Travel Thread

[maize]

North Dakota.

I was missing most of the NE states but when we went to Boston I caught them all.  I'm not sure why I'd make an effort to visit ND though.

I'm too far gone.

If you are at 49, why not just do it to complete the list? 

My Grandma was born in Bismarck. Military daughter. No, I have not been there.

[lrrps21]

North Dakota.

I was missing most of the NE states but when we went to Boston I caught them all.  I'm not sure why I'd make an effort to visit ND though.

I'm too far gone.

If you are at 49, why not just do it to complete the list? 

My Grandma was born in Bismarck. Military daughter. No, I have not been there.

Cincy isn't into lists. I agree with this.

I've been to 48. SD and HI. I actually was on a tarmac sitting in a hot as hell C-130 for 8 hours in HI. I still do not count it as I did not step foot on the ground. We'll probably vacation in HI at some point. Maybe next year. I have no reason to go to SD. Not even to make it 50. I've been to ND and two things stood out. One, there are not a lot of trees. Two the folks there like chocolate covered potato chips. The family I'm friends with sends a box of chocolate covered potato chips every Xmas. I have never tried them. I politely thank them and say "They are delicious". The people I give them to do say they are delicious, so I'm covered.

I'm currently at 68 countries. Next year 5 new ones. India being the top dog. My goal is to get to 100. The plan is to end the new countries with Easter Island. Then I'm fine with flights from Singapore - Japan - S. Korea - Thailand - Italy until I cash in my chips someday.

[maize]

North Dakota.

I was missing most of the NE states but when we went to Boston I caught them all.  I'm not sure why I'd make an effort to visit ND though.

I'm too far gone.

If you are at 49, why not just do it to complete the list? 

My Grandma was born in Bismarck. Military daughter. No, I have not been there.

Cincy isn't into lists. I agree with this.

I've been to 48. SD and HI. I actually was on a tarmac sitting in a hot as hell C-130 for 8 hours in HI. I still do not count it as I did not step foot on the ground. We'll probably vacation in HI at some point. Maybe next year. I have no reason to go to SD. Not even to make it 50. I've been to ND and two things stood out. One, there are not a lot of trees. Two the folks there like chocolate covered potato chips. The family I'm friends with sends a box of chocolate covered potato chips every Xmas. I have never tried them. I politely thank them and say "They are delicious". The people I give them to do say they are delicious, so I'm covered.

I'm currently at 68 countries. Next year 5 new ones. India being the top dog. My goal is to get to 100. The plan is to end the new countries with Easter Island. Then I'm fine with flights from Singapore - Japan - S. Korea - Thailand - Italy until I cash in my chips someday.

Well you are way ahead of me. I'm at 2 countries.... USA and Canada 

For "the states" as they say in Canada, I'd have to look at a map and do that. I don't consider me visiting LA during the Rodney King riots as an infant as "visiting California".

[lrrps21]

North Dakota.

I was missing most of the NE states but when we went to Boston I caught them all.  I'm not sure why I'd make an effort to visit ND though.

I'm too far gone.

If you are at 49, why not just do it to complete the list? 

My Grandma was born in Bismarck. Military daughter. No, I have not been there.

Cincy isn't into lists. I agree with this.

I've been to 48. SD and HI. I actually was on a tarmac sitting in a hot as hell C-130 for 8 hours in HI. I still do not count it as I did not step foot on the ground. We'll probably vacation in HI at some point. Maybe next year. I have no reason to go to SD. Not even to make it 50. I've been to ND and two things stood out. One, there are not a lot of trees. Two the folks there like chocolate covered potato chips. The family I'm friends with sends a box of chocolate covered potato chips every Xmas. I have never tried them. I politely thank them and say "They are delicious". The people I give them to do say they are delicious, so I'm covered.

I'm currently at 68 countries. Next year 5 new ones. India being the top dog. My goal is to get to 100. The plan is to end the new countries with Easter Island. Then I'm fine with flights from Singapore - Japan - S. Korea - Thailand - Italy until I cash in my chips someday.

Well you are way ahead of me. I'm at 2 countries.... USA and Canada 

For "the states" as they say in Canada, I'd have to look at a map and do that. I don't consider me visiting LA during the Rodney King riots as an infant as "visiting California".

If I had to do it all again, I'd skip on visiting the states. Better to see the world than Racine, WI. At least how I see it.

[zigbee]

Nothing wrong with visiting the US states AND seeing other nations.  I've done both and can say I really enjoy the US.  Michigan is one of the best states I've been to.  Thinking about my next trip for 2020 and may travel abroad.

[maize]

Nothing wrong with visiting the US states AND seeing other nations.  I've done both and can say I really enjoy the US.  Michigan is one of the best states I've been to.  Thinking about my next trip for 2020 and may travel abroad.

Go to the UP. You will love it, Mackinac Island doesn't count.

[lrrps21]

Nothing wrong with visiting the US states AND seeing other nations.  I've done both and can say I really enjoy the US.  Michigan is one of the best states I've been to.  Thinking about my next trip for 2020 and may travel abroad.

Go to the UP. You will love it, Mackinac Island doesn't count.

Been to both. Is that large crucifix of Jesus still around?

[cincydawg]

I liked the UP a lot when we visited.  In summer.

Would be good to post places we're been that might not occur to folks to visit (and perhaps vice versa).  One for me would be Greenville, SC (for a day).

[stxbuck]

Been to the UP. Booooooring,imo..........

[lrrps21]

Been to the UP. Booooooring,imo..........

Not only boring but waste of time. Just how I saw the place. It was a long time ago - 1980's.

[lrrps21]

One of my favorite places to stay is the Hotel New Grand in Yokohama, Japan. We stayed in the suite Gen. MacArthur used as a mini HQ. I was told Babe Ruth and Charlie Chaplin stayed at the hotel, too. I told the woman to add LRRPS to the list of cool dudes who stayed at the hotel.  We also stayed in the modern tower. It was nice.

One of the most overrated places I have stayed is the International Hotel of Dhahran in Saudi Arabia. The American Red Cross booked several rooms including a top tier room for Elizabeth Dole. She ended up staying in Kuwait City, so the brass 'volunteered' several of us to get on a UH 60 and go stay at the rooms since the rooms were already paid for. It was ok, but for the coin spent is was overrated. The worst part was the bath robe with the initials E.D. on it and the slippers in size 7 were non exchangeable. I gave them to some TCN (third world national). He seemed very happy. Filipino dude named Leo.

[ScarletHayes]

One of my favorite places to stay is the Hotel New Grand in Yokohama, Japan. We stayed in the suite Gen. MacArthur used as a mini HQ. I was told Babe Ruth and Charlie Chaplin stayed at the hotel, too. I told the woman to add LRRPS to the list of cool dudes who stayed at the hotel.  We also stayed in the modern tower. It was nice.

One of the most overrated places I have stayed is the International Hotel of Dhahran in Saudi Arabia. The American Red Cross booked several rooms including a top tier room for Elizabeth Dole. She ended up staying in Kuwait City, so the brass 'volunteered' several of us to get on a UH 60 and go stay at the rooms since the rooms were already paid for. It was ok, but for the coin spent is was overrated. The worst part was the bath robe with the initials E.D. on it and the slippers in size 7 were non exchangeable. I gave them to some TCN (third world national). He seemed very happy. Filipino dude named Leo.

[cincydawg]

At ATL for flight to SEA, then Alaska. Had to pull both suitcases to MARTA, ha.

Wife is doing better. Beautiful clear day here, low RH, can see downtown from the lounge.

No grits only oatmeal. Bummer.

[lrrps21]

One of my favorite places to stay is the Hotel New Grand in Yokohama, Japan. We stayed in the suite Gen. MacArthur used as a mini HQ. I was told Babe Ruth and Charlie Chaplin stayed at the hotel, too. I told the woman to add LRRPS to the list of cool dudes who stayed at the hotel.  We also stayed in the modern tower. It was nice.

One of the most overrated places I have stayed is the International Hotel of Dhahran in Saudi Arabia. The American Red Cross booked several rooms including a top tier room for Elizabeth Dole. She ended up staying in Kuwait City, so the brass 'volunteered' several of us to get on a UH 60 and go stay at the rooms since the rooms were already paid for. It was ok, but for the coin spent is was overrated. The worst part was the bath robe with the initials E.D. on it and the slippers in size 7 were non exchangeable. I gave them to some TCN (third world national). He seemed very happy. Filipino dude named Leo.

The dude Leo thought the robe and slippers were great. He thought the E.D. was short for Edward. Elizabeth Dole probably wouldn't have used either the robe or slippers. A very 'privileged' broad.

[cincydawg]

Our 2 week vacation.  Flew into Seattle the night before the cruise and walked around a bit.  The downtown is vibrant, a lot of folks walking about, a lot of high rise construction, a LOT of folks begging.  We dined at a happy hour place and I noted a surcharge on the bill for the $15 thing, it was a couple bucks.  Left on the cruise the next AM.  Ports of call were Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Vancouver, CA.  The wife wanted this helo ride to a glacier which was pricey, but it was mildly interesting.  The ice fields are rather close to Juneau, the glacier was said to be in rapid retreat.  WE had shoes with special fittings to walk on the glacier but it was slippery nonetheless, and cold.  We had nice weather, nicer than expected.  Skagway was somewhat interesting, I found a couple museums about the gold rush.  Vancouver, CA is nice looking, didn't spend much time there but did walk a good bit.  Some scenery was interesting but the trip to a glacier on the ocean was changed for some reason and we just saw some glacier from the ship which we'd seen anyway previously several.

On the whole, I was not impressed, the wife liked it.  The ship had 3800 passengers and 1800 "crew".  It's not hard to find places where no one else is though.  The ship had 17 decks, 3 below water line.  The food is decent (NCL), I liked their Indian cuisine pretty much and ate that most of the time.  We did not have the alcohol package and had none on the trip.

We left Seattle and went to Mt. Ranier which was shrouded in clouds from about 11,000 feet but was impressive anyway.  I've seen it once on a clear day, we had a glimpse of it when the clouds were gone from 40 miles or so away.  We then stayed in Yakima with her cousin 3 days, visited one winery there and the third day I got a fast moving cold and stayed in bed.  We then drove to Hood River which is a nice town on the Columbia and then to Vancouver, WA, and again saw a LOT of homeless people (In Seattle there are a lot of tents just off the freeway in any open areas).  Had a nice dinner on the Columbia River at a place called Salty's.  

We drove back with a side trip to Mt. St. Helens.  Again, it was shrouded at about 10,000 feet but we could see into the crater as clouds drifted by, it was worth the trip (about an hour each way off I-5).  They've done a good job with the visitor center there.

I still have this lingering cold but it seems to be lifting, I seem to catch one every time we travel.  I try to wash my hands often, but ...

Next up is Hilton Head for Thanksgiving and then again in January and then baseball in Sarasota this time, then another trip to France and then in April Turkey.

I used to laugh at retirees who said they planned to travel, play bridge/golf, and read a lot, and here I am sans the bridge and golf.  We keep the economy spinning I think.