Nice people thread part 4 - sugar and spice and all things

vivatifosi

Some of my favourites: Parc Guell, Barcelona; Yosemite National Park; the Basque country; Ardeche, France; Fraser Island, Aus; St Petersburg; San Francisco; Melbourne (of course); Dougga, Tunisia.

Places I really want to go to: Leptis Magna (one day!); Macchu Picchu and the Nazca Lines; the Republic of Kiribati (for no better reason than its miles away from anywhere); Lalibela, Ethiopia; Petra, Jordan; Iran; China

sss555s

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

Used to stay there a lot.

Loved the cocktail bar on the top floor, and they had a great Argentinian steakhouse in those days, no idea if it's still there.

Watched the Red Arrows practicing their display just offshore at room window height before the Dubai Airshow. Superb.

It's still there AFAIK and i loved the Argentinian steakhouse and it's Argentinian tango dancers too :whistle:

I hear a lot of people criticise Dubai for whatever reason but it's usually from people who haven't been there on holiday.

sss555s

lostinrates wrote: »

Actually, not all of florida feels fake. I've seen grim gun crime near tourist areas in Florida and real florida too. Both are a long long way from the''small, small world''.

I've been twice and seen a fair bit of what it has to offer the tourist, but i doubt if i'll go back. There are more special places to explore like Malta!

vivatifosi

sss555s wrote: »

I hear a lot of people criticise Dubai for whatever reason but it's usually from people who haven't been there on holiday.

I'd give it a try, though the place next door is a bigger draw due to its link with the red cars:D.

There's actually not many places I don't want to go. Afghanistan even would be interesting if there wasn't a chance of getting killed seeing the Bamyan Buddhas once they are rebuilt.

The only thing I don't really want to do is go on a bucket and spade holiday, given I'd have to lie under a sunshade all day.

I really like cruises. They give you the chance to try lots of different places then go back and spend time in the ones you like best. I got to know Barcelona that way.

lostinrates

vivatifosi wrote: »

I'd give it a try, though the place next door is a bigger draw due to its link with the red cars:D.

There's actually not many places I don't want to go. Afghanistan even would be interesting if there wasn't a chance of getting killed seeing the Bamyan Buddhas once they are rebuilt.

The only thing I don't really want to do is go on a bucket and spade holiday, given I'd have to lie under a sunshade all day.

I really like cruises. They give you the chance to try lots of different places then go back and spend time in the ones you like best. I got to know Barcelona that way.

I hate bucket and spade holidays too...though maybe one with dh now I'm less fidgety and more sleepy wouldn't be so boring. I HATE the idea of a cruise too. in fact, can't imagine much worse. Other than something like a bus trip:eek:

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Suspiciously. But there's not a blanket ban.

[At the South African Consulate]
Roger Murtaugh: How you doin'?
[his handshake is ignored by the Envoy]
Consulate Envoy: I think there must be some mistake.
Roger Murtaugh: Say what?
Consulate Envoy: Listen to your friend here, he knows what he's talking about. I don't think you want to go to South Africa.
Roger Murtaugh: Why not?
Consulate Envoy: Because you're black!

:whistle:

vivatifosi

lostinrates wrote: »

I hate bucket and spade holidays too...though maybe one with dh now I'm less fidgety and more sleepy wouldn't be so boring. I HATE the idea of a cruise too. in fact, can't imagine much worse. Other than something like a bus trip:eek:

I've been on a bus trip too. NEVER again!! Cruises are fine, you can get on and off and do your own thing. Bus trips though:eek:. I went on one round the Western US. Three hours driving somewhere to look at it for two hours then drive for another five hours stopping only because your co-passengers need yet more KFC or the toilet. I really wish I'd self-driven.

Bucket and spade hols are still my ultimate idea of hell though.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

silvercar wrote: »

I can see that Dubai has amazing hotels, but isn't the area characterless?

Dubai itself is pretty bland, like most Middle Eastern cities, once you get beyond the novelty factor of haggling in the Souk and the shopping, tourist traps, etc.

But leave the city-state of Dubai, get out into the rest of the UAE, explore the proper desert with 1000 foot high dunes near the Saudi border, the mountains and oasis' near the Omani border, or the coast line on the Indian Ocean.....

Absolutely Stunning.

The solitude and beauty of the Arabian desert at night is something that just cannot be described, and must be experienced to comprehend.

My favourite place in the world.

bluecelticgirl

Wouldn't say Dubai is my favourite place in the world but agree with Hamish much more to see than just the city. Having said that I lived there for a few years and really enjoyed it. Did you live there Hamish? Oh so many fabulous places hard to know my favourite - one of the most special ones though is Port Douglas at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

bluecelticgirl wrote: »

Did you live there Hamish?

Yes.

Dubai isn't my favourite place in the World, but the desert at night is.....;)