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Europa Bark! - Tim's Trips
- Thread starter Tim
- Start date
Llama
TS Member
Thank you for updating this thread, I've loved seeing the pictures and reading about "Europa Bark." Not anytime soon, but I'm hoping to do a Europa Bark trip at some point in my life. I'll need a dog first, though!
And wow, wasn't expecting the twist at the end! A big, big congratulations to you
And wow, wasn't expecting the twist at the end! A big, big congratulations to you
Tim
TS Member
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- Air / Blue Fire
Thank you Skyscraper and Matt!
Unsurprisingly the twist was one of the first parts of the trip I wrote. Had to restructure the whole report around it. But I knew it was worth it so that, like everyone who was in our group, it would come as a complet surprise when I revealed it. There was so much going on in this trip we didn't even manage to tell our friends and family until the final day, so leaving it until last felt like a fitting place for it while writing.
There were a few hints to it scattered throughout the report. Mainly in the prologue. This trip really did bring together so many moments in our lives that it was absolutely the right time and place.
If you do manage your own Europa Bark that'd be amazing! I knew I had to write this report from the moment I came back because I realised there might be others who'd love to try it. And we really were surprised that the only complicated part of the process was crossing the UK boarder.Thank you for updating this thread, I've loved seeing the pictures and reading about "Europa Bark." Not anytime soon, but I'm hoping to do a Europa Bark trip at some point in my life. I'll need a dog first, though!
And wow, wasn't expecting the twist at the end! A big, big congratulations to you
Unsurprisingly the twist was one of the first parts of the trip I wrote. Had to restructure the whole report around it. But I knew it was worth it so that, like everyone who was in our group, it would come as a complet surprise when I revealed it. There was so much going on in this trip we didn't even manage to tell our friends and family until the final day, so leaving it until last felt like a fitting place for it while writing.
There were a few hints to it scattered throughout the report. Mainly in the prologue. This trip really did bring together so many moments in our lives that it was absolutely the right time and place.
Llama
TS Member
I'm in Germany, so the border would not be an issue. But the fact that I don't have a dog yet might be a bit of a problem The dog is coming in the next year or so, and then we'll start thinking about bringing it to EP. I can imagine places where dogs are allowed but not exactly welcome, but your report really makes it clear that our furry friends are first class citizens at EP, which is really wonderful. Congrats again!
The dog is coming in the next year or so, and then we'll start thinking about bringing it to EP. I can imagine places where dogs are allowed but not exactly welcome, but your report really makes it clear that our furry friends are first class citizens at EP, which is really wonderful. Congrats again!
Panda
TS Member
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- Zadra
I genuinely, thoroughly loved following this. Thanks for taking the time to write it all up.
How did your Vallhunds manage with all the walking? I'm planning on doing my own trip with my corgi at some point.
Also out of curiosity, how difficult was it for you to find Vallhund puppies?!
How did your Vallhunds manage with all the walking? I'm planning on doing my own trip with my corgi at some point.
Also out of curiosity, how difficult was it for you to find Vallhund puppies?!
Tim
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Air / Blue Fire
"But the story didn't end there" was tempting, but a bit too overdramatic on top of everything else. Anyway I always joke that they say that line right at the point the legend ends and the made up story begins, and that wasn't the case for this story.
I did originally have a nod to Matt N's trip earlier in the year with "Well, what did I think?" But it might have been lost in an edit.
Technically neither dog is best man as they are both girls. But I've always thought Oakley would look good in a top hat. But I'm really having to fight my case to make that happen.
Thank you Panda.I genuinely, thoroughly loved following this. Thanks for taking the time to write it all up.
How did your Vallhunds manage with all the walking? I'm planning on doing my own trip with my corgi at some point.
Also out of curiosity, how difficult was it for you to find Vallhund puppies?!
She managed it well but was completely dead in the evenings. Would crash on her bed and remain unmoving until the morning. When I lifted her off her legs just flopped.
But during the day with the constant stop start as we joined different queues they did just fine. We had that buggy for them but for most of the trip it was just bag storage.
Not to hard for us to get her, just a matter of time. I think I cover most of the story in the prologue but the main points were:
- We became really friendly with the Swedish Vallhund Society and showed we were committed.
- We weren't too picky on what we were looking for. Vallhund's tails can range from bobs to full curls. If you are waiting for a specific type be prepared to wait a long time.
- Patience. There are only a few litters born in the UK each year so you either just have to wait or as we unexpectedly ended up doing looking at other breeders around the world.
Dear Tim,
Not sure if you're reading this
Thank you very much for your detailed information and experience on visiting Europapark with dogs. It made me decide to follow your tracks.
After a wonderful visit today, you were absolutely right on two things:
1) Europapark is very hospitable for bringing a dog.
2) Swedish Vallhunds rock!
Kind regards,
Stefan (and Djinn)
Not sure if you're reading this
Thank you very much for your detailed information and experience on visiting Europapark with dogs. It made me decide to follow your tracks.
After a wonderful visit today, you were absolutely right on two things:
1) Europapark is very hospitable for bringing a dog.
2) Swedish Vallhunds rock!
Kind regards,
Stefan (and Djinn)
Attachments
Tim
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Air / Blue Fire
That's incredible, thank you. Your post just made my day! So glad to see my advice was useful.
Djinn looks like such a lovely dog! Have you got an instagram (or other media account) you post to? Would love to follow it if you do. Your also welcome to follow the UK Swedish Vallhunds group which we are a part of.
As I'm posting, I think it's worth mentioning that I do have a follow up to this trip report, but I've been struggling to decide if I should post it or not for sometime now. We've not yet been back to Europa Park, but the reason why is a story in itself. Now might be the right time to tell it.
Panda
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Zadra
Would love to read a follow-up, hopefully all is well with you.
This thread has resurfaced at the perfect time, as in exactly 1 week I'll be heading to Europa with my dog too.
I had a couple of quick questions if you can remember much?:
- Is there a guide on which restaurants and indoor spaces permit dogs?
- Do any of the transport rides (Monorail, EP Express, Panoramabahn) allow dogs to ride as well?
- What were some of your favourite photo-op spots?
Tim
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Air / Blue Fire
Glad to hear it Panda! Sounds like you'll be there 2 years to the day that we were.
Indoor Spaces:
Luckily for us the weather was great and so we always ate outside and never needed to attempt bringing them inside. So I don't really have an answer. If someone else can I'd love to know too.
Transport Rides:
Similar to the above we never tried. But I am fairly sure they can't. A lot of the rules at EP cover all rides (it's partially how they achieved such good capacity). But if someone else knows otherwise please correct me.
Best Photo Spots:
Your spoilt for choice! Obviously Wodan's test seat is a must at this point. Spain and Iceland are both great! The garden at the end of the entrance street (in front of Balthasar Castle) is the best place to pose for photos. And the Swiss village with the stream running through it is probably the most picturesque, although we forgot to do that one on our trip.
Indoor Spaces:
Luckily for us the weather was great and so we always ate outside and never needed to attempt bringing them inside. So I don't really have an answer. If someone else can I'd love to know too.
Transport Rides:
Similar to the above we never tried. But I am fairly sure they can't. A lot of the rules at EP cover all rides (it's partially how they achieved such good capacity). But if someone else knows otherwise please correct me.
Best Photo Spots:
Your spoilt for choice! Obviously Wodan's test seat is a must at this point. Spain and Iceland are both great! The garden at the end of the entrance street (in front of Balthasar Castle) is the best place to pose for photos. And the Swiss village with the stream running through it is probably the most picturesque, although we forgot to do that one on our trip.
Tim
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Air / Blue Fire
Reader Warning:
This update comes in 2 parts, the 1st of which you might find upsetting. If part 1 is too much then skip to part 2, I saved posting this until I could share both for this very reason.
Part 1: The End of the Fairy Tale
When I originally wrote this trip report I framed it as a fairy tale. The trip in itself was worth writing about, and I'm so glad that sharing my experience has been helpful to other. However writing about this trip meant a lot more to me than just that. I wanted to tell the story of how I'd met my dogs, their importance in our lives, and how they lead to this "Happily Ever After" moment.
This was, and probably will forever be, the best trip I've ever had to any Theme Park. But 6 months on something happened that will forever change how I feel about it, for better or worse. Life isn't a fairy tale. There is no fixed ending. It's a story that keeps on being told. regardless of if we'd like it to or not.
Had I made this post before this week it would have seemed like I intentionally set up this next section. Because at the very end of my last comment (23rd Jan 2023) I mentioned that our group were planning to meet again at Crufts, and that's where this part starts. This meet-up did happen. The weather was terrible. It snowed most the week (and for context this was March). But our friends still made it over and we had a great time. I might have posted an update at the time, had the week after not turn out to be one of the worst of my life.
We had the Monday off as both dogs needed time to recover (as did we). By that evening Oakley had returned to her normal self, but Marcey had not. She was ill a few times so we took her to the vets. We all agreed (the vets included) that she'd likely picked something up from another dog, and just needed time to recover. This wasn't unexpected as the same had happened to Oakley after her first time at Crufts.
But as the week progressed her situation did not improve. I'll spare you the details as reliving that week is not pleasant. We visited the vets several more times, finally checking her in on Friday when it became apparent that nothing we'd tried was working, and they needed to conduct a full set of tests on her. The results were damning. It wasn't a bug, or anything that she could have picked up. This was an issue that had been ticking away like a time bomb, existing even during our trip to Europa, not that we could have ever known it at the time. There was nothing we could do. We lost Marcey that night, she was just 1 week off her first Birthday.
Although her time with us was short Marcey had a crazy whirlwind of a year. If I could write mini-trip reports for everything that happened in that year I would do. I never even mentioned that after we returned from Europa we took her to the last weekend of Carters Steam Fair. Or the time she nearly ended up joining me at Blackpool Pleasure Beach after I forgot to drop her off beforehand. There are so many stories, but her time at Europa was of course the highlight.
I've shared all my favourite pictures of her already in this report, but here's a few that were taken a little later that still make me smile when I see them. The first was her fascination of watching on-ride POV's. I think she'd have joined us on the rides if given a chance. And the second was this toy dagger that she always seemed to pick-up when I had my back turned. I was never sure if I should laugh or be genuinely concerned!
For us Europa Bark has become Marcey's story. When I look back on it I think of her, and always will as she even managed to photo bomb our engagement photo! But this story should not end with her. As I stated at the start; Life isn't a fairy tale. There is no fixed ending. It's a story that keeps on being told. Marcey might be gone, but the journey started with Oakley, and it's with her that it will continue.
Part 2: A dog is for life, not just for Christmas
Originally the follow up to Europa Bark was going to be what I jokingly called "the Christmas Special". We had been planning a return trip last Christmas, as I've wanted to see Europa at Christmas ever since hearing the glowing reviews from everyone else that has been. However those plans changed, because something else happened in December that took over all of our time and attention.
I mentioned previously that we are part of the UK Swedish Vallhund Society. What I didn't mention was that they had also given us a lot of help with brining Oakley over to the UK. This is because Oakley comes from a very mixed blood line. She's part European, part American and very different to most of the Vallhunds here. When we got her we knew there was interest in using her for breeding, something we also wanted to happen when the time was right. Dogs can't mate whenever they feel like it. They have to be in season, something that doesn't happen very often (depending on the dog breed, in Oakley's case its roughly every 8 months). And after what happened with Marcey we were determined not to miss our chance. She came into season in December and by mid-February she'd had 6 puppies!
This has been the real reason we've stepped back from planning any more trips this last year. Obviously we haven't kept all the puppies! (as tempting as that might have been). But two of them have stayed with us. Both girls; Delilah and Myrtle.
There's no plans yet for a return trip to Europa, but they are already getting some practice. The parks in the UK might not let them in, but they have taken their first train ride at the Cotswolds Wildlife Park, a place I'd highly recommend visiting to anyone with dogs (or without).
This update comes in 2 parts, the 1st of which you might find upsetting. If part 1 is too much then skip to part 2, I saved posting this until I could share both for this very reason.
Part 1: The End of the Fairy Tale
When I originally wrote this trip report I framed it as a fairy tale. The trip in itself was worth writing about, and I'm so glad that sharing my experience has been helpful to other. However writing about this trip meant a lot more to me than just that. I wanted to tell the story of how I'd met my dogs, their importance in our lives, and how they lead to this "Happily Ever After" moment.
This was, and probably will forever be, the best trip I've ever had to any Theme Park. But 6 months on something happened that will forever change how I feel about it, for better or worse. Life isn't a fairy tale. There is no fixed ending. It's a story that keeps on being told. regardless of if we'd like it to or not.
Had I made this post before this week it would have seemed like I intentionally set up this next section. Because at the very end of my last comment (23rd Jan 2023) I mentioned that our group were planning to meet again at Crufts, and that's where this part starts. This meet-up did happen. The weather was terrible. It snowed most the week (and for context this was March). But our friends still made it over and we had a great time. I might have posted an update at the time, had the week after not turn out to be one of the worst of my life.
We had the Monday off as both dogs needed time to recover (as did we). By that evening Oakley had returned to her normal self, but Marcey had not. She was ill a few times so we took her to the vets. We all agreed (the vets included) that she'd likely picked something up from another dog, and just needed time to recover. This wasn't unexpected as the same had happened to Oakley after her first time at Crufts.
But as the week progressed her situation did not improve. I'll spare you the details as reliving that week is not pleasant. We visited the vets several more times, finally checking her in on Friday when it became apparent that nothing we'd tried was working, and they needed to conduct a full set of tests on her. The results were damning. It wasn't a bug, or anything that she could have picked up. This was an issue that had been ticking away like a time bomb, existing even during our trip to Europa, not that we could have ever known it at the time. There was nothing we could do. We lost Marcey that night, she was just 1 week off her first Birthday.
Although her time with us was short Marcey had a crazy whirlwind of a year. If I could write mini-trip reports for everything that happened in that year I would do. I never even mentioned that after we returned from Europa we took her to the last weekend of Carters Steam Fair. Or the time she nearly ended up joining me at Blackpool Pleasure Beach after I forgot to drop her off beforehand. There are so many stories, but her time at Europa was of course the highlight.
I've shared all my favourite pictures of her already in this report, but here's a few that were taken a little later that still make me smile when I see them. The first was her fascination of watching on-ride POV's. I think she'd have joined us on the rides if given a chance. And the second was this toy dagger that she always seemed to pick-up when I had my back turned. I was never sure if I should laugh or be genuinely concerned!
For us Europa Bark has become Marcey's story. When I look back on it I think of her, and always will as she even managed to photo bomb our engagement photo! But this story should not end with her. As I stated at the start; Life isn't a fairy tale. There is no fixed ending. It's a story that keeps on being told. Marcey might be gone, but the journey started with Oakley, and it's with her that it will continue.
Part 2: A dog is for life, not just for Christmas
Originally the follow up to Europa Bark was going to be what I jokingly called "the Christmas Special". We had been planning a return trip last Christmas, as I've wanted to see Europa at Christmas ever since hearing the glowing reviews from everyone else that has been. However those plans changed, because something else happened in December that took over all of our time and attention.
I mentioned previously that we are part of the UK Swedish Vallhund Society. What I didn't mention was that they had also given us a lot of help with brining Oakley over to the UK. This is because Oakley comes from a very mixed blood line. She's part European, part American and very different to most of the Vallhunds here. When we got her we knew there was interest in using her for breeding, something we also wanted to happen when the time was right. Dogs can't mate whenever they feel like it. They have to be in season, something that doesn't happen very often (depending on the dog breed, in Oakley's case its roughly every 8 months). And after what happened with Marcey we were determined not to miss our chance. She came into season in December and by mid-February she'd had 6 puppies!
This has been the real reason we've stepped back from planning any more trips this last year. Obviously we haven't kept all the puppies! (as tempting as that might have been). But two of them have stayed with us. Both girls; Delilah and Myrtle.
There's no plans yet for a return trip to Europa, but they are already getting some practice. The parks in the UK might not let them in, but they have taken their first train ride at the Cotswolds Wildlife Park, a place I'd highly recommend visiting to anyone with dogs (or without).
Llama
TS Member
Thank you for sharing, Tim. Not just your most recent post, but this entire thread, which brings me quite a bit of joy every time I open it. Very sorry to hear about Marcey, but it seems like even in spite of the inevitable you showed her about as wonderful of a time as a dog can hope for in their time on this planet. (I laughed out loud, hard, at the picture of her sitting there holding the toy dagger)
Those puppies are, indeed, adorable. I think we're all looking forward to their first trip to Europa Bark
Those puppies are, indeed, adorable. I think we're all looking forward to their first trip to Europa Bark
