The Travel Thread

[EdwardsOtherSide]

I’ll be eating pączki in Warsaw on Fat Thursday (yes, it’s Thursday in Poland) in February. I can’t wait!!!

I had not thought of Warsaw as a carnival/Mardi Gras/Fasching destination, but here we are!

I look forward to hearing about your trip.

My "grail" trip for carnival season is Venice.
The big destinations for carnival (Rio, New Orleans) seem like they would be overwhelming for me, but Venice feels like a scale I could manage.

 

[seela]

I had not thought of Warsaw as a carnival/Mardi Gras/Fasching destination, but here we are!

I look forward to hearing about your trip.

My "grail" trip for carnival season is Venice.
The big destinations for carnival (Rio, New Orleans) seem like they would be overwhelming for me, but Venice feels like a scale I could manage.

My trip coinciding with pączki day is pure luck. It is of course a big bonus, because it’s been a good while since I’ve last had a pączek on the official day. They’re so good!

I might need to do some research to see if I should get my pączek from a new place for once. I’ll probably end up going to the same one I almost always go to (Pawłowicz on Chmielna, alternatively Zagoźdiński on Górczewska), but at least I’ll know my options!

 

[EdwardsOtherSide]

My trip coinciding with pączki day is pure luck. It is of course a big bonus, because it’s been a good while since I’ve last had a pączek on the official day. They’re so good!

I might need to do some research to see if I should get my pączek from a new place for once. I’ll probably end up going to the same one I almost always go to (Pawłowicz on Chmielna, alternatively Zagoźdiński on Górczewska), but at least I’ll know my options!

"Pure luck" can have delightful outcomes.
I went on a professional trip to Cincinnati Ohio.
Pure luck; it put me in an ideal location for viewing a total solar eclipse.

I would not recommend Cincinnati as a destination for someone visiting the US unless they really, really wanted to see "an average American city".

 

[ARoseSoSweet]

booked myself a solo trip to an all inclusive in march.. it will be my second time going by myself. Had a budget and time frame and got both, so I'm happy.. I've told a few friends and maybe someone will consider it too, but whichever

 

[EdwardsOtherSide]

booked myself a solo trip to an all inclusive in march.. it will be my second time going by myself. Had a budget and time frame and got both, so I'm happy.. I've told a few friends and maybe someone will consider it too, but whichever

Sounds like big fun!
Where are you going?

 

[seela]

booked myself a solo trip to an all inclusive in march.. it will be my second time going by myself. Had a budget and time frame and got both, so I'm happy.. I've told a few friends and maybe someone will consider it too, but whichever

That sounds fun! I like traveling by myself, too. I usually try to incorporate a a little visit to a friend or meeting someone I’ve only talked with online for coffee or dinner or something like that on my solo trips, but I don’t mind if it’s 100% solo as well.

I love the freedom of traveling alone: I get to do and eat what I want, when I want without having to consider another person’s tastes, wants or needs. It’s also such a nice feeling to be somewhere where (almost) no one knows you and have the world open to you in a way that, at least for me, isn’t present in the day to day life.

The downside of traveling solo is not having anyone to share the cool places and experiences with.

 

[Tallcajun]

Heading to St Louis for a few days.
Visit an old friend.
I need the change of scenery and distance.

 

[ARoseSoSweet]

Sounds like big fun!
Where are you going?

Puerta Vallarta

 

[ARoseSoSweet]

That sounds fun! I like traveling by myself, too. I usually try to incorporate a a little visit to a friend or meeting someone I’ve only talked with online for coffee or dinner or something like that on my solo trips, but I don’t mind if it’s 100% solo as well.

I love the freedom of traveling alone: I get to do and eat what I want, when I want without having to consider another person’s tastes, wants or needs. It’s also such a nice feeling to be somewhere where (almost) no one knows you and have the world open to you in a way that, at least for me, isn’t present in the day to day life.

The downside of traveling solo is not having anyone to share the cool places and experiences with.

I don't know anyone down there, so that isn't an option. But when I went to other places where I knew people, I did make it a point to meet.

I tend to just keep to myself, relax, and read.. but it is nice to do things when I want to... and its also nice to have a room to yourself and not worry about the social niceties lol

 

[seela]

I tend to just keep to myself, relax, and read.. but it is nice to do things when I want to... and its also nice to have a room to yourself and not worry about the social niceties lol

This is very true! I love being alone

What I at least used to find the most difficult when traveling alone were dinners. It’s not so big a problem anymore that I’m older. In some places a woman dining alone is/was the saddest thing on earth or something. So either people would stare while trying not to stare or they’d try to talk to me which I often wasn’t interested in (because see above: I love being alone and like to pick the people I spend time with).

Bringing a book helps me both not feel weird if people stare and also keeps people at a distance, but of course it also depends on the type of restaurant you’re at if it’s ok to read while eating or not. I find a book, an actual physical book, repels people a lot better than a phone.

I have a friendly face or something, because always when I travel alone, especially older people come to talk to me. I was in the Netherlands a few weeks ago and random old ladies came to talk to me several times a day there. It was kinda fun though, because two of them only spoke Dutch and I don’t really, so the conversations were a bit surreal mix of languages which of course is my happy place.

 

[ARoseSoSweet]

This is very true! I love being alone

What I at least used to find the most difficult when traveling alone were dinners. It’s not so big a problem anymore that I’m older. In some places a woman dining alone is/was the saddest thing on earth or something. So either people would stare while trying not to stare or they’d try to talk to me which I often wasn’t interested in (because see above: I love being alone and like to pick the people I spend time with).

Bringing a book helps me both not feel weird if people stare and also keeps people at a distance, but of course it also depends on the type of restaurant you’re at if it’s ok to read while eating or not. I find a book, an actual physical book, repels people a lot better than a phone.

I have a friendly face or something, because always when I travel alone, especially older people come to talk to me. I was in the Netherlands a few weeks ago and random old ladies came to talk to me several times a day there. It was kinda fun though, because two of them only spoke Dutch and I don’t really, so the conversations were a bit surreal mix of languages which of course is my happy place.

I always have my kindle with me and I read it at dinner/supper. That was definitely one of the things I had to get used to traveling alone but I ultimately don't mind. And I tend to join into convos, like when i was the pool, I ended up joining in a convo with some other ladies.

I was on a holiday years ago with friends, they went to a restaurant that I had no interest in. While i was waiting for the buffet to open, some others started chatting with me and invited me to join them. I ended up seeing them a few more times and chatted with them, which was nice (all inclusive)

 

[EdwardsOtherSide]

In Las Vegas now; the set-up for the Grand Prix Formula 1 race next week is a nuisance. South Las Vegas Blvd (The Strip) is a mess. Very hard to get a good view of the Bellagio fountains. A local told me they started setting up before Halloween.

I will share more later, but appreciate y'all letting me vent about that mess.

The people watching (the big draw for me in Las Vegas) is glorious.

 

[EdwardsOtherSide]

Boston; if you have never been there, it might be worth three days (if you're traveling with kids, read "Make Way For Ducklings" before you go). A lot of American Revolution, war of independence from the British history locations, and MIT has an interesting museum.
The good news; if you've been there once, there is no need to go back again.

Had to go to Boston for family, and I was reminded why I don't go there for fun.

This having been said, there are some amazing Italian restaurants in the North End, as good as Little Italy in Manhattan.

 

[seela]

It took 45 minutes of standing in line in rain and wind, but I got the pączek I wanted. With rose jam, from Cukiernia Pawłowicz.

 

[switchersm]

The Ruhr Area was the biggest industrial region in europe with coal mines, steel factories, energy plants, railways and shipping canals, also with the housing of all the working people there. Today there are no more active coal mines and only one big steel factories active. But many of the industrial sites are listed as historic monuments, many are transformed into new uses, new work places or for cultural developments. All of them can be visited along the [Link Removed]
No where in europe industrial culture is so good remained, transformed and presented as here. Visit, experience, and marvel

 

[seela]

I wanted to write a little something about my trip to Warsaw, because it continues to be one of my very favorite places on earth.

It was six years since the previous visit there, almost to a day, and a lot had changed. Warsaw has become a lot more tourist friendly since the last visit, which also sadly means that the old town is pretty much lost cause now. The prices were ridiculous and the places are very much geared towards tourists. But not to worry, there’s plenty to do and see besides the old town (which isn’t really that old to begin with - it’s a replica built after WWII to replace a part of what was destroyed in the war).

Another thing that has changed is that there are craft beer joints everywhere. If you don’t want to do research on where to go, just go to Nowogrodzka street and you won’t be disappointed.

My trip coincided with tłusty czwartek, or fat Thursday, the Thursday before lent. That’s when Poles eat pączki, and I sure won’t say no to one either. My favorites are with rose jam filling and no frilly toppings, standing in line to get one is part of the tłusty czwartek experience.

Other fun things I did, I went to the museum of life under the communism. I hadn’t been there before, so I was curious. The location is absolutely perfect at the corner of Plac Konstytucji, which is an ambitious piece of socialist realism architecture. It was built to reflect what post-war Warsaw was about to become. You can learn about the square in the museum while also looking out of the windows to see the square. The museum itself isn’t huge, but it was interesting.

I also went to the Polish vodka museum, at the behest of my man, but it was kind of disappointing. The tour felt rushed and the tasting after the tour was nothing to write home about. The Koneser factory area where the museum was has changed completely. Bars and restaurants, artsy vibes.

On evening of Valentine’s Day I took my man Fotoplastikon to check out erotic photos from 1910s. Fotoplastikon is one of my favorite things in Warsaw. It’s this huge contraption that where you peer through binoculars and see stereoscopic photos. They have various photo sets there, but they show pics from Warsaw at least a couple of times a week there. The erotic photos were a special Valentine’s event and it was cool. I mean hawt!

The Warsaw’s Praga district had its yearly birthday celebrations going on during the trip as well, so there were lots happening on the streets of Praga, and the entry to the Praga museum was only 1 zł. That was a fun surprise I learned about on an info screen on the bus to the city from the airport.

The weather was pretty bad, so museums were a big hit during the trip. I also went to the neon museum, which is very conveniently and centrally located at the Pałac Kultury. It’s another small and fun museum of old neon signs.

Another museum right next to the
Pałac Kultury is the still pretty new museum of modern art. It’s much debated in Warsaw, people aren’t happy with the museum’s architecture. The museum itself was okay, pretty crowded though. It was also interesting that they had a special room with all the “racy” pieces of art, like a few photos by Francesca Woodman. I went to Woodman’s exhibit in Vienna last year and there sure weren’t any special rooms and warnings about her art there.

In general the food was once again good and plentiful. The beer was excellent. Fun times were had. Polish was spoken. Books were bought. It was so relaxing and wonderful!

Next time I want to go to Warsaw in the fall so that I can see the parks in their full, golden glory again. This time I didn’t even go to any parks, because the weather was so drab.

Ah Warsaw, you’re mighty fine.

 

[EdwardsOtherSide]

I had a short but fun trip to NYC last week.

Went to some places and took some pictures associated with one of my stories (https://www.literotica.com/s/fallen-for-a-nun).
https://postimg.cc/FYMLkm9J

Also did some location scouting for other stories and enjoyed the best people watching in the world; Washington Square Park in the spring.

The least appreciated art in NYC; mosaics in the subways.

 

[LustyScribe]

Headed to Tampa today to board a cruise to Mexico. I'll follow up with pictures when I get back.

 

[LustyScribe]

Gulf of Mexico, Margaritaville at Sea Islander

 

[seela]

View attachment 2611741
Gulf of Mexico, Margaritaville at Sea Islander

This is very pretty!

 

[EdwardsOtherSide]

Itching to travel, but not sure where.
Going to NYC for work this summer and the Jersey shore for family (because I wouldn't go to the Jersey shore otherwise).

Thinking about a Caribbean cruise, or a cross country train trip (possibly Chicago to California). A friend wants to do a week in New Orleans next spring.
I really want to do an Adriatic Sea trip; Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, but that might have to wait a year or two.

 

[seela]

I really want to do an Adriatic Sea trip; Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, but that might have to wait a year or two.

I did this a couple of years ago. Would recommend.

My travel plans are currently minimal due to somewhat unstable family issues.

Sweden and Denmark in July is the next planned trip.

 

[EdwardsOtherSide]

I did this a couple of years ago. Would recommend.

My travel plans are currently minimal due to somewhat unstable family issues.

Sweden and Denmark in July is the next planned trip.

I've been to Italy, Croatia, and Slovenia before, but I want to spend more time in Italy, and I didn't see as much of Croatia and Slovenia as I would have liked because I was in the Army doing Army things.
(Also the Croatian Army base I was at, Pivka Barracks, is now a military museum, and the Croats make amazing museums.)

I visited Denmark a long time ago and loved it. It would be awesome to go back.

I want to get to the island of Gotland, Sweden! (Cue Army Story) So there I was.... instructing a course for mid-career officers, majors and for the war game, we used a map of the Baltic Sea with a hypothetical scenario based around military operations on and around Gotland. I spent a lot of time looking at maps of Gotland, and using Google Streetview to answer questions. It looks gorgeous.
(Note that I did similar with other places and did not end up with a desire to see those for real.)

 

[seela]

I've been to Italy, Croatia, and Slovenia before, but I want to spend more time in Italy, and I didn't see as much of Croatia and Slovenia as I would have liked because I was in the Army doing Army things.
(Also the Croatian Army base I was at, Pivka Barracks, is now a military museum, and the Croats make amazing museums.)

I visited Denmark a long time ago and loved it. It would be awesome to go back.

I want to get to the island of Gotland, Sweden! (Cue Army Story) So there I was.... instructing a course for mid-career officers, majors and for the war game, we used a map of the Baltic Sea with a hypothetical scenario based around military operations on and around Gotland. I spent a lot of time looking at maps of Gotland, and using Google Streetview to answer questions. It looks gorgeous.
(Note that I did similar with other places and did not end up with a desire to see those for real.)

Gotland is really pretty, yes. Lots of Sweden is really pretty.

 

[Mrtenant]

San Diego next Tuesday!