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Cherryfudge

Ah, I seem to recall our birthdays fall about the same time! I hope you enjoy your birthday adventure: there are some great cities 'up north'.

We have sunshine too - the proper stuff, but it's cold. Nevertheless, spring flowers are coming through - I passed the first clump of three daffodil flowers on my way to work yesterday, and when I returned, there were four of them. Spring is definitely on its way, and nothing can stop it (though winter might have a go at keeping it at bay a bit longer).

WelshmansDaughter

I do like the sound of getting on a train to a random city for lunch.

Watty1

It does indeed sound fun. How did you decide on which city?

I've been reading about extreme day trips - where people fly to someone just for the day! Those sound like fun, the criteria being you pick someone you can get from the airport to the city easily - although I'd been too stressed about missing the return flight I think .

redofromstart

I have seen those @Watty1 I think they would be ok if you live close to an airport in the first place, preferably on a bus route as the cost of parking may be more than the flight, and they never seem to factor in the time you need to be at the airport by either. I think I would find it stressful as I don't like flying.

It was a game we started playing when we were poor students, what cheap day returns could we do from the local station so a lot of the north west got visited that way. In those days train travel with a railcard was relatively cheap as long as you stayed away from Fridays and trips via London. This time round I have identified a mainline station that has cheap parking close by and then looked at where could we go without changing trains or travelling more than an hour and a half and then looking at cheap advance singles. If I miss the train it means paying again to get on the next one rather than an overnight stay when you miss the only flight and I can live with that.

doingitanyway

I love the random city by train idea too

Staffordia

I've done an extreme day trip to Milan. It felt surprisingly chilled, lunch near the Cathedral, gelato and drinks near the canal, a walk around the lit castle grounds in the evening and back to the airport by 8pm. Flights were cheaper than a rail ticket to London.

WelshmansDaughter

I could probably get away with it where I live as the airport is very accessible (except when under 45cm of snow lol). But I'd only end up in London, Amsterdam or Stavanger 🤣🤣🤣

Watty1

Wow @Staffordia that does sound an awesome day trip.

We were less adventurous in our student days but still fun. We would get out a map and pick somewhere with a great name and go there - regardless of what it was like - by car so it had to be a "good name" and a short drive from where we lived. As a result we often ended up in a field laughing about why we had chosen such a place! We learnt to take flasks!

doingitanyway

Love your post @Watty1

redofromstart

Milan for the day sounds lovely Staffordia. I went for a short break many years ago and really enjoyed it.

Watty I like that version of the random travel too

our little trip was to York, I had only previously been to the railway museum so the city centre was new to me. The sun shine has brought a lot of flowers out which is always a joy and we both like walking without any set purpose. Lovely way to spend a birthday and a stark contrast to last year. Very sore feet today though.

Cinema again this weekend, and another day trip next weekend. Tickets for May 'thing' are released this morning so I need to book that later.