New Back Doors
Europe still holds Back Door destinations — off-beat nooks and crannies that are short on crowds and long on culture. Or an activity can be a Back Door: a festival no tourist seems to know about, a sporting event you can join, a local language class. What's your best Back Door discovery or experience?
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belfast
for me, the big draw of belfast, what makes its unique from anywhere else in the uk, is its political murals. in west belfast, walk down divis/falls road to get to the heart of the falls road catholic community. then head north up springfield road (you'll see glimpses of the "peace wall" on your left) and lanark way (through an imposing barbed gate) to get to shankill road and its protestant neighborhood. art-as-propaganda and fiery memorials abound on most blocks. you can take walking or taxi tours through certain areas; i strolled around on my own and never felt threatened.
zack
MD USA 08/11/2009
Switzerland
If you are traveling by train through Switzerland (both a logical idea and very enjoyable one) and your connections take you by way of Fribourg, give the city a look for a few hours. It has an old and intact historic center rich with covered wooden bridges and cobbled, hilly streets. The old and new towns are linked by a funicular (2 Francs but covered by Swiss Pass) and even in the rain the foto opps are plentiful. Wednesdays are market days. Tons of "French" Swiss foods available. The locals don't speak any English - save for a few - but are very helpful and friendly. I visited on the way to Luzern, from Murten. I wouldn't spend the night, but for three hours it was a great side trip!
William Suesholtz <email>
Harrison, NY USA 07/27/2009
torino cinema museum
the national museum of cinema in torino is fantastic! it completely blew me away with an inventive and exciting presentation of the exhibits. and the museum itself, housed in the beautiful 19th-century mole antonelliana, was awesome.
zack
MD USA 07/26/2009
Southwark, London
In London, get off the Jubilee line at the Tower Bridge tube stop. Walk across the Borough high street and under the above ground railway. You will come to Bedale street and the Globe Tavern (Where Bridget Jones lived in the movies, in the flat up top)and then if you walk past it to the right you will see Southwark Cathedral, a Medievel church that makes one think of King Arthur. Keep walking and you'll come to the Golden Hinde, a Medievel ship, docked in the Thames. On the left will be a Pub that has been there for 500 years. Keep walking and pass Southwark bridge and youll find Shakespeares Globe. It only took us an hour to see all these places. There were absolutely no tourists and had a great time hanging out looking over the Thames.
Tami <email>
Boulder, CO USA 07/23/2009
Consider Poland!
While many Poles would object to their country being seen as the "back door", for many Americans, it is indeed the perfect "authentic and off-the-beaten path" experience. I heartily recommend visiting Krakow, Warszawa and second the other poster's suggestion that you visit Zakopane. If you go to the Tatry near Zakopane, it's worth hiring a guide to take you to some of the best scenery. However, be advised that it can be much more frustrating to travel in Poland with regards to currency and language barriers - you need to be extra patient and flexible to enjoy your time here.
Melissa <email>
Phoenix, AZ USA 03/30/2009
Parham Airfield Museum
Parham Airfield Museum in Suffolk, England was wonderful! If you have any relatives who were in the Army Air Corps you will not want to miss this. My dad was actually stationed at Parham and the volunteers made such a fuss over us. http://www.parhamairfieldmuseum.co.uk
Martha <email>
Rockville, MD USA 03/01/2009
Swiss Trains & Gondolas for Half Price
I did an Italy-Switzerland trip & it was great! I found the worlds' best train deal! Coming from Milan into Brig, you must buy separate tickets for the Swiss trains. Go to the TI in the Brig station, buy a half-price pass for all the Swiss trains. Costs about #100 apiece. Then you can ride all the trains, gondolas, & boats in Switzerland for half price for 2 weeks. Catch is that you need to have at least 3 train days in Switzerland, and you have to know exactly what dates they will be, & you must buy those tix right then. If your itinerary is set, you can do this, and it will save you a ton of money. We saved well over the price of the pass just on gondola tix in Zermatt & Lauterbrunnen.
Carolyn
Layton, UT USA 02/14/2009