My girlfriend and I have been without a permanent residence since September 2009. First we were drifting around the continental United States. More recently, we were in Canada. Now, we’re going to Europe.
I’ll be playing some poker, both live and online, but that’s really not the primary purpose of the trip. A friend is getting married in Germany in June, we didn’t have a hell of a lot going on in the US between now and then, my girlfriend has never been to Europe, and, yes, there are better poker opportunities overseas right now than there are in the US (not counting the WSOP, most of which I’d be missing for the wedding regardless). So there will be some poker, including EPT Berlin, but even more touristing.
I’ve enjoyed meeting up with blog readers in the past, so I hope to meet more of you while I’m on your side of the pond. Towards that end, I’m including here a rough sketch of our itinerary. Most of this isn’t set in stone yet, but if you see your city on the list, be sure to let me know! Of course I’m very interested in any tips or recommendations about the places we’re visiting as well.
April 5 Fly into Frankfurt
April 7-13 Prague
April 14-20 Berlin
April 21-27 Munich/Bavaria
April 28-May 1 Unclear, possibly Amsterdam for Queensday celebration
May 2-4 Brussels
May 5-21 Amsterdam
May 22-25 Paris
May 26-June 2 Unclear, possible elsewhere in France
June 3 – 12 Swizterland, mostly Lauterbrunnen
June 13-14 Bern
June 15-24 Rheine region, at least the second half in Diez for wedding
June 26-30 London
July 1 Fly back to US
Although I may occasionally be too busy to update the blog, on the whole this trip should mean more content, not less. I’ll be playing more poker than I am now, so you can expect more strategy content, but I also hope to have some cool stories and pictures to share with you from our travels as well.
Hope to see you soon!
Why 3 weeks in Amsterdam and only 5 days in Paris? Loads more to do in Paris…anyway, have fun!
Agree. I’d change Amsterdam and Paris, there’s more to do and see in Paris in my opinion. I’d also recommend going to Barcelona if you haven’t been there yet.
I’m sure eastern Europe is very nice too (and cheaper), but I don’t really know. If you’re staying in Berne we can maybe meet, depending on what day it is. It’s about 1 hour from Zurich where I live.
Wow you have strange taste for me.
After Bavaria I will skip Brussels and Amsterdam entirely.
Cloudy, polluted areas ,tasteless artificial food,high prizes and no countryside in result long term population and economic growth.Foo!
I will rent car in Germany and will hit the South of the Europe.
I you already visited Italy,Spain,Portugal you still have interesting options.
Example:
Hungary(Budapest), coastal areas of Serbia,Croatia,Greece,Turkey,Albania.
You have rich variety cultural background,religion,food,nature,countryside,people,lower costs,sunny weather.
You have much better chances to meet real people and have real stories.
If you chose Brussels and Amsterdam I will be interested in your impression too.
Brussels eurocrats are real people too.
Lately they banned drink manufacturers from claiming that water can prevent dehydration,following a three-year investigation.
Let me tell they have fantastic salaries and benefits to compare with American counter partners and a place you want you want to meet such people is poker table.
Do the historic beer tour in Munich. Hofbräuhaus is a must (most beer tours should end there). There are also WWII-era tours that are fantastic for their mix of trivia and important history. I don’t usually recommend doing organized day tours but companies there often employ well-read and articulate English speaking (starving) PHD students who know their subject matter very well in your language. Food is great, people are nice, architecture is varied and often impressive. Modern place. Its just a fabulous city.
Firstly I disagree!
Amsterdam and Brussels are fine cities.
Andrew, I don’t know if you are just planning to grind the EPT and sides all week in Berlin but if you have any questions about the city then let me know. I’ve lived here on and off for three years. It’s a city that can be quite hard to get to know, especially if you stay around the area where the EPT is held which is in my opinion the most boring and least representative part of the city! I guess I either hope you win the main or bust early so you can see the city. Berlin is awesome!
Phill
Hi Phill – Don’t worry, we stayed clear of Potsdamer Platz – we’re aware of the convention center vortex that exists in many cities 🙂 The hotels can be nice tho expensive, but the food is always blaa yet expensive and no local feel. We’re staying in an apartment rental in Prenzlauer Berg. Very excited for Berlin, Andrew has been before on a short visit, but I have not.
Cut back on Amsterdam. A week or so should do. My favourite cities in Europe are Berlin and London (and I lived in Amsterdam for two years!). Never really enjoyed Paris. Also, queensday is not so great in Amsterdam. It is way too full then. the 5th of May is liberation day in Holland, with lots of festivals and activities, but less crowded than queensday!
Other enjoyable cities: Antwerpen, Barcelona, Cologne
Enjoy your stay!
Agree with others, 3 weeks in Amsterdam is too much, one is enough.
Also 3 days in Brussels is too much, one will do as a stop between Amsterdam and Paris. Definitely spend a bit more time in Paris and definitely add Barcelona. If you want more of France you can go surfing in Biarritz, or do some mountaineering in the Alps, or go south-east to Monaco/Cannes or something.
I live in Paris and visited all the above mentioned, so if you need more tips/pointers, just let me know.
Thanks for the tips. I’m not planning weeks of sightseeing in Amsterdam. The SCOOP is during that period, and it seemed a good place to settle down and focus a bit more on poker during that time.
If you can find a way to fit in Budapest I’d thoroughly recommend it.
Why so much time in Lauterbrunnen? Iv’e been there last September with my brothers, and the whole area is very beautiful, but there ain’t much to do after 5-6 PM (a problem occurred to us also in the cities in Switzerland…) and the prices are crazy high. That is unless you like hiking- the best advice I can give is to get from point A to point B by foot whenever you can. very relaxing.
P.S.
Try to combine Vienna – self-proclaimed most beautiful city in the world – with Prague.
Oh, another thing- if you want to stay in a small village in Interlaken area you might want try Wengen, wich is not accessible by car. There’s something nice about it.