Vacation Advisory!

[SonicMan46]

Dave/Gurn,

Lots of bears up here in Manitoba.  Mostly black bears, except far north off Hudson's Bay by Churchill, considered the Polar Bear capital of the world.

As for a black bear, we came across one when camping, it was about 50 feet from us......

With grizzlies, not the same story.    You should play dead if you are attacked.  (Easier said than done I'm sure!  )

With polar bears........ummm, nevermind.  Good luck! 

Ray - we just have black bears in North Carolina, but have hiked many mountain trails in the Carolinas & Virgina - that was one of the first MAJOR warning signs that I'd seen at the entrance to one of these trails here - but you know what, shortly after reading that sign I heard a big growling noise! 

Probably just one of the maintenance machines on the property close by?  At any rate, we encounter nothing but birds, squirrels, and insects along the way - critters that I can handle w/ my walking stick!      Dave

[greg]

With polar bears........ummm, nevermind.  Good luck! 

Here may be some useful tips:
http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/HowTo:Beat_a_Polar_Bear_in_a_Fight

[SonicMan46]

Last main airline trip of the year - off to a medical meeting in San Antonio, TX - probably my 6th visit but first for Susan, so I plan to spend more time showing her the sights than at the meeting.

Today, an all day trip to the Texas Hill Country - I've also been to Austin, but always wanted to see this part of Texas - will be picked up in about an hour and report back later - 

[DavidW]

Guess it's too late to tell you to visit Fredericksburg for German food, beer and scenic hiking nearby!   I think that Kerrville has a good Mexican restaurant but I just can't remember the particulars.

[Sergeant Rock]

Today, an all day trip to the Texas Hill Country

Beautiful country. I was stationed at Fort Hood (about 60 miles north of Austin) twice and know the Hill Country pretty well. It was fun to discover the German influence in the area.

Sarge

[Brian]

I hope this advice isn't too late! (Originally posted in the listening thread)


At any rate you will need some advice on where to eat... for great "Mexican fusion" food on the Riverwalk, try Acenar - anything with mole will be great (but spicy - do you like spicy?), and so are their goat and fish dishes. More traditional Mexican can be had at Mi Tierra or Rosario's. For a really nice night out (I went on my 21st), Brasserie Pavil is a great place with fantastic waitstaff, a mean French onion soup and killer creme brulee, and for a slightly more guilty pleasure, you'll have to visit Justin's Ice Cream. If you have an extra day or two to explore, the barbecued ribs at The Gristmill in Greune, TX (about 15 miles away) are the only meat I've ever had that actually DOES "fall off the bone," and the pepper jack cheeseburger at 814 Bistro in Comfort, TX (30 miles away in the heart of the Hill Country) is my favorite burger in all of Texas.

Mandatory: a Saturday night at Jim Cullum's jazz club on the Riverwalk with the Jim Cullum band!

P.S. My own permanent home is in Boerne. Unfortunately, Boerne doesn't really have anyplace memorable to eat, except maybe the cozy Peach Cafe. But it does have a wonderful park, Cibolo Nature Center, where you can get lost on little trails following the lovely Cibolo Creek.

[Brian]

Guess it's too late to tell you to visit Fredericksburg for German food, beer and scenic hiking nearby!   I think that Kerrville has a good Mexican restaurant but I just can't remember the particulars.

Fredericksburg's so cool that if he missed it today, he should take another day trip... or book another vacation.  The hiking at Enchanted Rock is great, the salsa tasting at Das Peach Haus is lovely, and it's completely the wrong time of year but picking your own peaches is mandatory. And then there are the great restaurants... The Herb Garden, The Hilltop Cafe... let's be honest. My vacation planning revolves solely around food.

[Saul]

Last main airline trip of the year - off to a medical meeting in San Antonio, TX - probably my 6th visit but first for Susan, so I plan to spend more time showing her the sights than at the meeting.

Today, an all day trip to the Texas Hill Country - I've also been to Austin, but always wanted to see this part of Texas - will be picked up in about an hour and report back later - 

I wish google maps would look like that...

[DavidW]

Brian I'm sure just thinking about it makes you miss TX.   Just remember those sun bathed valleys as you step out into a London mist.

[SonicMan46]

Thanks guys for all of the comments & recommendations! Dave 

We enjoyed the Sunday excursion into the Texas Hill country - in a small van w/ just a dozen people - stopped off in Fredricksburg to let off some who would explore the town and then go on a wine tour; the remainder including us went to the LBJ 'Texas White House', ranch, and National Park - enjoyed this much more that I thought and the vistas of the hill country were just beautiful from the house - 5 rooms are now restored; also the Leer Jet that LBJ used to fly into his home from either Austin or San Antonio is now on display.

We were then dropped off in Fredicksburg - had lunch and did a lot of shopping and looking around - did not realize that Chester Nimitz of WWII fame was born there - his birthplace is now a quaint shop - there is a large museum devoted to him (and the war in the Pacific) - did not have the time for a visit which likely would have taken at least a couple of hours.  Also sampled 5 Texas red wines, my first experience - quite good!

We are staying at the Hotel Contessa on the Riverwalk (was not on the convention list of hotels but Susan reveiwed the options on the walk and liked the sound of this hotel - we are quite pleased) - our first night after a large lunch in the Dallas airport at a seafood restaurant, we just had some delicious tapas in the bar.

Last night we ate at Landry's - yes a chain seafood restaurant, but were quite pleased; started out w/ some delicious oysters on the half shell; I had the broiled swordfish w/ rice & asparagus - the fish was delicious; Susan had a shrimp dish w/ the critters cooked in 4 different fashions, all great according to her!

We are going to try County Line tonight for some TX barbecue; then Boudro's on Tuesday, and probably Acenar on Wednesday (so glad Brian has it as a recommendation) - I've eaten a lot of animals in my day but not goat, so that may be one of my main options! 

[Brian]

Sounds great, Dave!! You got a very good tour of the Hill Country, and I'm glad you sampled some Texas wines and saw Fredericksburg. Landry's and County Line are both really strong options, and Boudro's is a great restaurant too (my second choice on the Riverwalk). Also, Boudro's is just one pedestrian bridge across the River away from Jim Cullum's, so maybe you can "misguide" your tour group in the direction of the jazz music...

David W is right, some of those descriptions are making me miss home. But I'm glad you're enjoying it so much!

[SonicMan46]

Sounds great, Dave!! You got a very good tour of the Hill Country, and I'm glad you sampled some Texas wines and saw Fredericksburg. Landry's and County Line are both really strong options, and Boudro's is a great restaurant too (my second choice on the Riverwalk). Also, Boudro's is just one pedestrian bridge across the River away from Jim Cullum's, so maybe you can "misguide" your tour group in the direction of the jazz music...

David W is right, some of those descriptions are making me miss home. But I'm glad you're enjoying it so much!

Hi Brian - just returned from Country Line - sampled both the beef & pork ribs (usually just have the latter back in North Carolina) - the cole slaw & potato salad (esp. the latter) were just excellent; and of course had some Shiner Bock beer  to wash it all down! 

Today, I took Susan to the IMax film on the Alamo (which I've seen already several times over), but we are doing a half day 'Mission Tour' tomorrow which includes the Alamo - I think that she'll have a much better appreciation of the event since it looks SO DIFFERENT now in the middle of downtown!

Tomorrow night (i.e. Tuesday), we are eating at Boudro's and then plan to stop @ Jim Cullum's Landing after dinner - should be quite pleasant; and I need to taste some more of these Texan wines - thanks again for the advice - Dave 

[Brian]

From tomorrow afternoon to Thursday night (11/11), I shall be visiting an old college friend in Fes, Morocco.



This should be an exotic trip! It'll be very different in every way from being here in London... and it will be my first visit to Africa!

[SonicMan46]

From tomorrow afternoon to Thursday night (11/11), I shall be visiting an old college friend in Fes, Morocco.



This should be an exotic trip! It'll be very different in every way from being here in London... and it will be my first visit to Africa!

Brian - have a great time in North Africa!  Years ago, we planned a trip to Morocco, but my MIL (who had been there) talked Susan out of the visit (believed that she claimed that the 'beggars' would drive you nuts!) - well, we canceled out - but I'm sure that we would have enjoyed - looking forward to your comments!  Dave 

[Brian]

Yeah, I've been warned about the "tour guides" who follow you around the streets pleading with you insistently to accept a "tour" of the best parts of town, the little boys who ask if you want tours of the tanneries, and that a lot of salesmen make a "hard sell". Luckily my friend Matt will be able to teach me how to deal with the locals... I hope!

[Brian]

Can't believe I was the last person at GMG to take a vacation! Or that I was so negligent as not to take photos. At any rate, off I go again - this time to Barcelona and Girona, Spain. Here's a photo of Girona:



Leaving 4 Jan, back around midnight 9 Jan. See ya, GMG!

[knight66]

I thought Girona was one of the most charming of places to visit and easily overlooked due to its proximity to Barcelona. The cathedral is remarkable, wide and atop wide steep steps leading down to a tiny square. The river is a dividing line between the ancient city on the hill and the modern area, much of which is over 100 years old and elegant. I loved the place.

My own holiday plans....Northern Ireland in Febuary, Damascus in Syria in April, then Latvia and Finland in July.

Mike

[Brian]

Eventually I'm gonna write up two full blog posts about my first day in Spain, because it's the most awesome day I've had in a long, long time, but while y'all wait on that, here's a rough outline...

- Italian roommate in the youth hostel snored half the night
- locked myself out of the room at breakfast
- checked out of the hostel, lugged my 8 kilo (?) backpack around 'til the next hotel...
- wandered through Girona's old city, as charming and magnificent as knight describes
- visited the cathedral
- with aid of no map/guide, and ignoring signs, found my way onto the Roman-built, 1600-year-old city walls simply by choosing the paths that looked most interesting
- walked the walls end-to-end
- stopped for a truly gigantic pain au chocolate
- wandered along the river back into the Jewish Quarter, the part of Girona with the oldest buildings and narrowest streets, where I rounded a corner and discovered
- a HARMONIA MUNDI RECORD SHOP!!! (I didn't know such a thing existed!)
- so I bought a clearance copy of Mravinsky's Shostakovich 10th (3 euros), a clearance Roy Goodman Haydn (90-92, 3 euros), and Tharaud's complete Ravel piano works (25% off) [story about the shop owner and me bonding over Die Zauberflote later...]
- went next door to a cafe and had a superb three-course meal, and resolved to screw my budget and go back and buy Rene Jacobs' Mozart operas, but the HM shop was on siesta
- took train to Barcelona (listening to Vermeer Qt Beethoven and napping), walked to new hotel with a room/bath all to myself, planned to spend night resting out of sheer exhaustion
- went to get a bite to eat [EDIT: and chose off the menu by pointing at something and hoping it was good - it was a gigantic seafood platter] and at the restaurant by chance sat down next to the New York Ska Jazz Ensemble
- got invited to their gig (and given free entry - I've never gone into a club and said "I'm on the list" before. Still haven't of course ["estoy en la lista" ])
- rocked/jazzed/ska'd out to the awesome group
- took a picture of them playing that wasn't even slightly blurry (!!?!)
- bedtime at last

10 out of 10 day, for sure. Just to be clear, I view the initial rough start as essential to the perfect score, because the perfect score means the day overcame things to be awesome. If it just sort of naturally flowed along, it wouldn't have that extra oomph!

[SonicMan46]

Hello Brian - sounds like you're having a good time (except for a few usual irritations!) - enjoy the trip and looking forward to your commentary.

Susan & I have done just a few long weekend local trips recently, so have not posted (although we enjoyed thoroughly) - usually don't travel much in January-February, but will be going to Key West (FL) at the end of February - just our 2nd trip there but a delightful place - hope to enjoy and will try to post some comments & pics later - Dave

[karlhenning]

I'll be going soon.