Reply to: Eurotunnel

[scooterscot]

Would not recommend the ferry. We did it on the way over and the tunnel back. We did the ferry so the girls might see the white cliffs for the first time and it was beautiful day for the crossing, that was nice. But our departure was delayed by two hours. Not the ferry company's fault, all border control. UK border control in Calais had 3 of 10 passport booths opened. I asked why? And she said they underestimated the volume of traffic coming through. I'm like, do you not check with the ferry companies how many bookings there are?!! How difficult can that be. Useless.

[GJABS]

Take the ferry instead - much more interesting and relaxing. Giving you that extra break from what has likely been a long drive.

And as well as the Dover - Calais ferries, there is one that goes Dover to Dunkirk (France) which is normally no more expensive than the former, and only takes an extra 30 minutes for the crossing. Useful if you are routing east rather than south.

https://www.dfdsseaways.co.uk/ferry-.../dover-dunkirk

There was one that went from Ramsgate to Oostend, using antiquated ships un-refurbished from the 1980's. But they went bust.

[darmstadt]

Interesting - we do keep getting a lot of inner city regeneration so Liverpool and Manchester are a lot.

But this 60's and 70's satellite towns are just grim.

Not sure what to do.

Knock them down and start again! Actually I though Cameron appointed Mary Portas as the Czarina of town center shop reinvigoration but don't think it worked out too well...

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/m...he-high-street

[Troll]

the only muttering I had for sure was the state of the M25, felt like I was driving over gravel at times. Was glad to get back on the French road,

I take it you don't have to go via Paris on the road to Munich

[original PM]

Not really although some of the East German towns can be a bit 'dodgy' but most have been cleaned up. There are some not very salubrious areas up in the Rührpott but on the whole most town centers are clean and tidy with a multitude of shops and cafes...

Interesting - we do keep getting a lot of inner city regeneration so Liverpool and Manchester are a lot.

But this 60's and 70's satellite towns are just grim.

Not sure what to do.

[scooterscot]

The M1 was actually quite nice, Belgian motorways can be pretty damn awful though.

Gwd I made the mistake of driving through Belgian on the way over. 4hr drive turned into a 9hr drive. Not to mention not one single Belgium driver appeared to indicate before moving to my lane. Sometimes at speed.

[darmstadt]

Interesting point about 'town centres', the concrete monstrosities which sprouted up in the 60's and 70's designed to offer all sort of shops and other retail opportunities were great.

And then the out of town shopping outlet became a thing often driven by an increase in town centre rents and rates.

And then free parking in town centres disappeared.

So yes in the 'new towns' the town centres are tulip and populated by feral youths.

Go to some decent old historic towns and you find it is normally a better experience.



Do you have similar problems where you live?

Not really although some of the East German towns can be a bit 'dodgy' but most have been cleaned up. There are some not very salubrious areas up in the Rührpott but on the whole most town centers are clean and tidy with a multitude of shops and cafes...




Phil the Greek in Darmstadt in 1937 (his parents married here)

[Paddy]

Paris next weekend via ferry.

£100 cheaper and chance to have a rest from driving for a bit longer.

Did you register your car for driving in Paris?

[darmstadt]

Drove to Bath recently from Munich... the only muttering I had for sure was the state of the M25, felt like I was driving over gravel at times. Was glad to get back on the French road, the autobahn only raising the bar.

The weather was superb for Bath and the country side lush and lovely. And nice to read a English menu with a cool cider on the side. (Germany are you listening? Why don't you do Cider?!) Too many cars on the road though. Don't know why they don't dig a tunnel under Bath from London rd to Bristol rd, clearly much of the traffic is just going through the city.

Drove into Bristol one day, mistake, besides too much traffic it felt like sink estate. So many boarded up premises.

The M1 was actually quite nice, Belgian motorways can be pretty damn awful though.

As for cider, well you live in a place where people suck the sausage out of the skin so...whereas we have Apfelwein and Germany does to cider only it's called Cidre and in fact if you go up to Saaarland you have the Route de Cidre...

Kiezbaum Cider

[scooterscot]

Drove to Bath recently from Munich... the only muttering I had for sure was the state of the M25, felt like I was driving over gravel at times. Was glad to get back on the French road, the autobahn only raising the bar.

The weather was superb for Bath and the country side lush and lovely. And nice to read a English menu with a cool cider on the side. (Germany are you listening? Why don't you do Cider?!) Too many cars on the road though. Don't know why they don't dig a tunnel under Bath from London rd to Bristol rd, clearly much of the traffic is just going through the city.

Drove into Bristol one day, mistake, besides too much traffic it felt like sink estate. So many boarded up premises.

[original PM]

Now back in Germany. England was nice, Gloucester and then Sowerby Bridge. The only big thing was that town centers seemed a bit, well awful with feral youths and a lot of boarded up shops (or just crap ones.) Pubs had far too many different beers to be able to make a good choice and when you did, it tended to be the crap tasting one. Prices reasonable but that might be down to some political turmoil that seems to be happening. Weather was not bad either, just a smidgen of rain...

Interesting point about 'town centres', the concrete monstrosities which sprouted up in the 60's and 70's designed to offer all sort of shops and other retail opportunities were great.

And then the out of town shopping outlet became a thing often driven by an increase in town centre rents and rates.

And then free parking in town centres disappeared.

So yes in the 'new towns' the town centres are tulip and populated by feral youths.

Go to some decent old historic towns and you find it is normally a better experience.



Do you have similar problems where you live?

[darmstadt]

Now back in Germany. England was nice, Gloucester and then Sowerby Bridge. The only big thing was that town centers seemed a bit, well awful with feral youths and a lot of boarded up shops (or just crap ones.) Pubs had far too many different beers to be able to make a good choice and when you did, it tended to be the crap tasting one. Prices reasonable but that might be down to some political turmoil that seems to be happening. Weather was not bad either, just a smidgen of rain...

[darmstadt]

What's the f**king problem, I thought you could walk on water?

Causes the water to turn into wine which is not good for the sealife

[darmstadt]

Take the ferry instead - much more interesting and relaxing. Giving you that extra break from what has likely been a long drive.

Paris next weekend via ferry.

£100 cheaper and chance to have a rest from driving for a bit longer.

I used to get the ferry over and Chunnel back but couldn't be bothered this time and in recent times the Chunnel has sometimes been cheaper depending upon what time you go. Also the ferries seem to be going back to the old BR days, they're not quite as good or nice for some reason...

[darmstadt]

should have bought the flexipass - you'd be on other side by now!

Your sat there waiting in the car and UK border staff are running around with walkie talkies in hand looking as puzzled as you are. Does that sound about right?

How? If already on the train? All trains were delayed regardless of having a Flexipass or not...doh!