Vacation Plans

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:
We would bring a digital camera with a 1500 picture capacity, and a diary.
I want a good record of the train ride.

If this route is anything like that from New York (or was it Washington D.C.?) to Chicago - just take one photo of a dull, featureless plain and print it 1,500 times.

The Eastern run into Chicago is one of the dullest, slowest journeys I have ever endured.

The fun probably starts from Chicago going West. That way you might meet some landscape.

The New York (or was it Washington D.C.?) - Chicago Amtrak travels at walking speed, is often static and frequently appears to go backwards. I cannot recommend it little enough.

New York - Washington D.C. is a delight.

Locals who have done it speak well of the New Orleans to Chicago run.

And I am as interested in the interior of the train, and the people on it, as I am in the landscape.

If it is possible to have a drink and steal a smoke, and the chairs are comfortable, the three of us should be able to make some sort of party.

I feel a need to spend some dollars in the mid-west just now, and this seems an easy-going alternative :-)

And Munch, the wedding is in March, but I think the Chicago trip would be May/June.

"The City of New Orleans"
Dining car and sleepers.
New Orleans-Memphis-Chicago.
17 hours, 900 miles and 18 stops ...

Good luck with that sounds like it could be fun, and only a day too. We've always wanted to do a train journey in the states.East coast line has /is getting Eurostar type link NY - Florida, OK for a commute not so good for site seeing at 180 MPH though.
We met a group(of Brits) at SF airport who had doneNY to SF. I'm glad we only saw them at the airport and were not on the train with them.

so the point of this was to hear other vacation plans. too bad that was a bust :-)

I plan a drive across Europe to Warsaw and other places in Poland in October.

ATB from George

Just a week in Zante for us 2.

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:
I plan a drive across Europe to Warsaw and other places in Poland in October.

ATB from George

George, are you going to post a diary here?

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
Just a week in Zante for us 2.

Can you tell me something about Zante?

Chicago is pretty cold this June.... I strongly recommend spending some time at the new wing of the Art Institute.

Phil Barry

Zante/Zakynthos the southern most of the Ionian islands on the western side of Greece. It shares the usual Greek island features, Rocky hills(mountains) sandy beaches, olive groves,vineyards and small fishing villages.
Famous for it's Caretta turtles that nest on the southern beaches.
It's big brother is Corfu, probably more well known.
We haven't been there before, so I gleaned this from the Zante website.

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:
I plan a drive across Europe to Warsaw and other places in Poland in October.

ATB from George

George, are you going to post a diary here?

If it comes off, no doubt something about it wil appear on my Polish Vodka thread!

ATB from George

Week 1 Cruise Vancouver - Ketchican - Juneau - Skagway - Tracy Fjord - Glacier Bay - Vancouver (presure from Mrs D means we put the Yukon drive on hold!)

Week 2 Backpacking/day-hikes in Canadian Rockies

Week 3 Okanagan/Monashees/Selkirks - Flying each morning - golf each afternoon

Cheers

Don

Zante is a very beautifull island,and has much to see and enjoy.What the websites will not tell you is Zante airport has the worst departure lounge i have been in its very small,and when you go through passport control seating is limited and no air con take plenty of water and your own snacks You will have a great holiday its sad the airport is like that.We have been twice so it did not put us off going back

To be fair it sounds no different to most Greek island airports, any delays and every one is sitting outside on the grass "frying". We tend not to allow these things put us off.

Just got back from a fantastic week in Exmouth, Western Australia.

It's the time of the year when whale sharks and manta rays turn up to feed and humpbacks pass by on their way to their breeding grounds. Rented a boat for 3 days -- some phenomenal up-close-and-personal snorkeling with whale sharks (christ -- they are really really BIG) and mantas, and then some really nice diving -- seen better marine life, but never seen nicer coral (both hard and soft). Plenty of dolphins and humpbacks playing around too... unfortunately you're not allowed to get into the water with the humpbacks though.

Did a couple of dives at the famous Navy Pier also (on a naval base formerly run by the US, now Australia -- still the US Navy's communications hub for the entire southerh hemisphere) -- crazy fish density, but the whole thing felt like an aquarium -- fun, but a little over-hyped I think -- they're better dives out there.

Pleasant town too, with very nice people and couple of fun little restaurants and pubs. Had one surprisingly good meal in Perth (stopped by for a night because of flight schedules) at a modern french(ish) restaurant called Jacksons -- impressive by most standards in the world.

Back to the grind on Monday though...ugh.

quote:

Originally posted by Kartik:
Just got back from a fantastic week in Exmouth, Western Australia.

Judging by Google Earth the docks and harbour look rather artistic as does RAAF Learmonth and other Bare Bases dotted about the place.

Just back from a a 5 week climbing expedition to the Garhwal Himalaya in India. One busted knee and the other one still sore...amazing part of the world that never ceases to amaze me. Pity my body is getting old and falling apart!

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Exiled Highlander:
..5 week climbing expedition to the Garhwal Himalaya in India ...
Jim

I was just going to post that a couple of weeks ago we did the West Highland Way - well almost I had to miss a couple of days due to busted foot But it kind of pales next to this Jim.

We had a great time none the less and are looking forward to more home grown trip this year in our re-introduction to the UK.

Cheers
Scott

quote:

Originally posted by ScottC:
in our re-introduction to the UK.

Cheers
Scott

Hi Scott - hope you are settling well? Has your shipment arrived yet?

Adrian

Scott

quote:

We had a great time none the less and are looking forward to more home grown trip this year in our re-introduction to the UK.

It's all relative...I have never done the West Highland Way, but it's a tough walk by all accounts. I have had some very tough days in the Scottish Hills and they should not be underestimated.

You picked a good time of year to do it before the dreaded midgies arrived hopefully!!

Cheers

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Lontano:

quote:

Originally posted by ScottC:
in our re-introduction to the UK.

Cheers
Scott

Hi Scott - hope you are settling well? Has your shipment arrived yet?

Adrian

Container arrives tomorrow Adrian. I'm sure you remember the excitement that this generates when it comes. Just like Christmas for a kid.

We've been virtually camping in an empty rental house apart from a couple of bean bags, some basic cooking gear and our camping sleeping mats & bags for the last few weeks.

There's always a new challenge though and todays has been how to improve our credit rating here. It seems Experian can't import our Australian credit history but we have to apply for it and then have it attached to our UK file.

It's all worth it though - I'm enjoying being back and we've hit the jackpot with our local pub where we are on first name terms already with the landlords (something I never achieved in 13 years in Brisbane).

Cheers
Scott

quote:

Originally posted by Exiled Highlander:

You picked a good time of year to do it before the dreaded midgies arrived hopefully!!

Cheers

Jim

It was beautiful weather Jim. Perhaps a tad too hot - we arrived in Glasgow on Cup Final day to be greeted with temperatures hotter than Rhodes & Crete Of course by the evening it had cooled a bit so, no, we didn't suffer at all from the dreaded curse of the highlands.

Cheers
Scott

Currently on my 6th week recovering after a major op before I go back to work next week.

But my hol plans this year are one week in Harrogate in mid July then 3 weeks in September in Hong Kong and Beijing- my favourite part of the world.

My winters I have decided yet where.

quote:

Originally posted by Adam Meredith:

New York - Washington D.C. is a delight.

Agreed Adam, i took the train from DC to NY a few times when i lived there. Seeing Manhattan loom on the horizon whilst travelling North through NJ was pretty exciting!

Phil