Category: Travel

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22nd Wedding Anniversary

Last Friday was my 22nd wedding anniversary. We celebrated by going to Las Vegas for a few days.

The trip did NOT start out well. We arrived at the airport with what should have been ample time to get thru security and catch our flight. Unfortunately, this was wishful thinking. The line was the longest I have ever witnessed at Spokane International, and I’ve lived here since 1968. According to folks I chatted with it had been the same length at 4am.

Our flight was scheduled to leave at 6:05am, but we didn’t even get thru security until 6:15am. Things were so bad that the Southwest crew hadn’t even buttoned up the plane because so many of us had been held up. And don’t even get me started on the so called “random” security screenings that I have been subject to the last three times I’ve flown. So much for TSA pre-check… Continue reading “22nd Wedding Anniversary”

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Another round of lockdowns…

So, Governor Inslee announced a further round of tightened lockdown rules for Washington state, and anyone who is surprised by this hasn’t been paying attention to what has been happening with Covid-19. Infections, and deaths, have been on the rise for weeks and show no signs of diminishing any time soon.

What this means is that the holiday season is going to be truncated for many of us. I’m totally OK with that to tell the truth, I just wish that they would develop a viable vaccine and get it out into the wild…soon. One of my co-workers is finally back to work today after having contracted it, and spent the last two weeks in quarantine at home. We work at a major hospital in Spokane. I’m so sick of the whole thing.

The reality is that Thanksgiving is going to be a very different experience for a lot of people (at least those who take the threat seriously). Large family gatherings are out. No eating a meal at a restaurant instead of having to cook it yourself. No sitting around, pleasantly bloated watching football with extended family. No Black Friday sales.

Instead, only immediate family will be together on this national holiday. In my case this means the wife, child, and our dog. Granted, I don’t find this to be particularly painful, being that I am a known anti-social A-hole, but that is not the case for my wife. Large family gatherings seem to spring up every time the wind blows when it comes to my in-laws. This was the single hardest thing for me to cope with when I married into that clan.

Any type of gathering on my side of the family was restricted to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and occasionally the 4th of July. And generally, not everyone would make those, either. No big deal, if there was something I needed to know about regarding my siblings my parents made sure I was informed. Since my father is no longer with us most of those events have gone by the wayside, and that’s fine by me.

Trying to accomodate two Thanksgivings, or two Christmases was always a pain in the ass, and always left me feeling grouchy (well, grouchier anyway). For me, these times were meant to be spent with the wife and kid (or alone when I was in the Army), not a bazillion other people all putting up a false front of bonhomie. Someone was always pissed at someone else, or flat-out not a fan of one or more of those gathered for the occasion. Why bother, or even pretend? I’ve never understood that…trust me, if I don’t like you it is readily apparent.

Last year we flew to Phoenix for Thanksgiving, stayed at a 5-star hotel, and partook of the huge holiday feast that their staff prepared. That’s my kind of holiday. And the nice weather didn’t hurt either. No such luck this year. That is the worst part of this whole situation as far as I am concerned…this virus is restricting my ability to just pack up and go somewhere. We like to travel, and generally take a few long weekend trips, and one big trip each year. An international trip is planned for every two to three years.

In fact, we had planned on being in Sicily for three weeks last summer, but well, that didn’t happen for obvious reasons. Nor am I convinced it will be possible in 2021 either. I’m not sure how many more opportunities I will have for such travels in the future (I’m 58) and I begrudge every lost chance. To be honest, if it was just me I would still travel, but it’s not.

Anyway, I would wish everyone the best for the holidays, but…meh. Hopefully we will be able to get past all this horseshit in the relatively near future. I’m crossing my fingers.

 

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Holiday fun…or something like that.

We went to Phoenix for the third time over the Thanksgiving holiday, and for the most part it was good, but… Well, let’s just say that it didn’t start off on a good note. The direct flight we took shortened the flight time considerably, but it doesn’t really matter how long the trip is if the last twenty minutes are spent breathing in the acrid aroma of fresh vomit. A young boy in the seat in front of us slept for most of the flight but woke up on the approach to landing, and immediately started yakking his guts out. Lovely.

Now, before you start getting all up in arms at my insensitivity, I feel it’s only fair to inform you that the sight and smell of vomit triggers a sympathetic reaction which means that I can end up doing the same. Not always, but often enough that I fail to find the situation amusing in any way. As a matter of fact, when my daughter was a baby I would take a poop filled diaper over her yakking all over my shoulder any day of the week. I certainly wasn’t the only one either, as a quick glance around me showed most people covering their noses or grimacing at the prospect of having to endure this for however long it took to get out of the plane when it landed.

When that ordeal ended we made our way to the Enterprise rental car area where our ride awaited. Now, I had hoped to get an Infinity Q50 or Maserati Giulia, but unfortunately ended up with an Infinity QX70 Crossover. Meh, not a huge fan of SUV’s in general as I prefer something sporty. However, being that it was a holiday I guess beggar’s can’t be chooser’s. Continue reading “Holiday fun…or something like that.”

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Memorial Day Weekend

In search of nice weather (definitely lacking in the Spokane area at that time) we decided to go somewhere over the Memorial Day Weekend. As it happened we chose to go back to Phoenix, Arizona for the second time in six months.

Partially this was due to the fact that a direct flight from Spokane International would get us on-site in just over two hours, not to mention we were practically guaranteed sunny and warm weather. In addition, there were plenty of good restaurants that we had not gotten to eat at the last time we were there.

The flight on American Airline departed at 08:40AM Saturday morning, and we deplaned at Sky Harbor prior to 11:00AM. Unfortunately, check-in at the hotel wasn’t until 04:00PM, so we had some time to kill. I drove us to the Fashion Square Mall in Scottsdale and we ate lunch at Shake Shack before spending the next few hours shopping. Not my favorite activity by any stretch of the imagination, but we had time to kill. Continue reading “Memorial Day Weekend”

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Notre Dame Cathedral

 

I’ve been watching the news regarding the fire that engulfed Notre Dame Cathedral, and I can’t help feeling as if I just saw humanity lose a great work of art. And yes, I realize that it was also a thousand year old place of worship, but the fact of the matter is that all of the component parts that went into making this building so great were also precious in and of themselves.

I had the good fortune to visit Paris in 1993 whilst I was still in the Army, and this cathedral was high on my list of places to visit. Granted, much of it was draped with horrid looking netting, and you weren’t allowed to take pictures inside the building (ask me sometime if that actually stopped me…), but I was fascinated by all that I could see.

To be brutally honest, I preferred the Cathedral in Reims. This is not a slight on Notre Dame by any means, it is just an expression of my personal preferences.

I’m sad that neither my wife, nor my daughter will ever get to visit this wondrous edifice in the heart of Paris. My memories of it, like everything else from 20+ years ago, are faded. I lost most of the pictures I took in a flooded basement, and now I can never retake them on a future trip…sigh. Ah well, c’est la vie.

What little is known about the fire at this time indicates it was an accident, but that remains to be seen pending an investigation. I do know the spire is gone, as is the roof, and I suspect that little, if anything, will be salvaged when all is said and done. Thirty tons of thousand year old roof beams tend to burn fast, and very, very hot. In fact, they aren’t even sure that the ten bells won’t come crashing down at any time.

The tragedy here isn’t just for Catholics, but rather anyone who can appreciate a building of great beauty and historical value. Whether you are Protestant, Muslim, Hindu, or any other flavor of religion, the loss of Notre Dame is monumental. I would feel just as much horror and sadness if the Taj Mahal was destroyed. Religion has nothing to do with the ability to mourn the loss of a great monument.

I really do hope it was accidental and not a blaze that was set on purpose. An accident is something that happens, and I could live with that, but if it was an act of arson…well, lets just say that some crimes deserve capital punishment. Notre Dame is irreplaceable and will be sorely missed by any traveler who visits Paris.

Adieu, Notre Dame.

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Italy 2017- Rome Pt 2

The Borghese

We left Sorrento via taxi (again) and from Naples took the high-speed train back to Rome. This was our last stop for this trip, and would provide the base for our day trips.

We walked from the train terminal to our next hotel, just a couple of blocks away. The Hotel Diocleziano was perfectly located for our needs. It is near to the Diocletian Baths, which I recommend visiting, the museum is very nice, has a full grocery store just a block or two away, and is within walking distance of the Borghese.

Additionally, if, like us, you are looking for something slightly less Italian to eat I will point you to Africa Ristorante, the Ethiopian food served here is amazing. I wanted to go back again, but I was over-ruled as there were other places the family wanted to try. Still, do yourself a favor and stop in, you won’t be disappointed.

The next morning we got up early and took a taxi to the Borghese. This would be our only stop for the day, and while exhausting, totally worth it. This is more than just an art gallery, as there is a zoo, gardens, and other activities available. Be advised that the tickets you purchase for the gallery only allow you two hours, and that is simply not enough time. We chose to focus on Bernini and Caravaggio for our time there. It would take several days (and several tickets) to do the gallery justice. Also, do yourself a favor and visit the bookstore before you enter the gallery…the hours are wonky and we missed out on buying anything because of that. Continue reading “Italy 2017- Rome Pt 2”

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Italy 2017- Sorrento

Sorrento

We took a taxi from Naples to Sorrento and it turned out to be the perfect method of travel. Trains do run between these two cities, but the taxi was faster, and far more comfortable. The price was reasonable too, 100 Euros for three of us and our luggage. Best of all we got dropped right at our hotel.

The Grand Hotel Riviera Is a luxury hotel with sweeping views of the Bay of Naples. My wife would tell you that it was the nicest place we stayed at while in Italy, and I would be hard-pressed to argue with her. The room was spacious, clean, and had a large balcony over-looking the sea that we took advantage of nightly. In fact, my daughter had to be drug in every evening when it was time to sleep.

The hotel is located right on top of the high cliff that dominated Sorrento, and the sunsets were spectacular. In fact, Mt Vesuvius was visible, highlighted every evening by a gorgeous multi-colored sky.

There is no pool, but rather a private swimming spot right in the Mediterranean itself, with a dock that has beach chairs for those who want to sun themselves. Continue reading “Italy 2017- Sorrento”

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Italy 2017- Naples

Naples

One of the reasons that we stayed at a hotel so close to the train terminal in Rome was because the second leg of our trip would require taking a high-speed train to Naples. And I do mean high-speed. There was a KPH sign in the compartment that kept updating as the train went faster. I have to admit that was pretty cool, although it drew my eyes away from the scenery flashing by outside.

Now, I’ve made the drive from Rome to Naples, and taking the train is way more relaxing. For one thing it lets you take a good look around as you cover the miles, and for another it is faster. Not by a lot, but enough to make a difference.

Upon arrival we grabbed a cab and made our way to the hotel we would be staying in for several days. Costantinopoli 104 is just a couple of blocks away from the National Archaeological Museum, and is located in a fun and vibrant neighborhood.  Also, the hotel is secured by large metal gates that block off all entrance from the street… My wife was appreciative of this fact and it also served to street noise that might have been bothersome. The impression I had was that it was a college district located in the heart of the old town.

The museum is definitely not to be missed as it contains many artifacts from both Pompeii and Herculaneum, as well as other local sites. Additionally, there are many other points of interest in the immediate area. Gesu Nuovo (a church), the Cloister of Santa Chiara, and many other interesting places…all within easy walking distance. Continue reading “Italy 2017- Naples”

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Italy 2017- Rome Pt 1

In June 2017 we spent three weeks in Italy. Now, this wasn’t my first time there, but it was for my wife and daughter, and I hadn’t been back since 1993. Frankly, I was curious as to how much things had changed in all those years…and there were changes.

Now, Europe is a minimum of 18 hours stuck in the lesser known tenth circle of Hell, otherwise known as the Hell of Discomfort. Lack of sleep, achy bodies, hunger due to sub-standard food, and a general feeling of grouchiness are all symptoms of this scourge.

In an effort to ameliorate this, I booked our flights with Lufthansa, and upgraded to Business Class. It was worth every penny. If you can afford to do so, I highly recommend it. Fully reclining seats, only two pods per side, and way more creature comforts than anyone in Economy could ever dream of. While the flight is just as long, it is far more tolerable for the passenger.

Anyway, we landed at Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci airport) and took a taxi to our first hotel. The IQ Hotel Roma was the perfect place to start our adventure. Two-hundred meters from the metro station, a short walk to the Colosseum/Forum, access to high-end shopping, and plenty of dining options. This hotel had the best breakfast of any of the places we stayed during that three weeks.

We were wiped out when we arrived, but as I have learned the hard way over the years, the best way to conquer jet-lag is to force yourself to stay awake until an acceptable time in the evening to actually go to sleep. Continue reading “Italy 2017- Rome Pt 1”

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Phoenix, AZ

I just returned from Phoenix last night. The four night trip was a work function for my wife that also included an award for Employee of the quarter. As a result of the award, the company paid to have me travel with her, and I am never one to pass up a free trip.

Other than the obligatory company gatherings which took place at Tommy Bahama’s, Dave and Busters, and Mastro’s, the top performers and their Directors also were treated to a half-day session driving exotic cars on a local race-track. If I’m being honest this was one of the main reasons I decided to freeload my way to Arizona. Continue reading “Phoenix, AZ”

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