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[mmbcross]

9 Most Disappointing Attractions in Europe according to BootsnAll
http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/09-03/ni...ons-europe.html
1 - Mona Lisa — Paris, France
2 - Gondola rides in Venice, Italy
3 - Manneken Pis — Brussels, Belgium
4 - Saint-Tropez in France
5 - The interior of the Sagrada Familia — Barcelona, Spain
6 - London Bridge - London, UK
7 - Little Mermaid statue — Copenhagen, Denmark
8 - Dublin Castle — Dublin, Ireland
9 - Live Sex Shows in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Do you agree? Do you know of more disappointing sights in Europe? How about America? I guess Nos. 1, 3 and 7 are dues to their diminutive size in relation to their fame.

[travelmonster]

London Bridge is confusing for people. Most pictures of the bridge in London that you see in photographs is actually Tower Bridge, but people tend to assume that its London Bridge, when in fact London Bridge is just a plain old bridge with nothing special about it at all!!

The original London Bridge was bought by an American and was dismantled and rebuilt at Lake Havasu City, Arizona, USA and rumour has it that he thought he was buying what is actually Tower Bridge - so there has always been lots of confusion about it!!!

[kathryn77]

Oh my goodness! I thought the inside and outside of the Sagrada Familia was amazing. I was there in Feb - see pics here: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entri...37820/tpod.html

I can maybe understand why it was put on that list - because there is scaffolding outside and inside which can be a bit off-putting, but only because it's still being built, due to Gaudi being such a perfectionist - can't believe it made that list!

Now, Dublin Castle - I sooooo understand that one - it's not even on a hill!! Don't understand how that would have been used for defence at one time! And the sides of it are multi-coloured in a way that reminded me of La Boca in Argentina. I've seen many castles in my time, and Dublin castle is the worst! Well deserved entry to the list! If you're in the Republic of Ireland, Trim Castle is more deserving for a visit!

[aopaq]

I have to admit that London Bridge (which I now know thanks to Travelmonster was actually Tower Bridge) did not really impress me. However, I am not a bridge connoisseur so that may be why. But I would not really say it was a "disappointing attraction".

[big_red_truck]

Are you even allowed to climb Tower Bridge?? That would probably make it worth it. You can climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge (my wife and I did), which makes visiting it worthwhile.

[kitkatgo]

9 Most Disappointing Attractions in Europe according to BootsnAll
http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/09-03/ni...ons-europe.html
1 - Mona Lisa — Paris, France
2 - Gondola rides in Venice, Italy
3 - Manneken Pis — Brussels, Belgium
4 - Saint-Tropez in France
5 - The interior of the Sagrada Familia — Barcelona, Spain
6 - London Bridge - London, UK
7 - Little Mermaid statue — Copenhagen, Denmark
8 - Dublin Castle — Dublin, Ireland
9 - Live Sex Shows in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Do you agree? Do you know of more disappointing sights in Europe? How about America? I guess Nos. 1, 3 and 7 are dues to their diminutive size in relation to their fame.

1. I guess Mona Lisa was a *little* disappointing...I agree though, that it was because she's so SMALL...plus there were just too many people crowded in front of her.

3. I thought Manneken Pis was cute...but again, I agree...it's a minor attraction considering all the hype.

5. I thought the outside of Sagrada Familia was so disappointing that we didn't even go inside...that and the huge crowds and the fees to get in.

6. I love the Tower Bridge, I think it's quite pretty. You can go up in it from what I understand, I didn't know that when I was there though.

[starlagurl]

I did a little bloggy blog about it with some personal examples from other bloggers:

http://blog.travelpod.com/2009/04/06/top-9...an-attractions/

[kitkatgo]

Pretty funny Louise!

I would also add the Spanish Steps in Rome. I mean, they're just steps!

[mmbcross]

Great blog Louise. You are a true artist!

Spanish Steps are just steps.
Leaning Tower of Pisa just built on poor foundations.
Eiffel Tower a heap of twisted metal.
Berlin Wall....oh, they have already torn that down.
Coliseum. What happened to the floor?

[kathryn77]

Grindelwalters actually got a good angle on Dublin Castle there - it looks pretty good in that pic!!

But I'm keeping my own judgement from when I saw it with my own eyes - it's not a 'real' castle when you compare it to any other castle in Ireland or Scotland.

I am a self-confessed 'castle snob' and not ashamed to admit it!

[kitkatgo]

Ahem! I'm a castle snob too...and that DOES include the Disney castles.

[kathryn77]

[/quote]

Does that includes the castle/s in Disneyland? Hehe, just kidding.
[/quote]

It does, lol, I agree with Kitkatgo!

The Disney castles would rank higher (in my opinion) than Dublin "castle"

Hmmm....I think I feel another fun poll coming on...."which is your favourite castle out of xxx..." Hmmmm, leave it with me

[big_red_truck]

Ahem! I'm a castle snob too...and that DOES include the Disney castles.

Speaking of castles...We just booked tickets for 2 weeks in the UK...what are the top 3 castles to see in all the British Isles?

[travelmonster]

What areas are you going to?

I think the best one in England is Dover Castle.

[mmbcross]

Here's a wonderful list of the 16 best. A lot depends on your planned itinerary. Hopefully you will pass by some of these. Will you be driving your Big Red Truck?

For such a short stay, I would recommend The Tower of London and Windsor Castle. Leeds Castle (nowhere near the City of Leeds) is usually the next most popular being relatively close to London.

http://www.anglotopia.net/2009/03/top-16-b...les-in-england/

Enjoy

[big_red_truck]

What areas are you going to?

I think the best one in England is Dover Castle.

We're planning on going south to Guernsey and Jersey, then coming back up the West Side, making our way up through Wales, over to the Isle of Man, then Scotland, then taking a ferry to the Shetland Islands, then another ferry down to Orkney, back into Scotland, then over to N. Ireland, and making our way down to Cobh before heading to Dublin for the flight home.

Here's a wonderful list of the 16 best. A lot depends on your planned itinerary. Hopefully you will pass by some of these. Will you be driving your Big Red Truck?

For such a short stay, I would recommend The Tower of London and Windsor Castle. Leeds Castle (nowhere near the City of Leeds) is usually the next most popular being relatively close to London.

http://www.anglotopia.net/2009/03/top-16-b...les-in-england/

Enjoy

Thanks for the link Martin...and I'm actually planning on selling the big red truck after we get home. Owning it will seriously hinder our ability to downsize to a maintenance-free townhouse/condo. Which is what we need to do if we plan on traveling for such long periods like we do. It was a touch decision, but ultimately I realized the trucks would hold us back at this point in our lives...so I'm gonna get a motorcycle as my toy instead. At least until I've got the ability to pick the truck project back up.

And we're planning on being in London for 2 days in early May on the way back to JFK from Sao Paulo. So we should be able to go see at least one of those then.

[kathryn77]

My favourite castle in Scotland is Eilean Donan Castle on the mainland just before the Isle of Skye - it's stunning! I have some pics of it in my Scotland blog (link below) .

It's so beautiful - I wouldn't miss that one

[mmbcross]

My favourite castle is Coral Castle in Miami.
http://www.coralcastle.com/index.php

[kathryn77]

Hmmm, a castle snob with a favorite castle which she wouldn't miss. I wonder if the other castle snob would have a favorite castle that she wouldn't miss too.


Hehe... just kidding. Peace.

LOL! Just if I had to define it down...I've not seen EVERY castle in the whole wide world, but I would put Eilean Donan Castle as my benchmark, and I challenge any castle to beat that, and I'm up for the challenge! Promise if I find one more stunning (in my opinion!), I'll let you all know

The castle snob!