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Vacations: Where To Go, What To See, Where To Eat


tribeca
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Earlier this month I went to Colmar to visit Christmas markets there and some of the towns around it. I'd hoped to get to Strasbourg but the timing didn't work out. It was mostly delightful and something I'd wanted to do for a long time. Any Christmas markets would've done, really, but Colmar looked adorable, and it is. I'd love to go back some year in spring when the flowers are out. Riquewihr would be a great side trip since it wouldn't be jammed for the market then; it looked like an intersting place to go even without a Christmas market.

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Has anyone been to Auckland, NZ?  I'm headed there in late November for a few days before joining a group trip that will take me to the south island and the subantarctic islands.  I do plan on spending a day in Rotorua (Zorb!), and also visiting Hobbiton and the Waitamo glowworm caves, but if anyone has any recs for Auckland itself, especially eateries, they're welcome!

3 hours ago, Browncoat said:

Has anyone been to Auckland, NZ?  I'm headed there in late November for a few days before joining a group trip that will take me to the south island and the subantarctic islands.  I do plan on spending a day in Rotorua (Zorb!), and also visiting Hobbiton and the Waitamo glowworm caves, but if anyone has any recs for Auckland itself, especially eateries, they're welcome!

I haven't, but I have a friend who lives in New Zealand. I'll ask her if she has any recommendations. 

1 hour ago, Is Everyone Gone said:

I am going to Barcelona for 2 days before getting on a cruiser. Anyone have good ideas for day trips? I read that Montserrat was a lot of fun and only a short train ride away.

The Salvador Dali Museum could make a nice trip. It’s located in Figueres, Spain. Here’s an easy way to get there: 

IMG_2556.thumb.jpeg.3c25687375f23cf46b1f3b1b804a07b8.jpeg

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(edited)
On 7/24/2024 at 1:19 PM, Is Everyone Gone said:

I am going to Barcelona for 2 days before getting on a cruiser. Anyone have good ideas for day trips? I read that Montserrat was a lot of fun and only a short train ride away.

Well, there's also a great deal to see and do in Barcelona itself including walking Las Ramblas (the main park/boulevard), exploring the medieval Cathedral AND Gaudi's Sagrada Familia cathedral (from the late 19th century still being built) AND even touring the replica of Columbus's tiny flagship the Santa Maria.  Also, there are remnants of the medieval city walls and there is an excellent city museum with displays going back to its Phoenician legendary founding!

However, be aware of some rather aggressive flower vendors  (in Las Ramblas especially) who  pin corsages on tourists then expect payment- immediately remove the flowers while handing them back and  FIRMLY do the 'No, gracias!' before walking away!

While Castilian Spanish is widely spoken there (and most signs are bilingual with it) the preferred language is Catalan so if one can learn a few words in the latter language, that would be a plus!

I hope this helps.

Edited by Blergh
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(edited)

One of my pals and I went to Chincoteague and Assateague Island over the weekend to see the wild horsies/ponies!

So purty! We took a boat tour, that stated we could see dolphins, the horsies, bald eagles...but no dice. Flipper didn't deign to make an appearance; the eagles were nesting. Well, we got to see the HUGE nest! And the horsies were too far back for my camera to zoom in-If I had KNOWN, I would have bought one of those mini binoculars! This was on Chincoteague. But omgeee, the tide was so high, the water ran across the roads and one would think we were driving during a hurricane!

Further down, we saw some wild ponies in the corral (called such because of the salt in the wild and natural food they eat, which prevents their bones from growing to full length if they were on a farm), but they do know to avoid drinking the brackish water. The local fire department brings them fresh water.

Feeling bummed that  we didn't get to see them in "the water" in Assateague, we headed back to Chincoteague, when the SUV in front of us, pulled over to the shoulder and hopped out. My head whipped to the left so fast, I think I gave myself whiplash! HORSIES!!!!!! A band of three-two adults and a colt. So beautiful! As they marched out of the woods into view, tossing their manes, twitching their tails, I zoomed in and click-click-click. Then they all turned toward the road and stood still. The colt, sticking its tongue out, as if licking its lips. 

I said to my friend, the horsies? They're thinking: "Hoomans. Always wanting their pictures. Let's give them what they want."

Later, we went to the Pony Centre Gift store, where they had More ponies and horsies! Until a few months ago, you could get  a ride and take a turn inside, but the local government and store are in a fight? So Boo! No sitting or trotting!

But!But!But! I got to pet the horsie inside-Buck-gorgeous buckskin/gray horsie. I didn't buy the "snackies" but put my palm under her mouth and she licked away! It's the salt from the skin!

Then outside, more horsies-this time they had a Morgan and a Tennessee Walker-the latter, who we all thought was anywhere from 1-5 years old. He is 32! With his gorgeous chestnut red coloring and pawing at the ground for "FOOD!" Every time we came close with our cameras, their noses jutted forward, thinking it was food!

Same with the....wait for it....two donkeys, a mule, and a bunch of goats from mature to bebes! So cute and adorable! All of them.

Of course I took pictures! The Morgan refused to stand still, so my attempt at a selfie, shows us with her tongue sticking out at me. No, she didn't manage to lick my face, but that's the story I'm telling everyone! Hee!

The only thing that would have made it perfect would have been being able to sit on the Walker or Morgan and do a little walking or cantering.

Edited by GHScorpiosRule
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