The Travel Thread

[Mrtenant]

Nice! What kind of a cruise was it?

Are there cruises where you get to experience one city for more than a few hours or are they all short stops in the port? That's really the main thing I struggle with in regards to cruises. It seems to me (but this might be just a misconception I have) like you spend so much time on the ship and so little in the cities that it sounds more like any other resort vacation, except now the resort is moving rather than stationary on land. Or is the ship generally the main event for cruises and the little stops in cities are just an added bonus?

Maybe that's why I've had a hard time with understanding the appeal - I've always thought of the ship just as the mode of transportation whereas it actually might be the actual attraction to many. In my head cruises are "a lot of the annoying bit" (the actual traveling from a place to place on a ship) and "very little of the good bit" (getting to experience the history and everyday life in different cities), but with this realization that maybe the ship part isn't just an obligatory evil to many people, maybe I now get the point of cruises a little better.

I had never been on one before until last week. I understand where you are coming from. I also hear from people how great they are.

You have the shipboard experience and the excursion experience.

You can say it's horrible, it's a pain, who likes to travel, etc. But....

• you are not at work, school, or home
• cruiseliner crew want to make you happy
• there is good food everywhere, including fine dining and buffet
• there are great shows
• bars, restaurants, clubs, for dancing and drinking
• quiet places to hang out and chill
• the ocean
• meet people or bring your people
• Casino style gambling if you are into that
• Theme days where people dress up, such as formal, casual, white clothing only, carribean, disco, 90s
• I've read that some cruises are all adults only orgies. The one I was on definitely was not that.
• There is a place to workout and do healthspa stuff, pampering

And excursions-

I thought about this. I agree, some places, you would want more time. Others, hell no.

• Some places are very tourist traplike- sucks
• Others, you can do your research and check out cool stuff on your own for a few hours
• You can book a planned excursion and let them do all the work
• Excursions are an adventure no matter which way you go. Attitude is everything.

 

[Matt12191982]

My travel days are over, and came back from Australia in 2013. I did go to SF in 2014 and 2016, but that was only to see/meet my hero, the late Mort Sahl.
I visited Amsterdam 6 times. It was the first place I visited, and it's amazing how people who spoke English as a third language were more talkative than people here in the US. But, the last time I visited was 2013, and besides not having money, the lack of cultural exchange, conversation, people staring at their phones are other reasons I won't travel.
Australia was special, because it started a long trip. Spent 6 months there, then a month in Asia, off to Europe for about 3 weeks, back to the US to see my cousin get married, worked a bit to go back to Australia for 3 months (actually spent 3 weeks in Hawaii to break up the long trip).
For me, the people make the place. I still remember so many conversations and think about it a lot. I also published a book, and still have a lot of journals.

 

[seela]

I had never been on one before until last week. I understand where you are coming from. I also hear from people how great they are.

You have the shipboard experience and the excursion experience.

You can say it's horrible, it's a pain, who likes to travel, etc. But....

• you are not at work, school, or home
• cruiseliner crew want to make you happy
• there is good food everywhere, including fine dining and buffet
• there are great shows
• bars, restaurants, clubs, for dancing and drinking
• quiet places to hang out and chill
• the ocean
• meet people or bring your people
• Casino style gambling if you are into that
• Theme days where people dress up, such as formal, casual, white clothing only, carribean, disco, 90s
• I've read that some cruises are all adults only orgies. The one I was on definitely was not that.
• There is a place to workout and do healthspa stuff, pampering

And excursions-

I thought about this. I agree, some places, you would want more time. Others, hell no.

• Some places are very tourist traplike- sucks
• Others, you can do your research and check out cool stuff on your own for a few hours
• You can book a planned excursion and let them do all the work
• Excursions are an adventure no matter which way you go. Attitude is everything.

Thank you for taking the tame to answer! I have a bit better understanding of the appeal of cruises now.

It's probably not something for me, because I'd be all about the excursions and I'm not that into the resort type experience. I do get now why people would go on cruises though. They sound a lot more varied than I had imagined.

 

[seela]

After years of planning and always having to pull the plug on the plans, I’m finally going to Germany for some Christmas market fun times this year!

It’s been ages since I last was in Germany for a Christmas market, so this is excellent. Plus two trips to Germany in one year is so good for my German.

I got plane tickets to Frankfurt, but not entirely sure where to head from there. Marburg and Heidelberg are options for sure. I’ve been to Marburg several times, but never for Christmas market, and J has never been there, so it might be nice to visit. Heidelberg might be nice, too, though. Or maybe there are some other amazing places to visit near Frankfurt?

If anybody has thoughts on the topic, let me know! (Pinging @Anastasia1999 )

 

[Anastasia1999]

How exciting to have plans to visit Germany! I’m not that knowledgeable about Christmas Markets here but Heidelberg is a beautiful city about 1.5 hours from Frankfurt on the train. Well worth a visit. Mainz is also lovely. Some of the neighbouring towns north of Frankfurt are also lovely and have their own wee Christmas markets. Kronberg, Oberursel and Bad Homburg are pretty towns.

Hey, we could meet up in Frankfurt for a Glühwein if you have time and would like to?

Hug’s Anastasia

 

[seela]

How exciting to have plans to visit Germany! I’m not that knowledgeable about Christmas Markets here but Heidelberg is a beautiful city about 1.5 hours from Frankfurt on the train. Well worth a visit. Mainz is also lovely. Some of the neighbouring towns north of Frankfurt are also lovely and have their own wee Christmas markets. Kronberg, Oberursel and Bad Homburg are pretty towns.

Hey, we could meet up in Frankfurt for a Glühwein if you have time and would like to?

Hug’s Anastasia

Thanks!

I think we decided on Heidelberg now as the other place we want to visit. We’ve both been to Frankfurt before, too, so we don’t want to stay there the entire time.

I think Glühwein is a fine idea! I’ll PM you soon!

 

[EdwardsOtherSide]

Small trip coming up.
Driving from the Washington DC area to Rhinebeck NY (a bit north of New York City, on the Hudson River), about 345 miles/550 km to see friends.
Then I will take a train into NYC for a day so my traveling companion can catch up with her friend.
Then we go to Boston to see some of my family for a couple of nights.

 

[cascadiabound]

After years of planning and always having to pull the plug on the plans, I’m finally going to Germany for some Christmas market fun times this year!

It’s been ages since I last was in Germany for a Christmas market, so this is excellent. Plus two trips to Germany in one year is so good for my German.

I got plane tickets to Frankfurt, but not entirely sure where to head from there. Marburg and Heidelberg are options for sure. I’ve been to Marburg several times, but never for Christmas market, and J has never been there, so it might be nice to visit. Heidelberg might be nice, too, though. Or maybe there are some other amazing places to visit near Frankfurt?

If anybody has thoughts on the topic, let me know! (Pinging @Anastasia1999 )

This is on my bucket list too! Please report back where you go, what was especially fun, etc

 

[seela]

This is on my bucket list too! Please report back where you go, what was especially fun, etc

I’m sure I’ll post something about the trip!

I’m really looking forward to the trip. Christmas markets are always fun, in Germany and elsewhere.

 

[cascadiabound]

Egypt and women's clothing- advice please

I'm going to Egypt next month and I'm trying to pull my wardrobe together. I plan to wear skirts. In my reading it seems that length over the knee is necessary for cultural reasons. If you've traveled there, please weigh in. Skimming just over the knee or is midi length definitely a better choice?

Also - tops. Travel writers urge linen (which I don't own, but have enough time to buy). Should I make the effort to acquire?
One of the things I have not liked about linen in the past is how travel wrinkly it gets. Just doesn't look very "put together", but I am seeing some options that look like very light linen that might work.
Also some travel writers say shoulders must be covered, others say elbows should be covered. Most of my summer weight tops are sleeveless or short sleeved. How important is length?

We are not going into the countryside - big cities and larger tourist draws. I will of course take a scarf/shawl I can drape over my head, shoulders for mosque/optical sites.

Appreciate advice. Tyvm

 

[Strixaluco]

Travel writers urge linen (which I don't own, but have enough time to buy). Should I make the effort to acquire?
One of the things I have not liked about linen in the past is how travel wrinkly it gets. Just doesn't look very "put together", but I am seeing some options that look like very light linen that might work.

Linen gets better with use. It gets softer wash by wash, and doesn't even get as wrinkly anymore. And comfortwise it beats pretty much anything else in the heat. It's antimicrobial (less smell, you can't cover whole your body with deodorant) and wicks moisture away.

Actually, in dry heat (as in Egypt) the most hot spots on your skin will be those not shaded by clothes. I'm not able to answer what's accepted - but covering more can be the most comfortable.

 

[MischiefMakerAlways]

Actually, in dry heat (as in Egypt) the most hot spots on your skin will be those not shaded by clothes. I'm not able to answer what's accepted - but covering more can be the most comfortable.

Seconded. The lighter, looser weave of a natural material is best in that region. The sun is oppressive there and the more skin you can loosely cover - the better.

 

[Bisexguy70]

Im staying at the Hotel Roanoke in VA. I think about all the prim and proper rich woman who in the lobby were woman of respect. But in the hotel rooms they got down and dirty and very naughty. I like the area, the weather is perfect. Im here with my wife on an anniv trip. No naughty play for us, shes beyond that and not interested. But a man can fantasize and fantasize i did as she did at least give me a HJ. I must say if you love Trains this is the rail-fans dream! Im definitely coming back. The staff at the hotel were top notch and they treat you well!

 

[Strixaluco]

And @cascadiabound -if not linen, then at least natural fibers. Skip polyester etc.

 

[cascadiabound]

And @cascadiabound -if not linen, then at least natural fibers. Skip polyester etc.

Of course. I hardly own anything polyester. I am a natural fibers gal 100%

 

[InterestedBlonde]

Egypt and women's clothing- advice please

I'm going to Egypt next month and I'm trying to pull my wardrobe together. I plan to wear skirts. In my reading it seems that length over the knee is necessary for cultural reasons. If you've traveled there, please weigh in. Skimming just over the knee or is midi length definitely a better choice?

Also - tops. Travel writers urge linen (which I don't own, but have enough time to buy). Should I make the effort to acquire?
One of the things I have not liked about linen in the past is how travel wrinkly it gets. Just doesn't look very "put together", but I am seeing some options that look like very light linen that might work.
Also some travel writers say shoulders must be covered, others say elbows should be covered. Most of my summer weight tops are sleeveless or short sleeved. How important is length?

We are not going into the countryside - big cities and larger tourist draws. I will of course take a scarf/shawl I can drape over my head, shoulders for mosque/optical sites.

Appreciate advice. Tyvm

I am a woman & lived in Egypt so can give you some advice.

Modesty is the name of the game, so let that guide you in general. Skirts are fine -- I don't know your age, but midi length seems the better choice unless you will be at resorts, golfing, etc. But for the city, the longer length. I'm not sure what you mean by "larger tourist draws." If going to the famous mosques, museums, etc. you should not be wearing shorter skirts, especially if you are not a teenager or teen-adjacent. Again, seaside or at resorts, the shorter length is fine. But if you are doing a Nile Cruise for example, you will be going into towns that are familiar with tourists, but they are not "big city" people.

I wouldn't make an effort to buy an special linen clothes. I like them, don't mind wrinkles. Bamboo is nice and Egyptians wear their famous "Egyptian cotton" clothing all the time. Just not 100% or highly synthetic stuff. It is getting to cooler weather starting next month, so you should be okay.

Also to note, best if tourists err on the side of modesty and not screaming "American tourist here!" I always felt completely safe in Egypt, but also respect is very important. (All over the world, the locals are getting sick of tourists who are too loud, too pushy, too demanding, etc.) On that note, if you can learn a few words of Arabic, they love it if you will try. (Not like the French who don't particularly like you trying out their language.) Please, thank you, hello, goodbye, beautiful, excellent, delicious, etc. Smiles are very welcome. Egyptians are some of the most lovely and hospitable people in the world.

IMO: sleeveless is totally no go; short sleeves not usually, but okay. Things like tank tops, verboten. Everyone you encounter will be most comfortable with elbow length or longer.. Scarf/shawl to drape over your head is not required but if you have long hair like me, good to pin it up or wear in a bun. Long, luxuriant hair is considered very sexy and too much for a Coptic church or mosque. It would be a good idea to have a sun hat or you could use your scarf to protect your head from the heat and sun.

Egypt is one of the most wonderful places in the world. Enjoy your trip and PM me if any other questions.

 

[cascadiabound]

I am a woman & lived in Egypt so can give you some advice.

Modesty is the name of the game, so let that guide you in general. Skirts are fine -- I don't know your age, but midi length seems the better choice unless you will be at resorts, golfing, etc. But for the city, the longer length. I'm not sure what you mean by "larger tourist draws." If going to the famous mosques, museums, etc. you should not be wearing shorter skirts, especially if you are not a teenager or teen-adjacent. Again, seaside or at resorts, the shorter length is fine. But if you are doing a Nile Cruise for example, you will be going into towns that are familiar with tourists, but they are not "big city" people.

I wouldn't make an effort to buy an special linen clothes. I like them, don't mind wrinkles. Bamboo is nice and Egyptians wear their famous "Egyptian cotton" clothing all the time. Just not 100% or highly synthetic stuff. It is getting to cooler weather starting next month, so you should be okay.

Also to note, best if tourists err on the side of modesty and not screaming "American tourist here!" I always felt completely safe in Egypt, but also respect is very important. (All over the world, the locals are getting sick of tourists who are too loud, too pushy, too demanding, etc.) On that note, if you can learn a few words of Arabic, they love it if you will try. (Not like the French who don't particularly like you trying out their language.) Please, thank you, hello, goodbye, beautiful, excellent, delicious, etc. Smiles are very welcome. Egyptians are some of the most lovely and hospitable people in the world.

IMO: sleeveless is totally no go; short sleeves not usually, but okay. Things like tank tops, verboten. Everyone you encounter will be most comfortable with elbow length or longer.. Scarf/shawl to drape over your head is not required but if you have long hair like me, good to pin it up or wear in a bun. Long, luxuriant hair is considered very sexy and too much for a Coptic church or mosque. It would be a good idea to have a sun hat or you could use your scarf to protect your head from the heat and sun.

Egypt is one of the most wonderful places in the world. Enjoy your trip and PM me if any other questions.

Thank you very much. I am looking forward to the trip, I'm traveling with my husband and another couple, and we have all done a fair bit of travel and find the loud rude American tourist as awful as anyone else. I always do my best to learn the minimum courtesy words- it does go a long way. By Amercan standards I dress pretty modestly, but in summer I do like skirts that hit at about the knee. I'll pack my longer skirts instead. I think I'll need to buy a few more long sleeve or 3/4 sleeve light weight tops. I live in the Pacific NW where we are all about layering, so 10 months out of the year my base layer is a sleeveless or short sleeve top...so a light weight longer sleeve tops has not been a wardrobe staple. I'll see about acquiring some quick.

Thank you for your clear specific advice.

 

[InterestedBlonde]

Thank you very much. I am looking forward to the trip, I'm traveling with my husband and another couple, and we have all done a fair bit of travel and find the loud rude American tourist as awful as anyone else. I always do my best to learn the minimum courtesy words- it does go a long way. By Amercan standards I dress pretty modestly, but in summer I do like skirts that hit at about the knee. I'll pack my longer skirts instead. I think I'll need to buy a few more long sleeve or 3/4 sleeve light weight tops. I live in the Pacific NW where we are all about layering, so 10 months out of the year my base layer is a sleeveless or short sleeve top...so a light weight longer sleeve tops has not been a wardrobe staple. I'll see about acquiring some quick.

Thank you for your clear specific advice.

Layering will be good in Egypt too. You can take a few of those sleeveless ones w/ a lightweight shirt/cardigan to slip over for public places. But in a private car, hotel room, etc. you might appreciate having the cooler tops. (Also note, laundry & ironing is very cheap in Egypt so you don't have to pack too much.)

Sounds like a wonderful trip for you all. I am sure you will love it.

 

[EdwardsOtherSide]

Had a interesting trip up the Hudson River.
Visited with a friend in Rhinebeck New York, a little over 100 miles/165km north of New York City on the Hudson River. Pretty little town, but very expensive.
Then I took the train to NYC for a day.
That is the best way to enjoy the view of the Hudson River Valley, just gorgeous. It will be even more gorgeous in a few weeks when the leaves are changing colors.
NYC was fun, I got great photos of Grand Central Station and the statue of William Tecumseh Sherman.
But it was the first day of the United Nations General Assembly, and the police presence was crazy. There were cops from all over NYC in midtown Manhattan (you can tell by the collar pins on their shirts and markings on the vehicles).

 

[EdwardsOtherSide]

"I'm thinking about taking the train to Cleveland."

"Cleveland‽ Why the heck do you want to go to Cleveland?"

"You've got it backwards. I want to spend a couple of days riding trains. Cleveland is a convenient distance from Union Station, Washington."

 

[seela]

Egypt and women's clothing- advice please

I'm going to Egypt next month and I'm trying to pull my wardrobe together. I plan to wear skirts. In my reading it seems that length over the knee is necessary for cultural reasons. If you've traveled there, please weigh in. Skimming just over the knee or is midi length definitely a better choice?

Also - tops. Travel writers urge linen (which I don't own, but have enough time to buy). Should I make the effort to acquire?
One of the things I have not liked about linen in the past is how travel wrinkly it gets. Just doesn't look very "put together", but I am seeing some options that look like very light linen that might work.
Also some travel writers say shoulders must be covered, others say elbows should be covered. Most of my summer weight tops are sleeveless or short sleeved. How important is length?

We are not going into the countryside - big cities and larger tourist draws. I will of course take a scarf/shawl I can drape over my head, shoulders for mosque/optical sites.

Appreciate advice. Tyvm

I was thinking about this the other day on my way back home.

Did you go? How was it? What did you see and do?

I have a friend who’s an Egyptologist so I’ve seen lots of amazing pics and heard amazing stories from Egypt but I’ve never been myself.

 

[seela]

"I'm thinking about taking the train to Cleveland."

"Cleveland‽ Why the heck do you want to go to Cleveland?"

"You've got it backwards. I want to spend a couple of days riding trains. Cleveland is a convenient distance from Union Station, Washington."

Amazing. I just took a train for 4 hours the other day and I was bored out of my mind.

Maybe it plays a role, too, that for the most part you can’t really see anything out of the windows because it’s just darkness or even darker darkness and the occasional station.

Hope you have fun!

 

[EdwardsOtherSide]

Amazing. I just took a train for 4 hours the other day and I was bored out of my mind.

Maybe it plays a role, too, that for the most part you can’t really see anything out of the windows because it’s just darkness or even darker darkness and the occasional station.

Hope you have fun!

This one isn't set in stone yet.
My plan is take a morning train, and arrive before sunset, so the darkness piece is not a problem.

Rail lines are not created equal, so I could see boredom being an issue between Chicago and the Rocky Mountains.

"Boredom", which is to say, time with little external stimulation, has value in my creative process.
On my last train trip, I did a lot of writing (sadly, not for Literotica, but a wet spot in the front of my trousers would have made me very self-conscious).

 

[EdwardsOtherSide]

Footnote to previous:
Cleveland is not the first, or even 51st place I would recommend to a foreign visitor to the U.S. but it's role in history, especially Prohibition is interesting, and there is some glorious architecture (because of the money pouring in during Prohibition) there, along with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

And the Cuyahoga River hasn't caught on fire in years.

 

[cascadiabound]

I was thinking about this the other day on my way back home.

Did you go? How was it? What did you see and do?

I have a friend who’s an Egyptologist so I’ve seen lots of amazing pics and heard amazing stories from Egypt but I’ve never been myself.

Thanks for asking Seela. We had a great trip. It was truly amazing to see so much monumental architecture and so much ancient art.
I was glad to see the pyramids, but I enjoyed the temples more. It was also really amazing to see the art in tombs - I particularly enjoyed the tombs of the novels and artisans (less frequently visited than the tombs in the Valleys of the Kings and Queens.

I did not find that I needed to dress as conservatively as some advised me to, but I was glad to have the clothes I brought because it can be difficult to dress more modestly without also dressing more warmly.

I was so glad to visit so many historic mosques and it was very interesting to be immersed in Islamic culture and practice. I loved hearing the call to prayer multiple times a day, because I think it is beautiful. I enjoyed Luxor more than Cairo.

Also enjoyed Istanbul a great deal. The juxtiposition of Roman and islamic/Sultans era architecture was fascinating.