Picking a vacation destination next year. My honey and I are re-thinking our travel plans for 2008. We were originally planning a 30 day trip to Australia and New Zealand next year, but have run into some logistiacl issues with jobs, school and business obligations. We are scaling back to a 10 day trip, destination Europe.

What I'm asking is where would you go, what would you do and why?

I suggested pony trekking along the Irish coast, but my husband wasn't too enthusiastic about this idea.

Any suggestions is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I'd shorten the trip and still go down under.

But....

How does your husband feel about beer?

You could strap some lederhosen on him and drink your way across Bavaria.

He likes beer, but he'd rather go naked then wear the lederhosen. I did drink my way across a good portion of Switzerland on a business trip back in '93.

I've been searching possible trips and found a cool horsetrek across southern New Zealand. Don't think I can talk Jade into it though.

Keep in mind it's winter down there this time of year. If your going to go, I'd say go in.... February.

We're thinking May if Europe. There's a lot of things that have to work out though, before we can go.

Europe could be kinda cool for the people who've never been there.
Especially Italy! As a European I say that's my fav country.

Germany has beautiful landscapes and so has the UK.
But then again, so have France, Switzerland, Austria and about the rest of Europe...

Thanks, Sheepy.

Jade has been to Germany, UK, Scotland and Switzerland. I have been to Switzerland.

We are kinda thinking Italy, mabye Tuscany or Jade mentioned the French Riviera. I don't know much about either region, but friends of ours went to Tuscany last year and loved it.

I'm also considering the Andalusia region of Spain. Our biggest problem is that we don't speak French, Italian, or Spanish. Jade speaks a little German.

Actually I do know some Spanish words that a co-worker taught mebut they are not something I would want to repeat in polite company.

Shall I come along as an interpretor?
I speak German, French, Dutch and a little Italian.

Tuscany is very pretty, but to me Rome and Venice made the biggest impression on me (I love ancient buildings and ruins and such)

OK, things are getting a little strange. Last night Jade was exploring on YouTube (yeah my husband) and he came across somebody's vacation pics of Scotland. Jade gets all excited, showing me videos and pictures and then he says "maybe they have pony trekking in Scotland."

So I tell him they do, show him the site I bookmarked and now he's ready to sign up for the pub and beach ride!

On another weirdness note, he's telling me what kind of clothes I should wear when we go. I told him I'm going to have to opt for plain black tee shirts with my jeans and he says "why don't you just buy what you need when you get over there?"

Jade is not a shopping advocate. He won't buy new clothes until his dissolve in the washing machine, so of course I'm totally shocked.

I'm looking at him and I finally asked him "who are you and what have you done with my husband?"

Sheepy, if I need an interpretor, you've got the job! Heck if you want to meet up with us and go for a gallop across the highlands, I think that would be totally cool.

Glad to see he's coming around to your way of thinking!

I guess the subliminal brainwashing techniques are working

Lothi, this isn't the end, we'll ride up and down this road for the next 6 months. His nickname is Adventure Man for more than one reason..........

Oh! Yes! Come to Scotland! Its great! (I would say that though! )
What area of Scotland are you thinking of visiting? For some areas you will definitely need an interpreter!

Ratty, good to hear from you. Jade was in the Edinburgh area. He also visited an old castle a little north of there.

One of the trekking trips I looked at is near Glasgow. Another is in Argyll. We're still researching and if you are offering to be an interpretor, we'll take you up on it.