The Swamp

sancarlos wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2024 11:16 am Funny you would ask about cruises. We did one cruise 10 years ago, and I said I’d never do another one. Hell is other people. But it was one of those big ones with multi story ship. Now we’re going to go on another one next year - we just signed up. My wife and I and some old friends from Colorado. A river cruise in Bordeaux, Loire Valley and Northeast Spain’s Basque area. I’m told the river cruise is much more pleasurable than those big ships, and Viking gets good reviews from people I know.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2024 3:44 pm What kind of parent names a white kid Tyrone?

That's fucked up.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2024 3:55 pm I had to laugh, Syb. Because I did hear that we are likely to be the "young people" on our cruise. But, the people we are traveling with hate Trump just like we do, so we'll be fine, there. The cruise is in 2025, so the election will be history, so likely we won't hear about Trump, or we will be discussing how he is causing the end of democracy as we know it... Did I mention we can bring our own alcohol on board?

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2024 2:43 pm Yeah, like... So a story that kind of shaped how I (we) vacation. It's our honeymoon and we flew out to LA (5/6 hours) and then waited many hours to fly from LA to Papeete, Tahiti, which was something like an 8 or 9 hour flight. Essentially over 20 hours of travel.

We get picked up by the resort (our package has us staying on 3 different islands) on Huahine along with others apparently on the same itinerary. We are exhausted and you all know how even the smoothest of travel has you in a certain kind of tense, let's get this over with attitude/mentality. On top of literally just going through one of the biggest and one of the more stressful events of your life.

So, it's my bride and me and 5 or 6 other couples that get off the minibus, and the staff take of our luggage and ask us to go inside to check-in. We all dutifully clamber over to the desk while someone tries to give us all some kind of fruit drink. The staffers behind the desk look at all us lined up in a row and start chuckling. One of them says something to the effect of: "You all need to put yourself on island time... Relax... Everyone take a seat and we'll call you up. Reeeelaaaaaax..."

We all caught eyes with each other and started laughing. Like, it just didn't occur to all the weary American travelers that we didn't somehow need to be first in line to check-in. The room wasn't going anywhere, our luggage was taken care of... Chill...The Fuck... Out.

The Sybian wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2024 3:36 pm

sancarlos wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2024 11:16 am Funny you would ask about cruises. We did one cruise 10 years ago, and I said I’d never do another one. Hell is other people. But it was one of those big ones with multi story ship. Now we’re going to go on another one next year - we just signed up. My wife and I and some old friends from Colorado. A river cruise in Bordeaux, Loire Valley and Northeast Spain’s Basque area. I’m told the river cruise is much more pleasurable than those big ships, and Viking gets good reviews from people I know.

Once I saw "river cruise" I immediately wanted to say "don't go on Viking!" Viking was a client of mine, and every year I'd go to their sales office in Boston and spend 3 days giving them sexual harassment/respectful workplace training. Always my favorite groups, as sales people in an interactive training where I try to bring humor is fantastic. Anyways, I learned SO much from them, and they all told me never to go on Viking. Yes, it's super-high end and expensive and they give great service, but:

The sales people would get rewards of a free cruise if they hit certain marks, and their take was "if you are under 80 years old, you'll be the youngest on the boat." River cruises are meant for people too old to walk, so they can see the cities without leaving the boat.

When I was there around the 2016 election, all the sales people complained that the customers would keep them on the phone spewing Trump bullshit and FoxNews talking points. One black guy made a comment about how 5 times a day a customer would ask to speak with someone else because he sounds black. I thought he was joking, then a white guy named Tyrone said he has to use a fake name, because so many customers refuse to speak to him assuming he is black because of his name. He got tired of trying to convince old people he was white.

I've done two cruises, and they were vastly different. I feel like I've typed this all before, so I'll be brief. Honeymoon we went on a Costa (Italian company) cruise through the Mediterranean. It was fantastic, as you felt like you were in Italy on the boat. Only 5% Americans and 10% English speakers, so it was easy to ignore people, or just laugh at the cheesy entertainment aimed at them. Food was phenomenal. IIRC, breakfast was a buffet and dinner was a fancy 3-course meal in the dining room. Lunch we always had on shore.

Did a Carnival cruise 4 or 5 years ago with the kids. Completely different experience, as the ship was meant for entertaining kids (sky cycle around the top of the ship, kids club, ropes course, etc...) It was good for the kids, but the downside was lots of kids everywhere. Food was plentiful, but not great. Also much more geared towards people partying, which wasn't a great mix with the kids, but whatever. Overall, still a decent experience and worth it. On the plus side, they had a brewpub onboard. Beer was average at best, but still a nice escape for me.

A_B wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2024 10:54 am Anyone done cruises lately? I kind of swore them off a long time ago (i've never been but felt this way before COVID even) but got a pretty sweet deal on a ...well, a suite, and it goes out of Tampa so we can piggyback (hi johnnie!) it off a trip to see Chedda and maybe the in laws.

We got kicked in the tax balls this year, in addition to a significant bonus pool reduction so we weren't able to do what we wanted. We were hoping for europe or a high end resort somewhere because it's our 25th anniversary. Alas. It's already booked, so don't tell me not to do it at this point, but of course real feedback is fine even if it isn't all positive.

Ryan wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 8:42 am I’m looking at a Lonely Planet book called “Offbeat - 100 Amazing Places Away From the Tourist Trail” and one of the entries is “Buffalo, USA”

brian wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 9:12 am

Ryan wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 8:42 am I’m looking at a Lonely Planet book called “Offbeat - 100 Amazing Places Away From the Tourist Trail” and one of the entries is “Buffalo, USA”

Where’s the lie?

Shirley wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 1:40 pm

brian wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 9:12 am

Ryan wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 8:42 am I’m looking at a Lonely Planet book called “Offbeat - 100 Amazing Places Away From the Tourist Trail” and one of the entries is “Buffalo, USA”

Where’s the lie?

Probably the “amazing” part.

Giff wrote: ↑Sat May 25, 2024 9:12 am Can’t wait to hate you via social media for the next two weeks.

Have a blast!!

sancarlos wrote: ↑Sat Jun 01, 2024 11:10 am They recognized your American accents?

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Sat Jun 01, 2024 8:54 am Halfway through our trip...and serious question: How the hell am I supposed to go back to eating American food when I get home?

And we did get called "American Terrorists" by 3 Palestinian guys (one of them had the Palenstine flag draped over his shoulders) as we were out walking in Bologna.

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 11, 2024 8:56 pm Just booked a bike trip with my son. San Sebastian to Bilbao. Self guided but with luggage transport and support if needed. We get to San Sebastian for their big summer festival. Guessing we will be too early to see Athletic play.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Tue Jun 11, 2024 10:22 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 11, 2024 8:56 pm Just booked a bike trip with my son. San Sebastian to Bilbao. Self guided but with luggage transport and support if needed. We get to San Sebastian for their big summer festival. Guessing we will be too early to see Athletic play.

The wife and I will be there next March. Looking forward to some good Basque food! No bikes for us.

travzilla wrote: ↑Wed Jun 12, 2024 4:58 pm - Need a town to stay in for a day maybe around Connecticut area, and also again on the way back between Boston and Portland. We're into breweries, parks/hikes, charming main streets. Can be coastal or inland.