I used to make decisions ...

[blamebrampton]

But then an article on the internet convinced me of the benefit of cloud decision making ;-)[Poll #1473195]I have convinced myself that two and a bit weeks is more than enough time for a quick Sydney/London/Paris holiday given that I want to see only about 15 people, 10 museums and 13 shops. This involves me talking myself out of running away to Oxford. Totally doable. I need to lose weight anyway, and so steamed veg can be consumed for a few months in order to pay for such frivolity! It will be FINE![Poll #1473195]

Comments

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Hee! Yes, I checked out the train schedules and it is completely able to be done; I am just wondering if four hours of train travel for three hours of museum-ing is a rational use of time. I suspect not, though I may well change my mind! Thanks for the tip!

[aella_irene]

Antwerp does repay a longer visit, if you get the chance. Plantijn-Moretus house! And we found a shop called Kitschshop.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

AHAHAHAHAH! Oh I really want to go there! There are a bunch of Aertsen and Bueckelaer paintings there that I want to see, but I will be back for a longer trip next year. I can save my early Dutch painting fetish till then ;-)

[aella_irene]

If you get the chance next year, go to the Plantijn-Moretus house. 16th century printers! 16th century printing presses!

Antwerp

[ewen]

Paris-Brussels is a nice train (TGV). I've not been on Brussels-Antwerp train, but the train network in Belgium is reasonable so I'd expect it to be okay. If you leave early enough in the morning, you can be in Antwerp by museum opening time, and then leave Antwerp again around museum closing time and still be back in Paris in time for a relaxing European dinner. It's practically a commuter route. (Both Paris-Brussels and Brussels-Antwerp individually are commuter routes, and I'd imagine some people do both back to back regularly.) That'd give you about 6-8 hours in Antwerp, depending on how early you're willing to get up and how European your dining schedule is.

From memory the central train station in Antwerp is near the central city, which presumably makes it convenient to the museums you have in mind. The Paris-Brussels train leaves Paris from Gare du Nord ("North Station"), which is in the North East of the central city. (Convenient if you are staying in that part of the city, otherwise you also need to use the metro too. The metro in Paris is very efficient, but if you want a full day in Antwerp you'll be doing it along with rush hour commuters.)

Given the choice I'd stay overnight in Antwerp. It's a nice city, significantly different from Paris. Bruges is worth a visit too, but mostly a tourist trap.

Ewen