What would we consider as a Grand Tour for us compared to days past?

[simon07]

Well many here are probably not of the aristocracy. There was a time when a rite of passage would be for young rich English men to tour Europe with a guide or cicerone and learn art and culture in various places like Paris, Rome, Venice etc. External Link/Members Only

I could think of many here like Steely Dan, Roger Boner to name but a few who could be a guide and share their experiences?  If such tours were possible to er “Young” people like us, where would we go? For art and culture of course.

Maybe start in London (Soho) then
Amsterdam (window shopping of course)
Maybe Hamburg (never been there myself)
FKKs in Germany
RLD of Singapore (Ipacanema Bar etc)
Bangkok
Pattaya
And closure in Hoi Chi Min (Vietnam) or even the Philippines?

[LeedsGent]

I am hoping to do my own grand tour later this year.  I was thinking about just doing Asia.  On my hit list are Bangkok, Pattaya, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and may by Singapore.  I am just going to take it as it comes, if I like somewhere I will stay a few more days, if not I will just move onto the next location.  I would welcome any suggestions?

[mills_and_bhuna]

Glasgow, and maybe Newcastle .......

[simon07]

I am hoping to do my own grand tour later this year.  I was thinking about just doing Asia.  On my hit list are Bangkok, Pattaya, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and may by Singapore.  I am just going to take it as it comes, if I like somewhere I will stay a few more days, if not I will just move onto the next location.  I would welcome any suggestions?

I would suggest do your research before and book good girl friendly hotels near RLD. Be mindful of time spent at airports. Maybe daytime events as punting events happen in the evening.

[scutty brown]

It would be interesting to try and emulate the guy who did the first "grand tour" - Thomas Coryate

In 1608 he walked to Venice and back via France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. He wrote a book about it (still the longest titled book in the English language).
When he still wasn't taken seriously at court after that, he sailed to Istanbul and then walked overland to India. Unfortunately he died in Surat of dysentery, but from what survives of his writings from that trip (mainly letters home) he must have had an interesting experience.

External Link/Members Only
External Link/Members Only

[simon07]

He helped introduce the ‘fork’ to English tables after his observations in Italy.

I wonder who introduced ‘spooning’?