Travel / Vacation thread

[Cackalacky2.0]

Very hot. I would go to get coffee around the corner and it was scorching by 9 AM. LOL.

Picked up a couple of Pelicans hats and some Coastal Carolina gear. Great trip and our first family vacation post Covid.

Overnight temps never got below 87 that weekend. In Charleston it was 115 degrees and 95% humidty. The air was syrup haha.

You ever come back this way come down to Charleston and go to the Riverdogs. Charleston uses the moniker " The Holy City" so you can get some really cool gear at their games. The stadium is right on the river and night games are amazing.

 

[NorthDakota]

Near and dear exchange student friend from Brazil is getting married in October. Recife, Brazil. Since it is my last year of law school coming up, I am tempted to take a full week off and make an effort to go to Rio or Sao Paulo for a couple days or something. Anyone on the board been to Brazil?

 

[ACamp1900]

Went to Santa Fe recently,… very nice but frustrating as a foodie,… all the good spots (locals recommended) were booked for weeks in advance. Although Blake’s Lotaburger is legit one of the better fast food burger joints I’ve come across. The plaza scene is great tho,… no doubt.

 

[NorthDakota]

Took a quick trip to Brazil for a wedding. Did one night in Rio and three nights in Recife.

Rio
1. Beautiful place. Really wish I could have had a longer trip.
2. The prices are amazing. Took a 35 minute uber for like $10. Had a steak dinner and several beers for about $25.
3. No fat people so if you are chubby and going there, start working out.
4. The women are better at English and much more willing to help the confused gringo.

Recife
1. Great beach city.
2. My friend is from the upper class in Brazil so my experience is certainly skewed in a rose colored way.
3. Great people.

Brazilian Weddings
1. These people have no sense of time. Wedding is supposed to start at 4. Biggest crock of shit ever. Bride showed up at 5 and that was a surprise to literally no one.
2. These people party like rockstars. For once in my life, I genuinely felt like America wasn't number 1 at something...best reception I've been to in my life.
3. Turns out there, best man has literally zero duties. I gave a short toast (very late and very drunk) but no need to have a whole speech down.


Conclusion
1. If you ever want to go on a reasonably priced foreign trip...Brazil should be on your list. i stayed at a 4 star hotel in Rio on their "expensive" Beach for $100. Beer, liquor, food is cheap.
2. Their food is good! They pair steak, roasts, etc. with rice, beans, some other odd things but it was solid!
3. Don't go if you are fat because you will stick out like a sore thumb lmaooo.
4. People make comments and jokes about Americans being hated...this was not my experience. Women were more friendly than the men but I think that's par for the course most places..
5. a lot of them speak a basic form of english. I had difficulty a few times but there was almost always someone around that could translate. When in doubt...Jackson and Hamilton are universally understood.

 

[ACamp1900]

About to leave for Cancun,… I hate traveling if I’m honest but I’m sure I’ll love it once I’m settled in

 

[irishff1014]

Overnight temps never got below 87 that weekend. In Charleston it was 115 degrees and 95% humidty. The air was syrup haha.

You ever come back this way come down to Charleston and go to the Riverdogs. Charleston uses the moniker " The Holy City" so you can get some really cool gear at their games. The stadium is right on the river and night games are amazing.

Cack I am assuming you are close to Charleston. Why does everything close so early?

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Cack I am assuming you are close to Charleston. Why does everything close so early?

Yeah I live right across the main bridge. If you mean bars and stuff? It’s like 2 am. It’s the conservative laws here. We used to not have any drinking on Sundays. Couldn’t buy or serve any alcoholic drinks on sundays even at restaurants. Now you just can’t buy from stores on Sundays.

When I was in school here back in the late 1990s things could stay open all night but that changed I think in 1999 or 2000 ish. Been like that ever since.

Covid may have made it even earlier for some places. Times changes during covid and some just haven’t really changed back.

It’s also Sunday today so you will find it hard to find anything that open now until after church let’s out

 

[pumpdog20]

Got back a few weeks ago from a family trip to Italy for 2 weeks. Stayed most of the time in a villa on the Umbria/Tuscany border. Did day trips to several cities including Florence, Siena, Assisi, Orvieto, and spent a few days in Rome on the way home. Rome is very dirty and crowded, but all the smaller towns and sites were amazing. Had no trouble traveling despite all the issues you hear on the news recently, no flight delays or baggage issues. A great trip, highly recommended if you get the opportunity. The cathedrals/basilicas, historic sites, and the food was amazing. I wouldn’t mind going back again sometime to see more places, I know there is a lot more there we didn’t see.

I was planning a 20 year anniversary trip there with my wife in a couple weeks. Then she got put on jury duty. Hope to visit Italy some day.

 

[NDBoiler]

I was planning a 20 year anniversary trip there with my wife in a couple weeks. Then she got put on jury duty. Hope to visit Italy some day.

👍Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or need any info. If you’re just starting to plan, Id recommend Rick Steve’s Italy guide as a good resource, we used it pretty extensively.

 

[irishff1014]

Yeah I live right across the main bridge. If you mean bars and stuff? It’s like 2 am. It’s the conservative laws here. We used to not have any drinking on Sundays. Couldn’t buy or serve any alcoholic drinks on sundays even at restaurants. Now you just can’t buy from stores on Sundays.

When I was in school here back in the late 1990s things could stay open all night but that changed I think in 1999 or 2000 ish. Been like that ever since.

Covid may have made it even earlier for some places. Times changes during covid and some just haven’t really changed back.

It’s also Sunday today so you will find it hard to find anything that open now until after church let’s out

It’s just odd that the ice cream shops close at like 6 or 7. It’s just different.

It’s not bad down here but it’s also not what I expected. I bet this place is off the chains once the college kids come back to town.

 

[greyhammer90]

I was planning a 20 year anniversary trip there with my wife in a couple weeks. Then she got put on jury duty. Hope to visit Italy some day.

It might be too late, but I can't imagine any judge forcing a person to do jury duty if they say they have overseas travel booked. I'd call the clerk and explain the situation. They can typically excuse someone and put them on the next rotation.

 

[greyhammer90]

👍Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or need any info. If you’re just starting to plan, Id recommend Rick Steve’s Italy guide as a good resource, we used it pretty extensively.

Rick Steves guides are great. When my wife and I went to Paris we read his book, saw everything we wanted without ever waiting in a line.

 

[du Lac]

It might be too late, but I can't imagine any judge forcing a person to do jury duty if they say they have overseas travel booked. I'd call the clerk and explain the situation. They can typically excuse someone and put them on the next rotation.

How to avoid jury duty: show up with a MAGA hat.

 

[Irish2155]

Yeah I live right across the main bridge. If you mean bars and stuff? It’s like 2 am. It’s the conservative laws here. We used to not have any drinking on Sundays. Couldn’t buy or serve any alcoholic drinks on sundays even at restaurants. Now you just can’t buy from stores on Sundays.

When I was in school here back in the late 1990s things could stay open all night but that changed I think in 1999 or 2000 ish. Been like that ever since.

Covid may have made it even earlier for some places. Times changes during covid and some just haven’t really changed back.

It’s also Sunday today so you will find it hard to find anything that open now until after church let’s out

Charleston is on the short list. We like history and did Savannah and Boston (4th visit for me) last year.

A client of mine got back last week from Charleston and said it was fantastic.

I’ll be there soon…

 

[Irish2155]

Not necessarily a destination trip but I saw where MLB is talking to Evansville about playing at Bosse Field.

For folks that don’t know, 3rd oldest stadium in America behind Fenway and Wrigley. We’ll be headed there soon.

 

[Valpodoc85]

Got back last night from Copenhagen. My daughter lives there. What a great city. No crime, clean. Near everyone speaks English. Food was great. Easy city to walk. Very friendly with lots to do.

 

[NorthDakota]

Got back last night from Copenhagen. My daughter lives there. What a great city. No crime, clean. Near everyone speaks English. Food was great. Easy city to walk. Very friendly with lots to do.

My parents are heading to Silesia (currently part of Poland) tomorrow to visit some kids they hosted as exchange students.

Why is the kid living in Europe?

 

[drayer54]

Yeah I live right across the main bridge. If you mean bars and stuff? It’s like 2 am. It’s the conservative laws here. We used to not have any drinking on Sundays. Couldn’t buy or serve any alcoholic drinks on sundays even at restaurants. Now you just can’t buy from stores on Sundays.

When I was in school here back in the late 1990s things could stay open all night but that changed I think in 1999 or 2000 ish. Been like that ever since.

Covid may have made it even earlier for some places. Times changes during covid and some just haven’t really changed back.

It’s also Sunday today so you will find it hard to find anything that open now until after church let’s out

I remember having to pay a dollar to become a member to drink somewhere and then they’d give you the liquor in mini bottles where you could mix your own. Out past Monck’s Corner in the sticks you could find some real country bars- like… country.

I also remember that smack you in the face humidity. Opening the door and every mirror in sight fogs up.

Man, the food though. Good city to eat in and last time I was there, the conservative drinking laws had gotten better.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

I remember having to pay a dollar to become a member to drink somewhere and then they’d give you the liquor in mini bottles where you could mix your own. Out past Monck’s Corner in the sticks you could find some real country bars- like… country.

I also remember that smack you in the face humidity. Opening the door and every mirror in sight fogs up.

Man, the food though. Good city to eat in and last time I was there, the conservative drinking laws had gotten better.

Yeah. 100% right. Take the breath from you humidity.

Mini bottles got done away with a few years back.

 

[Irishdrunk]

Just got back from Dublin, Prague, Hamburg and Sylt. All of them very cool.

 

[drayer54]

My wife and I just spent some time in Kentucky to do something “close” and easy. We did the bourbon trail and spent some time in Louisville. The Louisville Slugger museum was fun for a visit. Might go back whenever ND has a game in town and check out Angels Envy or Stitzel-Weller again. They got a bar downtown built like an old speakeasy called Hell or High Water that was fun too. Ohh yeah, Jeff Ruby’s steakhouse doesn’t suck either.

 

[Irish2155]

My wife and I just spent some time in Kentucky to do something “close” and easy. We did the bourbon trail and spent some time in Louisville. The Louisville Slugger museum was fun for a visit. Might go back whenever ND has a game in town and check out Angels Envy or Stitzel-Weller again. They got a bar downtown built like an old speakeasy called Hell or High Water that was fun too. Ohh yeah, Jeff Ruby’s steakhouse doesn’t suck either.

Most overated town: Louisville. If you don’t catch on derby weekend then it’s bunk. Been many times and that River walk in Cincy/Covington is much better

 

[irishff1014]

Just got home today from Charleston, SC.

The timing was ideal because it was extremely hot everyday we were there. Our hotel was old and historic but it wasn’t bad. This was the easiest place I have ever driven around in my life. It was busy and traffic was that of a small town. The people were extremely nice. The food was good. I recommend the Saltwater Cowboy and Virginia’s on king st. Food and staff were outstanding. The saltwater cowboy you could just watch boat after boat roll in. A lot of things to do in walking distance and to look at. I think we saw 12-15 bachelorette party groups. We went to the fire museum which was pretty cool. I love the historical firehouses even though I wouldn’t like backing into them lol. I never felt unsafe but there were some areas that weren’t well lit so if you are female I would say just keep your eyes open. Watching the ships come and go from the room was nice to see.

Few things I didn’t care for. Places close early. Don’t care about the stores cause I don’t like shopping but like the ice cream places closing at 6 and 7 pm. The city does a very good job of putting trash can everywhere and the lazy ass people throw the trash on the streets and on the side walks. The side walks and streets were neglected is some areas with weeds and tall grass. The aquarium was ok. We have one in Baltimore that we have been to and we have been to one in New Jersey and they were just better in my opinion. Didn’t care for the restaurant in our hotel it was called the swamp Fox. There were areas of the city that smelled like piss.

The event were there for wasn’t well run but that’s not the cities fault.

I would say that when college is in I bet that place is a party town on the weekends. Cool place. Nice area Cack!

 

[Irish2155]

Just got home today from Charleston, SC.

The timing was ideal because it was extremely hot everyday we were there. Our hotel was old and historic but it wasn’t bad. This was the easiest place I have ever driven around in my life. It was busy and traffic was that of a small town. The people were extremely nice. The food was good. I recommend the Saltwater Cowboy and Virginia’s on king st. Food and staff were outstanding. The saltwater cowboy you could just watch boat after boat roll in. A lot of things to do in walking distance and to look at. I think we saw 12-15 bachelorette party groups. We went to the fire museum which was pretty cool. I love the historical firehouses even though I wouldn’t like backing into them lol. I never felt unsafe but there were some areas that weren’t well lit so if you are female I would say just keep your eyes open. Watching the ships come and go from the room was nice to see.

Few things I didn’t care for. Places close early. Don’t care about the stores cause I don’t like shopping but like the ice cream places closing at 6 and 7 pm. The city does a very good job of putting trash can everywhere and the lazy ass people throw the trash on the streets and on the side walks. The side walks and streets were neglected is some areas with weeds and tall grass. The aquarium was ok. We have one in Baltimore that we have been to and we have been to one in New Jersey and they were just better in my opinion. Didn’t care for the restaurant in our hotel it was called the swamp Fox. There were areas of the city that smelled like piss.

The event were there for wasn’t well run but that’s not the cities fault.

I would say that when college is in I bet that place is a party town on the weekends. Cool place. Nice area Cack!

A lady who I work with (lives in Columbia) was just in Charleston the weekend before last for a bachelorette party. She also recommends the saltwater cowboy. I think we’re going to schedule a trip next spring

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Just got home today from Charleston, SC.

The timing was ideal because it was extremely hot everyday we were there. Our hotel was old and historic but it wasn’t bad. This was the easiest place I have ever driven around in my life. It was busy and traffic was that of a small town. The people were extremely nice. The food was good. I recommend the Saltwater Cowboy and Virginia’s on king st. Food and staff were outstanding. The saltwater cowboy you could just watch boat after boat roll in. A lot of things to do in walking distance and to look at. I think we saw 12-15 bachelorette party groups. We went to the fire museum which was pretty cool. I love the historical firehouses even though I wouldn’t like backing into them lol. I never felt unsafe but there were some areas that weren’t well lit so if you are female I would say just keep your eyes open. Watching the ships come and go from the room was nice to see.

Few things I didn’t care for. Places close early. Don’t care about the stores cause I don’t like shopping but like the ice cream places closing at 6 and 7 pm. The city does a very good job of putting trash can everywhere and the lazy ass people throw the trash on the streets and on the side walks. The side walks and streets were neglected is some areas with weeds and tall grass. The aquarium was ok. We have one in Baltimore that we have been to and we have been to one in New Jersey and they were just better in my opinion. Didn’t care for the restaurant in our hotel it was called the swamp Fox. There were areas of the city that smelled like piss.

The event were there for wasn’t well run but that’s not the cities fault.

I would say that when college is in I bet that place is a party town on the weekends. Cool place. Nice area Cack!

The piss smell is from carriage horses.

Generally it’s a clean city and yea when college is in… it’s really nice.

Glad you liked it.

 

[T-Boone]

The piss smell is from carriage horses.

Generally it’s a clean city and yea when college is in… it’s really nice.

Glad you liked it.

I’ve been there twice, mainly because i was a big Pat Conroy fan and he loved it. A beautiful, unique city.

 

[pumpdog20]

So being my wife and I are stuck waiting til friday to see if she has jury duty, we are planning on taking a Vegas trip next week if she doesn't. Any advice for a Vegas newb?

 

[irishff1014]

The piss smell is from carriage horses.

Generally it’s a clean city and yea when college is in… it’s really nice.

Glad you liked it.

I never thought of smell Coming from the horses. We only saw 3 or 4 carriages.

 

[RDU Irish]

Just got home today from Charleston, SC.

The timing was ideal because it was extremely hot everyday we were there. Our hotel was old and historic but it wasn’t bad. This was the easiest place I have ever driven around in my life. It was busy and traffic was that of a small town. The people were extremely nice. The food was good. I recommend the Saltwater Cowboy and Virginia’s on king st. Food and staff were outstanding. The saltwater cowboy you could just watch boat after boat roll in. A lot of things to do in walking distance and to look at. I think we saw 12-15 bachelorette party groups. We went to the fire museum which was pretty cool. I love the historical firehouses even though I wouldn’t like backing into them lol. I never felt unsafe but there were some areas that weren’t well lit so if you are female I would say just keep your eyes open. Watching the ships come and go from the room was nice to see.

Few things I didn’t care for. Places close early. Don’t care about the stores cause I don’t like shopping but like the ice cream places closing at 6 and 7 pm. The city does a very good job of putting trash can everywhere and the lazy ass people throw the trash on the streets and on the side walks. The side walks and streets were neglected is some areas with weeds and tall grass. The aquarium was ok. We have one in Baltimore that we have been to and we have been to one in New Jersey and they were just better in my opinion. Didn’t care for the restaurant in our hotel it was called the swamp Fox. There were areas of the city that smelled like piss.

The event were there for wasn’t well run but that’s not the cities fault.

I would say that when college is in I bet that place is a party town on the weekends. Cool place. Nice area Cack!

Heading there for five nights as we drop our oldest at the Citadel this weekend. I will have to check some of those spots out. Any other suggestions Cack? Kids in tow so thinking of hitting a local beach one day.

 

[RDU Irish]

So being my wife and I are stuck waiting til friday to see if she has jury duty, we are planning on taking a Vegas trip next week if she doesn't. Any advice for a Vegas newb?

Are you thinking The Strip or Fremont Street? Seems like there are some good deals going right now. I like to play poker and like to be middle of the strip somewhere for easy walk to a few good poker rooms.