Jump to content

Txzen

Legacy Members
  • Posts

    541
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Txzen

  1. Avignon is great in and of itself, but it's also a convenient gateway to some truly spectacular bits in Provence - Gigondas (30min drive), lavender fields around Sault (1hr), the spectacular Vaison-le-Romain (1hr, go straight to the upper older medieval town). Not that he's my first choice, but Rick Steves has a nice circular driving/sightseeing tour in that area which is pretty spot on. Or you could get lost and find your own corner of heaven (Bedoin, Villes-sur-Auzon). Wander. Eat. Drink.
  2. Agree with 6th - that's prime location. Stay at the Huntington if you are just with your wife (the suites are relatively cheap, frankly). Big 4 is like stepping back in time - great space, good food, way off the tourist radar (relatively) for some reason.
  3. Lava come down soft and hot You better lava me now or lava me not https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbzIVR1OaAY Lots of things in the world I want to see, some of them probably a little dangerous. Walking on an active volcano not on the list.
  4. If you’re going to try and go medieval, don’t f with the Poles. Lukasz for the win.
  5. ...which is why a lot of people I know who move from sprawling, inexpensive Texas don't last long here. And it's far worse now in many ways than it was when we moved 16 years ago.
  6. The Peninsula is a really difficult place to move to right now - particularly if you care about what school district you are in. The fact is it's likely you wouldn't live in Palo Alto, but have to commute in. It's no joke, especially if you need to cross a bridge. In general, it's a mindset change - you will undoubtedly pay more for less house than most places in America, though there has been a bit of a downward trend. That said, it sounds like it's for short term, which frankly might be a nice experience. There's a lot to love about living in this area, with so much in both the city as well as day trips to coast, mountains, or wine country. When it's not on fire, of course. There will be sticker shock from the price of eggs to a gallon of gas, though perhaps coming from Chicago that's more manageable than Austin.
  7. I have a feeling that in the heart of winter, that Banff/LL area can be pretty hardcore with respect to the weather (preface by saying I'm a soft Californian). However, that early snow and harsh winter lead to a long season - Lake Louise ski season regularly goes until May. I think it's a no-brainer for early to late Spring skiing. I was at LL in late April last year and it was just fantastic (and still plenty cold). It's spectacular there, if oddly a little remote. It's only a little bit farther away from Calgary than Whistler is from Vancouver, but it has a more off-the-beaten-path feel.
  8. Yeah, I'm kind of interested in when that 4 months is in the year. I was there a few years ago February time frame, and it was just getting into the really hot time. Would not want my 4 months to be March, April, May and June - that's for sure. I was there for business - interesting city, certainly lots to see and do, though like everywhere the traffic can be oppressive. Having a company car with a driver and staying at a stupidly posh hotel (yes, humblebrag) meant I certainly didn't get to experience the real city. But I did get out to Golconda, Chowmahalla and the Qutb Sahi Tombs. The last two are highly recommended and I would love to go back to Qutb Sahi as (three years ago) there was a considerable amount of reconstruction going on. It was amazing as it, but would love to see it when they are done. I did some solo traveling, self-funded and not posh, after my business trip to Rajasthan (highly recommended). The pollution and poverty is pretty extreme, and when it involves children on the side of the road, it hits me hard. That said, generally the people are absolutely wonderful, and the food is ridiculously out of this world. You think you know that cuisine, but you don't. Got hustled a lot, and that wore on me eventually. I like to interact and talk to people, and Indians are generally also very friendly. But certainly in Rajasthan, the hustle was to feign interest in you and where you were from and then explain they were an art teacher at a local school, and would you like to come see our exhibit?... This happened to me multiple times a day, and when you say no things often turned a little ugly as they were really disappointed that you weren't wanting to come in and spend money. Again, I totally understand given the standard of living, and those hustlers were obviously going to get paid a finder's fee if I came in and bought something. It eventually led me to be less open and chatty with people I met, unfortunately. I've done a fair bit of traveling all over the world in my time, and I found it tough there frankly. Both the poverty and the chaos and congestion can weigh on you a bit. Getting a taxi from the airport is an adventure. I think it would be amazing to live there as a local/expat for a short amount of time. There's so much to see in that country as well, though the time to travel distances has to be taken into effect as at least driving is a much slower process than you might anticipate given their condition and congestion.
  9. How do you organize that? Alphabetical? Chronological? Or Autobiographical?
  10. Agreed the Canary Row in Monterey is tourist Hell, but the Aquarium is world class. It's huge, and if you have the time you can literally spend the whole day there. Great place. Renting kayaks at Monterey Bay and going out the kelp fields right outside the Aquarium is not to be missed, particularly if you want to see otters close up. Carmel is indeed pretty, though it's expensive and heavy on the art galleries and fine dining. But it's generally peaceful, even when overrun by tourists. Sunset at Carmel Beach, or Carmel River Beach, on a nice evening is really fantastic. Point Lobos is an amazing spot, even if you are only interested in short hikes. You need to get there early, as it gets full quickly. Bring lunch as there's nothing else around. Probably some of the prettiest coast line anywhere on the US Pacific. Fight me for it. The 17 mile drive is fine, if perhaps overrated - I think you can do your own self-guided drive around the Asilomar area and have as much fun. Be sure to stop occasionally and climb out on the rocks, looking for tide pools. Frankly, there are less crowds in Pacific Grove, though it's not as fancy, and the food may be better. Fishwife is a good casual place, Passionfish more upscale. Reservations for both are required unless you like waiting.
  11. Fuck all that cut-rate shit. I only buy from New England BioLabs.
  12. Yeah, I'm hearing 4-12. I think the international ones are least impacted.
  13. That’s gotta be on the airlines. Runway closure has been on their radar forever, but the minute it actually happens there’s massive delays and cancellations like it caught them by surprise. But yeah - avoid SFO (in general, bust especially through the end of the month).
  14. Can’t go wrong there. Chapeau!
  15. HED Belgium, White Industries hubs, standard 14/15 spokes, brass nipples. Never again will I do a flyweight set more tailored to a Spanish climber named Patxi than myself. Some grams in the wheels is not what makes me slow - I have more issues than that!
  16. I'm a retro grouch, and still don't think that someone your weight should have 24 spokes in the rear (been there, done that), but other than that the Ardennes are hard to pass up. But I would spend a little time building some options with a 28h or 32h rear hub on Excel Sports custom builder. They look cool, but all they did is shift the weight to the rim to beef up the build - sure, less spokes but the rotational weight is pretty equal to a solid unsexy 28-32h set. The Mavics may lack some sex appeal, but while they have proprietary spokes everyone I know who has them say they're bulletproof.
  17. How much do you weigh, and what sort of riding do you do? Another vote for HED rims, though I have a custom wheelset with the HED Belgiums, there are other options out there : https://www.coloradocyclist.com/dt-swiss-350-classic-custom-handbuilt-wheelset-with-hed-belgium-plus-rims-700c?gclid=CjwKCAjw1_PqBRBIEiwA71rmtaPJeVeFYDRpa9qeaOkkR60uNKGfGApxLWXCwDBtVEBrF7V9wc9WOxoCti0QAvD_BwE ...and : https://www.coloradocyclist.com/shimano-ultegra-6800-custom-handbuilt-wheelset-with-hed-belgium-c2-rims-700c But I decided long ago not to go with flyweight wheelsets with too few spokes (and proprietary ones at that), after snapping a few rear spokes on a nice Campy Protons. I'm ~195lb, so...
  18. Txzen

    Greenland

    Meh. Wake me when we try to buy Finland - it's the country for me.
  19. Would love to hang in Como for a few weeks for a mixed cycling/food/whatever vacation. The area looks spectacular. Appreciate the Pyrenean offer - alas, I'm more in cyclotouriste mode these days. Old and slow, man. But happy to offer advice! Have stayed here a few times, though the original owner sold recently to another couple. From what I've seen, they've only improved it and I can't wait to go back. Hard to think of a better base of operations : Pyrenees Cycling Lodge
  20. Love the Pyrenees - more so than the Alps, frankly. I've taken a few trips there : Hautacam, Solour-Aubisque, Luz Ardiden, Tourmalet, Spandelles, Cirque de Troumouse, Hourquette d'Ancizan/Aspin, Pla d'Adet, Plateau de Beille...when I list them out, I'm even impressed. Just note that none of them were done with any particular panache. Some are definitely more inspiring than others. Frankly it's the lesser known routes - like the Cirque Troumouse - which are really incredible.
  21. At some point I should write something about this France trip I just completed, but a few weeks ago I bagged this big boy and a few others. Out and back it was 42 miles, 7400' of climbing with so, so much of it an unrelenting 8-9% at altitude. /applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />
×
×
  • Create New...