimum of time.

If I were to visit it again (either alone or w/ partner), I'll probably take ~3 days to soak the atmosphere, take leisurely walks, sit in cafes & people watch, etc.

But let's also note that Joe/Chitty will be travelling with his kids, so their likes may be different to his. It's tough to balance everyone's likes, esp at the present ages of his kids (teens & 1 is in uni, I think).

*****
@betty - Belgium has great chocolates too. I wasn't much of a beer drinker but I enjoyed the Belgian chocs.

[DrWilly]

I'll probably take ~3 days to soak the atmosphere, take leisurely walks, sit in cafes & people watch, etc.

Exactly!

(teens & 1 is in uni, I think).

Pubs have wifi & beer.

Sorted.

[Joe 90]

Until he needs medical insurance…

If you lived there for over 10 years and before Brexit then healthcare is free.

[Joe 90]

Renting where one lives after 14 years there

Indeed!

Seems to be very common practice in Europe.

[Joe 90]

He could have been a holidaymaker and gone down the 'timescare' route with crooks like Joe.

I prefer legitimate businessman.

We all have to make are initial start up money somehow, ruddy tax dodger

[Joe 90]

Cheers for all the suggestions and ideas.

[Mendip]

^ I think that Mike's suggestion is the best for you, Joe.

Start in Seville, travel to Lisbon.

You of all people should be subjected to the true horrors of crossing European borders on that fancy new Navy Blue 'British' passport of yours.

Enjoy queuing up for two hours in the 'All Passports' line in Lisbon, behind all the Moroccan refugees with no paperwork and screaming kids.

All of your European fellow passengers will be relaxing in taxis while you're still waiting for the family of eight in front of you to pass immigration.

Maybe Edinburgh?

[cyrille]

Should also have those poncey air quotes above 'navy blue'.

And I'm an Albion fan.

I once had to read a live blog on 'The Guardian' of an Albion game that started...

'And West Bromwich Albion take the field, in their iconic Black and White shirts'

Imagine!

So I know the difference between navy blue and black.

That passport is black.

[helge]

You of all people should be subjected to the true horrors of crossing European borders on that fancy new Navy Blue 'British' passport of yours.

He just went to Malta, didn't he ?

[Joe 90]

^ I think that Mike's suggestion is the best for you, Joe.

Start in Seville, travel to Lisbon.

You of all people should be subjected to the true horrors of crossing European borders on that fancy new Navy Blue 'British' passport of yours.

Enjoy queuing up for two hours in the 'All Passports' line in Lisbon, behind all the Moroccan refugees with no paperwork and screaming kids.

All of your European fellow passengers will be relaxing in taxis while you're still waiting for the family of eight in front of you to pass immigration.

Maybe Edinburgh?

Lanzarote was through passport control in minutes.
Malta about 20 minutes.

[helge]

Lanzarote was through passport control in minutes.
Malta about 20 minutes.

There you go

I think it's a Schengen against hairy concealed spoon carrying dudes in Camo Shorts, issue

Guessing

[david44]

If you choose Portugal a glimpse of Saudade, that longing for loss yields adeep insight into the culture, my late lifelong friend was married N of Porto and wrote about their history so well awarded locally.

If you can find a dd, a car out of Porto up the Atlantic coast all the way to Satniago and the fab seafood of the Galician Rias Baixais /FFjords/sea lochs, back via Guimreas, Ponte deLima, Pomte de Barca, new freeway since i winyered there in 1990s,Alvarinho lamprey telhos of red yellow green or black wines served in ceramic vessels!

Sintra as Cy says a gem and mich cooler than wonderful Cascais

Luso Aveiro, Tomar, Coimbra all splended try Leitao, suckling pig or cataplana by the surfers and big waves at Nazare

Saudade: The Love That Remains | Words fm