Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

[state of hockey]

Spare me the Kepler-like self-loathing never mind the Gopher remark. I didn't rip them and I didn't insult your mother so what's your freaking problem?

To be clear I'm referring more so to Euro travelers here, Bahrain, South Africa, Paraguay, Peru, a few countries in Western Europe as well as the Philippines (observations I've made going on 30+ years) for instance and not all of them.

Have you hung out with them in the places I have? As in outside their milieu? Manama, Marakesh, Sun City, Bangkok, Bogota, Muscat, Alexandria, Dubai, Manila, etc.?

So I know what I've seen quite repeatedly and I don't dislike them at all just noting an observation.

[edit] Oh and Americans I run into abroad are just as knowledgeable on local politics as the Euros are about our affairs.

Bingo. The Europeans and Asians I met in Israel were just as clumsy and clueless as I was.

Tourists are more likely to be one-dimensional than the people that live there. Pretty obvious. Not sure why there's an argument about it.

 

[SJHovey]

Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

Tourists are more likely to be one-dimensional than the people that live there. Pretty obvious. Not sure why there's an argument about it.

It might also be that they're not so much one dimensional as the fact that they're on vacation. I personally don't go on vacation hoping to talk about Trump or American politics with other tourists or the locals. If people bring it up, I might briefly engage, but I usually try find an escape from the conversation, if I can.

 

[state of hockey]

Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

Went to Brescia today. What a gem. Never heard of it, but it's metro area has 1.2 million people. At the foot on the Italian Alps, so the views are incredible. They've done an unbelievable job preserving Roman ruins there. It is also where the Mille Miglia (thousand mile over-the-road race) started and ended.

One more fun fact: It is where the headquarters for Beretta is found. (Okay, it's technically in a suburb.)

 

[manurespreader]

Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

Went to Brescia today. What a gem. Never heard of it, but it's metro area has 1.2 million people. At the foot on the Italian Alps, so the views are incredible. They've done an unbelievable job preserving Roman ruins there. It is also where the Mille Miglia (thousand mile over-the-road race) started and ended.

One more fun fact: It is where the headquarters for Beretta is found. (Okay, it's technically in a suburb.)

Wonderful spot. I have a framed picture at home from the 1951 MM starting line. Ferrari 335 Scaglietti Spyder I believe..

Now as far as the rest of this goes. Far be it form be to cast aspersions on a hockey fan, but I work in Europe and I vacation in Europe and i'm kind of like Mookie, there more often than I care to be really, but my experience has been that the average European are significantly more aware of American politics than the average American is of European politics. With some exceptions of course. They generally are better mannered as well. At least the ones I hang out with who are business people. But whatever, it's not that big a deal to get upset over.

 

[leswp1]

Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

Wonderful spot. I have a framed picture at home from the 1951 MM starting line. Ferrari 335 Scaglietti Spyder I believe..

Now as far as the rest of this goes. Far be it form be to cast aspersions on a hockey fan, but I work in Europe and I vacation in Europe and i'm kind of like Mookie, there more often than I care to be really, but my experience has been that the average European are significantly more aware of American politics than the average American is of European politics. With some exceptions of course. They generally are better mannered as well. At least the ones I hang out with who are business people. But whatever, it's not that big a deal to get upset over.

This is certainly true of the European folk I know compared to the US folks around where I live. Granted I live in a ridiculously insular part of Mass but~ these people would struggle to find where countries were on a European map never mind know politically what is going on outside of our borders. They are very proud they don't need to know that stuff. I find it painful.

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

Finally got to the site and memorial at the River Kwai. Very humbled and moved by the enormity of it all.

Regarding my observations from before my commentary said nothing about intelligence or anything of the sort so it's a bizarre tangent.

 

[state of hockey]

Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

Went to Bergamo today. Northern Italy is just plain ridiculous. Every time I turn a corner, breath-taking view. I think my least favorite area had been where we have been staying, Milan. Big, vibrant city though. And it's proximity to the smaller more picturesque towns has been convenient.

Bellagio/Lake Como win this trip though, but that was expected. The most surprising city for me was Brescia.

 

[manurespreader]

Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

Update to security. Madrid has completely remodeld the security area and it's a breeze now compared to last year. Saves over an hour in time and at least as quick as Amsterdam now. Very helpful. You still have horrendous traffic outside though.

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

Needed something in-between now and October, so I just booked Chicago for the last weekend of August. Palmer House Hilton had stupid cheap rates, CTA is easy for getting around, and I am craving a Portillo's hotdog and a Fontano's sub. It's been too long.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

Just got home on Sunday from Quebec City. Old QC is nice, much like a French city with shops all lined up on the streets, stone and brick streets, and so on. You can walk it without too much effort, though there are some steep hills. Mapping apps would give walking and driving estimates within the city, and they weren't much different; the city is made for pedestrians. Makes sense as most of that part of the city was built prior to the English taking control from France.

The local restaurants are pretty good, we only saw a single McDonald's and two Starbucks. There's a place called Le Cochon Dingue (translates to The Crazy Pig), a local chain that serves amazing breakfast food. Also, your coffee is included in the meal - coffee, espresso or latte. We ate there all but two of the mornings as it was less than 50 feet from our Air Bnb apartment.

Montmorency Falls, tallest waterfall in Canada, are just outside the city. You can take the stairs or a cable car to the top of the cliffs, and then use the footbridge to cross the falls.

Orleans Island, which is gorgeous, is just outside the city too, very close to the falls. It's about the size of Manhattan, but only 7,000 full-time residents live there. Lots of small farms and local chocolatiers, etc. can be found there.

Prices can be a bit high there when looking at the restaurant menus, but also remember to discount all listed prices by about 25% for the exchange rate to get a better feel for it. Sales taxes there are about 15%, which the locals will comment upon with a joke.

If you're interested in going there, then I would suggest just a long weekend. You could take longer, but would have to be very interested in learning the local history and taking those related tours.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

Any suggests on travel to Russia? It is looking more and more likely that I'll be going there. I'd be spending most of my time in, or nearby, the city of Tyumen, be there for 4-5 days. On my way back, I am hoping to have at least 1 day for an extended layover in Moscow.

 

[manurespreader]

Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

Any suggests on travel to Russia? It is looking more and more likely that I'll be going there. I'd be spending most of my time in, or nearby, the city of Tyumen, be there for 4-5 days. On my way back, I am hoping to have at least 1 day for an extended layover in Moscow.

If you go to an ATM be real careful no one is near by. They like to rob people who just got money out. I'd use cash whenever I can.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

I know some travelers over there for corporate reasons bring encrypted laptops, burner phones, and other peripherals they just wipe when they get home. Or in the case of phones just toss them.

Also, don’t have hookers pizz on you. Videos and whatnot.

 

[state of hockey]

Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

Get every insurance package they have on the rental.

 

[Greyeagle]

Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

"Gulag" does not translate to "Hilton".

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

I know some travelers over there for corporate reasons bring encrypted laptops, burner phones, and other peripherals they just wipe when they get home. Or in the case of phones just toss them.

Also, don’t have hookers pizz on you. Videos and whatnot.

I'll let corporate IT dictate what I do on that front.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

"Gulag" does not translate to "Hilton".

Funny, on google maps satellite view, there appear to be 2 gulags just south of the town I'm traveling to. Also, there is a Doubletree by Hilton in that town. I won't get the 2 confused.

And actually, looking at the streetview of the city, it seems very clean, and quite nice.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

If you go to an ATM be real careful no one is near by. They like to rob people who just got money out. I'd use cash whenever I can.

When traveling international, I almost always get cash before the trip, and then use that and my corporate card to pay for things during the trip.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

I'll let corporate IT dictate what I do on that front.

Consider leaving your personal phone at home.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

Consider leaving your personal phone at home.

Eh, I'm not too worried about it