The hotel for my October trip hasn't been confirmed yet but is likely to be either in Mouscron or in Ypres itself (very close to the Menin Gate). I know Tyne Cot is huge but fortunately I have been doing some research and have narrowed my target area to three panels on the main memorial in order to find my Tommy (Private Whittaker, lost at Passchendaele) during my visit.

I know what you mean about the sobering sight of the cemeteries - during my 'Air wars Europe' tour we went to Rheinberg, Reichswald Forrest and Berlin War cemeteries. Seeing row upon row of immaculate sets of seven graves, each an entire bomber crew, was truly humbling. Even more so was the realisation that the average age of the crew members was 21. My nephew is about to turn 21 and can not legally hire a car let alone pilot a Wellington bomber in a theatre of war. We really don't know how lucky we are and how much we owe those brave souls. That's why I always get quite annoyed when I see the media refer to football and other sports players as 'heroes'. They really don't know they are born.

All the best

Mandy

Hi Lesley

I completely understand and respect your view, which I know many people share about so called 'Dark tourism'. However, I don't go to places like this, Auschwitz Birkenau, Sachsenhausen or St Cyril's in Prague as a 'tourist'. I go to pay my respects and primarily to learn from history but also sometimes to see another side to a story. For example, I visited the Mohne Dam a couple of years ago initially because of it's famous association with Guy Gibson and the Dam Busters. It was only once there that, and I'm ashamed to admit this, I became aware that locally they don't talk about the Dam Busters, they talk about the 'Mohne Catastrophe' and the 1600 civilian (including over 1000 foreign forced labourers) deaths caused by the raid. But, ofcourse, it's absolutely down to personal choice and I agree that many would not see this type of visit as a 'holiday'.

Hi Bob and Hils

Many thanks for the info. It's definitely something I'll be looking into. (I'm guessing the Chicken Kiev is not quite the same as I get in Waitrose, Hils!!) I'm doing much better now thanks, Bob but the whole emergency scenario back in January has knocked my long haul travel confidence a bit, so I haven't got anything booked in the near future (although Rapa Nui 2020 is pencilled in...). My next booked trip is a short Western Front tour in late October in search of the name of the Tommy I 'adopted' on the memorial at Tyne Cot. I'm also doing another bucket list trip - to Oberammergau for the Passion Play in May next year. You will have a wonderful time in the Rockies - I'm surprised you changed your mind about the Rocky Mountaineer though....unless it's a cunning plan to go back again another time ;)

Happy travels everyone!

Mandy

I was on the Western Front last October for a couple of days. Very sobering, the sheer amount of cemeteries you see dotted around the countryside is mind blowing, it's not just the huge ones such as Tyne Cot but you will see many tiny ones, literally the size of your front room with maybe a dozen men buried there where they fell. Where are you staying? I stayed in Arras, in the main square just look around, you can still see bullet and shell holes on many of the buildings, the ones that weren't destroyed that is. On my very first JY trip back in 2014, I did a Eurostar trip to Lille and whilst there attended the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate at Ypres.

I agree with your comments. I too do not visit such places as a 'tourist' but to pay my respects. Hiroshima and Auschwitz are on my list of places to visit one day.

Regards

Jaya

I completely understand and respect your view, which I know many people share about so called 'Dark tourism'. However, I don't go to places like this, Auschwitz Birkenau, Sachsenhausen or St Cyril's in Prague as a 'tourist'. I go to pay my respects and primarily to learn from history but also sometimes to see another side to a story. For example, I visited the Mohne Dam a couple of years ago initially because of it's famous association with Guy Gibson and the Dam Busters. It was only once there that, and I'm ashamed to admit this, I became aware that locally they don't talk about the Dam Busters, they talk about the 'Mohne Catastrophe' and the 1600 civilian (including over 1000 foreign forced labourers) deaths caused by the raid. But, ofcourse, it's absolutely down to personal choice and I agree that many would not see this type of visit as a 'holiday'.

Hi Bob and Hils

Many thanks for the info. It's definitely something I'll be looking into. (I'm guessing the Chicken Kiev is not quite the same as I get in Waitrose, Hils!!) I'm doing much better now thanks, Bob but the whole emergency scenario back in January has knocked my long haul travel confidence a bit, so I haven't got anything booked in the near future (although Rapa Nui 2020 is pencilled in...). My next booked trip is a short Western Front tour in late October in search of the name of the Tommy I 'adopted' on the memorial at Tyne Cot. I'm also doing another bucket list trip - to Oberammergau for the Passion Play in May next year. You will have a wonderful time in the Rockies - I'm surprised you changed your mind about the Rocky Mountaineer though....unless it's a cunning plan to go back again another time ;)

Happy travels everyone!

Mandy

Lesley

Hi Vickie and Jamie

I was wondering, given all the recent interest due to the HBO TV series, if JY's holiday planners have considered running a short trip to the Ukraine to visit the Chernobyl 'Exclusion Zone'?

I believe that one and two day local tours are available, departing by coach from Kiev Railway Station and I know that there are regular BA flights to Kiev from Heathrow. My understanding is that, until such time as (dare I say it...) Brexit occurs, there are no special visa requirements for UK travellers to Ukraine.

I started looking into arranging a trip independently but remembered that I did that a few years ago for my first visit to Easter Island, only for JY to announce their own tour a couple of months later! It's always more fun to travel in a gang of 'friends you haven't met yet' with JY, so if you have something in the pipeline, I would consider delaying my plans.

All the best (and looking forward to your thoughts on Classic Cities of Italy)

Mandy

Hi Mandy,

I was in Kiev last September (with another tour company) and we had a free day (on my birthday) and originally we considered going to Chernobyl (Bob, Sally and Julie were on the same trip). Bob and I were originally interested in doing it, until we discovered it was an 11 hour trip, most of which was spent getting there and back on a coach! It's not that cheap, but can be done. I enjoyed Kiev (more than I expected!) and there is lots more to do and see there. Obviously you have to have Chicken Kiev there too!

Cheers,

Hils

I hope all is good with you!  I visited Kiev last year as part of a tour with another company.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.  It is a wonderful city with stunning churches and other architecture.  I was interested in a day trip to Chernobyl but my travel buddies weren't very enthusiastic and we were all tired at the end of a long and busy tour.  There are a number of companies that offer day trips there - it is quite a long journey - but I think it would definitely be worth doing.  Ukranian Airlines aren't brilliant but they got us there and back in one piece which is the main thing!

Where are you off to next?  I'm doing the Canadian Rockies with Travelsphere in Sept and Oman in November with another company.

All the best,

Bob

We don't have any plans to offer tours to the Ukraine in the near future.

I have passed this to our holiday organisers for information though 🙂

Thanks,

Vickie

I was wondering, given all the recent interest due to the HBO TV series, if JY's holiday planners have considered running a short trip to the Ukraine to visit the Chernobyl 'Exclusion Zone'?

I believe that one and two day local tours are available, departing by coach from Kiev Railway Station and I know that there are regular BA flights to Kiev from Heathrow. My understanding is that, until such time as (dare I say it...) Brexit occurs, there are no special visa requirements for UK travellers to Ukraine.

I started looking into arranging a trip independently but remembered that I did that a few years ago for my first visit to Easter Island, only for JY to announce their own tour a couple of months later! It's always more fun to travel in a gang of 'friends you haven't met yet' with JY, so if you have something in the pipeline, I would consider delaying my plans.

All the best (and looking forward to your thoughts on Classic Cities of Italy)

Mandy