Behind the scenes look at Aero

[nick123]

Haha, that’s the perfect description of the size difference between Europe and the USA (and an Americans view on it) - compared to the US it is so small that you can actually plan a Scotland trip while the rest of the family is visiting the Eifel tower [emoji28]


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Breaking News: "Man leaves family stranded in Paris, is found passed out in Scottish pub in expensive leather jacket"...

 

[Edward]

Frioends of Herself's were visited by American relatives a decade or so ago in Bristol, England. Real culture clash when relatives said they wanted to visit Edinburgh "for the day". The Bristolians tried to point out it'd be a seven hour drive each way - "Oh, we do that to get to church every week" or somesuch was the reply. Size, distance and time are all relative!

To be fair, flying straight to Edinburgh would be a bit cheaper, but with the pound in the toilet now and for the foreseeable future anyhow, it's much nicer to make use of thast strong dollar and take the train. The journey to Edinburgh from London Euston (next door to St Pancras, where the Eurostar arrives) is about four hours normally. Gala is an hour out of Edinburgh on a branch line. From Paris, it's realistic for a couple of days (if you want one day in between to just do Gala). Loads of cheap hotels in Edinburgh near Waverley Station if you book well in advance.

Do make sure though that you check Aero will be open first - afaik, the factory's official hours of business are 9-5, Mon-Thurs and half day Friday. It was very quiet when I visited in July 2014 as during the hot months a lot of staff work overnight instead of during the day.

 

[Seb Lucas]

That's because Americans are always from somewhere else. Even if they've not left the states for six generations.

When I was young, middle-class Australians often called the UK 'home' - even if they or their parents and grandparents had never been there. Such was our colonial mind-set 40 years ago.

 

[Edward]

When I was young, middle-class Australians often called the UK 'home' - even if they or their parents and grandparents had never been there. Such was our colonial mind-set 40 years ago.

There are, of course, also people in the Falklands who've never in their lives been in the same hemisphere as Britain, yet they're more British than the Brits. Identity is a funny old thing!

 

[TheOldFashioned]

Ryanair is still dirt cheap. Mainly because they treat the customer like dirt....

The only way to travel between the UK and anywhere North of Nice and West of Warsaw is the train. The chunnel takes you from central Paris to central London in two and a half hours; you only need to arrive an hour ahead of travel to go through security and customs, and (at least for now) once you hit the other side you're straight out, no need to stop. No weight restrictions, and you can even carry your own liquids. Vastly superior to the plane! Door to door, it's even faster than flying. I now fly as little as possible within Europe.

I'd take the train 10/10 times as well. I had a flex Eurail pass that allowed me something like any 10 days usage over a 45 day window (little hazy since it's been 12 years). I traveled exclusively by train when I was on the mainland. Best way to travel in my opinion.