Oak,
I'm the exact opposite of your goodself. I worked and travelled to most of the big cities in the world and worked and lived in mainly the East end of London for many years and you can keep the big city as far as I am concerned. Give me the peace and tranquility of the countryside, the seaside, the forest anyday. To each his or her own, it would be boring if we were all the same
Morning one & all. I think I might open a travel agents. On 2nd thoughts that sounds like hard work. Still a little joy and a smile is a nice reward.
True words Diane, Arizona is a very different fish from that of my roots. The diversity of the American geography and scenic aspects are vast and in many cases very enthralling. Thus there is a huge bait for tourists. Death Valley vs Las Vegas ? They both blow my mind.
englandversusthebarbariansokmoondoggy ?
Hiama ==== very true what you say. For me, I think it's a case of pick and mix. Surf & turf against concrete & crowds.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
we're gonna whip your rosy red butts at stadium australia though
I'll take that as a yes moondoggy.
bring on the barbarians
any aussie expat this year?
Moondoggy= two words JOHNNY WILKINSON nuff said
Hiama, don't scare them too soon or they might take flight.
Peace&Love and Jack (super Border Collie) have been lost in a dream, after listening to Oak's stories. They are dreaming about visiting The Borders region of Scotland, where the Border Collies originated. Jack was bred in Washington State, but his grandfather was imported from The Borders region of Scotland. Jack's breeders are planning a trip back to Scotland, and they would like to bring a Border Collie puppy home with them. These Border Collies are not bred for their looks. They're bred for their herding instincts. PaL is thinking that she would love to go to The Borders region, herself.....
PaL gives Jack a Scooby Snack, sips her coffee, and dreams of visiting Scotland.....
(snuggling by fireplace and opening small, leatherbound travel journal...)
Alright, Diane. Here's one for you that I think you'll like. I went to Italy three years ago on my "dream trip." I wrote several good entries during those weeks. Here's one from northern Italy...
APPLE STRUDEL DAY
We left the beautiful Venetian lagoon with its golden light and calm, green sea and started climbing upward. Within an hour or so, we found ourselves surrounded by tall, craggy mountains covered with snow. The change of scenery was so dramatic it was hard to believe.
Passing northward through the Piave (pee-AH-veh) River valley, we found ourselves among limestone cliffs, evergreen trees, and glacial lakes. Our bus driver was quite at ease on these mountain roads. This was his home...the Valle di Cadore (ka-DORE-ay). We passed entire mountainsides of Norway Spruce trees. We have one of these 50' beauties in our front yard at home, a rare thing in those parts. Today we saw thousands upon thousands of the same size, some taller. The new green "fingers" on the ends of each branch showing new growth...they are at their prettiest at this time of year. Whole forests of perfect Christmas trees.
We're getting closer and closer to Austria. Typical Italian stuccoed villas gave way to chalets on the mountainsides. The air was getting noticably cooler...about a 20 degree drop within the last hour. We stopped in Belluno for apple strudel and hot chocolate, and everyone pulled out their jackets. The strudel was excellent, but the hot chocolate was a surprise to us Americans. It tasted like someone had melted a square of baking chocolate into an espresso cup of hot cream. It was like drinking a candy bar, but not as sweet. This is the way they drink it here, but we were all wimps...we asked for sugar packets.
We passed a beautiful, nearly bottomless glacial lake...the Lake of the Holy Cross. Fog settled over the Valle di Cadore, giving it a dreamlike quality. An empty sailboat floating on the mirror surface of the lake looked glued in place.
After lunch we resumed our climb, stopping at the highest of the famous "Three Passes" through the Dolomites, Passa Pordoi (7,300 ft.) We were above the timberline here, patches of snow everywhere and road grading equipment. Nothing but rocks every direction you looked. It was really cold now. We stopped at a Bavarian-looking inn for apple strudel again...Mmmm! This was even better than the last place! We must be getting closer to the border. There was a lonely little chapel just a short hike up the mountain from the inn, surrounded by... absolutely nothing. Who would build such a thing way up here? We counted 61 hairpin turns coming down the mountain...dizzy!
We were scheduled for our next stop at Malcesine on the shores of Lake Garda. The temperature here had warmed up considerably. The lake is situated in a protected mountain valley where, for some reason, the weather is always temperate. This is where people in Northeast Italy go for the weekend. Malcesine was full of flowers and breathtaking scenery, we were all anxious to stop! But they changed the rules for parking tour buses--again!--and we were not allowed to drive into town. That's okay, it's Memorial Day back at home, and at least we can say we went to the lake. On to Bolzano.
Bolzano/Bozen is a bilingual city, Italian/German. All the signs are in both languages. This is the gateway through the mountains to Austria and Germany. Innsbruck, Austria is only an hour away from here by car. This was a strategic pass during the Middle Ages, we were told, and you can see many old castles on peaks nearby. This valley, the Valle di Adige (ah-DEEGE-uh) is also known as "Sudtirol" (South Tyrol). The Tyrolean culture actually began here and spread northward. The architecture looks Austrian, not Italian.
The city is surrounded by commercial fruit orchards--the soil is very fertile here. Naturally, the food is excellent. The people here say they have five seasons a year: Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring, and Asparagus season. They are especially proud of the white asparagus they grow here, and we were privileged to enjoy it for dinner. Delicious! Milder in flavor than the green variety we're used to. Surprise! We had apple strudel for dessert. Third time today.
Our hotel was located on the city's main square, just across from a beautiful tile-roofed church. The next day, the city would host the South Tyrolean Music Festival in this very square. It would be packed with colorfully costumed people and loud, festive music. We wished we could stay another day to see and hear it, but were secretly grateful to get out of there just as the monstrous crowds started arriving.
Our hotel was a real experience. The Greif Hotel is the best hotel in Bolzano, with the best location in town. It was completely rebuilt last year using the best Italian designers and artists. Everywhere you turned inside the hotel, it looked like a glossy magazine layout on the latest Italian design. It was absolutely stunning. However, the hotel staff could have paid a little more attention to room assignments.
They placed the oldest member of our group, a 92-year-old gentleman, in a room with a bedroom loft. That's right, a ladder between the bedroom and the bath. It was very funny. The tour guide exchanged rooms with him later, foreseeing a very large lawsuit, I'm sure. And they put the only family with a small child (us, of course) in a room with erotic drawings. Many of them. "They're, um.....wrestling, honey. Go to sleep."
Good Greif!
Viz, Italy sounds so nice according to your description. If only I had endless time......
HIAMA and OaK, I'll take the big city anyday. I like the seashore, but I love the cities, and the bigger the better. The people are what I'm wanting. Scenery is nice, of course but no quiet please. I need stimulation. :-)
Speaking of which...........barbarians? Did I hear talk of barbarians? Are they wearing tool belts? Excuse me but the other women and I have to go get dressed up............
The shortest amount of time I'm in the "big" city, the better off I am. Country - high, low, sea, lake, river - does not matter. As long as it is country and very few people, none within stones throw, or sling shot for that matter!
I love cities, countrysides and beaches equally. And I especially love the mental stimulation that comes with spending time in different cultures.
Lola...what shall I wear for the barbarians? Sounds like fun!
Viz,
We should wear as little as possible...........while being in good taste of course
Yes, let's have some fun.
fishing for a good time starts with throwing in your line.
P & L, Border Collies are I think the most fabulous of dogs, along with springer spaniels. Both are very clever and highly intellegent dogs. Hard workers and extremely loyal.
Now did I read the other day that you wanted to see the TV show "One Man And His Dog". I can't find any video, but there is a book about the show
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/185089390X/labyrinthgames/026-4249990-8631616
Don't forget the bait dyslexia!~
Now who are the lovely ladies who desire a Barbarian. Muscular, macho, men, moving, maddeningly, maurauders, mainly, magical, male movers of mayhem.
http://www.barbarianfc.co.uk/ you have been warned
