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Post by PTH on May 7, 2017 15:48:55 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice....
I'll try and find a way to make some pics public.
I'm kind of freaking out. My plane leaves in 5 days and 1.5 hours. I'm working all 5 days.
I still need to:
-clear my memory cards
-Save maps and information on my cell.
-collect British Pounds from back.
-book hotels for at least the first week.
-decide where exactly I'm going for the first week
-Decide if I want to rent a car for after that first week
-Figure out my luggage situation.
-Renew my car insurance. Not relevant to the trip but still needs to be done.
-First of all, I need to stop watching youtube videos.
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Post by Cranky on May 7, 2017 16:10:55 GMT -5
Prepare from NOW. My wife lays out all the clothing and electronics a week in advance in the spare bedroom. Suitcase is locked up the night before and carry on ready to go. You be surprised at what you can forget, even if it's the most obvious. Business or pleasure, forgetting to pack something like a belt...can be a meeting day nightmare. Worrying about ones pants falling while doing a major presentation can be a wee bit of a distraction. If you have the room in your place, lay out ahead of tine your armour and weaponry for that vacation conquest...  |
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Post by PTH on May 7, 2017 17:16:52 GMT -5
Prepare from NOW. My wife lays out all the clothing and electronics a week in advance in the spare bedroom. Suitcase is locked up the night before and carry on ready to go. You be surprised at what you can forget, even if it's the most obvious. Business or pleasure, forgetting to pack something like a belt...can be a meeting day nightmare. Worrying about ones pants falling while doing a major presentation can be a wee bit of a distraction. If you have the room in your place, lay out ahead of tine your armour and weaponry for that vacation conquest... Suitcase ? I travel light. One carryon backpack for everything. Stowed luggage is only for the return trip for all the junk I bring back. My approach is to buy what I need, other than the essentials I knew I'll need regardless. Shopping away from home can be interesting. I bought underwear in Hong Kong, sunscreen in Rome, chapstick in Bratislava, a memory card in Rome, a camera battery in Krakow, a camera in Berlin (old one broke), running shoes in Dresden, which sucked, so I got another pair in Vienna, as well as deodorant. I also got a spare shirt in Budapest since I was wearing the same 2 shirts in all my pictures. I also got a powerplug converter in Athens, as well as a replacement in Granada. Yes, I lost two converters on the same trip. I got a soft pad for my feet in Kanazawa as well. |
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Post by Cranky on May 7, 2017 19:22:46 GMT -5
Totally opposite. I'm picky about what i want and a bit obsessive. Besides, buying a $10 belt for $49 irks me...and it isn't about the money. Big boss is ten times worse. If she forgets her bathing suit, might as well empty the Atlantic and nuke the beaches.
Back to your trip....
We knew and yet still suprised at the endless cold and damp of GB. We landed up buying rain jackets locally but of course, lost almost a day finding it. Blah ugly but effective. Up to you were you will get it.....but you will need one.
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Post by seventeen on May 7, 2017 23:35:55 GMT -5
I find that my mind is willing to put in 70-80 hour weeks....but my body seriously punishes those attempts. Now, after a 12 hour day, I crawl back home and unlike 20 years ago, the next morning, I'm not jumping out of bed willing to repeat. My old arrogant mantra was.....outwork and outsmart everyone on the way to success. Now it's....I'll need day off and maybe tomorrow I'll do that. Or the day after. PSS...no direct body issues but after extended work periods, I just feel like my entire body goes into slow motion aching molasses. My better half sticks the butter knife in with..."move it grandpa"  ) I get muscle cramps when I never did before (eg 10 years ago). I try to get out on my bike 5 times a week (and usually manage), doing 7-11 k a day involving some steep climbs. It helps keep me from becoming pear shaped, but damn, it's hard work. It never used to be that hard. |
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Post by Cranky on May 8, 2017 14:04:49 GMT -5
I find that my mind is willing to put in 70-80 hour weeks....but my body seriously punishes those attempts. Now, after a 12 hour day, I crawl back home and unlike 20 years ago, the next morning, I'm not jumping out of bed willing to repeat. My old arrogant mantra was.....outwork and outsmart everyone on the way to success. Now it's....I'll need day off and maybe tomorrow I'll do that. Or the day after. PSS...no direct body issues but after extended work periods, I just feel like my entire body goes into slow motion aching molasses. My better half sticks the butter knife in with..."move it grandpa" ) I get muscle cramps when I never did before (eg 10 years ago). I try to get out on my bike 5 times a week (and usually manage), doing 7-11 k a day involving some steep climbs. It helps keep me from becoming pear shaped, but damn, it's hard work. It never used to be that hard. 7 Km? My cat bikes further. I'll have you know that I have several thousands worth of bikes in the basement and I ride each and every one of them for 50km. Every day. Or will be. As soon as I get some air into the tires. And put on my beautiful butt hugging racing bike leotards. And I will look cool and smart when I ride them. Just like any other senior citizen on a 18 pound, $3,000 carbon fiber racing bike..... |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on May 9, 2017 10:19:07 GMT -5
My wife lays out all the clothing and electronics a week in advance in the spare bedroom. Suitcase is locked up the night before and carry on ready to go. This is the way we do it, as well ... I'm so used to packing from my military days that I don't have to think about 'odds and sods' ... they just show up in the suitcase ... We did this a few times, as well ... I don't know if you've ever encountered this, though; some places will all of a sudden become full once they see the backpacks ... not all of them, but there are a few ... You probably already thought of this, PTH, but I'd also suggest changing money only when you need it ... we've visited several countries where the exchange rate was terrible, so we only exchange what money we need ... exchanging more than what you need and you may end up losing in the exchange again depending on how our dollar is doing ... Cheers. |
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Post by PTH on May 10, 2017 23:43:29 GMT -5
I tend to take some cash and then do everything I can on credit cards, other than the last few days when all cash gets burnt, quickly.
My hotels are booked, so even if I had a huge backpack (I don't), they'd still have me checking in.
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Post by PTH on May 10, 2017 23:44:55 GMT -5
Totally opposite. I'm picky about what i want and a bit obsessive. Besides, buying a $10 belt for $49 irks me...and it isn't about the money. Big boss is ten times worse. If she forgets her bathing suit, might as well empty the Atlantic and nuke the beaches. Back to your trip.... We knew and yet still suprised at the endless cold and damp of GB. We landed up buying rain jackets locally but of course, lost almost a day finding it. Blah ugly but effective. Up to you were you will get it.....but you will need one. Thanks for the tips, I upgraded on a couple of elements to deal with dampness. And you clearly had belt issues at some point. I'm taking one belt, 3 short-sleeved shirts and 1 long-sleeved one, so it's not much of a worry ! |
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Post by Cranky on May 12, 2017 21:26:08 GMT -5
This is the way we do it, as well ... I'm so used to packing from my military days that I don't have to think about 'odds and sods' ... they just show up in the suitcase ... I have to admirer the toughness of those in the military. Why would a soldier fear any enemy when bravely packing two pair of underwear for a week? Not like us spoiled civilians packing a 30" suitcase AND a carry-on!  |
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Post by Cranky on May 12, 2017 21:29:27 GMT -5
Totally opposite. I'm picky about what i want and a bit obsessive. Besides, buying a $10 belt for $49 irks me...and it isn't about the money. Big boss is ten times worse. If she forgets her bathing suit, might as well empty the Atlantic and nuke the beaches. Back to your trip.... We knew and yet still suprised at the endless cold and damp of GB. We landed up buying rain jackets locally but of course, lost almost a day finding it. Blah ugly but effective. Up to you were you will get it.....but you will need one. Thanks for the tips, I upgraded on a couple of elements to deal with dampness. And you clearly had belt issues at some point. I'm taking one belt, 3 short-sleeved shirts and 1 long-sleeved one, so it's not much of a worry ! I have more then a belt issue! A 30" suitcase and a carry-on for a twenty day trip. And I have access to a washing machine......  Being a trailer park fashionista has it's down sides! |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on May 14, 2017 17:40:11 GMT -5
This is the way we do it, as well ... I'm so used to packing from my military days that I don't have to think about 'odds and sods' ... they just show up in the suitcase ... I have to admirer the toughness of those in the military. Why would a soldier fear any enemy when bravely packing two pair of underwear for a week? Not like us spoiled civilians packing a 30" suitcase AND a carry-on! One of the first maneuvers I ever went on ... just an inexperienced private and I forgot to pack gotch (underwear) ... that was only a one-week stint, but I never forgot to check things over before I was out the door after that ... got to the point where I'd be leaving for two months and I'd only pack the night before ... Mrs Dis even had to pack me for a 2-month maneuvers herself one year ... I was supposed to leave on a Tuesday, but I end up getting a call that Thursday saying that I was in charge of a detention party ... me and a colleague of mine had to escort two soldiers to the Service Detention Barracks (SDB) in Edmonton and we'd be leaving Friday morning ... had to get into work very quickly to bring these guys to local cells, before the SDB ... I finally get home that night and Mrs Dis has my military and civilian kit packed ... I'm finding Easter chocolates all through my civilian kit for about a week ... never forgot gotch either, man ... happiness is ...   ... if you would like to hear more about the SDB maybe we can start another thread ... anyway, never forget gotch ... Cheers. |
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Post by PTH on Jun 18, 2017 21:19:50 GMT -5
Anyone have any ideas where I could post a bunch of pics from my trip ?
Looking for something free, simple to use and relatively anonymous.
(other option if only a handful of people are interested is to just link to my facebook album, which I'd temporarily set as public)
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Post by franko on Jun 18, 2017 22:15:39 GMT -5
Anyone have any ideas where I could post a bunch of pics from my trip ? Looking for something free, simple to use and relatively anonymous. (other option if only a handful of people are interested is to just link to my facebook album, which I'd temporarily set as public) photobucket |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 19, 2017 9:09:09 GMT -5
I didn't want to open another thread for this, but we have some visitors coming over from Denmark in the summer of 2018 and we're looking for suggestions ... first, we have two cars and plan on putting them on our vehicle insurance ... this way they can come/go when they please ... will probably spend a weekend in Toronto .. see a Jays' game and maybe the Ripley's Aquarium ... Parliament Hill will be good ... plan on taking them to Quebec City to experience that culture as well ... I suspect they may be here 3 weeks, but that has to be confirmed ... any and all suggestions are welcome ... thanks in advance ...
Dis
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Post by PTH on Jun 19, 2017 18:23:35 GMT -5
-For anyone interested in my England pics, PM me with your FB and I can add you, if anyone doesn't have FB I'll send you the link for my UK album.
-Dis: In the Quebec City area, I'd make sure to see the old town, the Ile d'Orléans and the Montmorency falls next to the bridge, and the Chute de la Chaudière on the south shore.
I'd also suggest something like St-Sauveur north of Montreal, for Danes it might be a bit of a parallel universe : similar climate but different details.
-Ottawa and all its museums and the natural beauty on the Quebec side (Pink lake and such).
-in Toronto, the ROM, and if they like shopping for junk, the Aberfoyle market, as well as the mennonite markets in the north of Kitchener.
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Post by Cranky on Jun 19, 2017 19:51:21 GMT -5
-For anyone interested in my England pics, PM me with your FB and I can add you, if anyone doesn't have FB I'll send you the link for my UK album. -Dis: In the Quebec City area, I'd make sure to see the old town, the Ile d'Orléans and the Montmorency falls next to the bridge, and the Chute de la Chaudière on the south shore. I'd also suggest something like St-Sauveur north of Montreal, for Danes it might be a bit of a parallel universe : similar climate but different details. -Ottawa and all its museums and the natural beauty on the Quebec side (Pink lake and such). -in Toronto, the ROM, and if they like shopping for junk, the Aberfoyle market, as well as the mennonite markets in the north of Kitchener. No face book so pm me the other link. |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 20, 2017 6:55:10 GMT -5
-For anyone interested in my England pics, PM me with your FB and I can add you, if anyone doesn't have FB I'll send you the link for my UK album. -Dis: In the Quebec City area, I'd make sure to see the old town, the Ile d'Orléans and the Montmorency falls next to the bridge, and the Chute de la Chaudière on the south shore. I'd also suggest something like St-Sauveur north of Montreal, for Danes it might be a bit of a parallel universe : similar climate but different details. -Ottawa and all its museums and the natural beauty on the Quebec side (Pink lake and such). -in Toronto, the ROM, and if they like shopping for junk, the Aberfoyle market, as well as the mennonite markets in the north of Kitchener. Thanks PTH ... Mrs Dis and I enjoy ourselves every time we go to Quebec ... being a veteran I can stay right at the Citadel for a very good price so I'll probably book two rooms and use that to see the Old City ... been to a few of the spots you recommended ... I'll check out St-Sauveur and see what that's about, as well ... I never thought of the St Jacob's Farmer's Market in Kitchener/Waterloo ... we were there a few years ago and it might be worth it just to expose them to the Mennonite culture ... there's all sorts of things to do in Toronto ... never been to the ROM ... might get them to the Medieval Feast which is always a good show ... anyone know if the Wakefield Railway is still running ... thanks again ... Cheers. |
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Post by seventeen on Jun 20, 2017 22:52:13 GMT -5
I just got back from a cruise that included Crete, Cyprus and Rhodes, but I didn't see your parents, Cranky. Just missed them, I guess. Maybe it would help if I hit the mainland.  PS. Don't wait too long. Even now I can feel my knees keeping me from doing some things, like climbing the 1350 steps up to this fort in Kotor, Montenegro. I probably could have done it, but why bother? I see too many old fogies in walkers (bless em for trying) and cringe imagining that's me in a decade. I was in Cyprus for six months back in '82 ... which port did you dock in, 17 ... Cheers. I believe it was Limmasol, and then took at bus to Paphos to see some ruins. You always get shown the ruins on these excursions. There were enough ruins on the ship (people) . Same thing on Crete. Berthed at Heraklion and went to see Minoan ruins. Jerusalem, Christian ruins. Thank god for the booze.  . |
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... if you would like to hear more about the SDB maybe we can start another thread ... anyway, never forget gotch ... 
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