Why else does anyone go to belgium - it's sort of on the way. Just ask Germany.
(boo, hiss. ouch.)
The friend of mine who I was planning this with and who I'm super totally crushed out on and in love with lives in Zurich right now, and he says I have to see Switzerland with him. so it stays on the list. Plus I've heard that it and Austria are fun to drive.

And you're right about France. I was going around the coast through spain so I needed coast. Someone draw me a better line through France, but missing Paris.

I did Paris in 10th grade and liked it. I'd like to go back sometime, but i WOULD want to spend a couple weeks there, and would thus probably skip it this trip.

similarly I might skip the british isles altogether and then do a UK/Ireland trip some other time.

I don't really wanna do too much of Italy but said friend said totally do florence. Rome doesn't strike my fancy much anyway. I'll go sometime i hope but its not a priority.

I'm almost leaning towards that. Again, just cause a city's marked on the map doesn't mean i'm stopping there.

Bwahahaaahaaaa ... ZING!


According to Top Gear (and who are we to question them?) the Swiss police regard traffic offenses as little short of mass murder.


That's Florence Mansuitti, yeah? I hear she's hot. Totally do her. Twice. (if you're still into that sort of thing).

its not always about speed. one of my favorite drives (to ride not that i've driven it, im not near good enough yet even if i had been able to drive in taiwan) is the way down the east coast of Taiwan, and lemme tell you, you wanna drive slo-o-o-w.

I totally agree with Rhianne. Avoid all big cities and tourist spots, you can do those when you are an old lady.
Because you are young you have the time and leisure to have a Laurie Lee style trip, finding undiscovered corners and really understanding the the small quiet lives of the countryside. Wait [record scratch]. No you don't.

A whistle-stop tour (my second anachronism in a few lines!) should give you snapshots of cultural icons referenced extensively in the Arts. If you can't spend days in the shadow of the Puy de Dome, you won't understand the stoic nature of the hill villages dominated by the volcano, see the abandoned vineyard because the son it was passed down to moved to Clermont Ferrand, see the 14 year old moped drivers taking their lives in their hands, etc etc. I did because I was abandoned there to learn French :) Driving through it would have imparted none of that to me.

Driving through London would be the same. I know you've "been" but you could see more.
And Amsterdam. There is so much to see and discover. Just going on the Red-Light tour, as touristy and banal as it sounds gave me such an insight into the city. It was conducted by a Dutchman who was moved to America by his parents and returned by choice to the 'Dam after their deaths. A great commentator on the mores and morals of two very different countries.

I'm not knocking your choices. Horses for courses. But like Monster I'm reasonably well travelled in Europe. If you have limited time and resources I think it's better to see places that are often referenced. Save the hidden gems for when you can afford to spend more time on them. And accept that you can't absorb much from travelling by car. Winding country roads are too slow for your itinerary. Motorways/ freeways/ autobahns will show you nothing.

Rail would be much better. And probably cheaper.

I'm with Limey. Rail all the way.

monnnnnnnnnnnnsterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...book me a rail to Oxford!

I'll rail you alright!

Should pass Dayton about 6pm, hop on board. I will have no camera so It'll be like it never happened ;)

I may pass you on the 'state.

Don't know what time, but imma oxford-bound manana. ;)

I sure hope they have that semi cleaned up. Shut the interstate this morning. I just hit the last of the back-up before my exit.

Be. Very. Careful. Going through Date-un at that time.

We're going to have words :(

I would suggest the Mont Saint Michel, Bayeux and its tapestry, Rouen and its cathedral, D-Day sites such as Omaha Beach, Normandy cider and camembert. Of course, you can forget Le Havre (entirely destroyed during WWII). Pushing west in Brittany, there's the coast of "Granit Rose" on the north and the prehistoric site of Carnac and the Morbihan Gulf in the south. And, in the westernmost part, there's ME !!! ;)

.

(they say never drive a car in London Town)
(and when I say they I mean ME because I did it and it was HORRIBLE)

This car that you will hire and return in London... and drive all over Europe...

Right-hand drive and manual, yes?

You say you think driving is FUN?

Only one way to get that feeling taken straight out of your soul.

So it's like driving through Atlanta? Or worse?