I've never heard of Petras, what's that?
I'd rather cruise from Anchorage to Acapulco thru the Panama canal and then from Belize to Nova ScotiaAzamara World Cruise 2025 | Azamara (https://www.azamara.com/2025WorldVoyage)
Many stops along the way
maybe July to July
We're looking at a cruise out of Tokyo that includes South Korea. Our idea is to spot check cities you probably wouldn't see otherwise and think whether you might return for a longer visit later.how many of these "spot checked" cities have you been back to for a longer visit?
how many of these "spot checked" cities have you been back to for a longer visit?Barcelona is one, Rome is on our list to spend some time, maybe Sorrento and the Amalfi coast, we have not done that many cruises (yet).
how many of these "spot checked" cities have you been back to for a longer visit?For us... Amsterdam, Barcelona and Florence - so far.
Barcelona is one, Rome is on our list to spend some time, maybe Sorrento and the Amalfi coast, we have not done that many cruises (yet).Sorrento was OK. We didn't find the Amalfi to be all that. Nice, sure. Worthy of a trip? Not for us.
It's not a trip I would take, to be honest, but it's still fun to read about it here.I highly recommend Taiwan. Over the years I've spent the equivalent of about 4 weeks in Taipei and it's one of my favorite places. It's a bit of a melting pot of cultures and it just adds to the richness of the place. And the food is amazing.
A dream cruise for me would be to start in South Korea, then Taiwan, and then hit Japan intensively.
Not sure if you have hit Normandy yet, but that is a must. Barcelona is one of my favorites.I agree, I've been several times including the Utah Beach area. Bayeux was a great visit.
I highly recommend Taiwan. Over the years I've spent the equivalent of about 4 weeks in Taipei and it's one of my favorite places. It's a bit of a melting pot of cultures and it just adds to the richness of the place. And the food is amazing.Sans the green stinky tofu,I mean if Andrew Zimmern almost hurls it must be the Devil's treat
Sans the green stinky tofu,I mean if Andrew Zimmern almost hurls it must be the Devil's treatThe first time I went, we did go to a night market. I didn't try the stinky tofu, but I did try the oyster omelet. One bite, nearly hurled, threw it away.
Sounds like a great down-payment on a Porche.What's a Porche?
Use it to drive around the USA spot checking places
I visited Sedona quite recently for first time since 90s and it seems outmatched for the volume of people , myself included that flock to it.That area has been overrun for two decades. The secret got out.
Some of the best hiking and exploring around outside of Sedona and surrounding area but makes you wonder if there's a down time. I realize this is near peak.
Having said that, pink jeep tours are still winners and family faves.
I've heard they have golf courses around SedonaGolf in Sedona last year. Highest Hole topped out at 4,200ft. Being an old out of shape man, I tired out pretty quickly. Lots of multi levels and beautiful views.
never been there
I've been invited on a trip with a bunch of retired railroad guys, but I wasn't retired and haven't made itGroup trips aren't my thing because I don't like people.
they seem to enjoy it
they send the wives shopping
Group trips aren't my thing because I don't like people.Amen brutha.
Which cruise line was it?MSC
Istanbul is large and it definitely didn't feel full. The security checks there are the most intimidating and thorough that I've ever experienced.Yes, they were ridiculous, and we were changing planes. We went through four checks where they asked the same questions and then a fifth where we were searched/wanded.
Why did Constantinople get the works?It's none of your business.
It's none of your business.What would be your position then, if I were to inform you, that I am in fact a Turk?
What would be your position then, if I were to inform you, that I am in fact a Turk?My position would be to advise you to not go for a visit. Not that you asked...
What would be your position then, if I were to inform you, that I am in fact a Turk?Then I concede, it may indeed be your business. But nobody elses that are not Turks.
My nieghbor is an old Turk, he's nearly 70, grew up in Ankara. PhD from Harvard and postdoc at Oxford, professor of physics at GaTech for 32 years. He's currently in Ethiopia.Another place not on my list.
I need to visit Florida with a couple sides of beef, perhaps passing through Atlanta on the way
South Carolina is on my list, as well as Cincy & Columbus, OH
Louisiana, Arkansas
I've heard Nashville and Memphis are nice
New Mexico, northern Arizona, Nevada, Utah, even Cali
Boston - New Hampshire - Maine
Maybe Niagara/Buffalo
I have a passport but there's plenty of places to visit that an airport or a passport aren't required
We drove my Turkish friend to the airport two days back and the traffic coming back was horrible, on a Sunday. Something was amiss, I tried to go around and it was horrible too.Snowbirds are killing I-75 and I-95 now. I've noticed traffic is better around here lately.
traffic is one of the reasons I avoid large citiesThis is the time of year to come here. Yeah, it's a little toasty.
I-75/85 southbound was normal, but northbound was stopped, 7 lanes just stopped.In Atl?
Heading to San Diego (in German: A Whale's Vagina) for a conference on Sunday. Any must-eat places? I prefer the ones right on the water if possible.Are you going to have a car? Will you just be downtown?
Disagree about the Asian vs. that available in the Midwest though. Of course, I'm only referencing Chicago when I say that.
disappointing 5 times?No, it was great the first four times, so my wife suggested we go back. Maybe they were slammed with Easter.
Sushi burrito. That has me written all over it.I'll be curious to hear your thoughts on what that area looks like right now. It was my favorite place to go in San Diego.
We'll be in the Gaslamp Quarter right across from the baseball field.
Asian food we have aplenty around here in walking distance, all of it good, to me anyway. My step son's GF from HK pronounced one of the places as outstanding, better than they had in SF, but she was being nice I supposed. We had lunch yesterday at one of the Persian places and it was massively disappointing, was fifth time there.Yeah, I know in downtown ATL there are better offerings. When I lived in Marietta, tho, there wasn't even any good Mexican food, much less Chinese, much less other less ubiquitous Asian cuisines.
Sushi burrito. That has me written all over it.If you've heard of Hodad's (burgers), it's not far from there. It was featured on DDD at one point, and it's an iconic surf-style burger joint. It's excellent.
We'll be in the Gaslamp Quarter right across from the baseball field.
I get that. Especially if you're specifically referring to Chicago's Chinatown. But in general Chicago will have the population to support good authentic ethnic cuisine of nearly every type. It wouldn't surprise me if (outside of Chinatown) you really need to search carefully for the legit joints.
The same is true here of course. Finding really excellent Chinese food in/around Mission Viejo is hard. Drive 10 miles north to Irvine, and it's easy. Finding decent Thai or pho here is not hard, but if you really want authentic South Asian cuisine, you go 10 mi further north to Westminster / Garden Grove. Those areas are far more dense enclaves of those particular nationalities, and thus the food reflects it.
The West Coast has a much higher population density of Asian descent than most places eastward. So you'll get more variety of authentic options in LA/OC, SF Bay Area, Seattle, or Vancouver than you'll get in most cities east of the Rockies, with places like Chicago and NY as notable exceptions.
Yeah, I know in downtown ATL there are better offerings. When I lived in Marietta, tho, there wasn't even any good Mexican food, much less Chinese, much less other less ubiquitous Asian cuisines.Downtown is basically a food desert with a few exceptions. It's sports bars and tourist spots mostly. Midtown is a mecca except for French cuisine. We have two superb Indian places and two Persian places, one of which just disappointed me. Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, galore. These places mostly survived COVID because they are good for takeout/delivery. You can't really get French cuisine as takeout.
Over all of my years up there I managed to find the spots, outside of Chinatown even.If they wanted a lush, mosquito-infested sauna where it rained every day, they would have stayed home.
I'm working on that here. I found the Pho spot but still working on the Chinese, Thai, etc.
Not a whole lot of Asians down here.
Houston has a large Asian population and the cuisine to go along with it. Austin has a smaller Asian population, but it's highly concentrated because of the university and all of the high tech companies that exist here, so there's some excellent Asian food here as well.Yeah, I would expect that from Austin.
Obviously, different folks prefer different places for different reasons (duh). I see no need to belittle anyone for their personal choices.Who was belittled?
If they wanted a lush, mosquito-infested sauna where it rained every day, they would have stayed home.Thankfully it rained on Sunday, for the first time since February.
Who was belittled?Who was passive-aggressive?
D'you know the capital of Alaska?I'd say Anchorage,fairbanks or Juneaux as they are the only ones I can remember,prolly isn't Nome or in Prudhoe bay
It's kind of a fake question.Why is that? Every state has a Capital,turns out to be Juneau up there. I would have guessed Anchorage as it's so much bigger than the others
Who was passive-aggressive?Yeah, towards the weather in Florida, not at a person or people, lol. FFS
We'll be in the Gaslamp Quarter right across from the baseball field.
If you've heard of Hodad's (burgers), it's not far from there. It was featured on DDD at one point, and it's an iconic surf-style burger joint. It's excellent.
DO NOT WALK THERE FROM THE GASLAMP. Uber it.
Last time my wife and I were there (2021), we parked only a few blocks from Hodad's and walked over, and she reminded me of my well-worn tradition of walking her through awful neighborhoods every time we're on vacation. Literally I'm sure if it wasn't me (6'5" 265# with a "dont F with us" look on my face) and the middle of the day, we might have had a problem.
Yeah, towards the weather in Florida, not at a person or people, lol. FFSWe like the weather here, but we certainly would not want to be inland.
lucky you weren't billed for the escortYeah, three police cruisers, and two guys with polls walking on each side of us holding back branches and ensuring we clear any lines. This was near Richmond, IN, I think they enjoyed the excitement, it made the Dayton 11 PM news.
Have not yet been to Tokyo, only seen the airport in Istanbul, Cape Town is on the short list somewhere.The only one that interests me on that list is Tokyo. Been to Rome twice.
That list isn't lying about Bologna.It's on our list for the next Europe trip. Tell me about it.
11h 45mHmm. I thought it was less. Maybe because the return is only 10 hrs.
Nonstop flight
Los Angeles, CA (LAX) to Tokyo, Japan (all airports)
It's on our list for the next Europe trip. Tell me about it.Keep in mind my two visits to Bologna were in late December with the city enveloped in cold, dense fog. My thoughts:
We try and travel to Europe in the semi off season for obvious reasons. I will say I almost froze in Verdun one December, that was a memorable visit, and extremely depressing in a way. The city seemed very nice though. The battlefields are stunning.Yeah, we were in the Cinque Terre in late March when we went. It was a little chilly and basically devoid of crowds. It was wonderful :72:
Yeah, we were in the Cinque Terre in late March when we went. It was a little chilly and basically devoid of crowds. It was wonderful :72:When we hit the Cinque Terre it was mid June. The crowds were building but the weather was great. I've spent too many Sp'Winters in Europe to ever really desire to be there any time before maybe mid-May.
I'd never, ever, EVER consider going there in July/August.
Keep in mind my two visits to Bologna were in late December with the city enveloped in cold, dense fog. My thoughts:Thanks!!
-Easy to get to. The train station is as close to the city center as they get in the major cities, and all of the high-speed rail lines pass through and stop at Bologna Centrale station. Also, the entire city is very close together and pedestrian friendly.
-It's the birthplace of tortellini, so there are several places in il Quadrilatero that sell it fresh from the roller.
-I know that food is a recurring theme in Italy, but the meals were simple and fantastic. Our dinners were at Trattoria del Rosso, on Via Augusto Righi.
-Even with all the great meals we ate, my FIL's favorite food item was a simple hunk of foccacia with red sauce from a bakery (Pizza Leggera) across the street from the train station.
-If you're interested in seeing how parmesano reggiano (sp?) is made, there are a couple of tours out of Reggio Emilia that I can point you towards.
We see some nice sunsets often from our large window here (not usually THAT colorful). I'm going to try and paint one here shortly in my ultra amateurish efforts to paint.its actually a sunrise Galveston
If it's not too awful I might post it here. It'll probably be pretty awful though.
(https://i.imgur.com/bCrMYsO.png)I believe in you.
This was on FB and I'm trying to paint it, sort of. Right now it looks more like a volcano exploding ...
many many great places to visit that are closer than thatIstanbul to Chicago was brutal. It was our only option when we missed our flight from Venice to Chicago. Our flight from Paris to Venice that day was redirected to Bologna. We sat on the tarmac in Bologna for two hours frantically trying to re-arrange flights. When we finally got to leave Bologna and landed in Venice, the TAP Portugal plane that was supposed to take us to Chicago was taxiing to take off. It's a pretty desolate feeling to see that.
seems like more effort
I didn't enjoy the flight from Honolulu to Chicago
My daughter (4th grade) just had one of her drawings displayed in a school art exhibit.Add a sense of humor, which could be yours, a few other characters, and you and your daughter will be putting out Junesbury calendars and comics (replacement for Doonesbury). That drawing is excellent!
Better than I could draw lol...
I got quite good at doing nothing around here. One of my complaints to my wife about traveling is we both like it here just fine.Have fun in Vancouver! We were just there last Sept. Very cool place.
We're off to Vancouver in July, my twins birthday is then, and both will be there. They'll be 35, both doing well, one moved from AUSTIN to C-bus recently.
Maybe we should move to Austin.
We've been to Victoria before, probably won't again. We did several tours of Vancouver last time we were there, my daughter had just moved so it was interesting for her. She scheduled a boat tour this time. We had some pretty good food there also.Ahh, if you've already been to Victoria, probably no need to go again.
I got quite good at doing nothing around here. One of my complaints to my wife about traveling is we both like it here just fine.Sounds more like you need to move to C-bus.
We're off to Vancouver in July, my twins birthday is then, and both will be there. They'll be 35, both doing well, one moved from AUSTIN to C-bus recently.
Maybe we should move to Austin.
We've been to Victoria before, probably won't again. We did several tours of Vancouver last time we were there, my daughter had just moved so it was interesting for her. She scheduled a boat tour this time. We had some pretty good food there also.Been to Whistler?
I booked the flights in coach but we've been upgraded so far to Comfort, hoping we might get FC on some segments, we go through Toronto going out, nonstop coming back. Flights have been so packed of late upgrades seem to be rare.
Where is a place you've been and would really like to return to and spend more time?There are several:
For me, I always enjoy Zion NP, but I'd say Glacier NP because when we visited it was too early, the GttS road was still closed, and it was very overcast and we barely saw much. My wife would probably say Rome because our stay there was quite short though we had a solid tour.
We have a tenth anniversay upcoming and I offered to take her to a really upscale restaurant and she suggested a brief tour of North Georgia, again, which I planned. She likes Dahlonega, and can even pronounce it now. We're also staying in Blue Ridge which I don't know at all. They have a train ride there we might do though it's a bit pricey.
Where is a place you've been and would really like to return to and spend more time?pebble beach
This road is pretty icky also, but has the saving grace of some awesome ethnic restaurants ... Buford Highway ...Yep. When I lived back there in Marietta, it was the best place to get actually GOOD Mexican food.
A new place is about to open that has some prospects of being good, it's not Tex-Mex of course.Here in SoCal, we usually prefer Mexican food to Tex-Mex...
Here in SoCal, we usually prefer Mexican food to Tex-Mex...Both are delicious, but yeah, I've tried the California attempts at Tex-Mex and I wouldn't bother eating it, either.
Heading to San Antonio in Oct to visit in-laws... Any local expertise on things to do / places to see?
One of the best, um, "Mexicanish" meals I ever had was in LA, it was red snapper and something.That's a dish you can get up and down both Coasts of Mexico. My favorite prep for that would be something out of Oaxaca, probably.
I'm heading to the Great White North in about a week and a half. I got a nice little Airbnb on a cliff overlooking Lake Erie. It's a little town at the southernmost point of Canada named Colchester. I was looking for something new to do in my summer off weeks and stumbled across this. It's only a 4.5 hour drive, I can take my dog, there's plenty of golf courses in the immediate area, and 5-6 wineries as well. I've been to a lot of places south of the US but never to America's Hat.My friends overnighted in that Harbor on their journey from NYC to Kenosha!
I'm heading to the Great White North in about a week and a half. I got a nice little Airbnb on a cliff overlooking Lake Erie. It's a little town at the southernmost point of Canada named Colchester. I was looking for something new to do in my summer off weeks and stumbled across this. It's only a 4.5 hour drive, I can take my dog, there's plenty of golf courses in the immediate area, and 5-6 wineries as well. I've been to a lot of places south of the US but never to America's Hat.Took 28 trips up there,12 of my 1st 13 yrs pretty much. Then started back to Ontario and Quebec until 2000. Always loved the fishing & Canadian beers out on the deck overlooking georgeous spacely populated lakes. The Beers were much prized before the rise of the crafts. Still a safe harbor for good suds,never golfed there though but why ruin a good fishing trip - enjoy
Took 28 trips up there,12 of my 1st 13 yrs pretty much. Then started back to Ontario and Quebec until 2000. Always loved the fishing & Canadian beers out on the deck overlooking georgeous spacely populated lakes. The Beers were much prized before the rise of the crafts. Still a safe harbor for good suds,never golfed there though but why ruin a good fishing trip - enjoyDid you go by boat?
With the exception of a couple trips to Windsor to drink during the ages of 19-20, I've only had one Canada trip that WASN'T for work. That was Vancouver last fall.Heh, I've never heard this. They wear boots and 10-gallon hats or something? :)
I've gotten to see Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver for work. Calgary is basically "Cold Texas" lol.
I want to get to Montreal at some point.
Heh, I've never heard this. They wear boots and 10-gallon hats or something? :)Pretty much. Big oil & gas place, lots of cattle, big trucks, ranching, etc.
With the exception of a couple trips to Windsor to drink during the ages of 19-20, I've only had one Canada trip that WASN'T for work. That was Vancouver last fall.Us too.
I've gotten to see Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver for work. Calgary is basically "Cold Texas" lol.
I want to get to Montreal at some point.
I'll be in Florida on Tuesday. Bech resort/yacht club near Pensacola. My sister lived there for almost ten years and I love those white sand beaches.Not sure if you are into oysters- there are some great oyster bars there!
We'll be stopping in New Orleans for a few days on the way home, which I might be even more excited about.
Where in Florida?It wasn't as if this particular visit was some straw breaking back on my views of FL, just reaffirmation.
Some people don't like an 8-hour sauna all summer, lol.Yeah, not interested in FL for that reason specifically.
There are some areas in the "middle" that are nice, but I prefer the coasts, and in particular the West coast.Very true
We could probably live on the East Coast near your area @Honestbuckeye (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=37) but man once you get South of there into Palm Beach the traffic is horrendous. Especially in the season. And the further South you go, it gets even worse.
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=torch+lake&t=iphone&iax=images&ia=images&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tellwut.com%2Fuploads%2Fmedia%2Fimage%2F64433e1533754253o1640.jpgI was just talking with my nephew yesterday that is looking to rent an AirB&B there in the next few weeks. Gorgeous area.
Pontoon boat and condo on Torch Lake in August this year.
On the job in the Bay Area this week.
My wife and daughter are 7 days into a 12 day trip in Europe that will take them through Ireland, Germany, Poland, The Czech Republic, and Austria. After talking to them this evening I think they are both ready to come home. It’s an educational trip through the school system and everything is busy and on a schedule.That's too many countries with too little time. Each of those places is worthy of 12 days alone..
They are finding out a trip and a vacation aren’t necessarily the same thing. The one place my wife really wanted to visit was Auschwitz but my daughter got a bug or something and was throwing up all day so they had to sit that one out yesterday. She is better now and they were in Prague today. They both sound exhausted. Lol.
I think for a younger person, such a hectic trip can be useful. I agree any major European city needs at least a week to scratch the surface. And the older you are, the more down time you will need of course.If you're going to do that many countries in that short of time, I would do a cruise. At least you don't have to unpack and pack all the time.
My wife and daughter are 7 days into a 12 day trip in Europe that will take them through Ireland, Germany, Poland, The Czech Republic, and Austria. After talking to them this evening I think they are both ready to come home. It’s an educational trip through the school system and everything is busy and on a schedule.It took us two weeks to go through part of the northern half of Italy. Granted, I was ready to leave after a week in Rome.
They are finding out a trip and a vacation aren’t necessarily the same thing. The one place my wife really wanted to visit was Auschwitz but my daughter got a bug or something and was throwing up all day so they had to sit that one out yesterday. She is better now and they were in Prague today. They both sound exhausted. Lol.
To be fair, we packed a LOT into our week in Rome on our honeymoon.
The main event was going to the night Mass with Papa Frankie on Christmas Eve in St. Peter's. The atmosphere was like a super-reverent but high stakes football match. We waited in line with the family of a seminarian from North Dakota (tall English speakers tend to attract other English speakers), and were seated inside the basilica with a bunch of Brazilians.
St. Paul's Outside the Walls was my favorite of the papal basilicas.
We went to the Vatican Museums while there over Christmas 2021. Attendance at the time was capacity limited by COVID. And if the place was that busy while capacity-constrained, I don't want to be within a country mile of there in August with no restrictions on attendance.
Cacio e pepe in Rome was fantastic, and, despite it's simplicity, is something that the Mrs. and I have been utterly unable to replicate back stateside.
We tend to have a fairly loose schedule when we travel. If there are big-ticket events, schedule for that, but we don't want to be tied to an airtight schedule.
Expansion would be more likely.There isn't much room down there, though the current notion is to build a sixth runway. And of course another runway may help with plane traffic but it doesn't help with gates/security lines/parking/etc.
I like the 2 airport model better, but probably not as efficientIt depends. ORD and MDW work pretty well in Chicago. SW dominates MDW. AA and UA generally dominate ORD.
Any second airport would be 50 miles north of downtown and you would have to have a rail connection.thought you weren't a huge fan of rails?
thought you weren't a huge fan of rails?I think intercity high speed rail has major issues in the US, Brightline in Florida might work OK, it's not quite HSR in my view. MARTA works reasonably well despite the criticism and the fact the full plan was never built ($$$). They "could" extend MARTA from its ending point to where the second airport would be, in fact, they would have to do it. Right now, the land is "woods", which is fine with me to leave it be.
It could make more sense, maybe, to build up an airport in some nearby city, Columbus/Chattanooga/Augusta/Bham. Or build one designed for changing planes entirely somewhere in the SE. I dunno if that would be practicable. It would be in the sticks. There is a civil aviation airport in Dekalb now that handles private jets, but again, no room around it. I don't think there is a viable solution really.Is the international terminal connected to the rest of the terminal by tram? I seem to recall that the east end of Hartsfield was underutilized.
Is the international terminal connected to the rest of the terminal by tram? I seem to recall that the east end of Hartsfield was underutilized.Yes, the "Plane Train" connects everything, but if you aren't throught security, you have to take a bus. The east end, the International Terminal, USED to be underutilized, but now it's a flat mess, the infrastructure is not available to support it, parking is always full causing a traffic jam, and only two lanes go to the departure level. I used to love using it when nobody was there, often there would be more gate agents than passengers, no longer. And it only has 11 gates.
Augusta would make sense, as it's halfway between Atlanta and Charlotte.
It could make more sense, maybe, to build up an airport in some nearby city, Columbus/Chattanooga/Augusta/Bham. Or build one designed for changing planes entirely somewhere in the SE. I dunno if that would be practicable. It would be in the sticks. There is a civil aviation airport in Dekalb now that handles private jets, but again, no room around it. I don't think there is a viable solution really.
Augusta would make sense, as it's halfway between Atlanta and Charlotte.Good point, but you can get to DC, Charlotte, Dallas and Atlanta through Augusta now. AA and Delta in in there. Maybe 20 flights per day if I remember right.
Plus it helps out with the Masters, UGA, and access to the S.Carolina coast and Savannah.
I would study the concept of building an airport in the middle of nowhere, maybe between Macon and Savannah, and link it to ATL with HSR. The idea would be to use it for changing planes and little else. This probably doesn't work though.It's interesting, but I see some issues...
if it's a 10 minute HSR ride, they go back to the city.
- Hotels and other infrastructure. What if a bunch of flights get cancelled due to weather and people need someplace to go?
if it's a 10 minute HSR ride, they go back to the city.If it's a 10 minute HSR ride, it's not the middle of nowhere.
It's interesting, but I see some issues...This is happening now at the Punta Gorda airport (PGD). First Allegiant came in, and now Sun Country is in. PGD is expanding to accommodate more.
- Workers. If it's in the middle of nowhere, who works there?
- Supply chain. You're going to need a bunch of goods, food, alcohol that all needs to be available. Easier [or hopefully cheaper] to do that near a city.
- Hotels and other infrastructure. What if a bunch of flights get cancelled due to weather and people need someplace to go?
- Airlines -- to make it work you need airlines who are going to make it a "hub". Which can work, but it might be a chicken/egg issue.
What makes more sense IMHO is to pick a potentially underserved 2nd-tier (or even 3rd-tier) city and work to really expand that airport and turn it into a hub for several airlines...
...but I suspect that's somewhat already happening/happened. Charlotte isn't a huge city; it became a hub. SLC isn't a huge city; it's a hub. Cincinnati isn't a huge city; it's a hub.
So think about places that could fit. I'd argue you want it to be centrally located in the US. You want it to be big ENOUGH that it's going to generate some of its own traffic, i.e. Cedar Rapids International Airport (where I've flown into and got stuck lol) wouldn't qualify.
Kansas City or Oklahoma City would be good candidates in my opinion. Nashville or Louisville could work (a bit more Eastern), maybe Albuquerque (a bit more West). They're all far enough south that they probably wouldn't get crushed by winter weather.
But I'm not sure that the economics nor the logistics work out to just shove a major airport in the middle of nowhere.
Gatwick. DeGaulle is pretty remote also, maybe 30 miles. There is some airport in Ireland that was built to be remote as I recall, starts with a G.
The closest thing that exists to a remote airport connected to the city by other transport is the new Denver Airport.
Beginning to sort through my packing for South Korea, and balking at seeing nothing but 70 degree dewpoints for the next month.That is on my list. I'd like to do a cruise that includes Korea, Japan and Taiwan (assuming the CCP doesn't take it).
(https://i.imgur.com/JP4GK57.png)Is this along the Amafi Coast. One of the scariest drives I have ever been on.
I know Paris is really bad about PP. I generally put a wallet in my back pocket full of paper, and carry a slim wallet in my front pocket with a loose credit card to pay for whatever, so I don't ever expose anything. If you're out of the main tourist areas you usually will be OK. If you notice a young gypsie looking girl approaching you, asking questions of any sort, or someone asks if you speak English, do not respond, walk the other way.
(https://i.imgur.com/plbV2mn.png)https://youtu.be/tozRmtD_gsU
Utee got a bit lost.
Interactive Visited States Maphttps://www.fla-shop.com/visited-states/?st=AL%2CAZ%2CCA%2CCO%2CDC%2CFL%2CGA%2CHI%2CIA%2CIL%2CIN%2CKS%2CKY%2CMD%2CMI%2CMN%2CMO%2CNC%2CNE%2CNM%2CNV%2COH%2COK%2CPA%2CSD%2CTN%2CTX%2CUT%2CVA%2CWI%2CWV%2CWY&vc=1ca032&uc=90cfea&hc=40bfa6&bc=ffffff&ss=on&sl=on
This page features an interactive and customizable map builder showing visited states. You can use it to track your US travel history by marking the states you have previously visited! Create a beautiful custom map in a few clicks, and share it with your community.
https://www.fla-shop.com/visited-states/?vc=1ca032&uc=90cfea&hc=40bfa6&bc=ffffff&sl=on (https://www.fla-shop.com/visited-states/?vc=1ca032&uc=90cfea&hc=40bfa6&bc=ffffff&sl=on)
Istanbul to Chicago was brutal.We almost did that one time. Turkish Airlines was the cheapest way to get to Rome, but we would have had to go through Istanbul first. F that.
NYC to Gatwick is not that bad.relatively
The longest road in the World: The Panamericana Route which begins in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, and stretches all the way down to Ushuaia, Argentina. All in all, the road covers 30,000 km (19,000 miles)
(https://scontent.ffod1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/368264140_745795700888697_2104844488295086603_n.jpg?_nc_cat=1&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=DgCAcOR5Q7MAX-ZuFgf&_nc_ht=scontent.ffod1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAHNciATvEFqevAu3fwf1Rau6kEgetRBZdeOo14iPMDmw&oe=64ED5DEC)
I think, with some exceptions, any "touristy place" will not have good restaurants.Well if they'd let me eat over the sink I wouldn't have to settle for these touristy joints
Best restaurants on the San Antonio Riverwalk?As has been stated, most of them are really touristy and not particularly good. How many meals/recs do you need?
Go.
No go to list (among others)Note.
We're off for England tomorrow for our cruise around the island, with a stop in Northern Ireland and regular Ireland, and tours of the Loch Ness and Stonehenge (both of which I was informed are not that impressive). Going through NYC to Gatwick, over night flight. Then a "cab" to Southhampton for two days before departing.Awesome!
I'm taking the full camera kit, not sure if I'll get any good photos of course, going to be drizzly and chilly. For such adventures a good phone is probably enough.
The middle of France is worth a visit, get outside Paris some. This is a neat spot, that bridge is a canal, built over the River Loire in the late 19th century. Napoleon was responsible for a lot of canal building (not this one) during his tenure, most of which still exist.Is that a canal above a river, almost like a Roman Aqueduct?
(https://i.imgur.com/fA8CHti.jpg)
Headed to Loch Ness. Captain said we had 85 knot winds74 MPH.
Spent a few days in a cabin in the Smoky Mountains and emerged engaged. We did a nice little hike up to Hen Wallow Falls on the "quiet side" of the park (AKA the side not by Gatlinburg. That's where I popped the question. We also visited Ruby Falls and Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. I'd never been to either.Congratulations!!
Spent a few days in a cabin in the Smoky Mountains and emerged engaged. We did a nice little hike up to Hen Wallow Falls on the "quiet side" of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park (AKA the side not by Gatlinburg. That's where I popped the question. We also visited Ruby Falls and Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. I'd never been to either.Congratulations!
Spent a few days in a cabin in the Smoky Mountains and emerged engaged. We did a nice little hike up to Hen Wallow Falls on the "quiet side" of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park (AKA the side not by Gatlinburg). That's where I popped the question. We also visited Ruby Falls and Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. I'd never been to either.Congrats!
a buddy of mine from Des Moines is headed to Gatlinburg
I've never been to the area
We've kinda made a decision that we will not travel internationally for a while.Already have plans to go to the eastern mediterrean next October, including Israel & Egypt. Wife wants to cancel, I say give it time before cancelling, things will settle down again. Can always cancel as it gets closer.
We have a chance to go to Rome and Munich next year very cheaply, but I don't think we will do it.
Already have plans to go to the eastern mediterrean next October, including Israel & Egypt. Wife wants to cancel, I say give it time before cancelling, things will settle down again. Can always cancel as it gets closer.I don't believe that at all. This is just a start. That area is a war zone, and it will only get worse.
I don't believe that at all. This is just a start. That area is a war zone, and it will only get worse.no one knows when things will heat up or cool down
I'm also struck by how obese many of us are, especially o a cruise.I will say, I have met obese people in my travels in Europe.
I will say, I have met obese people in my travels in Europe.
They mostly speak perfect [American] English.
International terminal at ORD sucks terribly. Same thing - very long walks to customs if you are on a US airline. If you are on a foreign airline, well, they get the better (closer) gates.Absolutely terrible system there. I strongly disliked coming from international travel into ORD. That being said, it is also the place that someone there did one of the kindest things ever in my life and got me through customs onto my next flight home and I was able to see a family member before they passed a couple hours later. If i would have missed the flight, i wouldn't have made it on time after 23 hours of flights.
Absolutely terrible system there. I strongly disliked coming from international travel into ORD. That being said, it is also the place that someone there did one of the kindest things ever in my life and got me through customs onto my next flight home and I was able to see a family member before they passed a couple hours later. If i would have missed the flight, i wouldn't have made it on time after 23 hours of flights.You've long talked about that region.
I personally also wouldn't touch Europe or anywhere remotely close to the middle east right now. SE Asia is a place incredibly underrated. Long flights, but if people can tackle that, it's worth it.
We ended up doing TSA Precheck instead of Global Entry b/c we don't travel international very often, and I think the closest place to do the in-person stuff was Port of Long Beach or LAX. Instead we could do TSA Precheck at the Orange County airport.Do you know that once you do it, you don't need to go back? Renewals are all on line.
We ended up doing TSA Precheck instead of Global Entry b/c we don't travel international very often, and I think the closest place to do the in-person stuff was Port of Long Beach or LAX. Instead we could do TSA Precheck at the Orange County airport.John Wayne is my favorite airport in the entire USA.
Do you know that once you do it, you don't need to go back? Renewals are all on line.Ahh good to know. Maybe we'll switch to Global Entry next time.
International terminal at ORD sucks terribly. Same thing - very long walks to customs if you are on a US airline. If you are on a foreign airline, well, they get the better (closer) gates.It was a long damn walk to customs when we came back from our honeymoon on Lufthansa to ORD. Fortunately, United staff knew our flight was late from Frankfurt and hustled us through customs and the transfer bus so we could make our connection to Detroit.
The flight will be brutal there, but the time change will get it's pound of flesh on the way back. Total beating.
We booked a cruise for Japan/SK in March. The flight will be brutal. And Hawaii in December, then San Diego.
It was a long damn walk to customs when we came back from our honeymoon on Lufthansa to ORD. Fortunately, United staff knew our flight was late from Frankfurt and hustled us through customs and the transfer bus so we could make our connection to Detroit.No more buses at ORD. The tram is finally done after a 3 year delay. I could explain the delay if anyone cares to know about it.
Delta at Kennedy is the same way. LONG walk to customs. Also, Precheck gains you nothing at the Delta terminal. Everyone had to wait in the long queue maze.
Also, don't fly Delta into O'Hare if possible. They go out of the international terminal, and it's a pain in the ass to get into the city from that terminal.
What's wrong with Malaysia?Nothing wrong with it at all. Been a few times and enjoyed my time there. KL is a cool city. It's just if time is limited and you're going to be in a city, i'd go Singapore first. If you were going to spend time outside a city and outdoors, i'd go Thailand and Cambodia first.. That's just me. That said, I don't think anyone would regret spending time in Malaysia either. SE Asia is simply a beautiful part of the world. Although some of it is heartbreakingly poor.
The flight will be brutal there, but the time change will get it's pound of flesh on the way back. Total beating.I don't miss those flights. I made the mistake once of flying ORD to NRT. That was a bad mistake. 14 hours on a single flight was not fun. Even worse that it was only the second of three legs. Anyone flying out to that area, prepare yourself for some turbulence. I'm not sure what it is, but Narita and Hong Kong always seemed to have slightly uncomfortable turbulence.
No more buses at ORD. The tram is finally done after a 3 year delay. I could explain the delay if anyone cares to know about it.We used it this spring flying to a conference.
We used it this spring flying to a conference.Oh god LAX was hell a couple weeks ago. We were running a bit late after getting the dog dropped off for boarding, and I'm sitting there stressing already on the 405. But once we exited Century, everything was literally CRAWLING until Wally Park, where we leave the car. And then on the shuttle from parking to the terminal, was CRAWLING again.
I'm looking forward for the tram to be done at LAX. It can take as long to get into the terminal road from near the In n Out as it does to drive there from my in-laws family up in Thousand Oaks.
My TSA clearance is coming up next year, and my Amex says they pay for Global Entry which includes TSA, so I just applied.Love Global entry. Even after the long app, you still have to do the in person interview.
That is one of the longest applications I've ever completed.
We had an extra day at sea due to weather, and I asked my wife if she wanted to gamble a bit. She does the slots, I gave her $20 which didn't last long. I sat down at a blackjack table with four other bored guys and started winning, mostly. After 30 minutes or so, I was up a bit, and cashed out, on $100 entry I now had $150. My life entirely changed.My last cruise, I was playing "let it ride" Hit a straight flush last the last night and won $4,200 on a $21 bet was probably down a litttle bit or even before hitting. As soon as they finished verifying the deck of cards and paid me, I left the table. Cruise line keeps offering to give me a free room to get me back, except I generally don't get interior cabins when I cruise.
I've "won" at BJ maybe three times, and of course lost more than that, I usually start with $100 and by the time I'm down $50 I get bored with the inevitability of it all and quit, figuring I'm $50 ahead by not being $100 down.
It was kind of funny the last day, the weather was great and we toured the ship, finding lots of new places, especially outside.
I went and ran a bit today, I was glad to still be in "OK" shape, I hadn't lost much. I threw some against a tennis wall and felt decent there as well.
Right there with you. I think that's the only one I would attempt. I was borderline to begin with, but when Covid hit and all those people were stuck on boats.. nope.. that ended my borderline desire.
unless, maybe Alaska
I've been on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and MSC. Carnival is the Walmart of cruise lines. I'd only do one again if it was free or extremely discounted. I like Royal Caribbean but for an adult-oriented cruise MSC was great. I did a solo Bahamas cruise with MSC last spring just to get away for a while. It was really nice. Just enough fun stuff to do but in a much more adult, relaxed, and semi-upscale atmosphere. I had an interior cabin. I only took it because it was cheap and I planned on spending no time other than sleeping in there. But I love a good balcony cabin. My fiance and I have booked another Bahamas cruise on MSC for next spring. We definitely got a balcony room for that. I love sitting out on the balcony of a cruise ship with some food and beverages and just watching the ocean go by. Plus, it's her first cruise and she's a little nervous about the potential of big crowds. Having the ability to just chill on the balcony and enjoy our time is a big selling point.I've been on Royal but not MSC. Royal was just OK. Been on Celebrity one time, after they were bought by Royal. It was also just OK. The line we use - Azamara - was bought by Celebrity, which was then bought by Royal.
Right there with you. I think that's the only one I would attempt. I was borderline to begin with, but when Covid hit and all those people were stuck on boats.. nope.. that ended my borderline desire.We were supposed to go from Lima, Peru to Miami - through the canal, which is high on my bucket list.
I've been on RCI and Carnival. No discernible difference to me.We do both, but then again, I get 7 weeks of PTO and my wife is retired. Even before that, she also got 7 weeks.
The Carnival ship was one with the big waterpark on top, which is why we chose it, for the kids. A Disney cruise would have been cool too, but they cost considerably more and my parents were footing the bill anyway, for their 50th wedding anniversary. We had a great time, ate formal dinner at the same table every night with the same waitstaff, who were awesome.
I'd like to go on one of those super fancy ones around Europe, but I also enjoy spending many days in one location at a time in Europe, too. So far, the latter has won out every time.
We were supposed to go from Lima, Peru to Miami - through the canal, which is high on my bucket list.no way!!! that totally sucks!!! Not for the people that got your free cruise.
That cruise got cancelled, and the people who were on the ship from Argentina to Peru were not allowed to get off in Lima.
They got our cruise for free, minus the other stops or course. Bastages.
Oh, and they landed in Miami, tested everyone, and were ZERO Covid!!
no way!!! that totally sucks!!! Not for the people that got your free cruise.The biggest thing with Azamara is that it's so small, they stay later. It's not uncommon to get to a port at 8AM and not leave until 10-11PM. They also do overnights in places like Barcelona, Monaco, Venice, Rome (Civitavecchia) and Florence (Livorno).
So dumb it down for me. What's the big appeal of the cruise. I get the stopping at multiple locations, which would be awesome. My turn off was also the time stuck on the boat, rather than being longer periods of time at the places i would want to be.. I also always get nervous i would miss getting on the boat in time and be stuck somewhere.
I have seen so much of the world, yet never been anywhere in Europe so when it's deemed I'm safe to fly, I eventually want to get over there and I've had a couple suggest mediterranean cruise, which I clearly wouldn't do with this state of the world over there, but I'm not sure that's the way i'd want to hit up some of those locations.
I've been on RCI and Carnival. No discernible difference to me.The Carnival I was on was ca. 1996, it was a LOT different from NCL, mostly the screaming hoards of kids. It was fine for us as I had a screaming hoard of kids.
I am retiring early next year. Already have have an Alaska Cruise planned and a 30 day trip to Europe, Israel and Egypt, combination of cruises and touring.The other really nice thing about cruising is you only unpack and pack one time.
I have cruised on Carnival, NCL and Celebrity. As has been said way too many kids on Carnival. NCL is IMO the best combination of price & quality. Celebrity was great, almost no kids, but you pay for the quality and lack of kids.
We usually have to rent a car given the places we're going, in France at least, and often in other countries.
They aren't all that pricey relative to here. We're headed over in February as part of a symphony trip (which we'll extend on both ends). I don't think we'll need a rental car, but I don't have all the details yet.
Delta has a nonstop now from here to Nice, which I guess is nice, but a bit obscure relative to places like say Vienna which they don't service nonstop. We discussed flying to Nice and renting a car but decided that isn't really the better plan than just flying to Marseille.
Yeah I couldn't really do all the things I wanted to do in France, without a car. Touring Bordeaux and Provence were high on the list and you lose a lot of time if you're trying to do that by rail. Driving and parking in Paris sucks, but I don't spend much time in Paris, anyway.When we did Italy we used the train, touring vans, public transportation and uber. If I have tried to drive in Rome, I would have gone crazy. We stayed in an VRBO in Rome and used it as a coming off point to various cities and places.
Italy on the other hand is more easily trainable, and like badgerfan we like to stay IN Florence so catching trains (or even touring vans) out to the countryside is very workable.
Driving in European cities is a thing to avoid if possible. It can however be a necessity if your plans include touring smaller cities and towns. A small city like say Saumur in France is a nice place and driving is pretty easy. I drove to and in Luxembourg City a while back with no issues, I wanted to tour the Battle of the Bulge area. I drove a lot on that trip, a Grand Circle from Paris to Strasbourg to Luxembourg to Brussels to Normandy then Samur and back to Paris.Yeah that would be an awesome trip. I'd like to do that.
That was a great trip.
I had a rental car in Mexico and drove to Chichen Itza, my wife thought I was crazy, and realistically maybe it was.coming from Cancun, maybe not
I never get a car in Boston, DC, SF or NY. Cost being one reason, walkability being other. NY is actually really easy to navigate just not worth the effort. Plus it's easy to navigate via transit and cabs.We used to get a car there because we liked going out to the wineries and taking the ferry out West.
Boston is very dense, not at all a grid or navigable and the most expensive city to park in.
I also go car less in Seattle if I can help it.
We used to get a car there because we liked going out to the wineries and taking the ferry out West.Yeah, when we went to Chicago in 2019 we took the El from Midway downtown, and back. But in the middle we rented a car Saturday morning downtown for the trip down to Purdue for the game and returned it Sunday when we got back.
Never rented a car at the airport though. Always took transit downtown and rented from there when we wanted to.
Yeah most of those Asian cities look crazy to me. I'd definitely avoid driving in them.One day I’ll share my story of scary riding in Thailand as I woke up lost after a night I stumbled into a warehouse that was holding secret Thai boxing matches. I woke up in a random, place, jumped on the back of a guy’s motorcycle that stopped to help me and he drove like a maniac in the busy traffic. Scary yet amazingly memorable as was the rest of the night I can remember.
Heh. I live about 100 yards away from this one. Voted most beautiful roundabout by some fussy Brits who judge such matters. We have a zillion roundabouts here.I remember, and there's probably even more now, 7 years later.
One day I’ll share my story of scary riding in Thailand as I woke up lost after a night I stumbled into a warehouse that was holding secret Thai boxing matches. I woke up in a random, place, jumped on the back of a guy’s motorcycle that stopped to help me and he drove like a maniac in the busy traffic. Scary yet amazingly memorable as was the rest of the night I can remember.Don't share the story... Write the screenplay and sell it to Hollywood.
It's not bad driving in Korea. Everything is on the correct side of the road, and all signs are in English below the Korean characters. It's surprisingly easy to get around once you know what to look for.
That said, we rented and I drove on Jeju Island, the Hawaii of Korea. Driving in Seoul seems like it would be a lot like driving in Los Angeles, traffic and all.
Anybody here with experience in Tokyo or Seoul, SK?
In general I tend to prefer a "restaurant" over a "restaurant concept."Writers need to write more words.
I read that yesterday.Wait.. you moved in this area? Which part of you don’t mind me asking?
Why are you reading Gulf Shore Business?
You moving here?
popped up on my google feedDoing a lot of Punta Gorda searches will do that.
and yes, I might visit sometime
In general I tend to prefer a "restaurant" over a "restaurant concept."
Looks like 2024 is shaping up... Planning a weekend getaway to Paso Robles, a trip to Indianapolis for a wedding, a week- in Kauai, a week+ in Ireland, and likely a trip to Nashville for the board meeting.Check this place out if you haven't already. We loved it because we could do what every we wanted from the place.
I have a "restaurant concept" in my head, it's a real BBQ place with Utee in Aix-en-Provence.Any chance you'd want to connect a brewery operation to that place?
Looks like 2024 is shaping up... Planning a weekend getaway to Paso Robles, a trip to Indianapolis for a wedding, a week- in Kauai, a week+ in Ireland, and likely a trip to Nashville for the board meeting.I could write you a book on Kauai and I have tons of feedback since I'm going to insert myself here as my wife and I have been twice and it's my favorite place in the US.
I could write you a book on Kauai and I have tons of feedback since I'm going to insert myself here as my wife and I have been twice and it's my favorite place in the US.Thanks. Now that we've booked the flights as of yesterday, we need to start mapping this stuff out.
HOTEL (https://www.hyatt.com/grand-hyatt/en-US/kauai-grand-hyatt-kauai-resort-and-spa?src=corp_lclb_gmb_seo_kauai)
I'm a fan of the southside, but there's also a lot of people that would argue to stay on the north. Some of it depends on the time of year and whether or not it's rainy season. If you are anywhere south, Grand Hyatt is amazing. Worst case eat at the restaurant Tidepools on sight. It's amazing.
I'd take Liko Cruises (https://liko-kauai.com/)to see the Na Pali coast. So worth it.
Island Helicopters (https://islandhelicopters.com/?utm_source=Google+GMB+&utm_campaign=GMB2023&utm_id=GMB) is also unreal are the only helicopter service that can land at the Jurassic Park falls and the rest of the 80 mins is breathtaking as well.
Waimea Canyon is a must.. 100% must. Not sure the budget or plan or what you like best but i highly suggest car rental.. First time out I made the mistake of renting a cadillac, which was a brain fart as a jeep or solid SUV is the way to go.
This is truly a place that's tough to fit everything in one trip.. Wailua falls, Hanalei beach, polihale park which is a massive crazy dirt road you have to drive down but leads to an almost empty beach and constant rainbows.
personally, I would in detail plan out days.. I'm typically a relax on a beach type of guy, but Kauai is the one place that planning out days leads to so many amazing experiences.
This is making me want to head back out. There's just so much to do there and every bit of it is amazing.Board meeting in Kauai?
Board meeting in Kauai?lol.. YES PLEASE.. I'm still not sure I can fly, especially not that far, but I'm hopefully getting the thumbs up next week and testing a quick flight down to Florida.. Since my gift to my wife for our 10 year last year was brain surgery, I owe her a trip for being a dream wife this past year and Kauai is our favorite
Start out at a Rainbow Warrior game and hop a puddle jumper!!
Board meeting in Kauai?I'd have to bring my daughters
Start out at a Rainbow Warrior game and hop a puddle jumper!!
Wishing you a quick and total recovery.Appreciate that CD. Unfortunately, the brain is one of the slowest healers i the body. That being said, I'm incredibly lucky for the outcome. I beat a lot of odds. Lucky for me, my wife is a surgical nurse and was well connected to put me in very talented hands under the knife.
Board meeting in Kauai?You know I'd be down. I've gotta hop on an airplane either way.
Start out at a Rainbow Warrior game and hop a puddle jumper!!
Finally settled in Carlsbad condo. Weather good.Carlsbad CA I assume?
They have Mexican here?This place is amazing...
Trying to imagine the Mrs sitting at the bar for counter serviceI'm sure they could find a nice sink in the back for her
After looking at ticket and flight prices for the Natty game, i passed on it and went with booking Orlando (disney & seaworld) for my family. It's really not my favorite city either. I personally think it's WAY overhyped. That being said, I'm at a stage in life trying to put my opinion second to creating memories my kids will love.
We're going to Orlando for a few days afterward. Not my favorite city, but we can stay there "free" ...
After looking at ticket and flight prices for the Natty game, i passed on it and went with booking Orlando (disney & seaworld) for my family. It's really not my favorite city either. I personally think it's WAY overhyped. That being said, I'm at a stage in life trying to put my opinion second to creating memories my kids will love.Man I hear ya, but I looked at the expense of taking the kids to Disney World and just decided that those are memories they're going to have to live without! :)
Greetings from Cabo San Lucas!Maybe we can let ourselves in whilst you're gone.Don't want all of that fare spoiling or some drunk getting his hands on the Scotch
Maybe we can let ourselves in whilst you're gone.Don't want all of that fare spoiling or some drunk getting his hands on the Scotchshut your whore mouth!
Man I hear ya, but I looked at the expense of taking the kids to Disney World and just decided that those are memories they're going to have to live without! :)I totally get that.. One of the only reasons I'm good with it is two of my wife's good couple friends both moved to that area so it's a mix of the parks and seeing good friends otherwise i'd pass. My kids enjoy Seaworld far more than Disney. I'm just checking the box for their younger years. A few more years and they will have to fall in love with the beach. Living in Cleveland, i'm budgeting more for trips.. my body keeps telling me I need more natural sunlight and there's NONE from late november until May here.
We did a couple week-long beach vacations in Mexico for less than just a few days at Disney. It's insane.
Man I hear ya, but I looked at the expense of taking the kids to Disney World and just decided that those are memories they're going to have to live without! :)Geez, even this poor dirt farmer took his daughters and ex-wife to Disney World
We did a couple week-long beach vacations in Mexico for less than just a few days at Disney. It's insane.
Living in Cleveland, i'm budgeting more for trips.. my body keeps telling me I need more natural sunlight and there's NONE from late november until May here.Nonsense a few yrs back there was plenty of sunshine,of course the clouds clear away and the heat escaped and the Great Lakes froze over.But plenty of sunlight bouncing off the snow 🥶
Nonsense a few yrs back there was plenty of sunshine,of course the clouds clear away and the heat escaped and the Great Lakes froze over.But plenty of sunlight bouncing off the snow 🥶OK.. what secret part of Cleveland are you in? I'd like to sneak in. I'll bring some breakfast bourbon as a thank you.. Also a Championship sweatshirt with an M on it
Geez, even this poor dirt farmer took his daughters and ex-wife to Disney World
and that was before the divorce - I was in debt
Seriously those cold winters in '14-'15-'16 I think it was. Gets below 20 and sunny even the clouds split.And I'll take that sweatshirt never know when there will be another run on TPyeah i take the cold and sunny over this 31-35 and gloomy and rainy every day garbage.
Disney World can suck it. Multiple trips to pristine beaches, countless campouts, and the State Fair of Texas every year, are much much more important.I agree, but my daughters and ex would disagree
it wasn't THAT badTimes have changed, prices now aren't anywhere close to what they were 20 years ago.
it wasn't even THAT expensive
but, a 2-year old isn't a good age - wouldn't remember it anyway
Rich arrogant Horns can easily afford today's pricesThere are a lot of things in life I can afford, but choose not to.
My grand kids will never set foot on Disney.Please explain more lol.
Please explain more lol.We don't need to bring politics into this thread lol...
We don't need to bring politics into this thread lol...Correct.
Correct.lol.. that says enough.
;)
my daughters were around 7 & 9When I was 10 we did the trip down to FL for Disney. Can't say I enjoyed it much then. Perhaps my curmudgeonly personality was already starting to form. I thought Epcot was the more interesting of the parks at the time though.
got the 4-day pass to use outta 5 days
did monday & tuesday at 2 parks
wednesday was rest/relax day at the beach over by Tampa
thursday & friday at the other 2 parks
kids enjoyed the free beach day the most
I love roller coasters so I'm cool with roller coaster parks. We take the kids to Six Flags in San Antonio or Arlington every couple of years.I do enjoy roller coasters but they became a lot less thrilling after I've skydived and ridden a motorcycle on a racetrack. The actual sense of "danger" that comes with them is no longer there after doing various things that could have legitimately killed me. Thrill rides for me are BB King these days... The thrill is gone.
I do enjoy roller coasters but they became a lot less thrilling after I've skydived and ridden a motorcycle on a racetrack. The actual sense of "danger" that comes with them is no longer there after doing various things that could have legitimately killed me. Thrill rides for me are BB King these days... The thrill is gone.
I do enjoy roller coasters but they became a lot less thrilling after I've skydived and ridden a motorcycle on a racetrack. The actual sense of "danger" that comes with them is no longer there after doing various things that could have legitimately killed me. Thrill rides for me are BB King these days... The thrill is gone.Where did you skydive and how many times have you gone?
Where did you skydive and how many times have youFIFYgonebeen pushed?
Where did you skydive and how many times have you gone?This was in Cloverdale, CA in mid-2001. I've only gone once. It was tandem and a jump from ~13,000 ft because I wanted the one that provided the longest freefall. I've never jumped solo.
FIFY
This was in Cloverdale, CA in mid-2001. I've only gone once. It was tandem and a jump from ~13,000 ft because I wanted the one that provided the longest freefall. I've never jumped solo.It's seriously the most exhilarating thing you can do. Your post is so unbelievably relatable. I went once in 2006 in New Zealand. I paid the extra for the higher jump and also video footage. Pretty sure mine was 12,000 feet not 13.
I have to say, that was (at the time) the absolute most exhilarating and adrenaline-inducing thing I'd ever done. I was on an adrenaline high for an hour afterwards. The only thing that rivals it is the other thing I mentioned--riding a motorcycle on a racetrack.
Funny thing... The whole ride up in the plane I was calm. I didn't really get the butterflies until they opened the door. And then, having the instructor strapped to your back, you sorta penguin-waddle yourselves to the door. So I'm hanging out the door of the airplane with one foot on the wing strut step ready to go. At that point in my mind I knew I was past the point of no return, but the fear was absolutely bubbling up and freezing me.I watched an interview with the 101st guys pretty funny some of the comments.Forrest Guth was - it's like a scarry amusement park ride,get real scared but once it ends you want to get right back on again. Shifty Powers said something like the 1st time was not so bad because you don't know what the hell you're doing.
To me it FELT like the pilot tilted the wings and basically threw me out of the plane.
I guess I might be more concerned with the landing ripping something up a friend did that yrs back with his kneeYeah, the landing is interesting. The wind wasn't strong enough to attempt landing on our feet, so it was a "hold your legs up and skid on your butt" landing. Not the most pleasant way to set it down, but still worth it...
I watched an interview with the 101st guys pretty funny some of the comments.Forrest Guth was - it's like a scarry amusement park ride,get real scared but once it ends you want to right back on again. Shifty Powers said something like the 1st time was no so bad because you don't know what the hell you're doing.One of my good friends is a former special forces guy.. Toughest guy I've ever met.. He absolutely hated the airborne part. He's been shot, involved in an explosion and still has shrapnel in him and he said the scariest was jumping out of a plane and no one will ever make him do it again.
I guess I might be more concerned with the landing ripping something up a friend did that yrs back with his knee
Hello from curacao. Left Aruba yesterday.Aruba is awesome. What did you do there? Have a blast!!
Hello from curacao. Left Aruba yesterday.Any recs? We'll be there in 2 weeks, staying off Eagle beach.
Living in Cleveland, i'm budgeting more for trips.. my body keeps telling me I need more natural sunlight and there's NONE from late november until May here.
Nonsense a few yrs back there was plenty of sunshine,of course the clouds clear away and the heat escaped and the Great Lakes froze over.But plenty of sunlight bouncing off the snow 🥶Yup brightest,sunniest Day of the Winter so far,of course it was 4° when i woke - up to 8° now though :celebrate:
Quite chili here in Florida.We didn't get home until yesterday due to a plane from Pittsburgh not getting to DFW.
We didn't get home until yesterday due to a plane from Pittsburgh not getting to DFW.A friend of mine has been down in Fort Myers since Wednesday, and he says it's been raining the entire time.
Yesterday was quite cold and rainy. I think the high was 59.
Was talking to some folks who have been here for 30 years, and they said this has been the coldest "winter" they've had.
brother has snow on the ground in Dallas/FWWe got a little here too.
actually white, hasn't melted yet
We got a little here too.none here just mixed rain and sleet
Yeah, it sorta just happened. I blame my wife.Our Korea trip was on American, on which I don't have status either. I was able to upgrade to the bulkhead out and Premium Economy back for not much money. At 6'5" I need as much legroom as I can get.
I actually am looking forward to it all, but the air travel will be a bit much for me. I'm hoping we might get upgraded a bit going to France on Delta, maybe. The Japan trip is on American where I have zero status.
Finally in hotel in Marseille. Tired.Congratulations. Now it is time to go jump into a vat of bouillabaisse.
Or bourride.I'll allow it.
[img width=280.996 height=500]https://i.imgur.com/0oHWoaQ.png[/img]grits??
Is that outside of Turin?He's in France, not Italy. Marseilles and thereabouts.
Food here is pretty decent.Wine is tolerable, too.
I want to move here and open a BBQ place.BBQ / brewery? I know a guy...
large oysters?back home in Galveston we called them steaks
Yeah. One place said we had to call ahead a day for bourride which cost 70 euros. Same with bouillabaisse. Bummed.That's absolutely crazy. Bourride especially is supposed to be a provincial dish of the people.
Those plates do NOTHING for me.https://youtu.be/p-FX_7SFSsM
[img width=500 height=205.989]https://i.imgur.com/90VsEdY.jpg[/img]
We have zero desire to go to Paris. The South would be more for us and our likings. Nice looks nice.Paris Texas serves a nice med rare T-bone with a baked tater and either corn or green beans
I've only been through Nice. My wife didn't want to spend any time there, she says it's "snooty". Aix and Avignon were both nice, to us anyway. St. Tropez was definitely "snooty". I suspect most folks got to Paris for a week and see the usual sites and think they've done France, which is OK I guess.Yeah, when we went it was only 3 days and we did Versailles, the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Eiffel, etc... Enjoyed it, but it was definitely about seeing the major attractions.
I have enjoyed staying in smaller towns (usually) for a few days.
Napa, for me, is overly commercialized (and expensive), and crowded often as not. Parts of Sonoma are getting that way.Yep. I think parts of Paso Robles are getting that way too.
Yep. I think parts of Paso Robles are getting that way too.Been a while since I was there. How is Temecula?
Been a while since I was there. How is Temecula?Been a while since I've been down there actually... Definitely pre-pandemic... Might have even been 2018.
Napa, for me, is overly commercialized (and expensive), and crowded often as not. Parts of Sonoma are getting that way.I'll be taking advice from betarhoalphadelta
We went to a winery in France and they too are making hay on tourists, some of them anyway, and it's spreading.
I'll be taking advice from betarhoalphadeltaHappy to help. Make sure to check out Russian River Brewing in Santa Rosa. All the wineries choose by 5 so it's good for dinner and beer.
He's already given me a few tips
Happy to help. Make sure to check out Russian River Brewing in Santa Rosa. All the wineries choose by 5 so it's good for dinner and beer.not far from Northwood golf club
Florida train: Brightline lowers ridership projections for 2024 (tcpalm.com) (https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/florida/2024/02/09/florida-rail-brightline-train-lowers-ridership-projections-south-florida-miami-orlando-route/72426990007/)makes sense. they raised their prices. A LOT.
Typical death spiral of commuter rail. Ridership doesn't meet projections so they have to raise prices, which depresses ridership, rinse and repeat.as long as the rail is owned by privately held for profit companies and there's no public ownership or publicly subsidized component to it- just bound to happen.
Americans prefer driving, usually. Family of four, single cost for all, and you don't need to rent a car on the other end. I thought BL stood a chance of making it, and maybe they do, you expect to lose a lot of money early on. But as noted, a family has to drive to the station, buy tix for 4, take the ride, rent a car on the other end, and drive to the hotel.yeah, you have to Uber to the station which costs money- or park at the station-which is I want to say $10 a day. I have taken the BL from West Palm to Miami maybe a dozen or so times here and there before all the expansion- and I was paying $5 to $15 each way depending on day and time of day. Not too bad. Now it's rare to get a ticket on that route for under $25 each way- and some times the fares are as much as $50+ each way. 10000% not worth it at that price. Last time I took it was because I was flying out of Miami and didn't feel like driving. I want to say the tickets were around $30-40 each way. Now that's basically the only time I'll take it- when I have to fly out of Miami.
Or they can just drive, and endure bad traffic, or get up at 6 AM and beat it.
As noted, it's private monies, unlike that albatross out west (CA HSR).
I see various ethereal proposals for train from here to Charlotte or Savannah, it's the same deal, with less traffic.
Folks often point to the TGV in France (and elsewhere) and ask why we can't do the same thing, and of course "we" could, with heavy government involvement ($$$$$$$). The TGV operates at a significant loss of course, something only governments can "manage" (for a while). And it gets built with government funding, entirely. So they never try and recover the sunk capital, and couldn't. And it's still pricey, about $100 one way Paris to Marseille.yeah, people always complain about the HSR here and try to compare us to Europe, but all those govt's put serious public funds into the rail, operate at loss, and it just makes more sense for people over there to use the rail because of the cost of driving over there. same make/trim car in US is always going to be less than in EU and of course our gasoline prices are way lower as well.
Where is that?
My wife and I discuss going somewhere like that for 2-3 months to see how it is, probably in Provence.I could do 2-3 months in Provence. Of course, if I did, there's the distinct possibility I might never come back.
Has anyone ever done a European river cruise? I'm very interested in one of those.We have, on the Rhine. It was kind of a cut rate operation put together by a retiree group, not Viking or that ilk. It was pretty good, I'd say, my wife was no so impressed. We saw a lot of different places. A lot of the tours were pretty bad really, we walked off several of them.
Months. I'm restricted currently to 90 days in the Schengen zone, so that's an upper limit. I'm not sure I'd do two months personally, it's just a topic of conversation.let me know if you need a house sitter in January or February
I like living here just fine, and there are a lot of places I'd like to explore I've not yet been.
let me know if you need a house sitter in January or FebruaryYou should probably just move there. Or Florida.
attending the Bockfest with my daughter saturday afternoon
Polka bands and sausage and 3 bocks on tap!
One thing my wife points out here is how "efficient" government is, relatively speaking. We don't think so, but we don't have a point of reference. When we moved here, we went to thhe DMV to get DLs etc. thinking it might take hours, it took less than 30 minutes, done, registered to vote, cancelled in Ohio, new license. She was astonished.It's like that here too. I was shocked.
It's like that here too. I was shocked.People bag on California, but the DMV process here is actually relatively efficient. It's improved significantly in the 20+ years I've been here, with a much greater ability to schedule appointments which smooths the process significantly.
DL, registered to vote, license plates, all in about 30 minutes. We dealt with one person for everything.
In Illinois, to get all of that done, you'd need a half day off work, and you deal with 10-12 people, all with their own lines. I'm not kidding.
That's a beautiful trailer. However, $300,000 plus, and you still only get a single bed...If I'm spending $300K on a trailer, you think I'm letting the kids inside that thing? Nah, that's for me and ONE other person.
Crime is another big issue, at least in France. If you own a house, you have to have high walls around it, all of it, and they do. The police are uninterested in property crimes, they treat you like a criminal if you report one. We had a large group of French retirees over to Cincy and some of them we knew visited our house and marveled that we had no fence, and asked how that could be? I looked at the dude and said "Everyone is armed", which was not really true. Go into a suburban area near Paris or Lyon and you'll see what I mean.
If I'm spending $300K on a trailer, you think I'm letting the kids inside that thing? Nah, that's for me and ONE other person.Oh agreed, but there are still solely single beds available.
That is equal of course to 300 stays at a $1,000 per night hotel. I know what my wife would say.
So no matter who you are, the largest bed available to you, is a twin.Ahh...
That's a beautiful trailer. However, $300,000 plus, and you still only get a single bed...Ya and if you look into the windows why is it filled with boxes?
Yup. I see the usual 2500s pulling some massive travel trailer and figure they are getting 10-12 mpg, same with a motor home. Then they are towing some midget car usually. I'll just stay in a hotel.
My wife notes it would mean she'd be cooking and cleaning as if she were at home.
Our hotel in Tokyo is $861 per, but I managed to use points. As if.
A cruise with the uprated balcony suite runs about $900 per night, not including excursions (tours) which get pricey.
A "normal" driving trip runs maybe $250-300 a day for a decent hotel, food, and gas for two people.
Travel is expensive unless you use rail and hostels etc.
Heading out tomorrow. Going to Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, St. Thomas, San Juan and Amber Cove in the DR. Nice little 8 day cruise.Make sure to hit up Old San Juan and check out the fort, if you've never done so. Some of the street food in OSJ is fantastic. Your ship should dock at OSJ. Very walkable, but cobblestone.
Make sure to hit up Old San Juan and check out the fort, if you've never done so. Some of the street food in OSJ is fantastic. Your ship should dock at OSJ. Very walkable, but cobblestone.
And believe it or not, there is a fantastic BBQ joint in St. Thomas, close to where the ships dock.
Smoking Rooster BBQ (thesmokingrooster.com) (http://www.thesmokingrooster.com/)
Yeah, so we didn't get that.When I was getting divorced and found myself on dating apps before I eventually found the correct wife, there were three things that were automatic "no" if I saw them on a woman's profile:
They gotta appeal to people who like that kind of crap.
Man wants brisket. Woman is vegan.
Man wins.
Your wife can't get the smoked chicken. ;)She'd prefer the brisket anyway :72:
I'm gonna say something highly controversial, something that could get me lynched down here in Texico, so I'll deny it if y'all repeat it anywhere, but...Actually, I'm with you on that. The only sausage I really do like is Kielbasa. There is nothing like a Maxwell Street Polish.
...I don't really give a rat's ass about smoked sausage. I consider it filler and it takes up room in my stomach that would be better used for brisket, ribs, smoked chicken, smoked turkey, and pretty much any other protein that is not sausage.
It's not that I dislike BBQ sausage, it's fine. I just don't really care about it and would pick almost anything over it.
A good German bratwurst, simmered in beer, kraut, and onion, then grilled to add color, tossed on a bun with coarse mustard and fresh kraut.That works too. Been a long while since I've had a brat. I should go check at the German Butcher up the road a piece. I'm sure they have good brats. I've had their Weiss Wurst and that was good.
Perfection.
4. She lilkes smoked sausage.
- She mentioned being vegetarian/vegan.
- She mentioned not drinking.
- She mentioned religion/God.
5. She wants a 16 team CFB playoff.
6. She puts beans in "chili".
7. She graduated from Eastern Michigan.
8. She majored in fine arts.
9. She has a FICO score below 500.
10. She smokes cigars.
Ha @Cincydawg (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=870) !hahah.. 8-10 might be deal breakers.. but FICO i would have more questions first. Need to see a credit report first to determine it's below 500. Medical collections.. co-sign on a bad debt... now tons of store cards and credit cards with high balances, lates and charge offs, see ya.
Actually, the only thing that would be a dealbreaker there would be the FICO score. Although per my original point, if she put nearly any of those into a public dating profile, it would be... weird.
My experience in continental Europe differs from Catsby and is more akin to CD's. Working class families only have one car, even in small cities/towns and suburbs that aren't walkable for everything you need, as you'd find in the large cities.
Crime is crazy-- my rental car in Catania, Sicily was stolen right out from in front of the hotel where I'd parked it normally and legally. When I went to the agency and told them, they just issued me another one. They warned me if it happened again then I might need to fill out some paperwork.
Amsterdam's coffee shops. ;)
On the subject of Crime—
America’s underlying ‘drug despair’ causes and reinforces a different reality of crime not readily seen in Europe. America’s drug culture is more deeply rooted. Not only are ‘street drugs’ (heroin, meth) and ‘party drugs’ (cocaine, ecstasy) more prevalent, but Americans are uniquely conditioned into a runaway drug culture through several generations of addictive prescriptions. Benzos, Ambien, Percocet, Adderall, Lexapro – all of which (except Lexapro) are substituted for and cut into street drugs, widening the road to heroin or crack addiction that much more for a decreasingly religious, decreasingly family-strong population.
America’s drug culture is a primary driver behind the enthused state level legalization of marijuana, something for which there is almost no demand for in Europe.
To those who might counter with Amsterdam’s cannabis bars, the Netherlands has spent decades deemphasizing their cannabis tourism by not granting any new cannabis bar licenses since the 80s. What’s left of Amsterdam’s cannabis tourism is dependent on bars retaining their licenses. By the 90s their cannabis tourists were almost exclusively American or British; the French, Germans, and Russians were more interested in the prostitutes. And by the 2010s much of the American ‘pot tourists’ dropped off once Colorado and others legalized their own cannabis sales.
Nowhere in Europe does city center reek of lingering pot fumes that’s overtaken the downtowns of our Western cities. And outside of a few slums, nowhere in Europe is drug abuse as visible as on street-level America with its increasing overdoses and homelessness.
Take for example my recent morning commute to work. I called an ambulance because of a body in the street. Thankfully he was alive, still in his hospital gown and just discharged from the hospital for an overdose that he was still coming down from.
(https://i.imgur.com/6JkTOU4.png)
To Generalize the Mindsets—I had never quite articulated that as well as this, but I agree.
There’s a subdued yet pervasive pessimism among Europeans that contrasts with the more open optimism of Americans.
To Generalize the Mindsets—Tommy Tiernan, an Irish comedian, has a great bit on this. Starts at the 0:52 mark.
There’s a subdued yet pervasive pessimism among Europeans that contrasts with the more open optimism of Americans. It’s an optimism that though might fade for an American eventually resigning to their life with similar pessimism, it’s a life more of their own educational and career making, and the same lost optimism can be rediscovered for their children.
From day one Europeans seem more resigned to what they’re born into, be it stagnate economies, unaffordable housing markets, and less upward mobility.
America’s is a religious optimism, a creative optimism, an economic optimism that widens youthful expectations into all sorts of vain pursuits for unrealistic fame and fortunes.
Europeans, at least the French and Italians, are often very sensitive about style in clothing, shoes, hair, appearances. I wonder if that focus is related to this generalization. My best efforts to "look European" fall short.Can't speak to the French, but yeah, Italians go all out in most places. Ironically, Florence is not of those places. Actually, none of Tuscany is. Now, go to Venice, Milan, Rome, Genoa, Naples, etc. and yes. I think they spend more money on clothing than anything else.
They spend a lot of effort on this, not just the women. My wife gets a bit annoyed with me when I wear sweats around the house, and out. She's sorta learned it's part of the deal.
I'm wearing sweats now FYI.
Europeans, at least the French and Italians, are often very sensitive about style in clothing, shoes, hair, appearances. I wonder if that focus is related to this generalization. My best efforts to "look European" fall short.
They spend a lot of effort on this, not just the women. My wife gets a bit annoyed with me when I wear sweats around the house, and out. She's sorta learned it's part of the deal.
Texas is simple. Add the 10-gallon hat and a big ass belt buckleDon't forget the Longhorn hockey sweater.
Slim cut suits are European.Guess I'm out then... I'm both of those.
I notice them because they absolutely do not work on big or tall men.
For me, it's a matter of limiting getting accosted by the gypsies and other folks in Paris.I whacked one with an umbrella in Rome. He stopped.
Last time I was in good shape, but it was out of tourist season.
All I do is wear decent clothing and black shoes, nothing with writing on it, no cap, etc. I usually let my hair grow out also.
If I and my money aren't welcome somewhere, I won't be there long and won't come back.You'd be welcome in Paris by merchants and whatnot, but there is a segment that would see you as a mark. They can be a bit annoying for first timers.
Slim cut suits are European.
I notice them because they absolutely do not work on big or tall men.
all I'll say is my goal is to stay under 200#I'd have to cut off a leg to be under 200#.
and I'm under this week!
I'm trying pretty hard to stay in shape, or get back into shape, once you let yourself go and put on some years, it seems impossible without draconian measures.Yeah, I've finally found something that I both like and that I'll actually do. And I don't want to end up like my parents. I want to still be capable and active in my future years.
I went over to the tennis practice court today and threw against the wall for half an hour, worked up quite a good sweat, and then ran a few sprints coming back. Well, they are sprints for me anyway. I'm thinking I should work my way back to running 5k three times a week, it's a slow 5k, but that's some energy.
I hit the gym on alternate days, nothing major, but some lighter weights going hither and yon, better than nothing. And I type a lot. I've about finished my next book.
I know LAX was expanding, or building more "stuff" back in the day. I prefer to avoid it when possible, though we fly through on Delta at times and it's "OK". I don't now about American. The cruise line put us on that flight. In the back. I was able to upgrade us a bit anyway.Did you at least get the premium economy?
I got first from here to LAX and then exit row to Tokyo, nothing else was open. We got premium coming back from Seoul and then first to ATL from Dallas.I don't mind premium or exit. We get that free. I do like being upgraded, of course, and our names are pretty high on the list.
I would make our own flight arrangements but going through the cruise line is WAY cheaper with two one way flights.
Going to Orange County later this week for my wife's conference in Anaheim this weekend.Welcome! Hit me up if you want any info on places to go / eat / drink etc...
I cannot imagine what a war would be like here. We’re in artillery range of NORTH Korea.I found Korea to be fascinating at all levels.
| Thu (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633261/vacation-summary#) | Seoul (Incheon), South Korea | --- | 7:00 PM | 0 |
| Fri (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633261/vacation-summary#) | Jeju, South Korea | 12:00 PM | 9:00 PM | 0 |
| Sat (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633261/vacation-summary#) | At Sea | --- | --- | 0 |
| Sun (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633261/vacation-summary#) | Ishigaki, Japan | 7:00 AM | 7:00 PM | 0 |
| Mon (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633261/vacation-summary#) | Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan | 7:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 0 |
| Tue (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633261/vacation-summary#) | Kaohsiung, Taiwan | 8:00 AM | 4:00 PM | 0 |
| Wed (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633261/vacation-summary#) | Hong Kong, China | 11:30 AM | Overnight | 0 |
| Thu (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633261/vacation-summary#) | Hong Kong, China | --- | 6:00 PM | 0 |
| Fri (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633261/vacation-summary#) | At Sea | --- | --- | 0 |
| Sat (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633261/vacation-summary#) | Nha Trang, Vietnam | 7:00 AM | 3:00 PM | 0 |
| Sun (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633261/vacation-summary#) | Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My), Vietnam | 7:00 AM | 5:00 PM | 0 |
| Mon (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633261/vacation-summary#) | At Sea | --- | --- | 0 |
| Tue (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633261/vacation-summary#) | Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Thailand | 6:00 AM | Overnight | 0 |
| Wed (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633261/vacation-summary#) | Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Thailand | --- | 8:00 PM | 0 |
| Thu (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633261/vacation-summary#) | Ko Samui, Thailand | 10:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 0 |
| Fri (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633261/vacation-summary#) | At Sea | --- | --- | 0 |
| Sat (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633261/vacation-summary#) | Singapore, Singapore (Flight Departure) | 7:00 AM | --- | 0 |
| [th]Day[/th] [th]Land Tours And Cruise Ports[/th] [th]Arrive[/th] [th]Depart[/th] [th]Booked[/th] | ||||
| Sat (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633516/vacation-summary#) | Singapore, Singapore | --- | 5:00 PM | 0 |
| Sun (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633516/vacation-summary#) | Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Malaysia | 7:00 AM | 4:00 PM | 0 |
| Mon (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633516/vacation-summary#) | Phuket, Thailand | 11:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 0 |
| Tue (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633516/vacation-summary#) | At Sea | --- | --- | 0 |
| Wed (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633516/vacation-summary#) | At Sea | --- | --- | 0 |
| Thu (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633516/vacation-summary#) | Colombo, Sri Lanka | 9:00 AM | 4:00 PM | 0 |
| Fri (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633516/vacation-summary#) | Cochin, India | 10:30 AM | 6:30 PM | 0 |
| Sat (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633516/vacation-summary#) | Mangalore, India | 7:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 0 |
| Sun (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633516/vacation-summary#) | Goa (Mormugao), India | 7:00 AM | 4:00 PM | 0 |
| Mon (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633516/vacation-summary#) | Mumbai, India | 7:00 AM | 5:00 PM | 0 |
| Tue (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633516/vacation-summary#) | At Sea | --- | --- | 0 |
| Wed (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633516/vacation-summary#) | At Sea | --- | --- | 0 |
| Thu (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633516/vacation-summary#) | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | 10:30 AM | 9:00 PM | 0 |
| Fri (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633516/vacation-summary#) | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 7:00 AM | 7:00 PM | 0 |
| Sat (https://www.ncl.com/shorex/237618718/56633516/vacation-summary#) | Doha, Qatar (Flight Departure) | 7:00 AM | --- |
Do you recommend a trip to Korea? We've thought about it quite a bit.Ive watched video on utube about the bullet trains in Japan and looks like it would be a lot of fun to ride
What cites in Japan stood out?
(https://i.imgur.com/dYIkTah.png)I've heard 20 years or so.
They also carry up to 5,000 people, who really are not there to be transported in any normal sense. I asked the chief engineer on our last cruise how much lube oil his engines had, I forget the answer, it was like 30 metric somethings, a lot, was it 30 metric meters? He said they don't ever change the oil except during a full overhaul.
I wondered how long the engines last between majors.
That sounds reasonable to me for a huge Diesel. I imagine they usually run at constant RPM and get excellent maintenance (one hopes). I know Diesels on ~35 footers go for a premium over gas. My friend in Wisconsin had one of those but with 454 gasoline engines (2), as I recall. He sold it finally.Sounds like you're talking about me...
Yup. My buddy lived in Racine. WI while he was working, and then retired in Sturgeon Bay. He had a boat the whole time, we visited them 5-6 years back and had the last ride on his boat before he sold it. He also was the Chief Poohbah of the local boating group, whatever they called them. He talked some about gas vs Diesel.Commodore.
Reminds me of the old $50 hamburger stories pilots would tell, which now would be $200.
I've flown through DFW about a gazillion times, but never internationally. I kinda like walking between the terminals when I have enough time. There are trains that go both ways and "they say" the max time from one end to the other is 9 minutes, but I don't know about that.Yeah, I don't mind a walk from terminal to terminal when there. But, then, I like walking.
Yeah, I don't mind a walk from terminal to terminal when there. But, then, I like walking.
I've never had any problem with the trams tho. And while I think I've only flown into/out of Dallas as a destination once, being that I fly American I used to spend a fair amount of time there for layovers. Definitely would get my annual allowance and then some of Shiner Bock.
Kennedy was a breeze for customs, it was the TSA line that was a pain. Pre Check, Clear, and regular at the Delta terminal all dumped into the same entrance of the queue maze, and everyone got the business. Nothing was gained by the line cutting programs.When we travel out of the country, we usually visit Chicago before and after, to see family, friends and hit the offices. So, for us, in that manner, it's very easy. We have Global Entry which makes it even easier.
Also, in said line, agents from LAN Airwys were calling for Santiago passengers. A woman confused that for San Diego, and kept insisting that she was on that flight.
My opinion of clearing customs at DFW is likely soured by having to do so with a sprained and badly swollen ankle.
O'Hare is good if Chicago is your starting or ending point, or if you don't have to clear customs. However, if you're coming from or going to a non-US airline, the number of potential failure points goes up substantially.
My wife and I did our best impression of the Home Alone dash on our way home from our honeymoon. Our flight on Lufthansa was late leaving Frankfurt due to fog, and by the time we landed we had less than an hour to clear customs, take the bus to the main terminal (the tram was out of service), clear TSA, and get to the dead end of the concourse where the United Express flying beer cans load. Fortunately United staff helped us as much as they could, and we did make it.
Going from Lufthansa premium economy in a 747 to the back row of a United regional flying beer can was a bit of a shock.
You went up there on a good day to see the DMZ. I went up there on the day after a typhoon had gone through Korea. The cloud deck was so thick that we could barely see the lines on the road.
The line is the southern end of the DMZ.(https://i.imgur.com/uY3OCq4.jpeg)
Headed to Indianapolis tomorrow for a wedding on Friday.I'll be going to lovely Indianapolis for my first time ever in November, for the Marching Bands of America Grand Nationals competition. Yay...
Probably won't flood this thread with all the amazing photos of exciting... Indianapolis.
Indy:Honestly no time... Get in late enough tomorrow that all we'll be able to do is get checked in and grab a quick cheap late-night bite near the hotel before we crash. Wedding is Friday, and then our flight back leaves 6:15 PM Saturday. Whirlwind trip in and out.
Eat a steak at St. Elmo's, if you can get in. If not, they have a bar a few doors down that serves some of the same food. Shrimp cocktail is a must-eat at this place.
Honestly no time... Get in late enough tomorrow that all we'll be able to do is get checked in and grab a quick cheap late-night bite near the hotel before we crash. Wedding is Friday, and then our flight back leaves 6:15 PM Saturday. Whirlwind trip in and out.Buy this:
Indy:Prime 47 is a really, really, really good alternative if you can't get into St. Elmo's.
Eat a steak at St. Elmo's, if you can get in. If not, they have a bar a few doors down that serves some of the same food. Shrimp cocktail is a must-eat at this place.
Headed to Indianapolis tomorrow for a wedding on Friday.We had a shooting within one block of our house last night that resulted in IMPD going door to door looking for possible video evidence. Who says it isn't exciting?
Probably won't flood this thread with all the amazing photos of exciting... Indianapolis.
How can pizza suck?Well even when it's bad, it's still alright. But I'd never order there again.
And to me they are way over priced at lofty dining places, like $20 for 4 shrimp.Yeah. For the price of rather make it at home.
You don't know what you're missing.I do. We've had a very good shrimp cocktail at Mastro's Ocean Club, but I fail to see why it's worth $30 for four shrimp. Even if they were the best shrimp I've ever had, I still don't think it's worth it.
A friend once told me that raw oysters were just an excuse to eat cocktail sauce, but I've learned not to use that on good oysters.
For whatever reason she hadn't put this together perhaps because in France, the food can be somewhat less local than here?I'd say food across the USA is quite a bit more varied than France, but it's really not a fair comparison because not only is the US much larger, it's also been more of a "melting pot" than France has over the past 200 years, with a wider variety of ethnic foods introduced here, compared to France.
I dab some mignonette on them at times.If they don't have it, that tells me to not order oysters.
Some places don't have it of course.
No steak is "worth" the price in a restaurant.Yep. And as "overpriced" as the steak is at a good steakhouse, it's usually very high quality meat. Far superior to a supermarket or even Prime at Costco. Better IMHO even than a good butcher, although my local butcher is close. My last ribeye from the butcher was $40. My last at Mastro's was $79. The butcher steak was larger, to be sure, but that's not egregious for restaurant pricing.
For that matter, nothing in a restaurant is "worth" the price.
$15 for mushrooms, to share? $15 for a potato?
That's a steakhouse. It is what it is.
I'd say food across the USA is quite a bit more varied than France, but it's really not a fair comparison because not only is the US much larger, it's also been more of a "melting pot" than France has over the past 200 years, with a wider variety of ethnic foods introduced here, compared to France.I don't know about France, but it's a lot more varied than Korea.
Never been a big fan of French cuisine. First time I went to France, I was on a high school tour (long time ago), they didn't give us an options on our first meal. they served us some kind of fish covered in olive oil. Was not happy. As soon as I found the McDonald in Paris, I got a Big Mac. This was back in 1977, so it may have been the only McDonald's in Paris at the time if I remember right it was on the Champs Elysees not too far from the Arc De Triomphe.
Going to be in France in about 40 days, I am much more adventurous in my dining these days, so no McDonald's. Not sure how adventurous, but definitely will try different things.
Well, Utee lived there longer than I've visited, there is a difference. And I'd note that chicken and pork are not often on menus in France, you'll more likely see a fish, duck, lamb in local spots, maybe some steak of some sort, I've never had a good steak there. They do like their sauces of course. It helps to learn the French words for basic menu items, like duck is canard, lamb if agneau, fish is poisson. No, not poison. Steak may be bouef or biftek or just steak, fried are pommes frites.And of course the jambon on your pizza or croque monsieur. (ham)
Moules is mussels, a real item in the north and Belgium.
A very casual looking bistro can be excellent, they use fresh stuff, daily.
And the pizza sucked.
I'm sketching out a trip for two weeks in the south of France and then two weeks in Tuscany. Maybe longer. Now I'm hungry.
Where did you get it from? The best pizza in Indy is Jack's. That's our standard Friday night fare.It was Donato's. This town seems to shut down at 10 so we had few options. Rental car was valeted and my wife didn't want to walk anywhere, so we were stuck with whatever GrubHub could deliver.
Man I'd love to do this. Make it a couple of months, even.Between Ireland, England, France, Belgium and Netherlands, I am going to be gone for about a month. About 5 of those days will be at sea crossing the Atlantic. another 9 days in various ports and the rest going over the land and visiting various places in a France and England. My retirement trip.
Between Ireland, England, France, Belgium and Netherlands, I am going to be gone for about a month. About 5 of those days will be at sea crossing the Atlantic. another 9 days in various ports and the rest going over the land and visiting various places in a France and England. My retirement trip.Awesome, I'm jealous, have fun!
Between Ireland, England, France, Belgium and Netherlands, I am going to be gone for about a month. About 5 of those days will be at sea crossing the Atlantic. another 9 days in various ports and the rest going over the land and visiting various places in a France and England. My retirement trip.From what port to what port?
I could deal with ocean view, but not interior. No chance of that happening.We looked at both types when the doors were open, they really are tight, and the "ocean view" types are hardly better in my "view" on NCL ships. They have a fairly small window over the bed. They are the same size otherwise. When you go to "balcony", you get a small sitting area with sofa bed and desk and larger BR. They are close to twice the size.
I'd pilot that. I've also seen it there, while on a cruise.1&3 Restaurant at Yacht Haven Grande in east Charlotte Amalie. Quality place.
Where did you take that picture from?
Recs on luggage? My wife's luggage is WAY past its prime so she was looking for a carry-on sized bag, and my carry-on sized bag finally gave up the ghost after more than a decade with a catastrophic wheel failure...Amazon.com | Amazon Basics suitcases 30 Inch Softside Spinner, Black | Suitcases
Looking for carry-on + one larger bag, so maybe a 2 pc set plus an individual. If you know of good places to buy it (i.e. we have some outlets, I think Samsonite & Tumi, within driving distance), also helpful.
We've always been soft-side luggage folks, but if anyone has an argument to sway us to a hard case style, I'm listening.
Deadline is that we need it before May 20, because that's the next trip when we leave for Kauai. I just threw all the existing stuff in the trash to make that a VERY hard deadline lol...
1&3 Restaurant at Yacht Haven Grande in east Charlotte Amalie. Quality place.We've walked by that place a few times. Never went in.
That was the only time we spent anywhere near Charlotte Amalie. We stayed out at the Ritz on the east end of the island.
I think St John's has two of the nicest beaches I've ever seen.
From what port to what port?New York to Hampton
We looked at both types when the doors were open, they really are tight, and the "ocean view" types are hardly better in my "view" on NCL ships. They have a fairly small window over the bed. They are the same size otherwise. When you go to "balcony", you get a small sitting area with sofa bed and desk and larger BR. They are close to twice the size.We always get a balcony, Love to get up in the morning, go out on the balcony and relax watching the ocean.
I've been told Alaska cruise is outstanding and a must doWife went on one with her late husband and loved it, so we are doing it in July.
I've been told it sucks
We always get a balcony, Love to get up in the morning, go out on the balcony and relax watching the ocean.On a crossing, the weather can tend to be cold. We didn't use our balcony much on the last one we did, until we got closer to home.
Our last cruise we had a balcony and it was great, but it was also all through the Caribbean so the weather was fantastic.Yep, definitely need a balcony for a cruise like that.
Our last cruise we had a balcony and it was great, but it was also all through the Caribbean so the weather was fantastic.Even in the cold. A nice warm robe and something hot to drink. One of the few times I don't mind the cold too much
Peak golf season in Carolinas.Hardly any golfers were out even in Sunday when the weather was great.
9 holes is like kissin yer sisterPeople here generally play 9 holes and are done.
the 19th hole isn't cheap either
I was idly thinking of taking it up again. I probably should hit the range and see where I'm at.not as hard on your body as baseball
Wrong thread.you would prefer the "Hotties Thread"?
I'm surprised at Istanbul being #3 on that list above.It's a big connection airport for a number of airlines.
Why did Constantinople get the works?
It's a big connection airport for a number of airlines.Istanbul doesn't make any sense as an eastbound scissor hub unless the western European airplanes don't have the legs to make it to East Asia without refueling. And if they didn't, they're going to Anchorage for fuel, not Istanbul.
Never been. My wife has (for a convention) and she said it was really nice. This is about 20 years ago or so.Large city with a small town feel, depending where you are. I enjoy hanging out on River St, and my wife enjoys wandering around town. We have friends who just moved there from here in Northern Ohio. Will probably be there from time to time now.
Yeah, for years we were restricted to travel in the summer due to kids in school and sports. Unfortunately, we got into that habit and didn't think it through when we made the trip to Tybee Island and Savannah a couple of years back. (I was thinking it was last year, but apparently it was in 2022). We have now decided to head north in the summer and save the south for the cooler months.Come visit Florida in July. Savanah would be a dry heat.
Come visit Florida in July. Savanah would be a dry heat.Yeah when we went to Pensacola last summer the locals kept apologizing for the heat. It felt about 15 degrees cooler than Austin was at the same time of year.
Currently on a layover at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport - very nice. From here work is sending me into the Third World. To a region where the Travelex agents just told me they don’t carry these particular nations’ cash because their governments are too unstable to dependably rate their currency.
Our working group is supposed to have armed Marines assigned from the Embassy escorting us, but that might only be for when we’re transiting between the cities. Otherwise, not allowed anywhere alone.
Yeah, for years we were restricted to travel in the summer due to kids in school and sports. Unfortunately, we got into that habit and didn't think it through when we made the trip to Tybee Island and Savannah a couple of years back. (I was thinking it was last year, but apparently it was in 2022). We have now decided to head north in the summer and save the south for the cooler months.Ah Ontario/Quebec good choices
Ah quite quaint,reminiscent of a gondola ride thru the Venetian canals at sunset. Progress.....
(https://i.imgur.com/MT7XNep.jpeg)
Wow. Where exactly are you, and what is the visit for?He can’t say for security.
Currently on a layover at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport - very nice. From here work is sending me into the Third World. To a region where the Travelex agents just told me they don’t carry these particular nations’ cash because their governments are too unstable to dependably rate their currency.
Our working group is supposed to have armed Marines assigned from the Embassy escorting us, but that might only be for when we’re transiting between the cities. Otherwise, not allowed anywhere alone.
This trip has been in the works for awhile but I’m briefed to not to say much more than to give short notice to family/friends that I will be unreachable for a few weeks. Although there are apparently “internet credits” that can be bought for limited online access.
Will let Folgers leave one last, vague hint:
Wow. Where exactly are you, and what is the visit for?Little Rock
Wow. Where exactly are you, and what is the visit for?
it's double secret
The Embassy is laying off the armed escort requirement unless business requires us to venture over into its borderline failed neighboring states. Instead our group has been given a full time driver entrusted by the Embassies to chauffeur foreigners.That does not look good, by any stretch.
As for the Capital City, the international airport district is modernized with glassy office towers and well known business outlets like Pizza Hut, Shell, Best Western, Burger King, Marriot, Illy, KFC, DHL, and Nike – brands mostly unseen across the rest of the nation. The Capital City is also built up and modernized in its central area of Embassies, the Parliament, the National Universities & Museums, and along a strand of beachfront dominated by resort hotels catering to foreign travelers. I say “built up and modernized” as in wide/paved streets cleared of squatter settlements, operable traffic/street lights, and powered buildings with fenced off parking.
Outside of that though, the streets of West Africa are as visibly destitute as anywhere among the world’s poorest areas. I mention our local driver, because when driving us he hears our reaction to some of the shanty sights we’ve never encountered before – sewage runoff in the streets, livestock crossings whose cattle and goats stall traffic, people walking out in en masse everywhere, children lacking shoes and full clothing, people living out of plywood structures, and trash mounded in the streets. For our driver, this is his native land – the neighborhoods he grew up in – so after yesterday’s long day visiting a jobsite, we ask him over dinner whether some of the sights we’re unfamiliar with are reactions he’s already heard from other foreigners he’s chauffeured. He tells us that he finds us foreigner’s unfamiliarity mostly humorous. In return, by chauffeuring us he gets treated to restaurants and properties otherwise unavailable to most of the local population.
I didn’t have a lot of success taking pictures yesterday, though did capture glimpses of the widespread practice of head-carrying, especially by women balancing dish pails of bottled water and ice for selling to passing traffic – notice our driver reflected in the window:
(https://i.imgur.com/mY0Nwa2.jpeg)
The Embassy is laying off the armed escort requirement unless business requires us to venture over into its borderline failed neighboring states. Instead our group has been given a full time driver entrusted by the Embassies to chauffeur foreigners.
As for the Capital City, the international airport district is modernized with glassy office towers and well known business outlets like Pizza Hut, Shell, Best Western, Burger King, Marriot, Illy, KFC, DHL, and Nike – brands mostly unseen across the rest of the nation. The Capital City is also built up and modernized in its central area of Embassies, the Parliament, the National Universities & Museums, and along a strand of beachfront dominated by resort hotels catering to foreign travelers. I say “built up and modernized” as in wide/paved streets cleared of squatter settlements, operable traffic/street lights, and powered buildings with fenced off parking.
Outside of that though, the streets of West Africa are as visibly destitute as anywhere among the world’s poorest areas. I mention our local driver, because when driving us he hears our reaction to some of the shanty sights we’ve never encountered before – sewage runoff in the streets, livestock crossings whose cattle and goats stall traffic, people walking out in en masse everywhere, children lacking shoes and full clothing, people living out of plywood structures, and trash mounded in the streets. For our driver, this is his native land – the neighborhoods he grew up in – so after yesterday’s long day visiting a jobsite, we ask him over dinner whether some of the sights we’re unfamiliar with are reactions he’s already heard from other foreigners he’s chauffeured. He tells us that he finds us foreigner’s unfamiliarity mostly humorous. In return, by chauffeuring us he gets treated to restaurants and properties otherwise unavailable to most of the local population.
I didn’t have a lot of success taking pictures yesterday, though did capture glimpses of the widespread practice of head-carrying, especially by women balancing dish pails of bottled water and ice for selling to passing traffic – notice our driver reflected in the window:
(https://i.imgur.com/mY0Nwa2.jpeg)
I know you can't say but I'm going to guess it is either Guinea or Ivory Coast.
My wife loves to haggle, it's a French thing I guess. We were in Mexico and she was haggling with this poor fellow at Chichen Itza. I slid him a bit of money as we left and she got quite irate with me. I agree with you, maybe it's $5 for me, which means hardly anything these days, and maybe for them it's a day's profit and ability to survive a bit.
You're a nice fellow, CD, but I can assure you after scores of visits to Mexico, nobody there is going to sell you something for a "bargain." They will actually let you walk away if you go below what they consider a fair price.This is especially true in Cabo.
You're a nice fellow, CD, but I can assure you after scores of visits to Mexico, nobody there is going to sell you something for a "bargain." They will actually let you walk away if you go below what they consider a fair price.Yeah, I realize that, I know his "list price" was 3x what he would take, maybe. But he looked poor, and we're not.
On the drive there, the Know-It-All among our group (always wearing loud Hawaiian shirts) obnoxiously lectures us on “standing our ground” when haggling...the Know-It-All makes an obnoxious jerk of himself by aggressively haggling to the point of insulting shop owners. “It’s ok to let yourself get ripped off,” I tell him while the lady among us is fitted for dresses. “It’s not even about saving money. It’s about winning the interaction!” the Know-It-All insists…The Know-It-All carries on his clownish haggling even more...
Needless to say, West Africa is not the place to go chasing the night.Guess he couldn't cut it
In April, the website unveiled its rankings for the most expensive airports in North America, after collecting price data for hotel stays, parking, and a pint of beer. Once it looked at all the information, it named San Diego International Airport (SAN) the most expensive airport in America.San Diego being expensive for a hotel makes sense. The airport is very near downtown, and obviously hotels in downtown San Diego aren't cheap. It's always a crazy airport to fly into because it seems like you're flying right into the heart of the city.
According to the findings, accommodations, parking, and a beer would cost someone $574.46 on average at the airport. "Looking to bunk nearby? Be ready to splurge, with an average hotel rate of $529 per night, $265 more than the average. Parking? Well, it'll set you back $38, landing SAN in the top three for pricey parking spots," the findings revealed. "But fear not, beer lovers — your pre-flight beverage won't break the bank here, coming in at a modest $7.46."
Denver International Airport (DEN) came in second, with an average total for hotel, parking, and beer at $514.74. "It claims the second spot for the priciest airport hotels, ringing in at a hefty $477.33 per night. Need a parking spot? That’ll be $30 for the night. The good news? If you're fancying a frosty beverage before takeoff, you’ll be paying lower than the average, at $7.41 per beer."
Rounding out the top three is Nashville International Airport (BNA), which averages $449.24 for a hotel, parking, and a beer.
https://www.travelandleisure.com/san-diego-international-most-expensive-airport-north-america-8638940 (https://www.travelandleisure.com/san-diego-international-most-expensive-airport-north-america-8638940)
If, by some miracle, you get to choose which hotels to fly through on your next trip, you may want to choose San Jose International Airport (SJC), which ranked as the least expensive. Hotel prices here come in "at just $79, an impressive $152 less than the average," the findings noted. "Thirsty travelers will be pleased, with beers priced at $7.75, while parking spots go for $18. That brings the grand total to $105.08, which is a wallet-friendly $159.17 below the average across all airports."
Know it all seemingly knows nothing.
Your trip will now be better!
seems like some things that are made in China could be produced in West AfricaOnly if they want to do it. I'm not up for renewed slavery.
Interesting. Busier than ORD, but fewer runways.
ATL today, or yesterday maybe.
Opinion: I’m a flight attendant. You need to get over your reclining seat rage | CNN (https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/09/opinions/reclining-seat-rage-airplane-passengers-poole/index.html)I've seen a few squabbles. If I had my way, seats wouldn't recline. I never do it, to be honest, but I always sit in a good seat with plenty of room.
I don't recall hearing anything about this.
So if you owned a National Park Pass, and this was your range, what would you do?Stay home.
(https://bestmapsever.com/cdn/shop/files/0853-NPS-USFS-BLM-FWS-Map-Poster-tan-slate-blue-02.jpg?v=1703101176)
buy a case of beer and a bag of iceThat's your solution to everything.
Yep. Still, it's very nice. I like Healdsburg. It's right on the edge of the Dry Creek Valley area, where they make the best Zins I've ever had.
Napa has gotten way out of control IMHO, Sonoma is headed that way fast.
Based on what I've seen at the resort pool, the current trend in bikini bottoms is to show a prodigious amount of cheek.Where you at?
Not a complaint; just FYI, in case anyone's thinking of heading to a resort any time soon.
Where you at?Heaven, apparently.
Where you at?Kauai
Places I'd like to go visit (and stay, not just tour off a cruise ship):Why the asterisk?
Vienna
Iceland
Norway
Lisbon
Istanbul*
Argentina
Amsterdam
Based on what I've seen at the resort pool, the current trend in bikini bottoms is to show a prodigious amount of cheek.Walk out to my buildings’ pool deck and you’ll see the same thing. Gonna be a long summer of working/reading by the pool.
Not a complaint; just FYI, in case anyone's thinking of heading to a resort any time soon.
KauaiSo where are you at?
Why the asterisk?Not Constantinople....
So if you owned a National Park Pass, and this was your range, what would you do?Everyone loves Zion and Bryce.
[img width=500 height=331.989]https://bestmapsever.com/cdn/shop/files/0853-NPS-USFS-BLM-FWS-Map-Poster-tan-slate-blue-02.jpg?v=1703101176[/img]
I saw some of those when traveling, fortunately on females, not males, and young females who were not obese. There is a lady in our bldg who sunbathes by the pool which is visible from the elevator lounge who wears a thong thingee, and she's not all that attractive.This reminds me of my drive home from work.
I guess it doesn't take many yards of fabric these days to cover the necessaries just "barely"....
you fellas should visit Broken Bow, NE for some fresh oystersI'm not going to NE for fresh oysters. I'll be getting some tomorrow from the farmer's market.
the boys can shuck 'em
(https://i.imgur.com/NQ2BUov.jpeg)
Some more stories would be appreciated.When i finally get to a computer rather than on my phone. I cant type on these things.
So where are you at?Sheraton, Poipu.
[img width=260.182 height=500]https://i.imgur.com/Dku0B5d.png[/img]
Cessna 172 tour of the island yesterday. Guess which one I am?Not the pilot.
Nice swimming down there. If you have a car, drive up to Hanalei. Stop at Tahiti Niu. Tell them I sent ya.I asked. They had no recollection of anyone named @847badgerfan (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=5)
Some nice places in Kapaa too.
The pilot generally sits on the left, and I think our famous poster is on the large side, ergo ...
A 172 is a pretty good way to tour a place, helos tend to be a LOT more $$$$$.
(https://i.imgur.com/ye368FC.png)Wonder if a woke sleep walker can sue,like if the obvious happens?
I don't know how much weight a fit hiker would consider carrying on either of these trails, probably less on the JMT. Maybe a water purification filter device would be a help. You'd need a lot of water. Dehydrated food, OK, I've eaten that on hiking/camping trips, it works. It's still weight. Then your frame with sleeping bag I presume, probably a hiking tent, bear spray for both, phone, good boots, socks, a lot of socks, maybe a change of underwear, it adds up.Yeah, I've heard a typical pack is 50-60 lbs after each resupply. I think it's usually 5-7 days per resupply. Most use water purification systems though as I don't think it's feasible to carry that much water.
I once read AT hiker trim the margins off their maps to save a few grams.
Gloves, rain gear for sure in the AT, a cooking kit with a pan and cup etc.
Maybe you hike three -four days between resupply?
My son told me his standard combat load in Iraq was around 90 pounds. About 30 of that was the rifle and ammo, he carried the M249. About 35 of that was body armor.Same here. That boy was in great shape.
I don't know how it's humanly possible.
I was checking out the AT through Georgia, it crosses some highways where one could resupply every few days. The part through the Smokies is probably several days with one resupply point.
Yeah, I've heard a typical pack is 50-60 lbs after each resupply. I think it's usually 5-7 days per resupply. Most use water purification systems though as I don't think it's feasible to carry that much water.Read some.of the books thru hikers have written. There is also a lot of lists on what you need, including food with calorie information.
I figure if I ever do it, my size will be a double edged sword... Being so big, I can carry a lot more than many smaller people. But being so big, I'm going to need WAY more in the way of calories to get through it than smaller people, so I'll be forced to carry that much more.
My one rough hike was in the Smokies, 4200 foot elevation change, but the real problem is I chose a route that was shorter but used by horses. The horses broke up the rocks so I'd take a step up and slide back a bit, on and on for seven miles. We took the other trail coming down and it was soft packed earth, much easier.Hike starting at the rainbow falls trailhead, take the route to grotto falls, to Trillum gap and across to LeConte. Come down by rainbow falls back to the starting point.
Mt. Leconte trail by Rainbow Falls, if you ever do it, take the other trail, or the Alum Cave Bluff trail.
We stayed in a shelter on top because of bears.
What's the worst vacation that you've ever intentionally taken?Probably Hawaii. It rained 13 out of 14 days. Not much fun.
What's the worst vacation that you've ever intentionally taken?disney world in Orlando with the Ex and kids
@847badgerfan (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=5) as the concert was the kid's early birthday, we let him choose dinner, and he chose Haus Murphy's. It was delicious. Thanks!Cool. What did you all eat?
@OrangeAfroMan (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=58) if you haven't been there, check it out.
As for concert, Luke Combs puts on a hell of a show. I'd recommend him.
Cool. What did you all eat?We started with the pretzel, of course.
We started with the pretzel, of course.Well yeah. Wienerschnitzel is just a fancy word for chicken fried steak. Clearly you needed some cream gravy on that sucker.
I got the beef rouladen. My son got the paprika schnitzel, and my wife got the weinerschnitzel.
All were delicious, but I think my wife's would have been well served to have some sort of sauce or something on it.
looks good, probably is goodYou'd think that would be easy to find here. I know where to go now.
and a great option for the locals
if I'm visiting, I'm having the fresh seafood
I’ve been before, this was for a HS graduation. The weather was meh, the itinerary was meh, I didn’t sleep well, the rental car was very meh. We didn’t do anything of any note, a couple decent meals out.I hear you. Traveling when the entire thing is for a family-related event often means that you're bound to whatever they want to do the whole time. Kinda makes spending a ton of money, flying clear across the country, and then doing crap you don't really care about "to support family" seems like a big waste.
At the airport now awaiting flight.
except your wife ;)Well, obviously!
When most of my contemporaries and I were getting married, the "Destination Wedding" was first starting to catch on as a thing. One of my friends asked me to be in his wedding which I gladly accepted, and then later told me his fiancee was leaning heavily toward a destination wedding. I told him to have a great time and that I'd send him a great wedding present, but wouldn't be attending the wedding after all. He was pretty peeved with me but when he approached everyone else in our group with the same news, they all responded in the same way, Ultimately he had to tell his bride that if they did a destination wedding, he wouldn't have any groomsmen.Exactly. YOUR destination might not MY destination in any way, shape or form. I really kinda hate this trend.
Ultimately I'm just not going to let someone else determine where and how I spend my valuable and limited vacation time, and resources.
Isn’t that any wedding? Like, I don’t live in Florida. But if a friend wants to get married there, I will have to spend resources to be there.
I'm just not going to let someone else determine where and how I spend my valuable and limited vacation time, and resources. And I find it presumptuous and offensive that someone would think such an imposition was okay.
Isn’t that any wedding? Like, I don’t live in Florida. But if a friend wants to get married there, I will have to spend resources to be there. Unless the wedding is explicitly in town.Back in 2015 we went to a destination wedding because it was in Florida, and we knew we might want to live here someday.
That said, a couple should be respectful to a degree that makes sense. And if they’re holding it in like Italy, just be prepped for no shows. (A relative had a friend who decided to go with a “camping wedding.” It sounds like it went better than I have any right to, although one set of grandparents made it out there for the rehearsal, decided he didn’t want to make the drive again and left)
Edit: I also thought an exotic destination wedding was code for “lots of you who were invited shouldn’t come.” Some people who plan them don’t seem to know that.I explained this to my daughter.
Back in 2015 we went to a destination wedding because it was in Florida, and we knew we might want to live here someday.This is leading to an interesting question of how one defines a “Destination“ wedding. My general read is that it’s somewhere an inconvenient distance from any central point for the couple or families.
We spent 12 days between Fort Myers and Clearwater and fell in love with Punta Gorda, and later, BSM. Here we are.
2 years ago, my business partner's son had a destination wedding in St. Pete Beach. We went to it.
This is leading to an interesting question of how one defines a “Destination“ wedding. My general read is that it’s somewhere an inconvenient distance from any central point for the couple or families.Sure. If I'm being asked to travel to the couple's hometown because it's convenient for the family of the bride and/or groom, that's one thing.
(The second one you describe feels more quasi-local for you, but that’s another matter)
Sure. If I'm being asked to travel to the couple's hometown because it's convenient for the family of the bride and/or groom, that's one thing.I’m excited to find out the destination was beautiful El Paso.
If I'm being asked to travel because it's inconvenient for everyone and the happy couple is just choosing my vacation destination for me, that's gonna be a negatory.
I also get it that a destination wedding is likely going to end up much cheaper for the bride and groom (or whichever family is paying), than it would be to throw a traditional wedding plus a honeymoon. That's fine. Just don't expect everyone to be there.
Anyway, in the case I described above, both bride and groom were from Austin, they currently lived in Austin, both of their families lived in Austin, and the bride just wanted something different. Her parents didn't want to do the destination wedding either, but weren't going to tell her that.
Sure. If I'm being asked to travel to the couple's hometown because it's convenient for the family of the bride and/or groom, that's one thing.Yeah, when you grew up in Chicago, went to Purdue, then moved to California, most of the people you know are having a "destination wedding", at least for you. I got to see beautiful Noblesville, IN a few times! :57:
Still stuck on the ground. 11:15 am scheduled departure. Now 1:34 pm no word.Brutal. I can tolerate the occasional delay, but delayed while stuck on the tarmac is a different story. At least let me get delayed in the airport bar.
We've traveled to San Diego four times now, spending a few days there with rental car. My step daughter lives in a small 1950s hous off Balboa west of the 805 a bit. The backyard has potential which is good.This I would not allow.
The maritime layer, to me, is depressing. It can linger all day. When the sky does clear up, the place seems a lot more attractive to me. Traffic generally is not that bad. There is a light rail line, I never tried it. The airport is nice though the last two time we were flying out we have multi-hour delays.
We stay up in Carlsbad for various reasons. I found two pretty good restaurants nearby, one was quite expensive, $300 for two though I had $200 in gift cards for it, Vigiluchis. The other one we had lunch, it was quite decent, got expensive, $200 for 3 of us.
King’s Fish House | Seafood | Carlsbad California (kingsfishhouse.com) (https://www.kingsfishhouse.com/carlsbad)
This got pricey because my unemployed step daughter felt she could order any whim she had, and did. The reason it annoyed me a bit is she'd order something and barely eat it, and order something else.
There aren't many trees, it isn't green, a lot of houses seem built on the large sand dunes. Downtown looks pretty nice. One often sees one or two fleet carriers docked across the bay which amuses me as each contains two nuclear reactors.
My wife noted she wouldn't like to live there, which I found interesting.
This I would not allow.My wife paid the tab, it was her dealings, I stayed quiet, which I think we the proper thing to do.
I'm kinda tough on "kids" so honestly, I wouldn't even offer to take her out until she got her happy ass a job.
We stay up in Carlsbad for various reasons. I found two pretty good restaurants nearby, one was quite expensive, $300 for two though I had $200 in gift cards for it, Vigiluchis. The other one we had lunch, it was quite decent, got expensive, $200 for 3 of us.(https://i.imgur.com/VsUdn4r.png)
My wife paid the tab, it was her dealings, I stayed quiet, which I think we the proper thing to do.She's lucky I'm not her stepdad and you are.
My step daughter has some "issues" I think, one of which is dealing with reality.
We have precheck. I don't think I've ever waited more than 5 minutes.In Austin the precheck line is always long. Sometimes longer than the normal line. Yet another reason to stay away.
She's lucky I'm not her stepdad and you are.For me, it's not remotely worth it, and anything I might say would not be "helpful", at all. This young lady, as I said, has "issues" beyond anything I can do to help.
I'd be on her like white on rice, like I was with my stepsons. They now appreciate that. They didn't then.
The maritime layer, to me, is depressing. It can linger all day.Man, I love it. Wake up to a cool overcast morning, then maybe when it clears you get 74 and sunny. Makes it perfect to have a morning round of golf without it getting too hot, and it starts getting sunny about halfway through the back 9.
Man, I love it. Wake up to a cool overcast morning, then maybe when it clears you get 74 and sunny. Makes it perfect to have a morning round of golf without it getting too hot, and it starts getting sunny about halfway through the back 9.I love it. Can get in an AM run, maybe walk somewhere when it’s still cool.
The closer you are to the coast the more it can linger of course. I don't mind when it lingers. I like the "cold".
We both like Delta pretty well, which is good considering where we reside.Yeah, I was pretty much 100% Delta when I lived there. When I moved back, the areas I had to travel for work were largely served best by American and Southwest, so that's where I gravitate towards.
Yeah, I was pretty much 100% Delta when I lived there. When I moved back, the areas I had to travel for work were largely served best by American and Southwest, so that's where I gravitate towards.We're Hilton people, but only with newer properties (like you with Marriott, which has some shitty properties too).
I've also always been a Hilton guy, but my wife prefers Marriott properties. After the trips to Indianapolis followed by the one to Phoenix, she's said "no more" on Hilton lol. The quality of the properties we stay at just seems to be absolutely hit and miss. This past weekend was even a Doubletree, and it looked like it hadn't been touched since 1974.
the golf course is a great place to experience beautiful sceneryToo bad the golf is an effective way to ruin a good walk.
I'm taking my first lesson this week.my advice to older folks regarding golf...........
Down here, if you don't golf, you eliminate about 95 percent of potential friends.
my advice to older folks regarding golf...........I don't golf AND I hate it anyway!
don't start, it's similar to cigarettes.
Very addictive and not good for you.
you'll hate it or you will have a horrible love/hate relationship
Too bad the golf is an effective way to ruin a good walk.(https://i.imgur.com/Ah0JmsY.png)
Never been but it's on our list. Why late in the year? Isn't it cold there? Like maybe 50's max?I think it's not ever really "warm" there... We looked at various sites on "when to go" and generally they said to avoid the summer vacation stuff, and that May was good for spring, or Sep/Oct for fall. So we'll be going in early Oct.
Just booked our flights for Ireland late this year. Wife and I are going with her mom and stepdad.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d09JWE1HPBQ
If anyone has been or has ideas on what to see/do, let me know.
Just booked our flights for Ireland late this year. Wife and I are going with her mom and stepdad.I heard they have pubs there.
If anyone has been or has ideas on what to see/do, let me know.
I heard they have pubs there.Really? I guess I'll have a good time then :72:
Just booked our flights for Ireland late this year. Wife and I are going with her mom and stepdad.Drink lots of fresh Guinness. And Jamesons.
If anyone has been or has ideas on what to see/do, let me know.
Drink lots of fresh Guinness. And Jamesons.Yeah, we've heard that the Guinness factory is an absolute tourist trap and at the same time is absolutely a must see, so we're doing it lol. FIL wants to tour Jameson, so that's on the agenda (assuming they do tours; I haven't researched yet).
Jameson is too sweet for my liking. Gives me a headache.That's how I feel about Crown Royal and all the Canadian whiskeys.
Heading to Gulf Shores next week. I've never been there before. We just needed some beach time and didn't want to do Florida. It's convenient to where the MIL lives (Gadsden, AL) as well so we can make a quick stop there along the way. I've got a 9AM tee time in Gadsden on Monday. I'll probably try to get a round in while in Gulf Shores as well.Be careful out there @LetsGoPeay (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=7) .
Coastal cities arae humid and hot this time of year. I think ON the coast is a bit better due to usually having a breeze.East coastal cities.
Atlanta is a bit better because of altitude, we're at about 1,000 feet, which usually is worth 4.5°F.
A breeze is great to have in summer, even a slight one.
I forgot about those west coastal cities. Do they count?I guess for now, until the big one hits and they slide off into the ocean.
I forgot about those west coastal cities. Do they count?They’re not humid. And some of them aren’t even hot. (although Oregon is understatedly hot)
Tight Accommodations: Capsule Hotels
If a bed and a TV are all you need, try a capsule hotel. Developed in Japan in the 1970s, capsule hotels offer accommodations in modular blocks roughly 6.5 x 3.25 x 4 ft (2 x 1 x 1.25 m) in size. Capsules are typically stacked 2 units high, and luggage is usually stored in a separate locker. Used primarily by men, the hotels are frequented for their convenience and low price, often by those who missed a train or want to sleep off a night of drinking.
(https://i.imgur.com/a7rX7xO.png)
ZBB is the best show I've seen. He did all of those you listed, plus Enter Sandman.Ahh, damn, sorry I missed out on that one!
The rock and country concerts today seem to me to be half SHOW and half MUSIC, maybe. I have not attended one in ... well, a long time.I'm not sure what this means. KISS has been around for 50 years and their shows have always been at least half "show" and half music. Tons of other acts that go back that far or even further, are the same. I don't view this as something new.
We have symphony season tickets, the "show" part is negligible there of course, a pianist like Lang Lang will ham it up, which is OK with me, my wife doesn't care for it.
Lang Lang performing Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1 at National Memorial Day Concert (youtube.com) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN7XO5pYXqM)
Lang Lang - Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 (youtube.com) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfNvWmjtryQ)
The last one is a favorite of mine. I remain amazed that professional musicians can perform such pieces with very little practice together.
I didn't mean to imply this is a new thing, I know it's been around for decades. But, back in my day, a lot of rock groups just played their gig without a lot of effects.Elvis danced around to entertain the ladies, he could have played the music just fine without doing so. :)
Lang Lang - Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 (youtube.com) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfNvWmjtryQ)I had this playing in background, and the audience applauded after the first movement, my wife gets very upset when the crowd does this. She starts cursing, in French.
The last one is a favorite of mine.
I love George Strait's music but his live shows are about the worst thing I've ever experienced. He sits on a stool and plays his guitar and the backup band plays behind him and it's all note-for-note identical to what you hear on his albums. Which is fine, of course, but since I already have the album, why would I need to see the live performance? I've seen him live twice, both times because the girl I was dating at the time really wanted to see him.I've seen him once, because the girl I was planning to marry, and now am married to, really wanted to see him [again].
The rock and country concerts today seem to me to be half SHOW and half MUSIC, maybe.
I've seen him once, because the girl I was planning to marry, and now am married to, really wanted to see him [again].
Personally I don't mind when an artist sounds like they do on their album. I saw Rush once and they were so amazingly precise and technical that it could have been their album version and nobody would have been able to tell. I credit that to their proficience as musicians. I also am really impressed when an artist sounds better live than their album version. That tells you they're the real deal.
What bothers me is when an artist sounds worse than they do on the album. It makes you feel like you've been cheated as a fan and they're only as popular as they are because they had a good producer.
Well it's like going to a football game [which I do] or a political rally [which I do not]. There's an area of it that is about the show and communal experience. There's a different energy in a large crowd like that. The artists can feed into and then intensify that energy.
That's what I thought I'd be getting with Kenny Chesney. He's sorta the Jimmy Buffett of country. His show is supposed to be an experience, a party. Maybe it just wasn't my kind of party, I guess...
And still, I love George Strait, I really do. I just don't see any purpose at all in going to his concerts.Well, the purpose was successful. Not that I thought it was in doubt at that point in the relationship of course :57:
(unless you're trying to get laid, of course. That is a worthwhile purpose)
I saw Rush 28 times in total, starting in 1979 at Comiskey Park. Yeah, I know...Did you see them at Tinley Park in the late 90s? Right after Test for Echo came out? If so, we were at the same concert...
They were absolutely fantastic, even if Geddy could no longer get up on the high notes as he aged.
The last couple of times Kenny Chesney played a show here in MSP, it seems that the minimum BAC for admission is well north of the legal limit. One has to be shitfaced to put up with him.We saw some people get tossed. Including some jackasses who were in the row right behind us. Based on their behavior prior to getting ejected, I was not surprised or unhappy to see them go. Especially when one of them (shortly before being tossed) bumped into me stepped on my new sneaks... But I wasn't worried they were going to start some stuff. Considering that "bumping into me" is basically "bumping off of me" because I didn't move an inch...
Ha! Until the very end of last season, if I were trying to sell someone on UT, I probably wouldn't even mention the football team. ;)Will do. And if/when we come to visit and tour the campus, I'll let you know.
If your son has any questions though, feel free to reach out.
Southwest Airlines (https://abc7.com/tag/southwest-airlines/) plans to drop its tradition of more than 50 years and start assigning seats and selling premium seating for customers who want more legroom.
The airline said Thursday that it has been studying seating options and is making the changes because passenger preferences have shifted. The moves could also generate revenue and boost financial performance.
...
Southwest has used an open-seating model since its founding, with passengers lining up to board, then choosing their own seat once they are on the airplane. But, the airline said, preferences have "evolved" - as more travelers take longer flights, they want an assigned seat.
The airline also said it will offer redeye flights for the first time.
Dahl & Di Luca Ristorante Italiano | Sedona, Arizona (dahlanddiluca.com) (https://www.dahlanddiluca.com/)Bump, will definitely dine there. I've found a number of things to do and see around Sedona, signed up for three tours. My wife has wanted to see Antelope Canyon for years now.
I have not flown since 2006.(https://i.imgur.com/XDMNZbB.png)
Antelope Canyon is a good pull. I caught it on my Glen Canyon excursion.
Way to delve beneath the surface level attractions a little bit.
(https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.ce4fdb0c3ab7044593ad6a8240f84c67?rik=dOwVuMnSE5tGhw&pid=ImgRaw&r=0)
I spent a lot of time out on the Navajo Reservation when I lived in Gallup, NM. I used to play in basketball tournaments three out of four weekends a month. I sprained my ankle very badly in a tournament at the Window Rock Civic Center. The reservation is a huge area with many areas that are still inaccessible. Many people live out there without modern utilities or conveniences.
DEATH VALLEY, Calif. (WKRC) - A man was rescued from the oppressive heat of one of the country's hottest National Parks after the skin melted off his feet, according to the National Park Service.
Park rangers said a 42-year-old Belgian tourist suffered third-degree burns when he lost his flip-flops in the sand dunes of Death Valley.
"The ground temperature would have been much hotter than the air temperature, which was around 123 degrees," officials said.
His family called authorities for help and other parkgoers helped them carry the tourist to the parking lot, the release stated.
Authorities reported the tourist suffered third-degree "full-thickness" burns on his feet. A National Park ranger said, "The skin was melted off his foot."
Park rangers instantly recognized the man required a hospital due to his burns and pain level, but Death Valley was so hot that it was dangerous for a helicopter to land.
The rangers had to drive the man to higher elevations in an ambulance where the temperature was 109 degrees. Mercy Air transported the man to University Medical Center in Las Vegas.
Park rangers gave some advice to those interested in visiting Death Valley during the heat:
Stay within a 10-minute walk of a vehicle with air conditioning
Do not hike after 10 a.m.
Drink plenty of water
Eat salty snacks
Wear protection (hat and sunscreen)
forget Cortez. Spend your time in Durango and Telluride and Silverton and Ouray hot springs
Cool, what was Gallup like? NM is one of the few states that I've never been to amazingly. I was eyeballing maybe a four corners sorta thing, check out Farmington, Cortez and Durango, along with the myriad of things in that area that I can gain entry to with my Park pass.
The sheer size of the Navajo rez always amazed me. It's larger than 10 states.
I think the problem is folks see photos on line and want a telescope that looks the same, and nothing you can buy at any reasonable price will do that. You need a "tracker" that follows an object to get most of those photos. And learning how to spot planets, while pretty easy, it a bit intimidating. Any star will just be a point of light.Visibility has been pretty low out west for the last few weeks. Maybe you'll get lucky, and it will all clear up.
So, yes, they use it once or twice and then put it away.
It takes some expensive gear to get good photos.
Isn't there a website that forecasts visibility levels? That would be useful.I think so
Isn't there a website that forecasts visibility levels? That would be useful.Aviation web sites should state visibility out to ten miles. "CAVU" = Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited". It means is clear out there.
We leave Saturday for Phoenix, then Sedona by rental car. We're looking forward to it. I set up three tours through Viator, we've had decent luck with them in the past. One is a night time "star watching tour". I still remember looking up on the slopes of Mauna Kea at night, it was incredible. The last time we were up that mountain we got hit with a blizzard and had to come down, and the viewing area was overcast, which is a rare event there.This place is pretty neat for some easy outdoor shopping. Lots of "artsy-fartsy" stuff. Well, that is what Sedona actually is all about. You'll see...
Flew yesterday, 3 connecting flights diagonally crossing the nation from San Diego all the way to Presque Isle in Northern Maine. The furthest Southwest airport to the furthest Northeast. A straight line distance of 2740 miles. Figured that’s about as far apart as two commercial airports can be in the continental U.S, so I looked up crossing from the two other corners - Northwest to Southeast. Turns out the straight line distance between Bellingham WA and Miami FL is 2766 miles.oldest daughter is flying to Maine for her 30th Bday next month
How was Dahl and DeLuca?We’re going back Friday. Seated in their alcove off the bar. Ha the price fixe. Prix
I meant to tell you to ask for Lisa (Dahl). Last time we were there we met with her, and she signed her cookbook for me.
It's a good one.
Pouring rain this afternoon. Visited meteor crater. Flagstaff was a bust.Casino closed?
Pouring rain this afternoon. Visited meteor crater. Flagstaff was a bust.I was gonna tell you to skip it, but then I thought I should let you decide how to spend your time.
How's the food up there?
Pouring rain this afternoon. Visited meteor crater. Flagstaff was a bust.Astronomer Clyde Tombaugh—who worked in the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona—discovered Pluto on February 18, 1930. Tombaugh was only 24 when he found it.
2-3 days in Sedona is enough.Actually, as you said earlier, one day was enough for Sedona, that is about the time we spent in town. The area around Sedona was interesting, to me, and the resort where we stayed was decent. This is the road through Oak Creek Canyon from overlook:
Unimpressed.Maybe we should change the title of this thread to Travels and Unimpressions
Maybe we should change the title of this thread to Travels and Unimpressions:043:
There were ups and downs, the downs weren't bad. This was our meal the 2nd time at D&D:Really a fantastic restaurant.
(https://i.imgur.com/vy4A6Qr.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/FpOVR81.jpeg)
too fantastic for my walletSame with a C8.
There were ups and downs, the downs weren't bad. This was our meal the 2nd time at D&D:Did you like the dungeons better? Or the dragons?
(https://i.imgur.com/vy4A6Qr.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/FpOVR81.jpeg)
We're off to Istanbul Wednesday for a week and a bit. I've heard from several folks that it's a really interesting place, and we've watched a few videos. Our Turkish friend will join us with two others we know. My wife got some "multipasses" for various sites. Leeloo.Going to Istanbul for a couple of days in May. Let me know your must sees. Certainly going to see the Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar.
One issue is we have a 6:45 Am return flight, another is a near 6 hour stay in Paris at CDG.
Knowing how things are, you'll still barely make your connection even with 6 hours.
One issue is we have a 6:45 Am return flight, another is a near 6 hour stay in Paris at CDG.
I've been to zero of them. Seems like ol' fearless Frankie didn't spend much time in Texico.Also zero, despite spending most of my life in either Chicago or SoCal.
Istanbul so far is unimpressive.It was better when it was Constantinople
Istanbul so far is unimpressive.Glad it's on my "do not go" list.
It was better when it was ConstantinopleNot when it was Byzantium
what was for dinner?Turkey.
Also, if your yard is located along the course in the right area, you'd never have to buy another golf ball.Window replacement budget might go up.
A person standing on Heaven's Gate Lookout in Idaho can see Washington, Montana, and Oregon.Grab the the field glasses and try to spot DB Cooper's money or his body. I'll split the loot with you 😎
Speaking of the window budget, whose responsibility is a broken window and why?No clue, but I think it's on the homeowner.
No clue, but I think it's on the homeowner.(https://media3.giphy.com/media/d4zHnLjdy48Cc/giphy.gif?cid=6c09b9523nfqizahrfzr8fe0top2c9jq0g3fbh3nfs64l046&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)
We live on a golf course here, but there is basically zero chance a ball would ever touch us. We overlook the 7th tee and you would have to hit the ball backwards or sideways to hit our place. And if you did, you'd hit the pool cage. And if your missile of a ball managed to penetrate that, it would hit hurricane windows.
I think we're good.
I've hit more than a few houses in my golfing careerHomeowner was sitting in her fairway facing yard when it happened. Sigh.
I don't knock on the door to offer to pay for damage
I don't worry about golf balls. I worry about other projectiles.I was narrowly missed by a golf ball on my last scooter ride. I looked over towards where it came from, and there was no one there. Must've been hiding in the bushes.
Just took a Xanax.
We're hoping to do the Ring of Kerry today but the weather report looks dicey, so we're trying to figure out over the next 1-2 hours whether or not to chance it.BTW the follow up on this was that we decided that we didn't want to chance the weather. So... We found a pub :72:
The Kilmainham Gaol (prison). One of the most interesting things I saw on the entire trip. I didn't really know the history of the many attempts at independence for the Irish, and how many of the various protagonists throughout history ended up here. Again, pictures don't do it justice...
(https://i.imgur.com/CLqdne0.jpeg)
Kind of looks like Shawshank.I thought the exact same thing when I walked into that room...
Why would she want to be buried in France if she doesn't want to live there?They have family plots there. It's important to her. The plots are multiple, different from here, they can have 20 coffins in one plot (or more).
As for my final life's travel, I expect it to be my cremated remains, spread with my wife's, either in the rose garden where we got married in Italy, or at the top of Haleakala... Unless we come up with something better in the [hopefully] many decades before it is a thing.Same.
The last thing I want to do is have my corpse take up valuable real estate.
Booked our honeymoon cruise and all our excursions. The itinerary:I am booked on a cruise with same itinerary in January
12/28 - Sail out of Tampa - I love going out of Tampa and sailing under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Such a cool experience.
12/29 - Sea day - I like having a sea day on the first day to just chill and enjoy the amenities on the ship before jumping into all the ports of call.
12/30 - Cozumel - I booked a VIP cabana package at Mr. Sancho's Beach Club. The perfect chill and be spoiled on the beach day.
12/31 - Roatan - A visit to the sloth and monkey sanctuary then some snorkeling.
1/1 - Belize - Cave tubing with Charlie's Cave Tubing Tours. He's a local guy who was one of the first to do the cave tubing excursions. He only takes small groups and makes it a personal experience. This will be the second time I've done a tour with him. I can't recommend him enough if you're in Belize.
1/2 - Puerto Costa Maya - Booked a trip to the Chankanaab pyramids with an afternoon at the Bacalar lagoon.
1/3 - Sea Day - A nice lazy day before having to return to reality.
1/4 - Disembarkation and a return to the real world.
I am booked on a cruise with same itinerary in JanuaryRoyal Caribbean? That's what we're on. Radiance of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean? That's what we're on. Radiance of the Seas.No we are on ncl but the same stops as yours. We have done these particular stops on 2 previous cruises. You should enjoy it
As for my final life's travel, I expect it to be my cremated remains, spread with my wife's, either in the rose garden where we got married in Italy, or at the top of Haleakala... Unless we come up with something better in the [hopefully] many decades before it is a thing.Tough to come up with better options. What part of Italy?
The last thing I want to do is have my corpse take up valuable real estate.
Tough to come up with better options. What part of Italy?Florence.
Places I've been where I'd like to return someday:Great list. Zion and Glacier are two of the more spectacular places I've been. I'm partial to Haleakala over the Big Island's volcanos, but they are all grand.
Glacier NP - We were there but it was cloudy and the GTTS road was not open.
Zion NP - I really like that place.
Mauna Kea - Been up twice, the second time was snowy/cloudy. The first time was epic.
Lyon, France - Been thrice, I like the place.
Bayeux, France - Stayed there three nights, really an interesting area for me.
Beartooth Pass road.
Athens, Greece.
Guardsmans Pass - Utah, in fall.
Florence.That's awesome.. Certainly worse things in life. I've been to so many places in the world.. yet never Europe.. blows my mind at this point. Italy is near the top of that bucket list desire.
I kinda wanted to do it in the Cinque Terre, but it was offseason there and it just seemed like it was going to be impossible. So we did it on our last day in Italy (going Rome->Cinque Terre->Florence) and then honeymooned in Paris.
There are worse things in life :57:
the worst:I did a gas main project there. I've never seen so much crime in one spot. It's probably even worse now. This was 2011.
Vallejo CA
Barstow CA
Blythe CA
63rd Street Chicago
Columbus GA
The Sabine & Angelina National Forest regions of East Texas - specifically the towns of Lufkin, San Augustine, & Jasper TX
Doha Qatar
Pohang South Korea
What's the worst destination that you've ever visited?what do you mean by visit?
well, you were in the south. Things and folks move a little slower down there
Longest freakin' sub sandwich buying experience of my life on the interstate somewhere in Georgia. It was like 30 minutes to get a sandwhich
For me, oddly enough, I'd say New Orleans. I think my expectations were just too high.I had a similar experience there.
That I went out of my way to visit?Fort Lauderdale... too much traffic. Too expensive.
Big Sur is beautiful, but the camping trip I did to just north of it was at a gross campground, and the hotel I've stayed in there was similarly crappy.
Longest freakin' sub sandwich buying experience of my life on the interstate somewhere in Georgia. It was like 30 minutes to get a sandwich when I was the only customer. Weird.
I was there for work, but I was thoroughly unimpressed by Fort Lauderdale, FL.
what do you mean by visit?Yeah, you went there on purpose and it sucked.
a destination or just passing through?
not sureNorman?
I can have a good time most anywhere
not sure
I can have a good time most anywhere
I've been to Canada on a motorcycleThe whole reason to be anywhere near Kenora or Thunder Bay is for world class fishing. The only reason I'd go to those cities is for an emergency.
saw some nature - mostly trees and lakes
the cities of Thunder Bay and Kenora weren't anything to write home about
Is that Larry the Cable Guy 0r a Beluga the tarts are swimming with ?
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS079CSaJIT6sttsPWVhvXEZAp-7XQNLL2Ijw&s)
The whole reason to be anywhere near Kenora or Thunder Bay is for world class fishing. The only reason I'd go to those cities is for an emergency.Like my buddy last 2X up in Ontario he ended up in the ER. He carved himself up filleting some walleye one time and almost bled out.Then this year he somehow backed into the fire pit his B.i.L was making clearing debris around the family cabin.This last one he had to get like 3-4 seperate treatments - and he wasn't drinking either time.
Like my buddy last 2X up in Ontario he ended up in the ER. He carved himself up filleting some walleye one time and almost bled out.Then this year he somehow backed into the fire pit his B.i.L was making clearing debris around the family cabin.This last one he had to get like 3-4 seperate treatments - and he wasn't drinking either time.my advice is to start drinking heavily!
Some people just can't handle their liquor.Don't be too hard on yourself,you're doing just fine. Go have a Left Coast IPA on me,I'll have an Oktoberfest and FF gets a Bud Light,CD can have what ever grape squeezings Costco is peddling
Other people can't function, liquor or not.
We call these people "the masses".
Adirondack Forty-SixersThat's pretty cool. Had no idea about upstate NY until my early 20's when i got the chance to go up to Lake George a few time, which lead to exploring that area. Absolutely beautiful. A lot of cool, quaint little towns
The Adirondack Forty-Sixers is a club whose members have successfully climbed all 46 of the traditionally recognized High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains in New York. The first "46ers" devised the criteria for the club in the early 20th century, selecting only those summits that rise more than 4,000 ft (1,219 m) above sea level and have at least 300 ft (91 m) of vertical rise on all sides. Some take the challenge further and re-climb all the peaks in winter.
I discovered this quaint overlook in Kaibab NF north of Jacob Lake, which is the North Rim turnoff. It's the best view of the "Grand Staircase" that you are going to find; a series of cliffs that are each a different color. Well you can pretty much see all of Southern Utah from that overlook, from Pine Mountain in St George to Navajo mountain out by Lake Powell and everything in between.
(https://dyeclan.com/outdooractivities/funplaces/lefevre-overlook/20220402_125015.jpg)
(https://dyeclan.com/outdooractivities/funplaces/lefevre-overlook/20220402_124855.jpg)
It's a perspective you can't get by actually visiting the monument, where you drive across the entire thing and wonder "where in the Hell is this grand staircase?"
Sitting in the Charlotte airport after a flight on a 737 from Omaha.Gonna be cold up there.
Reminds me how much I dislike flying.
After a mile walk to my next gate (which I don't mind) I'll wait over 2 hours for the flight to Walton beach.
Omaha and Charlotte airports tore up for refurbish construction.
Very full of unhappy people
just as well, I'd be tempted to find a golf courseI haven't been able to play in about a month. I got a membership Five Iron Golf in downtown Indy. It's fun and is an acceptable substitute but I'd rather be doing the real thing.
Bonfire tonight here, I know how to stay warm
Gonna be 77 here.Same here. Possible difference is that it was 45 here when I woke up tho...
I love airport bars.The wife and I always find people to talk with at a bar. And there is always great people watching
The wife and I always find people to talk with at a bar. And there is always great people watchingExactly. There's something about airports and airport bars-- the energy, the air of anticipation, or even dread-- I find it interesting and enjoyable.
Yeah there's nothing more disappointing than hearing about a great new beer bar or brewpub and then seeing that although they have 40 taps on the wall, 35 of them are some form of IPA. I've turned around and walked straight out of places like that before.I've stumbled out of some places like that before...
I've stumbled out of some places like that before...blech :)
...I can't really function after trying about 10 or more of those IPAs, much less 35!
this was in Charlotte airport......... I checked their taps and wasn't impressedAdmittedly their beer list on the web site is a little bit "meh".
of course, not an IPA guy
(https://i.imgur.com/zRQWGvd.png)
https://www.sycamorebrew.com/our-brews/ (https://www.sycamorebrew.com/our-brews/)
Exactly. There's something about airports and airport bars-- the energy, the air of anticipation, or even dread-- I find it interesting and enjoyable.Ask CD nicely and he'll take you up in the crop duster think it was previously empoyed as a Sopwith Camel
(https://i.imgur.com/NVfFiRA.png)The only one I've been to is Jackpot. It's the only town in Nevada that officially operates on Mountain Time instead of Pacific Time.
$600 is a nice chunk to walk out with of course.Considering that our trip was about 90% paid for by the vendor I thought it was very nice. They paid for the flight, hotel, some of our meals, and had events planned for us with free drinks and food. So yeah, it was really nice.
Ten Curiosities about the Republic of Chile:Bollocks I say nobody lives there so how would they know if it rained? Any data collecting stations would probably evaporate if any did spritz down,they'd never get there on time to realize or witness it
2. **The Driest Desert in the World**: The Atacama Desert, located in northern Chile, is the driest place on Earth, with some areas that haven't seen rain in centuries.
Ten Curiosities about the Republic of Chile:
1. **The Lone Star Flag**: Chile's flag is similar to that of Texas, USA. Both designs share similarities due to the influence of other nations' flags during their independence.
Portugal... No.I loved Portugal. A nice relaxed vibe. Nice people. Excellent sightseeing. Good food. Portuguese green wine is great too.
I loved Portugal. A nice relaxed vibe. Nice people. Excellent sightseeing. Good food. Portuguese green wine is great too.Agree.
That show was not funnyI watched a couple early on and found it boring and unfunny. I watched a few years later and started to "get it". It has some funny moments.
I'm a big fan of musical theater-- I have no desire to see that, ever.It was "alright". Better than a few other things we've seen (like Mean Girls). Decently nostalgic. Sorta fun.
I had the package here in Austin for many years, but over time it just ended up being too much crap like this, and Mean Girls, so a couple years back I finally canceled.That's why we haven't bought season tickets for Hennepin Theater Trust. Maybe 1 show a year we've heard of, then nothing but jukebox musicals (MJ, Tina, etc).
More Chicago or Rent or Les Mis or Phantom, less Mean Girls or Back To The Future or Beetlejuice.
And I'm a HUGE Beetlejuice fan, too. But I saw the stage production and... no. Just... no.
I had the package here in Austin for many years, but over time it just ended up being too much crap like this, and Mean Girls, so a couple years back I finally canceled.I actually enjoyed Beetlejuice. That was in our package this last time. Granted I probably haven't seen the movie for 30 years, so it's not like I'm a huge fan. I could see if you're a huge fan, it might be like sacrilege...
More Chicago or Rent or Les Mis or Phantom, less Mean Girls or Back To The Future or Beetlejuice.
And I'm a HUGE Beetlejuice fan, too. But I saw the stage production and... no. Just... no.
I'm the guy who went to see Hamilton and hated it, wanted to walk out but didn't.I get it.
(https://media2.giphy.com/media/ux8oEeJoOtNyXaiR7u/giphy.gif?cid=6c09b952bo9zrazzryi7h9zwzl28a1rq9md3a1ckgv7vxtfn&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)I will NOT!
So, while I whine about having no French bistros near us, I ran across this place, in the Four Seasons near us, with ambivalent reviews.
Menus | Brasserie Margot in Atlanta, GA (https://www.brasseriemargot.com/menus/#dinner)
The menu looks French, to me. We haven't been, it's pricey. We've been to their bar which my stepson really likes a lot, it's also pricey, go figure, Four Seasons and all. It's an interesting building, the lower floors are the hotel and the uppers are condos, pricey condos.
Above The Four Seasons Condos For Sale (https://condos.aboveatlanta.com/i/above-the-four-seasons-condos-for-sale)
So, while I whine about having no French bistros near us, I ran across this place, in the Four Seasons near us, with ambivalent reviews.When we got married in Florence, my wife had her hair styled at the spa at the Four Seasons. I was waiting and reading my kindle, so I ordered a Peroni. Yeah, that 11.2 oz beer was 19 Euro. I only had one :57:
Menus | Brasserie Margot in Atlanta, GA (https://www.brasseriemargot.com/menus/#dinner)
The menu looks French, to me. We haven't been, it's pricey. We've been to their bar which my stepson really likes a lot, it's also pricey, go figure, Four Seasons and all. It's an interesting building, the lower floors are the hotel and the uppers are condos, pricey condos.
Above The Four Seasons Condos For Sale (https://condos.aboveatlanta.com/i/above-the-four-seasons-condos-for-sale)
I'm getting to where I prefer going where I know it'll be solid and as expected.yup, like buffalo wild wings
Daughters are wondering if San Fran will measure up to the filth of Portland - I'd rather they not think soUhh, I'm pretty sure SF will exceed the filth of Portland. With plenty of room to spare.
I was planning to ditch the rental car this afternoon and uber the last 3 days in the city......... maybe not?Depends on what you want to see. If you plan to spend a day at Golden Gate Park, you don't need a car, but there are some long walks in there. But if you are mixing that with the Presidio or Palace of the Legion of Honor, I think you'd like the flexibility of the car. If you plan to spend time out near the Embarcadero and Fisherman's Wharf, I would take Uber. Same for the Mission District.
Still just as good, once you get used to being knee deep in poop and hypodermic needles.At Civic Center I can see the point, and on Mission Street between 14th and 26th (less so the adjacent streets). I'm in the financial district 4-5 times a week. Either I'm conditioned to it, or it's just not nearly that bad. Obviously I think the latter. The Avenues (west side of the City), the Marina, Pacific Heights? Hardly at all. Visitors don't go to Visitacion Valley, Bayview, or Hunter's Point.
much prettier than baitwow that seriously looks so good. Being in Ohio, sushi isn't really a thing. There's a couple places that are somewhat decent, but there's zero comparison to living coastal somewhere in the world. My days in Singapore I probably gobbled it 5 days a week. This plate here looks ridiculously good and fresh
[img width=500 height=374.987]https://i.imgur.com/F0XHXbc.jpeg[/img]
top row, right to left, wasabi was hot, sea urchin, duck eggs, fatty tuna
fatty tuna was my fav
the bone on my plate is a beef rib
the most surprising part was that I didn't ask for a fork
much prettier than baitGoodness. I would destroy that.
(https://i.imgur.com/F0XHXbc.jpeg)
top row, right to left, wasabi was hot, sea urchin, duck eggs, fatty tuna
fatty tuna was my fav
the bone on my plate is a beef rib
the most surprising part was that I didn't ask for a fork
Goodness. I would destroy that.sorry, no duck eggs
Golden Boy Pizza did not disappoint(https://i.imgur.com/pPLwRAY.jpeg)
Pictures at 11
half garlic clam & half peperoni comboPepperoni pizza for breakfast?
(https://i.imgur.com/7P9s3lq.jpeg)
If you had to eat the same meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week, what would you pick?Caesar salad, King Crab Legs, baked potato, asparagus.
Would you allow yourself to be influenced by the egg lobby?
We've been away for nearly three weeks, glad to be home, though it's a dreary day here.Cincy, did you play college ball? Or any other level?
January is "baseball week" for me, I still try and play some, I have a lot of fun. We first went to a condo in Orlando so I'd be somewhat assured of weather in which I could run and workout some more. It started getting cool of course, and when we got to North Port it was bordering on chilly, but we had no rain like last year. We had 63 players at Camp "B", the second of two, 6 were new (rookies) and 57 of us were returnees (vets), some like me with more than ten camps.
The coaches (ex-pros, neat guys) have an "eval day" where we go through stations, they look at pitching and hitting mostly (off a machine). I had not hit nor caught a thrown ball since last year's camp. I wondered how my new "eyes" would function, which turned out to be "better but still not great". I need some time on a hitting machine before I go, I tend to pull off the ball.
I got on what turned out to be a fun group but we lost both games the first day which basically cements your fate, two teams ended 6-1 so we were already out of the CG in effect. I mostly played first base and did fine, at least I'm a tall target. The runners mostly are slow so at 1B you can pull of the bag usually to catch a short hop etc. and get back in time. The average age is around 50, three guys are older than me, some are in the 30s and can still play and run pretty well. We went 1-1 the next day and then won the rest of our games. We played a night game in the main stadium which was pretty neat, I got to pitch some and did "OK", I was less happy with my efforts than my coaches claimed they were. I struck out the first batter than then things kind of went to pot a bit, I made a throwing error trying to lob the ball to first, stupid play on my part.
In our final game, I got a hit and the next batter hit a "gapper" and I had to run hard first to home and twinged a hammy a bit rounding third. I kind of shook it off, but the last day everyone is hurting, me less than many. Probably ten percent of players by then are unable to run at all. My next at bat I swung hard and missed and the hammy went kind of "sproing". I backed away and tried to take a swing and basically couldn't, so I begged off, but there is no rule apparently, so I said I'd stay in a take pitches. The game was tied with two men on late in the game and two out, maybe I'd walk. The pitcher, who is a cool dude, saw this and told me he'd throw a cookie down the middle which he did and somehow I roped one down the RF line (I'm left handed batting). I had a courtesy runner, so I didn't have to make it to second myself. So, we won, I felt pretty good about that and thanked the pitcher for the cookie. It was my best hit of the week. The harder hit balls I had before that were mostly "atem balls".
So, it's akin to hitting a great tee shot on 18 after a frustrating day at the links. I'll be back next year. Ha. It's my incentive to "stay in shape" year round. If you like playing baseball, I highly recommend the experience. A lot of teams have camps before spring training and they all are fun I hear.
This is very Nice.I fit in that category
Nice bans cruise ships, saying 'low-cost clientele have no place here' (https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/nice-bans-cruise-ships-saying-low-cost-clientele-have-no-place-here/ar-AA1xVF7s?ocid=msedgntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=378ccb3a64474c85a684fae04e0c6e8f&ei=11)
I've mentioned going to Nice to the wife a few times and she's just flat said NO. We have been briefly in the past. I didn't get much of a take on it.Going to go up to Avignon visit the palais de papes, the roman aquaducts. Been there once before but that was 1977 I went on a tour of france with my French club while in High School, saw paris, avignon, Nimes, Nice, Monte Carlo. Memories are fading time to renew them. Did Paris last year, will hit some of the others this year.
I do prefer smaller cities and villages in general, Saumur was quite nice I thought. And they have the Musee des Blindes.
Bayeux was very nice.
We're off to Boston Tuesday for a symphony event. My wife wants lobster (which I personally don't particularly like). Any suggestions? We're staying downtown "Back Bay".Wife says "legal seafood" but anywhere near the aquarium should have good lobster
We're off to Boston Tuesday for a symphony event. My wife wants lobster (which I personally don't particularly like). Any suggestions? We're staying downtown "Back Bay".(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/10/08/article-2214712-15696DE8000005DC-887_634x523.jpg)
Man, Paris in springtime is cold enough, but Paris in winter? Oof.I’m tough. Fewer tourists.
Paris in springtime sucked. Cold and cloudy and rainy. No thanks.I'll suffer the weather to avoid people.
Heck I've been in late May and it was still too cool for me.
Had a gorgeous week in Phoenix this week. Two solid golf rounds to boot. Cool mornings, warm afternoon.Only two rounds?
my weather has not been acceptable latelyPlenty of space in badgerfan's neighborhood. Bwar's, too. They both have perfect weather!
I really should move somewhere
Plenty of space in badgerfan's neighborhood. Bwar's, too. They both have perfect weather!No it's terrible.
Not reading all 144 pages; anyone here have an opinion on Cabo San Lucas?I know badgerfan likes it.
Not reading all 144 pages; anyone here have an opinion on Cabo San Lucas?Cabo is a nice place. When we go we rent a house in Pedregal. It's a good base and we can get to town any time we want. We hit up Costco and the fishermen and generally cook our meals.
6 degrees in Paris and sunny. No wind.Celsius?
Kelvin.Damn, I thought it's been cold here in Minnesota.
We've had more days below freezing in Feb/Jan and I don't think it's particularly closesending a cold blast your way
sending a cold blast your way16-18-20-22-24-doesn't matter anymore this is like I recall it use to be.Only haven't gotten hammered by snow.Been a sheet of Ice on my drive for 5 days,tried calcium cloride it burned some holes but refroze later. Suns been out but in low-mid 20s.Can't find anyone interested in Ice Fishing - old fooks
supposed to warm up to 28 this afternoon - but windy
16-18-20-22-24-doesn't matter anymore this is like I recall it use to be.Only haven't gotten hammered by snow.Been a sheet of Ice on my drive for 5 days,tried calcium cloride it burned some holes but refroze later. Suns been out but in low-mid 20s.Can't find anyone interested in Ice Fishing - old fooksyou need some below zero stuff
Paris in February ....The second a result of the first, obviously.
Clearly not the best time to go though there aren't many tourists.
Yeah, when I travel I definitely want to be the exact opposite of the Ugly American.
we still managed to encounter several noisy impolite "ugly" Americans in restaurants and hotel lobbies, it's embarassing.
In one case, we're in a restaurant and a group of them nearish us were just very loud and boisterous. One had his phone with a lound rung tone, and it often would ring and he'd apparently look at it for 3-4 rings before answering, on voice, out loud. Then his group got even louder to talk over him. Mostly the groups were being very inconsiderate of others with noisy conversations.so, like most folks from NYC or Chicago?
Some people have loud voices that carry, I don't know why, maybe they are deafish.
Yeah, when I travel I definitely want to be the exact opposite of the Ugly American.GIs shouldn't have left "Kilroy was here" all across Western Europe
- One of our last days in an Uber in Dublin, MIL is asking the Uber driver in an incredulous tone "What's with all the graffiti?" Really? That's what you, who grew up in LA County, want to ask? You think European cities won't have graffiti?
Speaking of, in the AA lounge and some family has three young kids running around screaming.They should be kicked out.
Southwest Airlines ending the free checked bag policy... FFS.Massive strategic error.
We never check bags. Even when we were gone for 30 days last year, we both took one carry on and one backpack each for all our things. We did laundry twice during the trip. I just don't trust the airlines not to lose our baggage and I hate waiting to get my baggage after the flight.not many bags are lost
Yeah I don't mind checking bags. The wait is rarely THAT long and the only time the airline has ever lost my bag was my first trip to France, 30 years ago.Yep. For my wife it isn't so much the quantity of stuff she packs, it's that there's all sort of makeup, and she likes to have her own shampoo/conditioner brands rather than what the hotels supply, so there's liquids that either can't be checked or would be a PITA to pull out at security.
And when I'm traveling with my i s c & a aggie wife, checking bags is the only option. It can be a 2-day weekend trip and I'm still going to have to get out our personal baggage scale to make sure she didn't break 50 lbs.
We check bags - we have top priority with AA, so they always come out first.Have you traveled so much as to make Million Miler?
Not a million miler, but enough combined with the credit card that we get the top tier or second tier every year.Yeah, my one big year was the year that I crossed the Pacific multiple times. Those who were at 1M and 2M were crossing the Pacific multiple times a year for... many years.
I think I'm at 450K miles. Doubt I'll get to a million.
Yeah, my one big year was the year that I crossed the Pacific multiple times. Those who were at 1M and 2M were crossing the Pacific multiple times a year for... many years.
Why not engineer a tunnel through the Earth?The whole liquid hot magma thing is a bit of a constraint...
not many bags are lostMy sophomore year in college we were playing at Northern Iowa. The entire team's bags were lost. They didn't show up until just before we left the hotel for the game. Somehow despite all that chaos we only lost by 1. The UNI Dome was an awful place to play.
the wait at baggage is usually 10 minutes or so
The whole liquid hot magma thing is a bit of a constraint...you wouldn't be going directly through the core in order to connect SoCal with Asia.
you wouldn't be going directly through the core in order to connect SoCal with Asia.The Asians might prefer that route.
In hotel. Caught the Prop Crew off guard it is very foggy. Longest flight of my life. 15:20 hours.sounds horrible
My sophomore year in college we were playing at Northern Iowa. The entire team's bags were lost. They didn't show up until just before we left the hotel for the game. Somehow despite all that chaos we only lost by 1. The UNI Dome was an awful place to play.it was loud?
I honestly can’t imagine how you could get by with just a carry on. The only time I’ve done that is when we flew from Houston to Dallas and drove back the same day ( we picked up a new truck ).I don't fly enough to be well versed on all the rules for carry-on. Liquids and stuff, clear bags...I could read up.......
I honestly can’t imagine how you could get by with just a carry on. The only time I’ve done that is when we flew from Houston to Dallas and drove back the same day ( we picked up a new truck ).
I don’t travel often, maybe fly somewhere once a year
not many bags are lostSorry but every time I have flown with someone who checked bags it has been longer than 10 minutes.
the wait at baggage is usually 10 minutes or so
Sorry but every time I have flown with someone who checked bags it has been longer than 10 minutes.Well sure.
My distrust of luggage goes back to my dad. He flew out to visit and his luggage never arrived. Airline said they would find it and let him know. Ultimately they told him it must have been stolen. Nothing like arriving somewhere and having nothing then having to get everything new
corporal punishmentThe whole "caning" thing back in the 1990s was Singapore, not South Korea.
Now in Keelung, Taiwan. Another potential war zone. Sitting next to three navy ships.Hope you enjoy Taiwan! How long? Just one day?
Hong Kong is impressive.great food, what about great wine
Buc-ee's billboard between Tucson and PhoenixFounded in my hometown.
(https://i.imgur.com/ArpS35u.jpeg)
so, you have a billionaire in your hometown?Yes. I don’t know him, but I know his brother.
nope - town of 600 in NW IowaWe got billionaires around every corner down here in the ATX.
Heading to Hawaii tomorrow morning. 7 days 5 islands.Wow. Lots of packing and unpacking.
Wow. Lots of packing and unpacking.On a cruise
Ah the closet Longhorn family, getting married in Austin. I approve!yes, last night on 6th st.
USS arizona memorialWere you able to go on it? Curious the feedback if so. Was one of the most somber places I have ever been and that includes some of the killing fields of the Khmer Rouge and tough places in Vietnam.
(https://i.imgur.com/uaIOmxG.jpeg)
Dirty 6th is pretty nasty. Tons of entertainment districts in Austin now, that are more suited to respectable folks like you and me.5 block walk to the hotel at 1:30am - fun stuff
Were you able to go on it? Curious the feedback if so. Was one of the most somber places I have ever been and that includes some of the killing fields of the Khmer Rouge and tough places in Vietnam.Yeah got on. They allow you to take pictures in the memorial just didn't feel right for me to so
Did you take in the presentation?Yes and walk all the museums.
Zowie it's MauiFrom here that looks like Kahalui. Is Lahaina still shut down?
(https://i.imgur.com/xKSE8p2.png)
From here that looks like Kahalui. Is Lahaina still shut down?It is kahalui don't know about lahaina.
In Thailand headed to Bangkok. Interesting stuff.Dirty af.
KauaiI love that spot and that island in general. It's my favorite.
(https://i.imgur.com/Lvx5hlp.png)
We really enjoy Hendry in Napa, if your dance card isn’t already too full. Decent price point for really nice wine.Dang. Looking at the location it'd be a great stop at the end of our day as we're starting further north and then coming back towards downtown. Unfortunately our last reservation is 3:45-4:45 so won't have time. Appreciate a rec tho.
I love that spot and that island in general. It's my favorite.Just stayed on the beach. Heading home today. In 2 weeks I go on a 38 day excursion across the Atlantic to Lisbon then across the northern Mediterranean a couple of days in Egypt and ending in Istanbul
Go up to Hanalei if you can.
You cruising out of Miami?Out of San Juan
The only thing more boring than talking about golf... isFIFY.playingwatching golf.
The only thing more boring than talking about golf... is playing golf.
Posting threads about your past playlists is a little bit more boring than golf.Another poster asked me to list them. Nobody's forcing you to read that thread.
Arrived Singapore. Was at sea for earthquakeHope all is well.
Had a decent lunch at some hotel. It was unlike Thai food in the US.There use to be a hole in the wall Thai Restaurant in Oak Ridge, friend of mine who served in Thailand said it was authentic. I know the food was good.
Another poster asked me to list them. Nobody's forcing you to read that thread.Yeah, I know. I was just horsing around a little bit.
bummer, DudeSorry playing golf with my wife is one of my favorite things
live & learn
G-entlemen
O-nly
L-adies
F-orbidden
it's a little bit tongue in cheek although whenever women are around there's more chance of getting myself in troubleWell sure but that's true for you in every situation, not just whilst playing golf. :)
My Dad never trusted golf once he worked his way up to foreman at a chemical processing plant when we lived near Houston. He always had one or two employees limited or out of work due to documented "back conditions." They would wince up the steps, take longer smoke breaks, and avoid the heavy machinery because of their bad backs. Then come Saturday my Dad would notice for that one day a week they were perfectly fine. "Must be something about hole 9 radiating healing powers." Grinning, open cans of beer in the cupholders of their golf carts, driving golf balls hundreds of yards behind the full strength of their "bad backs."Single plane swing not as hard on the back.
craziest???
Tour 18 in Flower Mound, TX - a simulation of famous holes from famous courses
https://tour18-dallas.com/ (https://tour18-dallas.com/)
crazy difficult - The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
crazy exclusive - Sutton Bay Golf at Agar, SD
crazy Hollywood - Rolling Hills Golf Club (now the Grande Oaks Golf Club) in Davie, Florida. (Scene of Caddy Shack)
crazy famous - Torrey Pines
Driving through the greater Los Angeles area over the weekend, and stopped in San Bernardino to step foot inside First Original McDonald's Museum. It's not the first McDonald's location, but rather a museum to explore earliest McDonalds locations which were started in the Inland Empire, although a Des Plaines Illinois location also claims to be the first McDonalds.Been there. Grew up in DP IL.
The museum can be categorized according to two different kinds of exhibits featuring either displays of McDonald's from around the world - Finland, Brazil, Canada, Vietnam - or displays of Happy Meals dating well back through my childhood - Power Rangers, Rescue Rangers, Super Mario, Garfield.
(https://i.imgur.com/4GVoDgB.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3VEkITz.jpeg)
My Dad never trusted golf once he worked his way up to foreman at a chemical processing plant when we lived near Houston. He always had one or two employees limited or out of work due to documented "back conditions." They would wince up the steps, take longer smoke breaks, and avoid the heavy machinery because of their bad backs. Then come Saturday my Dad would notice for that one day a week they were perfectly fine. "Must be something about hole 9 radiating healing powers." Grinning, open cans of beer in the cupholders of their golf carts, driving golf balls hundreds of yards behind the full strength of their "bad backs."Which part of Houston and which plant? Just curious.
how many? Days? Hours? miles?About 800 miles or so. We went from St George out to Lake Powell/Page, AZ/Glen Canyon on Sunday, seeing the Pink Coral Sand Dunes, Lee's Ferry, Navajo Bridge, and Horseshoe Bend along the way.
About 800 miles or so. We went from St George out to Lake Powell/Page, AZ/Glen Canyon on Sunday, seeing the Pink Coral Sand Dunes, Lee's Ferry, Navajo Bridge, and Horseshoe Bend along the way.hopefully, someday I'll ask you about this when planning my trip
Long story short: we did a giant lap around Lake Powell.
About 800 miles or so. We went from St George out to Lake Powell/Page, AZ/Glen Canyon on Sunday, seeing the Pink Coral Sand Dunes, Lee's Ferry, Navajo Bridge, and Horseshoe Bend along the way.That's a pretty great lap and something I'd like to do on our next trip out there.
Day 2, we trekked across the Navajo Rez, through Kayenta and Monument Valley Tribal Park. We stayed the night in a town just of the Rez called Mexican Hat, named after a rock formation that looks like a giant sombrero. I saw a wild horse taking a drink down by the river. The town only had 21 people, and we met about half of them while we were staying there.
The next day we saw the goosenecks, Bears Ears (Obama's National Monument), Valley of the Gods, Natural Bridges, the north end of Glenn Canyon, then we spent the night in Torrey after visiting Capital Reef NP.
The final day was the legendary Utah Rt 12, which is widely regarded as one of the most scenic drives in the world, and rightfully so. It starts by traversing Boulder Mtn in the Dixie NF. Then it's the main road across the Grand Staircase. After that it traverses Bryce Canyon. Then it drops down Red Rock Canyon.
After that we crossed Cedar Mtn, where it dropped all the way down to 28 degrees. Then back at the house, where it was 87 degrees.
Long story short: we did a giant lap around Lake Powell.
What cruise lines did you guys use?Ncl. 36 days 3 different cruises going from San Juan and ending in Istanbul. Hitting the northern Mediterranean and eygpt in between.
Some other broad observations about "The World":I can relate to no 10. I first want to say so you can't read as well as not being able to walk and then give them a shove out of the way. It is just as bad with people with walkers.The problem is ubiquitous on the long cruises I have been on. The reason we are doing all this traveling now is we don't want to be those people who have no business trying to travel in the future.
1. US "culture" is pervasive, really. We saw KFCs and McDs, and 7-11s etc. everywhere (except Vietnam).
2. Another sign of this, nearly every sign of note was bilingual with English. Everywhere. Even in Arabia. Street signs, commercial signs, everything.
3. Another sign, western style dress is pervasive. The partial exception was Qatar where a fair number of locals wore "Arab style dress". Women were in black, usually veiled, sometimes completely except eyes. In India, Thailand, Taiwan, HK, 99% are in western attire.
4. Toyota really dominates the car industry in Asia.
5. The immigration prodecures in India are ... difficult. We often had to wait in long lines to have proof of visa scanned and then have backpacks scanned though the person reading the scanners often was not paying any attention. I walked through any number of magnetometers that went off and nobody said anything or checked me in India. We had four stops in India, same thing in each one. They checked a paper that had QR codes on it, we didn't have passports there.
6. The cruise ship, or country, will often take our passports from us, not something all that wonderful, but it works.
7. Most people "out there" are pretty nice and considerate, a few are oblivious to their surroundings. These will block obvious choke points in airports or busses for no reason. Some folks in a buffet line will just stand there looking for "hours" as if the items are going to change, not letting others have access.
8. These huges cities are, well, huge. I guess you get used to it, many have 30+ story apartment buildings for miles, all looking the same.
9. The employees in the travel industry have to put up with ... "us", often it's not fun, at all.
10. Too many Americans are simply fat, to put it bluntly, and unable to get around very well. On many tours clearly marked "not for wheelchaired folks", we had fat wheelchaired folks holding everything up. Some could walk, a bit, they just wanted to ride.
I've been to CDG. I thought Lisbon was worse just because it felt so outdated.Kansas City has a new airport
Worst airport I've ever been to: Kansas City.
I think Mark Twain may have said travel is the enemy of prejudice, or somesuch.(https://i.imgur.com/F7Mvxzt.jpeg)
A fun tidbit, our very first bus excursion on the second cruise I got seated by some woman not my wife (who was across on another set of seats). The woman said her name was "Karen" and asked me if we cruised a lot, I said about once a year, whereupon she unleashed a tirade about how awful Norwegian was and she'd never cruise with them again, "It's Oceania for me!!!", she said, as if I cared. The rest of the trip she was going on usually directed at others in her group about how bad things were.No shit?
I was obviously ignoring whatever she directed at me so I was partially spared but chuckling at the same time. I never even knew what had incensed her so much. I did hear from some others that the boarding process in Singapore was lengthy. Anyway, Day One on a 15 day cruise and she was already in a terrible mood. I didn't see her again fortunately.
Maybe Oceania is great, I don't know, to some extent you get what you pay for, the smaller cruise lines like Regent or Oceania no doubt are more premium, and cost more as well. Norwegian is "mass market", generally speaking. Our upcoming NYC to Barcelona cruise is 16 days for under $7,000, including air fare, for a "club balcony suite". It's nice enough for us. That does not include alcohol, but you can't do an all expenses resort somewhere for less than that I suspect, under $500 a day per couple?
We're more interested in the ports of call than the luxury of the ship, it's just a Chevrolet to us.
All that said, I did enjoy our stay at the Conrad Seoul.
I laughed that her name is Karen.
Here is the result of some electrician's effort in Cochin:(https://media.tenor.com/ZUwcyLdN5sgAAAAM/vomit-jim-carrey.gif)
(https://i.imgur.com/FCOaJoU.jpeg)
That's an awesome pic. I really love navy warships. I don't love war, but the ships are just so cool.
I traveled to spend a golf weekend in KC with this crew............years ago - when the Huskers were decentGeez, pictures looked so different from back then, and I'm assuming that was from a digital camera. Good times.
Fearless, SkiCat, Jack, Uncle Skeeter, Entropy, & Little Big Matt
(https://i.imgur.com/Gx39dxP.jpeg)
4 Huskers, a Wildcat, and a Cowboy
Why travel at all? If you basically like where you live, why leave?My wife likes to travel for rest relaxation and the ocean. I like to travel for the history, I love museums, ruins, etc. I love dead languages and seeing the rosetta stone at the British museum was like seeing the holy grail. I could have spent days in the British Museum, the louvre and the vatican museum. This trip we are compromising. First part relaxing across the ocean, next part many historical site mixed in with relaxing days. Really looking forward to see the pyramids and the Sphinx and so much more.
Good question, one I ponder at times. Obviously, the basic answer is "Travel if you enjoy it." Kind of lame, but real I guess. I thing some travel so they have cocktail party convo. "I loved Phuket, you should go!!!". Meh. Probably not a lot of those around here. Another is of course to see places you've read about, often they look different than you imagined, for better or worse. You might like various museums. Trying "real food" can be fun. Meeting foreigners of course is interesting often as not. "They" can be quite different individually from characatures.
I like touring battlefields (my wife not so much). The layouts are nearly always very different from what I imagined from the books. The Normandy beachheads were quite different for example, Waterloo different because the landscape was "scraped" to create a monument to a prince who basically flubbed the thing. Gettysburg was both more spread out and more compact than I had realized from maps in books.
I like some museums, some are just overwhelming to me. I either want to spend a week there or just leave and never return.
My wife and I were chatting yesterday about how nice it is to be home, which is a good thing, we like it here. We were stuck here in COVID and it mostly was fine once things started opening up. We had several trips delayed.
We didn't engage in "travel baseball" when my kids were young. That sounds exhausting, to me. Traveling to play golf sounds like a neat thing, if I still played golf, and it can be pricey of course.
Why do you like to travel, if you do?
Lisbon, PortugalI'd like to know what you think of the food scene. I was like CD - unimpressed.
(https://i.imgur.com/KFYpq7W.jpeg)
Here is the result of some electrician's effort in Cochin:Looks like the Philippines
(https://i.imgur.com/FCOaJoU.jpeg)
Watch out for monkeys.They scared the crap out of my wife
Without access to the exec lounge, I wouldn't prefer Hilton over other chains or options. They give one "free" buffet breakfast and basically "free" dinner, if you want, with whatever wine you want. The Conrads in Seoul and Tokyo were amazing. And I might have enough points to stay "free" on occasion.we have 4 nights at the waldorf in Orlando being comped because of points.
possibly somewhat similar to the tail of the dragonI would say not at all.
This is a pretty represenative photo of TotD. You face this for 11 miles with 318 curves, back and forth. In a car to me it's boring. You're glad when it ends.In the right car, at the right speed... Not so boring.
(https://i.imgur.com/2ZpyW6Q.jpeg)