Where have you traveled?

[iBones]

I am always interested where people travel. I like hearing about all the cool places you've been, what you liked and what you didn't like. Is your travel mostly for personal pleasure or business?

Where's the best place you've gone? Of the places you've traveled where would you consider living if you had that choice?

Thought this would be a good topic to kick around. We'll all probably learn something.

[MacHeadCase]

Great idea for a thread! *Virtual rep*

I haven't been very far.

I went to Florida ages ago over thirty years ago. Went in August and the people I went with were pretty happy to see the prices were lower for that month. When we came back, we learned it was because it's hurricane season. DOH!

Hung out in New York City for some time in the 80s. I had a love interest there. ;)

A bunch of friends went to California in August '88. Arrival was at L.A. as was departure. We went down south for about five days then up to San Fran for another five days or so which was a big mistake 'cuz we got used to the warm weather in the south and we got a shock when we arrived in San Francisco. Had to haul out the long-legged pants and jackets. Then the rest of our fourteen days vacation was spent in Santa Monica. *phew* got some of our warmth back in our bodies.

What I liked best were NYC and San Fran for the food which were more European like and better quality. NYC had this weird energy: when you walked on the street you felt that you could be gunned down or a limo would drive by, stop and hand you a thousand dollars just 'cuz you looked cool. Like everything was possible there. Made me dizzy just feeling these opposites.

I'll always remember this Mexican restaurant we went to in L.A. which advertised as real authentic Mexican food. See before leaving for the vacation, some of us worked in a real Mexican/Central/South American restaurant with real authentic cuisine. Ceviche, guacamole, real fried beans, etc. the owner/recipe chef/cook was really from that region so the recipes were honest to goodness authentic.

So we go in this restaurant (can't remember the name) and me loving real Mexican/South American food, I order this dish that has a little bit of everything, nachos and salsa, guacamole, etc.

I got this plate that could probably have fed an entire army with this weird glow-in-the-dark orange melted cheese thing poured real think all over every item on the plate.

I thought to myself Hmmm interesting so I tried eating some of it and it was so gross. I will eat pretty much of anything, am willing to try out new stuff from any country (heck! I even like a cold soup made out of plain yogourt, garlic, coriander, cucumber - a Lebanese recipe) but this was so overwhelmingly bad...

We had a ball we made jokes about it till we were almost rolling on the floor. But plates weren't touched much...

I'd like to go to Boston. Looks like a cool place. New Mexico too. I'd like to return to Cali as well. But the US Custom guys are such a drag... Even before 9/11, everyone entering the US was treated like a gum stuck on their brand new shoe.

I'd like to go to Italy, England, Scotland, Greece, etc.

Because of lack of money we stay around here, go to camping parks.

[mathogre]

I've been lots of places, mostly though in the US. I've been in 28 states and the District. I've also traveled to Canada (when I was a kid) and Australia a few times, twice for work and once for pleasure.

I tend to like wherever I am.

When I was a kid, I went to Campbellford, Ont. a couple times to visit relatives. While it was a long drive, I have fond if vague memories of visiting there.

As a teen and in early 20s, I visited Boston a lot and NYC a time or two. NY *is* intense.

Much of my travel as an adult (if I'm actually one of "them") has been for business. Mostly what I see are offices and hotel rooms, but if and when I can, I poke around the places.

I took a couple trips to California in the 90s by myself, spending a day or two in San Francisco, driving to LA via 101, and staying in LA for another few days. The drive was actually good.

SF is a pretty city and is walkable. One time I took BART under the bay to Oakland to see a house in which Jack London lived.

I like Walt Disney World (FL) and Disneyland (CA). They are worlds unto themselves.

Australia is a neat place. The people are good. I like Sydney, another walkable town. I could spend lots of time there.

I'd love to visit Japan. Were the world a better place, I think Yemen would be an interesting place to see. Antarctica, the South Pole. I want to go there and winter over. There's a real facility there, and at the moment, based on the dashboard weather widget, it's -66°F/-54°C there now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Pole

Personally I love America. I don't know that I would want to live anyplace else, though sometimes I think it wouldn't be a bad idea. I like where I live now, just outside of DC. I can go most anywhere in the world with relative ease.

[MacHeadCase]

Oh Japan, me too! I did a research on the Katsura Imperial Villa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katsura_Imperial_Villa), when I was studying in architecture technology way back. It is a true world wonder. The garden is something I would like to walk in. I saw a book just on the villa and I fell in love.

This was a summer cottage (http://www.columbia.edu/itc/ealac/V3613/katsura/dmb50o01.htm) for one of the emperors of the time: back then, Japan was a feudal system and wasn't real country, it was a series of provinces, I guess you could call it. And you have to understand the construction was started in the early 1600s and has been built and modified, depending on each emperors tastes, for over a century. It is near Kyoto. I don't think I'd like staying in Tokyo though, too crowded. But I do admire the Japanese sense of aesthetics compared to the Chinese for instance.

[iBones]

Australia and the Far East are places I have not been. I want badly to go to Australia but the problem is time. I am a one person business and when I'm gone business stops. Going to Australia it would seem would be a 3 week trip to make it worth while. Well anyway, someday I will do it.

I'll post later about my other travels, likes and dislikes.

[MacHeadCase]

One thing I forget to mention is I really liked the Santa Monica beaches and the sand dunes at San Luis Obispo. :)

[iBones]

One thing I forget to mention is I really liked the Santamonica beaches and the sand dunes at San Luis Obispo. :)What's not to like about those beaches in Santa Monica? Pretty awesome. The beaches at Carmel, CA are maybe the best looking things on earth.

[JohnTheMacGeek]

By no means am I a world traveler, but I've been in all of the lower 48 states, Mexico and Baha California once.

[JohnTheMacGeek]

What's not to like about those beaches in Santa Monica? Pretty awesome. The beaches at Carmel, CA are maybe the best looking things on earth.Been to Carmel on numerous trips. It is a lovely place. I guess that's why the late Ansel Adams bought a house there!

[iBones]

Going to all the states is a great accomplishment. I've been all over the world but not to all the states. Shame on me.

[ryanponce]

It's pretty funny actually. I live in Southern California and have been all over Europe (live every country except for Switzerland, Lithuania, and Latvia) and a little bit of Asia, but have never ventured to Mexico or Canada.

My favorite place I've been to is Copenhagen. There's something about summer nights there, where the sun stays out until late in the night and the perfect weather, not to hot, not to cold.

This summer I will be taking a break from my usual European vacation and venturing to the 49th state, that's right, Alaska. If anyone has been there before and knows of anything fun to do while in Alaska please let me know.

[MacHeadCase]

Howdy ryanponce! Glad to meet you! :)

[iBones]

...that's right, Alaska. If anyone has been there before and knows of anything fun to do while in Alaska please let me know.Alaska is beautiful. Not a lot to do unless you're fisherman or hunter. Used to travel there on business and it wasn't so much fun especially in the winter. Brutal.

But three years ago we took a 7 day cruise through the inside passage and into Glacier Bay. That was pretty magnificent. We stopped at ports of call, the usual suspects Ketichkan, Juneau, Sitka. Not much to do there except look at the tourist shops and the old towns. We took a small gauge train ride about 2-3 hours long which was pretty interesting. Saw lots of bald eagles. They are beautiful and there are tons of them. Worth the trip to see them and the glaciers in Glacier Bay.

[bobtomay]

Haven't really traveled all that much myself.

Only been one place north of the Mason-Dixon line. Lived in Chicago for a few months while stationed at the Navy's Great Lakes base.

Spent some time where you'd expect a hippie to hang out.
A year in Key West - great place there. Start the evening at the sun set pier. Don't really remember how, but by morning, finding myself on the other side of the island watching the sunrise. Was going to thumb it across the country from there, but decided that wasn't such a good idea for someone that looked like me back then. Didn't need to be hitchin' thru Georgia, Alabama & Mississippi back in those days. Still haven't bothered to go thru those 3 states.

So, flew outta there and thumbed it from Texas to LA. Course it took me a few months to get there. Got run out of a couple of towns along the way (Junction anyone?) Couple of years around LA incl'g a year in Huntington Beach living across the street from and facing the pier above Jack's Surfboard Shop. It's probably not there any more. Those days were even crazier than Key West.

I've only visited 13 states and love something about every place I've been as long as I stay away from big cities.
Louisiana - ummm, the food and people of the bayou's.
Visiting Eureka Springs makes me want to give it all up and be a hippie again.
Spent a while panning gold in New Mexico. Living out of a tent. Not counting camping or vacations, probably spent a good 2-3 years living on the land. Or the Texas Hill Country - big place, a lot of great spots to hang out.

[mathogre]

Oh Japan, me too! I did a research on the Katsura Imperial Villa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katsura_Imperial_Villa), when I was studying in architecture technology way back. It is a true world wonder. The garden is something I would like to walk in. I saw a book just on the villa and I fell in love.

This was a summer cottage (http://www.columbia.edu/itc/ealac/V3613/katsura/dmb50o01.htm) for one of the emperors of the time: back then, Japan was a feudal system and wasn't real country, it was a series of provinces, I guess you could call it. And you have to understand the construction was started in the early 1600s and has been built and modified, depending on each emperors tastes, for over a century. It is near Kyoto. I don't think I'd like staying in Tokyo though, too crowded. But I do admire the Japanese sense of aesthetics compared to the Chinese for instance.

Those look like very interesting places! I'd love to travel all over the country, including Tokyo. I especially want to cruise the electronics stores. I'd also like to attend the Japanese fertility festival, though my wife wouldn't be so open to it. :rolleyes:

[Brown Study]

I'd love to travel all over the country, including Tokyo. I especially want to cruise the electronics stores..
FWIW, the voltage is 100 Watts, with some parts at 50 Hertz and some at 60, according to this (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2225.html). So you'd have to be careful what you buy.

[Rxx]

Mexico, and almost every state from cali to Mississippi, and from cali to north dakota. Im still young, so we will see

[MaDDoG]

Australia and the Far East are places I have not been. I want badly to go to Australia but the problem is time. I am a one person business and when I'm gone business stops. Going to Australia it would seem would be a 3 week trip to make it worth while. Well anyway, someday I will do it.

I'll post later about my other travels, likes and dislikes.

Come to Australia...you will love it here.

I would love to go to Greece, Africa and Canada (just to visit MHC). I also think Japan and China would be worthy of look.

Oh yeah, where have I been. Bali years back before it got too touristy and then they blew things up. Other than that, just places in Australia.

[MacHeadCase]

Oh and New Zealand looks fabulous too.

[iBones]

I was in MHC's Montréal but hadn't located her at the time. So I missed out on her buying me dinner. http://www.augk18.dsl.pipex.com/Smileys/groupwave.gif

[MacHeadCase]

I was in MHC's Montréal but hadn't located her at the time. So I missed out on her buying me dinner. http://www.augk18.dsl.pipex.com/Smileys/groupwave.gif

Woulda been steamies (hot dogs) and fries... :lol:

[iBones]

Woulda been steamies (hot dogs) and fries... :lol:Hey MHC we went to this great restaurant called Bonaparte's in Montréal. It was terrific. Have you heard of it? If so have yo been there?

The food in Quebec was absolutely wonderful. No hot dogs for me dawg.

[MacHeadCase]

Bonaparte's? I'm afraid not. Is this it? (http://www.bonaparte.ca/en/index.html)

[iBones]

Bonaparte's? I'm afraid not. Is this it? (http://www.bonaparte.ca/en/index.html)That's the place. Wonderful. ;)

[MacHeadCase]

Oh in Old Montreal. Gotcha. :)

[iBones]

OK...I've done some traveling over the years.

Been to Africa, Egypt, France, Germany, Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Spain, England, Greece, Turkey, The Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska and some others I can't remember right now plus lots of travel within the United States.

Most of my travel has been for pleasure although I used to travel to Alaska for business many years ago.

I'll start by saying my most favorite place in the world is Paris. I've been there about 8-9 times and would go every year if I could find the time and money. The people there are a little hard to deal with since I don't speak French but I seem to get by alright and have never had much of a problem getting along there. But Paris is just the best. Great polished cosmopolitan city with great history, sights and food. The thing about Paris for me is that I hardly ever get tired of going to the same places over and over. The Louvre, Montmartre/Sacré Coeur etc. These days when I visit Paris I generally go for the nice restaurants and just to walk around the city. I am fortunate that over the years I have learned the city and it's districts so it feels easy to travel there.

Italy is always great. The food. Man, the food. And the Gelato --- mmmmmmmmmm -- they try and duplicate it everywhere but they can't. Only in Italy is the Gelato the real deal. I love Rome and Florence the best. I always stay at the same place in Rome but last time I looked into it the hotel was pretty pricey (over US$400/night -- right up there with the Le Château Frontenac in Quebec City) -- the Euro has caused problems when coupled with the inflation factor which was never reduced once the Euro was introduced in Europe. So the bottom line is that you need bags of money to travel in Europe these days. Canada was no picnic last month either! :mad:

Another place I always love to visit is Lucerne in Switzerland. For some reason I just like that little town. Good food and I've been there twice. Charming place. Good shopping too!

I was on a camera safari in East Africa back in 1979. Glad I did it then as now it's way too expensive and the political atmosphere there isn't something I'm fond of. Frankly I think it's kind of dangerous to travel there. Anyway it was really terrific. We were all over Kenya for three weeks and saw most of the big five game animals except the Leopard. No sign of the rascals as they like to hang at night mostly. It's was an experience of a lifetime though. We stayed a couple of nights at the famed Mount Kenya Safari Club which was just terrific and even stayed two nights in a tented camp in the Masi Mara -- ummm sketchy. Tons of animals there in the Mara.

Same thing goes for Egypt. Very interesting place. We had to go on a tour there cuz you just can't speak the language or read the signs for that matter. But we had a great guide (I guess they have to go to school for 7 years to get a license to be an official tour guide) who told me more than I can remember about Egyptian history. They had some there. :lol:
One interesting story I can tell you was at the great pyramid my buddy wanted to take a camel ride. Holy cow. Anyway the guy got the camel to kneel down and my friend gets up on that filthy thing and they walk around for about three minutes. Then my buddy wants to get down and the guy won't let him. He's got his hand out and wants more money to let him down -- you know "Backsheesh" -- it was the funniest thing on earth. I gave the guy five bucks American and he let my friend get down. Ahhh the life of a tourist. We laugh about it to this day. That was back in 1981.

So the US --- my fav -- New York City baby! That's the place for me. Lots of things happening...theatre, arts, Times Square, great restaurants...lively. Nothing like a ride in a New York City taxi to get you going in the morning. :scared:

You know what they say about the cab drivers in NY...when yo step off the curb the cabbies perk up and say "there's one".. Bwahahaha.

So there you have it ... lots of great memories and great adventures over the years. I love to travel. I'm tired of typing.

[Gilajenn]

The last time I was in Monteal, all the store clerks talked to each other about me in French, assuming the silly American wouldn't understand. :lol: Unfortunately, my French skills are now quite rusty, so they'd probably be right. That aside, it's a beautiful city. I'm only about 3 hours south, but haven't made it up there since we moved back to civilization. Hmm, maybe this summer...

I've visited all 48 contiguous states and Puerto Rico, and lived in nine of them (not military, just crazy). Favorite place to live: Seattle, WA -- great mix of techies and creative types, beautiful weather in the summer (makes up for the rest of the year, honest), and a terrific mix of cultural/outdoors/social things to do. Least favorite place to live: Phoenix, AZ -- everyone warns you about the weather, but they don't mention that the people are even worse; by far, it was the nastiest, least welcoming place we've lived in. Outside the US, I've been to eight Canadian provinces and five Mexican states, and spent six weeks touring Spain with a side trip to Morocco.

On my wish list would be Hawaii and Alaska. DH and I would also love to explore Europe with the kids. My daughter's considering going to university in the UK, and I could even see us relocating abroad if that were to happen. As others have mentioned, though, with the dollar worth about nothing these days, it's tough to plan a trip anywhere outside the US (and not so easy here at home, either).

[Mac0sXuser]

You guys have been to some cool places!!
Here's where I have been
Washington state
Oregon
California
Utah
Arizona
Nevada
Hawaii
Idaho
I want to go to another country so bad!

[PapaNoHair]

I am always interested where people travel. I like hearing about all the cool places you've been, what you liked and what you didn't like. Is your travel mostly for personal pleasure or business?

Where's the best place you've gone? Of the places you've traveled where would you consider living if you had that choice?

Thought this would be a good topic to kick around. We'll all probably learn something.

Various places - mostly in the military. Hong Kong, Philippines, Japan, New Zealand, Antarctica (4 expeditions), Samoa, Okinawa, and a host of other places.

[MaDDoG]

Various places - mostly in the military. Hong Kong, Philippines, Japan, New Zealand, Antarctica (4 expeditions), Samoa, Okinawa, and a host of other places.


I want to get to New Zealand...not far from here.

I'm afraid outside of Aust, Bali is as exotic as I've been. We went snorkeling one day. It was awesome -loved every minute of it. The fish would be right at your mash but you never touched them. The water was soooooo clear you could see for a long way. I would swim down then almost out of air with sore ears look up and it was like I could touch the boat but it was all I could do to get to the surface without expiring. I'd hit the surface life a missile from a sub. Loved it!!!

[iBones]

I forgot my wish list:

Australia
New Zealand
Hong Kong/China
Japan

None of that looks promising anytime soon though.

...and most least favorite: Lisbon. Not really feeling that place. It was kinda interesting but didn't like the food and the city was dirty. The language is jacked up and overall experience is rated a "4".

[MaDDoG]

I forgot my wish list:

Australia
New Zealand
Hong Kong/China
Japan

None of that looks promising anytime soon though.

...and most least favorite: Lisbon. Not really feeling that place. It was kinda interesting but didn't like the food and the city was dirty. The language is jacked up and overall experience is rated a "4".

Come to Aust iBones.......I will shout you a beer and BBQ

[iBones]

Come to Aust iBones.......I will shout you a beer and BBQI'd love to go to Australia. I hear it's just great there. Trouble is I really would want to go for maybe three weeks. The time off being a single business owner is a killer. Plus the cost these days is really astronomical. Some day though. Right now I'd say Australia is Priority #1.

[Rxx]

Australia would be awesome.

Places I have been....

California (of course), Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, South/North Dakota, Texas.

Louisiana and Mississippi (hurricane Katrina relief)

and Mexico. (building houses for the less fortunate)

Thats about where I have been. So I got another 98% of the world to go