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The ultimate Bond trip around the world

Mark_HazzardMark_Hazzard Classified
in General Discussion Posts: 127
My fellow members,

any time soon I'll have quite some time off, say a month or two. I came up with the idea to go on a trip around the world, visiting locations around the world that were of some significance to the James Bond adventures. A pilgrimage some would call it. The locations should have to do with both the films and the novels, either the inspiration for the fiction or the actual locations. I've written a quick list below to fuel the discussion:

- London, particularly Bond's neighborhood Chelsea and the MI6 HQ
- Jamaica, spend a few days at Goldeneye swimming and reading
- Bahama's, particularly Nassau
- Halong Bay
- Piz Gloria
- Istanbul
- St. Petersburg
- St. Cyrils Monestary

Comments

  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 41,011
    Welcome to the forums! Are you asking for other areas that are heavily related to Bond that you should also visit? I'm a little confused.
  • JWESTBROOKJWESTBROOK
    Posts: 5,745
    No @Creasy47 I think he's just bragging.
  • Mark_HazzardMark_Hazzard Classified
    edited July 2014 Posts: 127
    Not necessarily all the areas heavily related to Bond, but to come up with a list of locations that could form this 'ultimate Bond trip around the world'. Something like a top 10 or 20 list of locations that could/should be visited within two months time.

    @JWESTBROOK I'm sorry if you have mistaken this thread as 'bragging about locations one has visited' or 'show off one's knowledge about Bond locations'. I've never visited any of the above apart from London. This is meant as a discussion to share ideas about putting together your ultimate Bond around the world trip.
  • jobojobo
    edited July 2014 Posts: 7,507
    I'd recommend a trip to lake Como in Italy. Spectacular views, and on the west shore near Bennagio you will be able to see both mr White's house and the hospital from CR. I was there just a few days ago in fact, and it's a great experience!

    And you should combine it with a trip to Venice of course. Too many tourists (a trip in late autumn might be preferable) but it's neverthelrss a mandatory visit if you haven't been there before. And the Dolomites (used in FYEO, and situated in between both locations) are spectacular too.
  • Mark_HazzardMark_Hazzard Classified
    Posts: 127
    Great idea's @jobo!
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 14,680
    Besides the locations already mentioned, I'd visit France to see the Eiffel Tower, Château d'Anet, Château de Chantilly, Japan and Tangier.

    P.S. You wouldn't be related to @Mark_Hazard by any chance?
  • Mark_HazzardMark_Hazzard Classified
    edited July 2014 Posts: 127
    What a coincidence. I guess we both took the inspiration for a user name from Bond's cover in the novel TMWTGG.

    Great tips, especially the Chateaus!
  • mirandafrostmirandafrost
    Posts: 368
    Wow, that's really cool! I'd love to go on a Bond trip round the world... But unfortunately money does not grow out of trees... ^^
    But - this holiday I'm going to Vienna visiting all those places from TLD. Yay! :)
  • Mark_HazzardMark_Hazzard Classified
    Posts: 127
    Yes that's true @mirandafrost, the financial side of this plan is challenging.

    However if money wouldn't be a problem, jumping of the Contra Dam in Switzerland with a bungee cord would become a nice recreation of Bond's jump in GoldenEye. You'll get it for 250 CHF:

    http://www.trekking.ch/en/bungy/007-bungy-jumping-verzasca-like-james-bond
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 41,011


    I didn't even know this was a thing. That would be so exciting to do.
  • Mark_HazzardMark_Hazzard Classified
    Posts: 127
    But... I really would like to have the James Bond theme blasting out of the speakers.

    Preferably the Parodi-Fair version to match the scenery.



  • ggl007ggl007 www.archivo007.com Spain, España
    Posts: 2,541
    :-O

    Really amazing and crazy thing to do!!

    I would recommend Bilbao (Guggenheim) or Lisbon (and Estoril with the Casino or the Hotel Palacio...)
  • mirandafrostmirandafrost
    Posts: 368
    Mark_Hazzard wrote: »
    jumping of the Contra Dam in Switzerland with a bungee cord would become a nice recreation of Bond's jump in GoldenEye.
    Yes, it would be VERY cool!! I just love that movie and I'd really love to do that but 1. it's a bit expensive and 2. I wouldn't have the heart to do it :)
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent
    Posts: 12,526
    mirandafrost wrote: »
    Mark_Hazzard wrote: »
    jumping of the Contra Dam in Switzerland with a bungee cord would become a nice recreation of Bond's jump in GoldenEye.
    Yes, it would be VERY cool!! I just love that movie and I'd really love to do that but 1. it's a bit expensive and 2. I wouldn't have the heart to do it :)

    I would certainly do that! :-bd
  • andmcitandmcit
    edited July 2014 Posts: 1,068
    Is it not so much about having the heart for this amazing bungee as for faith in the strength of the elastic!!
  • bondtheorybondtheory
    Posts: 96
    jobo wrote: »
    I'd recommend a trip to lake Como in Italy. Spectacular views, and on the west shore near Bennagio you will be able to see both mr White's house and the hospital from CR. I was there just a few days ago in fact, and it's a great experience!

    And you should combine it with a trip to Venice of course. Too many tourists (a trip in late autumn might be preferable) but it's neverthelrss a mandatory visit if you haven't been there before. And the Dolomites (used in FYEO, and situated in between both locations) are spectacular too.

    @Jobo, where did you stay while in Lake Como last week? I was there a week ago, loved it!

    I also went to Piz Gloria, which I would also recommend to anyone who has not visited yet. It was amazing to see different climates as you ascend the mountain from the different stops (from Summer at the base, to a light snow at the top).

    I would also recommend a drive on the Furka Pass, Switzerland. Breathtaking. I did drive slowly around the twists and turns, especially since it was raining. It was great to see a road marker for Goldfinger.

    As far as Lake Como, there are ferry services which can take you directly to Villa del Balbaniello, which featured in Casino Royale, of course. A very soothing location. A little bit up the road from the ferry you can stop in front of Villa Gaeta, in San Siro.

    Best wishes to anyone if you go! Happy travels!
  • jobojobo
    edited July 2014 Posts: 7,507
    @bondtheory

    I was staying in Bellagio for one night. It was at the end of a car holiday lasting several weeks, and we had driven through pretty much the entire country up to that point. So we didn't have particularly much time (or energy) to discover every corner of the lake. I did never actually visit the villa itself, but it was nice watching it from a distance. Good enough for me! ;)

    I have been playing with the idea of visiting Piz Gloria for quite some time. As a Bond fan, and a man who loves mountain life in general, I guess it's one of those things I'll just have to do before I die. We'll see when I get the time and opportunity though... :P
  • andmcitandmcit
    Posts: 1,068
    I would dearly love to visit Piz Gloria and intend to do so sooner rather than later. My only reservation is I hate the cold as I suffer quite poor circulation - always have!! is there a better time to visit or does it really need to be appreciated under solid ice as I recall it was described when the filming took place for OHMSS!?
  • bondtheorybondtheory
    Posts: 96
    andmcit wrote: »
    I would dearly love to visit Piz Gloria and intend to do so sooner rather than later. My only reservation is I hate the cold as I suffer quite poor circulation - always have!! is there a better time to visit or does it really need to be appreciated under solid ice as I recall it was described when the filming took place for OHMSS!?

    Hi @andmcit.
    I also have a hard time with cold at times, but my recent visit this month to the Schilthorn was fine because the cold was only at the top (which may not be good for you if you wanted to spend most of your time there which makes sense). Personally, I found the mixture of weather conditions on the mountain to be fascinating, where I was able to look across several conditions, a mixture of ice and mist, and sun and rain. The exhibit devoted to Bond was also fun. Others may have different ideas as to when is the best time to go, but these are just my experiences.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,343
    I went around the world for a short-cut. ;)
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